Honestly, if we want to make a true populist change to the economic stratification...

[Writer]

between the very top and the very bottom, we need to make these issues directly relevant and as emotively engaging to the public at large - enough so that even the most average, middle-class, KMart shopping, coupon-clipping family with 2.2 children would be willing to drop their daily activities and take to the streets to demand change. This is not a battle won from the fringes.

Clearly most people are not outraged enough. So our challenge is: How do we incite their outrage?

[peace13]

1. It is hard to say.

Those folks adjusted well to poison in the pet food and tainted baby formula. They are pretty *amn hard to wake up. In fact one of our signs at peace vigil actually says, 'Wake The Hell Up!'. It is a sorry situation, with folks chasing a dollar to get ahead while their retirement funds and jobs are being intensionally raided. Go figure.

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. Short of Soylent Green, I'm not sure what it will take. n/t

[Sinti]

3. I do a lot of this kind of talking one-on-one

even with so-called conservatives. Many Fox watchers are secretly fed up with it, too. It's like they're brainwashed, though. You say the word tax and they get their shotgun. Plus, they forget so quickly what you've discussed, and agreed was truth. I can't get the reality to stick.

Visuals, I think, are required. People are excessively visual, I think due to TV over-exposure.

I think you need to illustrate a possible alternative to the current system, staying clear that a system is a mental tool and not a sacred philosophy, one that doesn't involve the word tax, or even currency, to allow them to see the possibilities. They would like the fundamental security of their person, also.

Still working on the good approach, though.

[salguine]

4. Honestly, I don't think you can. An ignorant person can be taught, but stupid can't be fixed.

[Fire1]

5. Outrage is subdued by unemployment benefit extensions. n/t

[Armstead]

6. They are outraged but the Democratic leaders still refuse to engage the source of their rage

The Democratic Party has (and had for many years) an opportunity to engage average people with real solutions to the problems they are struggling with.

The problem is that the only possible alternatives they are presented from our leaders (and the media) is a choice between Red Blooded Free Market Conservativism of the GOP and the Timid, Corporate and Wall Street Wimpy Conservatism of the Democratic leadership.

Mainstream Progressive and Liberal values and goals could resonate with many of those average "swing voter" types, if people were presented with that message strongly and honestly. That's why there were once so many staunch blue-collar Democrats.

However, over the last 20 or 30 years, the Democratic leadership has either refused or opposed those solutions. As a result, the average person has seen only two choices:

1)Become engaged and harness their rage and passion into the phony Rove Populism of the GOP and Teabag type of right-wing populism

OR

2)Tune out, become totally cynical and apathetic and mutter "They're all the same" about all politicians and the system.

There cold be a third alternative. However it requires Democratic leadershiop that is willing to stand up in a more unified way for progressive populism instead of supporting Corporate Oligarchs and policies like NAFTA, Outsourcing, Privatization, Economic Cioncentration of Power and Wealth.

So the answer to your question is either throw the bums out who have been in charge for too long or at convince the leadership like Obama to actually address the root causes of people's economic problems in a direct and honest way.