General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI explain to my contemporaries that politics is about math first and philosophy, second
Part of my job is political education. I work with people who should always vote for Democrats, but many seldom do. The people I discuss political issues with, in order to try to educate them for labor, make up the Trump demographic. A vast majority are skilled tradespeople who are white males with a high school education.
They openly complain about the Democratic party, and how they can not "relate" to the party and the positions they hold.
Their complaints are mostly about culture issues. Some oppose gay rights, others, immigrant rights, some civil rights and too many, on gun rights. Issues that shouldn't mean shit to them.
So, my explanation goes like this: "Tell me what you want from the Democratic Party. Not what you want to take away from others. Let me explain", as I go on, "Politics is about math. The Democrats are trying to cobble together a coalition. Everyone here knows what a coalition is? It's when one group's most important issue is joined together with other's most important issue and we add up our votes of all the groups and form a majority."
"OK?" "The Democrats are pro-choice, pro gender equality and pay equity. As a result the Democrats get 2/3 of young women's votes and a majority of the women's vote, overall. So, please don't tell me the Democrats have to lose that group to please you, because they won't. Next, Democrats support immigrants' rights. A pathway to citizenship for all undocumented people in this country. Since many of these non-citizens have citizen family members as well as a demographic connection, Democrats get about a favorable 2 to 1 split in Latino and Asian votes. So, if you want Democrats to take a different position on that issue, that math won't allow them, even if they wanted to. If you don't like affirmative action or civil rights, I'm sorry, that's the Democrats most loyal constituency. Over 90% of African-Americans vote for Democrats. Same for Gay Rights. If that offends you, too bad. The Democratic Party is not going to abandon it's next most loyal constituency, which votes 6 out of every 7 for Democrats. Is everyone here getting the math? In order for Democrats to obtain our very unreliable votes, which mostly break evenly at best, they have to come up with issues that actually improve our lives, not detract from others. Democrats will vote to preserve Davis-Bacon, thus assuring union wages on Federal Taxpayer projects. Republicans won't. Democrats will stand against "right-to-work" laws, which weaken the union's ability to protect you. Republicans won't. Democrats will strengthen and fund work place safety laws to protect you at work. Protecting pensions, increasing wages and supporting regulations that makes your electrical, plumbing or HVAC license all that much more valuable. That's why I support the Democratic party. And that's why labor is part of the coalition. The Republicans may agree with you on the issues that don't really have anything to do with improving your life, but the important ones, such as the labor issues I just listed here, the Republicans want to fuck you. So, rest assured that the Democratic Party is never, ever going to change their stances on the social issues and not just because they hold these positions for moral reasons. They are not going to abandon their core constituencies because the math won't work. so, you can join this coalition and advance the cause of you and your family, or support the other side, who may make you feel good and agree with you on a social issue or two, but in the end, you'll get fucked. The Democratic Party has, and always will, support the economic issues that improve your lives. But, please cross out of your mind that the Democrats are ever going to turn their backs on loyal supporters to please you. Do the fucking math."
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)mahannah
(893 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)Speaker of the house
Majority leader of the Senate
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)and, some more math for you - win over 1 guy in 5 or 1 in 10 with that speech and it can add up to a big difference if it's repeated in a bunch of different precincts and districts.
louis c
(8,652 posts)maxsolomon
(33,310 posts)In reality, you'd get interrupted by the 3rd sentence and told you talk all the time.
louis c
(8,652 posts)of individuals who are at a union meeting in which Robert's' Rules of Order are enforced. There are no interruptions, but we have a very lively Q and A after the speech.
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)I especially like 'tell me what you want...rather than what you want to take away from others'
And honestly, I think the ability to stop thinking about what you want to take away from others may be the distinguishing difference between progressive and conservative.
Conservatives always want to take something away from someone else.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)Of course, I personally would PREFER that these people would see the light and learn that all these other issues are the right ones, but --- I guess I'll take what I can get.
This is a fabulous argument. Thanks for sharing it.
ETA: One thing that does appeal to me is that some of them MIGHT wake up one day and realize that their hate costs them money, and other benefits.