Yes, logic sells somethings, but it’s not the majority, or really a remarkable percentage in most categories.
I’d argue that generics are really a substitute purchase for a brand category that has been developed and promoted by brands. If logic was the basis of purchasing then brands probably wouldn’t exist - esp for commodities like flour and sugar. But they do. Like it or not the brands create demand by emotionally manipulating consumers into feeling incomplete, then offering their brand as a way to fill that hole.
Electric cars do have logical benefits, as do a lot of other products, but I’d argue that they’re also a status symbol. It means something to be a person that drives an electric car - it says something about who you are, and your values. There’s a reason Tesla launched as a luxury brand first.
Agree with you that reason should drive government. However politics is the art of persuasion, as is marketing, and as such there are three key factors: logos, pathos and ethos.
Like it or not your favourite candidate needs to be likeable, believable, and share your convictions to succeed. Or just slightly more so than the alternative.
I’ve always wished that instead of selecting a person or party, that when it came to vote the key campaign policies were what people voted for or against, and the candidate/party who’s positions gained the most support took government with a clear mandate on those policies.
Feel like this would go some way towards infusing more logic-based campaigning, and avoid the cut and thrust of, in the US context, having things like “swift boats” “47% of people” etc become the thing that crashed campaigns, and instead be substantive debates on ideas.
Maybe I’m too cynical from working in marketing?
I’d argue that generics are really a substitute purchase for a brand category that has been developed and promoted by brands. If logic was the basis of purchasing then brands probably wouldn’t exist - esp for commodities like flour and sugar. But they do. Like it or not the brands create demand by emotionally manipulating consumers into feeling incomplete, then offering their brand as a way to fill that hole.
Electric cars do have logical benefits, as do a lot of other products, but I’d argue that they’re also a status symbol. It means something to be a person that drives an electric car - it says something about who you are, and your values. There’s a reason Tesla launched as a luxury brand first.
Like it or not your favourite candidate needs to be likeable, believable, and share your convictions to succeed. Or just slightly more so than the alternative.
I’ve always wished that instead of selecting a person or party, that when it came to vote the key campaign policies were what people voted for or against, and the candidate/party who’s positions gained the most support took government with a clear mandate on those policies.
Feel like this would go some way towards infusing more logic-based campaigning, and avoid the cut and thrust of, in the US context, having things like “swift boats” “47% of people” etc become the thing that crashed campaigns, and instead be substantive debates on ideas.