Lakoff says trump supporters are slaves to their conservative moral worldview

[EveHammond13]

Last edited Sat Apr 20, 2019, 02:23 PM - Edit history (1)

That is why facts don't get in.

That is why there is no reasoning with them.

They believe in a hierarchy of how things should be. They consider this moral.* Their personal identity is welded to it.

In short, it is the Strong Father** (authoritarian, dictator, top-down) view of how things should work.

Part of this system:

Men above Women

Whites above PoC

Parents above Children

Christians above Non-Christians

Rich above Poor

Straight above Gay


That's why no abortion. The Strong Father makes decisions about who is to be pregnant when and he is not to be questioned on any basis ever.

If you are struggling in life - they believe it is because you are the "disobedient, lazy, immoral child" who refused to do the work or to obey authority. The poor are poor because they are lazy, immoral and disobedient.

According to Lakoff, this is why trump will never lose that certain base of his voters. They believe he is The Defender of their worldview. It is not more complicated than that. And they ARE their worldview. And progressives are trying to destroy the structure, the Strong Father's unquestioned power, and their very identities in the structure.

That's why facts don't matter. That's why they don't care who trump cheats, abuses or rapes. Or if they care it's still never as bad as giving progressives power.

*moral from their POV

**progressives, OTOH, have a Nurturant Parent, empathy-based worldview.

--------------------------

This is of course disheartening and quite disgusting to me. These people are ingrained bigots. They are ingrained sexists. They are without empathy, mercy or in my view important basic emotional and mental capacities.

But I always come back to this as we sit here watching "man on the street" interviews with people who admit Trump is A Despicable Person But Who Cares He Has Done Great Things For the Country. (ie he has DEFENDED THE STRUCTURE and that is all that matters)

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Just like my father. So insufferable.

[EveHammond13]

3. just like my father as well. we don't talk.

[EveHammond13]

4. and HE grew up with an abusive alcoholic father

so you would think he would want to reject that family structure. but no. he adopted it. and it is a visceral thing with him. he will go from placid to rage in 3 seconds if you try to talk about abortion with him.

[hedda_foil]

2. Link please?

[EveHammond13]

5. many resources...

Many books by George Lakoff

Whose Freedom?

Don't Think of an Elephant

Thinking Points (my preference)

The Little Blue Book


FrameLab podcasts
https://framelab.us


see also his website and his blog:
https://georgelakoff.com/blog/


He's contributed articles everywhere. Google search will reveal.

[hedda_foil]

13. Thanks. :-)

[Bradshaw3]

6. I'll say it again: Dems need to listen to Lakoff

He knows how to fight against the memes and tactics they use to motivate the authoritarian followers.

[EveHammond13]

7. they certainly need to appreciate what he is saying

he understands how brains work

he also understands people don't vote for laundry lists of policies, recitation of facts, of fancy language. KISS.

they vote on authenticity, identity, values


I don't agree with Lakoff 100%. He is way too nice. I'm much meaner. I think mean is called for sometimes.

[msongs]

14. so the candidate w most position papers is lowest on the list. nt

[EveHammond13]

22. it doesn't move people like we think it should

[EveHammond13]

8. very critical - the power of metaphor. it is how brains absorb information.

Our brains have developed tools to help them absorb and process huge amounts of information.

Understanding these tools is critical.

One of these tools is metaphor. It starts things clicking and whirring in the brain. It makes a deep connection.

[EveHammond13]

9. I've been thinking we need to attack trump's "Strong Father" status

can any headway be made by pounding the idea trump is a BAD father and we don't obey or respect BAD fathers.

Goes right to the heart of their structure.

[Bradshaw3]

10. You might be on to something

Democrats have to fight differently than in the past. I agree with your other posts as well.

[Funtatlaguy]

16. He completely ignores two of his children

Barron who
Tiffany who

[lunatica]

20. Lucky them!

Though Barron’s mother is probably as bad if her values are what they appear to be. That woman has sold her soul for status. In the process she’s probably warped his. Those “family values” are the only thing he knows.

