Summary: Rarely does the news media run an article about our history that explains much about today’s America. Here’s the exception, from The New Yorker, about the origins of political consulting — and the formation of our current political system. It was built by people who understand our weaknesses. We must understand it before planning reforms, and strengthen our minds in order to succeed.Fabius Maximus
Understanding our political system: the how-to guide by its builders
Pretty much agrees with Lakoff's cognitive analysis of why politicians lose when they emphasize reason rather than rhetoric, facts rather than narrative, and wonkiness rather than sensation. Political consultants and propagandists figured this out long ago.
"Say the same thing over and over again."
ReplyDeleteSounds "mechanical" Tom... rsp,
The power of repetition to create cognitive anchors.
ReplyDeleteMaybe with more than 70% of the population going to college now, the quality of debate and rhetoric will improve as people can more clearly express their thoughts.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that this figure means that much. A lot of college ed these days is glorified trade school, especially two year associate degrees that prepare people for specific jobs.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of liberal education which was the basis of higher ed in the West since the Renaissance is out the window these days.
Great read.
ReplyDeleteSo tired of Obama admitting his way isn't perfect, etc.
Debates don't leave room for that. Just say you are the best candidate and leave it.
Wow. The miracle of democracy isn't such a miracle after all. Who knew? Maybe it really is two sharks and a lamb voting on what's for dinner like I've always maintained.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't argue about the two sharks and a lamb part but the "democracy" part of I have difficulty with. The US was not designed as a democracy but as a republic that it was presumed would be controlled by the elite. The populist democrats were excluded from the process and later suppressed, which was the actual political import of the Whiskey Rebellion.
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