I'm Right and You're an Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean it Up

by James Hoggan

Overview

Clearing the air: reclaiming public discourse in a polluted public square

The most pressing environmental problem we face today is not climate change. It is pollution in the public square, where a smog of adversarial rhetoric, propaganda and polarization stifles discussion and debate, creating resistance to change and thwarting our ability to solve our collective problems.

In I'm Right and You're an Idiot , author and David Suzuki Foundation chair James Hoggan grapples with this critical issue, conducting interviews with outstanding thinkers from the Himalaya to the House of Lords. Drawing on the wisdom of such notables as Thich Nhat Hanh, Noam Chomsky, and the Dalai Lama, his comprehensive analysis explores:

• How trust is undermined and misinformation thrives in today's public dialogue
• Why facts alone fail — the manipulation of language and the silencing of dissent
• The importance of reframing our arguments with empathy and values to create compelling narratives and spur action.

Our species' greatest survival strategy has always been foresight and the ability to leverage our intelligence to overcome adversity. For too long now this capacity has been threatened by the sorry state of our public discourse. Focusing on proven techniques to foster more powerful and effective communication, I'm Right and You're an Idiot will appeal to readers looking for both deep insights and practical advice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780865718173
Publisher:	New Society Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2016
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

James Hoggan is president of the Vancouver PR firm Hoggan & Associates and chair of the David Suzuki Foundation board. A tireless advocate for ethics and integrity in public relations, he founded the influential website DeSmogBlog to expose misinformation campaigns that pollute public debate around climate change and the environment. He has advised a wide range of organizations such as the governments of B.C. and Ontario, the Dalai Lama Center, the B.C. Law Society, and the B.C. Treaty Commission. Hoggan has also served as a member of Shell Global's External Review Committee and is the author of Climate Cover-Up and Do the Right Thing .

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Prologue

Section A: Smashing Heads Doesn't Open Minds
1. Like Ships In the Night, with Daniel Yankelovich
2. The Advocacy Trap, with Roger Conner
3. Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me), with Carol Tavris
4. Morality Binds and Blinds, with Jonathan Haidt
5. Why We Want To Be Misled, with Dan Kahan

Section B: A Failure To Communicate
6. Facts Are Not Enough, with George Lakoff
7. Matters of Concern, with Bruno Latour

Section C: Duped and How
8. The Self-Regulating Psychopath, with Joel Bakan and Noam Chomsky
9. A Case Study: Foreign-Funded Radicals
10. Assault On Democracy, with Alex Himelfarb
11. Silencing the Voices of Others, with Jason Stanley
12. Gaslighting Blurs Our Reality, with Bryant Welch
13. Summary: The Polluted Public Square

Section D: Leaning Into the Future
14. Power and Love, with Adam Kahane
15. No Fish? No Fish Sticks, with Peter Senge 16. Listen Deeply, with Otto Scharmer and Anne Giardini

Section E: The Mighty Tool of Public Narrative
17. The Myth of Apathy, with Renee Lertzman
18. Psychic Numbing, with Paul Slovic
19. Sometimes David Wins, with Marshall Ganz

Section F: From the Heart
20. The Golden Rule, with Karen Armstrong and Joan Halifax
21. Speak the Truth, But Not to Punish, with Thich Nhat Hanh
22. We Need Warmheartedness, with The 14th Dalai Lama

Epilogue: Lessons Learned
Endnotes
Index
About the Author

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This is a deeply thoughtful book about what it really takes to communicate, especially with people who we don't understand. A mustread for anyone trying to break the climate impasse, or indeed, make progress in any domain of social conflict."
- Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University

"Learning how to protect the real freedoms we have in our caring society, James Hoggan brings critical insight into how we can have meaningful discourse where we carefully listen and not just hear words. With the political developments in many of our Western democracies, this book is particularly important and relevant. It is an incredibly important read."
- Art Verlieb, Q.C., Former President, Law Society of British Columbia

