Given the ludicrous “arguments” conservatives have been bandying about lately, I thought it might be useful to examine the tactics of propaganda — specifically how words like “freedom” and “liberty” can be co-opted to transmit targeted messages to audiences groomed for maximum receptivity.

Though I’m not yet ready to write that essay, I did stumble across a link at Diabologue that looks at some of the ways the public can be primed for inculcation. The article is called “23 Tools To Brainwash and Influence People Through Media.” Most of it is provocative hogwash, but there are some choice nuggets. Again, this list isn’t about Political Power Words, but rather the means through which they can be effectively transmitted via mass media. Remember, the techniques outlined below aren’t party-specific — you can find them being employed by media organizations across the ideological spectrum. I think most of the list is obvious and not terribly tantalizing, but there are a few salient points. (My own commentary is in brackets):

• Encourage group-sanctioned individuality only. By making ‘individuality” the new conformity you are generating a powerful illusion of free choice. [This is actually at the heart of the "free" markets = choice myth so successfully exploited by the Right. To learn more, check out No One Makes You Shop at Wal-Mart: The Surprising Deceptions of Individual Choice]

• Appeal to the lowest common denominator. Make sure that all shows model conflict resolution of people with an emotional and intellectual maturity no greater than that of a six year old. [Did you catch Katy Abram, the "sleeping giant" from a Pennsylvania town hall meeting on health care? This woman is 35 years old, and has, by her own admission, "never payed attention to politics." Her husband takes care all of the financials, and she can't answer 5th grade civics questions. They also "don't talk politics" in her home. Yet she's somehow an expert on health care, and feels no compunction about invoking the Constitution, which I can practically guarantee she's never read. Here's what Katy had to say about America's multi-trillion dollar adventure in Iraq: "I always had faith in our government, and to be honest, I just didn't care." Check out her interview with Lawrence O' Donnell and tell me her brain hasn't been turned to mush by "American Idol":
  • The key to truly effective brainwashing is to work at people’s most fundamental awareness. Shape them at the neurological level so they develop the faculties to take your input and call it “thinking for myself.” Enable them to stop thinking. [See Dylan Ratigan's interview with Libertarian wingnut Craig Miller (the guy who confronted Senator Specter) to see how such programming can be so pervasive as to override neuronic logic centers:

  • Teach people that they are their thoughts and emotions. Reinforce this by teaching them to feel bad about their ideas, and to feel bad about feeling bad. Remember: Identify, identify, identify –- this will widen the empty void inside of them that only shopping can cure. [See Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, etc.]
  • Bypass rationality by any means possible. People don’t need logic to accept information. Belief is emotional. Always remember: WAR=PEACE. [See the "Birther" movement]:

We’ll get offer a more in-depth inspection of culturally-sanctioned Political Power Words and their propagandistic uses in a future post. In the meantime, check out this Chris Matthews interview with Ron Paul supporter William Kostric — the man who carried a gun and a “Blood of Tyrants” banner to President Obama‘s New Hampshire pop-in. While he’s clearly the most intelligent of the bunch, Kostric is eerily similar to political assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, who was also interviewed by TV reporters of his day. Anyway, this staunch individualist seems quite fond of Libertarian-approved placeholder words (and guns, obviously):

As the country song says, “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.” Yeah, and mentally compromised.

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About the author

Casey Rae-Hunter
Casey Rae-Hunter is a musician, public policy wonk and the editor/publisher of The Contrarian Media. An in-demand speaker, he gives frequent talks at conferences and campuses on issues at the intersection of creativity, technology, policy and law, and is a go-to source for major media outlets from NPR to the New York Times. Casey works alongside leaders in the music, arts and performance sectors to bolster understanding of and engagement in key policy and technology issues, and has written dozens of articles on the impact of technology on the creative community. Casey is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and the Deputy Director for Future of Music Coalition. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Media & Democracy Coalition and the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture. The Contrarian does not necessarily represent the views of the organizations to which he belongs.

5 Comments for Adventures in Political Brainwashing, Part I

Tanner

That first video… just… wow. No words to describe…

Russell W

Katy Abram fell onto (into?) my radar somehow–I don’t remember. It wasn’t the same interview that you’ve cited, but another on the Baised and Manic network. In that particular interview (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAFUB-x8afc) Katy stated that she had, indeed, recently read the Constitution. I say good for her, but good luck.

While she is only recently introduced to politics, she claimed it was “obvious that the country is being torn apart.” Isn’t it always the case that someone new to any realm of knowledge can see the obvious; which, to veterans is always much more subtle and nuanced? The only problem that Katy symbolizes is that she appears to be representative of the majority of Americans and what they know about their government–which is to say: jack shit.

I encourage anyone who wants to join in debate, but please retain a modicum of humility and talk about what you know without expounding on your uninformed opinions. It’s not that Katy is ignorant is a problem, it’s that she is turned to on mass media as an expert–a point you have excellently made.

Russell W

BY THE WAY, when mainstream media has these people as guests, would it not be fair to also have a professional psychologist present to discuss their state of mind? I mean, Craig Miller (thoughtful man that he is) is not getting enough oxygen to his brain! He is suffering from a lung condition and yes that affects your thinking.

“Arlen Specter is grabbing me and I wanted to see if Arlen Specter could do something about the Constitution… the Constitution…” The man is suffering from dementia! He’s imagining things and he’s being brought on television! It’s astounding. Of course, he’s actually right. The government is totally corrupt. OK. Katy Abram apparently couldn’t understand that fact of life either–corruption’s been going on since the late 1780′s. The fact that any of these people should be treated as thoughtful or credible is ridiculous. They don’t even understand what their role on television is meant to be. They are there to be ridiculed! It is the worst kind of cynical and yellow journalism. But since the American audience is so sadistic, it gets good ratings; journalism accomplished!

Casey Rae-Hunter

Thanks for the typically ace comments, Russell.