How many words does it take to change the world?

#60

Dear Friends of Democracy, 

My advice today is that when we use words to advocate for democracy, we should remember that there is strength in shortness.

Here is what I mean by that. 

"Excuse me for writing you a long letter, I don't have time for a short one," the French mathematician, physicist and writer Blaise Pascal wrote to a friend in the 17th century. – The awareness of writing concisely, precisely and understandably has been around for a long time. And yet, it has probably never been more important. If you want to be noticed in today's flood of digital content, it's better to get to the point sooner rather than later.

But how can you attract people with words in the digital age? How much can precision and reduction in writing contribute to gaining the scarce resource of attention from media users?

Sometimes, four words are enough to make history.

At least agency history. If you ask them what successful political campaign there has been in the past, the Brexit vote is regularly mentioned. It is said that the success of the Brexiteers (on June 23, 2016, 51.9 per cent voted to leave the EU, and 48.1 per cent were against it) would not have been possible without the corresponding campaign. The claim that Boris Johnson and Co. used to campaign for leaving the European Union had what a claim needs: it was understandable, called for action, and promised agency.

Vote Leave, take control

A lot can be achieved with just a few compelling words. Unfortunately, one has to add in this case. The fears of those who fought to remain in the EU have come true. According to a recent study, Britain's estimated gross value added would have been more than 160 billion euros higher last year without Brexit.

✊,

Johannes Eber