I was going back and forth with a close friend of mine that went Trump this election and he made a comment that really struck me, calling to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Between that comment and all the pundits speaking to how Trump.hss been effective in getting to the root needs/insecurities of voters (in addition to the misogyny and racism of his core base), I'm not sure if it's left or center, I'm inclined to say center, but they need to tap into and elevate the basic shyt that the every day person is worried about align their policies to that in a way that's palatable to the every day person.
Physiological Needs - the amount of hysteria around the price of fukking egg's is enough to speak to the stress people have about their basic needs being met. What policies can you outline that clearly, CLEARLY speak to people having their day to day needs met where they don't feel like they're living check to check and have autonomy. How can you, from a progressive lens, tap into that?
Safety and Security - between claims of a disastrous economy and the boogey man of immigration, how do you align and implement policies that tap into the same emotions, but without fear mongering?
Love and Belonging - this man is out here legit saying shyt like he's going to protect people and he's creating a sense of nationalism across his base that feel long forgotten. Trying to tap Walz as a representative for that Midwestern charm was a start, but for some it can read false. He's made the "left" present as the elite. This is wrestling shyt, making the historical baby face look like the snobby, moral a$$hole. They have to find a to present a candidate that doesn't alienate those they're trying to bring in and/or back into the fold and simultaneously not alienate their existing base in the process by bringing othersn. Finding a way to bring NYC trans and coal miners together is probably the biggest challenge, but it's what needs to be done.
Self-Esteem - again, this party has become the representation of the moral, snobby elite that look down on those without a college degree, with religious core values and aren't being opened minded enough to use multiple pronouns. They're alienating people. All the statistics on the education level divide between Trump voters isn't help at all. You have to find a way to make people feel good. Trump has found a way to do it through hate mongering and othering.
That last step is self actualization and we're not getting that through politics. But the politicians on the left need to find a way to mirror what he's doing both emotionally and in policy in a way that captures people through the cult of personality he's created; specifically policy, and execution, because people need to FEEL the results. They gotta beat him at his own game. Study it, mirror it and make it better. Tap into people's best inclinations and not their worst. Get your core down and build your policies around it. Whether that's meaning further left into the fringe or being more moderate to reach across the aisle, it won't mean shyt with having the core in place.
Thank y'all for reading if you did, I kinda rambled there, but I've been in a dark, angry place since Tuesday night and really haven't had the ability to get my thoughts and feelings out in a constructive way.