Discussion on Politics

So out of the blue a friend emailed a chain letter about Barack Obama. I guess that he wasn’t aware of my political views; I’m a huge supporter.  I sent him a left-leaning article to which he wrote back more of his thoughts. So last night I wrote a rather lengthy response.

I figured that I would post the conversation here since I spent so much time writing it. It is also posted on my other blog mikesabat.typepad.com/mike_sabat/ (I’m testing out typepad right now).

My comments are in blue.

OK, so I don’t really have the time but I’ll take 10 minutes while my food cooks to respond. I may throw some facts in there. What that means, is provable truths, not opinions or conjecture.

On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 1:56 AM, J wrote

holy fuck, you send me a jack cafferty article to rebut my opinions? that guy has his wax-filled head so far up his dark blue democrat ass that he shits blue donkey candles. you watch keith olberman (and the bull-dyke that fills in for him) too? hilarious. nothing like liberal propaganda to brain wash you. So one thing that puts me off is when someone argues a reasonable opinion with personal critique. The fact is that whether what you say in the above paragraph is true or false. Please don’t forget you started this discussion with a chain email written by one Carol Kalwa from West Virginia. She didn’t seem too unbiased.

whatever though. people have different beliefs. i personally do not feel government should provide a welfare state where all people have equal access to everything and everything is a right. that’s communism. i feel things are earned with hard work. I agree with some of this, but I don’t see any relevance here. Are you projecting that Barack Obama is trying to turn the United States into a welfare state? What exactly is a welfare state, a state with welfare? How do you come down on the Bear Stearns and other bailouts? That’s welfare. It doesn’t help people get by though, it just helps the rich stay rich.

Are you just referring to welfare in the Boyz in the Hood sense? I don’t think anyone is for increasing nominal benefits for non working people. It’s an old stereotype that democrats raise taxes and spend a ton of money and republicans are fiscally conservative. It’s a standard trick of the Republican party to use an issue like this to convince you to vote a certain way. I’ll bet you haven’t thought of welfare since 04. In fact, our last Democratic President pushed wefare responsibility to the states. Article by a religous group.

despite being poor and struggling and never having health insurance – i have never once looked for a government hand-out, nor have i desired one. it is not government’s job to maintain my lifestyle, my health, or my income. democracy is what we use to form our government. capitalism is what we use to regulate our markets. you should not mix the two.  This is a good point, to go back to the welfare question regarding Investment Banks and Mortgage Banks. Now capitalism has a risk reward trade off that has to remain in balance for it to work. Simply put, you make money when you do things right, and you lose money when you do things wrong. The banks made a lot of money (taking on huge risks). Those risks turned out to be bad and now the government is bailing out those banks – they are not seeing the downside of the errors of investing on that risk.

If we don’t bail them out, the econimy heads for a deeper recession. If we do bail them out we have really fucked the system, and the next time they’ll take even bigger risks because everyone understands that there is no chance of loss. Where do you stand on this welfare? I don’t know how either candidate stands on this, I don’t think it matters. I’m just bringing it up to illustrate 2 points. 1. Welfare is needed in a civilized society. At any extreme (welfare people smoking crack vs. welfare billionaires) it doesn’t make any sense, but it probably does some good in the middle. 2. Macro-economics in the worlds biggest financial and consumer markets is not a simple formula.

i.e.: why is healthcare a right? No one ever said it’s a right, but the constitution does gaurantee life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are getting close on the healthcare issue. why should it be given to everyone by the government. When you take out the profit that health insurance companies need to make, it becomes more efficient for the government to purchase insurance in bulk or administer the system themeselves. it is not their job. it is a service, a product – it is part of the free market. So are roads, real property and the fire department. Do you think the only people that should be educated are the ones that can afford private schools? Should I have to pay someone to stay up while I sleep in case a fire starts so they can put it out. In any of these cases does a free market make this a better country. The fact is that my examples seem absurd because they go aginst the status quo -  why change things if they are working. But healthcare isn’t working. 47 million Americans were uninsured in 2007. We cannot keep up in a competitive world if we don’t have a workforce. if you can afford something – you get it. if not, well, that’s darwinism — you couldn’t figure out a way to be able to purchase that service (you are a shiftless retard) you don’t get that service.

i want government out of my life. i don’t want people telling me how to live. i don’t want the government limitting my lifestyle and choices by taking my money out of my paycheck. the more and more this country leans to becoming an entitlement state – the more control we give up and the more dependant we are on the government. eventually, piece by piece the government comes to rule and control the people. Democracy is just the opposite, people are supposed to rule the rulers. they technically work for us. No arguement here, except you’re voting for the wrong candidate. You should be supporting Ron Paul (I did, I’ve donated multiple times). He’s a libertarian (republican) and a major change that makes a lot of sense for a bloated country. The GOP never promoted him because of his stance against corporate handouts and wasteful spending. Did you know that he is the only congressman that gives money back to the federal govt every year because he finds a way to spend less? Google the Rosa Parks story, it’s great. By the way, he’ll be protesting the RNC convention in 2 weeks.

