Whenever possible, find something you can agree with before making your point. Make it clear that you've been listening. A worst case scenario is agreeing that the issue is important to both of you.
Note that it is very hard for a "yes, and" to be heard as anything besides "yes but." A few extra words can help: “and at the same time” instead of "and" — and make sure you really don't mean "but."
People are saying it's life vs the economy. That we should let coronavirus keep spreading and sacrifice some our grandparents so that young people can work. Yes. people being unable to work is a disaster in the US. People are living paycheck to paycheck and unlike Europe the government is not coming to the rescue. People are locked up with their abusers. Depression and suicide will increase. Everyone knows, everyone agrees.
But here’s the real question:
Are you willing to let less people die to get the shutdowns over faster?
