Book Review; Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate-- the Essential Guide for Progressives
Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for ProgressivesGeorge Lakoff;
review by Rob Kall
The republicans have spent 30+ years framing the issues.
They've invested hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars in think
tanks that devise strategies for pitching policies, for wrapping
policies in words and language. They literally have a play book on how to
frame the issues-- the words and phrases to use and not use.
George Lakoff shines light on the way that language is used by the
republicans and right wingers and then goes further, explaining the ways
people think-- the images and language they use in their heads. He
explores the moral/political value systems that drive liberals and
conservatives. Then he explains how to take back the language, the words
and the dialogue.
If you haven't read his work-- either this book or his longer, more
academic one, Moral Politics, then you will probably routinely fall into
the trap of using language and words that the right wing has loaded with
framing, spin and meaning that already has you at a disadvantage by just
uttering those words.
Once you've read the book, you'll understand the buzzwords and phrases
that the right wing routinely uses in their speeches and talking points. I
can't imagine attempting to understand today's politics without digesting
a serious dose of Lakoff.
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