Decoding the Political Machine:

Understanding Power in America, Prelude

Introduction

Understanding the American Political Ecosystem: A Call for Awareness

Before we delve into the strategies of the Democratic and Republican parties during the 2020 election, it’s critical to address a deeper issue—the lack of understanding about how these strategies interact with the American political ecosystem. This is not just about party politics; it’s about how an uneducated electorate, combined with misunderstood strategies and distracting narratives, creates a recipe for disaster for the American people.

The political system in the United States is complex, involving 45 different types of entities, from PACs and Super PACs to dark money groups, grassroots movements, and judicial lobbying organizations. Most Americans, unfortunately, do not fully understand how these entities operate and influence elections, legislation, and public opinion. This lack of understanding allows powerful interests to manipulate the system in ways that often go unnoticed by the average voter.

Worse still, the electorate is bombarded with conflicting narratives—some based on facts, others rooted in conspiracy or misinformation. These narratives distract from the real mechanics at play. Whether it’s a false claim about election integrity, a wild conspiracy theory, or a sensational media headline, these distractions prevent people from bearing down and learning what actually happened.

For example, during the 2020 election, there were countless narratives—from the security of mail-in voting to claims about voting machines—that took over the public discourse. Regardless of which side you believed, the real question should have been: Do you understand how the system itself operates? If you don’t understand the mechanics of voting law changes, judicial strategies, and the influence of dark money or grassroots mobilization, then you miss the bigger picture. The American people are left focusing on the surface-level narratives, while beneath that, a much more intricate game is being played.

This isn’t about whether a particular theory is true or not. It’s about recognizing that, even if all these theories were proven correct, what would you do about it? The only way to truly disrupt or fix a broken system is to understand it. Without knowledge of how political entities work and the strategies employed by both parties, any efforts to improve the situation will be futile. The American political ecosystem is a well-oiled machine, designed to operate in favor of those who know how to use it. You, the people, are the only force capable of holding these entities accountable.

To get involved—whether it's by voting, running for office, or becoming a community advocate—you must first arm yourself with the knowledge of how this system operates. Learning the system is the first step in disrupting it and fixing it. Once you understand the entities involved and the strategies at play, you can begin to see where manipulation occurs, how narratives are set, and how legal and institutional power shifts the playing field.

Uneducated voters and misunderstood strategies only benefit those who don’t want you to know how the system works. Without a clear understanding, you risk being swept up in surface-level narratives, leaving the real power dynamics untouched. The 2020 election is a prime example of this: while many focused on polarizing headlines, few took the time to understand how voting law changes were legally maneuvered, how judicial appointments impacted the election outcome, or how grassroots movements shifted public opinion in key battleground states.

Before we explore how the Democratic and Republican strategies played out in the 2020 election, it’s essential to remember that knowing the system is your power. It’s not enough to just participate; you need to understand the entities and strategies that shape the landscape. Only then can you truly influence the system, hold power accountable, and ensure transparency.

The Strategic Divide Between the Democratic and Republican Parties in the 2020 Election

In American politics, the Democratic and Republican parties employ distinct strategies that reflect their organizational structures, fundraising methods, and political objectives. These differences were especially evident during the 2020 election, when both parties were forced to adapt quickly to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Democratic Party operates in a decentralized, grassroots-oriented manner, relying heavily on small-dollar donations and local activism. Through platforms like ActBlue, Democrats raised vast sums of money from millions of individual donors, enabling them to remain agile and responsive to rapidly changing conditions. This decentralized structure gave them a significant advantage during the pandemic, allowing them to swiftly push for mail-in voting, early voting, and other measures designed to increase voter participation.

On the other hand, the Republican Party follows a centralized, top-down strategy, with a long-term focus on judicial appointments and institutional control. For years, Republicans have invested heavily in reshaping the judiciary, placing conservative judges in key positions to influence the interpretation of laws for decades. Organizations like the Federalist Society played a crucial role in identifying and promoting judicial nominees who aligned with conservative principles. While the Republican Party has historically relied more on big donors than grassroots fundraising, its focus on institutional power has provided a steady foundation for long-term influence, especially through the courts.

Democratic Strategy: Outmaneuvering through Grassroots Power

The Democratic Party’s decentralization allowed them to quickly organize and adapt. Grassroots groups like Black Lives Matter and Indivisible were critical in mobilizing voters, advocating for changes in voting laws, and setting a narrative early on that voting by mail was necessary for public safety during the pandemic. These groups, alongside powerful issue-based advocacy organizations, worked in tandem with local Democratic Party committees to push for expanded mail-in voting, which many believed was critical to turning out large numbers of voters who may not have otherwise participated due to health concerns.

By the time the Republican Party realized the significance of these voting rule changes, the Democrats had already established a public narrative that these were the most secure and accessible elections ever conducted. Through grassroots fundraising, the Democrats were able to quickly raise the resources needed to fund legal battles and media campaigns that supported these changes. This gave them a crucial edge.

Republican Strategy: Centralized Power and a Focus on the Judiciary

The Republican Party, on the other hand, struggled to respond as quickly. While Republicans had invested years in building judicial influence—an approach that included reshaping the Supreme Court and placing conservative judges at every level—this strategy didn't give them the flexibility needed to immediately counter the Democrats’ voting initiatives.

By the time the Republican legal teams were fully organized to challenge these rule changes, it was too late. The Democrats had already outmaneuvered them on the ground, in courtrooms, and in the media. While Republicans did pursue legal challenges, particularly around the constitutionality of non-legislative bodies altering voting laws, many of these challenges were brought too late to change the course of the election.

Additionally, the Republican Party’s centralized approach meant they were slower to react to the rapid changes in public sentiment and state-level voting procedures. Their judicial-focused strategy, which was more suited for long-term battles, did not match the speed and agility of the Democrats’ grassroots-driven efforts in the immediate lead-up to the election.

The Result: A Changing Narrative and Public Perception

By the time the dust settled, the Democratic Party had successfully positioned themselves as defenders of voting rights and expanded access, while the Republican Party was framed as trying to undermine the democratic process by challenging voting rules. The Republicans’ legal challenges—focused primarily on state-level judicial rulings and post-election audits—struggled to gain traction because the public narrative had already been set.

The Democrats’ ability to raise money quickly from small-dollar donors and leverage grassroots movements gave them a strategic advantage. Meanwhile, the Republicans’ focus on the judiciary, while important in the long term, left them behind the curve in adapting to the immediate election environment.

Lessons from the Strategic Divide

The 2020 election illustrated a stark contrast between the two parties’ strategies. The Democrats excelled in grassroots organization and narrative-setting, while the Republicans’ reliance on centralized power and the judiciary left them playing catch-up. This election serves as a critical lesson in understanding the American political ecosystem—the web of grassroots movements, judicial influence, fundraising, and media control that determines not just election outcomes, but also public perception.

For the American people, understanding these strategies and the entities at play is crucial. Without this knowledge, it's easy to overlook how legal, institutional, and narrative control can shift the course of an election. Transparency and accountability start with informed citizens who understand the entire system, not just its surface-level elements.

Written By Spartan Altsoba Patriot, -17th SOG