George Lakoff,
author of Don't Think of an Elephant,
was recently in Denver to discuss and sign his
new book, The Political Mind. Lakoff is a linguistics
professor at Berkeley, and although I think
about politics approximately 24 hours a day,
his book put things into a perspective that I
had not previously considered and which I think
is very helpful in understanding why Americans,
who by and large favor education, health care
and protecting the environment, vote for
politicians who do not.
Here is what the
publisher has to say about his new book:
“The Political Mind uses the
science of the brain to explain why it is that so
many Americans vote against their own interests. As
it turns out, human beings are not the rational
creatures we’ve so long imagined ourselves to be.
Ideas, morals, and values do not exist somewhere
outside the body, ready to be examined and put to
use by a person or a society. Instead, they exist
quite literally inside the brain-and they take
physical shape there. For example, we form
particular kinds of narratives in our minds just
like we form specific muscle memories like typing or
dancing, and then we fit new information into those
narratives. Getting that information out of one
narrative type and into another-or building a whole
new narrative altogether-can be as hard as learning
to foxtrot. Changing your mind isn’t like
changing your body-it’s actually the exact same
thing. But as long as progressive politicians and
activists continue to believe that people use an
objective system of reasoning to decide on their
politics, the Democrats will continue to lose
elections. Not only that, but they’ll continue to be
wimps. They must wrest control of the terms of the
debate from their opponents rather than agreeing to
a basic frame and then trying to argue about its
meaning. It’s the difference between Senator Jim
Webb using Bush’s phrase, 'the war on terror' a few
years ago and then switching in 2006 to the word
'occupation' and the contrast between what President
Bush calls a 'surge' and what bloggers call an
'escalation of violence.' And it’s not just a
question of vocabulary-it’s understanding the
thoughts beyond the words.”
If we don't learn
more than we currently know about communicating a
message to voters, we will continue to watch,
appalled, while the American people elect candidates
who lead our country and the world to disaster.
Ken Gordon,
Majority Leader,
Colorado Senate
Toll Road Opinion Piece--
The battle over the toll road goes back at
least to 2005 & has been under consideration one way & another
by the Colorado State Legislature every year since. Those
opposing the toll road include a vocal & well-coordinated group
in Elbert County including--Patty Sward, Robert
Thomasson, Democratic Party Candidates for Elbert
County Commissioner Disticts 1 & 3 respectively, Rick
Brown, Chair, Elbert County Democrats, & others.
I, John Fulton, Chair, House District 40
Democrats, come by way of interest in this issue because 1)
Elbert County is part of House District 40; 2) this toll road
also will impact residents of Eastern Arapahoe County, which
also is part of HD 40; 3) it has been alleged more than once in
print that no resident in the path of the toll road has come out
in favor of this toll road; 4) the issue won't go away; the
Colorado State Legislature seems to want this toll road. Year
after year.
My sense is that those vocally opposed to the
toll road feel a sense of being under attack, having constantly
to take their argument to the State Legislature--which does not
seem to be listening to them.
I also was told that a toll road bill passed
in 2006 offered transparency as to what the developer was doing
& that HB-1007 acts to take that transparency away.
Perhaps I am missing something here &
invite any & all comments. You can email me: utahooksem@comcast.netfor posting on this opinion page; or you can go directly to
our blog to post your comments
http://colohd40dems.blogspot.com/.
JF
John Walsh,
Chairman of the State Platform Committee, in an email
4/28--
I'm attaching here the
language on the Israel/Palestinian issue that passed by
approximately three to one at the Platform Committee
meeting on Saturday. We had an extended discussion of
the issue, with the participation (of) Rep. Nancy Todd,
HD 41, and...five of our other state legislators, and
the committee was able to come up with compromise
language that garnered a very large majority of the
committee.
The language is a combination of the 2006
Platform (second sentence), and the plank passed by
Arapahoe County setting forth an overall commitment to
peace in the Middle East (first sentence). The words I
have underlined here were added/edited in at the
Saturday, April 26 meeting.
We are fundamentally committed to
using dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace between all the
peoples of the Middle East. We
strongly reconfirm support for Israel and for the
right to self determination for the Palestinians and we
look forward to joining with all parties to work towards
peace, based on respect for human rights.
We are finalizing the
platform as a whole this week to go out with the call
next week.
From Sonia Skakich-Scrima written
4/24/08 prior to The State Platform Committee Meeting 4/26--
An Open
Letter to Colorado Democratic Party Legislators and Elected
Officials Regarding
The
Colorado Democratic Party Platform: Democratic or Autocratic Process
?
