How to argue over the Chanukah table

Posted on December 5, 2018

In the same spirit as our last blog, here are three more examples of how to argue progressive positions using the basic rules of persuasion described in our book, Voicing Our Values. Those rules...

How to argue over the Thanksgiving table

Posted on November 20, 2018

Now that America is more politically polarized than ever, you may be dreading Thanksgiving. Your loud-mouthed right-wing Uncle Mort insists on debating politics and you expect he’ll be more confrontational than ever. There is...

Thanksgiving Arguments, Drug Costs, Body Cameras and More

Posted on November 20, 2018

  Fair Minimum Wage Act: Nearly every state should emphasize a Fair Minimum Wage Act in 2019, especially when progressives can point to a neighboring state with a higher minimum wage. EPI’s minimum wage...

Cities can and must lead progressive policy

Posted on November 6, 2018

This is written from the National League of Cities annual Summit, this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center. If you’re in L.A., please come visit us in the Exhibition Hall, booth number 530....

Juvenile Justice, Progressive Cities, Ballot Initiatives and More

Posted on November 6, 2018

Juvenile Justice Reform Act: This model bill combines three reforms. First, it restricts the use of pretrial confinement to young offenders who actually pose a danger to society or where there is a realistic...

Voting Machines, Community Schools, Best Cities and More

Posted on October 24, 2018

Voting Systems Reform Act: Our voting systems are under attack from both international cyber warriors and domestic right-wing partisans. The Voting Systems Reform Act would require all jurisdictions to defend themselves by using modern...

How to persuade with questions

Posted on October 24, 2018

Persuasion is hard. And yet, it’s the whole point of politics. If we argue, whine or rant but never persuade, we have accomplished nothing. People are tough to persuade because cognitive biases skew human...

Youth Voting, Health Care, Higher Education and More

Posted on October 10, 2018

Primary Voting at Age 17 Act: Young people usually vote at the lowest rates; we need to do more to engage them. The Primary Voting at Age 17 Act allows 17-year-olds to vote in...

Drowning the American Dream, Part 2

Posted on October 9, 2018

Our last blog argued that America’s rich and powerful have rigged the economic system over the past 40 years. As a result, average citizens have gotten nowhere while the top five-to-ten percent have taken...

Drowning the American Dream

Posted on September 26, 2018

Successful politics is a matter of persuading Americans that “we” are on their side. That can’t be done if “we” assert facts that contradict the realities of their daily lives. For most persuadable Americans,...

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