SWA #2

Matt Miller’s article “Is Persuasion Dead?” addresses the inability of the American public to be persuaded. In the article he lists a number of reasons for this. Best-selling books, radio shows, and the main one being politics. Miller mentions Politicos only associating with others who share the same opinions and views. He also points out that the purpose of political speech is not to persuade but to gain power, status, and ratings. If his theories do hold true, then he raises a very interesting point. He claims that to successfully govern a country a leader must have the capability to influence how people actually think.
I am in complete disagreement with Miller’s argument that persuasion is dead in America. I believe we as a people are persuaded each and every day in some form. Billboards, signs, books, movies, pictures teachers, and peers persuade us. Sometimes persuasion is easy to come by, and sometimes it is not. If people are already knowledgeable and passionate about certain things it is hard to sway them in the other direction. However, persuading a person into an area he or she isn’t familiar with may come a little easier. I think Miller’s article would have been more effective if he mentioned more of the everyday things that we as a people could be persuaded by. Some examples being billboards, magazine articles, our friends and family. Persuasion isn’t limited to politics and press.
My personal experience does not concur with Miller’s points. Whether I’m watching a political debate with my parents or listening to a radio show my views on issues are constantly changing. I may think one way about something but after reading an article that displays better evidence than my previous notions I find myself in agreement with what I was against in the beginning. Miller believes persuasion is obsolete in the American public. He thinks that once your mind is made up about something you can’t be convinced otherwise. I just happen to disagree. As far as I’m concerned persuasion is everywhere and more effective than ever.