Trump has intentionally cleaved America into two warring camps: pro-Trump or anti-Trump.
Now most Americans aren’t passionate conservatives or liberals, Republicans or Democrats.
But they have become impassioned for or against Trump.
As a result, people with different political views have stopped talking with each other,
which is a huge problem because democracy depends on our capacity to deliberate together.
So what can we do–all of us–to begin talking across the great divide?
Here are 10 suggestions:
1.
Don’t avoid political conversations with people who are likely to disagree with you,
even in your own family.
To the contrary, seek them out and have those discussions.
2.
Don’t start by talking about Trump.
Start instead with “kitchen table” issues like stagnant wages, shrinking benefits, the
escalating costs of health care, college, pharmaceuticals, housing.
3.
Make it personal.
Ask them about their own experiences and stories.
Share yours.
Try to find common ground.
4.
Ask them why they think all this has happened.
Listen carefully and let them know you’ve heard them.
5.
If they start blaming immigrants or African-Americans, or elites, or Democrats, or even Obama–stay
cool.
Don't tune out.
Ask them about why they think these people are responsible.
6.
Gradually turn the conversation into one about power–who has it, who doesn’t.
Ask about their own experiences at work, what's happened to their jobs, how others among their
families and friends are treated.
7.
Ask them about the roles of big corporations and Wall Street.
For example: Why is it that when corporations and Wall Street firms violate the law, no
executive goes to jail?
Why Wall Street got bailed out during the financial crisis but homeowners caught in
the downdraft didn’t get help?
Why big oil, big agriculture, big Pharma, and Wall Street hedge-fund managers get special
subsidies and tax loopholes?
8.
Get a discussion going about how the system is organized, for whom, and how it's been
changing.
For example: Why is it that only four major airlines fly today when a few years ago, there
were 12?
Why are there only four Internet service providers?
How is this increasing concentration of power across the entire economy driving up prices?
Why are pharmaceutical companies and health insurers able to charge more and more?
Why can corporations and their top executives declare bankruptcy and have their debts forgiven,
when bankruptcy isn't available to people laden with student debt or to homeowners who
can't meet their payments?
Why are the biggest benefits from the tax cut going to billionaires?
9.
Then get to the core issue: Do they think any of this has to do with big money in politics?
Is the system rigged?
If so, who’s doing the rigging, and why?
How can average people be heard when there’s so much big money in politics?
Should we try to get big money out of politics?
And if so, how do we do it?
Now notice, you’re not using labels.
You’re not talking about Democrats or Republicans, left or right, capitalism or socialism, government
or free market.
You’re not even talking about Trump.
You’re starting with the everyday experiences of most people–with their wages and living
expenses and experiences on the job–and from there moving to economic and political
power.
10.
Oh, and don’t forget to use humor.
Humor is the great disinfectant.
For example, the Supreme Court says corporations are people.
Well, you’ll believe they’re people when Texas executes a corporation.
Remember, the point isn’t to convince them you're right and they’re wrong.
It’s to get us thinking about what’s really happening to America.
It's exposing the abuses of power all around us.
If we can join together around these fundamental issues, we will all win.
Thank you for watching.
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