Overcoming Partisanship: Foot in the Door via Health Care

Fri 2017-05-05
What is the most egregious and well documented part of the new health care act? Something that would speak to [almost] every decent American as needing to be fixed? Perhaps something where you have a personal story or connection?
What could be a “foot in the door” issue, if you wanted to start a conversation across party lines? Could we make a request that this one egregious part of the bill be stopped, and get good people to do so together across party lines?
Please leave your suggestions! Bonus for a story-with-footnotes style, instead of just the policy.
Reframing "You Bought It" to "Stand Together"
adminTue 2017-04-11
My rewrite of "You Bought It" follows:
Did you support Trump? Politicians of many stripes often try to turn ordinary people against each other. We built this country together, but now politicians purposefully divide us. I don't want America divided:
8. He said Clinton was in the pockets of Goldman Sachs, and would do whatever they said. Then he put half a dozen Goldman Sachs executives in positions of power in his administration. Politicians of many stripes have their pockets full, let's clean house together. Stand against corruption, and we'll stand with you.
1. Trump said he wouldn’t bomb Syria. Then he bombed Syria. Stand against his lies, we'll stand with you.
2. He said Mexico would pay for the Wall, now he has asked Congress to spend our tax money on it. Stand up, we'll stand with you.
3. He said he’d clean the Washington swamp. Then he brought into his administration more billionaires, CEOs, and Wall Street moguls than in any administration in history, to make laws that will enrich their businesses. Stand against corruption, we'll stand with you.
You Bought It: Reinforcing Team Boundaries When Trump Voters Waver
adminMon 2017-04-10
Every time we say "You bought it," we're further defining the teams. Trump supporters are not happy. Of course, online, the only people being loud are the loudmouths; no one is introspective while making comments on the internet.
Be Nice or Be Outraged —Finding Depth in Our Anger
Stephen CataldoFri 2017-04-07
Nicholas Kristof’s My Most Unpopular Idea: Be Nice to Trump Voters, like most articles about judgment and outrage around this election, comes down on one side. In this case, the “nice” side, awfully close to policing the feelings of other people. "Be nice" shoots down what should be a strawman, except that it is widespread, of shouting outrage at voters you don’t know, who don’t know you, over social media — and pretending that the volume is activism.
Echo This: Carly Fiorina on Special Prosecutor
adminWed 2017-03-29
Echo This are usually straightforward suggestions of news to echo that may influence conservative or moderate voters.
Give some oxygen to the Republicans who are acting with integrity (or vengeance against Trump, that's fine too) on collusion with Russia. Their voices will influence potential Trump voters much more than Democrats saying the same things.
Share this: Carly Fiorina: 'Special prosecutor or an independent commission' needed for Russia investigation
The Choices When Framing: Your Values or Theirs? (2)
adminWed 2017-03-29
Many studies are finding that the best way to frame an argument is to use their values. The studies have a simple format: they take an issue like climate change, and describe it to a conservative in liberal-sounding
The Choices When Framing: Your Values or Theirs? (1)
Stephen CataldoMon 2017-03-27
What's the best way to frame political arguments? Some argue that we should tell stories that express our own values strongly — preferably with many voices repeating and reinforcing the same story; this is the approach in George Lakoff's Don't Think of an Elephant. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we hear advice as in Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind (and Moral Foundations Theory) to spend more time listening to conservative opposition and coming to understand their values — more empathy, more compassion.
Wave Goodbye to Orwell: Framing Lessons from The Onion
Stephen CataldoWed 2017-03-15
Tuning Social Media Posts: What to do with the money for the wall
adminMon 2017-03-06
Here is a powerful video about the GOP wasting $14 billion under Trump's direction, and how much we could do with that money.
Draft: Pressure and Escape Valve
adminTue 2017-02-28
The Trump administration is battered. Most blows self-inflicted, a good bit more from the left. It is reeling. It doesn't no where to go.
This means that all that pressure is just leading to a wounded presidency. Perhaps it will lead to President Pence.