HOW TO DEFEAT RADICAL RIGHT-WING DOUBLESPEAK WITH COMMON SENSE LANGUAGE
Here are a number expressions that Republican pollster/consultant Frank Luntz has advised the GOP to adopt as part of their deceptive pattern of preying on the weaknesses of the average American's grasp of issues. Inspired by the writings of George Lakoff, we decipher for you what each one of thes "code words" really means, along with a"spinback" response you can use when confronted with these misleading and condescending terms. For other methods of decoding Luntzspeak, visit Luntzspeak.. Also, here's a PBS interview with Luntz:
DOUBLESPEAK: "A
Level Playing Field"
The rich deserve to be rich, and the poor deserve to be poor. If you're
poor accept your fate and vote for us anyhow.
Spinback: Pampering the Rich
DOUBLESPEAK: "Compete
& Win"
Cooperation is not an option--except as a ploy for winning.
Spinback: Tired Old Business Strategy
DOUBLESPEAK: "Trade
Enforcement"
Preserve the status quo and don't question the huge, growing imbalance
in the U.S. trade deficit.
Spinback: Bankrupting the Future
DOUBLESPEAK: "Fighting
for the American Worker"
Fighting for the rights of CEOs to make American workers obsolete.
Spinback. Abandoning the Middle Class
DOUBLESPEAK: "A
Balanced, Common Sense Approach"
The environment is yours to destroy. Don't let details like clean air
to breath, clean water and future generations get in your way.
Spinback. Dangerous Rollbacks
DOUBLESPEAK: "Tax
Fairness"
Keep the status quo, where corporations pay almost nothing in taxes, the
rich get huge estate tax breaks, and the middle class get socked.
Spinback. Tax Breaks for Millionaires
DOUBLESPEAK: "Tax
Simplification"
Let's make it even easier for huge corporations to pay less taxes.
Spinback. More Corporate Welfare
DOUBLESPEAK: "Simplify
and Streamline Regulations"
Gut Environmental Protections that affect your health and safety.
Spinback. Gut Consumer Protections
DOUBLESPEAK: "Lawsuit
Abuse Reform"
Let's make it harder for you to sue corporations that cause you or your family
members to become sick or disabled.
Spinback. Weaken the Rights of Citizens
DOUBLESPEAK: "Energy
Independence, Diversity and Self Sufficiency"
Let us drill in wild areas, resume nuclear plant production, and blow the
tops off of mountains looking for coal.
Spinback. Backward-Looking Energy Scheme
DOUBLESPEAK: "Real
World Solutions to Real World Problems"
Pure rhetoric. Simply using the phrase "real world" is meant to
add legitimacy and a "folksy" slant to the politics.
Spinback. Stalling Tactics or "That's
what you say when you run out of ideas."
SOURCE: Liberty News (www.libertynewstv.com)
