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This has been on my mind for a while, so I decided to compose a thread: âHow to effectively engage persuadable voters that *you think* you have very little in common with.â I organized for Obama in some very âredâ rural places and Iâd like to share some wisdom...
The first rule of persuasion is active listening. It sounds trite, but the historic divide between urban and rural voters is largely based on misconceptions. Example: Râs think 38% of the Left is LGBT (itâs 6%) and Dâs think 25% of Râs make more than 250K a year (itâs 2%).
Before you insert your opinion, listen. Thereâs a surprising amount of common ground on issues like Climate Change, Gun Control, and taxing Billionaires, in both parties, but if you donât listen, and ask questions, you wonât get past the standard partisan tribalism.
Secondly, be empathetic and sympathetic. Life in cities isnât easy but life in rural America has been MUCH WORSE in the last 15 years. Crime rates have gone up, the Opioid epidemic has killed 200K, and all of the good jobs and skilled workers have left.
This has lead to decreasing property values, a lower tax base, crappier schools, and less qualified teachers. Infrastructure, local government, and local health care has all suffered. Rural people are scared and not seeing the benefits of economic growth, and thatâs why Trump won
Third... Be inclusive! Everyone wants to be a part of a movement, but nobody wants to join a movement where they arenât welcomed. Dems win when we have a BIG TENT. This means you donât call them racist, fascist, sexist, homophobic, etc. This doesnât mean compromising on values.
Fourth, and lastly: find common ground. Remind them that Democrats support higher wages, renterâs rights, pay equity, child-care, disaster relief, farm subsidies, and school funding.
Americans from all walks of life agree on more than we disagree on... so follow #RulesOfTheRoad, listen, be empathetic, be kind, and find common ground.
