ADVICE FROM SENATOR ELISSA SLOTKIN: HOW TO FIGHT THE COUP
Some of our Manistee Dems friends heard newly elected U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin speak in
Traverse City the other day. They report that she had some very specific advice for how to
confront the current coup attempt happening in Washington.
Here are Senator Slotkin’s main points:
Choose your single issue. The Trump minions are flooding the airwaves with new and
sometimes bizarre news almost every day. Instead of driving ourselves crazy by trying
to stay up to date on each one, find the issue that moves you. Whatever it is:
immigration, DEI, the environment, education, poverty, or something else, narrow your
focus to that. Slotkin said her strategy is to concentrate on issues that have permanent
and long-term consequences.
Stay informed about that issue. Cut through all the media noise and seek out reliable
information about what the administration’s plans are. Separate that information from all
the speculation and crazy stuff that circulates around the media as well as the “jungle
telephone,” i.e., community chatter. Make sure you have an accurate picture.
Raise your voice. Slotkin pays attention to phone calls and mail. She keeps a daily
tally of where her constituents stand on issues and takes that knowledge with her to the
legislature. Social media are also powerful, as are traditional media. Rational voices
are sometimes rare but most of us can think of times when a message that effectively
dissected an issue mattered.
Don’t be above shaming. Trump backed away fast from the government grant and
funding freeze because of the international outcry over its effects on many social
services and programs. I suggest that there also may be a few other members of the
Evil Empire who could be called out.
Get involved locally. We can’t affect much of what happens inside of the Beltway.
Instead, there are likely to be local ways to support your cause. It could be an
organization targeted to your issue, the school board, a charity, the chamber of
commerce, or events like the women’s march last year. Action beats the daylights out of
sitting on your hands frustrated.
Find your partner(s). (Our own, additional suggestion) We Dems are notorious for
riding our individual hobby horses. That may be satisfying in some ways, but it dilutes
the impact we can have collectively. Remember our campaign efforts this past year.
Slotkin was only elected by 19,000 votes in a state that voted for Trump. Our local
support certainly contributed to that important win.
Thank you, Ralph and Carol Mortensen, for putting this together!
