A challenge to illustrate the difficulites of breaking through the right-wing misinformation machine

[EarlG]

When it comes right down to it, what we had this past election was an electorate primed to believe that certain things were a problem, and then a Republican candidate who presented them with solutions to those problems.

Americans were primed to believe these things because over the last few years the right has flooded our entire information ecosystem with misinformation. It didn't matter that most of the problems were fake, or that the solutions were lies or nonsense or both. All that mattered was that people perceived there was a problem, and then voted for a solution.

Political pundits would have you believe that Democrats failed in 2024 because they didn't understand the electorate, or didn't reach out to the right demographic groups, etc. Maybe. But this challenge might illustrate the difficulties of doing that.

Below are the top 10 issues on voters' minds according to a YouGov poll taken about a week before the election. I've included the Republican "solution" to each "problem."

The challenge
Provide a Democratic "solution" to each "problem."

The rules
1) You are not allowed to use any more words than are present in each Republican solution.
2) You are not allowed to give variations of "That isn't a problem" as an answer.

Good luck...

-----------------------------

Inflation/prices
Problem: Inflation is out of control!
Republican solution: Tariffs on foreign imports will force made-in-the-USA products, lowering prices.
Democratic solution: ???

Immigration
Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: ???

Jobs & the economy
Problem: The gig economy sucks! Where are the good jobs with great benefits?
Republican solution: When all the immigrants are gone, you'll have great jobs with great benefits
Democratic solution: ???

Abortion
Problem: Women are killing their babies for fun!
Republican solution: We will force them to stop killing their babies.
Democratic solution: ???

Healthcare
Problem: The price of drugs is too high!
Republican solution: Obamacare is to blame, so we'll finally get rid of it.
Democratic solution: ???

Climate & the environment
Problem: The government is going to force us all to buy electric cars!
Republican solution: Drill, baby, drill. Climate change isn't real anyway.
Democratic solution: ???

National security
Problem: We're giving billions of dollars to Ukraine even though they started the war with Russia!
Republican solution: We'll stop funding Ukraine, and pull out of warmongering NATO as well.
Democratic solution: ???

Taxes & government spending
Problem: My taxes are too high, and I don't get enough benefits!
Republican solution: Savings from corporate tax cuts will flow directly to you, and the immigrants are taking your benefits.
Democratic solution: ???

Civil rights
Problem: White people are being discriminated against!
Republican solution: We'll end wokism, DEI, and affirmative action.
Democratic solution: ???

Education
Problem: Teachers are changing our kids' genders and making them read porn!
Republican solution: We'll get rid of trans people and all the porno schoolbooks.
Democratic solution: ???

[LAS14]

1. I think the word limit is a little unrealistic. How about twice or 3 times the number of words?

Otherwise this is a brilliant challenge.

[yardwork]

3. The word limit is, if anything, too generous.

If the slogan doesn't fit on a sign, it's too long.

Republican slogans:

"Trump will fix it."

"Hold on, Trump's coming."

"Drill, baby, drill!"

What Democrats say...
"Look, we know that prices are too high but inflation is actually down. We still have higher prices, yes. Higher prices resulted from supply line issues due to the pandemic, price gouging, and the economy recovering from the pandemic. The problem is that wages are too low. We're trying to raise the minimum wage but the Republicans vote it down over and over. Trump's tax breaks give the billionaires even more money and power. We're proposing child tax credits..."

What Republicans think when they hear this:
"Blah blah blah pandemic I don't believe was real blah blah Charlie Kirk says... blah blah... Trump is hilarious, dude hits so hard... blah blah... own the libs... save America!"

"Make America Great Again!"

[LAS14]

5. OK, you're right. Let the word limit stand. nt

[EarlG]

7. Bumper sticker politics

I've heard it said that one of the issues we have is that it takes Democrats two or three times as many words to explain things to people...

But I will add that I think this challenge is probably impossible, and that's the illustration. Millions of people voted for Trump because they perceived that one or more of the problems above were serious, and that Trump had a solution. This happened because the right had an extremely powerful misinformation machine firing on all cylinders and influencing all media.

It's not enough to say that we need to come up with a better way to explain our solutions to people, because the right isn't just providing the solutions, they're also providing the problems, and they're creating tailor-made solutions that we can't compete with.

This dynamic flips around once reality catches up to Republicans. As soon as people realize that they're not getting what they thought they voted for, they swing back to Democrats. This is when Democrats are good at messaging -- when the messaging meets reality and Republican attempts to spin away from it can't work. Think the latter years of the Iraq War, the economic crash of 2008, Trump's response to the pandemic, etc.

So rather than bang our heads against the wall trying to counter messaging which is designed to thwart us, perhaps the judo move is to take that messaging and turn it back on Republicans. They literally created these problems -- now they need to provide solutions. If they can't do that, buyer's remorse will set in and people will swing back or not vote. I think whatever we do next, it should be about trying to accelerate that process.

