More on liberalism, strategy, and faith in America

Jeanne has a pair of lengthy but interesting posts over at Body and Soul right now that muse about liberal values, the conservative dexterity at spin, and the need to change people's minds. I recommend the first one, at least.

Once we stop ranting about the unfairness, and the Orwellian distortion of language, some of us start asking ourselves how we get in on this game. Where's the money for our p.r. machine? How do we create the mechanism to make our mindless drivel as much a part of the common wisdom as theirs? How do we learn to do this propaganda thing?

Which is not an unreasonable reaction, but it's based on the disturbing -- and conservative -- notion that most people are so deeply stupid, or at least so uninterested in the world, that they can only be reached in the dishonest and patronizing ways conservatives have been reaching them.
. . .
I know that's the game conservatives play, and it has worked for them. But it won't work for us, because you can't save a democracy except by democratic means, and running a manipulative propaganda machine is profoundly anti-democratic.

Anything that encourages irrationality makes conservatism stronger.

Her definitions of conservative and progressive (and the lines between them) aren't those that you usually hear, and you may or may not agree with them, but this point about the "two can play at that game" approach resonates with me. I do think we need to change the way that many issues are discussed, but less by coming up with equally manipulative sound-bites and more by getting down to the basics where most of America actually agrees with the left -- making the real distinctions clear rather than drawing false cartoons, giving people the fodder for real informed choices. (Sounds like education, rather than sales; how radical!)

Her follow-up is here and amplifies some of these points, using talk radio as an example.

Liberalism depends upon people questioning authority and themselves, wondering if the the received wisdom is valid, looking for reasons for why things happen, acknowledging things that are painful to acknowledge. Asking talk radio to encourage that process is like asking people to browse for books in Best Buy. Thinking you can create progressive opinions without asking people to think uncomfortable thoughts -- the United States is sometimes the bad guy? -- is a fool's errand.
. . .
They don't need answers, they need places where they can find encouragement in the process of finding answers. And that, not propaganda, is the most important thing we need to offer them.

Whew, that's a much bigger assignment. But it sure feels like one that would not only benefit the recipients but allow the rest of us to retain our humanity. Please, yes.

(hat tip to rc3.org for reminding me to visit here)