Reply To: T-shirt designers unite and take over

[Phil’s Dad]

If I understand what the thread has become (as opposed to the 4th Gen IFR fission that I think it started as) the question is, “Should the FF community try to attract an advanced commitment from politicians?”

Aeronaut said; “3) Phil’s Dad can help us with this point. I hate the word surprise, and I’ll bet all politicians do, too…”

True of course; although we tend to operate on fairly short timescales tactically, policy takes longer (as it should) and a reasonable lead time is appreciated. The instinctive reaction though is “How can I control this thing to solve the problems I am grappling with?”

So two questions arise. “How much control do you want politicians to have over it?” That will inform when and how you tell them (more later). Secondly “How does your product/service help them solve those problems?” Which of course leads to the oldest sales rule of all, sell the benefits, not the product.

I think the correct approach is to let as many members of the worlds public as possible know how they will benefit (which will influence the message you use) and let them pester their political community to catch up. If the message is handled properly the public will be saying to their elected representative, “I will get tremendous benefit from this so you should be using my taxes to make it happen!”. If it is done that way round there will be less opportunity for politicians to direct its development to their own ends by attaching strings to the investment.

One word of caution. Do not over sell it. If you break a promise (including a deadline) you will find it a huge challenge to be believed again.

Brian H says; …the technology is still speculative, …public awareness is still minute, and …the pressure to stick with the current paradigm is unceasing and intense.

All true. A lot of people will dismiss this as alchemy until sustained net positive output is a certainty. It will be derided, not least by those with a vested interest in its failure. However it is still worth raising awareness. The up side is so huge that people will suspend disbelief if there is the faintest chance. And politics, unlike engineering, is all about the management of public perception.
Why not play us at our own game? 😉