[yardwork]

19. I would add that bad actors actually created some of the problems.

Whatever one thinks about Israel's history, the attack by Hamas in October 2023 was clearly funded and encouraged by actors who wanted Trump back in the White House. The anti-Israeli propaganda was instantaneous, well-organized, and highly consistent messaging. There's no question that it influenced some voters away from Harris. This issue alone may have decided the vote in MI and other swing states.

Republicans don't just make up problems - they create them.

[Hugin]

25. True.

Many of these were finger traps manufactured by Trumpian (really chaos ) actors knowing that a rational response is impossible.

I have pointed out several times that much of the democratic leadership suffers from the flip side of Dunning-Krueger. Being competent themselves they overestimate the average person’s abilities to see bullshit for what it is. To them, it’s intuitive and self-evident and therefore it’s difficult for them to form a dialog without trying to ‘splain. It comes across as condescending.

It is incumbent on a leader to understand this gap and use it. Which is what the GOP messaging seems to have done. Now, whether it’s a conscious method or just blundering, I don’t know. Maybe some of both.

[ancianita]

49. Then we must learn "the average person" better, and do what the democratic minded Dutch say:

KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid.

Go for bumper sticker talk.

[Hugin]

81. Agreed!

[Tansy_Gold]

52. "Flip side of Dunning-Krueger" -- accurate

I see this in my own household, where One Person constantly analyzes what's happening based on his own (accurate) understanding of the issues, of the economics, of the logistics. No matter how often I tell him "they" don't see it that way and "they" can't be reasoned with using that kind of logical, sane, informed explanation, he just doesn't get it.

The GOP and its various levels of operatives all work on a mindset that accepts inequality (in many forms) at its foundation. Double standards are its stock in trade, because it allows them to offer the carrot while holding tight to the stick. Wealth v. poverty is the easiest one, but there are others. The rich are different and get different rights and privileges. "You can't deny us this extra luxury, because then it won't be available to you when you become rich!" And they use themselves as the examples of how its possible for ANYONE to become rich -- it's not possible but they make it seem so even while they're the ones making it impossible. So the family values preachers can sin and sin and sin again, divorce, mistresses, extra kids out of wedlock, and the RWNJs have no problem with it. Double standards are fine and dandy. Double standards require an "Us" and a "Them." Democrats have a hard time wrapping their heads around this basic concept, and as a result they can't effectively communicate with RWNJs.

I have said here on DU since back in the GWB days, that until things get really tough for the vast majority of (voting-eligible) Americans, nothing will change the downhill slide of the nation. How tough? Tougher than 9/11. Tougher than the implosion of the housing market. Tougher than COVID. A lot tougher than COVID. Until it happens to more of those who believed "It can't happen to ME," we're all going to be stuck with this shit. One or two leopards eating half a dozen faces isn't going to do it; when trainloads of leopards are let loose upon the "But they aren't going to eat MY face" populace, only then will things start to change. But by then it may be too late to save anyone.

[yardwork]

56. I agree with you

When voters are choosing the more entertaining option and treating the whole thing like a joke, it's a sign that they don't feel desperate. Quite the opposite.

[ancianita]

53. He already said that. See reply #7.

[PatrickforB]

55. Earl, thank you for this. I just filled out a questionnaire from AOC as well. This is what

we have to do.

I do not have time to reply to this thread now because I'm working, but I will. I am an economist with 18 years experience and have won regional and national awards for applied research, so I will do my best a) not to be verbose, and b) to address the issue in as many words, and c) provide a countermessage for Dems AFTER Trump puts these policies into place.

This may help. I'm assuming you have open lines to Democratic members of House and Senate as well as the DNC, so hopefully we can together give them some good ideas for countermessaging.

Warm regards,
PatrickforB

[Ligyron]

87. Subscribing

[wnylib]

43. Keeping the word number down cuts to the core

and makes the response clear and repeatable. It's a counter message for the people, not a speech or dissertation.

[LAS14]

68. Yup. I've changed my mind on this. nt

[intrepidity]

2. Can the premise be rejected?

Most of the answers are quite simple: "Lies!"

[yardwork]

4. I feel as if we tried that strategy and it didn't work.

The more we called Trump a liar the more people liked him for "saying what he thinks no matter what people say!"

This is unbelievably short-sighted and just plain dumb but here we are.

[markodochartaigh]

21. It's the

Overton Window. When the Overton Window is moved enough that it looks out upon a lie, it is difficult to counter the argument without pointing out the lie.

[MaineBlueBear]

50. I'm struggling with the premise too

Why offer real solutions to imagined problems? Why is it up to us to sloganeer to perpetual victims of problems that either don't exist or conform to their world view?

