"Markos is saying Democrats should use the technique of appealing to people not simply through facts, but also through emotion without sinking into dishonesty and smear tactics."
To make my point regarding decions and the concern for the public good another way:
The decisions I am targeting are those that are concerned with the common good. It's not the decision itself that I'm after but the BASIS of the decision. My point is some decisions are based on self-interest ie. results while others should be based on the common good. Noting the difference between the two is crucial.
Here's the decision framework I'm trying to describe: For example, take the decision to go from one method of getting votes to another method.(the other method could be a combination of methods)
If you adhere to a set of permanent values based on principle you have to ask: does the change in policy or method have an impact on the common good?
If the answer is yes then right here the basis of the decision switches from sef-interest (getting more votes) to the common good. You could argue such a decision has no effect on the common good--but I think when it comes to reaching the public and it's subsequent impact on the public the threshold is pretty low.
That's pretty much where my point rests--the basis of the decision.
But if you went on, having answered the first question, the next could be: Is the impact on the common good likely to be positive or negative? Obviously this is the decision itself and the answer to this question determines what you decide.
All pretty theoretical--you might be wondering why does it matter? I think some of this has to do with today's free market system, it's decision's based on self-interest, and the lack of the common good in greater society that are all leading (like a perfect storm) to something more resembling anarchy.
But here's the rub. It's also tied in with politics--naturally. The faith community and the Republicans will try to replace the "common good" in this framework with religious values.
Religious values are not the common good, they are a private good or a private moraltiy. Not public morality which could be another diary entry all in of itself.
Anyone actualy read this far?