"As a popularizer of science, I had long assumed the more information people have, the better their actions and decisions. But today the public has unprecedented access to information, yet clearly political, economic and social policies are distorted by other factors. James Hoggan's monumental study explores a wide range of thought about the babel that passes for public discourse today. Anyone concerned about how civil society can be better informed so decisions can be made for the public's long term interests must read this deeply thoughtful book."
- David Suzuki, science broadcaster and environmental activist

"In my experience in the world's crisis zones, inflammatory, toxic discourse exacerbates problems, creating conflict rather than resolving it - and probably gets you killed. So if you want to stay alive, read this incisive book. Honest engagement combined with a healthy dose of empathy is a far better route to constructive dialogue - and survival."
- Nigel Fisher, humanitarian, former UN Assistant Secretary General

"James Hoggan reminds us that intelligent, meaningful public discourse on seemingly intractable issues such as climate change is necessary to develop consequential solutions-and why we are not there yet. His narrative points the way as to how to move from the barrier of headline-inducing conflict to the bridge of thoughtful deliberation, moving beyond facts and fanfare to values and vision as drivers of meaningful change. Public narratives need to change and " I'm Right... " shows us why and how."
- Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO, Vancity

"Hoggan writes superbly about the power of argumentation to strengthen democracy and advance social justice, and how it is so easily manipulated in pursuit of greed, power and politics. This is a must-read for anyone tired of the bullying, the propagandizing, the screaming and the bullsh*t."
- Dr. Samantha Nutt, author, Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid

"This book should be required reading for every person engaged in the most polarizing issues of our time-whether it be climate change, healthcare, or global conflicts."
- John Ruffolo, CEO, OMERS Ventures

"James Hoggan's book could not be more timely. At a moment when public discourse has seemingly deteriorated to the point of meaninglessness, the field abandoned to those who can simply yell the loudest, his call to tune down the volume, tone down the rhetoric and re-engage in civil, fact-based dialogue is more than important, it's crucial. Possibly our last hope of salvation. The fact this collection was curated by a public relations specialist is interesting; the depth and breadth of the ideas he challenges us with is impressive and ultimately inspiring. A must-read for anyone who despairs at the pollution in the public square. It doesn't have to be this way, says Hoggan. There is a way out."
- Gillian Findlay, Host, CBC News: the fifth estate

"Conversation is the essence of being human. To converse is to listen, to respect, to love and so to be open to fresh ideas and perspectives. James Hoggan has illuminated a series of amazing conversations with thinkers and doers. His theme is that we all too easily create antagonism and deafness by organizing debates which punish rather than reveal the truth. If the eastern heart and the western mind are fused in honest conversation, the politics of antagonism which dominate almost every dialogue these days, would become the creativity of innovation. This is a text which should be thought, not just read, by all who seek reconciliation."
- Professor Tim O'Riordan, OBE DL FBA

"Everyone, regardless of their politics, can learn something from this book. I'm Right and You're an Idiot steps into the frenzied space of public discourse where hyperbole and polarization rule the day. With sound insights and by pulling from the wisdom of spiritual and intellectual leaders from across disciplines, Hoggan charts a compelling and much needed path forward. I'm Right and You're an Idiot should be taught in every major in university... in every country of the world."
- Evangeline Lilly, author and actor

"As if the world's many forms of social distress and environmental damage were not worrisome enough, we struggle even to communicate civilly with each other about these topics. James Hoggan has interviewed a diverse group of thinkers, from pundits to psychologists, seeking explanations of and alternatives to the all-too-familiar "stubborn adversarial advocacy" that pervades public discourse. This engaging and important book offers a blueprint toward empathy, flexibility, and creativity instead of narrow-minded demagoguery."
- Scott Slovic, co-editor, Numbers and Nerves: Information, Emotion , and Meaning in a World of Data

"Impressive list of contributors; important topic; inspired insights."
- Brenda Morrison, Ph.D, Director, Centre for Restorative Justice, Simon Fraser University

"Hoggan has done an admirable job in getting to the root of the why public discourse on some of the most pressing problems facing society today is so fractured and toxic. His interviews with many of the world's leading thinkers on this crucial issue are essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how we got into this mess and what we can do to get out of it."
- Mark Jaccard, Professor, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University

"Jim Hoggan has spent decades shaping public discourse. It's fitting, therefore, that his new book draws on the knowledge of some of the world's leading thinkers to focus new attention on why the state of public discourse has become so toxic and what we can do to clean it up.
I'm Right, and You're An Idiot is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about the deterioration of public discourse and our inability to engage constructively on the social, political and environmental problems we all face."
- Stephen Bronfman, Executive Chairman, Claridge Inc.