It's an interesting concept but once you counter the argument they move onto another perceived grievance.

[wnylib]

72. When they move on to the next grievance,

Last edited Wed Nov 13, 2024, 08:45 PM - Edit history (1)

then skip the arguments and go straight to question why they seek out problems.

I did that with a strong anti abortion woman. I asked her what makes her so angry about abortion. She told me about a time when she sought one and did not get help from "liberal friends." She had the baby and gave it to a relative to raise.

So I was empathetic about what she had gone through and then said, "So you are not against abortion since you tried to get one. You are angry at the people who did not help you. Why make other people go through what you did? What happened to you is not their fault."

She had carried that anger and resentment for many years. Once she let it loose and got understanding for it, she was able to see the issue more clearly and to support abortion rights.

Sometimes you need to skip the logical arguments and go to the emotions underneath them.

[MaineBlueBear]

90. Thanks for this

I keep coming back to the concept that you can't reason someone out of a stance they didn't come to through reason.
We're dealing with misinformation and I'm wondering why otherwise reasonable people are so susceptible to it.
I'm desperately seeking ways to talk to people about their choice of Trump as a leader and how to get them to make better choices in 2028.

[wnylib]

91. Focus on their feelings. What makes them so angry?

What makes them so fearful? Why?

A tip about some types of racists. Does not apply to all of them, but I've noticed that some who are really belligerent in their racism, especially men, had abusive fathers or father figures. They were constantly put down, ridiculed, even beaten. They build their self-esteem by finding people that they can look down on to feel superior.

When I run into those types, I don't try to discuss equality, or use any logic. I ask them point blank, "Who abused you as a child?" If caught off guard by the question, they will sometimes give an honest answer, usually along the lines of, "I had it rough so why should other people get all the breaks?"

One response to that is another question. "How does hating (insert race/ethnicity) erase your past? How does it make your life better?" Give them something to think about. Go straight to their emotional motives.

[wnylib]

71. No, we can't just say "Lies." The goal is to develop

a response that will change what people believe about the lies. They will ignore ignore us when we just say "Lies!" In fact, they already have, by voting for the liars.

Our mission is to get a counter message out there that draws people away from the liars and their lies.

[bronxiteforever]

6. Economy and tariffs

Will lead to Trumpflation and higher costs at Walmart.


National security
We are risking another GOP 9/11 by failing to cooperate with allied intelligence.

[LAS14]

11. I like it!!! Did you make up Trumpflation??? nt

[wnylib]

75. Agree. Trumpflation is a very good buzz word to stick on Trimp like white on rice.

Trumpflation raises prices tariffically.

[wnylib]

77. On immigration

So much hate, so little time.

[Drum]

8. Bookmarking for sure.

[Phoenix61]

9. Excellent point! nt

[ananda]

10. Too bad they didn't think of this a few years ago.

Too late now.

[LAS14]

12. No, not too late. We have to gear up for 2026 starting now. Then 2028. nt

[ananda]

61. Well, it certainly won't hurt to give it a shot. However...

I thought about it some more and feel free to talk me down.

I just feel that the people who listen to the liars in the first
place are lost to us, and willingly and purposely believe them
because to do otherwise would be giving up things they hold
dearly, like racism, white supremacy, misogyny.

The only real answer I can see Dems giving is that Trump
and/or Republicans broke it, or caused it, and Democrats
have fixed it before and will fix it again.

[Biophilic]

13. This is F'ing brilliant. So clear.

Figuring these out will take a while, to put it honestly.

[Hugin]

14. The response to most of them is...

“Free money!”

I do have some qualms about a response to Immigration. The Democrats did indeed do what should have worked by crafting a relatively draconian bipartisan bill that Trump’s shadow government quashed. I don’t believe the Democrats made enough of that during the campaign.

It will take some time to churn through this list in a thoughtful bumper sticker manner. Bookmarking.

[LauraInLA]

38. For Immigration?

Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: Pass the immigration bill and test everyone already here.

I’m looking for a better word than “test”, but “regularize” is too long — my meaning is that we’ll push to quickly and fairly clear all the asylum claims of immigrants already here.

How does this sound?

[Moosepoop]

44. Sounds good to me.

How about the word "judge" instead of "test"?

[LauraInLA]

46. Yes, "judge" is much better. Some Democrats probably won't like it because it means everyone

won’t get to stay, but that’s the system we’re supposedly using.

[wnylib]

78. Sounds good. Instead of "test" you could say "vet" or "screen."

[dickthegrouch]

15. Oh crap!

What a brilliant illustration of one of the problems.
Thank you.

[cynical_idealist]

16. Americans have fallen for the great deceiver

Not just the man but the whole movement including all the misinformation.

It's reality hacking.

