So where to next?

Amidst the blizzard of division, hate, and cruelty, we must find a way to navigate our way through this darkness to a better tomorrow.

Let me begin today by responding to those who commented on yesterday’s post, saying, ‘don’t stop talking about a spending strike’. Don’t worry, I won’t. You clearly picked up on my sense of frustration, having spoken about economic disengagement for a while now. It’s fair to say I do get exhausted sometimes and feel like I’m screaming into the void. Regarding the increasing number of trolls commenting, rest assured that they have absolutely no impact on what I write or my state of mind. I certainly don’t want to make comments available only to paid subscribers; that’s not my style.

I have little doubt that as more people read my ramblings, there will be detractors from both sides of the aisle, because the truth, however uncomfortable it might be, needs to be told, regardless of how it’s received. I need you, as a reader, to visit Truth Matters with the confidence that you will find passionate commentary that reflects my liberal values, but not at the expense of fairness. I don’t compromise on values, never have, but that doesn’t mean I’m deaf to considering opposing views. I know I sit down to work each day with my sarcasm pencil freshly sharpened, and that can be a little jarring at times, as can be my sometimes dark humour. It’s who I am, and I can’t change that without losing the edge I believe my writing can have on my better days.

These are very challenging times, not just for Americans, but for the world. If it’s one thing Trump has demonstrated, it’s that a tyrant in the White House is a threat to every global citizen. The mission of Truth Matters is to provide a body of conversational writing that is just you and me having a chat over a beer or a coffee. The intention is to inform. Do I have strident opinions? You bet I do, but they are delivered with respect, something sadly absent in politics today.

I decided to skip writing a commentary piece today until we see if the government shutdown proceeds, and also to better understand the outcome of the meeting between the military top brass, Trump and Hegseth. I want to incorporate current events into the economic research I’ve been doing over the last day or two, which is a revelation in itself.

Instead, I would like to share a couple of interesting comments in response to my post from yesterday on economic disengagement. (If you haven’t read it, I’ve linked it below.):

One comment from Robin Poole read:

I’ve recently embraced the concept of economic disengagement for obvious political reasons. What I didn’t expect was the positive impact it had on my finances. I just sat down to pay my bills for the month and am totally shocked at how much healthier my bank account looks. Regardless of rising prices (I’ve started hitting farm stands and local butcher shops) I’m getting better quality for the same or lower prices. I’ve barely noticed the impact of curbing online spending (the “high” feeling, or lack thereof, of impulse spending fades fast). All of a sudden my credit cards are pushing me to increase my credit lines. This is real, people!

This is an excellent example of taking a moment to step back, look at the way you organise your spending, and find a better way not just to contribute to the cause, but to also understand how it can actually result in a positive outcome for you too.

Another comment which really resonated with me, was this one from Larry Russell

I appreciate your efforts and willingness to stick your neck out to cover unpopular issues. Unfortunately, the fact you pointed out in the past (that >50% of USA adults read at a 6th-grade level or below) makes it very unlikely that the people who need to read your excellent articles will ever look at them…..

Larry hit the nail on the head here, and this is a really important issue that does not escape me, and neither should it you. This battle is more than a battle of words; it will also be a battle of visual media. It is however a battle I am convinced we can win because we have some extraordinarily talented creators on hand to knock messaging out of the park. The only problem is that content creation, when done correctly, can be expensive due to the costs associated with stock footage, music licensing, and copyright clearances.

Feel free to dip out here if you don’t want to listen to a pitch I have in relation to widening access to important messaging. I’m not here to hand around the collection plate, but what I hope to do is bring into focus how visual messaging can really deliver more message for your buck. We all know that over $1 billion dollars was invested in the 2024 Democratic campaign. Before we speak of anything else, imagine what can be done with a billion dollars other than refitting a gifted Boeing 747 from the Middle East.

Messaging is a mission critical element in any successful campaign and I can write pieces all day long about the state of American politics and the tyranny that Trump and his acolytes are imposing on the world. Tragically if 54% of the population have a literacy age at 6th grade or below I’m peeing into the wind so to speak and we all know what the results of that are. To understand the challenge, 6th grade is about basic reading, as I understand it beyond 6th grade it’s about logical reasoning, and to be able analyse text in order to identify tone and context etc. It’s the critical thinking part of the equation. I’m sure I have educators here that will correct me if I’m wrong.

To recognise this is to arrive at the heart of the problem. It certainly goes some way to explain why the MAGA cult foot soldiers will blindly follow and ask no questions, especially if you consider 21% of the population is illiterate. We can joke and make fun of this, but in the cool light of day, these people are victims of a failed education system that particularly red rural states have done little to address over decades. It’s the old ‘keep ‘em dumb and poor’ policies that has become the mantra, where education is regarded as elitist. It always makes me smile when Republicans bang the drum about immigrants speaking English when 21% of the US population are literate. It’s also no coincidence that religion plays a role given its ability to gain a psychological hold over the poor and the vulnerable.

Republicans have used evangelical pastors as proxies for promoting hard right white Christian Nationalist politics with the old. ‘Vote Democrat and you’re going to hell’ message. This is why I have some sympathy (not a lot might I add) for their indoctrination into the MAGA cult. They are victims of a cynical partnership between politicians and twisted religious ideology. The same ideology that Trump is tapping into to make them believe they are fighting a righteous fight in the name of God by declaring anyone left of Mussolini a servant of Satan, in his declaration of war on the ‘radical left’. It’s good politics.

