George Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant" should be required reading

[Reverend_Smitty]

for all Democrats, progressives etc... I just got through the first chapter of it and it is blowing my mind. I find myself nodding my head in agreement in about every other sentence. It's so well written and his arguments are so easy to wrap your heads around. The idea of framing the debate and using words that reflect progressive values as opposed to re-enforcing conservative ones is such a novel idea. Why the hell aren't our leaders doing this yet?

[jab105]

1. We have a framing the demate forum set up based on his book...

doesn't get as much use as it should...but...here's a kick for it...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=252

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. Didn't know we had a group for that

I'm going to poke my head in there and see whats up...thanks!

[Theduckno2]

4. Didn't know either and Lakoff's book is terrific.

Thanks jab105, added to my forums and you're right, turnover is a little slow there. Here's hoping that will change soon! :thumbsup:

[NAO]

3. Also available as unabridged audio book on CD, or lecture on DVD

I wish the leaders of the Democratic Party were as excited about Lakoff as grass roots activists are.

If they would read and listen and absorb and assimilate Lakoff and use his techniques to craft their message and control their discourse, it would go a long way toward taking back our country. Much farther, I suspect, than merely big contribution $$ without proper framing of the discourse.

[Tux]

5. I agree

Conservatives managed to use people's beliefs and emotions against them. Now we can use cognitive science and linguistics to save America. Framing is an old cognitive concept I learned in college. Generally it is used to see how people form worldviews from experience. Too often, those researchers (dying breed in psychology) rarely work with the language development researchers. We are very lucky to have a pioneer in cognitive linguistics on our side.

All progressives should read it (I read it tonight, whole thing) or Moral Politics or both. Once my UU church library get Moral Politics back in, I'll have to read it. Local library doesn't carry anything liberal like that or Gnostic Bible or anything else I need to read lately (last election got my sociology minor kicked in gear).