When commenting on other political writers’ works, I occasionally ask — indirectly or directly — why the writers are putting time and effort into their writing. Often, I get something like the response below:
“If I can change the minds of a few people, then all my efforts are worthwhile.”
I spend about three hours on each of my Medium articles. So with my 400 articles on Medium in five years, much reading and responding, I can clearly claim my estimated 3000 hours (maybe more) hasn’t changed anyone’s mind. No one is building the new democracy I am telling them to build.
Using my failure as an example, we should be wondering if our anti-Trump, anti-Republican, anti-MAGA writing is having an effect in changing people’s minds?
Yes, these articles get claps and supportive comments. But we are in an anti-Trump, anti-Republican, anti-MAGA echo chamber. No one’s vote is changing. If you want to change their minds, you need to go where the vote changing is going to happen.
I recently visited MeWe.com, an internet forum where I had tried to promote the TDG. While it seems more active today, it has become more of a right-wing chamber. If left-wing writers think their left-leaning writing can change minds and votes, they should post their work there, not here.
Over my five years on Medium, I have written several articles on the importance of political canvassing. Canvassing is a lot more effective in changing the electoral results than amateur political writing. In fact, I figure canvassing has at least a 10x multiplier when compared to amateur political writing. So if you really don’t want Mr. Trump as president, canvassing is where you should be, not on Medium.
My canvassing articles get a cool reception. Why?
Canvassing is not a pleasurable activity. It is both boring and intense. It is hard to see the result of the efforts. It takes you way out of your comfort zone. But you engage with people whose voting intentions can be changed.
Political writing is fun, cathartic, and therapeutic. But you engage with people who are already voting your way. But this political writing is not changing minds.
If you really want to oust Mr. Trump and the Republicans, canvass for the Democrat Party.
Published on Medium 2024
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