Let's Choose Our Battles Wisely

Let's face it. We lost. Republicans have a firm grip on Washington. They are able to do almost anything that they want. They are able to pass most of their polluting, anti-science, anti-middle-class, social-Darwinist agenda. We have only a limited ability to fight back.

However, we do have some weapons in our arsenal. On a range of important issues, including opposition to Citizens United, support for Social Security and Medicare, public education, worker's rights, and right-to-choose, we stand with the majority of Americans. Public opinion is on our side.

We have the ability to overturn the worst legislation through the courts. During the past eight years, Republicans unleashed a torrent of legal challenges to President Obama's legislative achievements and executive orders. We should return the favor.

And Republican Congressional majorities are not overwhelming. A flip of three GOP votes in the Senate or 23 votes in the House could defeat some of the most regressive legislation. Congressional Democrats must stick together and need to appeal to swing-district Republicans on critical votes.

However, we can't fight everything. We can't dissipate our energies on the small stuff, the temporary stuff, or the unpopular stuff. Our people only have limited time and energy. The American people only have a limited capacity for outrage. Let's pick our battles. As Democratic strategist James Carville says, “if you’re against everything; then you are for nothing. You’ve got to pick and say, ‘This is what [Trump] is’ and drive that home. "

If we fight on every issue, we will end up winning on very few. But what should be our main priorities in repelling the GOP agenda over the next four years? What issues are worth our time, our activism, and our energy? I suggest three major areas below:

Laws and policies designed to lock-in GOP majorities. As soon as Wisconsin Republicans gained total power in 2011, they passed a string of laws designed to lock-in that power. They attacked groups like lawyers and unions that heavily contribute to Democrats. They passed laws designed to make it harder for Democratic-leaning groups like the poor and students to vote. They passed the most grossly gerrymandered map in the country. They tailored political contribution laws to favor their party.

We must resist similar efforts to lock-in conservative power in Washington. If we ever hope to reestablish a progressive national government, we must fight GOP efforts to tilt the electoral playing field. We cannot allow Republicans to weaken Democratic groups, such as unions. We need to push back on biased political contribution laws. We must resist attempts to impose voter suppression schemes like national photo-ID. Trump has already set the stage for such suppression with his bizarre claims of widespread voter fraud.

Laws and actions that will have a long-term effect on the US. Many Republican plans can be overturned as soon as progressives regain power. Executive orders can be overturned. Unqualified cabinet secretaries will be tossed-out. Alliances can be repaired. Prudent climate policies can be re-instituted. We need to focus on the policies that will affect our country for decades or more.

For example, we need to push back on Trump's illegitimate Supreme Court nominee. We cannot allow him to fill what rightfully should be Merrick Garland's seat with a conservative hack who would legislate a regressive agenda for decades.

It took the US 222 years to enact a program ensuring universal access to medical care. If we allow repeal of the Affordable Care Act, it may be another 200 years before Americans can consider healthcare as a right. Saving Obamacare is a fight worth having-a fight that should unify all progressives.

Laws that end popular programs. On issue after issue, the Republican Party is on the wrong side of public opinion. As progressives, we need to defend our most popular programs and policies. For example, we must resist efforts to end reproductive freedom. We cannot allow big government to dictate healthcare choices. We must continue reimbursing women's clinics for services.

Paul Ryan and his droogs have long lusted over privatizing Social Security and turning Medicare into a discount coupon scheme. This strikes at the very heart of progressive values. We must be seen as the defenders of these successful and popular programs.

While the Trump circus continues to distract most Americans, Republican politicians are beginning to impose their destructive and regressive policies on the country. With a limited arsenal of weapons, we cannot fight everything. We should carefully choose our most meaningful fights and pour everything into winning them. We should resist efforts to tilt the electoral playing field. We should resist efforts to lock-in long term regressive policies. We must defend popular progressive policies such as reproductive choice, Medicare, and Social Security.