Tardy response. I talked with our 2 millennial sons about progressive media and messaging. Your points are well taken. Progressives continue to be weak on messenger and message. Using my boys and some other millennials, there is a distrust of all media and govt. No matter how much I argue that MAGA benefits from increased cynicism, that argument falls flat. I might be the wrong messenger.
Two small points. Newsome and Pritzgers' started out strong. And then something happened-they lost momentum or something. Neither have shown the sustainability in their media efforts you talk about. The second point is that Substacks are great for fellow true believers-too much of today's progressive media seems to focus on the people already on their side.
Examples of local networks of credible people and potential messengers:
Unions; church groups; PTAs; Freemasons, Rotary, Elks, KofC; local companies and small businesses; hyper-local Facebook (et al) groups with a good vibe; local blogs; amateur/kids sports leagues; local politicians (sometimes); Democratic Town Committees (sometimes); dance/music/yoga/exercise classes; child care co-ops ...
Look for areas where people get together and do things in a normal, functional way with a high degree of trust. Look for "scenes". And act like we belong, because we do.
Agree completely but this will require ending centralization and control of money and message from Washington DC and the consultant cartel. The people making big money from the status quo are not going to voluntarily give that up.
Whole heartedly agree with you, Will. It’s so aggravating when we see Democrats and campaigns use influencers and celebrities to try to boost their campaigns instead of using authentic, local voices to help get their point across. It’s manufactured and we can’t fall into those traps anymore.
“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...
The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance”
― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
I remember 2004, Ohio, Springsteen last nights of the election. I thought, yes! We will win! Then 2016, Hillary, Philly, Lady Gaga! Yes! We will win! 2024, Houston, Beyoncé! Yes we will win! I learned long ago that the more effort dems put into celebs? The more likely they will lose.
Something I learned first hand 20 years ago is we don't invest in our influencers, but the republicans do.
smart and helpful!
Tardy response. I talked with our 2 millennial sons about progressive media and messaging. Your points are well taken. Progressives continue to be weak on messenger and message. Using my boys and some other millennials, there is a distrust of all media and govt. No matter how much I argue that MAGA benefits from increased cynicism, that argument falls flat. I might be the wrong messenger.
Two small points. Newsome and Pritzgers' started out strong. And then something happened-they lost momentum or something. Neither have shown the sustainability in their media efforts you talk about. The second point is that Substacks are great for fellow true believers-too much of today's progressive media seems to focus on the people already on their side.
Absolutely
Examples of local networks of credible people and potential messengers:
Unions; church groups; PTAs; Freemasons, Rotary, Elks, KofC; local companies and small businesses; hyper-local Facebook (et al) groups with a good vibe; local blogs; amateur/kids sports leagues; local politicians (sometimes); Democratic Town Committees (sometimes); dance/music/yoga/exercise classes; child care co-ops ...
Look for areas where people get together and do things in a normal, functional way with a high degree of trust. Look for "scenes". And act like we belong, because we do.
Agree completely but this will require ending centralization and control of money and message from Washington DC and the consultant cartel. The people making big money from the status quo are not going to voluntarily give that up.
Yes, the idea is to decentralize it more - local influencers. Maybe losing will influence the donors
Whole heartedly agree with you, Will. It’s so aggravating when we see Democrats and campaigns use influencers and celebrities to try to boost their campaigns instead of using authentic, local voices to help get their point across. It’s manufactured and we can’t fall into those traps anymore.
Sadly, we didn't heed Carl's warning:
“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...
The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance”
― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
I remember 2004, Ohio, Springsteen last nights of the election. I thought, yes! We will win! Then 2016, Hillary, Philly, Lady Gaga! Yes! We will win! 2024, Houston, Beyoncé! Yes we will win! I learned long ago that the more effort dems put into celebs? The more likely they will lose.