Discourse and Democracy

There are many approaches to democratic politics, but in the end only a few known recipes for success. One is to mobilize the base to increase voter turnout. Another is to reduce the opposition's turnout (the darker art of vote suppression: see, Florida 2000, Ohio 2004). And a third, the focus of much political energy, is to try to win over the uncommitted middle. Other than stealing votes, there's not much else to the game.