I think this and your other post about what happened are an important summary of
major problems we are facing.

---------------------------------------------------
Climate & the environment
Democratic solution: It's too damn hot!
Soon to be: I can't breathe!

Civil rights
Democratic solution: We're all human.

National security
Democratic solution: Russia started it!

[Johonny]

17. Well then, lets all vote for Hitler and see how that works out

It's hard to combat unreality with reality with no tools working for your side.

I'm not sure even finding out works. They're living in reality now, and they don't believe it, so why will they believe reality in the future. Trump will suck and they will be told to love eating shit and they will love eating shit. Not all of them, but far too many.

[Blue_Tires]

18. Sadly, you can't enlighten the wilfully ignorant

This election showed once and for all that having fact and truth on our side are no longer enough to win... Trumpers live in their own completely separate alternate reality...

[markodochartaigh]

20. You can lead a Trumper to knowledge,

but you can't make them think.

[yowzayowzayowza]

28. Good one!

[wnylib]

76. The goal is to win them over, not to insult them.

What about a slight change to this?

"You can lead Trump (or Vance, Miller, etc.) to water, but you can't make him think."

[markodochartaigh]

86. Point taken.

nt

[0rganism]

62. There is no "once and for all" in human society

We changed. We've changed before and we'll change again, over and over, until evolution finishes with us. Plato was correct in his assessment of democracy as fragile and dangerously close to tyranny, and history shows us remnants of this fragility repeatedly when we care to look. Fortunately tyranny is even shakier and has difficulty transitioning from singular personalities to dynasties. This will be the next battlefield and it favors liberty. Let's prepare for the fight of our lives.

[wnylib]

79. Sounds awfully defeatist to me.

Are you saying that you are willing to accept the MAGA dictatorship?

[Blue Full Moon]

22. Forgot one, don't use any highfalutin words.

[Passages]

23. Harris campaign raised 1 billion dollars. I believe Jaime Harrison says DNC are now in debt.

Where was this money spent communicating? There is a trail out there so we should know and correct how we reach voters.

Also, it would be a mistake to dismiss the economic hardships many live with. Not that Trump will fix any of them.

[NNadir]

24. In an autocracy, truth must be revealed painfully.

Our Democracy is gone in a few months, and with it our way of life.

The short answer thus is "Fuck around and find out."

[PortTack]

26. We cannot break thru. As has been pointed over and over, when they fail, and they will let them fail. DO NOT rescue

Them. They have to finally and for once suffer the consequences of their actions…i.e.,their vote

[CaptainTruth]

27. Complex problems always have simple, wrong, solutions.

That's one of the problems we face. People want simple solutions to complex problems, but they don't exist.

Really understanding the problem, & understanding how it can actually be solved, requires thinking & I'm convinced a lot of people just don't want to think. They just want someone to say "I'll fix it." Maybe there's something we can learn from that?

Also, Republicans are going to constantly invent new "problems" to rile up their base, so we need to be prepared to answer a never ending series of imaginary "problems." I support doing that, but in so doing we run the risk of creating a scenario where Republicans control the narrative & we're constantly chasing them. We have to make sure we also get our own messaging out & promote our own narrative regardless of what imaginary "problems" Republicans invent.

[Elessar Zappa]

30. We still need to come up with simple answers, even if they don't tell the whole story.

[CaptainTruth]

35. Yes, absolutely. "Bite-sized messaging" as I call it.

Others call it bumper sticker messaging. Short & easy to understand.

The elevator pitch can come in other forms.

[ancianita]

69. Exactly. And another problem they pose is that when we point out a real problem, they blame the problem on us.

[wnylib]

82. Don't try to go after each invented problem.

Go to the core of what they are doing and call them fake problem seekers. Call their "solutions" the ideas of simpletons.

Also, ask questions that make THEM explain themselves.

When they gish gallop (one lie after another without pausing for air), suggest that they get ADHD treatment instead of trying to keep up with refuting their lies.

[ck4829]

29. Oh, I have solutions that fit. Problem is - People don't like them.

Inflation: Billionaires cause inflation

Immigration: Open the borders to deflate human traffickers

Jobs: Universal basic income

Abortion: Cool

Healthcare: Single payer

Climate: support those displaced by climate change

National security: Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism

Taxes: Corporate profits while you pay more? Really?

Civil rights: I denounce white nationalist terrorism

Education: More Howard Zinn

[erronis]

33. I like these.

"More Howard Zinn" - indeed! And less bibble thumping.

[charliea]

51. Well said!

Can't see anything there I disagree with. Even though none of my offspring are capable of getting pregnant, sporting a bumper sticker with "Abortion: cool" would cause MAGAts emotional distress. Might get my car "keyed" if I parked in town though.

[haele]

67. Abortion - between the pregnant female, her Doctor, and her God.

Not your business to interfere with someone else's health so you can virtue signal pretending to rescue something that isn't viable.

