The ALL NEW Don't Think of an Elephant!

1. Framing shapes our understanding of politics and social issues

When you are arguing against the other side using their language and their frames, you are activating their frames, strengthening their frames in those who hear you, and undermining your own views.

Frames are mental structures that shape how we see the world. They are embedded in our brains through language and determine our goals, plans, and what we consider good or bad outcomes. In politics, frames shape social policies and institutions. Changing frames is key to social change.

Language activates frames. Even when negating a frame, we activate it in our minds. For example, saying "don't think of an elephant" makes you think of an elephant. This is why it's crucial for progressives to avoid using conservative language and frames when arguing against them. Instead, progressives must develop and consistently use their own language that activates progressive frames.

Reframing requires repetition and a communication system. It's not just about finding clever slogans, but about changing how millions of people understand issues. This requires:

• Consistent use of progressive language and frames
• Repetition of progressive ideas in public discourse
• Development of a progressive communication infrastructure to rival conservatives

2. Progressives must reclaim language and reframe debates

Reframing is more a matter of accessing what we and like-minded others already believe unconsciously, making it conscious, and repeating it till it enters normal public discourse.

Reclaiming language is crucial for progressives to effectively communicate their values and ideas. This means avoiding conservative frames and developing distinctly progressive ways of discussing issues. For example, instead of accepting the conservative framing of "tax relief," progressives should talk about taxes as investments in public goods that benefit everyone.

Key areas for reframing include:

• Taxation: As investment in shared prosperity, not a burden
• Regulation: As protection for public health and safety, not government overreach
• Government: As a tool for solving shared problems, not an impediment to freedom
• Freedom: In terms of positive liberties and opportunities, not just freedom from government

Effective reframing requires:

• Understanding the underlying values and worldviews behind different frames
• Developing language that authentically expresses progressive values
• Consistently using progressive frames in all communication
• Patience and repetition to shift public discourse over time

3. Systemic causation explains complex issues like climate change

Systemic causation, because it is less obvious than direct causation, is more important to understand.

Systemic causation refers to complex chains of cause and effect that are not immediately obvious. Unlike direct causation (e.g., a ball breaking a window), systemic causation involves multiple interacting factors over time. This concept is crucial for understanding and communicating about issues like climate change.

Key aspects of systemic causation:

• Networks of direct causes interacting over time
• Feedback loops amplifying effects
• Multiple contributing factors
• Probabilistic rather than deterministic outcomes

Examples of systemic causation:

• Climate change leading to more extreme weather events
• Economic policies contributing to wealth inequality
• Social factors influencing health outcomes

Understanding systemic causation is essential for developing effective solutions to complex problems. It requires moving beyond simplistic explanations and addressing root causes rather than just symptoms. Communicating systemic causation effectively is a major challenge for progressives, as it often contradicts common-sense notions of direct cause and effect.

4. The private depends on the public in a functioning democracy

Without all of this, the blessings of modern American private life and private enterprise would not be here. The private depends on the public. Public resources make private life possible.

Public resources enable private success. Contrary to conservative rhetoric, private enterprise and individual success depend heavily on public investments and shared infrastructure. This includes physical infrastructure like roads and utilities, as well as social infrastructure like education and scientific research.

Examples of vital public resources:

• Education system
• Transportation networks
• Legal system and property rights
• Basic scientific research
• Public health measures
• Environmental protections

Recognizing this interdependence is crucial for understanding the proper role of government and the importance of public investment. It challenges the conservative narrative that individual success is solely the result of personal effort, highlighting instead the collective nature of prosperity in a modern society.

5. Freedom is a central progressive value, not just a conservative one

Freedom issues are powerful issues.

Reframing freedom in progressive terms is essential. While conservatives often claim ownership of the concept, progressives have a equally strong claim to promoting freedom through ensuring equal opportunity and protection from harm.

Progressive conception of freedom includes:

• Freedom from want and economic insecurity
• Freedom to pursue education and self-development
• Freedom from discrimination and oppression
• Freedom to live in a healthy environment

Examples of progressive policies promoting freedom:

• Universal healthcare (freedom from fear of medical bankruptcy)
• Strong public education (freedom to develop one's potential)
• Environmental protections (freedom to live in a healthy world)
• Civil rights protections (freedom from discrimination)

By reclaiming the language of freedom, progressives can more effectively communicate how their policies enhance real-world liberty and opportunity for all, not just the privileged few.

6. Metaphors powerfully influence our thinking about politics and policy

Metaphors can kill.

