Public and Professional Discourse -- Tactics

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A Comparison of Tactics Used
by W. Gary Martin

Their Tactics	Our Tactics
Attack the details	Provide the big picture
Demand irrefutable evidence...	Produce evidence but admit ambiguity
but produce anecdotal evidence	How can you attack a good story?
Ad hominem arguments and other "uncivilized" tactics.	Try to answer their arguments with reason
Simplistic arguments aimed at emotions	Difficult, nuanced arguments
Common-sense language	Jargon-filled
Limited productive POSITIVE agenda.	Meanwhile, we have work to do!

Our Central Problem

What stories get picked up on the news and why?
What tends to connect with the public?

SUGGESTIONS

We need to adopt some of the tactics of the opposition, to the degree that we can in good conscience.
In particular:
Matching their commitment to get their messages out.
The “Rolodex test”:
- Are our names the ones the reporters turn to when they are writing stories on reform?
Working at producing messages that work better. (see next section)
Striving to become proactive not reactive.

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