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Mar 28, 2008

A Political Speech: Coming Together

[Satire]

My fellow Americans.

May I first say that all of you are the most intelligent, beautiful, clear thinking, generous, patriotic, and deserving people that I have met, along with all of the other great people of your town, city, and state.

Our great country and especially our government is torn by disagreement. It is astonishing that we elect people to government, using so much time and at great expense, only to witness these people disagreeing and arguing. They don't get much done, and they make a lot of conflicting arguments and noise while they are not doing things. They are now spending about $3 Trillion (that's 12 zeroes) per year on programs that they argue about. It is time to end partisan differences so that we can do so much more good.

My administration will reach across the aisle to both parties, and especially to the opposing and obstinate party, to gain agreement and smooth the operation of government. We will smile rather than argue.

Some pay taxes and others receive benefits.
- I will bring them together.
Some charge for their services, and others want free services.
- I will bring them together.
Some want a powerful military, and others want a philosophy of peace and forgiveness.
IWBTT
Some want to have earmarks for political supporters, and others want to reduce spending.
IWBTT
Some explain why my policies are wonderful, and others stupidly and maliciously object.
IWBTT
Some want my political party to rule forever, and others want to end this benevolent rule.
IWBTT

So I say the following to all of you, and especially to those who want a job with my administration, or a subsidy or grant from us, or want to run a program, or supply a program, or just want to have the street fixed in front of your home.

We should soon be the party in power, and we will be, with your help.

2 comments :

Unknown said...

. Is it possible for ads, editorials, or political speech to be equally effective in convincing people without using propaganda techniques or faulty logic? Explain your opinion and support it with relevant examples.

Andrew_M_Garland said...

Mellody Sharon,

In theory, people can be persuaded by facts and logic. This is almost never observed in the wild. Wishful thinking beats a discussion of policy every time.

Amazingly, many people will not change their beliefs even (or especially) when told that they are wrong by the person they first believed. Motto: "I can't be fooled, so you must have superpowers."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi
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[edited] Randi has been accused of using psychic powers to perform acts such as spoon bending.

Randi was duplicating the performances of Uri Geller. A university professor shouted out that Randi was a fraud. Randi said, "Yes, indeed, I'm a trickster, I'm a cheat, I'm a charlatan, that's what I do for a living. Everything I've done here was by trickery." The professor shouted back: "That's not what I mean. You're a fraud because you're pretending to do these things through trickery, but you're actually using psychic powers and misleading us by not admitting it."

Senator Claiborne Pell believes in psychic phenomena. Randi demonstrated to him that simply by using trickery he could reveal a concealed drawing secretly made by Pell. Pell refused to believe that it was a trick, saying, "I think Randi may be a psychic and doesn't realize it." Randi has consistently denied having any paranormal powers or abilities.
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