Would you like to change people's minds about politics?

Well, you can't.

You can't because only that person can change his or her own mind. But you can help them get to that point, and I'll tell you how.

First, let's look at how "changing one's mind" really works. We are a thinking species -- as we move through life, we build mental models describing how the world functions. We make models for everything, from how a business meeting should go to what the role of public school is, and we expect that the world will generally stay within our model's expectations.

When we encounter unexpected concepts or behavior, we might have to adjust our model.

We don't like changing models because that takes mental effort, so we try to make small adjustments or ignore the problem. But when unexpected concepts persist and our model doesn't accurately describe our world, we must eventually scrap the model and make a new one -- and that's when we change our mind.

To induce someone to change their mind, we present concepts that don't fit their model but won't go away. When faced with a reality that won't reconcile with our assumptions, our first defense is to ignore or dismiss the offending contradiction.

Skilled debaters highlight the mental conflict, producing what is called "cognitive dissonance," by juxtaposing two concepts that are both true but can't exist under the listener's assumptions. This "short sharp shock" rattles around in the listener's head, refusing to go away, until they reconsider their views.

Something must give, so their model crumbles and they must build a new one.

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For a great example of cognitive dissonance, consider the Pink Pistols, the national gay-friendly shooting group started by libertarian activist Doug Krick.

Those who had grown comfortable pigeonholing gun owners as knuckle-dragging homophobic misanthropes could not reconcile their stereotype with the reality of an organized group of shooters from sexual minorities. Instead, many had to rethink their views on gun ownership.

On many political issues, from the drug war to Social Security to the environment, libertarian positions contrast dramatically with conventional wisdom, and these issues provide great opportunities to challenge your listener's fundamental assumptions.

When using cognitive dissonance, remember to distill your message down to the simplest, clearest thought that conflicts with the listener's ingrained expectations. You won't change your listener's mind all at once, so don't get into minutiae -- drop your mind bomb, then disengage and wait for it to work.

Don't expect immediate results, and be prepared to smile through a dismissive rebuke. If your listener later returns with cautious questions, be prepared to feed them a bit more and let them digest it.

You can't change someone else's mind, but you can often challenge their assumptions enough that they change it themselves. So go shake up some minds!

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SUGGESTION: For another insight on how to present libertarian ideas, see Michael Cloud's audiotape speech, "Freedom Store: Battlefield or Marketplace?" It offers a new paradigm which can profoundly change how the public perceives libertarians.