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Persuasion Power Point #362
by Michael Cloud
A Modest Proposal for New Year's Resolutions
We're now well into the New Year. If you're like a lot of people, you've either made New Year's resolutions or you're thinking you ought to make some.
"Let's see. I ought to lose 10 pounds. And I probably ought to stop smoking. Oh yeah, I need to spend more time with my spouse," you might say.
So you write down these items. New Year's is a good time to improve yourself. And this time you'll really keep your resolutions. Uh-huh.
Why did you pick these resolutions?
They're hard. They're important. They're uplifting. And you'd feel really proud of yourself if you actually accomplished them.
So you start out with the best of intentions. The highest of hopes. And a grim determination.
Then you break one of them. You forget another. Before you know it, your resolutions have you on your back, all four feet in the air, another victim of resolution road kill.
You feel guilty. You get a funny-looking grin on your face when your friends ask you, "How are your resolutions coming?"
Your self-esteem plummets. Until time lets you forget all about the resolutions.
Frankly, this isn't good for you.
It isn't good for the people you spend time with.
But I have a solution.
It's bold, breathtaking, and BIG.
It feeds your need to be uplifted. It gives you a steely look and the calm confidence of a poker player holding four Aces.
THE BIG TRUTH: Most of your problems are caused by other people.
Your life would be a whole lot smoother if other people were way more considerate of your wants and needs. Of your hopes and expectations.
Your life would be a whole lot better if other people would stop being so selfish.
Always putting themselves first. Always thinking about their problems. Always wanting things their way.
Most religions teach that it is better to give than to receive.
So what is the greatest gift you can give to others?
The opportunity for them to give.
THE MODEST PROPOSAL: Write New Year's Resolutions for other people. Tell them exactly how they can make your life better, and nicer, and happier.
Why should you lose 10 pounds? After all, how many times do you look in the mirror each day? They should lose 10 pounds. You look at them more often than you look at yourself.
And they should learn to say, "You're not fat. You're snuggly."
Why should you stop smoking? They should learn to appreciate the fragrant smell of burning tobacco. And enjoy the process of scooping up ashes that have fallen in the wrong place. And cleaning out ashtrays.
Why should you spend more time with your spouse?
She should appreciate the spare moments you ration out. After all, the rare is the precious. If diamonds were commonplace, who would value them? If your time were commonplace, would your wife really appreciate you?
Remember, most of your problems are caused by other people.
That means that most of your solutions can be provided by other people. Unless they insist on selfishness.
Maybe your friends don't call you often enough. Or invite you to dinner regularly. Or listen in rapt attention when you repeat your story for the 11th time.
It is better to give than to receive. Help them give. Write their resolutions so that they can learn to give and give and give.
Write their resolutions so that they can grow and grow and grow.
So they can be more worthy of being your friend.
So make up a list of your friends. Write out their New Year's Resolutions. The resolutions that put you first. The resolutions that make them better friends. Resolutions that let them live to give.
If they keep those resolutions, they'll become stronger and better.
If they fail to keep the New Year's Resolutions you wrote for them, they will feel frustrated. Guilty. They will suffer plummeting self-esteem.
Help your friends become better people. Write their New Year's Resolutions today.
Some day they'll thank you.
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Unlocking More Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion
Transform your libertarian outreach!
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Ask Dr. Ruwart
Dr. Mary Ruwart is a leading expert in libertarian communication. In this column she offers short answers to real questions about libertarianism. To submit questions to Dr. Ruwart, see end of column.
Should libertarians work within the Libertarian Party?
QUESTION: I'm very disappointed in the Libertarian Party (LP). It doesn't elect many libertarians. Shouldn't we just try to take over the GOP and work within that party instead?
MY SHORT ANSWER: Some individuals feel called to do that, but it's tough. After Congressman Ron Paul qualified to be nominated for president in 2012, the GOP changed the rules at the last minute to exclude him.
The LP has had great success at rolling back Big Government without electing anyone. When the city of Kalamazoo tried to take some land by eminent domain shortly after my run for city commission, an elderly gentleman came up to me and put $200 cash into my hand.
