Blog

Trust Science and Don't Panic, California

admin
Fri 2020-03-20

Much of California is sheltering at home. With CV19 in an exponential growth curve, this is the difference between jumping off a cliff and not jumping off a cliff. Please follow the guidelines — and also note, we chose not to jump off the cliff. We did the right thing, and most of us get to exchange a bit of cabin fever and economic woes instead of real fever and panic.

Playing Chicken with Science: A few numbers

admin
Fri 2020-03-20

Draft: comments welcome!!!! Originally written March 20, 2020

As I write this, the Bay Area — oh, faster than I edit, California too — is in "shelter in place" while Governor Cuomo in New York is fighting back as New York City aims to do the same.

The New Political Spectrum

admin
Sun 2020-02-23

The left-vs-right political spectrum has been an informative model to understand politics for more than a century, so we're still trying to use it. But it is mostly dated, at least for anyone who might swing. It's not that swing or undecided voters are between left and right: they are not using this model anymore. Left-vs-right is of fading importance, and nothing clear is taking it's place.

Campaign 2020: Framing Choice; Framing Abortion. Which are you doing?

admin
Thu 2020-02-13

No other issue costs Democrats the votes of compassionate voters the way choice|abortion does.

There is no other issue where we so desperately need to have a "big tent" for people who see the world differently, to use progressive communications styles with active listening — and no other issue where we could burn our big tent down by making the wrong compromises and failing to stick to our frame.

I'd like to start with an imagination exercise:

Techniques: 
language and frame

My Approach to Discouraging Biden's Candidacy

admin
Wed 2020-02-12

I've heard a lot of attacks on Biden, "He should get out," with harsh lists of everything he's ever done wrong and nothing he's done right.

Imagine you liked Biden and had half a mind to vote for him in the primary. People are trying to convince you to change your vote, and also stay energized after the primaries. How well does the comment below work; what would you change? [Cognitive Politics is about communications approaches, not about particular candidates.]

Techniques: 
Alternative Group Boundaries
steel argument

I swallowed some propganda

admin
Fri 2019-11-08
I swallowed some propaganda. For many years, I've said that eating cattle causes methane. https://www.facebook.com/SustainableDish/photos/a.169058819794862/2772522009448517/?type=3&theater&ifg=1 This blog is about communications, not meat eating. If you are conversing with people across partisan divides, in these days of heavy propaganda and few gatekeepers, I wonder if it would help to share when swallow propaganda?