Rebranding the Democratic Party + The College Affordability Crisis

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Welcome to Office Hours at Prof G. This is the part of the show where we answer your questions about business, big tech, entrepreneurship, and whatever else is on your mind. If you'd like to submit a question for next time, you can send a voice recording to officehoursatprofgmedia.com.
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Or post your question on the Scott Galloway subreddit, and we just might feature it in our next episode. Question one. Our first question comes from Reddit user gooseneck07, who asks, do you think the Democrats should co-op be America first or Americans first as they're brand in 26 and 28? Clearly, the current iteration of conservatism in America has not been America first. So this is a messaging opportunity for Democrats? It could be an opportunity for higher wages, less foreign intervention, no corruption, no nepotism, and better outcomes such as housing and health care. Would love your thoughts. Thank you.
It's cute. Americans first? America versus Americans first? I like it because it's a play on what they said. America first has come across as a little bit, I think it's backfired because America first is meant, let's put ridiculous, weird tariffs on our allies. Canada, where 70 percent of their exports are coming into the US. The way I describe how Canada feels about us is from the movie Animal House when the guy lets his fraternity brothers borrow his parents' car, and they bash it up, and they bring it home, and I think it's Otter. He says, you fucked up, you trusted us. I think that's how a lot of our allies feel, becoming so interdependent upon the US. I think it's a good play on words and it deposition them. Effectively, what this is, in branding we call it laddering, and that is, you drop the attributes of your competitor, and then you draw comparisons. So, if you ladder Democrats versus Republicans, you'd go, all right, one is big government, one is small government, one is pro-family, one is like pro-choice, one is quote unquote pro-life. And then you just go through each, and you ask yourself, which of these is truly differentiated?
Are the Republicans really small government? No, they've been as big government about spending as the Democrats. You probably would want to hang your hat on that. One is pro-war, one is anti-war. Well, actually Democrats have engaged in a lot of military interventions or adventures as well. You try and find somewhere you're truly different, and then is it sustainable? Does anybody care? Can you own it? Can you own that? If you're fortunate enough to find an attribute that is differentiated, also relevant, can you own it? I would probably advertise fiscal responsibility, which should bring down interest rates, should bring down costs. That does not fit on a bumper sticker. I like the word renewal. What do I mean by that? That's the word I love. We need to renew our alliances between our incredible allies, specifically in Europe and Canada, and renew trust around the world. We need to renew the bond and the cooperation between moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans. We need to figure out a way to work together. This legislative congress or this congress has been the most inactive legislative. Nothing gets done. They all hate each other. We elect crazies from the left, crazies from the right, and then put them in a closet and say, here, have a knife fight. It's just not working. Also, renew the relationship between men and women. I think that's the greatest alliance in history and it needs to be renewed. We need to do away with identity politics and start developing a greater fidelity for the flag. I think mandatory national service, such that young people could stop identifying as a special interest group or a party, but identify as Americans again. So I like the word renewal.