The voters of our country are sharply divided on many issues. There is a stark difference in major party platforms and when you add personal values to the mix the division becomes a chasm. This makes communicating difficult, especially when each side is seemingly locked into their opinion. Picking the right issues to discuss for the audience is important.
We are in a war of information – the information all around us influencing our every thought. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished involuntary servitude. Are we voluntarily giving away our sovereign rights by not adequately analyzing the information stream bombarding us? Taking personal responsibility to research the facts and finding the truth is key to having intelligent, respectful conversations with fellow voters.
| If you are being criticized then they see your values as a threat to theirs. |
The Freedom Foundation is having a national impact against activists that are good at shifting the subject, ignoring facts, and then name calling. If we fight fire with fire, it’s going to be a bad day for the country, and we won’t influence voters.
Name calling divides so we need to refrain from responding to name calling. Jack Adkins, FreedomWorks, says his tool kit for dealing with criticism includes:
- If you’re doing anything right, expect criticism.
- If they are kicking you in the rear, you’re still in front.
- If they are throwing dirt, they are losing ground.
- If somebody calls you a whatever, you either are or you’re not. If you are and you desire to change – then change. If not, consider the source and go about your business.
If we are going to influence voters that we normally don’t reach, we have to communicate on what matters to voters in a way that influences them. At some level we are all vulnerable to mind control through our information channels. Television allowed mind control to go vertical, and what we see frames our thinking.
The left’s tactic is to attract people with a sob story and link it to their issue somehow. We need to be down to earth in our delivery that truth supports. Acceptance of truth can never be taught, only learned. Challenging their truth is challenging their identity, so being confrontational will only offend them. Ask questions respectfully and as they go through the critical reasoning process, they will discover the truth for themselves. It’s easy when we have a solid message and have gone through the process ourselves.
- Reassure thinking and base it on facts. Take in information without bias and test it with your body and heart to direct you to the truth.
- Double check sources and use logic.
- Changing your models is life. If you can discern truth from untruths easily, it helps eliminate confusion.
Even when your conversation leads them to the realization that they have been wrong, anger will set in as a self-defense. They will be mad at themselves, and mad at you. Denial is the time to listen, listen to why it is hard for them to change their thinking. Then, help them shape a new perspective by asking questions that will give them a feeling of discovery and a new understanding. Questions can help inspire changes. “What if” questions help pinpoint what they are willing to change and the direction they are willing to go. What if we adopted your idea? What would that look like for the next generation? What are you afraid will happen? What do you think that would look like?
| Denial is refusal to believe until so much information crumbles their world view and everything they perceived as real. |
They may try to rationalize their truth until the evidence is overwhelming and they can no longer refute reality. Empathizing will help bridge the gap, but don’t over sell. “How would you do that” or “How do you see it” questions are helpful. Let them be proactive and own their feelings so they feel worthy to spread their discovery of a new truth to others. Give them a story of recovery because we are all victims.
Finding influential topics that bridge the gap will avoid difficult situations. Retired State Representative Jeff Kropf reports that polls show that women drive the votes, particularly in the metro suburbs; and violent protesters move voters towards law and order candidates. After the 1968 riots, Republicans running on law and order won 5 out of the next 6 Presidential elections. When suburbs of metro were polled, safety issues moved voters the most followed by financial concerns.
- Release of violent criminals into communities. Criminal Justice Reform is bi-partisan nationally that draws both sides, but releasing violent prisoners early is a major safety issue.
- Next of concern was tolling freeways that are already paid for.
- Stealing the kicker is a message of government financial accountability.
- Illegal aliens receiving free healthcare also polled significantly.
- Another talking point to note is that women are purchasing firearms for self-defense in record numbers.
Strong talking points will bring us together and influence new voters. Use your message to empower individuals and use free markets in a way that counters the control tactic of liberals. The key to messaging is that people need to hear the same thing several times before it registers. Standardized messaging will cut across party lines and empower individuals influencing their vote.
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