Posted on 11/04/2004 4:31:04 PM PST by oblomov
The radical Right is acutely aware of cases where the general public has progressive values and would ordinarily reject their agenda. The Right’s approach to such cases is deception, often through the use of Orwellian language — language that means the opposite of what it says.
For example, the term compassionate conservatism is used because leaders on the Right have traditionally been considered mean and lacking in empathy toward people who are needy, poor or oppressed. The term compassionate suggests that conservatives do care about such people, although their policies go in exactly the opposite direction. And indeed, certain conservative theorists are open as to what compassion is to mean, namely that removing “interference,” especially by the government, allows disciplined people who are seeking their self-interest to become prosperous.
This use of language is no accident.
Frank Luntz and his associates are well paid to devise such language. What does Luntz advise?
In a recent version of their regularly updated language manual, there is a chapter titled "The Environment: A Cleaner, Safer, Healthier America". In it, Luntz acknowledges that the scientific evidence does not support the conservative position on global warming. What does he suggest?
"The scientific debate is closing [against us] but not yet closed. There is still a window of opportunity to challenge the science."
And Luntz is listened to.
This strategy has been adopted in how the Right talks about the “Clear Skies Act,” which increases pollution and mercury contamination, and the "Healthy Forests Act," which permits clear cutting and the destruction of forests.
This is part of a major strategy. The radical Right knows that it does not have a majority that accepts its worldview. If most Americans really believed what the radical Right does, no resort to such distortions would be necessary.
This is crucial for progressives to understand, because Orwellian language reveals weakness.
Progressives commonly wring their hands in despair when conservatives use Orwellian language. They shouldn't. The use of Orwellian language signals to us where conservatives are weak. Forget that their deceptiveness is immoral. The point is that they are weak and are revealing their weakness. If they had public support, they could freely call their initiative the Dirty Skies Act.
Progressives can use the Right’s Orwellian weaknesses to our advantage. We can focus the public’s attention on it by highlighting the discrepancies between what the radical Right says and what it does. Do not hesitate to rename their Orwellian legislation. For example:
Theoretically flawless, even if it isn't really as up-to-date as most postmodern scholars pretend. Problem is, words do have meanings, and in the real world all you get from renaming a garbageman a "sanitary engineer" is laughed at.
I truly believe the left has lost it's collective mind and is in need of ritalin or should move to Canada for a lovely life long vacation. The article makes no sense whatsoever.
The left doesn't employ any deception in their language? How about "a woman's right to choose"?
George Lakoff's Big Idea is this: people think of the government as an extension of parental authority, with the Dems being the Nice Mommy Party, and the GOP being the Mean Daddy Party. Because of poor upbringing, Americans gravitate to the Mean Daddy Party, even though scientists have proved time and again that the Nice Mommy is a better parent overall.
(Note: this is my admittedly biased synopsis of his ideas)
submissions@rockridgeinstitute.org
Have at it folks....wooohoooo
Yeah, the "social security scheme" really worked for Al Gore. Nazi, Liar, Hitler, unpopular, hated, etc., really worked for the rest of the herd/
Thank you for this post. I think it is important. In the words of Zsun Tu, "The Art of War"
Know neither yourself nor your enemy, lose all your battles.
Know yourself but not your enemy, win only half of your battles.
Know yourself and your enemy, win all of your battles.
As unpleasant as this is, we need to know our enemy.
Rock Ridge? Isn't that a place in "Blazing Saddles"?
To submissions@rockridgeinstitute.org
Progressive=Socialism
Hey you people made the pages of “Freepers” so now expect to hear from a few of us.
I noticed where some of your funding comes from, where you are located and it all clicked.
So you propose to couch your socialist agenda in new verbiage huh?
Reagan defeated communism but it has changed shape and color and come back to haunt us….between the ACLU, NEA and the Media (MSM) we have a tough battle ahead of us. Humanistic Relativism is the new enemy and we are on the hunt. The democrats/socialists/communists are either under or over educated, psychologically dysfunctional and believe that government is the sole solution to man’s troubles…the Big Lie. Redistribution of wealth circumvents individual responsibility and accountability? (the list goes on and on)
So many in positions of influence are so clueless as to what America is really like…the Left Coast and New York/DC do not represent values that are meaningful….Hello? Look at Sweden – Highest Suicide Rate in the civilized world.
Your efforts to provide verbal ammunition to your socialist buddies will not go unnoticed and the battle will continue from the Heart of America.
Weakness is obviously a matter of point of view and you lefties will never understand where the “right” is coming from.
HG
Animal Farm, again, I guess.
Love your tagline.
I have a friend who is married to one of us. Her point was that there is no such thing as an "ex Marine", there are only "recovering Marines"
To be an "ex Marine" requires a 12-step process. (grin)
Here you guys go again: a bunch of left-wing intellectuals puzzled as to why the majority of Americans do not accept your values, be it in the public schools, colleges, news media, entertainment and why the liberal politicians you support can't take back government. You go to great lengths, and spend other people's money (usually given by the super-rich) to devise theories and publish volumes about how to convince the rest of us that you know better! STOP! Everyone in politics uses language to sell their views on issues that attracts supporters and repells critics. THIS IS NOT A NEW THING, BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT DO THIS ALL THE TIME. Big deal. Why don't you guys just accept traditional values (traditional becuase they've been successful for millenia), the desire to defend our sovereignty and way of life and pay less taxes and enjoy our freedom is HUMAN. AS IN HOMO SAPIEN. DUH!
If you are writing that about me you should get your facts straight before you lecture me.
Look, I'm sure the RI has alot of credibility and support from academians who share your worldview, they make this a little obvious. Us conservatives are smart enough to read between the lines. Speaking of softening language:
After liberals learned that banning guns is unpopular, they began to support "gun safety". What happened to gun control?
Increase government investment, because increasing taxes is not very popular.
When did illegal aliens become undocumented workers, aren't they hear illegally?
The Campaign Finance Reform Act should be recast as "Liberal Incumbent and their Ultra-rich Donors Protection Act"
That is not "MY VIEW". It is the view of lefties which I am not one. I posted the information about them. Maybe you should hold back a little BEFORE you start attacking people WITHOUT KNOWING the FACTS. Like I said, get your FACTS straight BEFORE you lecture me.
The Marine Corp was one of the most positive experiences of my life....but yes some of us are a little over the edge....especially if we become republicans too...a dangerous combination....LOL
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