The state platform is the
central medium for the expression of the hopes and concerns of the
grassroots membership of the Democratic Party of our state as a
whole. In over eight years, the persistent and unprecedented
unconstitutional behavior of the current U.S. Administration and its
failure to address the critical issues of our times (e.g. Global
Warming, economic issues, exit strategy, etc) have not been held
significantly in check by the Democrats. The Colorado Democratic
Party grassroots has therefore expressed numerous specific concerns
for inclusion in the party platform. Even if a Democrat wins the
Presidency, the grassroots is determined to ensure that all their
government and elected representatives are aware that there is a
very strong popular mandate to aggressively begin the large and
urgent task of restoring this country to a constitutional and
rational course for the common good.
All platform resolutions
submitted were subject to serious deliberations at the precinct and
county levels and are then subject to review by the state Platform
Committee's membership, which includes representatives elected to
this single task by their House District, as well as all Democratic
elected officials and legislators. The job of the committee is to
succinctly and adequately express the concerns (as expressed in
resolutions) of the Colorado Democratic Party membership. This
review process is an extraordinarily time-consuming task, but it
proceeded at a steady rate, under the admirable chairmanship of John
Walsh, until April 19th,.
On April 19th, the
3rd all-day session of the committee, however, our usual
process was derailed. John Walsh informed us that numerous letters
had been received from elected Democratic officials (from Congress:
Senator Salazar, Representatives Salazar, Udall, DeGette, and
Perlmutter; Governor Ritter and Treasurer Kennedy; from the CO
legislature: Senators Groff and Gordon, Representatives Judd,
Romanoff and Todd) – all solely on the issue of wording of
the Israel-Palestine issue, all calling for keeping to the
wording of the 2006 CO Dem Platform on this issue (which explicitly
states affirming strong support for Israel) and censoring additional resolutionsfrom the counties for 2008, (which explicitly call for more
even-handed support of both parties--2 states--in honestly brokering
a lasting peace). Some letters characterized anything but full and
single-sided support of Israel as “biased”, fringe/left
wing/minority/pro-Palestinian, and one letter consistently referred
to Israel as “she” (i.e., a female, in need of protection).
The committee voted to accept
these letters as their votes on the topic (even in the absence of
the legislators at the meeting and in absence of their responses to
the weekly e-reviews of the platform). However, we were told that
this was insufficient and that the legislators were determined that
their view should prevail. We were advised that we could either vote
entirely as they wished or the process of considering that agenda
topic would be postponed until a set time within the next all-day
committee meeting, the following Saturday, when the legislators
could appear briefly to assert their point of view (at 4 pm April 26th).
We were then admonished that the group present (30 members, all
elected committee members, with Representative
Terrance Carroll present about 45 mins )
did not constitute a quorum and that our vote on this issue could
therefore be nullified. Then we were then informed that the
entire work of the committee, the entire platform could be nullified
and withdrawn, with no platform submitted at the state convention,
if we refused to “be realistic” and fully concede when the time came
to vote on this issue. (On the basis of which rules or whose
authority or impetus was left unclear.)
The rank and file of Colorado
Democrats expressed themselves on the Israel-Palestine issue via
resolutions at the precinct caucuses and county
assemblies/conventions. They also elected individuals from each
House District to represent the platforms of their districts. It
is not at all acceptable, in the Democratic Party that is committed
to democratic principles as core values, for a small group (no
matter what their rank or status) to subvert agreed upon democratic
processes of the party, to attempt to unilaterally assert their
opinion while censoring a differing opinion held by the majority of
the party, and to undo the mandated work of a committee. If they
wish to highlight their point of view, the legislators and party
leadership can assert their differing point of view clearly in a
minority report (or state convention resolution called to a floor
vote).
While elected public
officials and/or party leadership are apparently attempting to avoid
the embarrassment of a divide on this issue between themselves and
the party rank and file, especially since Colorado is hosting the
National Convention, it would certainly be a greater embarrassment
to the Colorado Democratic Party if the party leadership pursues
these threats to subvert the democratic processes of the Platform
Committee and this were to come under the Colorado and national
spotlight. If democratic processes are subverted in the creation of
our platform, we will have not only literally but also figuratively
lost our party 'platform'.
If you were unaware of
these specific pressures to circumvent the democratic processes of
the state Platform Committee, please discuss this with other
Colorado Democratic legislators and elected public officials and
urge that such pressure tactics on the committee cease, to allow the
usual rules and democratic processes of the commmittee to move the
Platform to its completion. Thank you for your consideration of
this matter.
Sincerely,
Sonia Skakich-Scrima,
Arapahoe County House
District 41 Rep. for State Platform Committee
303-917-5160
Matt Bryant: Looking back on
Tuesday night’s (2/5/08) events, the word that comes to mind is
Amazing.
