Reading/Action: (Re-)Framing the debate

[tanaqui]

We've had a few posts and links previously about how to present your arguments so they appeal to Republican-leaning voters, and on how we might refer to Trump. I've now been pointed to some really interesting stuff by George Lakoff, a professor of linguistics at UC Berkeley about how to "frame" the argument to direct the way an issue is perceived and therefore how people respond.

A classic example he uses is that Republicans talk about removing "regulations" -- which are in fact "public protections" (e.g. for clean water and air) that they want to do away with.

He's got a lot of stuff on his blog, but here's a couple of places to start:

A Minority President: Why the Polls Failed, And What the Majority Can Do

Ten points for Democracy Activists

A lengthy (20-minute) interview on PBS

Lakoff is aiming to establish a "Citizens’ Communication Network" -- I'm not exactly sure what he has in mind with this, but he suggests you can "unofficially join" by following him on Facebook or Twitter for more information and insights while he sets it up.

Comments

[teaotter]

I've been reading Lakoff's most recent book, and I think it's going to be very useful in the long run. I do highly recommend it if you have relatives of different political persuasions.

On a related note, I also think it's worth looking at the moral foundations theory. If I'm trying to re-frame an argument, having a set of values to consider helps me.

I've been thinking about the conversations around immigration, and thinking about how so much of the frame we use is about pity: these poor, helpless people, with all the terrible ways in which they're vulnerable and society endangers them. Which is true, and may be useful in some conversations -- but it doesn't focus on their strengths, or why multiculturalism is a good thing for majority populations, too.

For dealing with my family, at least, it helped to reframe immigrants as potential Americans who want (and can do) all the things that "typical" Americans do.

[Okay, there was also a bit about how if we give undocumented immigrants the documents they need to get a "real" job, it'll stop driving wages down and start driving them up. Because they don't want to be working for pennies on the dollar, either. But that's "the government is getting in our way," an argument that my right-leaning family members tend to agree with.]

[tanaqui]

Thanks for the suggestion to look at moral foundations theory, and also your example of how you've used it with your family - I'm finding it really helpful to see how people put this stuff into practice!

[lynnenne]

Those were really thought-provoking reads. Thanks for linking to them.

[tanaqui]

You're welcome! Glad you found them useful!