Republicans understand that rationality doesn’t work. They understand that people actually think in terms of frames and metaphors and images and emotions. So they’re great at marketing their ideas, even when they're not based on facts.

Through constant repetition, they have falsely framed the Republican party as superior on economic matters -- despite decades of facts proving otherwise.

They have framed this false idea millions of brains.

And when the facts don't fit the frame, they bounce right off.

Until Democrats and progressives learn and embrace cognitive science, they will continue to lose ground to the false framing imposed by Republicans.

@georgelakoff I used to think that Republicans had a natural advantage because their policies were simple—"cut taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king," as Sideshow Bob once put it—and Dems' are more abstract.

The ACA debate changed my mind. In that case Ds had the simple message (if you get sick you'll go broke and/or die) and Rs had the abstract one (socialism!) and Ds lost on messaging. At least until it actually went into effect and people saw the benefits firsthand.