Know The Other Side

You want to use the opponent in the title but that is just reactive. They aren't opponents. They are our fellow citizens. They in this case are Republicans. The problem is they look at anyone who doesn't think like they do as the opponent. The best way to conquer this attitude is to first know who or what you are up against.

The Republicans pay good money to a man named Frank Luntz who is an American political consultant, pollster, and Republican Party strategist.

Luntz's specialty is “testing language and finding words that will help his clients sell their product or turn public opinion on an issue or a candidate.”

You see Republicans like to play games with peoples minds. They will stop at nothing including using Psychology against you. But you can , as corny as it sounds, arm yourselves with knowledge. What Conservatism espouses is not what America is about and never has been. But you have a set of people out there willing to pull all the stops to garner your votes to keep them in power.

It wouldn't be too much of an issue except for the fact that Republicans have shown time after time they are in the pockets of the corporations and the ultra-wealthy. They use their words (see Frank Luntz) to make you think you can be like them. The problem is if you aren't rich already then you will never fit into their club. But they sure can use your votes so they offer you crumbs and make you think you can join.

Luckily there are people like George Lakoff who study people like Luntz and politics in general.

What has been learned from the brain and cognitive sciences is that words are defined by fixed frames we use in thinking, frames come in hierarchical systems, and political frames are defined in moral terms, where “morality” is very different for conservatives and progressives. What lies behind the Occupy movement is a moral view of democracy: Democracy is about citizens caring about each other and acting responsibly both socially and personally. This requires a robust public empowering and protecting everyone equally. Both private success and personal freedom depend on such a public. Every critique and proposal of the Occupy movement fits this moral view, which happens to be the progressive moral view.

 This is an article worth reading which will help you understand the mindset of Republicans and give you knowledge on how to combat their arguments when they start off on their selfish rants. Check out  "Words That Don’t Work" and then look at the rest of his site. Another article I like to suggest to people is from the Boston Globe called "How Facts Backfire" that may add some context to what Lakoff is saying.