Unfortunately this makes those like me who write about politics unable to reach the very people we need to reach. I’m not talking about hard line MAGA folk, I’m afraid they are lost to us and if Trump were to drop dead, they would become lost to the Republican party too. Even beyond this demographic we live in a world where people have the attention span of a goldfish, even those reasonably well educated. Who wants to read an political article when you can watch a Fox News clip telling you some outrageous lies about the radical left? Many on this platform still don’t know that you can listen to this article rather than read it.

There is a lot of truth in the saying, ‘A picture paints a thousand words’, so as a political commentator being able to expand a message into a visual format is in many ways mission critical. It’s why most publications like the New York Times and the Economist for example, also do opinion piece videos as YouTube shorts and TikToks. It greatly extends the reach of the message.

As a producer of short films and political Ads and a messaging expert, I am able to combine my technical skills and deep understanding of politics to create content that can help to inform and drive a message home. The jury is out on how content should be produced in terms of impact. In terms of short impactful political ads, around 17 seconds is alleged to be the optimal duration, but this can vary depending on the platform. The short film below is not an ad; it’s a public awareness film, and these have proved to be very effective for creating that wider critical awareness. It can certainly help inform undecided and swing voters who are interested in gaining summarised visual facts. This film I created about the threat of Peter Thiel and the tech bros. It’s short enough to retain interest and delivers a set of key messages.

In terms of short Ads, here’s a different example highlighting a single issue

But it goes much further than that; it’s about injecting the passion I have for the written word into visual versions of my commentary. Emotionally connective content does make a difference; it can prompt people to pause for thought, force introspection, and, above all, it can deliver hope. It is hard for me as a writer to articulate what I can convey in a video because it’s the combination of visuals, music and words spoken by real people. It resonates. Now I know Democrats lost in November but it was not for the want of me trying.

Policy specific content can be really powerful and thought provoking

Since 2019, I have self-funded over 200 Ads to support the cause, and now that I’m retired, I can’t afford to continue to do it as I did then. I am a valuable resource that is currently largely idle, not because I can’t deliver, but because I need help with funding to do the job. I’m more than happy to continue to invest in it as I do my writing, but I can no longer do it on my own.

To put this into context, the amount of cash poured into seats that are known to be lost causes could fund expansive content production for two complete election cycles. Also, the great thing about policy-driven content and broader message awareness is that it’s ubiquitous. Any candidate can use it, and with a little help from AI, their campaign message can be integrated into centrally produced content. The obvious question is, can it be scaled? Yes, it can. I have access to several highly talented creators who would be eager to form a content coalition.

We live in a crazy world where election time is a gold rush for the same political Ad agencies that have charged outrageous fees to create Ads for candidates. These can cost upwards of $15,000 each. The reality is that technology has advanced, significantly reducing their costs. We will wait to see if they pass that saving on in 2026. Campaign ads can now be produced for a fraction of the cost, making them accessible to even down-ballot candidates. I know because I’ve created them.

This is not about making money, all I need to do is cover costs and this allows for the creation of more content. I believe it’s a no-brainer, or at least it should be, but alas, it remains a hard pitch to sell. This is not about 'Can I help?' I obviously can; it’s about 'will people help me to help them?’

From the outset of this journey, I wanted to make this about Truth Matters becoming a vehicle to develop a community to help foster buy-in to my vision of how to fight this administration. It’s about becoming a stakeholder in a collective vision to help move the needle, and being a ‘glass half full guy’, I remain convinced it can be done.

Paid subscriptions help finance both my writing and content creation. It’s a fine line to walk when appealing for support. Under no circumstances do I want those who can’t afford to subscribe to feel any pressure from this type of appeal. I DO NOT AND NEVER WILL expect ANY reader to feel pressured to contribute; that’s not who I am. This is as much a service for you as it is for anyone who is a paid subscriber, and my work will always remain free to read and to comment on. You pay it forward by amplifying the messages created here and my work; consider that your payment for the free access you enjoy.

For those who would like to contribute to video production specifically, please get in touch with me. I also have a facility linked to Substack that facilitates one-off donations, if that works better for you. Simply reach out, and we can chat. I am also happy to hold face-to-face conversations via Zoom to answer any questions anyone may have. I have a large body of work, both here on Substack and in my YouTube archive, which you are welcome to explore at any time. Whether you become a paid subscriber or a donor the end result is the same, it’s an investment in speaking the truth.

In recent months, I have also attracted a small number of founder members which is most humbling and I find it difficult to express just how grateful I am for that level of long term support. The funds from these subscriptions go directly to finance video content. Paid subscribers provide the foundation on which to build what I hope will make Truth Matters an important player in the fight for liberation from tyranny in 2026 and 2028. With the proper support, we can move the dial together.

Regardless of whether people want to join in with this visual expansion idea, I will continue to write as I do every day, and my passion will never be diminished. I’m more than aware of the many publications competing for your attention and support. This is all about trust and confidence, and in this space, I understand that it takes time and commitment on my part, which is what I strive to demonstrate every day.

I’ll be here contributing daily regardless, so I absolutely understand if you feel there are more worthy causes to support. As I’ve said many times, if everyone unsubscribed tomorrow, I’d be beside myself wondering what I’d done wrong, but it would not stop me from doing what I do. As MLK said ‘I still have a dream’, and so do I, that we can somehow find a route through this darkness to 2028 and put this nightmare behind us. We need to build a better tomorrow where no child goes to bed hungry and no family is left behind. It’s not that much to ask is it?

We did liberated the nation from Trump in 2020 and we can do it again if we just stay focussed and committed. Perhaps we need as Pete Hegseth would say, a warrior ethos, but I have to be honest and say I would likely fail the PT Test and need to drop more than a few pounds. If you watch this video watch it to the very end, there’s a surprise that went down well.

Have a great day and thank you as ever for your support

Martin