I guess this is the part that I should bring up the Iraq war and the Trillion Dollars spent on logistics and wasteful no-bid contractors. The war that’s gotten us nothing except massive losses of blood and treasure. Back to your previous point about services and products should the government be providing freedom (service/product) for other country’s citizens. And for that matter should they be providing protection (service) for us?

my basic thought is that government has done nothing right. name one institution that they have created, controlled, and managed well. there is not one. why would you want to give them more control, more money? why would you let them control healthcare? even the canadien healthcare system sucks… waiting for procedures. Any evidence? I lived in Canada and know multiple Canadians that love it. Do you know one American that loves their health insurance company? gov’t telling you what you can and can’t get, and when. that is why they all come down here for services. Again man, this is really outdated stuff, like McCarthy era. Republicans have overturned the fourth amendment, search and seizure. Republicans have taken away the right of Habeas Corpus, right to be chargesd and a speedy trial. Republicans have spied on the citizens through the telecoms and then provided immunity to the companies that helped them. Obama was a civil rights attorney and it’s my hope that he’ll restore my rights.

one thing that i could agree on is that the ultra rich maybe should be taxed more… they do have soooo much! but, then, you limit the money (the capital available) for the projects that you and i want to put together.  VC will dry up. capital will dry up. enterpreneurship will dry up. that will kill the middle class… fewer jobs. same things happen when you tax business more. Again, you really can’t take a simple view of macro-economics. Do you think that it’s right that Warren Buffet (an economic adviser to Obama and the world’s richest man) pays a lower tax rate than his assistant? link. Maybe if the rich are taxed more and the poor are taed less they can put more money into the service economy and strenghten the middle class? By any measure the middle class has eroded greatly over the last 8 years of republican economy. The “money in the system explanation just doesn’t make economic sense, but too long to explain. I’ve attached a diagram of the McCain/ Obama tax plans by income bracket. Sorry no source.

i dunno. that’s what i think. do i want someone to give me all sorts of shit so i never have to worry about anything ever again? sure i do – just like every other ghettobastard out there.  but what is best for me right now is not what is best for this country, it’s development, and our freedom.  think it out logically to it’s end – these are the conclusions i have reached. and i have educated myself on any opposing opinion out there that i could find and i still cannot find significant evidence to dispute my findings. Barack and Biden (my call for the Dem VP – you heard it here first) have never talked about handouts. Ever. Whether or not people are listening, I don’t know. A quote from Barack, “We are the people ones we’ve been waiting for” link. He is saying what you’re saying – the government isn’t going to do this for you, you need to do it for yourselves and your country (my interp). He’s not just saying it, he’s walking the walk. He has built the most efficient, sizeable and impressive campaign ever assembled. Millions of people are volunteering donating money and turning out at local events to discuss politics and the future of this country. Isn’t that what we need? A motivated populace to turn this ship around (because it’s fucking sinking right now)? Isn’t two million mobilized people a start, a movement worth joining. Anyone can sit around and bitch about what’s wrong (and most everyone does) but if you’re not willing to suit up and do more, do you really deserve to be heard?

but i am sure we will agree to disagree. people do love free shit and less responsibility. and this country is (NOWADAYS) filled with a bunch of whiners and sissies who don’t want to work for their stuff. so, we have the democrats to represent them. that’s the beauty of democracy – or it’s major failing… You’re right, the country is a bunch of whiners, except for the people that aren’t. I think you’re just really dealing in outdated assumptions about the parties.

I don’t think Barack Obama is going to fix this country, but I do think that he will employ some smart policies to move things in the right direction – using echnology to instill transparency and speak directly to the American public; restore basic civil liberties and constitutional rights; restore our credibility with allies – but most importantly people will get involved in their government and he will inspire the next generation.

Regarding McCain, I don’t know anything about him, and I don’t think you mentioned him once?? i don’t know his policies and I’m not sure that he does. link. It’s just plain incompetence. Did you know McCain doesn’t know if condoms protect you from Aids. Shit, that’s the last time I go to Haiti.

Marketing Mastery

It’s been a long time since I read every word in a marketing email. Today Barack Obama sent me a 1525 word email and I read the whole thing.

