Why are we so bad at branding?

[digonswine]

As of(I think) now, most folks self-identify as being "conservative". Few admit to being liberal, but many would pretend to the label of "progressive". There would appear to be some fear or shame attached to labels like "liberal" or "socialist".
It seems like there are acceptable labels for one's self and those that are not, even if they are more accurate and telling.
Why would a person not admit that they are progressive? Likely-the peer pressure of place, more than anything.
I would like to think that it is merely the amazing power of the right-wing, and their ability to "brand" both their own and others' ideologies.
I think that most people are followers and they defer to who they see as the authority. I try not to hold it against individuals, but this is hard to do.
I like to look at most things in a sociobiological way-it is no wonder, then, that agreeing with the majority would be attractive to many.

Why, though, is a more progressive view of the world so much more difficult to cultivate?
One needs to think a bit deeper, but most conservatives I know are fully capable of making that step. I don't get it.
If it is our nature, as a species, I can accept it.

[arcane1]

1. We don't own the media and an array of AM radio stations, for one thing n/t

[izquierdista]

2. Because it is not a 'liberal art'.

Branding, along with advertising, marketing, and criminal defense of embezzlement are part of the 'conservative arts'.

[Angry Dragon]

3. Whenever I try to brand republicans with a hot branding iron that says idiot, they run away

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. To very loosely paraphrase something I was taught...we are busy living our lives

and they are busy attempting to tell us how to live our lives. We are putting our time and energy into life, and they are putting their time and energy into attempting to own life.

[freshwest]

10. +1,000

[whatchamacallit]

5. Because we find doing the wrong thing labeled as the right thing, repugnant n/t

[Grillydad]

6. It's black/white thinking vs nuance

Nuance doesn't brand well. Takes too many words. Many conservatives like an ordered predictable experience...us vs. them, wrong vs right. It takes time and energy to think about an issue. As someone said earlier, we are all living a life and having the time to look at issues and understand that they are complex, let alone understand that complexity is difficult.

Think about commercial branding. "Just do it" sells shoes, but what does it mean? "It's the real thing" sells soda, but does it really tell us about the drink? Now think about income inequality, fracking, regulation of complex investment instruments. Just trying to describe them is a mouthful. Trying to propose solutions and their myriad effects is very difficult. To think of it a different way... it's much easier to be against something than to fix it.

[FarLeftFist]

11. Great post and analysis. This is why they love FOX, because they don't have to think,

They just lazily get their lies, distortions, and hate spoon-fed to them daily. No need for a brain.

[athenasatanjesus]

13. I brand thee +1

[digonswine]

14. Perhaps-

I really do not think it has to do with the complexity of the argument. Conservatives are not simply obtuse or ignorant.
They must seek a comfort level.
I don't think I am somehow smarter or more educated.
I would guess that it has to do with how easily one can empathize with one's fellows.
I would guess that it has to do with the degree to which one is willing to try to understand where another person is coming from.
I would guess that it comes from how much a person thinks about his/her advantages in being able to think about all things.

[stillwaiting]

7. I don't think we are. I think our elected leaders are "bad" at branding.

Of course, it becomes much more difficult to brand conservatism and Republicans that which they deserve when you are hell bent on governing in a "bi-partisan", heal the nation, compromising fashion.

Only elected Democrats do this. Even after all of the FALSE venom that the Republicans spit their way.

There could only be one reason for this.

When our leaders don't coalesce to brand the Republicans appropriately, and they do not hammer these memes throughout the media, branding will not occur.

[MisterP]

8. because actions repeatedly undermine any branding attempts

anyone can talk big about the banks and inequality, but people see it as hot air when that same person then turns around and attacks Social Security and pampers crooked banks; in fact, such a politico would be the first to say that their problem is one of branding--it's quite confounding

[Boojatta]

9. A couple of things

There would appear to be some fear or shame attached to labels like "liberal" or "socialist".

The word "socialist" appears in the name "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics." If the ideas you would like to refer to with the word "socialist" have nothing to do with the policies of the USSR, then it's probably a good idea to find a word other than "socialist" to describe those ideas.

agreeing with the majority would be attractive to many.

That explains inertia, but doesn't explain how the ball got started rolling in a particular direction.

[digonswine]

15. What I am getting at-

is that , it would seem, that many people mislabel themselves based upon what they feel is the de rigueur definition of conservative or liberal. I THINK--that most folks, when there is a breakdown of opinions, would actually fit best into the label of progressive.
I wonder why people are so opposed to characterize themselves as such.
It can't be be the supposed shame of not satisfying the Cavuto's, Boortz's, and the David Brooks's of the world.

[msongs]

12. a "brand" has to mean something valuable on a consistent basis not be a matter of convenience nt

[digonswine]

16. I dislike the idea of branding-

but I am talking about appealing to the masses.
There is no consistency on either side.
For the record-the idea of branding a progressive mindset is, to me, awful.

[Nye Bevan]

17. I like that Paul Krugman titles his blog "The conscience of a Liberal"

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/