# The Three Languages of Politics **URL:** **By** Arnold Kling, Aaron Ross Powell, Trevor Burrus **Published:** April 14, 2014 --- Arnold Kling thinks there's more to talking about politics than the angry yelling shows on TV and the radio. Why is political rhetoric so harsh? Arnold Kling joins us for a discussion on his book, [_The Three Languages of Politics_](https://www.libertarianism.org/books/three-languages-politics) . Kling says that progressives, conservatives, and libertarians all use different languages to justify their beliefs, and that this results in political polarization. Why is political rhetoric so harsh? Is there too much over-simplification in political rhetoric? Are libertarians guilty of this as much as anyone? **Show Notes and Further Reading** Arnold Kling, [_The Three Languages of Politics_](https://www.libertarianism.org/books/three-languages-politics) (e-book) Jonathan Haidt, [_The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion_](http://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777/) (book) George Lakoff, [_Don't Think of an Elephant!: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate_](http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Think-Elephant-Debate-The-Progressives/dp/1931498717) (book) Paul Krugman, [_Conservatives Are (Mostly) Not Libertarians_](http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/17/conservatives-are-mostly-not-libertarians/) (column)