Word Wars: "The private depends on the public"

[Cosmic Kitten]

9. Don't misunderestimate the right-wing speechifiers ;~/

but first you have to know what will resonate with people. THEN you can condense it into a catchy phrase and/or word.

No one has done the work on this.

The "work" has been done... many years ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/bernprop.html
http://www.whale.to/b/bernays.pdf

To make something "resonate" it needs to touch the
individuals "value system"...
Once the values are identified ideas can be "framed"
to create an overarching "narrative" that describes
a POV to which people can subscribe.

The "Left's" ineffectiveness has much to do with the
difference between intellect and emotion.
As you point out "they didn't THINK about what they really meant"!
TaDa! People respond emotively to media and propaganda,
NOT intellectually... which is why facts and reason fall on deaf ears.

The success of OWS IS in fact due to "resonating" with
people in an EMOTIVE manner.
It is easy to look at banksters and then one's own bank account
and say HEY! Wait a minute!!! I'm getting ripped the eff off!!1!!1!

Whatever "issue" Populists choose to work with it needs to
resonate with the MAJORITY of Americans, across political lines,
and clearly define "Us and Them"...
Public vs private?
Public vs corporate?
1% vs 99%?

Picking a partisan issue or looking at the trees
rather than the forest is not a winning formula.
Populism is a Public concern.