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Sunshine (she/her) @lemmy.ca

Dear Democrats: It Would Be Nice If You Could Lead, And Not Off A Cliff

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  • Liberalism isn't going to save us. Way I see it, if we want a better country, we have three options:

    1. Violent revolution. This should be a last resort, and I don't think we are quite there yet.
    2. Wait for Fascism to collapse. It will. Problem is, A FUCKING LOT of people will suffer and die in the mean time.
    3. Mobilize a viable third party. No, not the Greens. They are just as corrupt as the rest, and they pal around with Fascist traitors. I'm talking about a real grass roots Leftist movement, starting from the ground up. Basically, use the exact same playbook that MAGA used. They spent the past decade taking over social media with their Manosphere bullshit, and suddenly Gen Z shifted hard to the Right, which younger generations almost never do. We need to take back that online space. Take over town hall meetings, take over school boards, take over city councils, show up in huge numbers to vote for actual good (or as good as we can get) judges and DA's. This also means volunteering, phone banking, door knocking, and most importantly of all, some of you need to run for office. Even something local can make a difference in your community. That's how MAGA won. They didn't even have the numbers. They just had the right strategy, and in their hubris, Democrats ignored it.

    The third option is obviously what I prefer to happen. It'll take a few years, and we may not even win the White House in 2028. But this isn't about you or me. It's about the future of civilization. If they did it, so can we. Let's not be outsmarted by a bunch of people who worship a man who can't fucking read.

    • The 3rd option is still playing with liberal electoralism which got you here in the first place. you could get results faster with mutual aid and strong unions, this is how you guys got worker rights before, in the times of FDR.

      A better presence in social media is a good direction though, especially in federated communities that don't need to fear corporate censorship.

    • Honestly I'm attempting option 3 any way I can currently. I keep telling my partner if I lose my job I oughta become one of those youtube/twitch talking heads but for actual leftist views and maybe I can help the shift back.

    • Not saying it can't be done, obviously it can but to many people saying "run for office" is like saying "build a car".

      Are there primers on how to start with a campaign for people that have the desire but not the knowledge?

      What is all involved in starting and running a successful campaign?

      How much time do you need to dedicate to the campaign?

      What would be the personal cost for running for office?

      Who do you need to hire to help you (manager, donation specialist, volunteer coordinator, etc)?

      My guess to this is that the higher the office the more people and money you will need.

      I'm not writing this to be contrary but to really get answers - I think more people would be more open to the idea if they could see what a campaign needs to be successful.

      • Definitely good questions. I couldn't find any "Beginners Guide to Running for Office", so I sat up for a while chugging coffee and reading a whole bunch of local election board websites and other related sources, and this is what I came up with. This is by no means a comprehensive list or plan, but I tried to break down the main components of running for a local office in the most general terms possible, so it could be applied more broadly.

        Preparation

        • Figure out which office you want to run for, where you think you can make the most difference with your skill-set in your community.
        • Research the responsibilities of the office you’re seeking. Attend school board or city council (or whatever) meetings to see how they operate. Take lots of notes or record it if allowed.
        • Identify key issues in your community, your potential opponents, and the demographics of your district.
        • Clearly articulate why you’re running and what you hope to achieve. This will be the foundation of your campaign.
        • Check your local election board for eligibility requirements like residency, age, filing deadlines, and paperwork.

        Campaign Team

        • Campaign Manager: Appoint someone to oversee operations. Preferably someone with some political savvy and/or managerial experience.
        • Treasurer: Appoint someone to manage finances and ensure compliance with campaign finance laws.
        • Volunteers: Recruit a team of dedicated volunteers for canvassing, phone banking, and event support. The number of volunteers will vary, depending on the size of your campaign, but there's no such thing as too many.
        • Advisors: Network with local community leaders and activists who share your vision, and listen to them. They have their ears to the ground, and can offer critical advice on what your community needs.

        Campaign Strategy

        • Set a budget and determine how much money you’ll need for materials, advertising, and events. Focus on grassroots fundraising. This seems to be the most difficult part with no clear answer, so look into the campaign financing of previous candidates running for the same office to get an idea of how much it'll likely cost.
        • Develop a clear, concise message that resonates with voters.
        • Identify your base and tailor your outreach to their concerns.
        • Map out key milestones like filing deadlines, debates, voter registration deadlines, and Election Day. Set realistic goals to accomplish by those dates.

        Build Your Brand

        • Create a professional logo and a memorable slogan that reflects your values. Say what you want about Trump, but "Make America Great Again" and "MAGA" are a great slogan/logo combo. It's simple, clear, and easy to remember.
        • Build a simple website with your bio, platform, and contact info. Use social media to engage voters and share updates.
        • Print flyers, yard signs, and business cards to distribute in the community.

        Community Engagement

        • Knock on doors to introduce yourself and listen to voters concerns.
        • Show up at community gatherings, fairs, and town halls to build visibility.
        • Organize meet-and-greets, town halls, or fundraisers to connect with voters.
        • Seek support from local leaders, organizations, and activists to boost your credibility and visibility.
        • Volunteer at homeless shelters, food banks, and other places. Even just a day here and there can make all the difference. Engage with employees, customers, and residents about your campaign. Listen to their concerns, and offer viable solutions.

        Fundraising

        • Focus on grassroots fundraising by asking friends, family, and community members for small contributions.
        • Set up a donation portal on your website and promote it on social media.
        • Keep detailed records of all donations and expenses to comply with campaign finance laws.

        Messaging

        • Send press releases to local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations to announce your candidacy and major events.
        • Participate in candidate debates and forums to showcase your platform.
        • Post regularly about your platform, events, and endorsements. Engage with people in the comments.
        • Send postcards or letters to targeted voters highlighting your key issues.

        Get People to Vote

        • Help eligible voters register before the deadline.
        • Encourage supporters to vote early or by mail if available.
        • Organize volunteers to remind voters to cast their ballots and offer rides to the polls if needed.

        Again, this is by no means a comprehensive, foolproof plan. I didn't include many resources, because requirements, deadlines, and paperwork all vary by state and county. These just seemed to be the most common points I picked up from a number of sources, and should at least give you an idea of how and what to research further.

        Personally, I have no ambition to run for office because I'm already 50 and don't want to add to the pool of geriatrics running this country. We need to hand the torch to young people. That said, I will help any way I can if someone younger wants to run. Speech writing, phone banking, logo design, or pretty much anything else, I will gladly offer my services for free.

      • I'm specifically barred from holding any public office, political or not until I exit the military. I have about a year left before I can launch any kind of campaign legally. Assuming we survive that long, I plan to. That all said I have no idea what I'm doing and would love to have the answers to the questions you pose here.

177 comments