Ray Keating’s 12 Rules for Writing Commentary and Analysis – From Books and Articles to Facebook Posts and Tweets

 by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – March 19, 2021

 

Whether one writes books and articles, or simply Facebook posts and Tweets, a simple question must be answered: Why? Or, what’s the point? Why do you do this?

Now, if you’re just looking to vent your spleen and attack others, and that somehow that makes you feel better, then don’t bother with this. Get back to your important angry rants.

 

However, if you’re looking to actually persuade others, to try to help them see the truth, then perhaps consider the following “rules” for doing so. I jotted these down initially to help myself. I’ve been in the commentary/economist/analysis business for more than 31 years now, and things have changed, dramatically. 

 

A big part of that change has been technological. The digital/computer/telecommunications/internet revolution has expanded opportunities, allowing more individuals, for example, to have their voices heard on wide-ranging matters. That’s great. 

 

At the same time, the speed and immediacy of the internet, if you will, has meant that some things can be – and have been – lost, such as time for reflection in order to more deeply explore and more articulately express those ideas, as well as the diminished role, to the detriment of both writers and readers, of editors. Also, too many “experts” now possess ankle-deep, talking-points level of knowledge of issues upon which they spout off. That’s not so good.

 

These developments, along with an assortment of others in our culture, have led to an expansion of the us-vs.-them mentality – a return to tribal thinking. In fact, this has reached the point that large swaths of people simply assume that those they disagree with are unreachable – profoundly stupid and/or evil. That’s an unhealthy development, to say the least.

 

So, given that I write for a living – and I profoundly enjoy it – I have been thinking more and more about how to better engage people on ideas and issues. Over the past three decades, I have written some things that I would express in a different way or tone today, especially given the toxic, other-guy-is-just-evil mentality that has deeply infiltrated both the Left and Right today. 

 

The question I asked myself was: What rules do you need reminding of when sitting down at the keyboard?

 

I came up with the following 12, and thought they might be worthwhile to others who work to engage, teach, criticize, and persuade others – from commentators and authors to pastors and priests to elected officials to those who just enjoy discussing policies and ideas, again, via Facebook or Twitter. These should be straightforward and self-evident, not in need of much expanded explanation.

1) No Name Calling. After all, what’s the point?

 

2) Work to Persuade Using Logic, Reason and Facts. Using logic, facts and reasons is always better than just yelling stuff.

 

3) Always Offer a Solution, Remedy or Worthwhile Lesson. I had a longtime editor who emphasized this, and it could be the most important lesson I learned for writing.

 

4) Assume Your Opponent is Mistaken, Not Evil. Assuming that someone who disagrees with you is evil is rarely productive. While there certainly are evil people in life, assuming that all of your opponents are evil ignores the more likely reality that, for a variety of reasons, they simply are mistaken.

 

5) Firmly Criticize When Warranted, But Respect Others. Yes, you can criticize and disagree with someone, and still treat that person with respect. 

 

6) Do Not Assume All Who Agree With Your Position Understand the Issues.Particularly in recent years, I have had to learn this lesson.

 

7) Do Not Assume All Who Agree with Your Position Act in Good Faith and Warrant Your Allegiance and Defense. Watching allies on issues defend the indefensible because the indefensible has been perpetrated by someone on “our side” has been perplexing and discouraging – and it is an expanding plague in recent years.

 

8) Just Because Your Opponent Misbehaves Doesn’t Give You An Excuse To Do the Same. Hey, it’s simple: Don’t stoop down to the same unsavory level as your opponents.

 

9) In Your Pursuit of Truth, Bring Others Along With You. The ultimate point should be to bring light and truth to others.

 

10) Try to Delve Deeper Than the Talking Points. Perhaps it’s wise to refrain from spouting off confidently on something about which one knows little-to-nothing.

 

11) You Can’t Be An Expert on Everything, So Find Reliable, Well-Reasoned Experts.This is increasingly hard, but more essential, it seems, with each passing day.

 

12) Abide by the Golden Rule. As in Matthew 7:12: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…”

 

I’m hoping that these rules will help me to be a more thoughtful, persuasive and productive writer, and perhaps you as well.

 

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Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur.  Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

One of the best ways to enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club.  Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship

 

Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast  and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast  

 

Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.

 

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #40: What REALLY Annoys Me About Social Media and Some Solutions

Ray Keating doesn’t just rant about what annoys him regarding an assortment of engagements on social media, but also serves up some solutions or advice. Golly, how novel. Listen here!

A Flood of Bad Economics on Tech and Immigration

 by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – October 7, 2020

 

With a presidential election less than a month away, the political silly season has shifted into high gear. And that’s saying something because we now live in a 24/7, 365-days-a-year political silly season.

It’s not just the calendar that signals the current stage of such silliness, but what politicians are saying and doing as well. For example, these days it’s standard fare to rail against technology firms and immigrants, while, of course, ignoring actual economics. After all, economics and reason can be an annoying distraction when trying to turn out one’s political base.

