In Conversation: George Lakoff | Robert Reich

Robert Reich interviews George Lakoff on politics, language, and linguistics.
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[@greatedges]

Bernie Sanders has exactly the qualities George Lakoff talks about. Dems might be wise to understand why Bernie's voice was, and remains, so inspiring.

[@tristampratorius4709]

Please, for the love of god, hire Lakoff as a Democratic consultant. The current party isn't going to go anywhere unless we start to frame things correctly and change the debate.

[@ssmith2019]

Great Conversation gentlemen ! Much thanks !

[@eolle43]

Excellent interview. I think that Lakeoff's book "Don't Think of an Elephant" was one that clearly showed how powerful language and framing can be in arguments (or even being heard). Lakeoff once again does a great job quickly explaining non-violent communication similar to Marshall Rosenberg and basic human needs/Hunan scale development by Max-Neef.

[@I.AM.WALKER.]

One of my favorite channels. Great work and thanks

[@hfwilkesjr]

Thank you for a very enlightening conversation, I’m going to watch this a few times to absorb as much as I can.

[@tristampratorius4709]

George Lakoff is awesome. I'm glad you brought him on.

[@tonerduckpin]

Another great video Mr. Reich!

[@ChannelMath]

Lakoff's thesis gets sharper each year!

[@taraaliyeva1813]

Democrats should be talking about the freedom on internet as of NET NEUTRALITY!

[@productivediscord5624]

Wow, after accurately describing my thoughts of my own process and paralleling some of my internal worries of the communication divide, I'm buying George's book.

[@eelya1]

These videos are brilliant ... all of my like- minded friends need to SHARE them on their FB pages... i plan to watch EVERY video [and hit the 'like' button], post at least one each day on my FB page and i've sent a $500 donation … we to circulate these videos far and wide :)

[@dnnsmtchll]

this is a must see thankk you dr reich i have shared every where

[@masonainsworth]

Excellent video as the start of a conversation. Also, I believe it would be a real benefit for tacking on a quick summary of the key ideas. It will likely take me more than 2-3x through this video to actually extract Lakoff's main points fitting within the Frames, Narratives, Metaphors, and Emotions.

[@masonainsworth]

@Matthew Morycinski I agree . . . that is how I knew this interview only scratched the surface. I've enjoyed watching several of his lectures.

[@RadicalShiba1917]

His speech on Moral Politics on UCTV does a really good job of condensing his core ideas into just an hour, highly recommended!

[@lumpy0100]

Thanks Robert Reich.☺ Thanks George.☺

[@richardcontreras3230]

You have the best guests, Mr. Robert Reich. Thank You!

[@lightbox617]

Thank you, Mr. Reich, for introducing me to Mr. Lakoff. I was under the impression that the polls in 2016 were pretty much ok in that 3 million votes went to Clinton but did not affect the Electoral college count.

[@robertridley9279]

He's been talking about this for decades and Democrats still haven't listened.

[@ridethecurve55]

To the GOP, politics is only about one thing: Winning. Doesn't matter how (i.e., amorality-based).

[@UpperCaseX]

U can say that about every politician

[@stephenyount3148]

And the Democratic party isn't only about power? You're pretty gullible.

[@DavidAdkins78]

Reich is all about inequality, but the Census Bureau just proved that rising inequality is a myth. We reached a new record high median household income, adjusted for inflation. www.cnbc.com/2018/09/12/median-household-income-climbs-to-new-high-of-61372.html

[@markgigiel2722]

Median.

[@robertridley9279]

@@DavidAdkins78 you might not know what "median" means, it just means that half the people make more and half the people make less. It tells you nothing about how many people are clustered around the median, nor does it tell you how far out the maximum incomes are, or how far down the minimum incomes are. If I take 2 people, and one of them makes $0 a year and the other makes $1M a year, the median income is $500K a year, so median income tells you nothing about income inequality. What you really want to know is what the range of incomes are.

[@cozycomfy589]

Lakoff should be hired by the Democrats as a consultant. They are same old same old is not working and they will lose again in 2020 if they don't get their act together

[@echopractic]

Lakoff started a think tank a few years ago. It went out of business. Same old same old in (in)action.

[@debraswank2325]

I first became aware of Lakoff's work during the 2000 election cycle. I think he was consulting with the Dems then, but am not certain.

[@antoniocalhau4711]

Thanks a lot Robert Reich for this "essential Geoge Lakoff"!