The number of
people who made the choice to be part of history in this pivotal
year astounded me. Whether those that attended supported Hillary
Clinton or Barrack Obama, all were in good spirits and I am happy to
say they all were patient as we worked through record-setting
numbers (1,109 voters) to proclaim our choices. I was proud to see
that there was no bickering or harsh words directed at supporters of
either candidate. In fact, in the conversations I heard supporters
of one candidate had nothing but kind words of encouragement for
supporters of the other.
My hope is that
this level of excitement, participation and awareness was not just a
flash in the pan. We will need this type of turnout in November to
make history and avoid another 4 years of trickle-down economics,
pro-war propaganda and blatant disregard for social reform in this
country. I plead with all those involved to let this be the
beginning of a new era in House District 40. It was easy to get
together with a large number of like-minded neighbors and choose
between the "better of two goods." The hard part will be talking to
neighbors who are until now uninvolved or still supporting GOP
ideals (Greed - Oppression - Poverty) and convincing them to get
involved. Not just involved in the presidential race but in the
other federal and local races as well. And not just in 2008 but
from here on out.
The only way to
return the government to the control of the people is if
overwhelming numbers stand up and refuse to let those who have
control continue to maintain it. The easy part is voting, the more
important and more difficult part is taking the time to know what is
being done in your name.
Thank you to all
who participated...in what may go down in history as the largest
caucus in HD 40 history (though I hope attendance is double next
time).
"Understanding the Thoughts Beyond the Words"
George Lakoff, author of Don't Think of an Elephant, was recently in Denver to discuss and sign his new book, The Political Mind. Lakoff is a linguistics professor at Berkeley, and although I think about politics approximately 24 hours a day, his book put things into a perspective that I had not previously considered and which I think is very helpful in understanding why Americans, who by and large favor education, health care and protecting the environment, vote for politicians who do not.
Here is what the publisher has to say about his new book:
“The Political Mind uses the science of the brain to explain why it is that so many Americans vote against their own interests. As it turns out, human beings are not the rational creatures we’ve so long imagined ourselves to be. Ideas, morals, and values do not exist somewhere outside the body, ready to be examined and put to use by a person or a society. Instead, they exist quite literally inside the brain-and they take physical shape there. For example, we form particular kinds of narratives in our minds just like we form specific muscle memories like typing or dancing, and then we fit new information into those narratives. Getting that information out of one narrative type and into another-or building a whole new narrative altogether-can be as hard as learning to foxtrot. Changing your mind isn’t like changing your body-it’s actually the exact same thing. But as long as progressive politicians and activists continue to believe that people use an objective system of reasoning to decide on their politics, the Democrats will continue to lose elections. Not only that, but they’ll continue to be wimps. They must wrest control of the terms of the debate from their opponents rather than agreeing to a basic frame and then trying to argue about its meaning. It’s the difference between Senator Jim Webb using Bush’s phrase, 'the war on terror' a few years ago and then switching in 2006 to the word 'occupation' and the contrast between what President Bush calls a 'surge' and what bloggers call an 'escalation of violence.' And it’s not just a question of vocabulary-it’s understanding the thoughts beyond the words.”
If we don't learn more than we currently know about communicating a message to voters, we will continue to watch, appalled, while the American people elect candidates who lead our country and the world to disaster.
John Walsh, Chairman of the State Platform Committee, in an email 4/28--
From Sonia Skakich-Scrima written 4/24/08 prior to The State Platform Committee Meeting 4/26--
An Open Letter to Colorado Democratic Party Legislators and Elected Officials Regarding
The Colorado Democratic Party Platform: Democratic or Autocratic Process ?
The state platform is the central medium for the expression of the hopes and concerns of the grassroots membership of the Democratic Party of our state as a whole. In over eight years, the persistent and unprecedented unconstitutional behavior of the current U.S. Administration and its failure to address the critical issues of our times (e.g. Global Warming, economic issues, exit strategy, etc) have not been held significantly in check by the Democrats. The Colorado Democratic Party grassroots has therefore expressed numerous specific concerns for inclusion in the party platform. Even if a Democrat wins the Presidency, the grassroots is determined to ensure that all their government and elected representatives are aware that there is a very strong popular mandate to aggressively begin the large and urgent task of restoring this country to a constitutional and rational course for the common good.
All platform resolutions submitted were subject to serious deliberations at the precinct and county levels and are then subject to review by the state Platform Committee's membership, which includes representatives elected to this single task by their House District, as well as all Democratic elected officials and legislators. The job of the committee is to succinctly and adequately express the concerns (as expressed in resolutions) of the Colorado Democratic Party membership. This review process is an extraordinarily time-consuming task, but it proceeded at a steady rate, under the admirable chairmanship of John Walsh, until April 19th,.
