Interested in Lakoff's Ideas on Reframing Issues? Visit Rockridge Forums

[ulTRAX]

George Lakoff is a fellow at the Rockridge Institute which is dedicated to the following:

Reframe the public debate to make a progressive moral vision more persuasive and resonant.

Tell the progressive story in moral terms and connect it to the values and ideals embodied in America’s history and traditions.

Build links with activists, policymakers, the media, academics, and other key groups to educate the public and inform the public debate.

Advance public policies that will bring us closer to a society that is just, democratic, humane and environmentally sustainable.

Nurture a unified voice among those working for progressive change by developing a common progressive story, a common moral language and shared policy directions.

They have forums at http://forum.rockridgeinstitute.org/?q= but be aware the forum software is hardly as user friendly as is DU.

[mzmolly]

1. Great to know...

Thanks!

[Us vs Them]

2. Thanks for this link!

I'll be reading this for the next few hours, heh.

[alfredo]

3. I am reading his book, "Don't Think of an Elephant."

When Howard Dean was in town, he pushed Lakoff's ideas.

We need to start a discussion of Lakoff's ideas.

[ulTRAX]

5. I agree with most of what Lakoff says..... except.....

I don't believe that just reframing existing Progressive ideas are sufficient. I think we should take the time to revisit and rethink core values then reconstruct a logically coherent paradigm that can better stand up to scrutiny. This process also will lend itself to how best to reframe issues because it provides that bottom up logical rationale.

[ProudDad]

6. This won't work because

Lakoff's premise is that it's all P.R. and we'd better start playing that game better than the pukes are...

The repukes got where there were by framing their utterly irrational line of bullsh*t in such a way that the people bought it. There was NO rational process involved -- it's completely emotional and divorced from any basis in reality.

We ALREADY have a set of moral principles and policies that are much more humane and rational than they ever could be. That's not the problem. The problem is HOW to sell them...

Also, there's NO way we'd ever live to see the entire progressive community agreeing to a "logically coherent paradigm" :)

[ulTRAX]

8. I don't think Lakoff EVER suggested it's all PR

I don't think Lakoff EVER suggested it's all PR. It's just that PR (ie reframing) is important. What I'm most concerned about is some simple-minded attempt to reframe what I consider the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the Democratic Party.

I'm politically Progressive because it is a logical extension of deeply held core values... values I don't see in the Democratic Party. Why? I think the dynamics of our ever-corrupting, dysfunctional two party system have drained away all the passion from most Democrats and has created a Party that would prefer to game an anti-democratic and dysfunctional system than ever revisit questions such as what constitutes morally legitimate government... or what is the moral basis for taxation. Hell... the Dems can't even deal with the fact that they pretend they value democracy when they support our anti-democratic federal system!

We need to find those values we're passionate about.... THEN try to sell them.

[alfredo]

10. Right. What good are ideas if we cannot explain them in terms

they can understand. That was Kerry's problem. His manner of speaking is so stylized from decades in the Senate, he couldn't explain his agenda in terms the rest of the country could understand.

How many Senators have gone on to be president?

[ulTRAX]

9. agreeing on a "logically coherent paradigm"

Doesn't it really depend on how it's worded?

After all... the Framers found agreement... sort of... in the Constitution.

[proud patriot]

4. cool sending this off to my dad

Thanks :D

[NewJeffCT]

7. this guy should be required reading for all Democrats

on DU and elsewhere.