Lakoffs Analysis of the Language and Moral Assumptions of Liberals and Conservatives - Essay Example

Lakoff’s analysis In the article "One Bad and Eight Good Reasons to Cut Taxes" by David Boaz there is reason enough to believe taxes cut equals more growth in the economy. The article’s emphasis is on the tax reduction to enable the people of the country to have more money in their hands. When the government insists on raising taxes people tend to shy away from investment due to taxes imposed on them. A sovereign nation is wise to note that money is a matter brought by the people earning it. Moreover, it is reason enough to cut taxes in order to realize that prosperity does not just come about but has to be created. Boaz argues that the nation may be liberal towards giving a portion of their income but would not give the government total control of the money to use as it sees fit. Therefore, it is right to support Lakoff’s analysis of the language of liberals and conservatives on issues and ideology. “Moral Politics” by Lakoff goes out to show the language the politicians use in their different sides of thought towards the public. In this book, Lakoff analyses the unconscious and rhetorical observations of liberals and the conservatives. He asserts that there is a radical but a consistent difference between the liberals and the conservative’s origins of morality. His main agenda is to formulate a model that not only clarifies why the liberals and conservatives take the positions they do but to also join the collections of liberal and conservative political stands in public eyes. He argues that the nation is a family and liberals present a different model of the family view compared to the conservatives. The liberals present a nurturing parent (NP) while the conservatives take the assumption of a strict father model (SF). Together encompass decent principals nevertheless; they differ in the most important priorities making them drastically conflicting. With these morals, Lakoff agues out his models to decipher the moral construction inside the language of politics and strategy. In the article “One Bad and Eight Good Reasons to Cut Taxes” Boaz uses the patterns Lakoff analyses in his metaphorical models giving the opposite priorities in terms of tax cut at the time of Bush government. The individuals backing lofty taxes were opposed the proposition to cut taxes based on the less difference it can make on the economy. This made them hold on the high taxes the government is conducting. In Boaz’s arguments, he asserts that the people who earn money possess it and giving the government the sole control is not wise. This is a liberal acclamation in that the family members can make a decision on the family function as opposed to the strict father who will impose strict orders in the family set up. Through the proposition of cutting taxes Lakoff’s analysis of an NP model giving the members a better angle to present their views. Lakoff affirms that people appreciate the fact that they are part of what is going on rather thinking of solutions themselves. This is a result of the fact that the society does not know what it really believes and desires to be informed of the thoughts. Boaz article is a good example of a suggestion that the government could consider. During the Bush administration, there was the strict father model and that encompasses the decisions he made without consultation like the invasion of Iraq. This provides the hypothesis that the father is the sole decision maker consequently punishing the children who wrong. Programs given to the public get scrutiny and views as things that citizens get without earning them. This makes the public assume that the government is liable for their needs making them immoral. Bush administration suggests the cut in taxes to have the people have more money in order to reduce social programs but this does not necessarily mean the stoppage of military activities. Consequently, the public is hooked to Bush ideals since they associate with the strict father model. The liberal counter to this assumption is that the government is a weak manager of funds as compared to the private sector. Money in the hands of the private sector is capable to help the people better than that in the government. This is evident due to the thought out investment program for the risk of putting their money in jeopardy. The republican base is tied to Bush since it is organized. Evidence shows when Bush raised taxes he lost the election. This proves the conservative model of following a common tradition unlike the liberals having to involve the public in the decisions they make. The conservatives have a common stand from time back and that dictates the way they vote. In the liberal context, the ideal government is responsible for its deed and at the same time responsibility of the people involved in the sustainability of the administration. This will create a moral and fulfilled country that is satisfied entirely. In the article Boaz stresses the congress would exhaust the money in the projects since every group needs something maybe a resource center or a road. Hence, the tax cut will ensure the congress has little to spend by letting the payee of the tax maintain the money. It is evident that Lakoff’s patterns. Democracy employs sympathy as an entity in their endeavors. They simply have both their own responsibility and the social well being and how the choices politicians make can make would affect the people in general. The conservatives for a long time have shaped the societal dissertation using highly structured contact systems. Use of tax relief as a phrase makes the tax a burden that needs liberation. These gunners’ points for the audience feels partly catered to and considered. According to Lakoff, the way one phrases statements matters and how the public will react to the statements put across will greatly rely on the structure of the expression. Since politicians make politics a self-interest they can never give reasons why the poor people will support programs that enrich the richest 1%. Frequently will they voice out that the 1% is benefiting without their plights being heard but the truth is people vote their identity. If a candidate is the ideal identity of the people, they will identify with that. However, the liberal way of handling issues is an elective. They market their ideas and sell it to their followers. This is the assumptions made out by the liberals. This means the liberals push their agendas through sympathy. Conclusion The article follows Lakoff’s language analysis in the method Boaz has structured his reasons. Partly conservative and liberal his agenda is straight to the point on how the administration would adapt ways to handle tax cuts. His reasons touch both the liberals and conservatives equally and form a neutral angle to handle issues. It supports the analysis why conservatives act the way they do concerning how they handle issues. It is reasonable to assume that the two models of languages consider different things as crucial in many perspectives. What is important for the liberals is not for the conservatives defining their stands. Boaz reasons clarify the fact that every individual is liberal and conservative in different issues. Work cited David Boaz. "One Bad and Eight Good Reasons to Cut Taxes." Cato Institute. N.p., 28 Feb. 2001. Web. 09 June 2013. . Read More