The base of the email was a game of chance the Obama campaign ran through the month of July. If you donated (at least $5, I think) before July 31st you were entered for a chance to win tickets to the convention in Denver and meet Barack before the big acceptance speech. Now I never play the lottery, but hell, I was planning on donating anyway.

Obviously this hasn’t been at the front of my mind, but reading an email on my phone this afternoon reminded me of the contribution I made a few weeks back. I came to realize pretty early that this email wasn’t notifying me to buy a plane ticket and pack my bags, but I still kept reading.

It’s nothing special, just a very engaging and well-run contest. The hook is the descriptions of the winners. Actually in the world of politics, engaging is special. The bio’s of the winners really set this email apart. As a skeptic it is easy to look at the bios, notice the clear archetypes and write this off as too well planned. 99 times out of 100 that is the approach that I would take, but I didn’t this time. And that means something.

First, it means that Barack has my attention. 1525 words that’s a lot.

More importantly, these aren’t characters chosen by casting directors like it’s the real world, and even if they are it doesn’t matter. I read the bios and didn’t dismiss them as a marketing ploy. And that’s what makes this a marketing masterpiece.

Something has happened this year and the Obama campaign has turned the corner. For an admitted cynic like me, and millions of people that aren’t, we’ve switched our default to belief instead of doubt. The bios, no matter how fitting, are believable because many people we know, including ourselves, could easily be one of them.

The story is real, but at this point that only makes it slightly better than if it wasn’t.

Ten Rules to SMS Marketing

This post is cross-posted on my new site at http://mikesabat.typepad.com/mike_sabat/

Marketing with text messages is a different take on communicating with customers. It’s not simply a short email-type thing. Smart marketers are using SMS to build very close connections with the market, and even though the space is in its infancy there are some tried and true qualities.

As a quick introduction to text message marketing here are 10 simple guidelines, all short enough to be a text message (160 characters).

1. Every text message will be opened and read by the recipient.
2. Work smarter not harder. 3 or 4 messages a month is more than enough to engage your customers.
3. You can collect consumer information like email and zipcode through text. Cheaper, faster and more accurate than paper signups at live events.
4. SMS is a totaly no-spam medium. Sorry, cant buy lists. Good news is that every1 ur messaging wants to hear from you. Bad news is that you cant b boring or lazy.
5. Your BIG DemoGraphics ttly get it! U bettr learn it SOON.
6. You can reach people when they are actually making purchase decisions (without their TV or computers). How? Text the word FISH and THE NAME OF A FISH to 30644.
7. Integrate with your existing CRM.
8. Secure financial transsactions with 1 text message. Amount donated/purchased is added to the user’s mobile phone bill.
9. It takes one push of a button to turn and SMS into a phone call, and everything is trackable.
10. Imagine a list that reads every message, wants to hear from you and takes action on what you say. Conversions range from 15-80%.

Campaigning to Govern

You can look at the Obama campaign over the last 8 months and find many impressive qualities. But the most unbelievable quality has been the fact that he has always chosen to the high road to improve the country rather than take the easy way out.

Here are a few recent examples.

Choosing a VP to govern, not to win. Last week (I believe it was on Meet The Press) Barack stressed that he was choosing a VP based on his/her effectiveness as a leader not on their ability to carry a state or region in the election. [Disclaimer:] A VP hasn’t been chosen yet, but this is the right move. The first and best way to get over low and petty politics is to never let them enter the picture. Barack has never taken money from special interests and he isn’t making long term decisions with a short term vision.

Researching the issues instead of posing for pictures. Here is a quote from left-leaning Huffingtom Post (by William Bradley)

Obama should have descended from the Olympian heights he reached in Berlin at the beginning of the week. Instead he began with a high-level meeting with elite economic advisors in Washington , rather than a house meeting in Missouri.

Who were the advisors that Obama was meeting with? They included Warren Buffet (world’s richest man), Eric Schmidt (Google CEO) and Paul Volcker (Federal Reserve Chairman). Obama is clearly a candidate that is preparing to face the toughest issue for the next president, our backwards and anemic economy.

The McCain camp was busy making ridiculous TV commercials this week. Really?? Barack and Moses?? See below.

And finaly as true evidence that Barack is thinking of governing, he has refused to take off the gloves and play dirty. He knows that in order to turn this country around he is going to need the help of Republicans and Democrats, Red States and Blue States – and sparring with such a clearly inferior apponent doesn’t help his cause come January.

Sure it’s a risk to fight clean with the right wing. We (should have) learned our lesson before. That being said, this may be the last best chance for a politician that we can believe in. Someone more concerned with America than with winning, more focused on moving forward instead of scoring points, more concerned with leading instead of campaigning.

It isn’t worth blowing that chance at true success by being something he’s not.

See the most ridiculous video of the week below.