Liberalism isn’t going to save us. Way I see it, if we want a better country, we have three options:
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Violent revolution. This should be a last resort, and I don’t think we are quite there yet.
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Wait for Fascism to collapse. It will. Problem is, A FUCKING LOT of people will suffer and die in the mean time.
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Mobilize a viable third party. No, not the Greens. They are just as corrupt as the rest, and they pal around with Fascist traitors. I’m talking about a real grass roots Leftist movement, starting from the ground up. Basically, use the exact same playbook that MAGA used. They spent the past decade taking over social media with their Manosphere bullshit, and suddenly Gen Z shifted hard to the Right, which younger generations almost never do. We need to take back that online space. Take over town hall meetings, take over school boards, take over city councils, show up in huge numbers to vote for actual good (or as good as we can get) judges and DA’s. This also means volunteering, phone banking, door knocking, and most importantly of all, some of you need to run for office. Even something local can make a difference in your community. That’s how MAGA won. They didn’t even have the numbers. They just had the right strategy, and in their hubris, Democrats ignored it.
The third option is obviously what I prefer to happen. It’ll take a few years, and we may not even win the White House in 2028. But this isn’t about you or me. It’s about the future of civilization. If they did it, so can we. Let’s not be outsmarted by a bunch of people who worship a man who can’t fucking read.
Not saying it can’t be done, obviously it can but to many people saying “run for office” is like saying “build a car”.
Are there primers on how to start with a campaign for people that have the desire but not the knowledge?
What is all involved in starting and running a successful campaign?
How much time do you need to dedicate to the campaign?
What would be the personal cost for running for office?
Who do you need to hire to help you (manager, donation specialist, volunteer coordinator, etc)?
My guess to this is that the higher the office the more people and money you will need.
I’m not writing this to be contrary but to really get answers - I think more people would be more open to the idea if they could see what a campaign needs to be successful.
I’m specifically barred from holding any public office, political or not until I exit the military. I have about a year left before I can launch any kind of campaign legally. Assuming we survive that long, I plan to. That all said I have no idea what I’m doing and would love to have the answers to the questions you pose here.
Definitely good questions. I couldn’t find any “Beginners Guide to Running for Office”, so I sat up for a while chugging coffee and reading a whole bunch of local election board websites and other related sources, and this is what I came up with. This is by no means a comprehensive list or plan, but I tried to break down the main components of running for a local office in the most general terms possible, so it could be applied more broadly.
Preparation
- Figure out which office you want to run for, where you think you can make the most difference with your skill-set in your community.
- Research the responsibilities of the office you’re seeking. Attend school board or city council (or whatever) meetings to see how they operate. Take lots of notes or record it if allowed.
- Identify key issues in your community, your potential opponents, and the demographics of your district.
- Clearly articulate why you’re running and what you hope to achieve. This will be the foundation of your campaign.
- Check your local election board for eligibility requirements like residency, age, filing deadlines, and paperwork.
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- Here’s a portal to all state and local election offices - https://www.usa.gov/state-election-office
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- Leon County, Florida Supervisor of Elections has a great breakdown that should give you a general idea of the necessary requirements, deadlines, and paperwork - https://www.leonvotes.gov/Candidates-Elected-Officials-and-Campaign-Finance/How-to-Run-for-Local-Office
Campaign Team
- Campaign Manager: Appoint someone to oversee operations. Preferably someone with some political savvy and/or managerial experience.
- Treasurer: Appoint someone to manage finances and ensure compliance with campaign finance laws.
- Volunteers: Recruit a team of dedicated volunteers for canvassing, phone banking, and event support. The number of volunteers will vary, depending on the size of your campaign, but there’s no such thing as too many.
- Advisors: Network with local community leaders and activists who share your vision, and listen to them. They have their ears to the ground, and can offer critical advice on what your community needs.
Campaign Strategy
- Set a budget and determine how much money you’ll need for materials, advertising, and events. Focus on grassroots fundraising. This seems to be the most difficult part with no clear answer, so look into the campaign financing of previous candidates running for the same office to get an idea of how much it’ll likely cost.
