Lots of organizing going on in Milwaukee.

And, of course, Abby has been a significant part of it. And now, she has been appointed director of the Ambassador Program for the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County. Look out Milwaukee County.

Much of her involvement, and some of my ever so limited involvement, has been through a Facebook group called The Next Four Years Milwaukee, which now has about 7,000 participants. Below is something I might post tomorrow. The statements were written by me following George Lakoff's design. The slogans were contributed by Alex, a member of NFY-M.

Some of Lakoff’s key points are:
Voters vote their values. These values are brought into consciousness, and then politics, by mental frames.
Frames are the mental structures that shape the way we see the world.
Framing is about ideas. Ideas have to be in place in people’s brains before words, slogans, or soundbites make any sense.
Progressives have better ideas, but conservatives have been better at framing.
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1.A. Education and health are investments in people. They are wise investments because they produce a functioning society and a healthy and efficient workforce.
1.B. No education, no jobs.

2.A. Education is a freedom issue—without it a person is not free.
2.B. Knowledge is freedom.

3.A. Public education made America. It brought individuals together to form a nation and gave them the freedom and skills to succeed.
3.B. Public Education is National Security.

4.A. Vouchers and charter schools discriminate, often perform poorly, monetize learning, and frequently fail—all without accountability.
4.B. Public education is not for profit—vouchers are.

5.A. Ignorance is a weapon used to permit violence.
5.B. Ignorance is a weapon.

6.A. Unions got rid of sweat shops and child labor; unions made the middle class.
6.B. Unions create safe working conditions and living wages.

7. Taxes buy civilization. Failed states don’t have taxes.

8.A. Private enterprise depends on public infrastructure.
8.B. The private depends on the public.

9.A. The Constitution applies only to human beings, not corporations.
9.B. "We the people," not "We the corporation."

10.A. Only people have freedom of speech, and money is not speech.
10.B. Money chokes freedom of speech.

11. A Public universities are gold mines bringing huge economic benefit to their states and an improving quality of life to the nation.
11.B. Public Universities create jobs.

12.A. Every American has the right to control his or her own body, without government subjugation.
12.B. Our bodies, our doctors, our decisions.

13.A. We have only one planet—if we kill it we kill ourselves.
13.B. No regulation, no oxygen, no living.

14.A. Corporations have dangerous and increasing control of our lives.
14.B. The USA is no longer for sale.

15.A Corporations shift costs to, and borrow benefits from society, the natural world, and future generations, and this steadily diminishes overall prosperity.
15.B. Taxes shouldn't pave Wall Street.

16.A. Freedom, fairness, human dignity, equality under the law—these are American values worth fighting for.
16.B. Money shouldn't buy justice.

17.A. Regulations protect people from poison, discrimination, and exploitation.
17.B. No regulation, dirty water, dirty air, and dirty food.

18.A. As Americans we have a right to water we can drink, air we can breathe, and food that is healthy and safe.

19.A. Our economy should make possible broad prosperity, not just extreme wealth for an elite few—providing a better future for all Americans.
19.B. Regulate greed, and we all are freed.

20.A. As Americans we demand government not by corporations but of, by, and for the people.
20.B. Ban professional bribery: end lobbying.

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From George Lakoff:

“Progressive thought is as American as apple pie. Progressives want political equality, good public schools, healthy children, care for the aged, police protection, family farms, air we can breathe, water we can drink, fish in our streams, forests we can hike in, songbirds and frogs, livable cities, ethical businesses, journalists who tell the truth, music and dance, poetry and art, and jobs that pay a living wage to everyone who works.”

“Progressive activists…are American patriots, working with unselfish dedication towards making a better world.”