Winning the argument

Liberals know they're right (or else, why be liberals?). But sometimes whe have a hard time backing it up, especially in the face of the conservatives' 30 year advantage in message crafting tight messages.

Fortunately, we're making progress. New think tanks like the Center for American Progress and the Rockridge Institute are helping progressives find the facts and frame the arguments to win debates.

Still, CAP's reports and books like Moral Politics are a bit weighty for most people and don't offer practical help for winning an argument with a co-worker or crafting a tight letter to the editor.

That's why Winning Argument, a new blog from some CAP fellows (but unrelated to the Center) is now on my must read list, and should be on yours, too. In a clear, concise fashion Winning Argument presents facts that help you win. Recently, they've covered the absurd "flypaper theory", why the flat tax is a bad idea, and why Social Security should not be privitized.

I'm also excited by George Lakoff's new book Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate (read a sample chapter). I haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet, but it's billed as a guide to framing arguments for progressives -- just what the doctor ordered.