Propaganda Tactics » General

Town Hall Propaganda Part 1

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:41:34 +0000

Town Hall Health Care Propaganda Devices At Work

Dear Reader and Friend,

Thank you for joining me today! I know it’s been quite a while since we last spoke.

Today we are going to discuss something interesting. Something current. Something that if this country keeps going the way it is and this gets posted in a few years I would end up in a gulag (or prison on a military base for civilians). Let’s hope it doesn’t get that far.

Anyway, today we are going to look at the Health Care Town Hall Meetings. How the Citizenry are rising up, and how the Democrats and their allies (AARP, the Unions, the Big Media — TV news, newspapers, news magazines, etc. who have given up objective reporting and now specialize in puff pieces, and attacking the Democrats foes) are countering.

Remember, as the New York Times itself back in the days when it was more objective — said in an editorial, September 1, 1937 said

“ What is truly vicious, is not propaganda but a monopoly of it.’

The now defunct Institute for Propaganda Analysis followed with “This monopoly is seen most clearly in totalitarian states where all channels of communication are controlled by the government. The extent to which the propaganda machinery of a country has been brought under the control of one organization or a group of related organizations is a useful measure of the degree to which absolutism dominates it, of the extent to which democracy has been eliminated.”

For a while you saw almost exclusively grey haired grandmothers and grandfathers expressing their outrage at the proposed health care changes. They &liquor;Had it up to here!” You saw well dressed business men and business women, mothers and fathers all showing up at the Town Hall Meetings making their voices heard. And their numbers felt. It was not organized protests, in the sense that a particular party or group called all their members and gave “marching orders” to go and protest. Far from it.

The Senators and Representatives home from Washington figured they would talk to some friendly audiences and then say “Well, my constituents didn’t protest much so I can feel safe about voting for the President’s Health Care Bill, and I will still be re-elected… I’ll have the excuse that since they didn’t let me know they were against it, I thought they were for it.”

A Shot Heard Round The Country

Then the first meeting took place. The representative ran out of the Town Hall meeting completely flustered at the resistance to the Health Care Plan he was holding the Town Hall meeting on. Immediately, the media friendly to the Democrats came on TV stating something about how the “Independents” and “Middle America” (both Glittering Generalities) would see these protesters as “wacko”s” (name calling), and become irritated. Editors Note… Here we see the start of a Propaganda Device. The Device is Name Calling. It also is subtlety combined with Bandwagon, and Glittering Generality, and a big dose of Card Stacking (of the name calling and glittering generalities).

You had some people who took video cameras with them and posted the videos — of the protests and the Washington politician running away — on the web. Soon people from other cities who had the same belief saw it was OK to protest. And protest loudly. Editors Note: the effect of putting the protests on the web and making them available to others is also a propaganda device of Bandwagon. As in “See, we are doing it. Everyone is doing it. Come join.” And so the common people flocked to the Town Halls.

Soon the Big Media talking heads started criticizing the people demonstrating, and speaking their minds. Shortly thereafter, the Big Media talking heads started looking for something… anything they could find to show these demonstrators at the Town Halls linked to insurance companies, the republican party, or anything else they cold intimate was controlling the protesters as if they were puppets. But alas for Big Media, they could not find anything solid to pin their claims to.

Then it came time for the embattled Democrats to start firing their propaganda weapons.

First they started with the Propaganda device and tactics of Card Stacking of Name Calling with Glittering Generalities.

Here is a sampling:

Dear Reader and Friend, these are in no particular order (Chronological or otherwise)

Let’ start with Senator Arlen Spector (D-PA)

as reported http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_protests
Sen. Arlen Specter said he thinks people who have been angrily disrupting town hall meetings on overhauling the health care system are “not necessarily representative of America,”

Angrily disrupting — what picture does that conjure up in your mind?

“representative of America” a nice glittering generality. What is representative of America? And then add the words “not necessarily“ meaning they are not.

Taken together he is saying the protesters are not American in their behavior or attitudes.

Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

as reported http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090812/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_protests
“Representative Claire McCaskill admonished the rowdy crowd, saying ‘I don’t understand this rudeness. I honestly don’ get it.’”

