{
  "id": 9774704,
  "title": "RALLYING CRIES: Voters need more than triplets, catchy slogans and clever memes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/rallying-cries-voters-need-more-than-triplets-catchy-slogans-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T14:20:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-25-voters-need-more-than-triplets-catchy-slogans-and-clever-memes/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The world of politics has seen slogans come and go, from the \"Bread, Peace, Land\" of the Russian Revolution to \"Make America Great Again\" during Donald Trump's campaign. While these catchy phrases often simplify complex political ideas into memorable hooks, their effectiveness lies in tapping into the emotions and subconscious desires of voters. Short and to the point, these slogans connect with people on an emotional level, sometimes even on a subconscious level. They don't provide detailed explanations or policy platforms, but rather, they aim to rally support from those already aligned with the speaker's views.\n\nIn the United States, political scientists estimate that about 15% to 20% of eligible voters fall into the category of low-information voters or disengaged voters. These individuals are often younger, more women, and less likely to have a college degree compared to politically engaged voters. In countries with lower levels of literacy and income, this percentage may be even higher. In the context of American politics, political commentators and leaders often accuse these groups of being easily swayed by promises of government handouts. On the other hand, supporters on the left often argue that these voters are just those who are out-of-touch, older, rural, and undereducated.\n\nThis brings us to the significance of political slogans in today's world. As political scientist David M. Shmith writes, \"The power of political slogans lies in their ability to connect with the yearnings of people, tapping into their emotions and sometimes even subconscious desires.\" The use of triplets, or hendiatrises, is a common rhetorical device employed in such slogans. It's a method of expressing a point through three words or phrases, creating a musical rhythm that makes the message stick in the minds of the audience.\n\nHowever, these slogans often fail to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by voters in today's world. They are not scholarly examinations of political alternatives or detailed policy platforms. Instead, they are designed to appeal to the yearnings of people, connecting with them on an emotional level. This can be particularly effective in mobilizing and consolidating support from potential supporters or those already in the speaker's corner. For the disengaged or low-information voter, such slogans may provide a sense of assurance that they are \"in the know\" about what's really going on, without having to deal with complex or morally challenging specifics that might alienate them.",
  "summary": "Political slogans have a long history, probably back as far as politics itself. The question for our time is whether they contribute to a real understanding among voters of the challenges of today’s world.",
  "key_points": [
    "Political slogans simplify complex ideas into memorable hooks",
    "Low-information voters make up 15% to 20% of eligible voters",
    "Triplets in slogans create musical rhythm to stick in audience's minds"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}