Propaganda in America
Propaganda
“ Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.”
Propaganda is wrong. Prejudice is wrong. Perfecting and weaponizing prejudices for use in propaganda is just plain evil. Why hasn’t anyone called this out?
Propaganda Distributed by Members of America’s Team
Certain members of America’s Team continually attack other members of America’s Team using outrageous weaponized partisan prejudicial propaganda statements. These kinds of statements being constantly publicized and fed to the media will never allow America’s Team to get anything meaningful done. I am tired of this behavior being shrugged off as “it’s just politics”! We are America – we are better than this and we deserve better than this!
Propaganda Distributed by the Media
I found the following on the web (one from the NY Times and one from Fox News – I am not going to say which is which). “Democrats a Party of Hate and Destruction.” “The Republican Party has become the Party of Hate.” Does anyone love America/Americans?
How many times have you heard “Republicans are racist”; “Democrats are anti-religion”; “Democrats want to take all your guns away”? Where are the facts to back up these statements? Answer - there are no facts to back up any outrageous weaponized partisan prejudicial propaganda statements.
The “defense” is always – “well it’s just an opinion piece” so it’s okay. Have we not learned anything in the past few decades about prejudices and stereotypes?
Anyone that uses outrageous weaponized partisan prejudicial propaganda statements is a bigot and/or intellectually lazy. (Yes, I do recognize that when I started the last statement with “anyone” I did in fact pre-judge those that make these kinds of statements, I think I can prove this one.)
The Words “Democrat” and “Republican” Have Been Degraded and Become Hate Words
The words Democrat and Republican have become highly prejudicial and/or exclusive. All members of Congress should be working for ALL and not for or against Republicans/Democrats. Also, where do the “independent” thinkers and voters fit into these discussions?
The words Democrat and/or Republican have become the “go to” tags for all the “…ist/…ic” words in perfecting identity politics prejudices used to divide America. These two words have been degraded to the point that they are demeaning and prejudicial. The use of these words in a prejudicial fashion must stop not only in Congress but also in the media.
Describing one’s political ideology should be a civil right in America and not a tag to promote prejudices.
Voter Bullying/intimidation
Certain media outlets are aiming their propaganda at those American voters that did not vote for the candidate their media outlet supported. This is so wrong I don’t know what to say about it except STOP!
The challenge – prejudice shaming
I think that the organizations that use outrageous weaponized partisan prejudicial propaganda statements no longer recognize how prejudicial and harmful these statements are. I am going to request that all media immediately cease and desist using such statements in all their outlets in both news and opinion pieces. Each media organization that ceases and desists using such statement should let the public know that they will no longer promote or tolerate such reprehensible behavior.
They should also call out “prejudice shaming” by their competitors that continue to use such statements. Simply state “[organization] prejudice shamed all [Democrats, Republicans, Trump supporters, etc.] by calling them [fill in the derogatory term].”
Obviously, we have freedom of speech and the press so the media outlets can do what they want on this topic.
The News
For America to thrive and improve, the American people need to be an informed people. I truly believe in free speech and freedom of the press, but I also believe in truth in advertising. What I want first and foremost is unbiased reporting of real AND important things happening in America and the World. Once I understand what is happening (the news) I can then choose to analyze why it is happening and in doing my analysis I can seek out the opinions of others.
Here is where the truth in advertising (labeling) comes in. Consumer products and medicines that are consumed through our bodily systems have extensive rules regarding labeling to inform people of what is in the product and, in some cases, side effects that should be watched for. Such labeling must not be misleading. Consumer products that are consumed through your mind have no rules whatsoever. So someone watching XYZ News or QRS News may think they are watching news when they are actually watching diatribes against someone disguised as news.
“News” and its functioning in America needs to be made pristine, reliable and respectable again. Standards and principles must be adhered to for all products put forth for American brain consumption that are labeled “news”. The standards and principles must be in alignment with the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. If it does not reach that standard, it cannot be labeled as news or infer that it is news.
Part of making America better includes freedom of the press calling out the wrongs in America that make a difference – I will never suggest they close their eyes to wrong doing and injustice. Freedom of the press, however, is a right that requires responsibility for the press to not abuse the right by being a propaganda machine for any person(s) or political party while purporting to be reporting news.
Mis-information can be more damaging to a democracy than no information.
There Are No Laws Against Propaganda
Freedom of speech and the press are alive and well in America (thankfully). All media outlets need to make money. Nothing wrong with that. To make money they must develop a loyal customer base. The customers will either be attracted to you, repulsed by you or simply ignore you based on your programming and distribution.
There is nothing wrong with “being in the tank” with one political party – just be honest about it.
A Quick Word About Polls
Our elected officials need to know more about what they are voting on than the average American. We expect them to be or become knowledgeable about what they are voting on.
By way of example, it has been reported that about 60% of Americans don’t think America needs more walls on the southern border and 40% think we do. So, based on this poll we will not build more walls. End of story – glad we got that one right!
What relevance does this poll have in deciding whether to build a wall or not? What was the knowledge level of the people in the poll regarding a wall and/or other methods of border protection? America has professionals whose job it is to protect the border. In making the decision as to what is needed at the border a poll of Americans that have no direct knowledge of the situation must count as having no relevance. Why do the poll? Propaganda!
Polls are an integral part of the propaganda machines. If the poll supports your propaganda you use it; if it doesn’t you bury it.