“rowdy crowd” Once again we see a good example of name calling by the press

And according to McCaskill Protesters who are voicing their complaints are now (Name Calling)“Rude”

Let’s move on to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)

as he said in an MSNBC interview “Well, the last time I had to confront something like this was when I voted for the civil rights bill and my opponent voted against it,… At that time, we had a lot of Ku Klux Klan folks and white supremacists and folks in white sheets and other things running around causing trouble.”

Let‘s see “last time I had to confront something like this was when I voted for the civil rights bill” Propaganda tactic/device of Transfer — Dingell is attempting to transfer the authority of the Civil Rights Bill (a glittering Generality in the sense “Civil Rights” is hard to define because it means so many things to different people). But he is attempting to transfer the authority and good feeling of Civil Rights to the Democrat proposed Health Care Bill.

“I voted for the civil rights bill and my opponent voted against it” So Dingell is implying if you are against the Democrat Health Card Bill you are against Civil Rights… Looks like card stacking in one sentence, and a bit of Name Calling too

Then Dingell really get‘s into the Name Calling device “Ku Klux Klan folks and white supremacists and folks in white sheets and other things running around causing trouble.”

Comparing the Town Hall protesters he represents to KKK and White Supremacists. Meaning if you are against President Obama’s and the Democrats plan you are racist because Obama happens to be Black. And you sure don’t want to be (Name Calling) Racist, or a (Name Calling) “White Supremacist” so you better go along with the plan. And not speak out.

This fits in nicely with the portrait of US Citizen protesters Speaker of the House of Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) chimed in with

as reported by
“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has accused attendees at health care town hall meetings of carrying swastikas – and the Democratic National Committee is now featuring photos of protesters with swastikas in its new video, claiming (Name Calling) ‘angry mobs” are (Glittering Generality) ‘seeking to destroy Obama.’”

Pelosi was asked if she thought it’s legitimate grass roots opposition
She responded, “I think they are (Name Calling)Astroturf … you be the judge,” Pelosi answered. “They’re carrying (Name Calling) swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care.”

And amazingly enough… shortly after this quote a Georgia Representatives office was defaced with a Swastika and gleefully reported on by the Big Media. Is it possible there was some sort of Hitler trick going on. You know, when he went to far as to have his Socialist Party cronies blow up the Reichstag and blame it on Communists.

Another Elected Democrat attack on the protesters… this one by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA)

As reported http://www.thenewstribune.com/callaghan/story/841056.html
Rep. Brian Baird (Tacoma WA) is the poster child, breaking with his tradition of holding frequent meetings with constituents (300 since 1999), because “it’s a lynch mob mentality out there.” He even told his hometown Vancouver Columbian that reform opponents are using “Brown Shirt tactics.”

So the people protesting have “a lynch mob mentality” — nice bit of Name Calling and Glittering Generality

And the people protesting… his constituents protesting… the people he represents… he says because they are protesting they are “Brown Shirt tactics” good bit of name calling. Referencing Hitler the Nazi‘s (the National Socialist German Worker’s Party)

Then to truly drive her name calling points home Pelosi then teamed up with Representative Steny Hoyer of MD as reported in the Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-pelosi-hoyer-health11-2009aug11,0,5370363.story
By Mark Silva
5:05 AM PDT, August 10, 2009
Reporting from Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, insisting at the start of a long and politically heated summer congressional recess that health-care reform can be achieved this fall, today are calling the disruption of town-hall meetings by vocal protesters “simply un-American.” (Name Calling)

“We believe it is healthy for such a historic effort (Glittering Generality) to be subject to so much scrutiny and debate,“ Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Hoyer (D-Md.) wrote in a USA Today opinion piece published today.
“However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign(Name Calling) is underway not merely to misrepresent (Name Calling) the health insurance reform (Glittering Generality) legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue (Name Calling combined with Glittering Generality and Card Stacking),” the two leaders wrote. “These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid (Name Calling) not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves (Glittering Generality). Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American.”(Name Calling)

And we will wrap up this segment with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) spoke up attacking the protesters in his district.

