I am glad that the threat to American democracy has moved into the top place among issues of concern to the American electorate. 21% putting it there is an improvement.
But I’m stuck on the idea that -- despite the truth about our crisis being so obvious and so absolutely crucial -- only one out of five Americans realize it.
(And maybe even fewer, since some of that 21% might well be from that three-fourths of the Republican base that believes the Big Lie, and therefore believe American Democracy has already been overturned by Biden’s supposedly stealing the Presidency from Trump.)
By Election Day, it would help save American democracy for that number to be much higher.
The question is: What is the best messaging campaign to maximally increase that 21%?
For the higher that number is, the greater the chance that the political force – the Democratic Party -- that is working to protect our constitutional order will prevail.
It is doubtful that more than a small minority wants fascism. The majority is for Democracy, and the majority wins elections. And that means that the more people go to the polls regarding Democracy vs. Fascism as the central issue, the more likely the election is to push the Party of Fascism away from power.
The Bandwagon Effect: One part of a good messaging campaign is making use of that poll finding, and that’s what many in the pro-democracy world have begun to do. That poll result can help to gather a bandwagon effect around this issue.
(In America, there is a faith in the people. “You can truth the American majority to call it right,” is part of the national ethos. When the “threat to democracy” issue wins the poll, it becomes more legitimate and appealing as a position to adopt. In public opinion, them that has, gets. The poll helps harness that power of crowds.)
Directing Attention: The poll can also bolster the cause of Democracy by pointing a finger at the “threat to democracy.” That “top spot” attracts attention, provides an opportunity to show people a persuasive picture of the threat posed by today’s Party of Fascism. The creative challenge is to fashion the best messaging campaign, i.e. one that
- can fire up the motivation of those who do see it to work to defeat it.
- can get those swing voters who might otherwise unknowingly vote in support of that “threat to democracy” to see that reality and rally to save our democracy.
- can perhaps even move those people who believe in Democracy but, somehow, have lent their support to the Party of Fascism, to see the “threat” that today’s Republican Party poses, and withdraw their support.
It’s not only perception, but also the springs of motivation, that should be addressed.
Even if most Americans would choose Democracy over fascism, the difference likely doesn’t loom large for many Americans. Americans should also be helped to understand how huge the stakes are for all of us—even for those who, somehow, are supporting the fascistic power that is openly working to be able to install itself as a regime that does not have to answer to the real American majority.
- People should understand what a burden it is for people to live under a fascistic regime, like in utterly corrupt Russia, where people get thrown into prison with fifteen year sentences for protesting the dictator’s genocidal invasion of a peaceful neighbor, and where the dictator cannot be stopped from feeding Russia’s young men into the meat-grinder of his ill-conceived, fascistic war.
- People should understand that meeting this challenge of protecting our democracy is required for us to have much good happen on all the other issues that we face. Fascist forces are almost invariably far more destructive than constructive. So “threats to democracy” must be the top issue, for everything else depends on it.
One advantage of the messaging campaign that’s called for is that it has the Truth going for it. The fascistic force we are up against specializes always in lies. The Truth is, the great majority of Americans would not want to go where today’s extraordinary Republican Party is openly trying to drive the nation.
It is good news that the man with the bully pulpit – President Biden – has begun to deliver a campaign message that bolsters the understanding of those 21%. Saving American democracy from Fascism is the central issue right now. And if the voters don’t assure that the right side wins on that issue, we are unlikely to see any of the other issues get dealt with in constructive ways in our foreseeable future.