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The Political Mind: A Cognitive Scientist’s Guide to Your Brain and Its Politics
>> Click here to make a pledge. As President Obama continues to push for reform of the nation’s health care system, right-wing resistance has encapsulated itself in emotionally charged, yet simple phrases. “Death panels,” “socialism,” and “government takeover,” are immediately recognizable and updated additions to today’s lexicon of conservatism. Obama, in his address on health care to a joint session of Congress earlier this month, tried to reason away such words as obfuscations in the debate calling notions of ‘death panels’ plain and simple lies. However, in his attempts to garner support for his reforms, is the President failing to communicate? George Lakoff, linguist, cognitive scientist, and author of several books on the subject of politics and language believes so. Whereas the right has been able to present their objections in effective frames, easily recognizable to their base, Lakoff asserts that the Obama administration has committed the errors of “policy speak,” in presenting his plans for reforming health care. In analyzing the language, Lakoff asserts that the lack of a unifying idea at the expense of “policy lists” has muddied the debate. The one term the administration has to its credit, “public option,” is too boring and uninspiring. In his latest book, Lakoff lays out his thesis of the how the right wins and keeps power by framing issues effectively and controlling minds. Just out in paperback, the book is titled, “The Political Mind: A Cognitive Scientist’s Guide to Your Brain and Its Politics.” Employing the latest research in neuroscience, Lakoff argues that appeals to dispassionate rationalism, facts, and logic in political arguments in this day and age is a serious misstep.

American CasinoWhen the housing bubble began to burst in 2006, thousands of poor people, particularly people of color started losing their homes as interest rates on sub-prime loans skyrocketed. With the economic recession and growing unemployment, the stream of foreclosures continues. Through George Lakoff’s understanding of politics, the right-wing response to the housing crisis was predictably to blame the people who lost their homes for signing bad mortgage contracts. During last year’s election campaign, Senator John McCain who owns a plethora of homes across the country, used the word ‘irresponsible’ in describing such folks. A new documentary directed by Leslie Cockburn and produced by Andrew and Leslie Cockburn, called American Casino, details who is really responsible for the sub-prime mortgage crisis, who is suffering, and what’s at stake. Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said, “If you want to understand how the US financial system failed and how mortgage companies ripped off the poor, see this film.”

GUESTS: Leslie and Andrew Cockburn, co-producers of American Casino, Leslie is also the Director of the film

AMERICAN CASINO is playing at the Laemmle Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly HIlls, CA 90211

For more info on the movie, visit www.americancasinothemovie.com

Call 818-985-5735 to pledge for the following thank you gifts:

The Political Mind – A Speech by George Lakoff – DVD – $100
The Political Mind – paperback book by George Lakoff – $85
The Political Mind Pack – book, DVD, and a pair of tickets to see American Casino – $200 (limited to 25, credit card only)