As reported http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090806/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul
WASHINGTON – The Senate’s most powerful Democrat on Thursday scolded health care protesters dogging his party’s lawmakers at local meetings, arguing that some critics on the political right have run out of ideas — and ditched their civic manners. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada accused the protesters of trying to “sabotage” the democratic process.

Here we see the combined tactics of Name calling, Card Stacking, Glittering Generality, when Senate Majority Leader Reid says “some critics on the political right have run out of ideas — and ditched their civic manners.”

Dear Reader and Friend, I have to say… these tactics the Democrat politicians are using smack of the Nazi propaganda template. Take a bit of name calling, and combine that with glittering generality, than add in a big heap of card stacking to try and drown them out.

Name Calling Falls On Deaf Ears… What‘s Next Device/Tactic?

As the Democrat Elected Politicians insults of their protesting constituents started having no effect. The Democrat leadership decided to move to another method.

In the next post, we will go into some other tactics being used.

To paraphrase the words of Elmer Fudd “da da, da da, da dat‘s all for today folks!”

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ABC News… New State Propaganda Arm?

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:49:07 +0000

ABC News… New State Propaganda Arm

Dear Reader and Friend,

What has just been announced that is going to take place this evening June 16, 2009 is simply amazing. It shows the death of independent journalism. At least ABC is being honest about their beliefs and politics. They have dropped their facade of being unbiased in reporting.

Don’t believe me?

Could this be the start of some form of Journalistic Totalitarianism and Fascism?

Read on dear reader…

The following has been excerpted from Taken from the newsletter dated May 1938 by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis the issue entitled

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES OF GERMAN FASCISM

Their newsletter starts…

“ ‘What is truly vicious,’ observed The New York Times in an editorial, September 1, 1937, ‘is not propaganda but a monopoly of it.’ This monopoly is seen most clearly in totalitarian states where all channels of communication are controlled by the government. The extent to which the propaganda machinery of a country has been brought under the control of one organization or a group of related organizations is a useful measure of the degree to which absolutism dominates it, of the extent to which democracy has been eliminated.

In democratic countries this monopoly aspect of propaganda is held in check by rivalries between competing organizations. Political, economic, educational, and religious spokesmen are able to and actually do disseminate rival propaganda. This gives those at whom the rival propagandas are directed some freedom of choice among the alternatives offered them.”

Think about that for a minute…

“What is truly vicious,is not propaganda but a monopoly of it.”

In democratic countries this monopoly aspect of propaganda is held in check by rivalries between competing organizations.

Let’s change the word democratic to free thinking… or better yet, populations who think critically

So let’s make that read…

In democratic countries this monopoly aspect of propaganda is held in check by rivalries between competing organizations.

A few paragraphs later in the newsletter they state the fact “The power of propaganda increases as its control becomes more centralized, as the trend to monopoly increases.”

Remember this point… it is very important to understand what is going on today.

The power of propaganda increases as its control becomes more centralized.

The article continues…

“This process is stimulated by the centralization of the control of the economic structure of a country. A tendency toward a monopoly of wealth is accompanied by a corresponding tendency toward a monopoly of propaganda.

Contrasted with the relative freedom for the dissemination of propaganda in democracies is the complete or nearly complete elimination of this freedom in totalitarian countries. Fascist Germany illustrates how propaganda is used both to bring a dictator into power and to aid him in maintaining that power. In Germany the propaganda which helped convince the people of the efficiency of the National Socialist solution for the country’s political and economic problems was reinforced by an army of storm troops that weakened opposition through terrorism. Such methods made difficult and dangerous the promulgation of competing propagandas. The power of the Nazi propaganda was increased further by the financial support of certain business men and by the political intrigues of Colonel Franz von Papen and other officials of the Weimar Republic.

With the establishment of the National Socialist regime its monopoly of propaganda was rapidly achieved. Suppression of opposition was thorough. Every source of public information and nearly every instrument capable of affecting public opinion came under its control. Although some of the church groups were difficult to dominate, in general the National Socialist propaganda drive went forward with a thoroughness which exceeded at of World War propaganda.”

