“driver’s license” for internet users
“driver’s license” for internet users
Month: January 2010
held in a police cell and fined for filming for fun
God hates flags
smart enough to flee nanny state but not smart enough to keep child
Local News should have Safety Tips for Voters
BBC One show Rip Off Britain had a show about convenience stores charging more than grocery stores. It seemed odd to me to have a show on the subject, because who doesn’t know a convenience store charges more? Why waste time warning people about something they learned as kids? How do you follow up a report like that? A story about fire is hot, fire burns?
I don’t mean any offense to the UK. The show Rip Off Britain is not a reflection on the intelligence of its citizens. In the US, almost any nightly newscast will have parental reminders along the lines of reminding you to put coat on because its cold outside, or too much sunlight will burn your skin.
Still, there were probably a few people out there that benefited from the show pointing out convenience stores charge more. Its just as likely someone benefits when they are reminded to use suntan lotion or put a coat on.
The political events of the last few years have had me wondering basically the same thing about politics. Do people need to be continually reminded about how politics work? Is a story about government incompetence news? Maybe people should be reminded from time to time about the dangers of politics.
Local news programs should have safety tips for forgetful voters prior to elections?
Politicians promises are more likely to be broken than kept.
If they are the lesser of two evils, it means they still screw some things up.
They can’t be on your side and working for everyone at the same time.
Corruption follows power and money around.
Whatever they say it will cost should be doubled or tripled.
Contrary to what most politicians believe, not every problem has a solution.
Politicians have been known to lie.
Bailouts Created More Risk In System
Bailouts Created More Risk In System
Russia may ban ‘destructive cults’
Italian women ordered to go topless in public
Send em back to Africa. Check. Do me hard. Check. Screw America. Check. – Hillary is a bitch. Now you’ve gone too far.
Political Agreement Matrix
To break the hold of the US vs. Them mentality in politics, we’ve got to be able to spot the tactics used in political speech. Adjectives used in political speech are rarely used to offer insight into an issue, the intent usually being to promote an opinion.
It’s just simple marketing. Attach positive words with what you are promoting and repeat as often as possible. With enough positive or negative marketing , you’ll have others using similar adjectives to describe the products. The better the put-down, the more likely it will become a headline. Headlines are repeated without being read, and over time the opinion can turn into reality.
Political opinions are a mixture of marketing issues and parties at the same time.
Politicians X plan is intelligent, and its going to work. (agree with positive adjective – same team)
Politicians X plan is shockingly accurate, and its going to work. (agree with negative adjective – opposing team)
Politicians X plan is well-intentioned, and its not going to work. (disagree with positive adjective- same team)
Politicians X plan is extremist, and its not going to work. (disagree with negative adjective – opposing team)
None of the above statements are intended to sway the listener with supporting arguments or facts. The person isn’t trying to persuade with reason, but instead with simple positive and negative associations.
Another advantage to paying attention to the marketing adjectives is most people don’t come right out and announce their political affiliation, but the adjectives used offer insight into the political positions held by the speaker in relation to the subject.