Reply #14: The deception issue is one I've used recently [View All]

[ninkasi]

I have used deception when discussing politics with a few of my friends who voted for Bush in 2000, because they took him at his word. It would have been counterproductive if I had used a "told you so" line in these discussions, because nobody wants to appear foolish. By sympathizing with them about being deceived, I was able to bring up issues which I surely would not have been able to discuss unless I was able to reassure them that they had not been fools, just honest, good people who had been deceived.

Of course, there will always be some people who are resistant to reason, either because they actually agree with Bush, or because they are hardcore fundamentalists. It will take more than one approach to bring others to our side, but as The Magistrate has pointed out, with his usual eloquence, it is an achievable goal.