"Dr. Ruwart," he said, "the city wants to take my bicycle shop. I know your employer, Upjohn, is going to benefit, but YOU are a Libertarian, so I know you are on my side. Take this money and fight them for me!"
Clearly, I had a conflict of interest, but this gentleman trusted me because the LP candidates had made principle their campaign focal point. The local LP joined the fight — and stopped the land grab.
This is what the LP does best. It stops eminent domain, tax hikes, etc. at the local level, even without ever electing anyone.
The LP does this at the state and national level too. LP member Steve Kubby and the California LP were key players in getting the first medical marijuana bill passed. Many states now have medical marijuana laws and a couple have decriminalized it. Big Government was rolled back without ever electing anyone.
About 80% of the visible critics of ClintonCare (myself included) were libertarians. Although Libertarians haven't taken credit for it, they were the prime movers in stopping ClintonCare. Big Government was thwarted — for a while, at least — without ever electing anyone.
Maybe the LP should run candidates so that people know where to turn when Big Government comes knocking at their door. Rolling back Big Government is something the LP can do, whether or not it elects candidates.
LEARN MORE: Suggested further reading from Liberator Online editor James W. Harris on this topic:
* "7 Vital Reasons to Join the Libertarian Party Now." In this short piece the Libertarian Party makes its case for why it is essential in the fight for liberty.
* Libertarians Save Taxpayers Billions: "Libertarian Party Successes" by "Critto" is an informal forum post at the website of the Free State Project. It lists a number of major anti-tax efforts initiated by, led by, or joined by, the Libertarian Party. It argues persuasively that the Libertarian Party has helped save taxpayers literally billions of dollars. No doubt this list, which is ten years old, could be enormously expanded. Further, similar lists could be created showing how the LP has helped defeat other oppressive legislation.
(Note, this information is provided for educational purposes. The Advocates does not, and cannot, endorse parties or candidates.)
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Got questions? Dr. Ruwart has answers! If you'd like answers to YOUR tough questions on libertarian issues, email Dr. Ruwart
Due to volume, Dr. Ruwart can't personally acknowledge all emails. But we'll run the best questions and answers in upcoming issues.
Dr. Ruwart's previous Liberator Online answers are archived in searchable form.
Dr. Ruwart's latest book Short Answers to the Tough Questions, Expanded Edition is available from the Advocates, as is her acclaimed classic Healing Our World.
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Click cover to check out Dr. Ruwart's latest book!
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One-Minute Liberty Tip
by Sharon Harris
The "Trickle Down Economics" Myth -- and How to Refute It
Economist and syndicated columnist Thomas Sowell begins a recent column this way:
"New York's new mayor, Bill de Blasio, in his inaugural speech, denounced people 'on the far right' who 'continue to preach the virtue of trickle-down economics.' According to Mayor de Blasio, 'They believe that the way to move forward is to give more to the most fortunate, and that somehow the benefits will work their way down to everyone else.'"
President Obama, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Paul Krugman and many other prominent persons and publications have similarly attacked "trickle-down economics."
There's just one problem, says Sowell. No economist in history has ever advocated such a policy. The phrase is pure propaganda; the alleged theory is a straw man. "Trickle-down economics" is a pejorative term made up by opponents of free enterprise to distort what genuine free market reform is all about and to demonize those who advocate free enterprise.
Indeed, writes Sowell: "If there is ever a contest for the biggest lie in politics, this one should be a top contender. While there have been all too many lies told in politics, most have some little tiny fraction of truth in them, to make them seem plausible. But the 'trickle-down' lie is 100 percent lie."
Sowell argues, in his book Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy, in papers, and in several columns, that no economist in history has ever advocated a "trickle-down" economic theory, i.e., giving tax breaks, regulatory breaks, and other advantages overwhelmingly to the wealthy, in the belief that some crumbs from this will eventually fall to the poor.
"Years ago, this column challenged anybody to quote any economist outside of an insane asylum who had ever advocated this 'trickle-down' theory. Some readers said that somebody said that somebody else had advocated a 'trickle-down' policy. But they could never name that somebody else and quote them."
