Muslim ban and the Democratic party
Trump's ban on all citizens from seven muslim countries from entering the US may finally do the impossible and unite the Shia and Sunni.
The Democratic Party, all said and done, is making plenty of noise and is behaving like a party that won the plurality of the vote. This is a relief. However, they do need to figure out how to fine tune the message.
We are clearly seeing a sunset era (maybe temporary) for globalization and trade deals. The Democrats were clearly caught on the wrong side of this and Trump - shrewdly or accidentally - has ridden this wave to the white house. This is a real problem, and the party needs to figure out which side they are on. It is not OK for the Obama wing to be pro-TPP and the liberal wing to be against it and the Clinton wing to be everywhere at once. Republicans can afford to be ride both horses at once on this because they are in power and Trump will dominate their public image for a while. But democrats need to unify.
Aside from these very real issues, I also think there is a Marketing angle that needs to be considered. Of late, I have noticed convention speeches and even soundbites of leading democrats have become more like a checklist - We will fight for women, hispanics, blacks, transsexuals, homosexuals. Oh by they way, we fight for the poor white folks as well.
While it is true that the Democrats are indeed doing a better job of championing the disadvantaged, their messaging is poor and it often fails to impress even the people on the checklist - hispanics and working class white in particular.
Democrats should immediately and decisively move to universal themes. Social Security is more sticky relative to Medicaid because it is universal. Means testing Social Security or Medicare is a sure way to make it unpopular and eventually kill it. I am pretty sure Republicans will try to do this.
Similarly, Democrats should message on universal themes. I suggest the following three themes (nobody ever remembers more than 3 things):
1. Equality of Opportunity. Fight for everyone to have as equal a shot at success as possible. State should not guarantee equality of outcomes, only of opportunities.
2. Civil Liberties. Focus on civil liberties of everyone as very clearly stated in the constitution. Take privacy seriously. Work for expansion of the way this is interpreted so as to increase liberties with time.
3. Personal Dignity. Fight for the right of everyone to live a life of personal dignity - not being subjected to poverty or abuse for reasons beyond their control (like a medical emergency or being black). In effect this translates into a Government underwritten catastrophic life events insurance.
The Democratic Party, all said and done, is making plenty of noise and is behaving like a party that won the plurality of the vote. This is a relief. However, they do need to figure out how to fine tune the message.
We are clearly seeing a sunset era (maybe temporary) for globalization and trade deals. The Democrats were clearly caught on the wrong side of this and Trump - shrewdly or accidentally - has ridden this wave to the white house. This is a real problem, and the party needs to figure out which side they are on. It is not OK for the Obama wing to be pro-TPP and the liberal wing to be against it and the Clinton wing to be everywhere at once. Republicans can afford to be ride both horses at once on this because they are in power and Trump will dominate their public image for a while. But democrats need to unify.
Aside from these very real issues, I also think there is a Marketing angle that needs to be considered. Of late, I have noticed convention speeches and even soundbites of leading democrats have become more like a checklist - We will fight for women, hispanics, blacks, transsexuals, homosexuals. Oh by they way, we fight for the poor white folks as well.
While it is true that the Democrats are indeed doing a better job of championing the disadvantaged, their messaging is poor and it often fails to impress even the people on the checklist - hispanics and working class white in particular.
Democrats should immediately and decisively move to universal themes. Social Security is more sticky relative to Medicaid because it is universal. Means testing Social Security or Medicare is a sure way to make it unpopular and eventually kill it. I am pretty sure Republicans will try to do this.
Similarly, Democrats should message on universal themes. I suggest the following three themes (nobody ever remembers more than 3 things):
1. Equality of Opportunity. Fight for everyone to have as equal a shot at success as possible. State should not guarantee equality of outcomes, only of opportunities.
2. Civil Liberties. Focus on civil liberties of everyone as very clearly stated in the constitution. Take privacy seriously. Work for expansion of the way this is interpreted so as to increase liberties with time.
3. Personal Dignity. Fight for the right of everyone to live a life of personal dignity - not being subjected to poverty or abuse for reasons beyond their control (like a medical emergency or being black). In effect this translates into a Government underwritten catastrophic life events insurance.
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