The only way to beat Donald Trump and fix what he has done is to win elections in 2020. The only way to win elections is to have more votes than the Republicans. The only way to have more votes than the Republicans is to have ideas and programs that people want and that inspire people enough that they will go to the polls on Election Day.
I feel that we keep trying to complicate things. We keep trying to find a silver bullet. We keep spending an inordinate amount of our time fighting Trump and trying to find a way win over Trump supporters. Believe me I can empathize with that urge, I have been there, guilty as charged.
But I think we must stop and consider the simple path I outlined above as the way to change things - as the only way to change things.
Today I received a message out of the blue from Bill, a man I have never spoken to before in my life.
He wrote:
"Hi Jim. I’m a lifelong Republican. I like to think I have an open mind and am not a typical “Kool Aid” drinking, talking points kind of guy. I listened to what you said in your campaign against Josh Welle. I disagreed with some of your positions. I agreed with some also. I found you to be very credible. I think you’re the kind of person we desperately need making decisions for our immediate area and our country. Keep using your platform as a power of persuasion and positive messages. Your candidacy was refreshing to me. Based on your video I saw that you don’t just talk the talk, you walk the walk. Keep doing what you do, and you may just persuade enough people to make an even bigger difference. - Bill"
I feel like everyday people like Bill, who are Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters are asking really simple and direct questions: "What do you stand for? What can you do to help me and my family? What can you do to help the country?" We simply need to tell them. We need to answer these questions with simple and direct answers. And if enough people like what we are committed to doing and we work with them to get them to the polls, we win. When we win, we can begin to govern with the goal of bringing those ideas into reality and we will have the support of the majority of Americans to accomplish our shared goals.
It really is that simple.
Unfortunately, I feel that we are spending so much time resisting that we are missing a tremendous opportunity to organize and build a voting bloc big enough to win. Resisting only animates people for so long. To build a winning movement and one that can be sustained, it cannot simply be about what we are fighting against, it has to be about what we are fighting FOR - What is the future we want to start building together?
I also feel that sharing our ideas doesn't have to be the bloodsport that it currently is. We simply need to say, "This is what we believe. This is what we are fighting for. If you agree with us, please join us and help us win elections so that we can make what we believe in a reality. If you don't agree with us, that's ok, have a great day."
Yes, it really is that simple.
Peace JWK