Having been a teacher for 36 years, married to a teacher, and the father of two teachers, one in Wisconsin, the dire events in Wisconsin have me as frustrated and angry as most everyone else here. Now retired, I've been logging in five or more times a day to check Giles Goat Boy and Kodiak54, and I've been to Madison four times in the last two weeks. I knew that the eventual vote was expected, (although its timing and probable illegality were), and things will probably get worse until the Wisconsin Supreme Court election and recall votes. It occurred to me, though, that we also need to practice some principles that will stymie Republicans, and more importantly, win independents over. As much as I would like to play smash-mouth politics, I would rather change minds, win public opinion battles, and dominate elections. Here's how I think we win....
As a teacher, I learned relatively early that Socrates was right. There is enormous power in the practice of asking important questions, especially when you already know the answers. It forces people to defend themselves, often when they can't, and even those Tea Partiers who live in an alternate universe of their own fantasies and Fox cannot win a discussion when they can't answer questions. Here's how it could go. (I'm providing answers from memory, so I hope some data nerds will correct me, if needed. Others may certainly suggest even more pertinent questions. I'm mostly concerned with the approach here.)
Me: So you're upset with unions and the budget in Wisconsin? Do you know what the starting pay for a teacher in Wisconsin is? (low $30,000s)
Rush: Um
Me: Do you know what the ranking of teacher starting pay in Wisconsin is: (49th)
Rush: Um
Me: Do you know what the average pay for all teachers is in Wisconsin compared to the rest of the country? (middle to bottom half - the last I saw, 26th)
Rush: Um
Me: Do you know how much lower on average public workers are paid when compared to equivalent jobs in the public sector? (3%)
Rush: Listen, Pal, all the unions care about is their own rules, saving lazy workers, and screwing everyone else.
Me: Since you've just changed the subject instead of answering my questions or challenging my answer, I'm going to assume that you agree with me on that point about pay. You also don't have anything to support your opinion. Let's try again. Do you know what Walker claimed is the budget shortfall for next year? (135 million)
Rush: Millions
Me: That's it? Millions? Do you know how much of a tax break Walker gave to businesses two months earlier that caused this shortfall? (140 million)
Rush: Um
Me: Do you know what percentage of businesses paid no state taxes last year? (I heard two-thirds)
Rush: Um, I know a union guy who gets $100,000 per year and doesn't do anything.
Me: So you think a single case or example means we should do away with all unions? Would you be convinced if I give you a dozen cases of union workers who have gone far above and beyond their duty? Besides, do you really believe that teachers, nurses, policemen, prison guards, firemen, and service workers are your enemy? Do you think any of them went into that vocation out of greed?
Rush: You're just making stuff up. I believe that business paid too much in taxes.
Me: So you'd put it in the same category as Fox reporting 7 million in damages to the capitol building, just made up?
Rush: Yes
Me: So you admit that Fox must makes stuff up? I suggest if you doubt my numbers, and I'm fine with that, go do a little research on your own beyond Fox talking points. If you're going to have opinions, at least try to support them with some data.
Rush: I have all the facts I need.
Me: Such as the growing difference between rich and poor? (Forbes 400 are wealthier than 150 million Americans)
Rush: Well...
In my book, once you've got anyone to say, "Well...." with a pause after it, you've won.
You get the idea, and since you're Kossacks, I know there are people out there, especially Wisconsinites, a lot more informed than I am. I hope commenters will add their own powerful questions and answers.
I doubt whether any Tea Partier would "come around," but he might doubt what he hears, and may someday actually look for information. An independent might be convinced.
There are obviously some assumptions in my recommendation to simply ask questions.
1. Our position really is supported by important facts that most people don't know, and we need to keep looking for them and repeating them to everyone, everywhere.
2. Personal one-on-one interactions (a large part of the ground game) is more effective than millions spent on TV spots.
3. The effectiveness of questioning is based on what people DON'T know that you DO.
4. Shouting "This is what democracy looks like" is effective for solidarity and TV clips; the sheer numbers alone send a powerful message, but if you want votes, a civil, reasonable dialogue is more effective.
5. This battle is a marathon, not a hundred yard dash, and the winners will be unrelenting, steady, focused, and reasonable.
6. This approach does not preclude a very powerful, very emotional personal message of a nurse who "tells her story." That can be just as convincing.