Comment of the day

I have received a great number of nice comments this week: thank you all.

The following comment from Ed really stood out for me. It’s mind blowing that someone would be so kind as to reach out with such a nutrient-rich form of communication and advice … especially as, apparently, Ed and I occupy diferrent positions on the circular politcal spectrum.

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First, congratulations on your new endeavor.

I’m compelled to comment, primarily because I read “Microsoft” in an industry newsletter, a company I admire and owe a lot for the great tools it offers.

I respect your beliefs but I hope you can find a different basis and tactic for your attempt at reviving the Republican Party.

You see, there are enough loud voices that spew empty mindless rants, and while they do have an audience, it’s the same “already captured” audience. All that does is make already rabid believers even more so, it does not bring a positive “ROI” to your bottom line.

If you expect a new audience, please grant your new audience the benefit of logic – I’m sure this isn’t a new concept coming from an industry where logic is the product.

So to start, please:

1. Don’t pass on a new version of history that somehow began only in November 2008. We’re where we are because of the mistakes made, prior to that date in time.

I think you’d do better by acknowledging it, moving on, and talk more about your own version of recovery, in a positive manner.

2. I think logical people don’t need much to realize that the spending done these days is spent/targeted locally, to the people of this country. Today’s debt is real and is at least spent on local programs.

Yesterday’s debt, which was just as real, was spent on rebuilding foreign countries. Please move away from the notion that yesterday’s war debt was a “freebie”, it’s not, and continues to grow today.

3. Please understand that ordinary people will not connect with a version of health care that either (a) simply blasts a new idea to fix a broken system, or (b) insisting that the broken system is the way it is.

I do believe we are all responsible for ourselves, and our health, but since we really haven’t yet fully understood the human body (gosh, we haven’t even cured the common cold) and how an affliction can suddenly hit us, having to go through a list of ailments just to know whether or not I should go to get treatment is a broken system.

Yes, one shouldn’t have to do this, but the reality is that people do, ironically, trying to be responsible with finances – re: can I afford this treatment? Will I have to suddenly rely on loans and other programs just so I can get treatment? And sadly, “I think I can live with this ailment”, because the alternative is dire (I’ll lose my house, can’t afford to feed by kids, lost education, etc.).

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These are but a few things I hope you’ll listen to. I’m obviously on the opposite side of your beliefs, but just like most people (I hope), not rabid believers of some notion of “party line loyalty”.

Talk smart, respect your audience, offer logical; rational ideas, and although I understand that my last hope is likely a pipe dream, please do try to separate yourselves from making decisions that affect an entire populace based on religious preferences – it doesn’t take much to see that doing so makes us just as “crazy” as some of the theocracies we’re trying to “inject” democracy with (and just have a different version).

This tactic/strategy may not grab its 15 minutes, but it does something better, plant more solid roots in the minds of your new audience.

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Ed: again, Sir, thank you!

~ by gotliberty on March 24, 2009.