Emotion rules the brain's decisions

[serryjw]

Something that we figured out in the last 6 years. FEAR,FEAR, FEAR has been the motivator for the decisions of millions of Americans. We get frustrated because we share so much info with people that still don't get it.
I was having lunch, while petitioning, at a pizzeria that I talked to the owner before. He identified himself as a uninvolved republican( they are all liars) and I asked WHY? He said 9of course) that they acre more about lowering my taxes. NOW, we know this is not true, but how many small business owners believe this?
quote...
The evidence has been piling up throughout history, and now neuroscientists have proved it's true: The brain's wiring emphatically relies on emotion over intellect in decision-making.
A brain-imaging study reported in the current Science examines "framing," a hot topic among psychologists, economists and political hucksters.


end quote.......
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2006-08-06-brain-study_x.htm

[bananas]

1. Feels right to me. nt

[Avalux]

2. It's not universal though.

There are those, I believe, who are more susceptible to framing than others, reason be damned when those emotional buttons are pushed. Commercials have always been designed to prompt impulse buying- it isn't anything new. Then there are others who have the ability to be aware of emotional cues, but can also look at the big picture and rationally make decisions. I'd like to think most of us here fall in the latter category.

[serryjw]

3. Maybe so but

we are the minority. ONLY 35% of Americans think * had something to do with 9-11 and how many still believe Saddam was involved with 9-11 after all the evidence to the contrary?

[Avalux]

5. Unfortunately, we are the minority.

And we're fighting an uphill battle when the media accepts the government's lies and helps push them. x(

[Fredda Weinberg]

4. We *don't* share the same interests

A small business owner could reasonably differ with us on the minimum wage issue - even if his pizzeria is exempt, competition should raise his labor cost. He might imagine himself successful enough to want to leave a family business intact to his heirs, even if society would be better off with the revenue stream.

This doesn't make him morally inferior or even wrong ... it does leave an opportunity for a Democratic candidate to address his concerns directly and demonstrate leadership. I haven't seen that lately.

[unblock]

6. banana republicans also appeal to small portions of the big picture

they convince the pizzeria owner that a hike in the minimum wage sucks for him because his costs will go up.
they convince the pizzeria owner that a tax break for him would be good because he can calculate that he'll save $x, assuming business stays the same.

but of course, business DOESN'T stay the same, and if EVERYONE's minimum wage goes up, then more people can afford pizzas more often, and if the tax break the pizzeria guy got was paid for by hiking everyone else's sales tax, gas prices, interest rates, whatever, then he'll get LESS money because business will sour.

but of course, the banana republican pizzeria owner would never be able to connect those dots. anytime business increases, the business owner will be convinced that he did it himself, with his brilliant advertising of his great menu change or whatever. it couldn't possibly be to federal wage policy. and if business sucks because his customers are going broke, he never in a million years would think that his own tax break might be to blame. in fact, he'd thank the banana republicans all the more, because that tax break would appear to help him weather the storm -- that might well have been caused by the tax break in the first place!

[serryjw]

8. Thanks, couldn't have said it better

n/t

I think $6.50 for two slices and a coke is expensive?

[enlightenment]

7. Pascal had it right --

Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.

[Tigermoose]

9. George Lackoff and "embodied mind" research.

George Lackoff is an academic progressive that researches Cognitive linguistics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lakoff

Lakoff and cognitive linguistics shows that metaphoric language is largely unconscious and frames the way people interpret sensory data. His "Moral Politics" shows the moral frameworks of progressives and conservatives. Basically, conservatives tend to extend a family metaphor of the strict father into government, whereas progressives tend to extend a family metaphor of the nurturant parent. It is a fascinating read.

I have his book on the embodied mind and its challenge to Western thought on the way from Amazon as I type this. I can't wait!

Also, George Lackoff has written a book to help progressives understand how to frame issues from a progressive worldview to counter conservative frameworks.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931498717/104-6862076-4373511?v=glance&n=283155

Lackoff shows us that conservatives aren't always ignorant, but different. But that doesn't give their worldview merit, but instead shows us just how dangerous they really are.

[serryjw]

10. I knew his name sounded familiar

Since Rove came on the spotlight, I have been fascinated with linguistics. I added the book to my Amazon favorites...thanks for recommendation