Comments on: Selling Anger http://www.theactivevoice.com/the-active-voice/selling-anger Choose your words carefully. Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:22:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jake P http://www.theactivevoice.com/the-active-voice/selling-anger/comment-page-1#comment-67 Jake P Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:23:36 +0000 http://www.theactivevoice.com/?p=306#comment-67 I'm from the school that, sadly, there isn't a dime's worth of difference between the parties in the grand scheme of things. (Hence your perception that there's only one product.) They take our money, they spend our money. Sometimes you agree with what they spend it on, sometimes you don't. At least when I buy a Coke or a Pepsi it doesn't spontaneously change into a grape soda or a box of Twinkies or a bag of dog doo the moment I leave the store. You're right, Stephanie: Business *is* way more civil. I reckon that's because business depends on "pull" whereas politics survives on "push." I’m from the school that, sadly, there isn’t a dime’s worth of difference between the parties in the grand scheme of things. (Hence your perception that there’s only one product.) They take our money, they spend our money. Sometimes you agree with what they spend it on, sometimes you don’t. At least when I buy a Coke or a Pepsi it doesn’t spontaneously change into a grape soda or a box of Twinkies or a bag of dog doo the moment I leave the store.

You’re right, Stephanie: Business *is* way more civil. I reckon that’s because business depends on “pull” whereas politics survives on “push.”

]]> By: Allison http://www.theactivevoice.com/the-active-voice/selling-anger/comment-page-1#comment-66 Allison Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:38:32 +0000 http://www.theactivevoice.com/?p=306#comment-66 Great topic! I'm a serious news hound but I've had to cut back in the past few weeks to keep my head from exploding. What I wonder is, is this just a "wag the dog" ploy? Instead of creating yet another war, they've just decided to get really loud and mean to distract us from the real issues at hand. But the question is, where did it begin? Did it start with the politicians, or are they reflecting the "anger" of their constituents? OR, was the anger of their constituents stirred/manufactured by the groups sending out the memos telling them how to make a scene at town halls? Did FOX actually report on the tea parties or did it have a hand in organizing them? One of their producers was caught on camera recently trying to get the crowd good and angry before airtime. Who's really pulling the strings, and where does the hate really come from? Until we figure that out, and until we're ready to hold all the haters responsible (not just the elected ones) the sale of anger will continue. Here's one example of why I think it's happening with politicians. Say you're worried about losing your seat and you perceive that your constituents are angry at the President. If only you could find some big public way to stand up to him, maybe you could ensure your re-election...The old saying "sex sells" seems to now work where anger is concerned as well. It may be tasteless and disgusting to some, but someone is buying it. Great topic! I’m a serious news hound but I’ve had to cut back in the past few weeks to keep my head from exploding. What I wonder is, is this just a “wag the dog” ploy? Instead of creating yet another war, they’ve just decided to get really loud and mean to distract us from the real issues at hand. But the question is, where did it begin? Did it start with the politicians, or are they reflecting the “anger” of their constituents? OR, was the anger of their constituents stirred/manufactured by the groups sending out the memos telling them how to make a scene at town halls? Did FOX actually report on the tea parties or did it have a hand in organizing them? One of their producers was caught on camera recently trying to get the crowd good and angry before airtime. Who’s really pulling the strings, and where does the hate really come from? Until we figure that out, and until we’re ready to hold all the haters responsible (not just the elected ones) the sale of anger will continue. Here’s one example of why I think it’s happening with politicians. Say you’re worried about losing your seat and you perceive that your constituents are angry at the President. If only you could find some big public way to stand up to him, maybe you could ensure your re-election…The old saying “sex sells” seems to now work where anger is concerned as well. It may be tasteless and disgusting to some, but someone is buying it.

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