[Funtatlaguy]

21. All of her nudes were tasteful

[Funtatlaguy]

17. I wish Lakoff worked for the DNC like Luntz does the RNC

[EveHammond13]

23. he reports he attempted to do that many times and was pooh-poohed

especially by Obama!

But you are correct - he is the Luntz we need. I also suggest reading Words that Work by Luntz if you want to understand how the right his used language to screw us for the past 30 years.

I think Lakoff is getting more traction lately. He has been on CNN with Brian Stelter, he's been on MSNBC. He gets re-tweeted pretty well by Dem think tanks (of which we need more of).

[Funtatlaguy]

24. Example: every time they say "Democrat Party", we say "Republic Party".

[EveHammond13]

28. we definitely needs something. This is a sort of "hypocognition"

where the words we need for our frame don't even exist. That's how badly the right has wiped the floor with us when it comes to messaging.

"Tax relief." The right says it all the time. The word "relief" is their frame. Taxes are an oppressive burden from which we need rescue and relief. Every time a Dem says "tax relief" we are wearing in the tire ruts of the right's path deeper and deeper to benefit them.

We don't have have a phrase in the lexicon right now that counters "tax relief." It has something to do with the value of the common good, fair share and the cost of a civilized society - but that's not very catchy.


Republicon

Republicant

Republiconfederate

Pick something and push it.

[elleng]

30. Well before Obama, I think, he appeared before them, and NOTHING.

[elleng]

29. He appeared before them once (at least) years ago,

and they seem to have ignored him.

[EveHammond13]

35. he says Dems are persuaded by studying facts and don't understand why that

doesn't work on everyone.

Just tell people the facts! They'll do the right thing!

No. Cognitive science - and the world today - prove it does not work that way.

There is nothing evil, wrong or slimy about appropriately developing and packaging a message. It can be done ethically.

[elleng]

41. Right, and the 'official' Dems before whom he spoke chose to ignore him.

[EveHammond13]

44. they did. no argument there.

[Bradshaw3]

47. That's a great idea

It seems like they overlook him. I grew up interested in traditional politics but this is a new day. We have to understand the psychology of what goes into voter's decisions and use some of the tactics the repubs have employed, mostly because they have had a lot of guys from the advertising sector. It's not something I necessarily like but what I really don't like is having an autocracy ruling my country.

[ooky]

11. When I watch them being interviewed it makes me wonder how I missed

the invasion of the lizard people.

[EveHammond13]

12. you are exactly correct - this is lizard-brain level stuff. that is what we are up against.

[ooky]

19. They took over their bodies so that they looked like real people but

retained their lizard brains, explaining the low IQ pablum spilling from their mouths. I'm expecting a lizard tongue to suddenly come out if a fly ventures too close...

[Funtatlaguy]

15. This all rings true to me

I grew up with this worldview in the South and it still exists today.

[CrispyQ]

18. Dem leadership should have read "Moral Politics" the day it came out & acted on it.

The cems are seriously behind the 8-ball in terms of framing & capturing the narrative, but it would still be beneficial to adopt his suggestions.

[EveHammond13]

25. Fully agree. Dems need to understand this and use it.

Lakoff is against quickly-developed or taunting, mocking mean-spirited memes. I AM NOT. They can be powerful.

Lakoff's point is that to create a "frame" - the filter the brain uses to accept and process information - a path must be WORN. There must be repetition. Again and again and again. It is biological. It is physical in the brain, not just ephemeral thoughts. The right understands this. Dems do not.

But that is why he is against quick Memes - he says it doesn't lay the groundwork to change the cognitive frame in the brain. Not sure I agree. I think they can work.

[uriel1972]

32. As part of a whole strategy I agree...

That's what makes the RW so powerful, they have the voices on TV, Radio and in the press and web.
They create a world of "Information" that supports their focus. How that can be subverted is an interesting question.
Word of Mouth and Walking the Talk will have to play an important part. Memes by themselves will be quickly forgotten. It's the reinforcement and repetition that's needed.

