How to Reach A Larger Audience

Obama's economic advisors - just like Bush's - are wolves in sheep's clothing. They rewarded the greed which caused the big banks to fail and brought on the collapse last year and the decay of the whole economy. We need real reform and real change, not the hypocrisy of rewarding the banksters with more bailouts. The crisis will not end until we give some some tough love to the banks to really rein in their radical corruption.

The overwhelming majority - 75% - of all Americans consider themselves to be Christian. It is irrelevant for this discussion on reaching a larger audience whether or not those 75% are all living up to their values, whether every word of the Bible is true, whether Christianity is a detrimental force undermining democracy and reason, or whether all organized religion is a con.

Let's take an example. The facts are that governments from around the world have admitted that they carry out false flag terror for political ends. But rounding up the confessions and facts won't persuade anyone except the small minority of people who think rationally and make decisions based on facts.

To reach a wider audience, I have to invoke Christian values, morality and the frames which are meaningful for people of faith.

For example:

• "Punish the sinners"

• Expose the "wolves in sheep's clothing"

• "Root out evil"

• "Protect national security"

You could say something like:

Traitors in Washington have - for a long time - committed sins against our country which are threatening our national security. Instead of using the world's greatest military to fight bad guys, there are sinners who have hijacked our defense apparatus for their own evil purposes.

If you think that this is beneath you, you are mistaken. Specifically, the first step is to climb up from the fog of unreason to logic. Congratulations, you've done that.

But the second step is to translate that logic into language that the majority can understand. If you don't do that, you have failed as a communicator.

For example, good science writers don't use a bunch of technical jargon. They translate that jargon into plain English that everyone can understand, and use everyday images that people will get. The same is true for any communication.

(And if you are an atheist and speaking in religious language seems dishonest, think of this as speaking a little Spanish when you travel to Mexico or a little French when you go to Paris: you're trying to converse a little in the "local language". Even if your accent is horrible, you'll get credit for trying.)

3 Brains Are Better than One

If you want to reach a larger audience, you also have to stop talking to only one out of three brains.

Yup, every person actually has 3 brains. Top-notch communicators appeal to all 3 brains.

The 3 brains are:

• (1) The human brain (neocortex), where we handle logic, abstract thought, words, symbols and time. This is the one you've been preaching to and reaching only a small audience.
  

• (2) The reptilian brain, which focuses solely on survival, fight-or-flight, and getting away from pain. This is, largely, what fearmongering politicians try to stir up.
  

• (3) The mammalian brain, which handles emotions: love, indignation, compassion, envy, hope, etc. This is what, largely, what Obama's "hope" politics has focused on.

Most people incorrectly assume that if enough facts and logic are presented, people will believe the truth. In fact, psychologists, marketing experts and trial lawyers have found that facts are less persuasive for most people than emotions in reaching decisions.

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