Smart, Honest Strategy for Disolving the Conservative Grip
by jzilliac
Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 08:38:28 PM PDT
If we look at what drives -- and paralyzes -- conservatives, we can make progress toward developing a strategy to weaken the grip of conservatism in this country. Yesterday I included this in my diary:
According to research done at UC Berekeley in 2003 (it was actually a synthesis of existing research), these psychological traits are linked to political conservatism:
Fear and aggression
Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
Uncertainty avoidance
Need for cognitive closure
Terror management
I hope you will check out the link I provided. The study is fascinating, and while it might look like good grist for gloating, I think it is a gold mine of information that can help us craft new progressive strategy.
For example, look at the first two traits: "fear and aggression" and "dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity." The fact that conservatives tend to have a "fear and aggression" trait is why we are in Iraq, obviously. But so is the trait of "dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity." Rove has been brilliant in using this second trait to his advantage, using simplistic dogma (dogma is always simplistic) to communicate a message that has no ambiguity. Democrats take the opposite tactic, making the assumption that people can understand nuance. Some people can, but many, many people cannot. We have to give up the idea, which is really pretty stupid, that "people are smart!" What does "smart" mean, anyway? Above average intelligence? The fact is, by definition, half of people are of average or below average intelligence, right?
So what if we were to get at that very real trait of "fear," and label it cowardice? We are fighting in Iraq because the leadership in this country is afraid of al Qaeda. They "stay the course" because they are afraid of change. People can understand this. We need to label conservative leaders as "cowards," which they are.
Democrats are the party of courage. (Okay, that is not really true -- yet. Progressives are courageous, and we need to put courageous, progressive leaders at the helm of the Democratic party. Then the statement becomes true.) We need to talk about "the courage to change" and "faith in courageous leaders."
And we need to be willing to communicate on two levels. One level speaks to people who need unambiguous statements. And we can do dogma. We just need to do it honestly. The other level, which speaks to people who need to know more, takes place more online than on-air. These two levels should not contradict each other.
Tomorrow I hope to write about the courage to stick to an honest message. Conservatives have been brilliant at sticking to dishonest messages and scaring Democrats off of their honest messages. Conservatives have shown us that if you say something repeatedly, even if it is a blatant lie, people will believe you. We can use the same tactic with honest messages. Hope you will be back tomorrow!
Smart, Honest Strategy for Disolving the Conservative Grip
by jzilliac
Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 08:38:28 PM PDT
If we look at what drives -- and paralyzes -- conservatives, we can make progress toward developing a strategy to weaken the grip of conservatism in this country. Yesterday I included this in my diary:
jzilliac's diary :: ::
According to research done at UC Berekeley in 2003 (it was actually a synthesis of existing research), these psychological traits are linked to political conservatism:
Fear and aggression
Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
Uncertainty avoidance
Need for cognitive closure
Terror management
I hope you will check out the link I provided. The study is fascinating, and while it might look like good grist for gloating, I think it is a gold mine of information that can help us craft new progressive strategy.
For example, look at the first two traits: "fear and aggression" and "dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity." The fact that conservatives tend to have a "fear and aggression" trait is why we are in Iraq, obviously. But so is the trait of "dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity." Rove has been brilliant in using this second trait to his advantage, using simplistic dogma (dogma is always simplistic) to communicate a message that has no ambiguity. Democrats take the opposite tactic, making the assumption that people can understand nuance. Some people can, but many, many people cannot. We have to give up the idea, which is really pretty stupid, that "people are smart!" What does "smart" mean, anyway? Above average intelligence? The fact is, by definition, half of people are of average or below average intelligence, right?
So what if we were to get at that very real trait of "fear," and label it cowardice? We are fighting in Iraq because the leadership in this country is afraid of al Qaeda. They "stay the course" because they are afraid of change. People can understand this. We need to label conservative leaders as "cowards," which they are.
Democrats are the party of courage. (Okay, that is not really true -- yet. Progressives are courageous, and we need to put courageous, progressive leaders at the helm of the Democratic party. Then the statement becomes true.) We need to talk about "the courage to change" and "faith in courageous leaders."
And we need to be willing to communicate on two levels. One level speaks to people who need unambiguous statements. And we can do dogma. We just need to do it honestly. The other level, which speaks to people who need to know more, takes place more online than on-air. These two levels should not contradict each other.
Tomorrow I hope to write about the courage to stick to an honest message. Conservatives have been brilliant at sticking to dishonest messages and scaring Democrats off of their honest messages. Conservatives have shown us that if you say something repeatedly, even if it is a blatant lie, people will believe you. We can use the same tactic with honest messages. Hope you will be back tomorrow!
Tags: politics, strategy, conservatives, psychology, 2006 |