- Develop a clear, concise message that resonates with voters.
- Identify your base and tailor your outreach to their concerns.
- Map out key milestones like filing deadlines, debates, voter registration deadlines, and Election Day. Set realistic goals to accomplish by those dates.
Build Your Brand
- Create a professional logo and a memorable slogan that reflects your values. Say what you want about Trump, but “Make America Great Again” and “MAGA” are a great slogan/logo combo. It’s simple, clear, and easy to remember.
- Build a simple website with your bio, platform, and contact info. Use social media to engage voters and share updates.
- Print flyers, yard signs, and business cards to distribute in the community.
Community Engagement
- Knock on doors to introduce yourself and listen to voters concerns.
- Show up at community gatherings, fairs, and town halls to build visibility.
- Organize meet-and-greets, town halls, or fundraisers to connect with voters.
- Seek support from local leaders, organizations, and activists to boost your credibility and visibility.
- Volunteer at homeless shelters, food banks, and other places. Even just a day here and there can make all the difference. Engage with employees, customers, and residents about your campaign. Listen to their concerns, and offer viable solutions.
Fundraising
- Focus on grassroots fundraising by asking friends, family, and community members for small contributions.
- Set up a donation portal on your website and promote it on social media.
- Keep detailed records of all donations and expenses to comply with campaign finance laws.
Messaging
- Send press releases to local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations to announce your candidacy and major events.
- Participate in candidate debates and forums to showcase your platform.
- Post regularly about your platform, events, and endorsements. Engage with people in the comments.
- Send postcards or letters to targeted voters highlighting your key issues.
Get People to Vote
- Help eligible voters register before the deadline.
- Encourage supporters to vote early or by mail if available.
- Organize volunteers to remind voters to cast their ballots and offer rides to the polls if needed.
Again, this is by no means a comprehensive, foolproof plan. I didn’t include many resources, because requirements, deadlines, and paperwork all vary by state and county. These just seemed to be the most common points I picked up from a number of sources, and should at least give you an idea of how and what to research further.
Personally, I have no ambition to run for office because I’m already 50 and don’t want to add to the pool of geriatrics running this country. We need to hand the torch to young people. That said, I will help any way I can if someone younger wants to run. Speech writing, phone banking, logo design, or pretty much anything else, I will gladly offer my services for free.
Great list, thank you for putting it together!
The 3rd option is still playing with liberal electoralism which got you here in the first place. you could get results faster with mutual aid and strong unions, this is how you guys got worker rights before, in the times of FDR.
A better presence in social media is a good direction though, especially in federated communities that don’t need to fear corporate censorship.
Liberal electoralism isn’t going anywhere any time soon, unfortunately. We still have to operate within that system if we want to affect any change for the better at the political level. Things like mutual aid and strengthening unions can and should happen right alongside it, just as they did before. But that’s a good addition, and I should have mentioned it.
Honestly I’m attempting option 3 any way I can currently. I keep telling my partner if I lose my job I oughta become one of those youtube/twitch talking heads but for actual leftist views and maybe I can help the shift back.
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Nope, sorry, I just saw a politico article about Newsom agreeing with Charlie Kirk on trans people in sports that basically boiled down to “FINALLY! SOMEONE understands that this is the most critical topic in America today, and for Democrats to win, they need to become republicans!”
The democrats aren’t leading us anywhere. They’re not going to save us. They have no vision besides being dollar store republicans and wondering why Republican voters keep choosing Republicans over them.
They have no vision besides being dollar store republicans and wondering why Republican voters keep choosing Republicans over them.
While screaming at anyone to their left for not being enthusiastic to vote for dollar store republicans.
There is a reason the main Democratic leadership is not pushing a more left leaning agenda, they would lose. If the left got a foothold on the national conversation like maga did then the middle of the road Democrats fear they will go the way of the middle of the road Republicans and that is out of power.
There is a reason the main Democratic leadership is not pushing a more left leaning agenda, they would lose.
Well, they just lost by moving right.
Yes they did but they didn’t lose control of their narrative which is weak and feckless.