Basic Totalitarian Propaganda Control

Let’s have a quick look at what this teaches us about how a dictator, or group can gain complete control… the first basic steps.

Shut down the ability of opposing voices to be heard.

Once the ability of opposing voices can easily be heard, there is no major dissention. The party controlling the message gets their way.

In totalitarian states all channels of communication are controlled by the government… or at least the major ones are in sympathy with the government and have lost their objectivity in their reporting

The extent to which the propaganda machinery of a country has been brought under the control of one organization or a group of related organizations is a useful measure of the degree to which absolutism dominates it, of the extent to which democracy has been eliminated.

This process is stimulated by the centralization of the control of the economic structure of a country. A tendency toward a monopoly of wealth is accompanied by a corresponding tendency toward a monopoly of propaganda.

Chicken Little?

So am I a Chicken Little?

I invite you to consider this… In pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany, the government forcefully took over the message. The broadcasters and news reporters had little choice. Get arrested, or beaten up by Storm Troopers, or Killed… or go with the government.

The government here in the USA is not threatening the big media/mainstream media. Not with violence. Not with beatings. Not with organized protests. Not with taking away their businesses should they not toe the government line, or question government authority or proposals. None of that is going on.

While the majority of the news organizations in pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany had to be forcefully brought into compliance with the government leaders demands they (the independent and free news organizations) toe the government line. They did not willfully abdicate their independence. No my friends it was forced on them.

So What Is Going On Today?

News flash of today…

http://drudgereport.com/flashaot.htm

ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE

Tue Jun 16 2009 08:45:10 ET

On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!

Highlights on the agenda:

ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.

The network plans a prime time special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.

ABCNEWS’ Unfair Use of Propaganda Devices

Can you see the propaganda tactics ABCNEWS is using?

Very Blatant for people who understand how to see propaganda being used.

Let’s enumerate them…

Transfer — Remember the Propaganda Device of Transfer carries the authority, sanction, and prestige of something or someone respected and revered over to something or someone else in order to make the later acceptable; or it carries authority, sanction, and disapproval to cause us to reject and disapprove something the propagandist would have us reject and disapprove.
Good ol Charlie Gibson is broadcasting from the Blue Room of the White House. According to Wikipedia the Blue Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor in the White House, the residence of the President of the United States. It is distinct for its oval shape. The room is used for receptions, receiving lines, and is occasionally set for small dinners.
And the ABCNEWS Prime time special ‘Prescription for America’ originating from the East Room of the White House. The East Room is also where a lot of Presidents of the USA give press conferences, and speeches.

Card Stacking — this is taking place in the prime time special. Remember the Propaganda Device of Card Stacking involves the selection and use of facts and half truths and even lies, illustrations, distractions, and logical or illogical statements in order to give the best or worst possible case for an idea, program, person, or product. Just keep piling on “evidence” in his/her favor.
In the case of the ABCNEWS Prime time special, they are not allowing dissenting voices to be heard to refute their “journalists, and unbiased reporters” claims in their piece.

Testimonial, and Plain Folks — are being used in the title of their Prime time Special… “Prescription for America”. Remember the Propaganda Device of Testimonial this can either be telling a story of how someone or something got to this point, or it can be having a respected or hated person say a given idea, action, or person, or group is good or bad. And the Propaganda Device of Plain Folks is the method to make people feel the speaker or group the speaker represents is just like them “one of us” or the speaker attempts to convince his/her audience that he/she and his/her ideas are good because they are “of the people” the ”plain folks“

Now, bear in mind… President Obama did not force ABC to do this. He did not force any news organization to do or report anything, or eliminate reporting on dissenting voices. Not at all, though I’m sure he appreciates the brown nosing of the news organizations. They are doing it of their own volition. Their own free will.

Something Stinks!

Quite Frankly…

It’s Disgusting!

In protest I am boycotting ABC… Every show on ABC… Until they have a change in management that is willing to present balanced viewpoints. Not engaging in propaganda techniques, and not shutting out those who believe differently than they do.

