Most of you know that I’ve spent some time reading the books of the famous cognitive linguist, George Lakoff, and that he is all about the metaphors we use to talk about (and think about) our experiences. You may also know that he runs the Rockridge Institute, a “non-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to strengthening our democracy by providing intellectual support to the progressive community.” In that capacity, Lakoff has provided his analysis on The Framing of Immigration: “First, we will analyze the framing used in the public debate. Second, we suggest some alternative framing to highlight important concerns left out of the current debate. Our point is to show that the relevant issues go far beyond what is being discussed, and that acceptance of the current framing impoverishes the discussion.” Lakoff’s writing style is dry and analytical, but don’t let that get in the way of his mind-opening ideas.