Politics and The Art of Persuassion
Let's start with a quick discussion of politics.
I'm disappointed by the tone of most political discussions these days. They tend to degenerate into yell-fests or name-calling. I can't tell if we're learning too much from the Europeans or from talk radio. It's politics as entertainment instead of politics as a way to enlighten and enrich.
Yes, enrich. Politics is basically the interaction between people that want to accomplish something together. Just see how much you accomplish when you call someone a LIB-ER-AL (with a heavily sarcastic tone) just because they believe that we need more government interaction to provide a better balance between the powerful and the powerless.
It's not politics; it's war. And in war, only one side usually wins. In politics, both sides can win.
War is definitely more entertaining, which is why the media loves to report on it. And the media is getting better ratings by staging political yell-fests. O'Reilly, Crossfire, Scarborough, Hannity... it's not enlightening when everyone yells and acts like their point of view is the only one that's right.
Every argument has two or more sides. These sides can be discussed without disdain, sarcasm, or yelling. It's not as entertaining, but it tends to be more enlightening.
The hosts of these shows need to let ME decide what I think and stop trying to tell me that I'm an idiot for thinking something different from them.
I get more enlightenment from just reading news stories or by watching a Tim Russert interview than I'll ever get from watching any of the yell-fest political shows.
Enlightenment. Illumination. Demand nothing less from your political discussions and from your politicians. Don't take the low road, easy way out.
And don't let your politicians act like warriors. Their cause may be just and defendable... or it may just be a cynical attempt to appeal to your basest instincts and ensure their re-election.
Don't forget that there's another side to the argument that may also be equally as just... or equally as cynical.
I'm disappointed by the tone of most political discussions these days. They tend to degenerate into yell-fests or name-calling. I can't tell if we're learning too much from the Europeans or from talk radio. It's politics as entertainment instead of politics as a way to enlighten and enrich.
Yes, enrich. Politics is basically the interaction between people that want to accomplish something together. Just see how much you accomplish when you call someone a LIB-ER-AL (with a heavily sarcastic tone) just because they believe that we need more government interaction to provide a better balance between the powerful and the powerless.
It's not politics; it's war. And in war, only one side usually wins. In politics, both sides can win.
War is definitely more entertaining, which is why the media loves to report on it. And the media is getting better ratings by staging political yell-fests. O'Reilly, Crossfire, Scarborough, Hannity... it's not enlightening when everyone yells and acts like their point of view is the only one that's right.
Every argument has two or more sides. These sides can be discussed without disdain, sarcasm, or yelling. It's not as entertaining, but it tends to be more enlightening.
The hosts of these shows need to let ME decide what I think and stop trying to tell me that I'm an idiot for thinking something different from them.
I get more enlightenment from just reading news stories or by watching a Tim Russert interview than I'll ever get from watching any of the yell-fest political shows.
Enlightenment. Illumination. Demand nothing less from your political discussions and from your politicians. Don't take the low road, easy way out.
And don't let your politicians act like warriors. Their cause may be just and defendable... or it may just be a cynical attempt to appeal to your basest instincts and ensure their re-election.
Don't forget that there's another side to the argument that may also be equally as just... or equally as cynical.
posted by Andy @ 9:12 PM
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