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Herding the Sheep
Washington’s Blog
Friday, Oct 23rd, 2009
Financial insider and commentator Yves Smith wrote an essay last week entitled “MSM Reporting as Propaganda” arguing that the government has been using propaganda to make people think that things are getting better, no one is angry, and – therefore – no one should get upset:
The message, quite overtly, is: if you are pissed, you are in a minority. The country has moved on. Things are getting better, get with the program…
Per the social psychology research, this “you are in a minority, you are wrong” message DOES dissuade a lot of people. It is remarkably poisonous. And it discourages people from taking concrete action.
Is Smith right? And even if she is, isn’t “propaganda” too strong a word?
Think Positive
Sure, William K. Black – professor of economics and law, and the senior regulator during the S & L crisis – says that that the government’s entire strategy now – as during the S&L crisis – is to cover up how bad things are (”the entire strategy is to keep people from getting the facts”).
Admittedly, 7 out of the 8 giant, money center banks went bankrupt in the 1980’s during the “Latin American Crisis”, and the government’s response was to cover up their insolvency.
It’s true that Business Week wrote on May 23, 2006:
President George W. Bush has bestowed on his intelligence czar, John Negroponte, broad authority, in the name of national security, to excuse publicly traded companies from their usual accounting and securities-disclosure obligations.
I can’t deny that the Tarp Inspector General said that Paulson and Bernanke falsely stated that the big banks receiving Tarp money were healthy, when they were not.
Okay, the government and Wall Street have traditionally tried to dispense happy talk when there is an economic crash, and Arianna Huffington recently pointed out:
There is something in the current DC/NY culture that equates a lack of unthinking boosterism with a lack of patriotism. As if not being drunk on the latest Dow gains is somehow un-American.
And I’ll give you that a recent Pew Research Center study on the coverage of the crisis found that the media has largely parroted what the White House and Wall Street were saying.
But that’s not propaganda . . . its just positive thinking, right?
The Other Guy
And the whole word propaganda is a Nazi, communist kind of thing which has no place in the same sentence as America. Right?
Granted, famed Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein says the CIA has already bought and paid for many successful journalists.
And sure, the New York Times discusses in a matter-of-fact way the use of mainstream writers by the CIA to spread messages.
True, a 4-part BBC documentary called the “Century of the Self” shows that an American – Freud’s nephew, Edward Bernays – created the modern field of manipulation of public perceptions, and the U.S. government has extensively used his techniques (but the BBC isn’t American, so it doesn’t count).
I won’t deny that the Independent discusses allegations of American propaganda (but that’s a British paper, doesn’t count).
And (ho hum) one of the premier writers on journalism says the U.S. has used widespread propaganda.
And (are we still talking about this?) an expert on propaganda testified under oath during trial that the CIA employs THOUSANDS of reporters and OWNS its own media organizations (the expert has an impressive background).
And (I can’t believe we’re still talking about this) while the U.S. government has repeatedly claimed that it was launching propaganda programs solely at foreign enemies, it has actually used them against American citizens. For example:
- In 2002, the Pentagon announced that it was considering spreading false propaganda in the foreign press. However, the military has spread propaganda within the U.S. in an operation so aggressive that one participant, a military analyst, called it “psyops on steroids“
- Raw Story confirmed yesterday the use of propaganda on Americans
- The U.S. government long ago announced its intention to “fight the net”.
- As revealed by an official Pentagon report signed by Rumsfeld called “Information Operations Roadmap”:
The roadmap [contains an] acknowledgement that information put out as part of the military’s psychological operations, or Psyops, is finding its way onto the computer and television screens of ordinary Americans.
“Information intended for foreign audiences, including public diplomacy and Psyops, is increasingly consumed by our domestic audience,” it reads.
“Psyops messages will often be replayed by the news media for much larger audiences, including the American public,” it goes on.***
“Strategy should be based on the premise that the Department [of Defense] will ‘fight the net’ as it would an enemy weapons system”.
