What we have in American politics today is power and it's manipulation. To actually consider data and the possible impact of that data is no longer really a serious consideration. This is available to everyone who needs proof.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Discussion, Debate and Persuasion
One of the things that we see and hear going on in Congress can best be described as noise. Each person in the "fight" to solve the United States "problems" defines their goals and terms in their own way. Many of the others in the "fight" are doing the same thing. So when citizens listen to the "noise" they have a strong tendency to hear those that appear to agree with their personal goals. Understandable.
On the other hand, this type of discussion/debate can never be resolved without the concentration of power on a single solution and that solution simply crushes all other solutions. Unfortunately, we've all be taught that might doesn't necessarily make right. And so power isn't as valuable to us as discussion/debate. After all, President Lincoln impressed on us the idea that what we have is ". . .government of the people, by the people, for the people. . ."
Paul Krugman in a piece titled, Willie Sutton Wept, does an excellent job of describing our situation today. Instead, what we appear to have in the United States today is power politics. Krugman wrote, "The bottom line, then, is that while the budget is all over the news, we’re not having a real debate; it’s all sound, fury, and posturing, telling us a lot about the cynicism of politicians but signifying nothing in terms of actual deficit reduction. And we shouldn’t indulge those politicians by pretending otherwise."
We can't fix what they're doing in Congress, but we can resolve not to do the same thing ourselves. We can learn how to conduct civil discourse with the goal in mind of resolving important issues for the best overall outcome for all of us.
On the other hand, this type of discussion/debate can never be resolved without the concentration of power on a single solution and that solution simply crushes all other solutions. Unfortunately, we've all be taught that might doesn't necessarily make right. And so power isn't as valuable to us as discussion/debate. After all, President Lincoln impressed on us the idea that what we have is ". . .government of the people, by the people, for the people. . ."
Paul Krugman in a piece titled, Willie Sutton Wept, does an excellent job of describing our situation today. Instead, what we appear to have in the United States today is power politics. Krugman wrote, "The bottom line, then, is that while the budget is all over the news, we’re not having a real debate; it’s all sound, fury, and posturing, telling us a lot about the cynicism of politicians but signifying nothing in terms of actual deficit reduction. And we shouldn’t indulge those politicians by pretending otherwise."
We can't fix what they're doing in Congress, but we can resolve not to do the same thing ourselves. We can learn how to conduct civil discourse with the goal in mind of resolving important issues for the best overall outcome for all of us.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Conclusions Need To Be Planned
Just like the rest of any speech, you need a plan to finish it. Like almost all successful efforts, you need to prepare, practice and believe in your conclusion. There are several elements that should be included in your conclusion.
1. Remind them of your credibility.
2. Remind them of the importance of your topic to them.
3. Go over the main points of the speech.
4. Create some memorable device that will help them retain what you've said.
There are many places on the internet that can aid you in constructing a plan for your conclusion. The link included here is merely one example. The greater the care and preparation the more likely your address will succeed.
1. Remind them of your credibility.
2. Remind them of the importance of your topic to them.
3. Go over the main points of the speech.
4. Create some memorable device that will help them retain what you've said.
There are many places on the internet that can aid you in constructing a plan for your conclusion. The link included here is merely one example. The greater the care and preparation the more likely your address will succeed.
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