“give me more money and keep me in power and I promise to not do much.” and “don’t look left, they are crazy!”
Yes they did but they didn’t lose control of their narrative which is weak and feckless.
Weak and feckless is their brand.
The Democrats feel like they are more concerned about how the utencils are arranged beside the plate than making sure people have food on it.
look up your local water treatment infrastructure. look up all the suppliers, and their suppliers, so you know who to talk to when you’re the last thing between your city and mass dysentery. maybe get some reserve chemicals and commonly broken parts, if you can afford it.
and figure out how to keep your local nazis from destroying all the infrastructure. they love doing that shit.
The Republics run the kitchen because a bunch of absent voters refused to help the Dems help us all.
The Dems weren’t all that helpful when they had power…
Dems have always been incredibly helpful.
From 2002 to 2010 they removed money from politics, until Citizens United SCOTUS decision took that away from us. Changing it would require a 60 senate supermajority for constitutional amendment, or 60 majority to reform the SCOTUS.
Dems gave us the ACA with protections for preexisting conditions and expanded Medicaid and Chip to cover 79 Million Americans currently. If we gave them the 60 supermajority without caucusing independent Joe Lieberman, or maybe even with caucus for more than only 72 days, they would have given us Public Option which would be so cheap that private insurance firms couldn’t even compete at all, effectively singlepayer.
Dems gave us green infrastructure and forest protections, investing in solar and EVs.
If we had elected Dems in 2016 or 2024 they’d be writing the tax laws, too.
The Dem president Joe Biden increased the sick leave coverage for class 1 freight workers from 5% to over 90% if not 100% over the course of his term.
If you ever expect any of that shit from Republicans, you’re an idiot.
From 2002 to 2010 they removed money from politics
They did? Where were all those corporate campaign dollars to them going, then?
Changing it would require a 60 senate supermajority for constitutional amendment, or 60 majority to reform the SCOTUS.
Or, a 51 majority, after getting rid of the filibuster rule… Which they refused to do, every, single, time.
Dems gave us the ACA with protections for preexisting conditions and expanded Medicaid and Chip to cover 79 Million Americans currently.
Dems gave us the Heritage Foundation health care plan, where we all HAVE to buy a private health insurance policy, and we get subsidized with tax dollars to buy a private health insurance policy.
Basically, the ACA created the conditions for Luigi!
If we gave them the 60 supermajority without caucusing independent Joe Lieberman, or maybe even with caucus for more than only 72 days, they would have given us Public Option which would be so cheap that private insurance firms couldn’t even compete at all, effectively singlepayer.
Why didn’t they just get rid of the filibuster, and pass the public option then?
Dems gave us green infrastructure and forest protections, investing in solar and EVs.
I assume you mean the IRA, and that “green infra we built” is being given away to Elon for free. Forest protections? Ok, I’ll give that. Investing in solar and EVs? Again, handouts to corporations.
If we had elected Dems in 2016 or 2024 they’d be writing the tax laws, too.
Weird. Why didn’t the Dems do it in 1999, 2008, 2012, etc etc… You know? All those times they had a majority, and refused to use it, and instead just slid farther right to “meet in the middle” that always just moved to the right…
The Dem president Joe Biden increased the sick leave coverage for class 1 freight workers from 5% to over 90% if not 100% over the course of his term.
Don’t even know what you’re referring to, but I hope not the rail workers… Because only 20% of workers have sick leave coverage, and it’s not even “sick leave” as they still have to call in the day before. There was a reason the majority of rail workers voted to oppose that deal, and went on strike.
And the strike, which, Biden broke. By forcing an already rejected contract. Only one set of union leaders supported the move, out of 6 unions.
There’s a reason Biden, and Harris lost union support this election. Because of how anti-union they are.
If you ever expect any of that shit from Republicans, you’re an idiot.
I very much expect the GOP to hand billions to oligarchs, break labor strikes, and force people into buying a private market product… And they seem to do all of that without a 61 person majority in the senate, somehow.
This has a better chance at working if it’s addressed to Santa Clause.