[EveHammond13]

43. you are right. this requires leadership.

and we need more of our own think tanks to help us develop the words, tools and structures.

the right has plenty on their side. they start training kids in high school, college, law school - to learn the message, to COMMUNICATE the message in all kinds of media, especially on TV. Then they have a network to bring these people up to leadership. on their part this is the 30 year long game. we are just starting.

[EveHammond13]

26. 2 things for Dems to do: 1. appreciate cognitive framing 2. get FB game up to Parscale level

[Paladin]

27. Well, golly. In that case, they better get busy, fucking themselves. (nt)

[EveHammond13]

31. what does this mean?

[uriel1972]

38. I think they mean....

That "They can go and eff themselves." but I may be wrong.

[qazplm135]

33. shorter

they believe everything you get is "deserved."

Bad life? You deserve it.
Great life? You deserve it.

Thus, status quo must be maintained, and the current order must be maintained.

[uriel1972]

34. It is very Protestant in it's outlook...

The elect, the predestined....

[EveHammond13]

37. in my opinion, this is the thought pattern of a weak, lazy, frightened mind.

[qazplm135]

42. I think it's the thinking

of someone who must believe that:

1. there's a reason for everything
2. God intercedes in the world

It's the whole God gives the faithful and hard-working folks riches, and punishes the lazy and bad people.

So, the rich? Well, they must have earned it and they must deserve it. God wouldn't let an evil person do so well.
The poor? You must be lazy, or morally poor. If you are a hard-worker and a good person, you'd be rewarded.

No room for bad luck, randomness, or the concept that good and bad karma (in their case in the form of God) really isn't a thing in this world, no matter how much it feels like a good thing.

[EveHammond13]

45. yes it is very very rigid

[CrispyQ]

49. I sent this to my rwnj cousin & never got a response.

I have three outspoken trumpers in my family & the religious one is the worst by far.

[RandySF]

36. He's wrong

It's not about Trump's views, it's Trump. He could come out tomorrow for Medicare for All and his supporters would fall in line.

[EveHammond13]

39. you've got it.

[uriel1972]

40. he could eat a live baby on national television...

and his supporters would fall in line. /sigh

[50 Shades Of Blue]

46. +1 (Oh how I wish he'd fuck with 'em and say he's pro-choice!)

[JI7]

48. yup, lakoff doesn't want to face the bigotry of these white people

and prefers to see them as victims.

[leftyladyfrommo]

50. They are slaves to their stupidity, their hate and their greed nnt

[asiliveandbreathe]

51. I always get to the shaking of my head...why so many christians who I thought

pray to god against the devil..yet, so many of these same people worship the pos in the wh..????

[MaryMagdaline]

52. Obama ignored him because he already knew how to tap into liberal psyche

He won us over with togetherness themes more than specific policies. His margins of victory show he knew what he was doing. Other politicians need to follow suit.

[mr_lebowski]

53. I tend to agree, and have two other theories to add ...

1) They are from the Chimp side of The Family Tree, We are from the Bonobo side of The Family Tree.
2) Cons worldview is entirely 'Me-Centric'. Me and Mine, My Family, My Stuff, My Color, My Religion, My State/Country ... then the MORE you're ME, in some sense, the more okay you are. The less you're of ME, agree with me, look like me, act like me, believe like me... the LESS okay you are.

It's like concentric circles where they are the center. They have absolutely no 'care' about people in other countries (except maybe christians, esp. if the same color), no 'love of humanity', very little care about wildlife (unless it's something THEY like, hunt, eat, etc) or 'Earth' as a whole. 'Earth' is mostly bad/dangerous to them.

They care about ME, essentially. No true sense of community except with others very much of/like themselves. And that which is NOT 'of me'? Is to be feared/hated, intrinsically.