The Myth of the Political Moderate - George Lakoff

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/06/20/George_Lakoff_on_The_Political_Mind

UC-Berkeley Linguistics Professor George Lakoff identifies differences between conservative and liberal reasoning, and argues that there is no such thing as a true political moderate.

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UC Berkeley Professor George Lakoff discusses concepts from his new book, The Political Mind: Why You Can't Understand 21st-Century American Politics with an 18th-Century Brain.

George P. Lakoff is a professor of linguistics (in particular, cognitive linguistics) at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1972.
Although some of his research involves questions traditionally pursued by linguists, such as the conditions under which a certain linguistic construction is grammatically viable, he is most famous for his ideas about the centrality of metaphor to human thinking, political behavior and society.

He is particularly famous for his concept of the "embodied mind" which he has written about in relation to mathematics. In recent years he has applied his work to the realm of politics, and founded a progressive think tank, the Rockridge Institute.

Joe Epstein is the former President of The Commonwealth Club's Board of Governors.

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[Shroommduke]

When you watch Swartzenaggers True Lies you understand how Conservatives see the world, they believe they have a higher purpose, that they are above everyone else, that they are key to the success and survival and whithout them we will all fail or at least suffer greately...

[apekillssnake]

A sound anti-Bern "Chapin pair of legs" who believes no conservative is a feminist or socialist/marxist. No conservatives are womens studies professors! The pushed inferno's of support the right OR ELSE- Ka-ching !! APE

[Adnamira]

@F3dB3aR But if George Lakoff is a democrat, he is a moderate... or he would be in any other country than America. If he was truly a leftist and not a moderate, his last name would be Party. George Lakoff Party, unless there is a party left of the Democrats that I don't know about,and for some reason he is not a member of.

[F3dB3aR]

@Adnamira believe it or not, I'm actually progressive. I hate anything that smells like capitulation to right-wing fascist America. I refuse to compromise with those who compromise our country's democratic and economic well-being.

[Adnamira]

@F3dB3aR You know in the United States you have an ultra conservative party and you have the Democrats, which are a moderate conservative party - a whole party of moderates. So, if you are a democrat, you are a moderate, and if you are a Republican, you are fascist. I am guessing you must be the latter, because you wouldn't dare be a moderate.

[F3dB3aR]

@Adnamira There's nothing wrong with political faith. Faith is the conclusion one comes to after thinking with both sides of their brain. Why? Because in the end, we, as humans, can't be 100% sure of what we think/know because we live in a TEXTUAL REALITY. A world dependent on fluctuating concepts of meaning and plausibility. Thus reality must make ideo-grammatical sense in order for us to understand it. I believe in independent thought. But I don't believe in unprincipled sentimental politics.

[Adnamira]

@F3dB3aR No rightist or leftist is going to bully me into giving up any possibility of independent thought and decision making I might have. Not you and not some academic. A commitment to either left or rightwing politics is just another form of religion, where individuals adopt a doctrine and then try to force it on everyone else, saying 'you either with us or against us, do not question, just believe and follow.' Political faith is for those who only use one side of their brain. I use both.

[F3dB3aR]

@Adnamira This is what I call that "Moderate Bullshxt". You want to believe that the world would work better if we sat around a campfire, held hands and sang kumbaya. But unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way. There's no other way to change things but to get down, dirty and fight hard for one believes in. Your issue with conduct and behavior on Capitol Hill says nothing of the powers that are corrupting our politics and destroying our country with their dangerous policies.

[Adnamira]

@F3dB3aR Well, that is the thing, they are individual, independent thinkers... or should be. So you will have to ask them as individuals. Just as you would any politician you are going to vote for I hope. Unless you don't have any interest in what an individual has to say & just vote for them for the party they belong to, which is disenfranchising yourself, because your vote is a given and does not have to be earnt, As for grown men and women, THEY DON'T MAKE WHOLE SENTENCES FULL OF CAPITALS.

[F3dB3aR]

@Adnamira that doesn't tell me where they stand on the issues. that tells me that you have a problem with the political process and the negotiations that take place between grown men and women in order to achieve policy. BUT YOU DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM W/ THOUGHT. What is it exactly do MODERATES believe when it comes to the right of men and women at work? where do they stand on foreign policy? what are their solutions for the deficit? how do they think the economy is to get back on it's feet?