As long as we keep asking democrats to solve problems we deserve what we get. They have proved incompetence regularly since the Obamacare public option blunder (and longer than that) when the opportunity was there to make radical change.
When they hold office, they have no power. When they are out of office they cry about the power the other side has magically found. They always vote resoundingly in favor of war, lowering taxes on the rich/corporations, and their own salary increases while giving us all the parliamentarian middle finger.
And no you are not taking over or changing the party as it’s owned by the people who don’t want to help you.
Time to start fresh.
Stop voting for establishment politicians.
If they’re part of the Obama/Clinton crew, they need to go.
That’s part of the problem. In some states there are basically only establishment dems on the ballot. The popular dems at the moment are AOC and Bernie who are from NYC (Bronx) and Vermont respectively. Both of those areas are solid blue.
I’m out on the west coast, another very blue area, and the vibe is to primary out a few dems who are bending the knee
Good. Change is slow, but this is moving in the right (left?) direction.
We need a 3rd party thats not completely bought off.
Progressive ideals? Democrats can’t even spell it, let alone legislate it without corporate strings attached. Incisive critique of bipartisan failure and urgent call for accountability.
🐱🐱🐱🐱🐱
we don’t need the democrats. they will never step up. they have had so many chances. if anyone remembers the 2000 election, you’ll know that this is all kind of their fault. they won an election, and gave it up because the nazis threw a fucking fit.
if you want leadership, pick up a fucking banner. you are the government now. and you should be fucking pissed about that.
We need the Democrats. We need 60 in the senate. That’s the only way out which doesn’t result in things only getting worse.
We don’t need 60, we need 51 Democrats willing to get rid of the filibuster.
We could have all 100 and they would still find enough no votes.
We need 60 in the senate.
And if they ever get 60, they’ll need 70 to do anything. They’re useless on purpose and you’re making excuses for them.
Blaming Democrats for… Not being shit compared to Republicans and MAGA? This is some next level stupidity. The fact is, propaganda is everywhere and most Americans are stupid. It’s the perfect combination. GTFO of here.
We can absolutely blame Democrats. They were the incumbent party, typically an enormous advantage, and squandered it. The lesser of two evils wasn’t lesser enough. They didn’t even run primaries when they dropped their incumbent president, so I can’t even pretend the shame is on me.
Stop pretending there are rules. They didn’t do this thing or the other and lost because of it. No, they lost because the rules no longer apply and, again, Americans are stupid. Stupid people soak up Fox news lies without a second thought, and that’s all it takes.
Bingo. They’re victim blaming to be divisive. The real problem has nothing to do with Democrats.
I’ll keep saying this: it’s precious that people still believe The Constitution has any sway and that we are a country of laws. That ship has sailed over the horizon.
I agree, Republicans and Democrats keep taking turns swinging their axe at the tree every four to eight years. The tree hasn’t fallen over yet, but it was dead a long time ago.
It would have been nice if Democrats were in a position but we’re in a death spiral of articles like this being critical of them so fat fuck chance of ever winning another election.
fat fuck chance of ever
winninganother electionThe democratic party joined the oligarchs a long time ago, what they did to Bernie was evidence. Now they’re the part of the system that failed. If there is another election, the opposition candidate will need to be a grassroots candidate working to fix the failures that this election demonstrated. Every state senator and house rep will need to support that candidate or the system is lost. And this is if there is another another election. I doubt there will be. And sadly, if there is, I feel that due to Russia and the oligarch’s influence, it will be a sham election to keep fascism in power.
Yeah how dare they
*checks notes
Allow an independent on their party ticket who lost the primary by double the amount of votes, by 10 million dnc primary votes…
Didn’t Harris come dead last in the only dem primary for POTUS candidate that she ran in?
If you’re insinuating she would have performed worse than Biden in 2024, polls disagree.
She came in way behind Sanders…
If your shitty party wants less criticism, they should earn less criticism.
How dare you say that on Lemmy, or Reddit for that matter! Democrats and liberal ideology can do NO WRONG in these parts!