Leave it at that.

Haele

[oldmanlynn]

31. I hate to short circuit this survey, but I will answer

Share the actual truth on every single one of those questions, but do it so that you are on every TV channel and every radio station in the rural areas all across America that’s what you Gotta do

[oldmanlynn]

32. Also make sure you do it repetitively all the time 24 seven every day

We will have to flood the air spaces with the real truth, not give up the air spaces and let them do their own thing and just think that it’s all crazy talking people will look past it that doesn’t work

[wnylib]

83. Yes. Reaching them with strong, repeated messages is very important.

It does not change a thing if the messages are good but don't reach a wide audience.

We need influencers on social media to carry the messages. Get them on mainstream media, too, as much as possible.

One possibility is a tactic that I don't really like, but what if WE do the gish galloping with OUR messages? Turn the tables on them?

[Jack Valentino]

34. "THEY ARE LYING TO YOU" for all 10 answers. "They give solutions to imaginary problems."

for the most part.

[NotASurfer]

36. You forgot "litter boxes for students identifying as furries" in the issue of education

Your point is taken. You can respond to the actual issues, but the "problems" aren't subject to reason or reality. Engaging simply confirms the "problem" as stated.

[Butterflylady]

37. I was in that poll.

The questions were exactly what you see above. They gave 5 answers and you picked one answer. I picked I supported all above.

Before those questions, they asked what are your top concerns going into this election.

They also asked favorable questions of all the candidates.

[LearnedHand]

39. Let's try this (yup, it's hard)

Inflation/prices
Problem: Inflation is out of control!
Republican solution: Tariffs on foreign imports will force made-in-the-USA products, lowering prices.
Democratic solution: We will punish the greedy corporations stealing from your pocketbook every day.

Immigration
Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: Close the borders until immigration laws can keep up.

Jobs & the economy
Problem: The gig economy sucks! Where are the good jobs with great benefits?
Republican solution: When all the immigrants are gone, you'll have great jobs with great benefits
Democratic solution: Fine and highly tax the Amazons and Ubers who enslave their workers.

Abortion
Problem: Women are killing their babies for fun!
Republican solution: We will force them to stop killing their babies.
Democratic solution: Paid parental leave and subsidized child care supports parents and children

Healthcare
Problem: The price of drugs is too high!
Republican solution: Obamacare is to blame, so we'll finally get rid of it.
Democratic solution: Drug makers will lower prices or we’ll nationalize their patents.

Climate & the environment
Problem: The government is going to force us all to buy electric cars!
Republican solution: Drill, baby, drill. Climate change isn't real anyway.
Democratic solution: Standardize and increase charging stations and improve hybrid tech.

National security
Problem: We're giving billions of dollars to Ukraine even though they started the war with Russia!
Republican solution: We'll stop funding Ukraine, and pull out of warmongering NATO as well.
Democratic solution: We’ll stop funding Israel’s war against Gaza.

Taxes & government spending
Problem: My taxes are too high, and I don't get enough benefits!
Republican solution: Savings from corporate tax cuts will flow directly to you, and the immigrants are taking your benefits.
Democratic solution: Tax the capital gains of the corporations and uber wealthy who are robbing you.

Civil rights
Problem: White people are being discriminated against!
Republican solution: We'll end wokism, DEI, and affirmative action.
Democratic solution: Not sure about this one.

Education
Problem: Teachers are changing our kids' genders and making them read porn!
Republican solution: We'll get rid of trans people and all the porno schoolbooks.
Democratic solution: Not sure about this one.

[steelyboo]

40. I say we double down on the Rights lies

For Example:

Immigration

Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: Cowards! we call for public executions of all immigrants! And you can pull the switch!

Now of course we would never do it, but they could get their little erections from the bloodlust. Bottom line, outlie the liars, and then we win, do what we were going to do anyway, regardless of what we said. Seems to work for them.

[talking-liberally]

41. Defining the problem is the solution.

This is an excellent exercise. What becomes obvious is that, the one who gets to create the problem, gets to sell their solution.

Repugs (heritage) start with something that they want to do (kill Obamacare) and then they create a problem that their "solution" can be used for.

No wonder drumpf so desperately killed the bipartisan border legislation.

Dems are always on defense. They need to be on offense.

[orwell]

42. Some Bumper Sticker Answers...

Inflation/prices
Problem: Inflation is out of control!
Republican solution: Tariffs on foreign imports will force made-in-the-USA products, lowering prices.
Democratic solution: Monopoly Corporations are screwing the Working Class

Immigration
Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: Give me your tired, your poor! Legal immigration now!

Jobs & the economy
Problem: The gig economy sucks! Where are the good jobs with great benefits?
Republican solution: When all the immigrants are gone, you'll have great jobs with great benefits
Democratic solution: Stop the corporate job cuts! Take back our Economy!


