The Middle Matters
And each of us can make a difference
Have you tried talking to friends or relatives whose political perspectives are different from your own and had the feeling you are explaining that the world really is round or that the moon landing was real? Some believe their hero is a persecuted, misunderstood victim, but even those who believe that he or she is a whiny, cruel and/or lawless trickster support them because, as they say, they “tell it like it is.” Except it isn’t.
If we had gotten our news from their sources, chances are that we would be misinformed and up in arms, also. So, what do we do as The Union volunteers, as citizens, as patriots? We face the fact that those deeply ensnared in different perspective are out of reach, and we put our energy behind the millions in the middle.
These friends, relatives and neighbors can be a challenge because they often are less interested in politics, overall. They may be misinformed, too, not because they seek out extreme media sources, but because they aren’t paying attention, yet.
We have to reach out to them, starting now, through all available means: conversations, letters, postcards, social media, voter registration, neighborhood get-togethers, and other encounters. You may not believe it, but research consistently shows that direct, personal contact by canvassing is the most effective way to reach and influence voters. It also can be fun.
At The Union, you can visit our Action Center to find hundreds of volunteer opportunities, local, nationwide, and online.
Post submitted by Frank Schneider, a volunteer with The Union
Note: The views and opinions expressed by volunteer contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Union, a single-issue organization that welcomes all and is dedicated to protecting democracy.
If you’d like to help defend democracy in the US, we invite you to join The Union.