Editorial Reviews

As a popularizer of science, I had long assumed the more information people have, the better their actions and decisions. But today the public has unprecedented access to information, yet clearly political, economic and social policies are distorted by other factors. Jim Hoggan's monumental study explores a wide range of thought about the babel that passes for public discourse today. Anyone concerned about how civil society can be better informed so decisions can be made for the public's long term interests must read this deeply thoughtful book.
- David Suzuki, science broadcaster and environmental activist

Everyone, regardless of their politics, can learn something from this book. I'm Right and You're an Idiot steps into the frenzied space of public discourse where hyperbole and polarization rule the day. With sound insights and by pulling from the wisdom of spiritual and intellectual leaders from across disciplines, Hoggan charts a compelling and much needed path forward. I'm Right and You're Wrong should be taught in every major in university...in every country of the world.
-- Evangeline Lilly, author and actor

In my experience in the world's crisis zones, inflammatory, toxic discourse exacerbates problems, creating conflict rather than resolving it - and probably gets you killed. So if you want to stay alive, read this incisive book. Honest engagement combined with a healthy dose of empathy is a far better route to constructive dialogue- and survival.
---Nigel Fisher, humanitarian, former UN Assistant Secretary General

This book should be required reading for every person engaged in the most polarizing issues of our time - whether it be climate change, healthcare, or global conflicts.
---John Ruffolo, CEO, OMERS Ventures

James Hoggan's book could not be more timely. At a moment when public discourse has seemingly deteriorated to the point of meaninglessness, the field abandoned to those who can simply yell the loudest, his call to tune down the volume, tone down the rhetoric and re-engage in civil, fact-based dialogue is more than important, it's crucial. Possibly our last hope of salvation. The fact this collection was curated by a public relations specialist is interesting; the depth and breadth of the ideas he challenges us with is impressive and ultimately inspiring. A must-read for anyone who despairs at the pollution in the public square. It doesn't have to be this way, says Hoggan. There is a way out.
----Gillian Findlay, Host, CBC News: The Fifth Estate

Hoggan writes superbly about the power of argumentation to strengthen democracy and advance social justice, and how it is so easily manipulated in pursuit of greed, power and politics. This is a must-read for anyone tired of the bullying, the propagandizing, the screaming and the bullsh*t.
---Dr. Samantha Nutt, author, Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid

Conversation is the essence of being human. To converse is to listen, to respect, to love and so to be open to fresh ideas and perspectives. James Hoggan has illuminated a series of amazing conversations with thinkers and doers. His theme is that we all too easily create antagonism and deafness by organizing debates which punish rather than reveal the truth. If the eastern heart and the western mind are fused in honest conversation, the politics of antagonism which dominate almost every dialogue these days, would become the creativity of innovation. This is a text which should be thought, not just read, by all who seek reconciliation.
--- Professor Tim O’Riordan OBE DL FBA

Learning how to protect the real freedoms we have in our caring society, James Hoggan brings critical insight into how we can have meaningful discourse where we carefully listen and not just hear words. With the political developments in many of our Western democracies, this book is particularly important and relevant. It is an incredibly important read. - Art Verlieb, Q.C., Former President of Law Society of British Columbia

As if the world’s many forms of social distress and environmental damage were not worrisome enough, we struggle even to communicate civilly with each other about these topics. James Hoggan has interviewed a diverse group of thinkers, from pundits to psychologists, seeking explanations of and alternatives to the all-too-familiar “stubborn adversarial advocacy” that pervades public discourse. This engaging and important book offers a blueprint toward empathy, flexibility, and creativity instead of narrow-minded demagoguery.
---Scott Slovic, coeditor, Numbers and Nerves: Information, Emotion, and Meaning in a World of Data

