Since their ignominious defeat in 2016, the Democrats in Congress have somewhat mended their ways and shown some willingness to present a united front and fight. Senate Democrats stood strong and voted against Trump’s most horrendous cabinet nominees and supported the resistance to the GOP’s efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare. While these are promising changes, it's hard to see how they will be enough to enable the Democratic Party to reverse the ill fortunes of what has been a catastrophic decade. Instead of developing a plan to address the weaknesses demonstrated in previous campaign losses while maintaining Democratic principles, the party has concentrated on continually sending out messages asking for money. It is, of course, true that money is needed to run a political party. Nonetheless, in the absence of a new plan, it's difficult to see that money being raised now will be used for anything else other than what the Democrats have been spending large tranches of their money on - consultants and advertising. At the very least, Democrats should be using more of their funds to organize and ultimately convince voters to vote for Democrats.
Democrats should be asking for volunteers to work as organizers to help convince voters that the Democratic Party is their best hope for salvation. Admittedly, this is not going to be an easy task; Democrats must overcome both the myths that have guided their thinking and the logistical problems of organizing in today’s world. The first myth Democrats must overcome is that they don’t really need to organize because demographic trends favor them. The basis of this myth is the belief that African Americans, Latinos, and other people of color are welded to the Democratic Party simply because the Republican Party is for white nationalists. But, some of these people of color will undoubtedly see advantages in affiliating with a white nationalist party. For example, documented Latinos who speak English fluently may find a welcoming Republican Party and chose to become a Republican.
Also, the second myth is that the Democratic Party can be successful if it concentrates on turning out lapsed Democrats. This belief assumes that those who register or somehow label themselves as Democrats are Democrats forever and absent a very bad Democratic candidate (e.g., Hillary) or a very good Republican candidate (e.g., Reagan) will vote for Democrats. In fact, voters do change affiliation and today are less tied to party affiliation than ever before. Voters who label themselves as Democrats may nonetheless habitually vote for Republicans. As a result, of the difficulty in identifying “Democrats” efforts that are only focused on getting out lapsed Democratic voters may be doomed to failure. More than that, some who are true Democrats in belief and voice, may not vote in all elections.
A major logistical problem is finding the places where Republican voters are accessible to Democratic organizers. The notion that one can have Democratic organizers going door-to-door in Republican neighborhoods is simply not viable in gated communities or in homes with each adult working one, two, or more jobs. Our lives have changed, the type of organizing that worked in the 30s will not work now. Venues for organizing to take place must be found. And there are no lines of unemployed workers willing to talk to organizers as they wait. It is hard to find venues where organizers have time to talk to voters who may not be your neighbors and who normally would not attend those venues.
One example of the type of venue that can be established is presented in Michael Moore’s documentary movie, Trumpland. Moore rented a hall and invited a group of likely Trump voters to discuss their reasons for voting for Trump. Republican voters may willing to come to a venue to meet their friends and neighbors, have cookies and lemonade, and talk about their political views as entertainment. And, the rebuilding efforts in Houston and Florida provide an opportunity to Democratic organizers to work beside Republicans, wait in line with them, and talk about politics. This is old-school organizing.
Of course, Republican voters can be engaged on social media, but it lacks give-and-take of personal interaction. Social media also often seems to incite anger and resentment in people and may not permit open discussion. It is difficult to have a nuanced conversation, or achieve a persistence in messaging, as you might have in a “real” social situation. And with the latest findings on how Facebook was used by Russian trolls, bots, and agents to undermine an election, social media may lose its appeal to voters.
Will the Democratic Party be willing to engage in the type of organizing that is needed to convince voters to support Democrats? Or will Democrats continue to do what it has done for the last 10 years?
Also, the second myth is that the Democratic Party can be successful if it concentrates on turning out lapsed Democrats. This belief assumes that those who register or somehow label themselves as Democrats are Democrats forever and absent a very bad Democratic candidate (e.g., Hillary) or a very good Republican candidate (e.g., Reagan) will vote for Democrats. In fact, voters do change affiliation and today are less tied to party affiliation than ever before. Voters who label themselves as Democrats may nonetheless habitually vote for Republicans. As a result, of the difficulty in identifying “Democrats” efforts that are only focused on getting out lapsed Democratic voters may be doomed to failure. More than that, some who are true Democrats in belief and voice, may not vote in all elections.
A major logistical problem is finding the places where Republican voters are accessible to Democratic organizers. The notion that one can have Democratic organizers going door-to-door in Republican neighborhoods is simply not viable in gated communities or in homes with each adult working one, two, or more jobs. Our lives have changed, the type of organizing that worked in the 30s will not work now. Venues for organizing to take place must be found. And there are no lines of unemployed workers willing to talk to organizers as they wait. It is hard to find venues where organizers have time to talk to voters who may not be your neighbors and who normally would not attend those venues.
One example of the type of venue that can be established is presented in Michael Moore’s documentary movie, Trumpland. Moore rented a hall and invited a group of likely Trump voters to discuss their reasons for voting for Trump. Republican voters may willing to come to a venue to meet their friends and neighbors, have cookies and lemonade, and talk about their political views as entertainment. And, the rebuilding efforts in Houston and Florida provide an opportunity to Democratic organizers to work beside Republicans, wait in line with them, and talk about politics. This is old-school organizing.
Of course, Republican voters can be engaged on social media, but it lacks give-and-take of personal interaction. Social media also often seems to incite anger and resentment in people and may not permit open discussion. It is difficult to have a nuanced conversation, or achieve a persistence in messaging, as you might have in a “real” social situation. And with the latest findings on how Facebook was used by Russian trolls, bots, and agents to undermine an election, social media may lose its appeal to voters.
Will the Democratic Party be willing to engage in the type of organizing that is needed to convince voters to support Democrats? Or will Democrats continue to do what it has done for the last 10 years?