Government

No matter who is governing, there is always negativity around the idea of government. Good framing makes the need for good government clear.

Anti-government sentiment undermines good policies and better politics. Advocates across social issues need effective ways to frame the role of government.

Common catchphrases like “taxpayer dollars” reflect a “vending machine” view of government, suggesting citizens who put money in should expect an instant, proportional, direct benefit. “Safety net” language reinforces the idea that the goal of government is to catch those who fall, not to promote a shared, common good. A different story can spark different mindsets. Talking about shared resources and needs and reframing budgets and taxes in terms of long-term generational exchange helps.

Explore these ideas and more in the resources here.

Featured Work

Frame Testing Recommendations

How to Talk About Government: A FrameWorks Message Memo

This MessageMemo distills insights from a set of innovative, inter-related studies, and recommends ways to communicate more effectively about government.

Report

How to Talk About Budgets and Taxes: A FrameWorks MessageMemo

This MessageMemo provides advocates with a communications map for improving the public's understanding of the linked topics of budgets and taxes.

External article

Shutdowns reinforce the widely held belief that ‘government is broken’

When the federal government shuts down, many problematic repercussions follow. But there is another, more insidious effect of shutdowns: They hurt Americans’ views of government, of the public...

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Report

Framing Adversity, Trauma, and Resilience

The science of adversity, trauma, and resilience is a powerful tool in any effort to improve health and wellbeing. But science—no matter how strong its findings—does not speak for itself.

Article

OPINION: The Invisible Contest Beneath Our Elections

It’s 2023, and what felt like a colossal midterm election now feels far, far behind us. As we move into this new year, it’s been interesting to observe how quickly our public discourse has...

Report

Building the Bridge to Peace: A Messaging Guide for Peacebuilders

Evidence-based recommendations for communicators to help a more productive narrative take hold

Report

Building the Bridge to Peace: Reframing Peace and Peacebuilding

Five concrete framing strategies for communicating about peacebuilding

External article

How do you secure democracy? With an infusion of fresh blood.

We shouldn't have to call out lawmakers like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for encouraging the murder of opponents — and yet here we are, writes Kendall-Taylor.

External article

Shutdowns reinforce the widely held belief that ‘government is broken’

When the federal government shuts down, many problematic repercussions follow. But there is another, more insidious effect of shutdowns: They hurt Americans’ views of government, of the public...

External article

Shutdowns have lasting damage

When the federal government shuts down, many problematic repercussions follow. But there is another, more insidious effect of shutdowns: They hurt Americans’ views of government, of the public...

External article

How to Persuade the Public to Care About Other People’s Problems

When talking about how to solve social problems, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. FrameWorks CEO Nat Kendall-Taylor explains why--and what this message means for nonprofit...

Report

“Just Do It” Communicating Implementation Science and Practice

How can we talk about evidence-based decisionmaking and implementation science in ways that build support for robust, intentional implementation efforts?

External article

The Case Against Rainy-Day Framing of Budgets and Taxes

FrameWorks founder Susan Nall Bales explains why public revenue and spending is every advocate’s “second issue.”

Report

How to Talk About Budgets and Taxes: A FrameWorks MessageMemo

This MessageMemo provides advocates with a communications map for improving the public's understanding of the linked topics of budgets and taxes.

Report

Planning for Our Future: The Contribution of Simplifying Models to Conceptualizing Budgets and Taxes

This report presents "Forward Exchange" as an explanatory metaphor that prompts people to think about public budgets and taxes in new ways.