George Lakoff: "12 Traps That Keep Progressives From Winning"

[Hissyspit]

http://www.alternet.org/stories/42146/

12 Traps That Keep Progressives From Winning

By George Lakoff, AlterNet
Posted on September 26, 2006, Printed on September 26, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/story/42146/
Richard Wirthlin, chief strategist for former president Ronald Reagan, made a discovery in 1980 that profoundly changed American politics. As a pollster, he was taught that people vote for candidates on the basis of the candidates' positions on issues. But his initial polls for Reagan revealed something fascinating: Voters who didn't agree with Reagan on the issues still wanted to vote for him.

Mystified, Wirthlin studied the matter further. He discovered just what made people want to vote for Reagan. Reagan talked about values rather than issues. Communicating values mattered more than specific policy positions. Reagan connected with people; he communicated well. Reagan also appeared authentic -- he seemed to believe what he said. And because he talked about his values, connected with people and appeared authentic, they felt they could trust him. For these four reasons -- values, connection, authenticity and trust -- voters identified with Reagan; they felt he was one of them. It was not because all of his values matched theirs exactly. It was not because he was from their socioeconomic class or subculture. It was because they believed in the integrity of his connection with them as well as the connection between his worldview and his actions.

- snip -

Progressives have not only failed to understand Wirthlin's discovery, they have also not understood recent advances in cognitive science, so they continue to fall into a number of traps. These are traps of our own making, however, and we can get out of them without having to change anything about our values. This is cause for optimism. The purpose of this handbook is to lay out the anatomy of progressive values, ideas and arguments to free us from traps we have fallen into.

- snip -

4. The Rationalism Trap

There is a commonplace -- and false -- theory that reason is completely conscious, literal (applies directly to the objective world), logical, universal and unemotional. Cognitive science has shown that every one of these assumptions is false. These assumptions lead progressives into other traps: assuming that hard facts will persuade voters and that voters are "rational" and will vote in their self-interest and on the issues, and that negating a frame is an effective way to argue against it.

5. The No-Framing-Necessary Trap

Progressives often argue that "truth doesn't need to be framed" and that the "facts speak for themselves." People use frames -- deep-seated mental structures about how the world works -- to understand facts. Frames are in our brains and define our common sense. It is impossible to think or communicate without activating frames, and so which frame is activated is of crucial importance. Truths need to be framed appropriately to be seen as truths. Facts need a context.

MORE

[Tellurian]

1. Thanks, we need our tools razor sharp!

great info..copy and print.

[fasttense]

2. How about the voting machine trap

and the buying up all the media trap? He also forgot the pay for religious leaders to say what you want trap.

[Tellurian]

5. The Desperation Trap..might

affect book sales, giving examples entertain lawsuits!

(he provided the foundation, the rest we can figure out ourselves)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. I disagree with the spin part of it.

On the whole, I'd say this was a very good piece. I just take exception to the idea that spin doesn't have an effect. It does for the simple fact that he states later - the media is lax. They report the spin - the simple phrases that dilute the truth. They don't report lengthy speeches. We need to be able to better spin things and to put the facts into simpler terms or our message simply does not get across in the first place.

[omega minimo]

6. "The media is lax" -- NO the media is OWNED

[Tellurian]

8. Well, BC just called them to task..

During the Wallace interview he said,

"Why don't you ask the Bush Administration the same questions you ask me?"

He's framed the debate..This needs to be followed up by every Demo getting air time.

[blm]

4. Then WHY do GOPs work 24/7 for 4yr cycles to SUPPRESS Dem voters and

purge voter rolls and rig machines all over the country if they campaign better and speak better to the people the way Lakoff believes?

[Tellurian]

7. The Pretend Trap..

Thats where God fits into the picture.

How many times have you heard Bush say (any many Christian ministers) "GOD spoke to me"

When the going gets Tough, they call on (something/someone/indisputable/intangible)
their avenue of last resort, GOD!

[Tellurian]

9. I'm learning new stuff just like everyone else here..

All I know is, I want us to Win this time around.
Whatever it takes! Our future depends on it!

:toast:

[omega minimo]

10. DU Please don't perpetuate The Reagan Myth

Some here remember what Reagan was really like, how obviously phony he was, how people believed what they were told to believe about him by the same media that convinced people in mid-1980 that he was going to win the election, so over 60% of the voters didn't even show up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :puke:

That was the beginning of The Big Lie we are living now. PLEASE DON'T PERPETUATE AND REPEAT IT!!! Especially if you weren't around then and only know what you learned as history or remember from adults around you who drank the KoolAid when you were a kid.


"Reagan connected with people; he communicated well. Reagan also appeared authentic -- he seemed to believe what he said."

"Seemed" -- he was a bad actor. Read Oliver Sachs story about the aphasiacs who saw Reagan for what he was.

"And because he talked about his values, connected with people and appeared authentic, they felt they could trust him."

"Appeared" -- more of the bullshit artist tactics that led us to Bushco. and Lakoff now wants us to replicate.

It was because they believed in the integrity of his connection with them as well as the connection between his worldview and his actions."

Which was more total bullshit. INTEGRITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????!!!!!!!! :puke:


"5. The No-Framing-Necessary Trap
Progressives often argue that "truth doesn't need to be framed" and that the "facts speak for themselves." People use frames -- deep-seated mental structures about how the world works -- to understand facts. Frames are in our brains and define our common sense. It is impossible to think or communicate without activating frames, and so which frame is activated is of crucial importance. Truths need to be framed appropriately to be seen as truths. Facts need a context."

One reason many folks don't like "framing" is that Lakoff once again advocates using the dirty tricks and bullshit art that Republicans have PERFECTED since Reagan. Instead of responding and recreating politics, Lakoff wants us to replicate their evil and immoral behavior. You can say that's not what he means, but that's what he says. We should learn how to fool people the way the Repugs have been for 25+ years.

NO thank you.


"Truths need to be framed appropriately to be seen as truths. Facts need a context."

It's not easy to see Truth when it's surrounded and framed in total bullshit-- esp. if you grew up in that M$M-compromised world since Reagan. That is our responsibility. To see Truth. Not to wrap Truth up in a package to present to people we don't trust to sort it out themselves.... that's what leads to Truthiness.

[sutz12]

11. This crap keeps getting passed around....

as some sort of gospel. :puke:

IMO, this is no different than how the WH and the Repub spin machine are "fighting terror."

We can't win if we become them and use their filthy methods. Once we do that, we've already lost.

[gulliver]

12. Two more traps:

1. The not listening to Lakoff and failing to learn to frame trap.
2. Always sending the wrong person out to do our fighting trap. If we didn't have people like Clinton, Clark, and Clarke out there volunteering to put up their dukes, we'd keep sending out the "it's my turn to lead" maladroits to add themselves to the corpse pile.

[Tellurian]

13. Yup, my lengthy post addressing the naysayers

got deleted at the shut out..

The main gist of my post communicated the need to
know all the rules used by the other sides play book.
Then customize it to make it work for us..

We're in the Fight For Our Very Lives and I get morality thrown at me?

"Tell It to the Judge"...is my response!

[omega minimo]

15. They lie, cheat and fool people. That's what you want to be?

[Tellurian]

16. Who are you to Judge me?

and how would you even begin to ascertain what my likes and dislikes amount to?

Take your moralizing elsewhere, my friend..It just won't play here!

[omega minimo]

17. Um how the hell did you get that out of that post?

It's a valid question

[Tellurian]

18. Are you suggesting, my response wasn't valid?

How dare you!

[omega minimo]

19. Okay, you're joking, right?

[omega minimo]

14. The not listening to those who say "framing" will backfire trap