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I listen to people “trying” to be persuasive all the time. In politics, the democrats and republicans try to prove that the other person is wrong using the same rhetoric. They both use the same words to define why the other is wrong in so many cases.

“He voted for this 94 times.”

“Oh yeah, well he voted for that 123 times.”

When they don’t claim victory on the same topics, they argue their point as though it is natural to assume that everyone agrees.

“You’re American so you know that I must be right!”

Liberals try to convince the world they are right by spouting liberal logic and conservatives try to convince the world the same using conservative logic.

This doesn’t work because they never try to come to a common point of interest. They don’t try to illustrate where they agree and use the logic of the person they are talking to in order to sway public opinion.

Do you see the problem yet? Do you understand yet why your argument doesn’t win hearts and minds? continue reading...

Green is nothing more than a marketing ploy. I have a hard time believing that if going green for a company didn't get them a net gain of something (goodwill, marketing messages, net increase in profit, etc) they wouldn't do it.

The best example I have seen in sometime is that of Walmart. My wife went to Walmart today and the greeter handed her a 16 page pamphlet (see at the left).

While the assertion they make is good, namely, "Earth-friendly products won't save the Earth if they don't save people money" is something that I agree with, what I don't like is that they hide advertisement under the guise of helping the planet. continue reading...