The American Family [View All]

[Tigermoose]

I was reading a post in the Politics section that posted an article by Brent Budowsky on how the Democrats can win a landslide in the next election. I want to highlight one FANTASTIC idea that he suggested.

"The American Family."

This is a fantastic metaphorical framework that can capture the hearts and minds of the American people. It counters the Republican fear tactics that benefit the Republican "strict father" figure with a progressive "nurturant parent" metaphor. This essentially is building upon the theory of George Lakoff in his book "Moral Politics." We need to constantly repeat this idea of America as a nurturant family...over and over again. Every discussion should be framed in terms of America as a nurturant family. The people of America need to see their government as an extension of this family metaphor. Nurturing families do not neglect their own as happened with Katrina. Nurturing families do not try to start wars in order to send their children off to die.

Fact is, most American people are not voting with reason. And, as cognitive linguists are finding, our reasoning is captive to the metaphoric framework that limits and interprets experience. We need to frame the discussion with a metaphor that succeeds in promoting progressive ideas. "The American Family" is a great way of doing that. We must not allow ourselves to be trapped in debates that are framed by conservative language! Avoid language that deals with war, conflict, protection, etc... Instead, talk about helping others, growing young minds through education, cooperation with other countries, the interdependence of all life, etc.

We are all one big family on this Earth, and it is time to stop being so damn dysfunctional!