Six
steps on how to Make America Great
(A
Progressive Perspective)
Just
now most of us are very stressed
Mentally
Physically
And
Financially
So
the first step is to take care of ourselves.
Then and then only will we be in a position to help others. We cannot achieve anything if our minds are restless.
Then and then only will we be in a position to help others. We cannot achieve anything if our minds are restless.
Remember, we are most efficient when our minds are calm like a Peaceful lake.
Not when it is like the stormy sea.
So
Step
1
Is we need to Grieve, Vent and Heal together.
Whether
you supported Senator Bernie Sanders or Secretary Hillary Clinton, we all lost
a great deal during this election.
We
need to acknowledge this fact. Get together with like minded folks and talk
about our loss. Cry. Comfort each other. Reassure each other.
In
other words we need to Heal.
Here
are some suggestions
At
least once a week meet up with like minded folks and vent. Learn the art of
Active listening (Listen to understand not to reply)
Journal
– write down everything that is ‘bugging’ you and then shred the paper. Do this for 3 weeks
Exercise
Meditate
Go
for a meandering walk
Do
Yoga
Connect
with nature
And
most importantly shut down the TV
Step
2
Be
Smart. Be Frugal
We
have to acknowledge the fact that out of $100 dollars we collectively have ONE
dollar
We
have to live, take care of our family AND organize using that ONE dollar.
We
have major time constraints placed on us because we have to work long hours to
make ends meet.
So
we have to RELEARN the art of being frugal.
Make
a commitment not to buy anything new for the next 4 yrs – this is the best way
we can prevent our precious, limited savings end up with the large Corporations.
Share
everything.
Car
pool.
Shop
in second hand stores.
Join
your local Community Garden or start one in your town.
Learn
to grow a few vegetables at home – it can be very therapeutic.
And
please create a budget and try to pay off your loans.
Remember we do not have a lot of money. But we can get together, help each other - donate your knowledge and time. And ask your friends to do the same.
Remember we do not have a lot of money. But we can get together, help each other - donate your knowledge and time. And ask your friends to do the same.
Step
3
Learn
Do
you know how we got in to this mess ?
It
is very important we learn about this.
That
is the only way we can create a long term plan to ‘Make America Great”
Here
is a synopsis of what happened :
The historical perspective :
The historical perspective :
1970s A group of Conservative leaders (political
and financial) got together and created a plan.
The
goal was to create a series of efficient Think Tanks, a Media conglomerate and
an agency to supply Conservative speakers on a wide ranging set of topics.
40
+ years later all these elements are functioning really well.
2008
– Republican Billionaires spent a lot of the money on winning state races. This
lead to the establishment of a Republican majority in the State Legislature. These State Politicians were able to Gerrymander
most of the district maps ensuring the future election wins.
The Psychological Perspective :
According
to Prof Jonathan Haigt people are born with certain ideological traits.
Those
with a Conservative ideology have two important traits that makes it easy for
them to organize.
That
is – they respect authority and they are very loyal.
Contrast
that with a person who has a Liberal ideology.
They
do not like authority.
And
they like to welcome and entertain lots of diverse points of views.
This
makes long term organizing a nightmare for a liberally minded group.
To
summarize
Conservatives
who are better and more efficient at organizing have had a 40 + year head start
Finally
because Conservatives are more ‘loyal’ they have now been ‘brainwashed’ in to thinking
that anyone with a different point of view is their ‘enemy’
Especially
if you use the word “liberal”
And
they have also been taught not to ‘trust’ other forms of media.
This has created a HUGE bubble that is becoming very hard to penetrate.
This
has created an imbalance in governing in our country.
This
is what we are seeing now.
Our
job now is
a.
To try to unite Liberally minded people.
b.
Then together relearn the art of actively listening and talking to a conservative
person.
c. Learn how we are being divided
Click here for an out line of the conversation you could have with them.
Once they realize that a Liberally minded person is NOT their enemy, they may be open to a dialogue about questioning some parts of their world view
Click here for an out line of the conversation you could have with them.
Once they realize that a Liberally minded person is NOT their enemy, they may be open to a dialogue about questioning some parts of their world view
For example the belief that poor people are ‘moochers’
Rich
deserve what they have.
And
taking money from the rich is a form of punishment.
Global
warming is not man made.
By actively listening both groups will learn and can share their world view and share solutions to our problems.
By actively listening both groups will learn and can share their world view and share solutions to our problems.
We have to learn two more concepts out lined by Prof Lackoff.
a.
