George Lakoff: The PolicySpeak Disaster for Healthcare -- MUST READ FOR PROGRESSIVE ADVOCATES AND ACTIVISTS

[Bob Goodman]

This article is a MUST READ, not only for those of us involved in the healthcare debate but for all progressive advocates for or against anything.  Lakoff is an expert on "framing" issues.  As he pointed out in his seminal book, Don't Think of an Elephant, how we frame issues is decisive -- much more important than whatever facts or data or reasonable talking points we muster.  The right wing has put Obama on the healthcare defensive because they know how to frame issues -- think "death panels" and "government takeover" -- while the Obama team relies on policyspeak and rational argument.

 

This is a long article, but I think it has some big lessons for progressive activists.

 

The PolicySpeak Disaster for Health Care

by George Lakoff

http://www.truthout.org/082009B?n