I invite you to join me. There are better things to do than to watch ABC TV.

Rather than masquerading as a News Show… Charlie Gibson should just admit it is a political speech he is giving. He could run an editorial and state it IS and editorial BEFORE giving it. If he and ABCNEWS producers and staff believe their side is right. Give the editorial from wherever they choose. But clearly state it is an editorial.

For anyone… of any belief… If you believe your side is right, then you welcome debate. Because then you can show how right your side is and how wrong the other side is. That is the worst case. The best case is both sides eyes get opened, and an even better solution comes about.

So ABCNEWS… What are you afraid of?

But with the big media (newspapers, magazines, tv) behaving the way they are now…

No wonder people turn to Fox News, the Internet, blogs, etc. to get their unbiased and clearly stated biased information that does not toe the party line.

And before you attack me over “Fox News is a right wing conservative bias network.” Have you heard the news how their main Prime time news anchor Shepard Smith had a melt down calling people who are demanding to see President Obama’s birth certificate “crazies” and are “way out there on a limb … out there in a scary place.” Have you watched the programs where they have smart thinking people who vociferously defend their side in debates on the shows. Yes they have republican AND democrat politicians, campaign managers, and party leaders.

Unfortunately they do not include the Libertarian party spokespeople as well. It would be nice to get a full well rounded debate… but that’s for another time and post.

Personally, being a critical thinker, I like to get all sides of an argument and un-skewered facts and figures BEFORE making up my mind. How ‘bout you?

As Porky Pig says Da, da, da, da, da, dat’s All Folks!

See you next time.

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Congratulations President Elect Barack Obama!

admin — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:27:24 +0000

Congratulations President Elect Barack Obama!

Congratulations go out to President Elect Barack Obama.

You sir, did a magnificent job. In fact your whole team did…. From your winning smile, you oratory abilities, your ability to suppress and not show anger, your choosing a superb campaign manager who ran a pretty much brilliant campaign, the way your staff was able to utilize the “new media”, the people who worked your web site and created all the grass roots support and ability to instantly mobilize them; the long hours and hard and dedicated work of your grass roots; you planning and being in it for the long haul; and more… BRILLIANT!

Additionally, your use of propaganda in swaying people to your side was unequaled in quite some time.

All I can say is…

Genius! Genius! Genius!

Congratulations Again!

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Elected Cook County Sheriff Abuses Power In Obvious Populist Re-election Bid

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:24:46 +0000

Elected Cook County Sheriff Abuses Power In Obvious Populist Re-election Bid

Dear Reader and Friend,

In case you did not hear… On October 8, 2008 Associated Press had a news story about Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. The man is doing his best to appeal to his constituency… the masses… rather than uphold the law he has sworn to obey.

The title kind of says it all…

Chicago’s Cook County won’t evict in foreclosures

The Cook County Illinois Sheriff is refusing to send his deputies out to evict people who have for whatever reason refused to pay their mortgages, and have been forclosed on in the court.

Now why would he refuse to uphold the law? Hmmmm?

He is grasping at straws here to justify his behavior.

Example One:

The article says The sheriff here said Wednesday that he’s ordering his deputies to stop evicting people from foreclosed properties because many people his office has helped throw out on the street are renters who did nothing wrong.

He neglects to mention that the renters are advised the property is going into foreclosure and they better find a new place to live.

Further, he is trying to justify his behavior by pretending he is doing this for the people… the poor downtrodden renter. Though the article does not say he is ignoring only renters… He ordered his deputies to stop evicting people from foreclosed properties.

Obviously he does not understand economics (Fiscal economics). You come to someone to lend you money. You agree to pay back the money being lent to you, and pay interest on that money. Then you refuse to pay back the money and tell the lender Fuck You! And the sheriff… the one they are counting on to enforce the legal agreement tells the lender Fuck Off! Shows he obviously does not understand the consequences of his actions long term.

If lenders are not assured they will be re-paid, will they lend money?

No!

If lenders do not lend money, can they pay depositors interest?

