Blue Solidarity | Cognitive Politics

WORKING DRAFT

Blue Solidarity: Introduction

Cognitive Politics is a book, blog and community dedicated to more effective political conversations across political divides. We need you:

the left threatens to tear itself apart. The rallying cry to stick together is "Vote Blue."

Linguistically, "Vote Blue No Matter Who" — some might now shorten it to just #VoteBlue — is an imperative: I'm telling you what to do. That's about as far from active listening as possible, a way of speaking that listeners might find frustrating even if there is no other conflict.

A video will go here: Do you feel at least some conflict about voting for Biden? Do you weigh voting for Biden on scales, and there are reasons to resist? — Yes.... How does "Vote Blue" make you feel? Does it influence you in the direction centrists hope, and lighten the burden of voting for someone you're not excited about? — No way! "Vote Blue" is annoying...

This conflict is likely to wreck the dreams of those who want to defeat Trump. And likely to wreck the dreams of those who want skittish primary voters to take bigger risks in 2022 and 2024

This Rapid Response explores ways to work on both those goals: to talk to each other instead of lecturing each other.

We want to provide materials for two audiences:

First, if you talk to people who are stressed and unhappy about voting for Biden but perhaps you can influence them — let's call them "resistance voters" here for the moment —the phrase "Vote Blue" tends to make them angrier, every time you say "Vote Blue" you're increasing the odds that someone will go into the voting booth a bit angrier, when we need people calm enough to get in the life boat. So Rapid Response will provide both materials for talking to resistance voters, plus guides teaching enthusiastic Biden and #Blue voters how to frame.

Second, if you feel resistance towards the Democratic Party, and really really really hope that the party changes, and perhaps blame the current Democratic Party for being the cause why progressives lose to Trump: "Vote Blue" centrists want something from you, they are coming to you: can you use this moment to canvas?

Vote Blue: Same Goal, Try These Frames.

Do you say #VoteBlue? Are you absolutely desperate to get people to hold their nose if they don't like Biden, and get on board, to be a community that does what needs to be done? We think we have an ask for you: a thing that needs to be done, that might feel like emotional labor. We need our movement to do the emotional labor to get people who see the world differently to get their anger out somewhere besides the voting booth. They need to feel heard now, so they don't try to be heard with protest votes. Quick general tips:

Arguments always fail: attacks lead to defense, they cause people to defend their original point of view. Try anything else.
Assume people know. Most people know, they certainly have heard, how bad Trump is. So the goal is to change focus, not shovel facts.

:: Messengers

Find "messengers" from your conversation partner's in-group.

Messengers are the easiest option. If you want people to vote blue, don't shout that slogan at people as if they are stupid or opponents. Find quotes from AOC and Bernie that say what you want.

Be gentle; if you want solidarity, talk to people as if you are in solidarity. It's most powerful to share these on your feed rather than as an "argument." Avoid: "Look, even Sanders thinks you're wrong!" Try: "I love what Sanders has to say!" or "Thank you Bernie!"

Former Black Panther Angela Davis here in Oakland. @ToDo: get a key moment and a link to it in this original interview, I think, and a pic. I'm 12 minutes into the video, halfway, not there yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhvajWlRsI&feature=emb_title This seems a decent enough social-media chit-chat style discussion of it: https://thegrio.com/2020/07/14/angela-davis-backs-biden/ Need better sourcing than this screenshot @ToDo

@ToDO: AOC Quote/Tweet

:: From You To Us

A quick video will go here addressing YOU people not happy with Biden and aiming for more of an "us" address. See folder of materials labeled: — Redo these from YOU to US

:: Listen, Share Hope

Active Listening Intro: If you have been a any-Democrat supporter, the most powerful way to draw disillusioned Sanders supporters — especially the large number of people new to politics and appalled at the filth that longer-time activists have gotten used to — is to stop lecturing them and spend more time listening. Find something appropriate to pull them into the circle: promise to have better conversations with them early in the next primary season, tell them what you’re willing to do to get some people who are not unapologetic about taking briefcases’ worth of cash from lobbyists (for a speech, or whatever). This is going to have to be done on a very small scale, with millions of long-time Democrats talking to millions of brand-new clean-politics people.

