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Bella_Babe's avatar

I know that Norway, I think, has systems in their school that teach kids how to recognize propaganda and misinformation. It would be amazing if we could start something like that here.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Over the course of the last century, the American left has been so often oppressed and mischaracterized by the right that it seems to many of them that what they desire for society are pipe dreams which will never come true. And that's why many of them stop voting...

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Walter Rhein's avatar

I think that's an accurate and unfortunate assessment

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Yes. The best President America never had was Eugene Debs.

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SYLVIA CRIXELL's avatar

Excellent. I love this !

A broad plan that correctly portrays children as victims or potential victims with concrete solutions is beautiful.

Ideally, victimization would not just focus on immigrants, but also include our nation’s poor (rural as well as urban) who have lost: access to food via rollbacks on SNAP, encroaching higher prices, encroaching unemployment; access to healthy foods previously provided by local farmers; access to good teachers through encroachment of voucher programs for the rich that robs public schools; access to childcare via defunding of Head Start, which will further impoverish families because parents may have to stay home; and access to healthcare due to defunding of Medicare.

It’s about the kids! Violence in schools affects them all. Poverty affects US schoolchildren, an inclusive group.

Thank you!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you! Yes let's keep building on this!

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Lori Ayre's avatar

Please check out this post from Stephanie Church....she's on the track you are suggesting which I agree is very effective: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161915087

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Valerie Starr's avatar

One of the BEST things I’ve read defining why we’ve lost elections. This should be read by EVERYONE who wants maga out of power and our democracy restored. I worked in student government in college and found the attitudes you describe most pervasive in liberal/progressive organizations. And they’d utilize all the negative buzzwords in attempts at shaming one to “their side”. Also, having lived in what once was a red state and now on the verge of purple, the hubris you describe often frustrated attempts at election headway. I can’t thank you enough for stating what NEEDED to be said!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you so much Valerie! I appreciate that! I'm slowly building a nice following but your support and shares make all the difference!

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DGeiger's avatar

Excellent idea! Very actionable solution. Love it. Hugs, D~

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Carol's avatar

Great ideas! We teach our children not to engage with strangers they don’t know, or what to if someone tries to grab them. We really shouldn’t have to worry about government agents doing the same, but here we are. Kids need to be informed and taught what action to take.

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Pat Sgro's avatar

You’re right. My logical brain half agrees. Yes.

But these dumb dumbs who selected ‘him’? After all the horrible things he’s done and represents? And what he said he would do? I’m always open to people who realise and admit mistakes, and u turn, and eat their ego.

But these dumb dumbs — the world is paying the price now. Untold will suffer. What a shame.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Our job is to educate them. But yes, i waste energy on anger too.

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Jim Ryan's avatar

One big problem is that we mainly talk to each other. We analyze incipient fascism to the ninth decimal point but never distill any of that into simple messages

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Walter Rhein's avatar

The other thing is the left is happy to allow the right to speak lie after lie as if those things "are too small to oppose," but they rouse themselves to obstruct any progressive who attempts to put a beneficial plan in action. I've often felt the centrist liberals are deliberately trying to derail our efforts.

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Jim Ryan's avatar

So many of the liberal centrists are valedictorian types who have succeeded in life by meeting every expectation of academia and business. For most of their life, their messaging has been judged by people like professors and bosses, who were paid to listen. The ruling powers in those environments reward lengthy, completist screeds and 'showing your work.' They penalize messaging that might move people's emotions. So your average Centrist (organization man/woman) has comprehensive training in being boring and easy to ignore.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

That's a very good way of putting it.

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Jim Ryan's avatar

Welp, my Substack is all about improving liberal messaging to counter right wing bad faith and media dominance. So if that appeals to you, please subscribe and tell your subscribers to do the same. https://jimryan.substack.com/

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Walter Rhein's avatar

I've added your publication to my recommendations!

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Jim Ryan's avatar

Thank you! And I've done the same for you!

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Danny Hoback's avatar

I agree with part of what you say. I fully agree that it’s futile and counter-productive to “debate” their fascism. Messaging is lost to fox and their ilk. Their simple answers are more attractive than our complex narratives. Not sure kids can stand up to kidnappers….Not sure MAGA gives a shit about kids. They haven’t had anything to offer on school shootings except more guns in school.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

My focus is on getting control of the messaging.

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SYLVIA CRIXELL's avatar

Bingo. It’s our greatest weakness, as you indicated.

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Danny Hoback's avatar

We definitely need to do so.

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