Are (Polish) Politicians Out of this World? 67Figure 2. Ken Livingstone 2012 campaign poster.
David Cameron, Boris Johnson and George Osborne look ridiculous rather
than ominous, with blue faces and antennae. Yet the poster indicates their
lack of concern with those social worries Livingstone promises to ease.
STABILITY IS STANDING (ON THE GROUND)
Embodied cognition accounts for metaphors of stability and reliability.
Standing firmly on the ground provides good visibility (KNOWING IS
SEEING, Kövecses 2002) and orientation in the environment which ensures
proper reaction to potential threats. Reliability, practicality and common
sense (and a moral stance) tend to be associated with an upright standing
position, which without the gravitational pull is inconceivable. In a
Guardian account of the atmosphere surrounding French elections, Henley
(2012) quotes workers who are unambiguously critical of politicians and
sceptical about their political efficacy:
(21) “French elections: 'Politicians live on another planet'”
(22) "Sarkozy seems to me to have his feet a lot more firmly on
the ground,"
(23) “They live on another planet/ They don't live in the same
world"
(24) “‘There's a real disconnect,’ he says, ‘a widespread feeling
that politicians come from a remote, aloof class that won't
ever understand working people's problems, or change
anything.’”