Donald Trump… Meet Joe Hill.
The present triumph of Donald Trump and the Republican Party got me to thinking of Joe Hill. Among the last words attributed to Joe Hill are, “Don’t waste any time mourning. Organize!”
Many moderate and liberal Americans are understandably dismayed at the elevation of Donald Trump to President and the elevation of alt-right ideology to inclusion in discussions of governance and policy. However, Democrats and all people of good conscience will be presented with a number of opportunities to advance issues and practice actions important to moderate and liberal-minded Americans. We will also be presented with an opportunity to communicate about what Democrats and liberal ideas can do to address the needs of the Trump base of Americans who have been economically disenfranchised and marginalized. When that base group confronts disillusionment with the performance of a Trump administration – as they surely will — we must be ready with practical ideas and positive actions
Don’t Mourn, Oppose!
Democrats have an obligation to oppose Republican and alt-right legislation vigorously in accord with our vision of America. Democrats must provide principled opposition. Democrats have an opportunity to support any legislation proposed by Republicans that is aligned with a liberal vision of the United States and to block and oppose any legislation that is not in the best interests of citizens.
Democrats also have both an opportunity and an obligation to block or hinder the appointment of Supreme Court justices or federal judges who are not moderate. While Democrats should allow certainly allow hearings on nominees to the federal bench, they should clearly articulate to the American people on what principles they opposed ideologues and work to upend their appointment.
Democrats should not take the path that Republicans took in holding the federal budget and the government hostage. Whenever possible, good governance should be fostered. They should, however, argue their position on the budget and, when it inevitably falls short, hold the Republican ideology responsible.
Don’t Mourn, Educate!
A President Trump will not be able to deliver on most of the promises he made to his voter base. Others will have a negative impact on the Trump base. When there is a backlash against the Trump administration for its failures, Democrats have an opportunity to provide clear alternatives that address the needs of a disappointed electorate and to educate citizens on the ways in which they have been betrayed and how Democrats and liberal policies can benefit their lives. Speak truth to the disappointed and dismayed. You don’t gain voters from your own ranks; you get them from the opposition.
Another essential part of education is to continue our own education. Listen to partisan opponents respectfully and stand up for your ideas and ideals. Simple argument for arguments sake does not change minds. What changes minds is having a friend who is harmed by Trump policies and seeing those characterized as “evil liberals” as good human beings who share the same values and concerns and who offer legitimate means for addressing common problems. For most human beings, nothing matters until it happens to them, to someone they love, or in their backyard.
The mass media was not particularly effective in fostering an informed electorate. Electronic and internet media were notably ineffective. Print media was more effective than electronic media and devoted more resources to investigative journalism. Subscribe to your local paper. Subscribe to the New York Times or the Washington Post as well. Consider giving a gift subscription to someone you know who gets their information from the internet information bunker. Listen to and support public radio and television. Mention these sources in discussions and encourage others to seek them out.
Educating the electorate and persuading the electorate should be Democratic goals over the course of the next four years. Democrats must expand their outreach to young people and champion their issues. A new cadre of passionate voters and public servants is coming into it’s own as represented by Bernie Sanders supporters. The demographic trends in the United States do not favor Republicans or conservative or alt-right ideas. Democrats must ensure that the rising generation continues to be one aligned to a liberal Democratic vision.
Don’t Mourn, Bear Witness!
If the worst comes to pass with the Trump administration and the alt-right, then Democrats and people of conscience have a responsibility to bear witness and to document abuses of power and assaults on the nation and its character. Such witnessing is important in ultimately healing the injuries that result and documentation is critical to ultimately bringing those responsible for abuses of power to justice.
Unless the Trump administration rises to extreme levels of abuse, Democrats should not, in my view, attempt to impeach President Trump. President Trump is the best recruiting tool that Democrats and liberals have. If Republicans decide that they cannot tolerate what President Trump is doing, let them impeach him. But, Democrats should not offer Republicans or Trump cover behind impeachment. Trump’s actions will do more to impeach him in the hearts and minds of Americans that any impeachment articles in Congress.
The 1938 song “Joe Hill” by Alfred Hayes contains the following lines:
Takes more than guns to kill a man.
Says Joe, “I didn’t die.”
Says Joe, “I didn’t die.”
And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, “What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize,
Went on to organize.”
“Joe Hill ain’t dead,” he says to me
Joe Hill ain’t never died.”
Remember Joe Hill. “Don’t mourn. Organize!”
Submitted by Michael Pfeifer, WCD Member