Conceptual metaphors shape understanding. The metaphors we use to think about abstract concepts like nations, economies, and social issues profoundly influence our understanding and policy preferences. Many of these metaphors are unconscious and taken for granted.

Examples of influential political metaphors:

• Nation as a person (e.g., "friendly" or "rogue" states)
• Economy as a machine (that can be "tuned" or "overheat")
• Argument as war (with "attacks" and "defenses")
• Morality as cleanliness (being "clean" or "dirty")

Implications of metaphorical thinking:

• Shapes what solutions seem possible or appropriate
• Influences emotional responses to issues
• Can obscure important aspects of complex problems

Progressives must be aware of the metaphors embedded in political discourse and work to develop and promote metaphors that better align with progressive values and policy goals. This requires both analyzing existing metaphors and consciously crafting new ones.

7. Conservatives use strategic initiatives to advance their agenda

A strategic initiative is a plan in which a change in one carefully chosen issue area has automatic effects over many, many other issue areas.

Strategic thinking by conservatives has been key to their political success. They use carefully chosen initiatives that have far-reaching effects across multiple issues, often in ways that are not immediately obvious.

Examples of conservative strategic initiatives:

• Tax cuts: Reduce government revenue, forcing cuts to social programs
• Tort reform: Limit corporate liability and weaken consumer protections
• School vouchers: Undermine public education and promote privatization

Characteristics of effective strategic initiatives:

• Seemingly narrow focus with broad implications
• Appeal to some moderate voters while advancing conservative agenda
• Create self-reinforcing cycles (e.g., tax cuts leading to deficits, used to justify more cuts)

Progressives need to develop their own strategic initiatives and be aware of conservative strategies to effectively counter them. This requires thinking beyond single issues and considering long-term, systemic effects of policies.

8. Progressive values are rooted in the nurturant parent model

The progressive core values are family values—those of the responsible, caring family.

Nurturant parent morality forms the basis of progressive values, in contrast to the conservative "strict father" model. This framework emphasizes empathy, responsibility, and mutual care rather than strict hierarchy and punishment.

Key aspects of nurturant parent morality:

• Empathy and compassion as moral foundations
• Responsibility for self and others
• Emphasis on cooperation and mutual support
• Belief in equality and fairness
• Promotion of individual fulfillment within a caring community

Policy implications of nurturant morality:

• Strong social safety net
• Investment in education and child welfare
• Environmental protection
• Emphasis on diplomacy in foreign policy
• Support for civil rights and equality

Understanding this moral foundation helps explain progressive policy preferences and provides a coherent framework for articulating progressive values.

9. Uniting progressives requires focusing on shared values and principles

The job of unifying progressives is really the job of bringing our country together around its finest traditional values.

Overcoming progressive fragmentation is crucial for political success. While progressives often disagree on specific policies or priorities, they share fundamental values and principles that can serve as a unifying force.

Core progressive values and principles:

• Empathy and social responsibility
• Equality and fairness
• Democracy and citizen participation
• Environmental stewardship
• Investment in public goods

Strategies for progressive unity:

• Emphasize shared values over policy disagreements
• Develop inclusive messaging that appeals to diverse progressive constituencies
• Create forums for dialogue and coalition-building among progressive groups
• Focus on long-term vision while allowing for tactical disagreements

By focusing on these shared fundamentals, progressives can build stronger coalitions and more effectively communicate their vision for society.

10. Effective communication of progressive ideas requires constant repetition

It is vitally important to understand the cognitive dimensions of politics—especially when most of our conceptual framing is unconscious and we may not be aware of our own metaphorical thought.

Repetition is key to changing minds. Given the deeply ingrained nature of frames and conceptual metaphors, shifting public understanding requires consistent, long-term effort. This means repeatedly articulating progressive ideas and frames, not just during elections but in everyday discourse.

Principles for effective progressive communication:

• Use language that activates progressive frames
• Avoid repeating conservative frames, even to argue against them
• Explain issues in terms of progressive values and morality
• Provide clear, concrete examples and stories that illustrate progressive ideas
• Address the underlying conceptual frames, not just surface-level arguments

Building a progressive communication infrastructure:

• Develop think tanks and media outlets to promote progressive ideas
• Train progressive leaders and activists in effective framing and communication
• Create networks for rapid response to conservative messaging
• Invest in long-term efforts to shift public discourse, not just short-term campaigns

Changing deeply held frames and beliefs is a gradual process, but with persistent effort, progressives can reshape the terms of political debate and build support for their vision of society.

Last updated: September 22, 2024