[@VarolOkan]

Very interesting and well presented. Despite the many nay Sayer below, it runs true to me. I have a few friends who are trumpists and I do not know how to get my point through to them because the response usually starts with very loud Yes but Obama .... Which is quite eloquently explained in this video as to why the hate filled response. Thank you

[@UpperCaseX]

One side is emotions and one side is logic. Just like George said at the end. You probably presented some idea that counters logic (or is hypocritical of Obama's policies)

[@VarolOkan]

His reply involved alternative facts which he received from the propaganda machine of Fox News. I believe in facts more than in words and once I hear someone tell me a lie I have a hard time believing them again. At the end of the day I don't want to be ruled by a King-like figure and be forced to follow christianities theocracies like the earth is 6000 years old. I want to be part of a free society with rule of law and the knowledge that no one is above the law. Working checks and balances. I want a better future for my kids, and I want to leave this planet knowing it will support human life on the earth's surface. Now troll away.

[@UpperCaseX]

@@VarolOkan ha.. well theres nuts on both sides. just dont bring up politics. thats how you lose friends

[@UpperCaseX]

just curious, do you remember the conversation?

[@danschuldanschul1750]

Mr. Reich, could you present this material differently? I didn't understand it but would like to. Perhaps if you used your usual short, pithy format where you use cartoons to illustrate your point. In the case of this video, perhaps if you loaded it up with illustrative examples, presented simply, such as: "Don't do this" "Do this instead". I (and maybe others) need a super simple video. Thanks!

[@agnosticarab8964]

Why not introduce a new political party? The US don’t look much like a democracy with only two parties that get funding from the same corporations? I thought Americans were known for their ability to think outside the box and find new paths.

[@charliechaplin7959]

Agnosticarab Who told you Americans were known for that? We are known for being myopic, greedy idiots but not much else.

[@agnosticarab8964]

Charlie Chaplin I did graduate studies in the US. What a difference! In Canada , there was always lack of funding. My field had a miserable shelve at the library with old/outdated books and the professors were very condescending and resistance to challenge. In the us, my field had a separate 4floors library BUILDING with the most recent research paper and books from every single country around the world. The professors encouraged me to challenge my education and to think outside the box. THAT’s what makes America Great. I unfortunately left because at the time I got treated as a second class citizen because of my place of birth. So I returned to Canada.

[@charliechaplin7959]

Agnosticarab Consider yourself lucky you were educated in Canada and not a poor region of the usa...you wouldn't have gone to college at all under those circumstances. I'm glad you had a nice program at school but that has no impact on my assertion that this is a nation of nitwits. It's almost amusing watching uneducated Americans attempt to oversee a representative government. .almost.

[@antoniocalhau4711]

Look at the rest of the world!?... More parties would bring more noise to the system, they would all cover over each other. Two parties is less expensive and more effective!

[@antoniocalhau4711]

Great testimony! I had an American GF, for over 20 years, we both lived in Portugal, and I am Portuguese, she died, now I am back in Portugal, should I resent that!?... I miss her! I am not even talking of the time I spent in the USA alone... I understand what you say about the unis in the USA, they are thorough, holistic, not like in most places around the world, only a ticket to ride... At my uni in California, they had several libraries, several floors, the science library was 7 floors, with computers all over, both Macs, and PCs, the floors were so long people skated in there to go from one side to the other. You know that I am not kidding! Hang in there bro, Canada is not that bad afterall! 😉

[@matthewfredrickmfkrz1934]

They should say something about the federal reserve

[@UpperCaseX]

What should politicians say in miderms? whatever their writers think will get them most votes

[@AllThat-Is]

Voting for the wrong policies and higher taxes could send the majority to the poorhouse!

[@charliechaplin7959]

mperies history says otherwise. The American middle class grew at record rates when the top income earners faced a 91% tax rate. Over the last few decades tax rates on top.earners have plummeted and the middle class is struggling horribly.

[@stargazer7512]

I need to get this guys book. I need to understand how to wander around my small rural town and reconcile that I like these people- they are nice, caring people, but gosh they are gullible and confused....brainwashed by everything on a few social media sites and paranoid about the government.

[@NoraGermain]

I believe the word you're looking for is called PATRIARCHY

[@CyberiusT]

I want to see this guy chatting to Ben Shapiro. Somebody's head is going to explode, I'm sure.

[@rickraymo1319]

For the good of all. For the good of all. For the good of all. (Redundancy is good).

[@rickraymo1319]

Of, by, and for is not so very difficult. The Bill of Rights is something that should be regularly promulgated.

[@perusingposts2557]

"Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says "the LORD" [Isaiah 54:1]

[@helenpatterson3858]

OMG.... Goldwater was the base Trump ism was built upon ? But he didn't treat the Indians poorly here in Arizona. I was only 13 years old in 64 with my own interests, I probably missed a lot. He seemed like a nice old man before he died. I do remember he was very angry in 64 about Congress " borrowing" from Social Security. I like this guy's approach. He is a wise man. I'm going to replay this post till I feel I can actually relate this thinking to another human being.