Further, Sowell notes: "The 'trickle-down' theory cannot be found in even the most voluminous scholarly studies of economic theories — including J.A. Schumpeter's monumental History of Economic Analysis, more than a thousand pages long and printed in very small type."
In short, the phrase "trickle-down economics" is a slur, a weapon used to attack free market advocates by distorting what they actually believe.
If you hear the phrase "trickle down economics" used to describe what you believe or what free enterprise reform is concerned with, don't accept it. Don't allow it to define what we believe. Politely but firmly reject it, as we've done above.
Say instead that what you favor is genuine free enterprise. Libertarians believe free enterprise benefits everyone, especially the disadvantaged, and we want to bring those benefits to everyone — rich, middle class, and poor alike.
Then make a persuasive case that free market small-government reforms will immediately benefit the poor. Point out how government policies destroy jobs and keep skilled but unlicensed entrepreneurs from starting businesses. How the government education monopoly harms poor children. How minimum wage laws, high taxes, convoluted tax laws, regulations, corporate subsidies, drug laws and so many other government policies hurt poor families and deny them opportunity.
There's not room to cover these issues in this column, of course. As we've noted in previous columns, these are the kinds of questions libertarians are frequently asked, and you should have soundbite answers and up-to-date facts at your fingertips.
Finally, when choosing the phrase to describe the economic system of liberty, consider alternatives to "laissez faire capitalism," which provokes a negative response from many people. By far the most positive such phrase, according to recent Gallup polls, is "free enterprise." You can read more about this in my column here.
Help the truth about this too-often-heard propaganda phrase "trickle down" to fellow freedom fighters. Pass the word on to other free enterprise advocates.
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Sharon Harris is president of the Advocates for Self-Government.
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What's Happening with the Advocates
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
ADVOCATES LIBERTARIAN COMMUNICATION EVENTS: Advocates President Sharon Harris will be conducting libertarian communication workshops or giving speeches at these upcoming events:
March: Sharon Harris will be speaking at the Libertarian Party of Colorado on Saturday, March 29, and conducting a communication workshop on Sunday, March 30
April: Sharon Harris will be the banquet speaker at the Libertarian Party of Maryland convention on April 5th
June: Libertarian Party National Convention, June 26-29. The Advocates will have a booth and Sharon Harris will be speaking.
Attendees will learn how to dramatically increase their effectiveness at communicating the ideas of liberty.
Email us now if you'd like us to send you further information on these events.
Email Sharon to find out how you can have a communication event near you.
ONGOING
FREE OPH KITS FOR LIBERTARIAN STUDENT GROUPS: Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we're giving our acclaimed OPH (Operation Political Homeless) outreach kits to libertarian student groups FREE — if they simply promise to use them a minimum of three times a year and send us photos documenting their OPH activity. OPH — praised as the best recruiting tool in the libertarian movement -- normally sells for $50.00.
If you're in a student libertarian group, click here for more information on getting your free OPH kit.
JOIN US ON TWITTER: Twitter is the first place to learn about breaking Advocates and liberty movement news, expert communications tips, and exclusive Advocates discounts and specials. (And don't worry — we won't bombard you with tweets. We're keeping it fun, fast, and useful.)
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2014 FREEDOM CRUISES: Advocates Board member and long-time libertarian leader Dr. Ken Bisson invites you to join him for a Freedom Cruise. Enjoy a wonderful trip on a luxury cruiser — at a bargain rate! Great food and fine company. Non-libertarians welcome! On January 26, 2014 the 17th Annual Freedom Cruise embarks: a 7-day Holland America voyage to excellent snorkeling destinations Grand Cayman and Cozumel, with visits to Key West and Half Moon Cay as well, all on Holland America's newest cruise ship! (These aren't Advocates events, but libertarians who have been on past cruises rave about them.) Ken offers two other February 2014 cruises as well. For photos and more details — or to sign up for free, no-pressure, no-commitment email updates — visit Freedom Cruises.
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