Millions of people voted against their own interests in 2016. All are not "Assholes." [View all]

[MineralMan]

They made a stupid decision. Now, what do we do? Do we attack them with name-calling? They're going to soon realize that they're not going to get what they thought they were. Some are already realizing that. So, do we call them "stupid assholes" and write them off?

I don't think that is a good idea at all. People respond to being called names in a negative way. We don't help ourselves by adding to their disappointment.

I can guarantee that we will not change the voting pattern of a majority of those who voted stupidly and against their own best interests, but we don't need to. We only need to convince a minority of those voters to think harder before the next election and vote for their own benefit, rather than against it. Just a minority.

But, that will take not yelling and screaming at them for being "stupid assholes." What it will take is for us to talk to the people we actually know who made those mistakes. Those are the only people we have a chance to reach. And we don't have to reach them all, by any means. If just 10% of the people who voted against their own interests had voted for Democratic candidates in 2016, we'd have had a landslide victory, instead of a loss.

So, belay the ugly name-calling. As people begin to see the negative impacts of a Trump administration and a Republican Congress, talk to people you know who are affected. Be calm about it and don't be accusatory of those people you know. They will realize that things aren't working out and that they voted for the wrong people. That opens a door of opportunity.

Instead, talk to them about the direction things are going, and compare that with how things could have gone had the other side won. Show them as simply and calmly as you can how correcting the problems could be done. And keep talking until 2018 and 2020. If a person turns out to be a genuine asshole, forget that person. Focus on those who will listen to you at least a little.

Remember, we don't need to convert everyone, just a small minority of those who voted against their own interests in 2016. Work on those who have been hurt by Trump and the Republicans. Help them, if you can, to find ways around the problems and help them understand what and why it happened.

Convert 10% and we'll win in a landslide in 2018 and 2020. But, we won't convert anyone if we call them all stupid assholes. That trick never works.

Thanks for reading.