And (when’s the next episode of American Idol on?) CENTCOM announced in 2008 that a team of employees would be “[engaging] bloggers who are posting inaccurate or untrue information, as well as bloggers who are posting incomplete information.”And (who do you think will win the playoffs?) the Air Force is also engaging bloggers. Indeed, an Air Force spokesman said:
“We obviously have many more concerns regarding cyberspace than a typical Social Media user,” Capt. Faggard says. “I am concerned with how insurgents or potential enemies can use Social Media to their advantage. It’s our role to provide a clear and accurate, completely truthful and transparent picture for any audience.”
And (did you see that crazy photo?) it is well known that certain governments use software to automatically vote stories questioning their interests down and to send letters favorable to their view to politicians and media (see – as just one example – this, this, this, this and this). The U.S. government is very large and well-funded, and could substantially influence voting on social news sites with very little effort, if it wished.
The Bottom Line
Yeah yeah, people say this or that, whatever, I’m too busy to think about it.
Even if true, propaganda is too strong a word for attempts to convince people that important issues are boring, that no one else is angry about them, and that everything is normal.
Perhaps “herding the wayward sheep” would be better . . .
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17 Responses to “Herding the Sheep”
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October 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 am
The truth is …out there,but there is precious little here on planet earth,after forty years of living and learning complete lies on this planet only alan watt of cutting through the matrix pulls all the loose threads together for me…good luck searching for truth people…
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:40 am
http://www.cuttingthroughthema.....n_RBN.html this is your mission ….should you be able to accept it…
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 am
http://www.cuttingthroughthema.....n_RBN.html this is your mission should you be able to accept it…
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:43 am
http://www.cuttingthroughthema.....n_RBN.html this is your mission …should you be able to accept it…
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:38 am
Bob Dylan Retains Same Illuminati Law Firm as George W. Bush in Fifteen Year Plagiarism Law Suit. Also suppresses Plaintiff’s First Amendment Rights acquiring a protective order designating all video taped depositions that are incriminating to Dylan confidential
Bob Dylan & his law firm acquired a confidentiality order in a fifteen year plagiarism law suit designating all discovery materials including fifty hours of incriminating video taped depositions as confidential suppressing Plaintiff James Damiano’s first amendment rights to warn the public of Judicial favoritism and corruption.
Camden NJ 2009 -Few artists can lay claim to the controversy that has surrounded the career of songwriter James Damiano. Twenty-two years ago James Damiano began an odyssey that led him into a legal maelstrom with Bob Dylan that, to this day, fascinates the greatest of intellectual minds.
As the curtain rises on the stage of deceit we learn that CBS used songs and lyrics for international recording artist, Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan’s name is credited to the songs. One of those songs is nominated for a Grammy as best rock song of the year. Ironically the title of that song is Dignity.
Since auditioning for the legendary CBS Record producer John Hammond, Sr., who influenced the careers of music industry icons Billy Holiday, Bob Dylan, Pete Seger, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Ray Vaughan, James has engaged in a multimillion dollar copyright infringement law suit with Bob Dylan.
As per court papers it is judicially uncontested by Bob Dylan and or Bob Dylan’s law firms Manatt, Phelps & Phillips , Parcher Hayes & Snyder, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Heck Brown and Sherry and Sony House Counsel that Bob Dylan and people in Bob Dylan’s entourage have solicited James Damiano’s songs and music for over ten years and eleven months.
Interestingly enough Judge Jerome B. Simandle decided “This court will accept as true Plaintiff’s allegations that Sony represented to him that he would be credited and compensated for his work if Dylan used it. Judge Simandle also stated in his decision “Plaintiff has demonstrated a genuine issue of material fact as to whether defendants had access to his work.
After fourteen years of litigation, ten thousand pages written, fifty hours of video taped deposition
which are incriminating to Bob Dylan and after at least seven and a half million dollars have been spent on this litigation, Bob Dylan still to this date has not filed a counter or slander suit against James Damiano http://jamesdamiano.yolasite.com/
Jackson Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
This whole business involving James Damiano’s lawsuit against Bob Dylan is a joke. The guy Damiano has been hawking this story on the internet for years, and the lawsuit was long ago dismissed.
It’s remarkably sad that someone would repost this material in October 2009 as if it is somehow fresh and still worthy of attention.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:29 am
Amazing story. This has to be gotten out to people.
Resist!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:31 am
Thank goodness. Now, I’ll just go take a Valium. Then everything will be all right.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 am
I was mo moo mooing…i gotta change to bbaa ba baaahing.