Abortion
Problem: Women are killing their babies for fun!
Republican solution: We will force them to stop killing their babies.
Democratic solution: Stop the Cons Attack on Women's Health!


Healthcare
Problem: The price of drugs is too high!
Republican solution: Obamacare is to blame, so we'll finally get rid of it.
Democratic solution: Big Pharma - Higher Profits - More Deaths

Climate & the environment
Problem: The government is going to force us all to buy electric cars!
Republican solution: Drill, baby, drill. Climate change isn't real anyway.
Democratic solution: Clean Energy = More Good Jobs and a Safer Future!

National security
Problem: We're giving billions of dollars to Ukraine even though they started the war with Russia!
Republican solution: We'll stop funding Ukraine, and pull out of warmongering NATO as well.
Democratic solution: Fight them over there so we don't have to fight them here!

Taxes & government spending
Problem: My taxes are too high, and I don't get enough benefits!
Republican solution: Savings from corporate tax cuts will flow directly to you, and the immigrants are taking your benefits.
Democratic solution: Raise Taxes on the Rich. Cut taxes for the Working Class!

Civil rights
Problem: White people are being discriminated against!
Republican solution: We'll end wokism, DEI, and affirmative action.
Democratic solution: Equal Protection Under the Law!

Education
Problem: Teachers are changing our kids' genders and making them read porn!
Republican solution: We'll get rid of trans people and all the porno schoolbooks.
Democratic solution: Modern education for the Future! Teach our children!

[LAS14]

80. Pretty good!!! But what does "cons" mean in this: "Stop the Cons Attack on Women's Health!"

[orwell]

85. I stopped calling Republicans...

...by their party name years ago. I started calling them RepubliCons and just shortened it to Cons.

I got angry years ago when they started calling the Democratic party the "Democrat" party.

They all did it. It was intentional.

That is why I pay very close attention to the language they use as it is very critical to their branding.

We have failed miserably at this.

That is why I call them "the Cons." It is pejorative.

He is Don the Con. If I had my way they democrats would never refer to him in any other way.

[Artistree22]

45. GOP propaganda has defined the problems and gets to set the narrative.

I understand the point that you are making with this challenge but the problems stated under each of the 10 voter concerns ARE the GOP propaganda.
The media has allowed them to define what the problem is vs what real problems need to be addressed. I'm sure many of you noticed that every R winger have the talking points, so if they were asked for any specifics on stated problem or solutions, they would just start listing their 10 or more problems without ever addressing the actual question. They refined the method of gish galloping to avoid ever having to give details. THAT is the problem. People heard the R wing defined problems over and over and over and over. They were never given details of the actual problem and certainly no detailed solutions.

"Journalist/news people" are not paid to get the truth or work for us. They are paid for that "gotcha " question or keep up the narrative of the owners.
It is all about the narrative and for many in this country, that narrative started a long time ago with right wing radio- rush, jones, and of course newt. The demonizing of the left continued with fox "news", OAN.
I believe they jumped the game this time by increasing right wing news Spanish stations and establishing/supporting the massive online "bro" influencers.
Until our side gets the same amount of attention to be able to state the real problems and offer real solutions, we are fighting an uphill battle.

How do we re-establish the Fairness Doctrine? How do we ever have a common trusted news source again? Will we ever be able to get big money out of our politics? I'm not hopeful at this moment.

[live love laugh]

47. Great exercise. It's way overdue.

[Dave Bowman]

48. "Ukraine even though they started the war with Russia!"

Yeah, that's exactly like when Poland invaded Germany.

[mahina]

54. How do you reach through the false premise and solve the deeper problems?

The aggressor defines the context of the battle it said, and did they ever.

Plus dominating online chat over the entire non-political space, sports, health, so many areas where are.

I’ll give this more thought EarlG. So beyond thankful for you and DU. Onward.

[Scrivener7]

57. Its not about solutions. It never was.

[Native]

58. Fine in theory, but we have no machine to counter theirs. No independent media and no real left-wing media.

You have to be able to counter Fox, podcasters like Joe Rogan, and the perceived left-wing media that basically just both sides everything. The message is important, but if you're whispering into the wind while they're using a megaphone, you're doomed from the start.

[niyad]

59. KNR

[EarthAbides]

60. Inflation and Immigration

First two

Inflation:
Corporate greed causes inflation. Fire the CEOs!

Immigration:
Stop illegal immigrants stampeding the Border. Hire more Border Patrol Agents!

[mathematic]

63. Appreciate the effort but the problem isn't primarly a messaging problem it's a trust problem

All these issues are complex, of course.

You might be able to construct a true, slogan-length Democratic solution to them. That absolutely does not mean that the public will believe the Democratic one over the Republican one.

