After they consider them, they will think differently about the world and you will learn more about people and maybe even make a new friend.

ASSUMPTIONS TO WORK FROM

Keep in mind that the following are assumptions that are characteristic of the majority of conservatives.(At least the ones I know, avoid discussing these with them directly as it tends to piss people off)

Conservatives think they can make a moral argument for war.
Conservatives think they have the right to lead because they believe liberals are dangerous and wishy washy.
Conservatives live in the present and are mostly concerned about short term results and rewards.
Conservatives are self centered, but many still retain a belief that there is good in the world.

Using those assumptions I can make conservatives think beyond the point of view that they live in now and show that the actions we take now have a profound effect on generations to come. They will come to understand something about liberals and progressives that I feel has not been successfully articulated in this divided political climate.

I can do it...AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO. Here is how. Some guidlines. Some call it FRAMING the debate.

LETS TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE

It is not about who is right or who is wrong. It is about finding something we all can agree on.

To successfully control the debate with conservatives you have to take focus away from immediate current events and get them to think two or three generations out. Don't say years because that means nothing to people and is abstract. Most people really do not really grasp 150 years as a comprehensible chunk of time. Phrase it in terms of future generations.

DO not let them drag you into a debate about contemporary issues. Tell them that we can go on and on about those things some other time and lets simply refrain from going down that road and stick to a nice discussion about the future...

SAY: I want to talk about the future specifically the future of our children and their children.

SAY: I am going to present some facts and then ask some questions and I really want to know what you think about them.

(That shuts up the talking points, because Conservatives don't typically talk about the future in relation to future generations...they only do so in abstract terms like "freedom" and "democracy" and preserving a way of life without giving any real concrete examples of that.)

FIND AGREEMENT - Some FACTs to use.

First give them these facts and they should have no problem agreeing with them in the above context. Feel free to listen to them and allow discussion as you do. Keep them on message firmly and do let them sway the conversation to contemporary politics or events. Keep them focused on a time frame of two to three GENERATIONS.

The FACTS about the future:

Oil supplies are finite.

We will learn to live with less as the world's resources dwindle.

We will learn to use renewable energy sources.

Our military will ensure it's supply of oil first.

All conservatives I talk to can ultimately learn to accept these simple facts, usually with surprising discussion and some debate. That alone is an amazing thing to share with someone who you asusmed you had noithing in common with. ONe person said oil would never run out. We will alwyas have oil. I said "WE?" just who is "WE?"? Eventually I asked do you actually believe that ordinary people will be able to purchase petroleum based products in the future and discard them in a landfill? He agreed oil is finite resource.


From there I ask these questions:

Remember to LISTEN!

THE FIVE QUESTIONS - LISTEN TO THEIR ANSWERS and ask for more detail.

1. What do you think it is going to take to move from a oil based consumer culture to a renewable energy based one?

2. Do you honestly believe that continued war in the Middle East going to move us forward to that goal? Explain.

3. Do you think our current consumer based culture is a path to energy independance? Explain. (this is very interesting and can go yes or no I have found.)

4. What tools will you give your children and their children to enable them to live and survive in a world that is running out of oil?

5. Do you think it is important to teach children about peace and love?

(This is the hard one...eyes will roll but be firm and ask for an honest answer...it will almost always be accompanied by a big "BUT" we need to BE STRONG, with weapons, gun etc...comeback and say but that is not what I am asking you about I am tallking about peace and love, we all no about national security and the threat of terror but I am talking about peace and love...not violence. YOu will get a look to the floor and a..."yeah of course it is...BUT..." Stop them and ask them to think about why it is important to teach children about peace and love...I sometimes leave it there...with them speechless or rambling on about bombs, and revenge...for 911)

After you discuss these questions with conservatives one of two things happen.

Either the person is insane and says I don't care cause I will be dead and I want what I can take. (I stop there and tell this person they get all they deserve out of life and call them selfish, not many are really this bad)

--OR---

Most agree and you find varied levels of consensus. They find that there is something needed but are not sure exactly what that means. At that point for the majority of conservatives they are confused and are being assaulted with something they probably have never thought about....which is something besides themselves and their current existence.

At that point you have rocked their world. You have shown yourself to be a kind decent person and they have seen that indeed there is much we all share in common. Make sure you acknowledge that and thank them for talking with you.

That is how to win the hearts and minds of others...by using your heart and your mind.

Note: Sure I vent and get mad. But for the most part when talking politics with conservatives I take this tack and I find that it does change the way people think.

Try it out on yourself. Ask yourself those questions and then ask your favorite conservative co-worker, friend or pub regular.

Have fun with it. And let me know how it worked for you.