Impressive list of contributors; important topic; inspired insights.
--- Brenda Morrison, Ph.D, Director, Centre for Restorative Justice, Simon Fraser University



As a popularizer of science, I had long assumed the more information people have, the better their actions and decisions. But today the public has unprecedented access to information, yet clearly political, economic and social policies are distorted by other factors. Jim Hoggan's monumental study explores a wide range of thought about the babel that passes for public discourse today. Anyone concerned about how civil society can be better informed so decisions can be made for the public's long term interests must read this deeply thoughtful book.
- David Suzuki, science broadcaster and environmental activist

Everyone, regardless of their politics, can learn something from this book. I'm Right and You're an Idiot steps into the frenzied space of public discourse where hyperbole and polarization rule the day. With sound insights and by pulling from the wisdom of spiritual and intellectual leaders from across disciplines, Hoggan charts a compelling and much needed path forward. I'm Right and You're Wrong should be taught in every major in university...in every country of the world.
-- Evangeline Lilly, author and actor

In my experience in the world's crisis zones, inflammatory, toxic discourse exacerbates problems, creating conflict rather than resolving it - and probably gets you killed. So if you want to stay alive, read this incisive book. Honest engagement combined with a healthy dose of empathy is a far better route to constructive dialogue- and survival.
---Nigel Fisher, humanitarian, former UN Assistant Secretary General

This book should be required reading for every person engaged in the most polarizing issues of our time - whether it be climate change, healthcare, or global conflicts.
---John Ruffolo, CEO, OMERS Ventures

James Hoggan's book could not be more timely. At a moment when public discourse has seemingly deteriorated to the point of meaninglessness, the field abandoned to those who can simply yell the loudest, his call to tune down the volume, tone down the rhetoric and re-engage in civil, fact-based dialogue is more than important, it's crucial. Possibly our last hope of salvation. The fact this collection was curated by a public relations specialist is interesting; the depth and breadth of the ideas he challenges us with is impressive and ultimately inspiring. A must-read for anyone who despairs at the pollution in the public square. It doesn't have to be this way, says Hoggan. There is a way out.
----Gillian Findlay, Host, CBC News: The Fifth Estate

Hoggan writes superbly about the power of argumentation to strengthen democracy and advance social justice, and how it is so easily manipulated in pursuit of greed, power and politics. This is a must-read for anyone tired of the bullying, the propagandizing, the screaming and the bullsh*t.
---Dr. Samantha Nutt, author, Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid

Conversation is the essence of being human. To converse is to listen, to respect, to love and so to be open to fresh ideas and perspectives. James Hoggan has illuminated a series of amazing conversations with thinkers and doers. His theme is that we all too easily create antagonism and deafness by organizing debates which punish rather than reveal the truth. If the eastern heart and the western mind are fused in honest conversation, the politics of antagonism which dominate almost every dialogue these days, would become the creativity of innovation. This is a text which should be thought, not just read, by all who seek reconciliation.
--- Professor Tim O’Riordan OBE DL FBA

Learning how to protect the real freedoms we have in our caring society, James Hoggan brings critical insight into how we can have meaningful discourse where we carefully listen and not just hear words. With the political developments in many of our Western democracies, this book is particularly important and relevant. It is an incredibly important read. - Art Verlieb, Q.C., Former President of Law Society of British Columbia

As if the world’s many forms of social distress and environmental damage were not worrisome enough, we struggle even to communicate civilly with each other about these topics. James Hoggan has interviewed a diverse group of thinkers, from pundits to psychologists, seeking explanations of and alternatives to the all-too-familiar “stubborn adversarial advocacy” that pervades public discourse. This engaging and important book offers a blueprint toward empathy, flexibility, and creativity instead of narrow-minded demagoguery.
---Scott Slovic, coeditor, Numbers and Nerves: Information, Emotion, and Meaning in a World of Data

Impressive list of contributors; important topic; inspired insights.
--- Brenda Morrison, Ph.D, Director, Centre for Restorative Justice, Simon Fraser University

From the Publisher