September 03, 2004
9/3 - Keepin' It Simple, Stoopid: Communicating with the mass audience of America about ... anything
It's pretty cynical, but all I can say is, "they said it, not me." In an article titled, "Of Campaigns and Breakfast Cereals," the New York Times tells about the long, sad, and effective history of not over-estimating the interest level of the American public when it comes to anything important and complicated.
Once again, another lesson for ocean conservation. The public just doesn't want to hear the details. According to one of Nixon's best speechwriters who helped reshaped campaign techniques that are still in use today, "Voters are basically lazy, basically uninterested in making an effort to understand what we're talking about."
I'm not sure I'd go that far, but ... well, maybe I would.
Typical ecstatic American voter.
In US history, we have had poll taxes. Perhaps we should have a reverse poll tax--you don't vote, you pay extra. Let's see if we can motivate those lazy, "my vote doesn't matter" masses!
Now--what if conservation groups could learn from other groups, eg the NRA? I'd bet most conservationists would run when they hear those three letters, but WAIT! The NRA has been able to mobilize massive groups of voters. If candidates don't toe the NRA line, no votes for them. It's fairly black & white, but what would happen if all the conservation groups finally organized this way? Elected officials would get the message in a hurry.