On one hand, I believe focusing my energy on the 2026 U.S. election makes sense. If we don’t have a free, fair election this year and we don’t rid the federal government of total control by Republican Fascism, every other thing that matters will be infinitely harder to fight for. 1/
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@suzannealdrich Swing Left has an initiative called Ground Truth that focuses on this sort of thing. https://swingleft.org/ground-truth
On the other hand, devoting my attention to the election limits my ability to address specifically any one of the especially evil or dangerous things being done by the Trump regime. 2/
This tension isn’t going to be resolved as of Nov. 3 or Jan. 3, 2027. The 2026 election is a waystation to the 2028 one. Unless it is apparent, due to Republican Fascist interference, that elections are meaningless, the need to organize and work for 2028 is going to be enormous. At the same time, it will be important to fight specific battles, including getting the Dems in federal government to do their utmost against Trump et al. 3/
There isn’t any easy way to decide how to allocate one’s attention and effort in the fight against Republican Fascism in the U.S. I do know that there is a natural division of labor: if we each focus on what we are most motivated to do, we cover a lot of facets. 4/
When confronted with a constantly evil, dangerous government, one simply has to dig in and work hard against it. Choice of tactic or focus is less important than taking action. For me, right now, the necessity to try to keep elections available as a route to political change seems imperative. I’m not fighting for particular candidates. I’m fighting for the foundational mechanism of a democracy. 5/5
@heidilifeldman I think it’s really important that people start talking to their physical neighbors. However, people seem afraid to. But we must. If I were to design a strategy it would be to develop about four or five scripts for talking to people that everyone can memorize and employ when needed. Don’t make people have to come up with this message by themselves. Use neuropsychology to influence the election.