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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
 Posted - 07/21/2008 : 19:48:55
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Originally posted by H. Humbert over here
(Consider the Overton window moved.) |
Reading the above, it occured to me that some fun could be had with the Overton Window concept. So take a few minutes and compose a window-shifting statement for the fictional (or non-fictional, but preferrably dead) being of your choice, something that might appear in a speech designed to get their real views more accepted, for humorous effect. For example,I must take a stand for the Irish and the environmentalists. I must take a stand for the envious. I must take a stand on behalf of the nauseated. No longer will they be derided as drunks, hippies, jealous and sick. I and my PAC will lobby Congress incessantly to pass legislation outlawing 90% of the visible spectrum. And I will not stop until this whole country is painted chartreuse, emerald, jade and lime.
- Kermit T. Frog |
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- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2008 : 05:02:01 [Permalink]
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I've never heard the term, "Overton Windows," but I'm familiar with the concept. It may well be that the craziness of things said and written by people like Ann Coulter are deliberate attempts to move the goal-posts in this manner for the NeoCons. Or maybe she's just crazy, but useful to the Bushies.
On the other hand, I've noticed, and sometimes mentioned, the flip side of the Overton Windows: The NeoCons seem to preferentially love to attack their moderate opposition, rather than those further to the left.
This deals with the other end of the spectrum, in defining moderates as radicals. (Witness how the word, "liberal" has been so demonized that few progressive American politicians dare identify themselves as such. NeoCons also love to attack "secularism" -- a foundation stone of our Constitution -- and try to redefine it as the equivalent of official Soviet Communist Party atheism.)
With such attacks on moderates, together with the Overton Windows technique, we have seen the whole spectrum of "acceptable" American politics shifted two notches toward the right since the time of Ronald Reagan. Pretty smart, while it worked.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 07/22/2008 05:05:37 |
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Overton Windows
