A Proper Perspective
Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs
One of the most annoying blindspots of the White House is the belief that if you make a good faith effort to reach out to the other side, common ground can be found and a compromise can be reached. This desire for a “win-win” solution is unrealistic and shows an amazing lack of understanding about Republicans.
The diagram represents a reality in groups. Any individual may be at variance with the model, and some who were have received honors and medals, but in general the model explains the behavior of a majority of people.
The bottom layer is essentially air, water, and food – basic essentials of life. For those that haven’t been paying attention: Republicans operate on the second level, Safety, with their warnings of explosives in every Reebok and anthrax in every envelope. Resorting to fear to shake the feeling of safety and claiming to be the only answer is a very effective plan, and people will respond.
The American Taliban use Safety, Belonging, and Esteem. Welcome to our group; we are the “Elect”; you are going to Heaven if you follow our rules. The essential difference between these people and most other religions is their aggression and lack of tolerance. They are extremely binary in thinking. Their way is the only possible way, and any deviation is heresy.
There is no compromise; there is only surrender. They ignore facts and reality. Their rules say the only purpose for sex is procreation, so there’s no justification for birth control or abortion. These people don’t have a problem casting aside their basic rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, so I don’t see them as a group to court.
To counter these appeals you need to make the case that you support the basic needs of people, that clean air and water, wholesome food are too important to be left to the whims of the market. You need to put the social safety net where it belongs – on the same level as national security. The same goes for jobs. These are basic needs, not options. If the White House and Democratic Party keep dealing with these issues as if they were luxuries, they are going to lose.
[Note: this is a minor re-write of a post from March, 2006, before the Democrats starting winning elections.]
6 comments
Great post.
Maslow’s HON doesn’t apply to the reptilian brain wink,wink
The reptilian complex, also known as the R-complex or “reptilian brain” was the name MacLean gave to the basal ganglia, structures derived from the floor of the forebrain during development. The term derives from the fact that comparative neuroanatomists once believed that the forebrains of reptiles and birds were dominated by these structures. MacLean contended that the reptilian complex was responsible for species typical instinctual behaviors involved in aggression, dominance, territoriality, and ritual displays.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triune_brain#The_reptilian_complex
It’s the Lizard People!!
It is hard to believe that no one seems to understand the basics of marketing in the Democratic Party. The traditional values of the party are winners when they are presented properly, but the so-called leaders are totally ignorant.
LOL This brings back memories! I remember commenting here a couple years ago about Maslow etc. I forget what the thread was about now… Something to do with the Bushmoron though (they almost all were then). Still applies today anyway, to both sides. 🙂
Oh, yes, the Republicans have hammered away at “safety” for decades, and Democrats can’t get their act together long enough to respond.
We have wasted so much money on a military that can’t respond effectively to anything short of World War III, with no other country willing or able to start it. That’s what the military-industrial complex have conned the US into, and the Republicans have been beating the drum for it.
But we both know that.
Speaking of military…we have an aircraft carrier hanging out offshore here in Santa Barbara.
Well, you did elect a “socialist” to the assembly… 😉