:: Make it Personal, Carefully

The last step in Nonviolent Communication is to make a clear request.

Introduction: Be careful about what you make personal. I think if we are in solidarity with each other, trying to convince and not bully each other, that appropriately does make some things personal. It's important all around that we not get angry at each other for things beyond our control: if the DNC sucks and I'm not in the DNC, if I voted for Sanders and somewhere someone else did and is now acting out: that's not cool to spread the blame around, to make the wrong things personal. But if we are in solidarity then some things are fair to make personal: if the infighting drains you, say it, ask — really ask — for what you need.

Sample Content:

Who are you angry at? I'm reading your post — I'm sure the DNC is not. I feel scared and exhausted at the thought of Trump winning — not happy about some of the Democrats but if Trump was President in 1932 my family would be dead, and there are people in that boat now. We need an "Us." I don't think we can be angry all the time and have an "Us."

I'm reading your post. I agree with you. I'm voting with you in the primary. And honestly, this conversation leaves me depressed and de-energized. If you want me to work my ass off for Bernie, I need us to have a joyful movement and not angry all the time.

:: Exercises

Reverse Roles

If you like Biden, think about this: imagine that one of your least favorite Democrats won. What would bring back your enthusiasm? Can you do that for other people?

My answer to that question: For me, I'd want to be heard. I know how bad Trump is, don't tell me again — do you really think I don't know? If you know I know, then you are just bulling, just rubbing it in. I know what I have to do in November. If you want to make that easier, listen to me, be able to say back to me why I'm upset with the candidate who bothers me, so I know I'm heard even if I lost. Be able to say back to me why I'm upset, and i won't feel a need to say it again.

Progressive Power: Canvas Back

The first section was written for people desperate to see Biden defeat Trump.

This section is written for an overlapping group: people who believe the Democratic machine is corrupt and a huge part of the problem, that we are being told to jump into lifeboats with the people who managed to sink the ship — and yes we have to jump into the lifeboats, but it is also vital that next election we don't sink the ship. How do we use this moment, when, finally, centrist Democrats are coming to us? Can we make #VoteBlue into a canvassing opportunity? Can we exchange listening?

:: Volunteer

Intro: I find #VoteBlue annoying, a bit bullying — and draining. The Rapid Response

Simplest reply: What are you doing as November approaches? Who are you volunteering with? Respectful, or rude, as appropriate. In my circles, Sanders and sometimes Warren supporters are the strongest volunteers for Democrats in general, getting out more votes, than supporters of any other candidate during the primary. Claim it! Claim it in solidarity: make it clear to listeners that we really are the beating heart of the party. Whenever we hear #VoteBlue, don't argue, take the momentum and run, show.

Stay in solidarity: decent people who haven't made the journey yet are watching, don't bully, lead from out front. And respect people who are working their assess off to defeat Trump even if they are upset about splitting the vote.

:: "I hear you: let's shake hands." Themes of fairness.

Shake hands:

"I hear you saying we should vote blue no matter who. I get that we need unity in November or we'll have another disaster: totally agree. I've heard you — Please hear me. Can we shake hands on this::

I'm saying that (1) supporting democracy and fairness in the Democratic Party and making it easier for new voices to be heard at a high level, to have a lot of debates that dig deep and a primary that goes beyond business-as-usual and (2) individuals like you and me getting active to clean the party up and make it more people-power than lobbyists at a grassroots level, is vitally important. :

Can we shake hands: you help people like me get little-d democracy and people power into the Democratic Party before the primary — pay attention and help me clear out the non-democratic influences, and also I'll be with you, if I feel like my favorite candidate lost **fairly** I can stay fired-up after the primary. Knowing that you're with me to clean up the Party makes it easier for me to keep people who believe what I believe inspired; to be in solidarity even when have some serious disagreements. Can we do both?: