More communication about values

My husband wrote this to a friend we volunteered with in Ohio, and it just says it so well:

We have values on the left, we just tend to not be vocal about it with people with whom we disagree. Our natural tendency is to try to get along. We over-intellectualize and resist the conversations that can give people the information that can help them to realize they are naturally Democrats. You can believe that abortion is a bad idea but believe more strongly that government interference in personal freedom and choice is a greater evil. The working class “conservatives” understand issues of freedom (look at the NRA), and the GOP leadership knows it and plays to it. We need to help them make the connection between personal freedom and civil liberties and socially liberal politics. We think it’s obvious. It’s not, especially for many of the people who are part of our natural constituency. I know it’s far from simple, but that is one of the difficult roads we have to travel if we want to resist.

Communication with a social alien

Well, now I know I'm the alien. Okay - at least it points a direction.

I posted the comments below to dalilykos.com in my late night stupor, post-election grief. I've been searching for a way out of my despair.

The question posed on dkos was, 'How do we convince the Bush supporters that they don't have all the facts? How do we win them over to our side? How are we going to reach these people - they will not budge!" Something like that. Here was my reply. I feel less despair, more strength. Ready to work.
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Q: How do you talk to a Bush supporter and get them to change their minds?

Communication between the right and left is dominated and contaminated right now with powerful emotions - fear, anger or even hate. Fear and hate have always been powerful tools of the extreme right. We defeat them by being smarter, unafraid, and unthreatened. We must build bridges out to these folks and help them along out of their fear.

The difficult trick is to not be angry with them, (a tall order, I know). So, you have to actually change yourself first. The good news is that you have more control over that than changing anyone else anyway.

I suggest that we all try to view these folks like they are just different culturally - just like you would approach someone from another country (which they sort of are now, huh?) Then you might not be angry and instead, be more available to listen to them. Once they see that you are listening, there's an alliance. Then they are much more likely to listen to you. Once you know what is at stake for them, you will know how to deliver your message. This is classic conflict resolution technique.

So in essence, do much more listening than talking. Ask tons of questions. Here's an example of some I might use for the example you give above:  

"So, which values do you think are the most important?" "Where did you learn your values? What's your family's cultural/ethnic/religious background?" or  

"What do you think are the most important things we need to do to win the war on terror? How do you think we should do them? What do you think about Osama Bin Laden being free still?" "What role do you think Sadaam Hussein played in terrorism? What do you think about what's happening in Iraq now? Do you know any Iraq soldiers? Did you see any of the 9/11 Commission report?"

Then, try to join with them and find ways to give them different information, like so...

"Hey, that's an interesting thought - I never thought of it that way. Did you see what (name trusted information source) had to say about that? No? It's a great article - I'll get you a copy of it. It's really thought provoking."

When people talk out their ideas, they are processing increasingly more complex information and losing the edge on their fear/anger. The more social complexity they can handle, the less fearful they become. That's when the progressive agenda will start to be sensible to them.

GOTV is over. We must now be the foot soldiers in this new campaign to reach these folks.

Welcome to Jesusland

This day is so depressing. I am in shock. I seriously had no idea that people who hate gays, hate science and hate women's rights still out numbered the rest of us. And I thought people actually cared about terrorism, war, jobs, healthcare and education. I guess I'm stupid.