On April 19th, the 3rd all-day session of the committee, however, our usual process was derailed. John Walsh informed us that numerous letters had been received from elected Democratic officials (from Congress: Senator Salazar, Representatives Salazar, Udall, DeGette, and Perlmutter; Governor Ritter and Treasurer Kennedy; from the CO legislature: Senators Groff and Gordon, Representatives Judd, Romanoff and Todd) – all solely on the issue of wording of the Israel-Palestine issue, all calling for keeping to the wording of the 2006 CO Dem Platform on this issue (which explicitly states affirming strong support for Israel) and censoring additional resolutions from the counties for 2008, (which explicitly call for more even-handed support of both parties--2 states--in honestly brokering a lasting peace). Some letters characterized anything but full and single-sided support of Israel as “biased”, fringe/left wing/minority/pro-Palestinian, and one letter consistently referred to Israel as “she” (i.e., a female, in need of protection).
The committee voted to accept these letters as their votes on the topic (even in the absence of the legislators at the meeting and in absence of their responses to the weekly e-reviews of the platform). However, we were told that this was insufficient and that the legislators were determined that their view should prevail. We were advised that we could either vote entirely as they wished or the process of considering that agenda topic would be postponed until a set time within the next all-day committee meeting, the following Saturday, when the legislators could appear briefly to assert their point of view (at 4 pm April 26th). We were then admonished that the group present (30 members, all elected committee members, with Representative Terrance Carroll present about 45 mins ) did not constitute a quorum and that our vote on this issue could therefore be nullified. Then we were then informed that the entire work of the committee, the entire platform could be nullified and withdrawn, with no platform submitted at the state convention, if we refused to “be realistic” and fully concede when the time came to vote on this issue. (On the basis of which rules or whose authority or impetus was left unclear.)
The rank and file of Colorado Democrats expressed themselves on the Israel-Palestine issue via resolutions at the precinct caucuses and county assemblies/conventions. They also elected individuals from each House District to represent the platforms of their districts. It is not at all acceptable, in the Democratic Party that is committed to democratic principles as core values, for a small group (no matter what their rank or status) to subvert agreed upon democratic processes of the party, to attempt to unilaterally assert their opinion while censoring a differing opinion held by the majority of the party, and to undo the mandated work of a committee. If they wish to highlight their point of view, the legislators and party leadership can assert their differing point of view clearly in a minority report (or state convention resolution called to a floor vote).
While elected public officials and/or party leadership are apparently attempting to avoid the embarrassment of a divide on this issue between themselves and the party rank and file, especially since Colorado is hosting the National Convention, it would certainly be a greater embarrassment to the Colorado Democratic Party if the party leadership pursues these threats to subvert the democratic processes of the Platform Committee and this were to come under the Colorado and national spotlight. If democratic processes are subverted in the creation of our platform, we will have not only literally but also figuratively lost our party 'platform'.
If you were unaware of these specific pressures to circumvent the democratic processes of the state Platform Committee, please discuss this with other Colorado Democratic legislators and elected public officials and urge that such pressure tactics on the committee cease, to allow the usual rules and democratic processes of the commmittee to move the Platform to its completion. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Sonia Skakich-Scrima,
Arapahoe County House District 41 Rep. for State Platform Committee
303-917-5160
Matt Bryant: Looking back on Tuesday night’s (2/5/08) events, the word that comes to mind is Amazing.
The number of people who made the choice to be part of history in this pivotal year astounded me. Whether those that attended supported Hillary Clinton or Barrack Obama, all were in good spirits and I am happy to say they all were patient as we worked through record-setting numbers (1,109 voters) to proclaim our choices. I was proud to see that there was no bickering or harsh words directed at supporters of either candidate. In fact, in the conversations I heard supporters of one candidate had nothing but kind words of encouragement for supporters of the other.
My hope is that this level of excitement, participation and awareness was not just a flash in the pan. We will need this type of turnout in November to make history and avoid another 4 years of trickle-down economics, pro-war propaganda and blatant disregard for social reform in this country. I plead with all those involved to let this be the beginning of a new era in House District 40. It was easy to get together with a large number of like-minded neighbors and choose between the "better of two goods." The hard part will be talking to neighbors who are until now uninvolved or still supporting GOP ideals (Greed - Oppression - Poverty) and convincing them to get involved. Not just involved in the presidential race but in the other federal and local races as well. And not just in 2008 but from here on out.
The only way to return the government to the control of the people is if overwhelming numbers stand up and refuse to let those who have control continue to maintain it. The easy part is voting, the more important and more difficult part is taking the time to know what is being done in your name.
Thank you to all who participated...in what may go down in history as the largest caucus in HD 40 history (though I hope attendance is double next time).