Win the person not the argument is a very old adage on how to conduct political affairs. It may take the form of win hearts and minds or some other similar language. That was a major prong in the Vietnam war strategy. Republicans are the minority in Harris County. We know this, but don’t adapt to our minority status. The ongoing race riots show we are stuck in the past and do not accept present political reality. The response to the ongoing race riots plays right into the hands of the violent extremists and allows the democrats to continue to win the person.
It’s easy to be critical of the race riots. For that matter it’s easy to be critical of Acevedo’s actions in the riots. Not only was he seen marching with the rioters, but when Ashton Woods was videoed attacking someone in the crowd he was not arrested and charged with assault or disorderly conduct. We, as a civilized society have every reason to call of Acevedo’s resignation. We have reason to demand Woods arrest, booking, release and trial that would happen if you and I acted similarly. However, that wins the argument and not the person.
It is to many of our minds wrongly, but Acevedo and Woods are seen as heroes among many in the county. Simply winning the argument is not going to move the needle in our direction as it reinforces the prejudice/racist/whatever built in excuse that black lives matter and their supporters have to excuse their behavior. This is a known problem – my first post here on Big Jolly was asking what’s the plan for civil unrest.
It appears the local elected official’s plan is largely to turn a blind eye to the lawlessness. That’s a politically astute plan as it leaves them open to losing the argument and continue to win the person. By accepting the invitation to criticize the lack of meaningful response to the riots republicans simply reinforce the preconceived notions of racism thereby continuing to lose the person. Winning the argument is what the democrats want us to do – it makes them heroes in the eyes of a significant portion of the population. Winning the argument doesn’t turn enough of the center-left voters away from the democrats to be worth the harm inflicted.
Winning the person means changing tactics. Winning the person means not pouncing on the red meat available. It’s bait. To win the person, republicans have to look beyond the win the day argumentation and return to our values aware of the realities of the current political climate. The electorate in general is not fiscally conservative. Although Houston’s finances are a mess the passage of the pension bond, flood bond, and firefighter’s proposition show that the electorate doesn’t accept a fiscally conservative message. Winning that argument doesn’t win the person; worse, it may backfire and get the spending cap removed in an election.
Winning the person means going back to social conservative and personal responsibility messaging. Just as the electorate isn’t open to a fiscal conservative message the electorate is open to a social conservative message. The bathroom proposition went our way. Crime is so out of control with activist judges that a tough on crime message would resonate. Helping others and cracking down on crime will change hearts and minds, and that in turn, makes it easier to indirectly attack the privilege the race warriors enjoy.
Calling for Ashton Woods to be held accountable for his actions in this environment is a losing argument. We have a weak district attorney who would possibly not accept charges. We have activist judges who would go out of their way to help him. We have a political environment against accountability. That underlying culture needs to be combated first. Only then, when we have judges who care about public safety and a district attorney who actually prosecutes crime, can we seek accountability for the protected troublemakers.
There’s a difference between fighting and winning. Right now we are too willing fight to our own determent. It doesn’t matter if we win the argument; we will lose the person. This must change before the blue tide is stemmed. Things will continue to get worse if we don’t accept our minority status and change tactics to reflect this new reality.
This is an orchestrated, planned effort….it’s coup 4.0 to try and depose Trump. That’s what this is all about. The Wu flu failed. Get Trump out. As liberals get even more desperate and violent, all I can say is, everybody be safe out there. Have a plan to defend yourselves, your families, and your businesses.
This has got to backfire, maybe Dems have already figured they are going to lose, so they’re just lashing out, inflicting pain for the sake of inflicting pain. People are going to be begging for law and order as liberals keep destroying their own cities, and I would assume at some point that Trump will step in.
Liberals want video of rioters being shot, for propaganda. Trump knows that is a bad look, but the longer this goes on, the more people are going to at least tacitly agree that SOMETHING has to be done.
