George Lakoff, has been arguing for a few decades that human thought is inseparable from the use of metaphor. He has used the notion to develop upon the theory of frames so as to explain the way people are manipulated by politicians. One of the deepest pairs of frames is based on the "strict father" and the "nurturing parent" metaphors. The strict father controls the wife, administers family justice, punishment, encouragement to excel, individuality, standing on your own feet, doesn't accept weakness, rejects anything that promotes others to lean. You can see that in Republican rhetoric and thought, and heightened in the tea party. The nurturing parent is not gendered, but provides protecting to allow all to grow in safety, it is not hierarchical/patriarchal, everyone is part of society and so is to be equally treated, the sick, the poor, the old, the sexually diverse. You can hear Democratic noise in there. The strict father wants you to achieve and do well in business and those who fail are not worthy. Policies tend to reflect the values implied by these two basic metaphors. Nurturers will tend to be welfare minded and want to protect the earth and so are environmentally minded. Strict favors business achievement. They also favor traditional marriage without deviation. There is no middle ground. No moderate position. Those one might try to consider moderate are those whose views have a selection from both metaphors. You'll find hardline business oriented people with environmental and perhaps welfare centered views. But no middle position. Just lack of interest. It is among those whose positions holder specific positions that dictate they way they vote that usually the swing in elections. Politicians tap into these metaphors to try to manipulate voters and control the political narrative. If the subject of metaphors that govern our political thought interests you, check out this video talk by Lakoff as a starter.The thing that I'm wondering at the moment is about the presentation of the Judeo-Christian god-complex. We find god presented as a strict father at times, vengence is his, he will make the wicked suffer through plague, pestilence and war, you will need to find contrition, learn uprightness, suffer when necessary to be made a better person. The lovingkindness of the nurturing god is found in other parts of the biblical tradition. He protects his people, yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. He gives me what I need and I should have compassion toward my fellows. Blessed are the cheesemakers. What I wonder is which god the Republican knows and which the Democrats know. They've heard both sides of the narrative. Does god reflect your moral politics?
