When I was sitting with JG at her synagogue yesterday catching up on weeks of news and gossip, we--naturally--started chatting about the election. She's an expert in communication, so she was telling me that while phone banks, yard signs, and postcard campaigns have "affective" worth in that they make the people who participate in them feel good, they don't really convince other people. The only thing that convinces other people and might change votes is reaching out to people in our networks--using our "relational" connection is the only way to persuade people to vote for good.
Now that we're here. The thought of a Trump presidency terrifies me for all the obvious reasons. And I'm now worried about the possibility of large-scale electoral college swindles. And also, the daily psychic exhaustion of the ongoing genocide in Gaza is immense. At this point, in less than a year, over 350,000 people have died in horrifying and preventable circumstances. The excuse people make for other genocides--"but I didn't know"--doesn't work here. We can look away, but we cannot dare say we didn't know. 350,000 people. This is not normal. This is not a natural disaster we couldn't prevent; on the contrary, we have participated in and precipitated this by sending the bombs that killed these people. Most of us don't want to and yet, despite being a democracy, our government continues to defy us. Which is connected to why I'm not thrilled that that Fucking Dick--Cheney is ostensibly on the same side as me. How is his endorsement a good thing? Who's next? Pol Pot?
Anyway... Deep breath.
14 comments:
Oh that photo!!!!
Cute.
Though I do know people who are voting the other way (extended family) I don't actually have the kind of relationship with them in which I'd have any sway. I can't imagine how that would work. So my activism is mainly GOTV postcards for Democratic voters. I think the people on the lists are those who don't always vote, so the convincing is to go do it.
I love that photo!
I think you're probably right about the "affective" vs. 'relational." I'm pretty sure very few people are convinced to vote a certain way after seeing a yard sign. Most people HATE getting phone calls. The postcard campaigns may have a very small effect? Maybe because they feel more personal? Although- I wouldn't be convinced of anything just by getting a postcard in the mail. Once again this goes back to the unfathomable fact that some people are still undecided in this election??? How is that possilble?
I don't even want to read about electoral college swindles because it will make me too anxious. WHY do we still have the electoral college??? Is there a real reason? I don't understand it.
I think there is still real value in what Michelle Obama said: Do Something. We all have to start somewhere. If putting a yard sign up ignites a spark, that spark may catch fire and help the person to donate time or money as well. That person might also speak to someone, i.e., "Well, I have a Harris sign in my yard. I'm voting for her because...". Often, the person with the yard sign got it as a result of a donation.
It doesn't take an expert to know that communication is vital in pretty much everything. Perhaps the postcard AND seeing the sign in the yard of a person they admire/trust makes a person want to know more or consider a candidate. Maybe you or I wouldn't be swayed by either one, but perhaps someone else would.
I think the undecided voter is the same thing as the low information voter. That's the premise we have to work from.
That photo is magnificently gorgeous. The mutual delight jumps off the screen. ❤️
I sort of want to do a study about the size of yard signs versus how well people would do on a political knowledge quiz. I mean, I have some suspicions about the correlation...(this is my dark past as a political scientist coming out, obviously)
<3
Thanks!
Steph, that's what I've done too...
Thanks, Jenny! UGH and YES on the undecideds and the electoral college...
Nance, I like your idea about the cumulative effect of those things my friend thinks are non consequential! And as always, I agree that we must act even if only to give ourselves hope. Despair is the thief of progress.
Anon--thanks for this... the mutuality <3
Haha, Engie! And font size too?
Post a Comment