Discussing Policy without Arguing

This section contains tools for influencing “red” voters and politicians of all “colors” even if you do not live in a red state. The principles for contacting your U.S.A congressional representative and your U.S.A. senators also apply to your state representative and state senator. State legislators are especially important as redistricting is coming after the 2020 U.S.A. census.

Key Influence Tool: Understanding Voter Values

Watch this TED talk: http://ted.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=07487d1456302a286cf9c4ccc&id=843509bf38&e=de5fa1f8d0

Summary

How can we chip away at the polarization and animosity between the right and the left, ie., be a part of the solution?

Understand the difference in importance of moral values between liberals and conservatives.

If you frame issues in terms of the values generally more important to liberals, you are less likely to influence a conservative. Frame issues in terms of the values generally more important to conservative voters: loyalty and patriotism, respect for authority, and purity and sanctity. In other words, do not expect people to change their underlying moral values, but rather connect the issue to their underlying moral values. This shows empathy and respect and may be more likely to bring people together.

Some examples of framing environmentalism with the value of purity:

• Keeping our forests, drinking water, and skies pure is of vital importance.

• We should regard the pollution of the places we live in to be disgusting.

• Reducing pollution can help us preserve what is pure and beautiful about the places we live.

Practice role-playing conversations with conservative voters on issues. Encourage Democrats Abroad or a local legislator activist group to sponsor a role-playing practice session.

Influence your Legislators

Download the guide at https://www.indivisibleguide.com/ . The principles for contacting your U.S.A congressional representative and your U.S.A. senators also apply to your state representative and state senator. State legislators are especially important as redistricting is coming after the 2020 U.S.A. census.

Understanding Trump Voters

Interview of Michael Moore about Trumpland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hsi-qvFE4M .

Example Issues:

These arguments use at least one of the conservative key values. The point here is to understand how you can use the key conservative values as part of your policy discussions.

Environmentalism

• Keeping our forests, drinking water, and skies pure is of vital importance. Value: Purity

• We should regard the pollution of the places we live in to be disgusting. Value: Purity

• Reducing pollution can help us preserve what is pure and beautiful about the places we live. Value: Purity

• We are the stewards responsible to keep the earth clean and healthy. Values: Purity, Sanctity, Respect for Authority

Brexit

Imagine it is the campaign for and against the Brexit. Here are some possible arguments against Brexit (i.e., remain in EU) to conservatives.

• The vast majority of British immigrants are hard working, law abiding, and respectful of British values. Include the stories of specific British immigrants. Values: Respect for Authority, Loyalty

• I believe that Britain is a great country, strong, proud and able to accept immigrants and maintain its historic British character. Values: Patriotism, Purity

• I am proud of Britain’s role as a key leader of the European Union. Value: Patriotism

• Britain has one of the best financial centers in the world and our country and economy are made stronger by the trade benefits of the European Union. Value: Patiotism

Campaign Finance Reform

• Patriotic citizen voters are the ultimate authority in the American system of governance. It is our right to have full disclosure of campaign finances. Values: Patriotism and Respect for Authority

National Health Insurance

• Keeping Americans healthy is important to our economy and national security. It is our patriotic duty to provide affordable health coverage to every American. Values: Patriotism, Purity

• Human life is sacred. We must provide affordable health coverage to every American. Value: Sanctity

Prescription Drug Prices

• Keeping Americans healthy is important to our economy and national security. We must keep prescription drug prices affordable. Value: Purity

• Human life is sacred. We must keep prescription drug prices affordable. Value: Sanctity

Immigration

• As loyal and patriotic Americans, it is our duty to support strict visa and immigration requirements to keep our country safe from harm. Our current current requirements are stringent and as effective as possible. Click here for an example. Values: Loyalty and Patriotism. Also liberal value of Protection.

Source: Democrats Abroad Mexico, Costa Banderas Chapter: Dean McIntyre