This episode dives into the significant political question posed by Ronald Reagan during the closing moments of his 1980 presidential debate with Jimmy Carter: 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?' Ken Woodward explores the context of the 1980 political climate, marked by economic difficulties, high inflation, unemployment, and international issues such as the Iran hostage crisis and concerns about U.S. global standing and nuclear threats. Reagan's question, which became iconic in U.S. political discourse, was noted for its simplicity, personal relevance, emotional resonance, and strategic timing. The question invited voters to reflect on their circumstances rather than abstract policies, ultimately contributing to Reagan's landslide victory. The episode details six crucial lessons for crafting influential questions, emphasizing audience perspective, engagement, simplicity, timing, self-reflection, and a call to action. Listeners are encouraged to consider how such questions have shaped their decisions and to apply these insights in personal and professional contexts. This Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com . Keep questioning! Episode Notes [01:58] Setting the Stage: The 1980 Presidential Debate [04:24] Reagan's Memorable Question [06:01] Impact and Aftermath of the Debate [06:45] Analyzing the Rhetorical Question [13:06] Lessons from Reagan's Question [16:05] Modern Applications and Reflections [18:04] Conclusion and Call to Action Resources Mentioned Ronald Reagan Jimmy Carter Beauty Pill Producer Ben Ford Questions Asked Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago? Where do you feel it in your body? What emotions come to the surface? What pictures race through your mind? Would it kill you to stop chewing your food with your mouth open? What is your number seven? What comes to mind? Did you feel the knee-jerk need to answer right away when your politician asked? Did you actually do the homework to determine what factors were most important to you, then look at data vice depending on emotion? Is it any easier to see why someone in a different circumstance may answer differently than you? How did the question affect your answer when the opposing politician asked it? Did you use the same metric for the candidates or give your preferred candidate extra leeway? What famous questions continue to pop up in your world?…
Widening the circle of inclusion is always limited by a group’s identity, so that the push to be inclusive gets tugged at by resistance to changing who we are. Who belongs at FUS, and what are the costs, and the benefits, of exclusion? The post Identity and Inclusion appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Albert Camus famously wrote that “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” For many, this year Imbolc — the midpoint of astrological winter — simultaneously brings a sense of growing light and of growing darkness. Today, our Seasonal Celebrations Team will present a candlelight program that will honor… Read More » Imbolc: On Joys and Concerns The post Imbolc: On Joys and Concerns appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Here We Are, a new administration is about to take office. What Now? We are facing 4 years of national political leadership hostility to the idea of addressing climate change while witnessing the effects of inaction. Where does this leave us? And what can we do about it now? Please join the FUS Climate Action… Read More » Here we are: What now? The post Here we are: What now? appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
This is a great week to bring a friend with you to FUS! Here on the cusp of a presidential inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr Day, events that hold disparate visions, we are called to name the stories and the values that we insist upon claiming. The post The Stories We Must Cling To appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
The human species operates by stories. They can guide or misdirect us, inspire or limit us, while providing both meaning and perspective. So as we enter 2025, let’s ask… Which stories ring true for us, and what are the stories we choose to live by? The post New Year, New Story? appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Spiritual congregations have a lengthy tradition of offering critiques of what they believe to be societal ills, and UUs and Humanists are no different. Theodore Parker, John Dietrich, Carl Storm, and Kendyl Gibbons — the last three were settled ministers here at First Unitarian Society — all witnessed deeply challenging times, and offered words of… Read More » We’ve Been Here Before The post We’ve Been Here Before appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Stillness. Quiet. The presence of winter. Twinkle Lights. Glittery snow. Crisp starry nights. The gifts of the natural world surround us. The post Being Present to Awe appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
In his essay on Sisyphus, Albert Camus ends with these haunting words: “one must imagine Sisyphus happy.” Camus invites us to wrestle with the appropriate response to absurdity. Is it suicide? That is to say, is the killing of oneself in light of the human condition, the existential angst and ontological trauma we face, a proper… Read More » The Audacity to Imagine Sisyphus Happy The post The Audacity to Imagine Sisyphus Happy appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Call it mindfulness, call it intentionality, call it witness…there is a way of being in relationship whereby we fully show up for one another. How might we offer our simple presence as a gift to the world? The post In the Presence of a New Way of Being appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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Podcasts Archives - First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
“All That Is” is a lot of stuff, and between this time of year and this time in our world, there is so much that demands our presence. What would it mean to call ourselves into the presence of all of this? Or, maybe the call is asking us to get in touch with what… Read More » In the Presence of All That Is The post In the Presence of All That Is appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis .…
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