Win Political Issues Almost Every Time in Seven Simple Steps
Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
Do you want to know how few people –
activists, lobbyists and spokespersons – get their way, while
others can hardly get their point across? Whether the cause is right,
wrong or misguided, the following seven-part strategy holds the key
to victory.
First, own the language of the
debate. Example: call your side “pro-choice", not “pro-abortion".
That puts your opponent in a tight spot, since it is difficult to
speak against choice, which most people value. The typical female is
likely to regard the matter of “choice" as part of her growing
equality with men.
If people begin to seriously question
your language or premise, quickly craft a more inclusive term, so
that you position your side for a win-win. Example: switch from
“global warming" to “climate change". It is not easy for
opponents of global warming to argue that Earth's climate is not
changing, since by definition the climate, as an extended weather
pattern, changes over time.
Second,
portray your opponent as “anti" something good or "pro" something bad. Example: call the other side "anti-choice" or "pro-pollution". If you are “pro-choice", your political enemy must be
“anti-choice". Of course, those against abortion soon caught on
to the word game: they call themselves “pro-life" and cast
pro-choicers as “pro-abortion".
Third,
use selective evidence to present and prove your case.
Remember to make your evidence scientific by referencing or quoting
experts that agree with you. A documentary movie is a great medium
for this stage of the game. All along, call the other side
anti-science deniers, as uninformed or status quo. Both the
proponents and opponents of global warming have used selective
evidence to make their opposing cases.
Fourth,
use passion to connect with people at the emotional level.
If you need to cry, go ahead and tear up, because tears are golden
eggs in the arena of public discourse. To your personal story
add the personal stories of others, and use these stories to fuel
your passion. Demonstrate passion to the point of religious fervor or
zeal. Why? Because with zeal, you come across as one who believes in
a cause. At least you stand for something, and you are willing to do
something about it. People admire that.
Fifth, cast the issue as a crisis
that demands urgent attention. If you identify, create or invent
a crisis, you put the pressure on lawmakers, government, and even
your fellow citizens to act now. Make the point that the financial or
economic cost of taking action is not as important as doing something
to address the crisis. People must feel that doing nothing is not an
option.
Sixth, make your crisis everyone's
concern. Stress that it not just about you and your group, but
about the whole of society. Or bigger still, this is something that
the whole world should be concerned about. At this point, you no
longer have a private or personal concern; you have succeeded in
making yours a local, regional, national or even a global campaign.
Seven, spread the responsibility so
that the largest possible number of people bear the cost. Instead
of “new tax", call the cost “investment", “contribution"
or “share". If you and your side have succeeded in the previous
steps, then multitudes will now agree with you that everybody's
problem demands everybody's resources, even the resources of those in
your opponents' camp.
By the way, this strategy is not
limited to politics, it works in business, in the church, in family
circles, and even in personal relationships. Try them and see the
results for yourself. I have.
Great article! Highly insightful! Just a choice of words often distracts an argument but yet plays the game! Must read!Thanks for reading, Vinoo; I appreciate your comment. ~mogama~
Really insightful article, Mogama. very useful. I'm going to bookmark this article as one of my favorites.
In fact, I do employ these techniques, and often. Especially the part about "own the language," because we have become accustomed to the fringe right misappropriating many terms that traditionally connoted something positive. I have also heard these tea-partiers, or whatever they call themselves twist language around, calling draconian and authoritarian values "traditional American values," and other such nonsense. Sometimes the adversary just plain lies, like when they say Obama or Democrats "hate America," and "Don't stand behind America" when what they really don't tell you is that we aren't apologizing for America, but apologizing for 8 years of Bush. Well, I guess it amounts to the same thing, doesn't it?
And since when did "liberal" become a thing not to be proud of? Since certain demonic voices of talk radio brainwashed their listeners into believing that.
Excessive confabulation can prove your undoing, though. Note what happened to Sarah Palin when she concocted the idiotic "death panel" lie of an early Health Care Reform Bill.I also find that "pro-life" is deceiving, when many "pro life" people are only that in name, but really support capital punishment, war, and even murder to justify their ideals. Same thing with "family values," which all too often really means "My family values, not yours." Usually, when a Senator says he is pro-life and family values, right away I think here's a guy who supported the Iraq War and wants the Bible to be the gold standard in public education.
Thanks, Gregory, for the compliment. I'm flattered you like the article enough to mark it as a favorite. Really neat thing is, this strategy is neutral - it knows no political party or religious affiliation. It works for anyone, liberal or conservative. Like you, I use this skill. It has really served me well in the ministry. ~mogama~