Don’t Think of an ElephantThis week, I read Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate–The Essential Guide for Progressives by George Lakoff. It was written a few years ago (pre-’04 election), so it has that kind of “frame” around it. :) As a voter, I’m neither a democrat or republican, (although I lean a little left) so this book was very interesting. I had never thought about politics in the sense of voting your identity versus your self-interest. It’s a great explanation for those that vote Republican over and over again, even though they’re not getting anything out of the deal. It’s like when you want to say to people, “But you don’t make enough to be a Republican!” :)

As far as the nurturing parent / strict father example… I agree, but I guess that’s also what puts me in the middle of the road in politics too. Although I had more of a strict father upbringing, my views are closer to the nurturing parent world view. However, I also have the conservative view of “why should I have to subsidize the laziness of others?”. I really think America needs a 3rd party (not the libertarians, they’re not ambitious enough), that is for helping/nurturing our “family” of a country, but with an end in sight. I don’t like the Republican view of just cutting off funding or the progressive view of “maintenance” funding – stringing along people with a little help instead of helping them with their root issues (job placement, substance abuse etc). It’s the Republican in me… I do have a problem with people being dependent, there should be time lines to get those that are dependent out on their own.

Enough politics for today…

The List: 52 Book | 52 Weeks