Thank you George Lakoff! Beyond reframing...

[Pacifist Patriot]

I've been familiar with the linguistic gymnastics of the far right for some time now. I know how frames result in cognitive dissonance. I'm also painfully aware people will vote against their self-interests and instead vote their values.

What I didn't recognize was the umbrella metaphor of family structure. Now the unholy alliance of the Christian far right and fiscal conservatives makes a hell of a lot more sense. No wonder I've viewed our society as a dysfunctional family with a dry drunk in the strict father role.

If you haven't read it yet, I urge you to read or listen to "Don't Think of An Elephant." Whether we run for office or not, all progressives need to at least consider what Lakoff has to say. It's well worth the time and energy.

This is not a paid promotion. ;)

[central scrutinizer]

1. I second that

I read the book a while back and although it is a distillation of his longer writings, it is highly recommended.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. I'm doing a paper on Lakoff's "Moral Politics."

Great book. I'm doing an investigation of how the right and the left frame the living wage debate, using Lakoff's behavioral model as a template. Final draft is due in two weeks; I'll post it if anyone's interested.

ANyway, I also encourage anyone who hasn't yet to pick up "Moral Politics" OR "Don't Think of an Elephant" soon.

[Moochy]

3. Damn I just thought of an elephant

Know your frames! I love this super short book, and can not recommend it highly enough.

Like many, I hate the neo-con doublespeak, people like Frank Luntz were masters of the skill of deceptive framing. As I read this book I realized that it *is* possible and moreover even crucial to engage in this kind of an exercise.

Because, if we don't re frame the debate positively, we cede the middle ground to the neocons. When we use republican frames even to refute them, we invoke their power, even if we don't mean to. This is why it is important to have a compelling alternative frame that invokes our values. This way the so-called "values voter" will be able to vote in their best interest, instead of against it.

Cheers!