MAR Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Pastors call their ‘followers’ sheep and the sheep on this site don’t get it…religion is the oldest form of authoritarian control…full of lies…the bible is, about the ‘god’ they believe in. I feel so sorry for those who have bought this lie…if you believe in the bible you are a blasphemer, because you spread lies about God. May God have mercy on you stupid souls…second thought if you are stupid, then it’s not your fault because you don’t have the capacity to figure out the truth. The God, and there might not even be one, will forgive you because you have a defective brain, or just not capable of educating yourself.
Do you really believe in the mass murdering god of the bible, who is also a serial killer? Really, and you don’t see yourself as a blasphemer? Only a devil could be such a god. And as many of you have figured out, what is commonly believed to be true, is false, and what is commonly believed to be false, is true. – not my quote
Orwell told you about the use of words to convey the exact opposite of its true meaning…freedom is slavery and the god of the bible is the devil.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 am
Individuals don’t want to be known by their neighbors as liars and thieves so they vote for govt. to do it for them.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
It’s a scam the powers that be are selling off all their stocks(at a rate of 35:1) while having their media and politicians tell us it’s all over. The signs it is anything but over are plain to see, look around the town you live. Where I live you can go to the river on Sunday and there’s nobody taking their boats out. Stop off at Home Depot there are out of work carpenters holding signs looking for jobs. Go to the supermarket notice how everything is more expensive except beef which is on sale at a very low price. On sale because dairy farmers are slaughtering their cows because no one is buying milk. Look at the items people have on their lawns for sale many now include barter as a payment option.
We are not in a Great Recession or double dip anything, We are in a full blown at least as bad probably worse than the 1930’s Depression. Last time we invaded Europe to get out of the depression. This time their is no great cause and we have a 1.5 quadrillion dollar derivatives bubble waiting to burst. This time the depression is going to win our monitory system is going to collapse into hyperinflation.
Our 3rd quarter GDP numbers come out in about a week that will be the beginning of the end for the suckers rally. If you have stocks sell them NOW! Stock up on food if you have any thing left buy gold and silver. 2010 is going to make 2009 look like the good times.
pitofdoom Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
How did the people of Korea, Vietnam, WW II Germany pay of a roof over their heads?
ChrisAZ Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Agreed. The current depression is going to get very bad probably by the end of the 1st quarter of 2010. They are keeping things going thru Christmas so that the sheeple spend thier last worthless dollars and use up their final credit. Then its game over for the middle class in this country.
It was inevitable with globalism that this would eventually take place. We dont export anything. We dont produce anything domestically. We have very high wages when compared to ost of the rest of the world and with NAFTA, CAFTA and other treaties, our standard of living must go down and be at equilibrium with those of the other countries. An example would be that the typical wage for a working class person in Mexico is $1 to $3 per hour. So if we have free trade with them, either their hourly wages must come up our average of $12 to $16, or our hourly wages must go down to theirs (which is what is currently happening).
But a long as people have American Idol and Monday Night Football, they will go along with the program – just like the frog in the pot who doesn’t jump out, even as the water slowly gets hotter – this is where our country is today.
Patriotgal Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 9:14 am
ChrisAZ- I agree with you about the near-term economy. BUT- MY companies produce, and make LASTING products. I PAY good, family wages- $24/he for skilled labor, $10-12/hr for unskilled. Plus, Christmas bonuses, depending on how long you’ve been with me. When I shut-down (very soon), my two top people are re-locating their families, to go to my “ranch” with me. I hired top people for a reason. TOP PEOPLE. (Apologies to Indy Jones).
Let the masses watch their precious TV. They disgust me. They have earned their “reward”, I hope they enjoy it.
The “new economy” will be based on barter. Let the IRS figure that out! LOL!
We will be working together, our own “collective”- but, a voluntary one. With hand-picked members. Our goal- to protect, and feed our families. With as much comort as possible. ( I admit it- I LIKE luxury!)
Good luck to the rest of you.
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Pissed! Yea, keep shoving your BS and we’ll see who has the fianl word fool! The RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS WILL SET YOUR SUGAR CANDY ASS STRAIGHT!
October 24th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
MSNBC,FOX ABC,CBS….All getting their script probably from the White House printer in the basement.