How to Talk About the F-Word & Build Support for the Public Good
Key Recommendations and Findings
People are right to be angry when public dollars are abused. Our job is not to dismiss their anger,compete to sound toughest, or let politicians turn real wrongdoing into an excuse to punish entire
communities. When we adopt the language of our opposition, we harm our long-term agenda.
We can demand accountability and defend the public programs our neighbors rely on.
Key Recommendations
- Acknowledge fraud
- Validate and redirect people’s anger about fraud
- Avoid trying to “out-crackdown on fraud”
- Name political motivations behind concerted anti-fraud narratives
- Lead with support for the public good, e.g., what we are protecting.
Message Example
In Minnesota, we look out for each other. When federal agents targeted our neighbors, we stood together, shared food, and protected our communities. When people defraud public programs, it violates our trust and makes us angry. We must hold criminals accountable and ensure this never happens again. But today, politicians use real cases of fraud to justify cuts to healthcare, schools, and public services so they can give their billionaire backers more tax cuts. We have to protect programs and services and ensure they reach the people who need them.
We want accountability for public dollars, but we won’t let politicians divide us to cut programs people need. Minnesotans know that when neighbors stand together, everyone is stronger.
