Unemployment is down, the stock market is humming along, we’re winning the trade wars, and everything is great — and it’s all thanks to Greatest President Ever, Donald J. Trump. Or so his fans are waving in our faces. So here’s what to do — ask them a few questions and see what answers they have.
To make it easy, these are written so they can be answered with a yes or no. The more YES answers, the better. The more NO or I DON’T KNOW answers…
Some of these questions are intended to make the recipient think; some are intended to show you where they are coming from. And some of them almost demand follow up. None of them are written to be specifically partisan — but they are intended to be personal. Push polling is designed to shape people’s views by the way they frame questions; think of this as nudge polling.
If someone tells you the economy under Trump is doing so well, ask them:
- Are you seeing more money in your take-home pay?
- Are you able to put money away in savings?
- Are you able to get by on just one job?
- Do you feel secure about your job?
- Think you would have any trouble finding a new job?
- Would it be a better job?
- Think your kids are going be able to do as well as you?
- Think you’re doing as well as your parents?
- Is the value of your home going up?
- Are you as well off as you were before the Great Recession?
- Is the deficit getting paid down?
- Are there any new businesses starting up in your town?
- Would you want to launch a business now?
- Do you feel confident you’ll be able to retire in comfort?
- Is college more affordable for you and your kids now?
- Are you able to deal with student loan debt?
- Do you trust the banks with your money?
- Do you trust Wall Street?
- Do you think the economy can keep going on like this?
- Do you think the US is winning the trade wars?
- Can you think of a way the trade wars have made your life better?
- Did your taxes work out okay this year?
- Is Social Security safer?
- Are we going to see benefits increase?
- Think Medicare is safer?
- Is your health insurance holding up?
- Can you afford the medicines you need?
- Are the roads and bridges in your town getting fixed up and replaced?
- Are the schools in your town getting better?
- Are gas prices okay where you are?
- Are you okay with your electric bills?
- Do you think your electric service is more reliable?
- Is your cable service — if you have it — okay?
- Is your internet access okay?
- Do you think concern for the environment is hurting the economy?
- Do you think we should ignore climate change as long as the economy is doing well?
- Do you think you are doing well enough so you can afford to be ready for a natural disaster?
- If your town got hit by a natural disaster, do you think the Federal Government could afford to help you rebuild?
If they have problems coming up with Yes answers or the Yes answers take them places that make them uncomfortable, this might get them thinking about who the economy really seems to be working for, where they fit in that picture, and where the country is headed.
Expect a lot of deflection and irrelevant answers the deeper they are into the Trump bubble. You never know when the right question will pierce it though — one reason they avoid questioning what’s going on. They wouldn’t be in there if they didn’t like it, and if what’s outside didn’t frighten them.
You can turn it back on them. For example, a Trump dead ender just tried to highjack a Facebook post from my Congressman about the Trump regime’s refusal to cooperate with Congress by talking about the border ‘crisis’. Supposedly a million+ people are arriving at the border this year. As I pointed out, A) there are over 300 million Americans — less than a fraction of 1% is hardly going to overwhelm us, B) if the economy is doing so well we ought to be able to afford to deal with them, and C) Unemployment is low — so what’s the problem?
They use deflection and distraction — because they really don’t have any answers, and they know it. That’s why getting them to ask the right questions can work better than just stating facts. There are only so many ‘alternative facts’ that can be used before they start contradicting themselves.