If you're trying to come up with something for inflation, you're going to fail because deep blue democratic cities are the most expensive places to live in the country. They've been so for a while but over the last decade they've become impossibly so. People don't believe Democrats can handle inflation as it relates to cost of living because they haven't.

Similarly with immigration, people are still mostly in favor of legal immigration but support for illegal immigration and uncontrolled migrant entry seeking asylum is deeply unpopular. You might be able to find a slogan to rally support for legal immigration but don't bother with the other two, they're way outside the mainstream. Ultimately, you're stuck with another problem. There are many, many traditional democratic voters that are actually against legal immigration too. Just look at the conversations about H1B visas whenever they come up here on DU. Craft whatever message you want but people need to trust that the democrats will limit illegal immigration, uncontrolled migrant entry, and the perceived underlying issues underpinning opposition to legal immigration.

I've said before, maybe not here on DU, but to the people I've talked to, that it is perfectly rational to support a policy when it is promoted by Democrats and oppose the exact same policy when it is promoted by Republicans. It's seems hypocritical but it isn't. Why? Because I believe Democrats. We have to regain that trust by building, by being effective, and by defending accomplishments not just from those that seek to undo them but from those that seek to diminish them. That way, when we do come up with slogan length talking points, people don't say "yeah, right", they say, "yeah, let's do that".

[EarlG]

64. I think we're mostly in agreement

The purpose of this exercise is to point out that really, trying to out-message Republicans in this way is fruitless, since they control not just the “solution” messaging but the “problem” messaging as well.

I think you’re right that a big part of it is trust. In post 7 I talk about how the burden of trust is on Republicans, since they’re now in power. They will remain in power until the public no longer trusts them to do what they said they were going to do (or what the public thought they were going to do), at which point the public will turn back to Democrats. I think it’s in our interest to do what we can to accelerate that loss of trust.

[TheKentuckian]

65. Sure,

Inflation/prices
Problem: Inflation is out of control!
Republican solution: Tariffs on foreign imports will force made-in-the-USA products, lowering prices.
Democratic solution: Inflation has been defeated. Now combating price gouging.

Immigration
Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: We will enforce our borders not increase the cost of groceries.

Taxes & government spending
Problem: My taxes are too high, and I don't get enough benefits!
Republican solution: Savings from corporate tax cuts will flow directly to you, and the immigrants are taking your benefits.
Democratic solution: Your taxes are too high so we are going to cut the hell out of them. The wealthy will pay for it.

Civil rights
Problem: White people are being discriminated against!
Republican solution: We'll end wokism, DEI, and affirmative action.
Democratic solution: We present the American Cultural Preservation Act which will ensure all Americans are treated equally from being awarded government contracts to truth in history. (Actual contents end up being in large part the ERA codified with the voting rights act while eliminating the lies taught in right wing dictated schools).

Education
Problem: Teachers are changing our kids' genders and making them read porn!
Republican solution: We'll get rid of trans people and all the porno schoolbooks.
Democratic solution: We will ban all school sex changes with a 20 year prison sentence as the penalty.

[Buzz cook]

66. Off the top of my head.

Inflation/prices
Problem: Inflation is out of control!
Republican solution: Tariffs on foreign imports will force made-in-the-USA products, lowering prices.
Democratic solution: ??? Trump's tariffs caused inflation, we fix inflation by ending them.

Immigration
Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: ???We will help honest immigration and send dishonest ones back.

Jobs & the economy
Problem: The gig economy sucks! Where are the good jobs with great benefits?
Republican solution: When all the immigrants are gone, you'll have great jobs with great benefits
Democratic solution: ???Unions make good jobs with benefits. Raise the minimum wage.

Abortion
Problem: Women are killing their babies for fun!
Republican solution: We will force them to stop killing their babies.
Democratic solution: ???Free contraception ends unnecessary abortions.

Healthcare
Problem: The price of drugs is too high!
Republican solution: Obamacare is to blame, so we'll finally get rid of it.
Democratic solution: ???Volume buying lowers prices. Single payer does that.

Climate & the environment
Problem: The government is going to force us all to buy electric cars!
Republican solution: Drill, baby, drill. Climate change isn't real anyway.
Democratic solution: ???Government gives you money to get efficient vehicles.

National security
Problem: We're giving billions of dollars to Ukraine even though they started the war with Russia!
Republican solution: We'll stop funding Ukraine, and pull out of warmongering NATO as well.
Democratic solution: ???We give surplus equipment to Ukraine and fuck Putin. Win win.

Taxes & government spending
Problem: My taxes are too high, and I don't get enough benefits!
Republican solution: Savings from corporate tax cuts will flow directly to you, and the immigrants are taking your benefits.
Democratic solution: ???Fuck the rich and corporations. You know they don't give a shit about you, never have.

