Most people don't like to talk politics. Many simply refuse to talk politics, fearing a possibly acrimonious argument, or having to endure what they would view as an assault on their dearly-held unassailable beliefs.
On the other hand, it seems to me that Americans love to complain and quite freely carry on about personal problems, things which annoy them or thwart their pursuit of a decent life.
Just as all politics are local, all politics are personal.
That is, what happens in the remote, unfathomable corridors of power affects people every day of their lives on a very personal level.
Cut Social Security and Medicare, grandma must choose between medications and buying nutritious plum pudding.
Keep the minimum wage low, both parents have to work two or three jobs and there's no one home to watch the kids. Families disintegrate.
Keep the country at war, there's no money to fix to potholes which rattle the car when you drive to the funeral for your son or daughter who got sent back in a body bag.
You get the point.
There's no reason to "talk politics" with people. There is very good reason to talk about the problems we're all to one degree or another victims of. These are the problems which are NOT GETTING SOLVED by our government representatives.
I promised in the previous article in this series, I would suggest what to say after "Would you like a cupcake?" or "Nice weather we're having today."
I can't dictate specific sentences. There's no set-in-stone script for this. I can offer general guidelines and the overall direction such conversations should take.
First off, what to avoid: There should be no reference to ideologies or ideological leanings -- conservative, liberal, socialist, libertarian -- nor any mention of political parties. Period!
The labels don't matter. We live in the same community. We're all Americans.
Second: Stay away from generalities. "All politicians are crooks." Like Abraham Lincoln? "I believe in America and the Constitution." So what? "Our congressman is a good man." He probably is, but he is still not doing his job. "My family has always voted Democrat." Right. And there are people who always eat ice cream for breakfast. That doesn't mean it's a very smart thing to do.
These broad, sweeping exhortations may be satisfying in some way, and may even be true. The truth is, in terms of getting anything of substance accomplished they go nowhere. They lead directly to resignation and apathy.
Stick to tangible issues, the stuff that puts people in a bad mood, everyday! This usually means bread-and-butter, life-and-death issues. These are things which because of bad public policy cause growling stomachs, empty savings accounts, astronomical credit card debt, sickness and the difficulties of getting medical treatment, disappointment, despair, heartache, disillusion. A battered citizen is not impacted by philosophical differences or observations about the human condition. They are feeling pain. Neglect. Abuse.
Third, and perhaps most important: DO NOT TALK PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS -- unless of course the person insists on it. Yes, the presidential race is exciting, dramatic, baffling, entertaining, frustrating, infuriating. But just leave it alone for now. Even if you agree with the person you're talking to, it is both a distraction and a dead end.
And if you don't agree, the potential for constructive engagement will be totally destroyed.
We need to talk about problems and solutions, not add to the deafening din of discord and division. At the end of the day . . .
We all face the same opponents and challenges.
We all have identical, similar, or related problems. If those problems are not solved, then we will all -- with the exception of the very rich and powerful who will move someplace else or start a colony on the moon -- suffer. Individually and collectively we will pay a heavy price.
So what do you talk about?
Remember the percentages from the previous article:
75% of Americans want a federal minimum wage of $12.50 per hour.
63% of Americans want a federal minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.
75% of voters want fair trade agreements protecting jobs, workers, the environment.
76% of voters want a cut back on military spending.
76% of voters want the U.S. completely out of Afghanistan.
79% of voters want no reductions in Social Security, 70% support expanding it.
79% of voters want no reductions in Medicare.
80% of voters oppose the "Citizens United" U.S. Supreme Court decision.
68% of voters think taxes on the wealthy should be increased.
71% of voters support massive infrastructure renewal.
74% of American voters are for ending oil industry subsidies.
93% of voters want GMO labeling on their food.
Look at the level of agreement we share on many issues.
Frankly, we have a lot to talk about and if those percentages are correct, there are very good odds that whoever you are talking to is already negatively impacted by our elected officials not addressing at least one, but more probably several of the items listed above.
It will all come to the surface.
Like I said, there is no script. But just as examples, here are some openers:
"My kid is still living with me. He's working at Walmart and can't make ends meet. With the crash back in 2008, we can barely make ends meet."
"My mom and dad might have to move in with me. They've been working hard all their lives but Social Security just isn't enough."
"Did you know that the high school ran out of money and can't afford to buy new text books? Probably doesn't matter. My son can't afford college anyway."
"Your garden looks great! You're very smart. Who knows what they put in our food these days. Did you know one out of every three Americans now gets cancer?"
"My nephew got killed in Afghanistan. He was only 20 years-old. Why are we fighting in Afghanistan? Will these wars ever end?"
It's just a matter of looking at who you're talking to, sensing what is important, finding some common ground, then both sharing the frustration and acknowledging the need to do something about solving the problems.
Listening . . . common sense . . . and basic intuition go a long ways.
Anyone reading this is intelligent and caring. Otherwise, why would you be reading this? Why would you have made it this far in this article? You could be watching TV, a movie from Netflix, or updating your Facebook page.
I know you care. I also know that -- again if the percentages above are anywhere close to accurate -- you personally have been slapped around and brutalized by the insensitivity and inaction of our elected representatives.
Everyone wants the mess to be cleaned up. Everyone wants life to start looking up again for the vast majority of Americans who have been marginalized and ignored for too long.
So just talk. Talk and listen.
Maybe people won't talk politics. But once the floodgate is open, people will talk about what's hurting them, what's now holding them back, how they are getting screwed by the system and those who have looted the country and run America into the ground, how they had wonderful dreams and hopes for their children which have been betrayed, how the American Dream is being destroyed.
They will talk. You will listen. Then you will propose something very simple.
That something will be introduced in Part IV of this series.
[ This originated at the author's personal website . . . http://jdrachel.com ]
Putting Boots (Birkenstocks) on the Ground: Part III
