Definition: Cognitive Politics
adminSun 2017-02-26
Cognitive politics is the effect of psychological factors on partisan identity. This is in contrast to economic, social or religious reasons. For example, someone could be a social-conservative, fiscal-liberal, or cognitive-conservative. It is a subset of the broader field of “political psychology,” but specifically related to partisan identity.
Framing Reviews: Marketing vs. Truth
Fri 2017-02-24
First in a series on disentangling messaging challenges on the left: Can we use framing and marketing techniques without losing connection to the truth?
"come up with at least one story for every data point."
--Tim Wise
There is a long-running struggle among Democrats: do we want politicians to stick to the truth or start marketing?
Good strategies to apply:
adminSun 2017-02-05
1 - Don't focus on him. Know who you are focusing on.
2 - Remember this is a regime and he's not acting alone. Aim your messengers to drive a wedge between his collaborators and their supporters. Call on conservatives who believe in the Constitution to stand up today. Don't judge them by who they voted for last time, but by what they do today.
Thanksgiving After Trump
Stephen CataldoTue 2016-11-22
Do you live in a liberal enclave, and are heading home to see relatives who supported Trump? Feeling furious while reading advice not to shame people?
Own Actions; Focus Judgements
adminThu 2016-11-17
11/16/2016 Draft; big changes likely, suggestions welcome
Trying to figure out why so much of some demographics voted for a racist president, there is a fight between two ideologies. One side believes in acceptance: this is largely the fault of liberals for calling other people rednecks and looking down on them; we should respect everyone. The other side keeps saying things about bringing guns to knife fights, calling out racists, naming names and fighting back hard against the people we don't like.
Drops of Gratitude Amidst the Blame: Respect Those Who Voted Without Grudges
Stephen CataldoSat 2016-11-12
Amidst all the mistakes and casting blame, there were some things done well this election. During the general election, I heard one big ask over and over:
Clear Examples How Democrats Could Frame Their Values -- Why Don't They?
adminThu 2016-10-27
What Hillary Clinton Needs to Say to Beat Donald Trump by Julie Sedivy is an detailed plan of how the Clinton campaign could be framing its message to reach across the partisan divide. Twelve years after George Lakoff wrote Don't Think of an Elephant, the Democrats still don't bother to frame their message, they still don't put their core values front and center. Why not?
Disloyal Donald: Dismantling the Gang Leader Frame
Stephen CataldoThu 2016-10-13
Political Metaphors: Nurture, Discipline, and Deals You Can't Refuse.
In Why Trump, George Lakoff divides the Republican party into White Evangelicals, Pragmatic Conservatives, and Laissez-faire free-market proponents. All three flavors of conservatism think about government using a strict father metaphor.
Fat Shame to Übermensch Shame: Hypocrisy Doesn't Break the Frame
Stephen CataldoFri 2016-10-07
This week Trump is fat-shaming — and now other people are fat-shaming Trump back, pointing out his hypocrisy. Unfortunately, calling out hypocrisy doesn't undermine shame-based politics. Historically hypocrisy seems to be nearly a requirement for using shame to build political movements:
Corruption: Frames, Metaphors & Stickiness
Stephen CataldoFri 2016-09-09
Money is handed to a charity, and the donor gets a few more minutes to talk with a politician. Money changes hands, and an investigation is called off. Which is the bigger story? Obviously, the one with Hillary Clinton in it. Why? It’s not about bias — this happens even on tv stations where the reporters’ personal biases are in her favor. What’s wrong with the Clinton campaign's messaging on corruption? What are the promises and moral foundations of each campaign, and why does corruption stick to with Clinton’s campaign more?