From the category archives:

Politics

Us and Them, All In The Same Boat

March 22, 2010

We don’t have a backup if we make a mistake, if we break it or bomb it or leave it to ruin. One planet, with one island, in one ocean. There’s one race, the human race, and as fellow passengers on this spaceship Earth, we have a shared destiny. What’s that destiny going to be? As far as I’m concerned that’s the one conversation that we need to be having internationally, because without agreement to this, there’s no possibility for a real dialog.

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The Value of the Vision Thing – in Politics, Business and Life

March 15, 2010

Those who we recognize for their vision are, more often than not, satisfied to see what they see and begin with that, then fill in the blanks while adapting to changes as they unfold. Indeed, an artist faces a canvas, a blank sheet of music, or a problem to be solved, with only an inkling of an idea, and that’s enough to begin.

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Obama Out of the Bubble, Onto the Battlefield of Persuasion

February 16, 2010

The President can’t persuade Congress to make meaningful changes if he’s allowing Congress to define the narrative. In a battle of persuasion, he’d best act now or his moment will be lost.

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Massachusetts Special Election – Democratic Persuasion Failure

January 25, 2010

I was less interested in the proposals and policies the winner might advocate, and more interested in the themes and messaging of each. And from the looks of things, only one of those campaigns seemed to get it right, as the Democrat’s support collapsed and the Republican campaign ascended to victory.

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Can Obama Find A Persuasive Message On Healthcare Reform?

August 21, 2009

President Barack Obama has struggled to find his footing and shape this debate adequately and persuasively. In part this is because the media gives voice to the loudmouths, and in a shouting match with a mild mannered and reasonable President, this allows the loudmouths to shape the issue.

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Bonus Post – What do the British think of their Healthcare system?

August 18, 2009

BONUS POST: In the health-care ‘debate’ currently going on – and I use the word ‘debate’ ironically – those against the bills being considered keep talking about Britain’s system of healthcare and how bad it is.   They want to persuade you into believing that it is an awful system, one that can’t hold a [...]

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Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) Deceptive or Delusional?

July 24, 2009

I think Senator DeMint is either delusional or intentionally deceptive. And I think he is fundamentally wrong about his core idea. It isn’t freedom on the line. Freedom doesn’t need to be saved. I see plenty of the love for it in the sacrifices made by our soldiers, teachers, business owners and civil servants at every level. It’s the future that is on the line.

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Persuasive Communication and the Drive To Discredit – How They Do It, and What You Can Do About It

May 20, 2009

There are the standard negative means of persuasion, such as name calling and casting aspersions, character assassination, negative labeling; presupposition (speaking as if the foundation of their argument is already proven to be true, therefore what they say based on it must also be true);

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