[@UpperCaseX]

Thats not what he meant. he was talking about the 40/40/20 rule. 40% always vote democrat, 40% always republican, and 20% jumps sides. goldwater had 37% (about 40).. Thats the base he talked about

[@armandhammer2235]

These two would sit back at the camp talking to the weak and lazy. They would say, when they come back with food, we can take the food from them if we all band together.

[@charliechaplin7959]

Armandhammer and you would let your neighbor starve while your excess meat rots in the backyard. Ask the French nobility how that worked out.

[@armandhammer2235]

@@charliechaplin7959 why is my neighbor starving?

[@charliechaplin7959]

Armandhammer Do you really care why?

[@armandhammer2235]

@@charliechaplin7959 in real life? Yeah, kinda wonder why my neighbor is starving and I'm not.

[@charliechaplin7959]

Armandhammer There could be many reasons.....laziness, stupidity, a disability of some kind or old age. That is an incomplete list. Can you think of some reasons?

[@thorkrynu4551]

I find this idea interesting however the current Republicans especially Trump are so childish yet manage to use the brand nonetheless. Trump is not much of a man in a traditional sense. He mostly appealed to simplicity in an information overload age. Enlightenment thinking is not false that's how we got neuroscience lol but we live in an postmodernist age Trump being the unwitting leader. Great interview though!

[@dknippify]

Lakoff is great. Here is the link to his podcast: soundcloud.com/user-253479697

[@daddyaf945]

Another useless democratic consultant who doesn’t get it. No corporate money! How difficult is that? Also stop alluding to republican morality. Sacrificing your individuality and obedience to authority is not morality, it’s conformity. A reasonable sounding educator pushing convoluted garbage.

[@UpperCaseX]

Its immoral not to vote democrat! haha.. the old saying goes, "young and stupid vote democrat, elder and immoral go republican" Its funny, George keeps calling democrats stupid while robert calls republicans immoral

[@daddyaf945]

+i The saying is “Not all republicans are stupid, but all stupid people are republicans”.

[@UpperCaseX]

Pretty sure you made that up, but still funny. Im quoting actual saying i think its actually, young & stupid /old & heartless

[@TitanAnteus]

George Lakoff's answer to the question at 2:45 made me lose respect for him.

[@soggymarshmallow]

So Republicans want to vote for an identity? Why? Who votes to be part of a club? Don't we vote for those we think will best represent our interests rather than echoing our identity?

[@stargazer7512]

I wish they / we did, but so many people are kind of stuck in that immature or high school way of thinking. People felt a bond with Trump because they watched him on several TV shows. And they are busy people out here in rural America that don't like reading philosophy books. I can tell you as of today, there are still at least 6 or 7 signs up in town that say EF Biden, and go Trump/Pence. This is a town of 1K and they still feel comfortable having these signs up almost a year after an election. Almost the whole town has the strict father thing going on. There are a lot of Amish and such and these are disciplined communities that don't promote education. When George talks about the caring people in the community he is so right...they are nice, but they are so confused about what a democracy is. So we have a big divide. Help!

[@perusingposts2557]

"God" has "blessed" the United States of America, and none us (in the US or the majority of the world) can escape that god's government and its "people" except through death's door. [Ecclesiastes 4]

[@UpperCaseX]

Strict Father vs Soy Boy Discussion

[@UpperCaseX]

So republican is strict father, and Democrat is not because many dont know their father? ha ha ha .. great interview

[@brigittescott7826]

Eg implicit bias

[@sarahlongstaff5101]

98% of thought is unconscious-for neurotypicals. For the average person-but not for the outliers. How many of these neurological studies included autistic and other neurodivergent people as subjects? What kinds of brains participated in these studies? Prof. Lakoff-have you considered that the studies you rely on were not random? Autistic people tend to value-note the word-logic, consent, anti-coercion, anti-hierarchy. These are values-progressive values. Autism is also a neurological difference. This IS our brain wiring. And studies have shown that we do process way more data consciously than neurotypical people do. Perhaps you should consider instead how autistic your study subjects are-or aren’t-before making your assumptions. I understand why you advocate using your suggestions to reach out to biconceptuals, but please don’t attribute neurotypicality to all humans. You’ve only studied the Norm, the average, the majority. Yes, that would help win elections. But disregarding what you refer to as enlightenment thinking as “wrong” or not based on values fails to grasp the full picture.

[@joyg2526]

George Lakoff doesn't believe that money influences politics...After that I stopped watching. Maybe Chomsky was busy and Lakoff was the only linguist / philosopher available to come in.

[@UpperCaseX]

Im sure he does, but he chooses his words very carefully

[@I.AM.WALKER.]

Get money out of politics. #wolfpack

[@john-lenin]

So you finally figured out that the Patriarchy is Fascist?

[@armandhammer2235]

Define Facism in your words, please.

[@armandhammer2235]

So every Democrat is good and every Republican is bad. Talk about calling evil good.