An individual can have a meaningful impact by focusing on consistent, strategic actions that plant progressive seeds in their community, shift narratives, and build long-term power:
1. Shift Mindsets (The Battle of Ideas)
Talk to people outside your bubble.
Most political change happens through personal relationships. Have calm, empathetic conversations with coworkers, family, or neighbors—focus on shared values (e.g., “Everyone deserves healthcare” vs. “Medicare for All”).
Use the “deep canvassing” method: Ask questions, listen, and share personal stories (studies show this changes minds better than facts).
Combat disinformation passively.
Share positive progressive content (e.g., worker victories, policy successes) rather than endlessly debunking right-wing lies (which spreads them further).
Use humor/memes (e.g., “Dark Brandon,” “Unionize Your Starbucks”)—emotion beats logic in viral messaging.
Be a “bridge” for normies.
Avoid jargon (“abolish ICE,” “ACAB”)—reframe issues in accessible terms (e.g., “Accountable policing” or “Fair immigration rules”).
2. Build Institutional Power
Join or support an existing group.
Local: Unions, tenant unions, mutual aid networks, DSA chapters, progressive religious groups.
Key: Consistency matters more than bursts of activism. Attend meetings, volunteer skills (writing, design, organizing).
Disrupt right-wing networks.
Support/watchdog groups (e.g., Bellingcat, Accountable Tech) that expose extremism.
Pressure platforms to deplatform hate (e.g., mass-reporting violent content).
Run for something—or help someone who does.
School boards, city councils, and state legislatures are where the right gained power. Groups like Run for Something train progressives to win locally.
3. Daily Actions (Small but Scalable)
Voter work:
Register voters (especially young people) at concerts, fairs, or campuses.
Volunteer as a poll worker (critical to combat right-wing “election fraud” narratives).
Money as a weapon:
Donate to progressive candidates in swing districts (even $5 helps).
Boycott/support businesses aligned with your values (e.g., unionized stores).
Skill-sharing:
Offer your professional skills (coding, graphic design, legal help) to grassroots groups.
4. Psychological Warfare (Against the Right)
Deny them attention.
Stop quote-tweeting Tucker Carlson or Ben Shapiro—it feeds their algorithm. Mock or ignore instead.
Starve their propaganda: Share alternatives (e.g., left-wing podcasts, Substacks).
Flip their tactics:
Use their nostalgia against them (e.g., “Real patriots tax the rich like FDR”).
Co-opt their symbols (e.g., “Make America Kind Again”).
5. Protect Your Mental Health
Avoid burnout. The right thrives on outrage exhaustion. Limit doomscrolling; focus on actionable wins.
Celebrate small victories. Every union formed, every voter registered weakens the far right’s grip.
Most Important Rule:
Be the “water” (persistent, adaptable, everywhere), not the “rock” (rigid, easily avoided).
The right wins by being relentless; the left must out-persist them.
What can invidual do to contribute?
An individual can have a meaningful impact by focusing on consistent, strategic actions that plant progressive seeds in their community, shift narratives, and build long-term power:
1. Shift Mindsets (The Battle of Ideas)
Talk to people outside your bubble.
Combat disinformation passively.
Be a “bridge” for normies.
2. Build Institutional Power
Join or support an existing group.
Disrupt right-wing networks.
Run for something—or help someone who does.
3. Daily Actions (Small but Scalable)
Voter work:
Money as a weapon:
Skill-sharing:
4. Psychological Warfare (Against the Right)
Deny them attention.
Flip their tactics:
5. Protect Your Mental Health
Most Important Rule:
Be the “water” (persistent, adaptable, everywhere), not the “rock” (rigid, easily avoided).
The right wins by being relentless; the left must out-persist them.