On policy

[nadinbrzezinski]

look folks when you have a population that expects simple solutions for very complex problems, you cannot have policy discussions.

When you have a population that behaves, mostly, as if they were five years olds... I want mine NOW, and don't want to think things through, or worst cannot think things through since they don't have the tools. you cannot have policy discussions.

We have had no policy speeches in over a generation. The last POLICY discussion was Carter's speech on Energy and the energy crisis... now he was right, but tell me, how well did it work for him? Oh yes we celebrate his 1980 victory... right? :sarcasm:

So if you expect policy, first you need a population that does not behave in a more mature way than a five year old to grow up. I don't expect this in my lifetime. But that is why you do not have Presidents give you a policy discussion... err speech.

Now even here, we have people who WANT a simple solution... yes as much as it would be satisfying to get the board of directors of PB and stuff them into the hole (metaphorically speaking) it would NOT stop the flow... and as long as people think that ONE simple thing will be an all time fix, forget it. Adults are able to discuss things in shades of gray, but we can't... no, not DU, the American people. We used to, but we no longer can. And until that changes, I don't expect any President to discuss anything in any speech beyond extremely basic levels.

Personally I'd like to be treated as an adult, but hey, that train left the station way back when... and I do not expect people to realize just how complex this is until we are well into peak oil. We are, but the full effects of it are not yet with us. They will be, in my lifetime, and just electric cars will not do it, just public transit will not do it. Hell, there is a very good chance that electric cars will NOT be part of the solution, because there is a chance that our way of life will change so dramatically that we will go back to 19th or 18th century technology levels... but what can I say? Been looking at this from a SYSTEMS ANALYSIS perspective and if this is the case, I don't expect ANY President to tell this to the American people. To be honest, we cannot handle the truth!

So the speech was not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I am afraid that speech was the best possible with mostly a population of five year olds that don't want to deal with the adult world.

That is all, and that is what should make you cry, if anything. Not a bad speech or a good speech, or whatever you heard.

Nadin

[Jennicut]

1. Before you talk policy you must convince average non political junkies to

care about the country and environment enough to get pressure on Congress to pass more investments in clean energy. From the non political people I talked to tonight, that worked.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. That's good, they were the intended audience

not you or me.

Thanks for that

[Jennicut]

3. My husband is now talking to me about clean energy.

He never cared before until recently. He doesn't vote much and doesn't even watch the news often.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Good, that is what it will take

we are replacing our 18 year old truck, we are getting a second hybrid...

Thankfully hubby does pay attention and we have made conscious changes in our lives. Of course those are drops... and mostly make us feel good... but we do.

[Luminous Animal]

7. Most Americans, political junkies or not, care about the environment.

The numbers have decreased since 2000, but the majority of Americans support or are active in the environmental movement.

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/04/22/22greenwire-gallup-poll-finds-most-americans-supporting-en-19618.html

[Luminous Animal]

5. It wasn't too long ago that Obama gave a thoughtful nuanced speech on race.

He was widely applauded for treating the American people like the adults that they are. The majority of DUers and much of the nation expressed appreciation and relief for being treated with respect after 8 years of idiotic patronizing speechifying.

So, I do not agree with you. I believe that Obama talked to the nation as if we are children because he wanted to, not because he had to.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. And how well did that Malaise speech work for Carter?

THAT WAS THEIR MODEL.

So you may agree or not, but that is what they were thinking off.

Of course we might want to ask WHO wrote the speech. The one on race was written by Obama. This one by a speech writer.

But I will point at Carter... tell me how well did the second term go? And that is what they were thinking about and given our LOCAL DU discussions, I'd say the intended audience can handle energy nuance even less.

[Luminous Animal]

8. Obama is not Carter. And the environmental movement enjoys the support

of the majority of U.S. citizens. This was not the case when Carter was president. As we've witnessed over the years, Obama is capable of both inspiring passion and communicating intelligently with his constituency... the American people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Well I will see how this worked with his intended audience

and DU was not it.

Yes I know some of the folks who were his intended audience... If they got that fire in their bellies, as Jennicut reports up thread with her husband, I'd say that I am unto something. I suspect I will find out tomorrow when I go for coffee.

[Arkana]

10. The race speech was not timed.

He did not have only 15 minutes to communicate his message, and I guarantee you that if he had we would not remember the race speech as we do.

[Luminous Animal]

13. Too bad nadinbrzezinski didn't make that argument.

Basically, her point is, Obama's speech was shallow because we Americans are too childish to grasp anything else. I claim otherwise. I do not believe that we are too immature for a substantive speech on environmental and energy policies.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. The evidence is with me though

Most Presidential speeches since 1980 or so have not been either nuanced or written for an educated audience.

So there you have it, and this is not a party thing either.

Oh and his speech on race was given by CANDIDATE OBAMA, not President Obama. Yes, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

[Luminous Animal]

19. I don't believe it is the population's fault that our Presidents treat us like idiots.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. It works, and that is what matters

and the population is treated as idiots as a POLICY decision... and it starts in what we do with the schools. As they say, a nuanced and long standing problem.

That said, we have a population that does not understand classical mechanics, or how that is part of this particular crisis (boyle's law)... so partly this is self-fulfilling.

[Arkana]

18. I agree--but 15 minutes in the Oval Office is not the way to accomplish it.

[Arkana]

9. Why is everyone overlooking the fact that you cannot have a policy discussion

in 15 minutes of prime time?

The administration had a list of things they wanted to put into this address, and they put them in. That doesn't leave time for a wonkish dissertation on how to put together an escrow account, or exactly how we'll assemble the new oil company regulations, or exactly how much each of the affected residents will receive from BP in compensation.

That would have taken at least an hour, possibly two.

The President had 15 minutes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. You know that, I know that

and the energy policy of carter is also what they remember.

And as I keep saying, we were NOT his target audience. If we were, it would take three hours to barely scratch the surface as well.

[Arkana]

14. Plus, if I want policy details, I'm sure as hell not going to expect the President

to spoon-feed me. I'll go out and get them myself.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Yeah but you and I are not the average American

And sadly I am sure you know that.

I wish we were able to have a 30 minute speech with major policy points touched, alas I don't think Presidents do that any more.

And he did touch on a few policy points...

1.- Moratorium is on

2.- Get the commission, like all other issues

3.- He did touch on peak oil...

But there are reasons he could not just tell us, see folks, peak oil means we will need to do research, and even with all that R&D we will need to change our lives...

[Arkana]

17. If he was going to do policy specifics, he'd have done it before a joint session

or somewhere other than the Oval.

And the networks would have booked 45 min-1hr at least.

I find it really funny that Keith and Chris skipped over the fact that Obama vowed to shake the MMS tree until all the Bush rotten apples fell out and went straight for the "angry, overpaid pundit" routine.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Parlty the pundits had the same reaction as the locals

they are political animals and FORGOT that the intended audience is NOT THEM, but average Muricans who have not been following this closely.

There was also a time when the media used to take that ball and help EDUCATE the audience after a major speech. These days if this is a Republican they sing their praises, if this is a dem, they tear that person apart. It helps we have children and children rarely notice those patterns.

[Jennicut]

21. Average people have NO idea what is ahead. But they must be

introduced to it without panic. Like my husband. I think he just woke up...LOL. "It took thirty years, and still nothing done! What are we doing"? I was proud of him for caring, actually. Talked to my Republican father in law too. Even he admits we need to do this and agreed with Obama.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. So the target audience might have gotten it

I will know tomorrow at the coffee shop...

:-)