Tim Cavanaugh | August 27, 2008
Some say frame master George Lakoff is fading as a Democratic seer, but Harry Reid's speech suggests the U.C. Berkeley is still guiding the Dems.
Harry Reid: "At best [more oil] is an 18th century answer to a 21st century crisis; at worst it's pure baloney."
Title of Lakoff's current book: The Political Mind: Why You Can't Understand 21st-Century American Politics With an 18th-Century Brain.
Help Reason celebrate its next 40 years. Donate Now!
Try Reason's award-winning print edition today! Your first issue is FREE if you are not completely satisfied.
Hah.
You could understand 21st century politics with a 2nd century
brain. Read Tacitus, instead of this twit.
Alas, George is actually a friend of mine (we're both linguists)
and he's actually right about a lot of stuff in linguistics, but
he's never considered the possibility that there are alternative
metaphors besides gov't as father and gov't as mother. Such as
gov't as cop or thug on the street (both libertarian guiding
metaphors). Some day I've promised myself, after I retire, that
I'll work out the whole set of fundamental metaphors that
libertarians use when they think about government and
politics.
The NYT had an article a couple of months ago about why George was
washed up, but I guess they were a little premature.
The Democratic Party, the party of science (as one
conventioneer called it). Hydrocarbons are useful because of their
chemical composition and that wont change whether it is 1800, 1900,
0r 2200.
The party of science that every four years attempts to
pass off its candidate as a possessor of magical powers.
BTW, how did this man-gina get elected in Nevada of all places?
Did they even DRILL for oil in the 18th century?
I thought they hunted whales for the oil in their foreheads or
something.
Site comments/questions:
Media Inquiries and Reprint Permissions:
(310) 367-6109
Editorial & Production Offices:
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245