As far as Harris County goes, if it doesn’t flip back Republican after this display of liberalism, there is no hope, it’s a lost cause. If, as an example, people see all this and still reelect Lyin’ Lizzie, there’s really nothing to do but sell your house and flee.
excellent advice that I took last year, my trigger was the $1billion bond for pension debt with no discussion, no plan for reform, no nothing but just pay more taxes for less service because
Politics is a Sales Job pure and simple. Too many Republicans only travel to places where they will get a warm welcome. I came from a manufacturing environment and we had to sell our products to survive as a business. The competition is more than willing, if not eager, to step in and replace you on a 24/7 basis.
It is really easy to sell to folks who like you, like your products, and think of no one else when it comes to purchase time. It is only a matter of checking the correct boxes in the application sheet and getting the letter of intent from the client so materials can be ordered and factory floor space can be booked.
It is quite another story to sell to an openly hostile prospect. You know, the client who does not like your product, does not like your company, and does not like you. I went as a supporting engineer on many of these type sales calls and watched our best sales guys handle hostile clients.
Their tactic was quite simple. First they took the time to learn the prospects business and needs. All clients are focused on the “What’s in it for me?” side of the deal. Ignoring this aspect is delusional.
Secondly, and this is the most important thing; our sales force would tackle the hostility by asking the prospect the following question, “What is it going to take to make you happy?”. Then you get the entire wish list if you are smart and let the prospect talk without interruption and listen.
Is it possible to deliver on all of their wishes? No, but usually there are enough ‘do-ables” to defuse most of their objections and possibly bring them into the fold. Sometimes they even teach you new approaches.
This is not a process for the feint of heart or the inflexible.
Simon,
As someone in sales, surely you recognize the situation where the customer and preferred vendor are in cahoots. You’re there simply to provide a courtesy bid, there’s no way you’re actually going to get the contract….the game is rigged. Does the current vendor take the purchasing agent on annual hunting trips? Is it envelopes left on the car seat? Whatever it is, you’re not gonna get that business, period, no matter how persuasive your pricing, quality, or arguments are.
Asking rioters what they want? That’s a fool’s errand. What they want is insurrection in the hopes that somehow, some way, deposes Trump. That’s it. The game is rigged. You’re not going to win over the paid agitators, and you’re not going to win over the true believer liberals. Hell, you’re not even going to win over the useful idiots that are out there, and don’t really understand the true intent behind the rioting. We were ALL universally outraged when we saw the officer kneeling on the dead guy. Nobody needed to be convinced of that. Looting the Verison store doesn’t make me suddenly realize that was horrible. I already knew it was horrible.
The people we need to be selling to are the same kinds of people who elected Nixon in 1968. People who see rampant violence and destruction, and want it stopped. We need to be appealing to the silent majority of people who don’t want to live in fear of their neighborhoods, or their workplaces, going up in flames.
Do the people in Lizzie’s district really want to see their energy corridor office buildings burned down? Are they so down for the cause they want to lose their jobs? Let’s hope not.
Bill,
As the Japanese say, “Business is War!”. Sure it is possible for mid-level managers to be influenced by all the things you say, but less so at the higher levels. Fiscal responsibility becomes more important as higher managers are judged on their performance. Better products and better service become more of a priority.
We entertained clients as well, but we like others use such activities to get to know the client and their wants and needs. Developing personal relationships with clients is paramount and so what if you don’t win this bid. It isn’t failure if you walk away with the hostile prospect mellowed. It is possible the competition will falter and management shakeups happen all the time. It is a good thing to get added to their Rolodex or Contacts List.
Expecting a level playing field everywhere in life is a foolish expectation.
The new county party chair gets to take control after the runoff election. Usually that’s in May, but this year it’s going to be in August. Three months until the election isn’t enough time to get any new plans in place. I don’t hold much hope for any meaningful change other than taking back a few state legislative seats. There’s not enough time for the new leadership to implement their ways.
Fort Bend is a different story. Hopefully there some of the blue wave can be undone.