Right? Look at how downvoted OP is as well as all the replies that are also critical of Democrats…
… Oh wait, it looks like you’re full of shit.
I think the democrats are applying the age old adage: “Never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake.”
Or they could be in the minority in both house, senate, SCOTUS, and white house and they can’t do shit besides filibuster and sue.
ONE member of the democratic party acted appropriately for a parliamentary resistance. one. and I would argue it’s several years late.
if they were serious about this, the white house lawn would have been covered in gallows on january 7th. trump would have run from prison. nazi groups would have been hunted by feds like they were fucking communists who’d just blown up a pipeline. every day of the biden administration would have had FBI kill teams slaughtering groipers who’d fled to argentina or some crap.
they didn’t do any of that, because they were not serious. they don’t care. they are not and will not ever be the resistance. please please wake up. please fight. we need you.
What democrats really do is “never interrupt your enemy ever because decorum”, though this adage would be assuming they actually consider republicans as enemies. They’ll point and scream about trump and then promote other republicans like dick cheney who largely have the same policies as trump but who act according to decorum better.
at best the democrats don’t understand the assignment. at worst they understand this to be the assignment
i fear for the core of the party, it’s the latter, and that the majority is following that core because they don’t know the assignment
so you would take out Bernie and AOC over a law to remove SA content?
trump is already suing media companies openly so he doesn’t even need this.
The dem party needs to be burned to the ground, I don’t think it is reformable at this point.
Yes, let’s pick a party and burn it to the ground. Wait, what?
No, this is a long time coming and it isn’t something I say brashly, I think it is the only way forward at this point unfortunately shrugs
primary everyone if all the resistance they’re willing to give us is auction paddles
The last guy in charge was a corporate lobbyist so…
At this point a total collapse of the USA’s 2-party-system seems the best of all realistic alternatives.
Because the Dems getting their shit together in less than 4 years certainly isn’t realistic.
The two party system can’t collapse without taking the whole government down with it. It’s baked into the constitution. Not in words as such, but in mathematical reality. I just want to be real about “realistic outcomes.” Fix the parties or rewrite the whole fucking shebang.
And that second option—there is a lot unsaid there about how that comes about, but it’s not by everyone embracing universal brotherhood and sisterhood and mutually agreeing on a better way.
The two party system can collapse. It has several times before. What needs to happen is for the Democratic Party to go the way of the Whigs.
With the Whigs, there was a total realignment of politics based on the single issue of slavery, which led to immediate civil war. That doesn’t seem like it really contradicts my point.
The US government is like a beat up old car we try to keep on the road with Lucasoil and duct tape. We’ve needed to fix it a long time ago but we didn’t.
The car will eventually stop working and leave us stranded if we do nothing, but we also can’t afford to leave it at the mechanic for a week because we need to get to work in the morning.
The government will fall, people will be hurt by it, and we will have to make something new - note I didn’t say better - and it will happen at the least opportune time.
Couldn’t agree more. Especially that last part. New doesn’t mean better. We can hope.
If the new government is anything like new cars then every basic function will be behind a laggy touch screen and the government will track our every movement and sell it to insurance companies.
How much of the new government will end up being subscription-based?
EDIT: spelling correction
I understand people being frustrated. Who isn’t. But these people lash out like children are just as bad as the people who caused this. It’s like our collective getaway car is a rusty Ford Pinto and they’re like “fuck that thing, burn it down!”
My man, that was our getaway car from fascism. Was that your intention?
Your getaway car is on blocks.
Ok, but now imagine the car was built by slavers to violent protect their disgusting privilege. Is it still worth “fixing”?
Ostensibly we’d have replaced those parts by now as part of basic maintenance
Let me know when you find a country that hasn’t done any horrible shit ever
Let me know if you ever stop accepting that as justification for continuing to do horrible shit.
It’s all a racket. The parties work together
The path to that would have been through Dems taking power and doing something with it though.
We don’t have a two party system. Jesus fucking Christ. Anyone who thinks this doesn’t understand the system well enough to be making suggestions.
You’re totally right. We don’t have a two party system, we have a system where only two parties are large enough to win any kind of influence.
