An ideology is an army of convictions about how the world is and how it ought to be. As befitting a military force, ideologies are fueled by a sense of threat - kept at bay through a fortress-like structure called the ideological square. - Ideology, Part I- Exploring the Problem Space
The ideological square comes in many flavors, including the basic 'Us versus Them' Square:
Exaggerate our wonderfulness
Exaggerate their awfulness
Downplay our flaws
Downplay their virtues
Here’s a variation that may be used against the ideological competition:
Our ideas are great
Their ideas are awful
If They win, the world will go to hell
If We win, the world will be so much better
I run a debate club. Last night we debated the Green New Deal. I used the Square to think of arguments against the Green New Deal, to the effect:
Your ideas are flawed
There are better approaches
Your ideas will lead to a world of pain
Other approaches will create a better world
Supporters of the Green New Deal came back with:
Other ideas are just cover for capitalist yearnings
Nothing significant is being done to combat climate change
There is no serious alternative to the Green New Deal
The Green New Deal is our only hope to avert catastrophe
As is usual in these debates, no minds were changed.
Next: A Green New Deal Square Dance