Certain words resonate with Conservatives – we need to learn and use them. Some words are TOXIC to them - we need to learn them and stop using them.
b. Concept of the “Strict father” thinking and “Nurturing parent” thinking
(A
Strict father is the bread winner. So he needs to be strong. He needs to be strict. And punish the kids when they do bad things. The wife’s role is to take care of the family
and stay home. The wife is not an equal
partner in this relationship.
Most
conservatives think this way
A
nurturing parent thinks that the kids are vulnerable and they need to be
protected. And both parents have to work
together as a team.
Most
progressives think this way
And
this explains the world view and how they approach public policies in the real
world
In
my opinion, the truth lies somewhere in the middle)
Click here to listen to his lecture on this subject.
Click here to listen to his lecture on this subject.
So
here are the things we have to learn
a.
How a person who is liberal minded is different from someone who is
conservatively minded
click here for more on this concept.
b.
How to ‘talk’ to a conservatively minded person using words that resonate with
them. And also how to avoid using words
that they do not like / trust
examples
– Liberal Media, Move on, Democrats, Global Warming come to mind.
c.
Now pause for a moment and find out where you stand and what language resonates
with you.
Step
4
Have a conversation
Share your newly found knowledge with your friends.
Share your newly found knowledge with your friends.
Click here to find a template you can follow.
Once
you are comfortable having this conversation venture out and try to share this
information with ‘moderate’ Conservatives.
We
need them on our side – and you will be surprised how much we have in common.
The
organization Living room conversations are actively promoting this concept.
But
before you start on this journey it is my opinion that you need to complete
Step 1, 2 and 3.
Step
5
Now
we need to create a long term plan by bringing ALL the players together
Because
Liberals do not like authority – this is not going to be very easy.
Some of the older established leaders are refusing to talk to the younger folks
– because we humans have an ego that sometimes gets the better of us :(
So,
we need to find NEW ways to organize.
Or we need to understand our weakness and overcome it and organize the
traditional way.
Some
urgent policy matters that need to be addressed are :
a.
Move to Amend need to get together with Common Cause and The Young Turks and
create one single effort to overturn Citizens united
b.
Organizations like the ACLU need to fight Gerry mandering
c.
We need to accept that voting is not going to be easy in the swing states. And
ALL of us need to educate the folks there HOW their votes are being ‘stolen’
That
way they can be prepared to fight back.
We
also need to actually help the folks who are affected by voter ID laws to
overcome these obstacles and get them registered to vote.
We
need to start this NOW.
d. Another very important fact is for organizations like the DNC and Move on to say they are sorry for not being fair to both parties during the Democratic Primary elections. To me this is the first step to healing the divisions.
Step 6
This
is for the few 0.01 % that are concerned and want to help the 99%
We
have to accept the fact that policies pertaining to income inequality and education
is not going to change any time soon.
Nor
will the moneyed forces that are trying very hard to keep the 99% divided using
all kinds of techniques.
So
we need to ‘think’ outside the box and come up with new ways to overcome these
obstacles.
Few
suggestions :
Request
Facebook to change their algorithm.
We
all need to see at least a few opposing points of view from reliable sources. Otherwise
we will ALL live in our own bubbles and stay divided.
Google
search algorithms need to do the same for the same reason.
Find
creative ways to help the 99%
For
example creating a single data base where all College students can submit one
application to get scholarships and grants from different organizations.
Finding creative ways to reduce income inequality :
Create
a non for profit so that ALL kids in poor neighborhoods get high quality
preschool education – this way we can assure that the young generation will be
better than we are.
Create
a non for profit where the high income earners find creative ways to pay the
tax burden of the low income earners – may be by offering to help with
groceries and text books or offering to pay their rent.
When
we do look around the world we do have to accept that some poor folks do become
‘moochers’
So
we need to come up with creative ways to prevent that happen too.
For example, create compulsory courses or seminars they have to attend while we give a helping hand.
Courses on :
Courses on :
a.
Good work ethics
b.
Helping others without expecting anything in return
c. Encourage them to participate in programs like Pledge High Five
c. Encourage them to participate in programs like Pledge High Five
d. Teach them basic finances
The
America we envision will have
a. A well educated population
b. Well read and able to understand opposing points of view
c.
Less stressed
d.
Less income equality
e. A majority who are willing to work together to find solutions together
Please
will you join us to make this happen
Thank you
References :
The indigenous world view VS Western world view
https://youtu.be/hsh-NcZyuiI
Prof George Lackoff on the importance of using the "correct" words
https://www.c-span.org/video/?190817-1/dont-think-elephant-know-values
Iresha Goonesinghe MD - how to unite the USA and a simple template to follow when you are trying to educate someone on the reason why we are so divided
http://unitingtheusa.blogspot.com/
Media Matters - The Conservative Media
https://www.facebook.com/Mediamatters/videos/10154084955956167/
