“Public opinion was made or changed formally by tribal chiefs, by kings, by religious leaders. Today the privilege of attempting to sway public opinion is everyone. It is one of the manifestations of democracy that anyone may try to convince others and to assume leadership on behalf of his own thesis.” – Propaganda
The Florida legislature recently passed a “Parental Rights Bill”, limiting the formal instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity for students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. That is, children aged 5-8. Yet, most people in Florida, and throughout the United States, are more familiar with the phrase “Don’t Say Gay”, a title that Democrats have been erroneously advancing to misrepresent the actual language of the bill.
The bill itself, of course, makes no mention of the word “gay”, but merely looks to protect children from classroom conversations beyond their development. In fact, in most states, sex education occurs in 7th through 12th grade, or, in some instances as soon as 5th and 6th grade. Democrats, by twisting the actual aim of the legislation, are using the age-old “straw man” argument. Unable to debate the actual merits of the case, they instead distort facts in an attempt to discredit their opposition.
In Edward Bernays’ 1928 book, “Propaganda”, Bernays, an American theorist, and nephew of Sigmund Freud illustrates the use of propaganda to affect public opinion. Dubbed the father of “public relations”, Bernays worked during WWI as a disseminator of information to promote the war efforts to the American public. Seeing how well it worked in that arena, propaganda was extended to the marketplace, and throughout society. In its purest form, propaganda is the selling and persuading of a product or idea. In this application, propaganda can be good, and even helpful. But Bernays also understood its susceptibility to abuse.
The masses, greatly influenced by their leaders, their peers, and their betters, tend to favor their recommendations and suggestions. Yet, in addition to those they know, there is a group of unknown individuals (whether mass media, academia, or cultural) who also hold enormous sway over the ideas and the direction of society. When their input adds to our insight, their acts of persuasion are for the good. When their contributions are used to stoke our emotions, to the detriment of rationality, then the resulting involvement is harmful.
Like advertising for a product or advocating for a service, distilling, and distributing information can help us meet common ends. To be effective, however, there is a need to know your audience, so they can best be provided with what they want and need. When this information comes from our existing social groups, whether religious, ethnic, political, or otherwise, the support is likely to be received more favorably. By this approach, propaganda informs and facilitates agreement.
When falsehoods or bad information are advanced, propaganda can cause people to choose against their own best interests. Here, outright lies, half-truths, selective history, and opinion news, are used to mislead the public. Then propaganda is nothing more than a con and a form of mind control, used to shape society in nefarious ways. Tempered by fears of losing one’s credibility, however, can restrain the ongoing influence of such deceit.
Today, there is a minority of individuals coalesced around American cultural institutions that hold undue influence. From education (both K-12 and higher learning), the corporate press, entertainment and sports, tech companies, and government and their bureaucrats, these groups are disproportionately led by Democrats. And in these halls, a carefully crafted narrative is created, promoted, and validated.
Thankfully, public approval is increasingly needed to advance one’s agenda. As such, there is a diminishing monopoly across platforms, where these small groups of media professionals and political pundits used to hold enormous sway. Now, due largely to the Internet, anyone can grab the attention of followers, and add their voice to the mix. And fortunately, so, for whoever controls the masses, will rule the world.
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