Wanted: Democracy Marketing Manager
Lousy pay, long hours, no respect, no chance for advancement…
The big problem with politics today is that it’s ALL about marketing - the glitz marketing that is. Balloons. Dogs. Ponies. Sound Bites, Images, Logos. Lots and Lots of Donuts. (One reason that I - gasp - talk about politics on a biz blog. Tons of lessons in how NOT to “do marketing.”)
And so we come to Harvard Business Review: Does Democracy Need A Marketing Manager?
However, what’s needed in politics is not less marketing but better marketing. The two major parties should focus on learning current and emerging citizen needs, developing policy and program solutions, informing interested citizens about themselves, and making themselves easily accessible. They should embrace reforms, such as lifelong voter registration, that remove barriers to participation. Politicians need to view citizens not as occasional voters, donors, and taxpayers but as their customers.
…and we can fire ‘em.We should try that sometime.
And now, let’s have a brief moment of sympathetic silence for the poor people of Pennsylvania…
Tags: democracy, politics, marketing, marketing troubleshooting
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March 10th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Dare I ask? What happened in Pennsylvania?
March 11th, 2008 at 8:09 am
It’s what’s happening now. Clinton and Obama are focused on PA for the next seven weeks - Bombarding PA with ads, phone calls, and flyers.
March 11th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Ah of course. Your three party system. Republicans, Clintons and Obamaians.
March 11th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Steve,
Sorry about that. I momentarily lapsed into the good ol’ Amuricun view that we’re the only country on the globe.
Republicans? What are those?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
“What are those?”
From the view over here? No different to the others. Name and faces changes, nought else does.
But don’t worry about it (only country woe). No offence was taken and usually it’s more entertaining than insulting.
I recall when we did a European tour in the mid 90’s. The local guide asked: “So where are you all from?” South Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Florida, California etc…
Was a fascinating study in peoples perception of their International identity.
And lets not forget the Australian penchant of *deliberately* taking the mickey out of our North American cousins. eg Proclaiming total ignorance of the relevance of the 4th of July. Claiming Alaska is the Island just off the eastern coast of Africa.
persons I can and have convinced to believe in drop bears.[1]
or Drop Bears - it never ceases to amaze me how many … North American
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_bear
“…almost all Australians are aware of the drop bear story and will readily attest to their existence.”
But then, I have an evil streak.
- More Evil Than Some Steve
[1] Where convinced == longer than 5 minutes.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Steve,
…Or, on a similar note - as one of my favorite comedians, Eddie Izzard. noted in a classic routine while on tour here in the U.S., “I’m from Europe. You know. The place history comes from.”