Civil rights
Problem: White people are being discriminated against!
Republican solution: We'll end wokism, DEI, and affirmative action.
Democratic solution: ???We'll get you a good job!

Education
Problem: Teachers are changing our kids' genders and making them read porn!
Republican solution: We'll get rid of trans people and all the porno schoolbooks.
Democratic solution: ??? We'll keep education to the highest American standards.

Of course several of these topics would be helped if media said republicans are lying instead of "views differ". It'd also be nice if democrats got some of their talking points into the conversation.

[Qutzupalotl]

70. That's how Monty Montgomery became the horse whisperer.

He pioneered a way to tame wild horses without whipping or beating them. He would stand with them in a circular corral, cracking a whip behind the horse to frighten it. No way out, so it gets frantic. He uses his body language to show he horse he is not afraid. The result is the horse thinks of him as his leader and dutifully submits. Then he can be harnessed and ridden without resistance.

[ecstatic]

73. starting now, we need to set the agenda of problems that need to be addressed.

It shouldn't be too hard. We already have a couple:

Pregnant women are discriminated against & dying .
Having a baby at age 35+ may be a death sentence in Southern states.

Our tax system is unfair.

Civil Rights: All Americans should have the right to vote.

Double Standards: No American is above the law.

Out of control cops should not be immune from the consequences of their actions.

[ibegurpard]

74. Any of our solutions are pointless

Without messaging infrastructure.

[dgauss]

84. Keeping with the idea of keeping it short:

I think there are core ideas that apply across the spectrum. Responding to each falsehood is whack-a-mole.

Maybe this descends into slogans, which in a perfect world is not what good governance is about. And maybe it's hard to see how these would break through, but some simple concepts need to break through somehow. Who knows what might resonate...

They Are Lying To You
Stop The Gaslighting, It's hurting All of Us
Propaganda Is a Real Thing
Money Is Not Truth
Remember What Made This Country Great
Is this really who we are?
Think. You are slipping behind, who is getting ahead?

If these are just bumper stickers on cars they will have no effect. But if they are repeated and expanded upon and effectively explained in a coordinated way with a thoughtful media exposure strategy, maybe it would have some effect. Of course those are just suggestions, but it's the approach I'm thinking about.

[proud patriot]

88. alright I'll give it a go

Inflation/prices
Problem: Inflation is out of control!
Republican solution: Tariffs on foreign imports will force made-in-the-USA products, lowering prices.
Democratic solution: ??? yeah it is, anti American prices gougers should be locked up !

Immigration
Problem: Dirty hordes of violent illegal immigrants are stampeding across the border!
Republican solution: We'll round up all the immigrants and send them back where they came from.
Democratic solution: ??? arrest the criminals and send them back where they came from.

Jobs & the economy
Problem: The gig economy sucks! Where are the good jobs with great benefits?
Republican solution: When all the immigrants are gone, you'll have great jobs with great benefits
Democratic solution: ???the trades are great paying jobs republicans want you to work picking stawberries?

Abortion
Problem: Women are killing their babies for fun!
Republican solution: We will force them to stop killing their babies.
Democratic solution: ??? Big goverment is never the solution, Educate Educate Educate

Healthcare
Problem: The price of drugs is too high!
Republican solution: Obamacare is to blame, so we'll finally get rid of it.
Democratic solution: ??? fuck big pharma We'll make em lower prices

Climate & the environment
Problem: The government is going to force us all to buy electric cars!
Republican solution: Drill, baby, drill. Climate change isn't real anyway.
Democraitic solution?? drive by gas stations Woo Hoo!

National security
Problem: We're giving billions of dollars to Ukraine even though they started the war with Russia!
Republican solution: We'll stop funding Ukraine, and pull out of warmongering NATO as well.
Democratic solution: ??? russia illeagally Invaded Ukraine Who's next ?

Taxes & government spending
Problem: My taxes are too high, and I don't get enough benefits!
Republican solution: Savings from corporate tax cuts will flow directly to you, and the immigrants are taking your benefits.
Democratic solution: ??? no more tax cuts for billioniares it's YOUR turn to get a break


These 2 are stumping me
Civil rights
Problem: White people are being discriminated against!
Republican solution: We'll end wokism, DEI, and affirmative action.
Democratic solution: ???
Education
Problem: Teachers are changing our kids' genders and making them read porn!
Republican solution: We'll get rid of trans people and all the porno schoolbooks.
Democratic solution: ???

[ThePartyThatListens]

89. Strength, strength is what is needed

It's the only thing Americans respect.

An FDR style message and messenger.

"I welcome their hatred."

Identity the bad guy/s and pummel them publicly.

Bernie was the closest we had to this.

The Establishment killed the movement in the crib.

However, the American people are crying out for it.