begin a fundamental change in how presidents speak to the American public

As the primary communicator in government to the American citizenry, the president is in the best position to elevate the level of political debate in our country. Politicians often pander to the public and use fear and ideology to influence thought. The United States is in desperate need of improvement in both the tone and content of its political speech making. The president should attempt to fundamentally shift the public's relationship to politics away from emotion, and toward reason and analysis. He should do this by regularly providing context to issues, reinforcing the validity of expert institutions and speaking passionately about facts and practical solutions. Such mature speech will resonate with voters and improve our chances for solving the problems we face collectively.