Do you believe people can change?

This is a softball question.

Do you believe it's possible to flip a state? From red to blue?

Not probable, but possible.

Do you want it to happen?

Think about it for a minute.

Can you imagine a state election?

Two candidates (one red, one blue) are running. Close your eyes and picture it.

Imagine the election is over. The state flipped from Red to Blue. Are you OK with that outcome?

Think about how you feel.

This would mean some folks who voted blue were previously people who voted red. Are you OK with that?

Think about how you feel.

Are you OK having something in common with previously red-voting people?

For example, that you just voted for the same party and endorse the same issues?

Are you OK having them on your "team?"

Meaning, you are now part of a group. It's not a team necessarily, but it is a category.

Are you sure about that?

In a previous election, this might have been a person that you'd disagree with at every turn.

Could you go to the same party and share space with them over a 7-layer-dip? (You don't have to eat the dip)

Could you be OK with a world where more Americans vote Blue than Red?

In other words, would you want to win more states, or even a federal election? Think about it for a moment.

This would mean a Blue group that is larger than the Red group. Are you OK with that?

Really think about it.

Are you OK with having something in common with all the people in this larger group?

It's a question about inclusion, the acknowledgement that you can share space, time, a resource, whatever.

Can you live with the fact that it's unlikely that everyone in this group has the exact same opinion on every issue?

This is likely, because people live in wildly different regions of the country and have wildly different needs because we are wildly different people.

Seriously, though can you handle this?

Sorry to belabor this, but this is important. You would have to acknowledge the humanity of people who are now a part of your party (but weren't before).

IS it OK if a person supports an issue that you don't support, but still wants to vote the way you do?

In other words, is someone allowed to vote blue if you disagree with them on something?

what if they wanted to outlaw squirrels, would you still be OK with them voting blue?

Hint: Try to remember how democracies work.

is it OK for someone to oppose abortion and vote blue? Or support military spending and vote blue? Or reject LGBTQ rights and vote blue?

In other words, do you want their vote, even if you find one of their beliefs reprehensible?

Are you sure about that? Do you really want a larger, more diverse party?

Sure, there is strength in numbers. You can get more things done and you have more viewpoints to shape the story, but collaborating requires more communication and compromise.

In other words, do you want the responsibility?

OK, wow, I did not expect that.

Now we're really cooking.

since you're OK with a party where people hold different points of view, are you OK with focusing the party platform on things we have in common?

We can shift to the things we don't have in common much later.

Are you OK with making progress gradually?

That is, in a way that takes into account all the differing points of view in your political party?

Inclusion is a process that takes time.

Are you OK with the idea of winning an election focused on healthcare, labor rights, income inequality, housing?

These are issues that affect the most people regardless of identity. 

Are you OK with the idea that politics isn't perfect, but a series of tradeoffs?

I mean, imagine saying no at this point.

Do you believe people can change?