To Like or Not To Like, That is the Question

It's not to early to begin campaigning for the 2026 Mid-Terms, and so I feel it only proper to offer my suggestions.  So, as a public service to help out, I would like to propose that Democrats should make as their campaign slogan –

“If you’re unhappy with government, just imagine how worse it will be under fascism.”

And yes, I know that they won’t do that, because not only is it a wee bit too blunt and might offend the sensitivities of those who like ridiculing other people's sensitivities, but it would also require using up all their time explaining what fascism is.  However, it can be rephrased in another way, not as forthright, and not as fully accurate to the problem, but impactful nonetheless.  Something more along the lines of –

​“If you’re unhappy with government, just imagine how worse it could be if everything you wanted came true -- but not like you wanted.”

You could leave it right there. Though that's a little unwieldy for a campaign slogan.  And a bit too philosophical. "Win with Wilkie," "Nixon's the One" or "All the way with LBJ" are far more standard, even if not always prescient.  (Had I been around at the time, I might have suggested, "Vote for Washington, there's no one else!  Literally.")  But even though unwieldy, you could clarify what you mean for those who might want specifics or reminder to support it all.  So, your TV ad or poster could include things like --

You may not like government.  But imagine if all the protections that you literally expect, count on and demand every single day are taken away.

You may not like the health care system.  But imagine having no health care.

You may not like the results of an election.  But imagine no elections.

You may not like the press.  But (considering that you don’t like the government) imagine if it was the government who alone decided what news you were allowed to hear.

You may not like the decision a judge makes.  But (considering that you don’t like the government) imagine if judges’ decisions don’t matter, and the government could ignore every law it didn’t like.

You may not like that bad people can’t be deported without a trial.  But imagine if just being a “bad person” was, in fact, a crime -- and (considering, of course, that you don’t like the government) it was the government who could decide who was a “bad person.”  And, without even needing a trial, could be deported.  Just for being a "bad person."

You may not like that the government helps people who are sick, elderly or in need.  But imagine how many more tens of millions of deeply-destitute people there will be if not helped.  Or if you’re ever sick, elderly or in need.

You may not like that all peer-reviewed scientists say there’s Climate Change. But imagine if funding was cut meant to help communities that have been destroyed by increasing hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, wildfires and freezing blizzards.

You may not like relying on experts.  But imagine relying on people who don’t know what they’re talking about.

You may not like paying for the Postal Service.  But imagine if private companies handled the mail instead, and decided what areas weren’t financially worth delivering to.

You may not like that schools teach some things you don’t like.  But imagine if government ordered schools to not teach things that people don’t like – such as math, science, history, geography, and civics.

You may not like “the libs.”  But imagine if there was no Social Security, Medicare, Civil Rights Act, Affordable Care Act, women’s suffrage giving women the right to vote, federal deposit insurance, unemployment compensation, rural electrification, child labor laws, minimum wages and the 40-hour work week, all of which conservatives fought against.

You may not like stories that are contrary to what you want to believe is true.  But imagine if there was a story that the U.S. would be under attack, and the government didn’t want to believe it and didn’t want you to believe it because it was inconvenient to their narrative, but the story was true and there actually was an attack.

You may not like that a democratic republic is judged, at its foundation, by how it protects the most vulnerable, not the least.  But imagine a government whose foundation is, instead, protecting those at the top who are not vulnerable at all.

You may be unhappy with government.  But just imagine how worse it could be if everything you wanted came true -- but not like you wanted.

You may be unhappy with government.  But just imagine how worse it will be under fascism.

Okay, yes, I know I said it was too blunt -- but most people will have gotten the point by then, so you can throw it in at the end.  And for those who haven't gotten it?  Honestly, they're probably okay with fascism.  So, you're not getting their vote anyway.