 

So, we have a hot-off-the-presses report from the Democratic staff of the House Antitrust Subcommittee that accuses tech companies Amazon, Facebook, Alphabet (i.e., Google), and Apple of wielding monopoly power, and stomping out competition and innovation. The Democrats ominously declared, “Our economy and democracy are at stake.” Golly.

 

The Democrats tossed out some ideas for government action, including forcing companies to separate certain lines of business and more forceful antitrust powers.

 

Not to be out done, Republicans on the subcommittee chimed in with their own report, which asserted that “Big Tech is out to get conservatives.” Golly … again.

 

In reality, this political stunt fails to take note of the vast innovation that is ongoing in and around the internet; the ever-multiplying choices and reduced costs for consumers; the expanded opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses; and the fact that no tech company, no matter how big it happens to be today, can afford to sit back like a fat monopoly, and raise costs or reduce quality for consumers. Were that to happen, that company would be crushed by new or existing competitors, and consumers would quickly move on.

 

Political grandstanding and antitrust regulation are by nature backward looking. Trying to guide and regulate a sector of our economy via antitrust is the equivalent of putting a government bureaucrat in an industry driver’s seat – which should make us all very uneasy – and then have that political appointee drive the car while looking in the rearview mirror. This has always been the case, but given the fast-changing, dynamic nature of our tech economy, it’s particularly ridiculous and dangerous.

 

The question really is quite simple. Who do you want calling the shots in the end: consumers or government? If you favor consumers, then let tech companies – big, small, emerging and still-yet-to-be-born – compete to serve consumers. If you favor government, then forget consumers, let politics reign, and pull more technology under the control of government. After all, how could that possibly go wrong?

 

Oh yeah, and by the way, regarding accusations from Republicans – in particular, populists – who say that tech companies are out to get them, well, while Silicon Valley clearly leans strongly Left in terms of its prevailing politics, the tech tools they produce seem to be serving Republicans and populists quite well. Hmmm, go figure.

 

For good measure, Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden also favors increased antitrust regulation. For example, a Biden campaign spokesman toldThe Wall Street Journal recently: “Many technology giants and their executives have not only abused their power, but misled the American people, damaged our democracy, and evaded any form of responsibility. That ends with a President Biden.” Golly, one more time.

 

But attacks on so-called Big Tech can’t stop there during the political silly season. How about a two-for-one policy change that not only slaps U.S. tech companies, but immigrants as well? President Trump and his administration certainly can’t pass up that opportunity. After all, that anti-immigration base needs shoring up.

 

As a result, the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor have announced a tightening of requirements for H1-B visas, which cover high-skilled foreign workers. Apparently, it’s time to make it tougher to bring in such immigrants and to raise the costs of doing so.

 

The new regulations, according to officials, will increase the level of rejected H1-B visa applications, and mandate that H1-B visa workers receive higher pay. Wait, is that like an increased minimum wage for immigrants? The political folks might want to take a closer look at that – could be a bad look with the base. 

 

Joe Biden also favors jacking up government mandated wages for H1-B visa workers.

 

This entire effort, of course, is built upon the fiction that immigrants coming to the U.S. take jobs from native-born Americans, drive down wages, and contribute nothing. But the truth is that these and other immigrants fill jobs that U.S. businesses cannot fill otherwise; do complementary work that enhances the productivity and incomes of native-born workers; generate further growth as producers and consumers; and have a higher propensity for entrepreneurship than do the native born. Immigration, as most economists will tell you, is a net-plus for the economy, and studies overwhelmingly show no negative effects on wages of the native born due to immigration.

 

The U.S. economy is not a zero-sum game, whereby one person’s gain is another’s loss. Instead, when not held back by pandemics, government shutdowns, and/or costly public policies like high taxes and onerous regulations, entrepreneurs, investors, businesses and workers – including tech companies and immigrants – drive wealth creation, economic growth, productivity, income growth, and job creation forward.

 

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Recent and Related Columns by Ray Keating…

 

“Polls Before the Dreaded Presidential Debates”

 

“Voting Your Conscience Isn’t Wasting Your Vote”

 

“Character-Rich Sci-Fi: Take the Netflix Journey with ‘Away’”

 

“Applaud, Don’t Attack, Robinhood”

 

“Sports Are Back But Americans Aren’t Happy”

 

“Should We Take Our Ball and Go Home When Pro Athletes Disagree with Us?”

 

“‘Greyhound’ Ranks as Strong Storytelling – Even on a Smaller Screen”

 

“2020 Politics as the Conventions Get Rolling … Kind of?”

 

“Biden Picks Harris: Will It Matter on Election Night?”

 

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Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur.  You can order his new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating’s latest novel is  The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which is the 12thbook in the series. The best way to fully enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club.  Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship

 

Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast  and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast  

 

Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #24: Big Government vs. Big Tech

Guess Who is the Real Problem? – CEOs of top technology companies were recently hauled before Congress, albeit remotely. The purpose? Well, for all of the importance attributed to this hearing, in the end, it was just another excuse for political posturing and grandstanding. Go figure. Tune in here!