Not Going Gently

A former speechwriter for several Democrats calls it quits.  Wendy Button caught my attention with this line:

“As the nation slouches toward disaster, the level of political discourse is unworthy of this moment in history.”

Read it, not for any partisan message you might glean, but rather for the way she describes how easy it is to control the dialogue with language designed to obfuscate the issues.  Especially this part:

“This back and forth is posturing, a charade, and a political game. These lines are what I refer to as “hooker lines”—a sure thing to get applause and the press to scribble as if they’re reporting meaningful news.”

The best way to avoid being manipulated is to learn from those who aim to steer you.