By Rob Kall

OpEdNews.com 

There are those who would write off the south as owned by the republicans. Even democrats from states like Georgia and Louisiana don't look like democrats or act like democrats. Take Zell Miller. Please!! The guy's a republican in most ways. Same thing with John Breaux.

Still, the south used to be a bastion of Democrat primacy. Then the republicans played the race card and implemented some beautifully conceptualized, right wing think tank designed strategies to convert fundamentalists and NASCAR dads to sign on support republican politicians and policies. The bizarre, amazing thing is that these southern republicans are voting against their own interests. I'm in the middle of reading the best-seller DAVINCI CODE. It describes a cult of conservative Catholics who intentionally inflict pain upon themselves. Is this what's going on down south? Why are poor and middle class southerners voting for people who have sold their souls to corporations and special interests? Why do these people vote for politicians who not only don't protect their constituents' interests, but outright betray them. Oh, occasionally, these creepy southern politicians will throw their constituents a bone that fuels their fundamentalist flames, like the latest anti-abortion legislation. But overall, the people of the south are electing representatives who are screwing them.

So, what to do? The answer is to to do exactly what the republicans did a few decades ago. Huddle, come up a set of aggressive strategies and dive into an attack on the south, aimed at taking it back. You have to wonder why this hasn't been done already. Oh, we've taken a few potshots with Carter and Clinton, picking southern presidential  candidates. We've had some success too. That's encouraging. But the democratic leadership has failed miserably at putting together a coherent, long term plan to regain the south. 

She says, "What's heartening is that even after decades of rightwing government bashing, a progressive domestic agenda is in fact quite popular with voters, as we know from polls and surveys. The problem is that Democrats have not coherently or consistently articulated that agenda, while the Republicans have hammered away with a disciplined message about the phony dangers of "big government."

One solution vanden Heuvel suggests "Progressives could begin by articulating a coherent, alternative vision of the purpose and meaning of government. Opposition to the tax cuts is all very good, but for what purpose, to do what?"

And finally, she recommends, "Let's invoke President Lincoln's injunction that government exists to do what individuals cannot do for themselves. Let's challenge the view that we, as a society, cannot do things together and put forward new and compelling ideas about the role of government and how it can improve our lives. Let's reclaim the ability to articulate why government is a social good, that investments in schools, infrastructure, health care and social services are worth making and that everyone should pay their fair share. And to the wealthy who aren't paying their fair share--ask yourself if you aren't better off being prosperous and paying taxes than going down in the first-class cabins of a sinking ship."

These are good ideas and observations. (vanden Heuvel is a national treasure) But how do we implement them. How do we convert them from good ideas into realities that are implemented throughout the south, the midwest and all those red states where average Joes and Janes are giving their votes to corporate owned politicians who do not support their interests?

The answer is to use the same 'technology' the right wingers have used-- the policy/position promotion Think Tank (PPTT.) Just as right wing think tanks like the Heritage foundation have fanned fears and mistrust for government, we need progressive policy/position promotion think tanks (PPTTs) to develop effective strategies to counteract the positions and interpretations the right has so successfully imbued upon the minds of the people in the red states.

What would such a strategy entail? We're not talking about a simple ad campaign. The right has been burning the idea that big government and taxes are bad into these folks brains for decades. It will take time, resolution, and a long term comprehensive plan to make a long term difference. It may not have an effect upon the 2004 presidential election, maybe not even on the 2008 election. But a miracle may just happen and it might just make the difference in one or two states where the voting equipment and voter roles aren't rigged.

The plan must address different populations by age, demographics, religion, work and income categories. It will help if a few choice phrases are developed that can be used to counteract the republicans'  favorites-- "big government" and "tax and spend liberals." The goal will be to convert these good folks to think of government as safe, even nurturing and protecting. The problem is, under republicans, government is dangerous and predatory. This reinforces people's attitudes that government is bad. But this can also be used to progressive's benefit.

It is essential, as part of the PPTT strategy unfolds, for progressives to develop their own echo chamber. The right has Clear Channel, Fox, Murdoch, the Washington Times, Rush Limbaugh and his dittohead copycats  and numerous smaller chains of radio, newspaper and TV stations that all act as the right's echo chamber-- a powerfully effective political tool for pumping out positions and opinions. A perfect example was the recent explosion of attacks against the CBS mini-special on Ronald Reagan.

The left needs to build it's own echo chamber. We may not be able to do it with big radio stations and local newspapers or TV stations (not that we should write the off) but we may have to move to the internet and good 'ol photocopiers. For example, Jesse Lee, a freelance writer has started Common Sense, a flyer with one side news summaries and one side an editorial that is released free to people, particularly in the red states, who want to get the word out on the Progressive perspective. Each person runs off 10 to 100 copies and posts them in stores, leaves them in libraries, etc., with the idea that they'll be picked up and read.

As a southern and red state strategy is implemented, the funds available will make a huge difference. The right wing PPTTs have been receiving huge annual budgets, exceeding $100 million a year. Finally, George Soros and a handful of other wealthy progressives have seen the light, and they are starting to fund progressive organizatios like John Podesta's CAP and Wes Boyd's moveon.org. It is essential that more wealthy progressives step up to the plate and start funding more organizations that reverse engineer and improve upon the right wing PPTTs.

If funds are available, there are all kinds of possibilities. There's no reason that new newspapers can't be started, new radio talk shows supported while they build a listener and advertiser support base. This is what the right did for Rush Limbaugh. You didn't think he was an instant hit, did you?

And it would help if progressives simply had a presence at schools, PTAs, churches, VFWs, local service clubs like the Lions, Rotary, etc. If fundamentalist church groups can get into schools and push a pro-republican message, then progressives ought to have access too, and they ought to build an outreach program to reach kids early.

Face racism head on. Sure, there are nasty, toxic racists out there, but most people do not go there. They are ready and able to be walked through the logic in head and heart that leads to the conclusion that people of all races and sexual inclinations should have the same rights as everyone else. Americans are fair-minded when not driven by fear.

Who knows which red state will be the first to return to the fold? It will take investing in research and polling and a lot of grass roots efforts to develop the "tools" needed to bring people around, so they see the progressive light.

We will have to be continually putting content into the echo chamber. It's essential that a message is kept in the progressive echo chamber-- that talks about corporate abuses, right wing corruption and how they are selling out the US for businesses instead of people. That message, plus a positive vision of how progressive policies will make life better for people must be out there every day. There is no magic in this. It's a science that the right wing PPTTs have perfected.

Progressives can make it happen. All it takes is intention, getting started, being there and some funding will help. It will take dynamic leadership and a lot of grass roots support. The right wing think tanks now get contributions from hundreds of thousands of supporters. Howard Dean and moveon.org have shown that the progressives are out there willing and able to pony up money.

Another important step is that progressives, even if they don't have a lot of money, must get used to the idea of supporting the progressive cause. This is another area where the right wing is way ahead. How much did you contribute to the progressive causes you feel passionate about last year, last month? Last week?  You have to change your relationship to money and your customary habits. I will have given to progressive causes and democratic candidates more this year than all previous years combined. And next year, as the election gets closer,  I will give even more. We all need to dig deeper in our pockets and invest in some "household maintenance."

Rob Kall rob@opednews.com is editor of OpEdNews.com and founder organizer of the Futurehealth Winter Brain, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology Meeting. This article is copyright Rob Kall and originally published by opednews.com but permission is granted for reprint in print, email, blog or web media so long as this credit paragraph is attached.