What can progressive leaders learn from the rhetorical tricks of the radical right?
"Sex education in schools is a Marxist plot to destroy the traditional family", "illegal immigrants are poisoning the blood of our nation", the language of the radical right is becoming increasingly extreme. Often rhetorically cleverly packaged; they create a furor among many with it.
Some of their bag of tricks:
1) The past is sacred
2) The drama triangle (villain - victim - helper)
3) A metaphor says more than a thousand arguments
4) The higher your stakes, the more you get
5) It's about the destination, not the journey
Progressive leaders could learn a thing or two from this. And commit to a more hopeful message. So that they can cut that sharp right turn smarter.
David van der Meulen wrote an opinion piece about it in the Volkskrant.