I'm Right, and You're an Idiot : the Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean It Up

The most pressing environmental problem we face today is not climate change. It is pollution in the public square, where a smog of adversarial rhetoric, propaganda, and polarization stifles discussion and debate, creating resistance to change and thwarting our ability to solve our collective problems. In __I'm Right and You're an Idiot__, author and David Suzuki Foundation chair James Hoggan grapples with this critical issue, conducting interviews with outstanding thinkers from the Himalayas to the House of Lords. Drawing on the wisdom of such notables as Thich Nhat Hanh, Noam Chomsky, and the Dalai Lama, his comprehensive analysis explores: How trust is undermined and misinformation thrives in today's public dialogue Why facts alone fail – the manipulation of language and the silencing of dissent The importance of reframing our arguments with empathy and values to create compelling narratives and spur action. Our species' greatest survival strategy has always been foresight and the ability to leverage our intelligence to overcome adversity. For too long now this capacity has been threatened by the sorry state of our public discourse. Focusing on proven techniques to foster more powerful and effective communication, this bookwill appeal to readers looking for both deep insights and practical advice. **James Hoggan** is president of the Vancouver PR firm Hoggan & Associates, chair of the David Suzuki Foundation board, and founder of the influential website __DeSmogBlog__. He is author of __Climate Cover-Up__ and __Do the Right Thing__. Just As The Natural Environment Can Be Polluted, So Too Can Public Discourse. I'm Right And You're An Idiot Examines The Sorry State Of Today's Public Square, Showing How Polluted, Polarized Conversations Discourage People From Taking Action On Critical Issues Such As Climate Change, And Demonstrating How We Can Clear The Air And Become More Powerful And Effective Communicators.-- Pt. I. The Polluted Public Square. Sect. A. Smashing Heads Doesn't Open Minds. Like Ahips In The Night / Daniel Yankelovich -- The Advocacy Trap / Roger Conner -- Mistakes Were Made (but Not By Me) / Carol Tavris -- Morality Binds And Blinds / Jonathan Haidt -- Why We Want To Be Misled / Dan Kahan -- Sect. B. A Failure To Communicate. Facts Are Not Enough / George Lakoff -- Matters Of Concern / Bruno Latour -- Sect. C. Duped And How. The Self-regulating Psychopath / Joel Bakan And Noam Chomsky -- A Case Study : Foreign-funded Radicals. Assault On Democracy / Alex Himelfarb -- Silencing The Voices Of Others / Jason Stanley -- Gaslighting Blurs Our Reality / Bryant Welch -- Summary : The Polluted Public Square -- Pt. Ii. Speak The Truth, But Not To Punish. Sect. D. Leaning Into The Future. Power And Love / Adam Kahane -- No Fish? No Fish Sticks / Peter Senge -- Listen Deeply / Otto Scharmer And Anne Giardini -- Sect. E. The Mighty Tool Of Public Narrative. The Myth Of Apathy / Renee Lertzman -- Psychic Numbing / Paul Slovic -- Sometimes David Wins / Marshall Ganz -- Sect. F. From The Heart. The Golden Rule / Karen Armstrong And Joan Halifax -- Speak The Truth, But Not To Punish / Thich Nhat Hanh -- We Need Warmheartedness / Dalai Lama. James Hoggan With Grania Litwin. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 223-239) And Index. The most pressing environmental problem we face today is not climate change. It is pollution in the public square, where a smog of adversarial rhetoric, propaganda, and polarization stifles discussion and debate, creating resistance to change and thwarting our ability to solve our collective problems. In I'm Right and You're an Idiot , author and David Suzuki Foundation chair James Hoggan grapples with this critical issue, conducting interviews with outstanding thinkers from the Himalayas to the House of Lords. Drawing on the wisdom of such notables as Thich Nhat Hanh, Noam Chomsky, and the Dalai Lama, his comprehensive analysis explores: How trust is undermined and misinformation thrives in today's public dialogue Why facts alone fail – the manipulation of language and the silencing of dissent The importance of reframing our arguments with empathy and values to create compelling narratives and spur action. Our species' greatest survival strategy has always been foresight and the ability to leverage our intelligence to overcome adversity. For too long now this capacity has been threatened by the sorry state of our public discourse. Focusing on proven techniques to foster more powerful and effective communication, this book will appeal to readers looking for both deep insights and practical advice. James Hoggan is president of the Vancouver PR firm Hoggan & Associates, chair of the David Suzuki Foundation board, and founder of the influential website DeSmogBlog . He is author of Climate Cover-Up and Do the Right Thing . Clearing The Air: Reclaiming Public Discourse In A Polluted Public Square The Most Pressing Environmental Problem We Face Today Is Not Climate Change. It Is Pollution In The Public Square, Where A Smog Of Adversarial Rhetoric, Propaganda And Polarization Stifles Discussion And Debate, Creating Resistance To Change And Thwarting Our Ability To Solve Our Collective Problems. In I'm Right And You're An Idiot , Author And David Suzuki Foundation Chair James Hoggan Grapples With This Critical Issue, Conducting Interviews With Outstanding Thinkers From The Himalaya To The House Of Lords. Drawing On The Wisdom Of Such Notables As Thich Nhat Hanh, Noam Chomsky, And The Dalai Lama, His Comprehensive Analysis Explores: How Trust Is Undermined And Misinformation Thrives In Today's Public Dialogue Why Facts Alone Fail — The Manipulation Of Language And The Silencing Of Dissent The Importance Of Reframing Our Arguments With Empathy And Values To Create Compelling Narratives And Spur Action. Our Species' Greatest Survival Strategy Has Always Been Foresight And The Ability To Leverage Our Intelligence To Overcome Adversity. For Too Long Now This Capacity Has Been Threatened By The Sorry State Of Our Public Discourse. Focusing On Proven Techniques To Foster More Powerful And Effective Communication, I'm Right And You're An Idiot Will Appeal To Readers Looking For Both Deep Insights And Practical Advice. "Just as the natural environment can be polluted, so too can public discourse. I'm Right and You're an Idiot examines the sorry state of today's public square, showing how polluted, polarized conversations discourage people from taking action on critical issues such as climate change, and demonstrating how we can clear the air and become more powerful and effective communicators."-- Résumé de l'éditeur