Mueller Report: Clearest Observation
adminThu 2019-07-25
The spin on the Mueller Report is overwhelming: not just whether Trump is guilty, but even simply what did Mueller find: a lot of us are watching only soundbites. What communication techniques can help? What should progressives be sharing?
Question: what is the best short video, article and tweet (one of each) to share about the Mueller Report, that will help politically disinclined TV watchers say "that's not what I saw" when Mueller is described as having found nothing?
Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few
Tue 2019-07-23
See my review on GoodReads.
This book pulls a lot together. It connects how inequality is getting worse, and how that is bad for our country and our democracy, while also digging in to the reasons why it's getting worse. For all those negatives, it is positive and solution-oriented: Reich both admits to the negative trends and describes a realistic, non-utopian answer to turn the problems around.
Meatless Monday meets Trump: Reacting to Facts
Stephen CataldoThu 2019-04-25
Do you feel that "the other side" listens to facts? Or that facts don't work?
Let's look at a fact, and consider ways we might react:
A pig is as intelligent as a dog
There, you’ve heard the fact. Are you vegan now, or at least done eating pork? Why not?
If you can answer that question, it might be a first step to more effective conversations with Trump supporters.
Mueller Report: Everyone's Celebrations and Mournings are Backwards
adminTue 2019-03-26
Have you read the Mueller Report? Democrats wanted a silver bullet. They keep letting themselves get trolled. Republicans are mostly celebrating — but not every one. Mueller's investigation led to 34 people and 3 companies convicted or pled guilty and no strong evidence that the Trump campaign worked directly with the Russians. For most Republicans, this is a celebration — a few law and order Republicans are horrified with the corruption Mueller did find. What do you think?
How to tap into your curiosity
adminWed 2019-03-20
— and resuscitate stifled political conversations
Article review: We've gone so far we don't even recognize capitalism.
adminTue 2019-03-12
Business Insider's article Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's tweet about workers being paid 'less than the value they create' is essentially a restatement of Marx's Labour Theory of Value — here's why that's interesting is so far wrong that it's fascinating:
Rapid Response on Michael Cohen: Suggestions for Improving Conversations
adminWed 2019-02-27
With Michael Cohen’s testimony, we’re seeing something that looks like a scene from a mobster movie: watch Representative Steube (R) try to prove that Cohen paid hush money for Trump but wasn't acting for Trump, or any of countless other bizarre moments. How did we get here? More importantly, how do we create a path for ordinary conservative-minded voters back to conservative values like balancing budgets, serving in the military when called, integrity, law & order?
Social media when people won't listen
adminFri 2019-02-15
Trump often tries to get moderates to look at the left and say "I'm not one of them." He often trolls us into overreacting. That's kindof a natural part of politics, there's always a big center trying to figure out which side is crazier. From the left-media silo it's not obvious how good Trump is at playing media to make us seem like we are vicious and he merely speaks his mind, but he's good at that.
How do you release your political anger?
Stephen CataldoTue 2019-01-29
When politics leaves you feeling angry, how do you vent? Who do you vent to? Are they listening? Do you feel heard?
Venting at people who don't already get it usually means you won't be heard and will push people further away: Have you found a way to vent among political friends, and stay curious and open-minded when reaching out to people you disagree with?
Have a favorite progressive candidate — please consider this action
adminSun 2019-01-27
All of us should have at least two goals for the primary in common:
That the primary does not damage the general election. Primaries should vet candidates, expose their weak points so those are old news in the general. But don't go too far. And more than anything, we all need to keep the process fair. Party primaries used to be non-democratic choices by the party; I want democracy in the primary, I want the candidate I support to push for that.