Sheriff Stupidity

Sheriff Dart is quoted in the article with a “Populist” message… he is quoted as saying”

We will no longer be a party to something that’s so unjust…

And He Goes On…

We have to be sure that when we are doing this – and we are destroying some people’ lives – we better be darned sure we’re talking about the right people

And on

My job as sheriff is to follow court orders, absolutely, But I’m also in charge of making sure justice is being done here and it is clear that justice is not being done here.

Regarding his last sentence… WELL DUHHHHH!

If his job as Sheriff is to follow the law, then follow it.

Why Would A Sheriff Not Follow The Law?

It’s not up to the Sheriff to arbitrarily decide which law to follow and which law to ignore… Unless that Sheriff is appealing to his constituency so he can get re-elected and maintain his power.

Could that be the reason?

After all… the press, the politicians, and people being foreclosed on are all vilifying the bankers. They are turning them into scapegoats. And there are fewer bankers and mortgage company executives than there are people who have mortgages.

Remember in my post above…

The Law Is NOT Designed To Deliver Justice… It’s There To Keep Those In Power… In Power. Nothing more, nothing less.

And what better way to be a greedy, selfish pig after power, than doing the popular thing… NOT the right thing.

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A Quote To Remember

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:49:17 +0000

A Quote To Remember

Dear Reader and Friend,

This quote comes from Gerry Spence, in his book “How To Argue And Win Every Time”

It is Extremely Important to keep in mind… in my opinion. You my friend are free to do with it what you will. But I think it will be best to at least consider it and think about what it says, and you will see lot’s of people in authority’s motivations.

“And what is the function of the law in all this?

Even the law is not designed to deliver justice. The law is not ethical.

Instead, law becomes the means by which those in power, justly or unjustly, retain power.

Law preserves power — money power. Law will nearly always dignify a past evil as precedent rather than create justice by changing an unjust law.”

The Most Important

What I saw as most important are these thoughts…

the law is not designed to deliver justice.
law becomes the means by which those in power retain power.
Law preserves power (for those in power).

Think About That

Think about that the next time you see some politician throwing money to some special interest group.

Think about that the next time you see some politician claiming they “are for the people”

Think about that the next time you see some politician calling them selves or being tagged as a “Populist”

Think about that the next time you see some politician looking for, creating, and blaming a scape goat that is in the minority (numbers wise).

Think about that the next time you see anyone in power demonizing those who are lesser in number than the group the one in power represents.

That Explains It

That explains why politicians want to “Soak the rich”… There are more who do not believe the are rich, than those who believe they are rich.

That explains why the mortgage crisis has reared it’s ugly head. Politicians appealing to those more likely to vote them into power and keep them there were the beneficiaries.

”Why it’s prejudice… prejudice I tell you! That’s the reason someone with no job, no income, who has defaulted on every single obligation is not getting a mortgage. We in congress must do something about this grave injustice… Let’s force the bankers to give the people who can not afford it a mortgage.“

And that’s what happened.

I strongly believe, if someone lives up to the three legged stool for a loan they deserve to get one.

And Just What Are The THREE Legs?

The Ability To Pay It Back
The Will to Pay It Back
The Track Record of Paying It Back

In my book, meet those three criteria and you should get a loan.

But now the politicians are blaming the mortgage crisis not on policies they forced down bankers throats… not at all. They are blaming the mortgage meltdown on the “Greedy bankers” you know, the ones who forced mortgages on those unsuspecting people who could not afford them.

And why do they scape goat the bankers? There are more people who have a mortgage than there are bankers.

The Law Is NOT Designed To Deliver Justice… It’s There To Keep Those In Power… In Power. Nothing more, nothing less.

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Unbiased Journalism? OR Climate Change Propaganda hiding as Journalism… You Decide

admin — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:54:06 +0000

Unbiased Journalism? OR Climate Change Propaganda hiding as Journalism… You Decide

Dear Reader and Friend,

Here in my opinion is a blatant propaganda piece masquerading as unbiased journalism. Frankly it disgusts me how so called journalists, get away with this crap all the time. It’s time we Critical Thinkers start to challenge these crap slingers, and their opinion pieces (editorials) masquerading as solid un-biased journalistic reporting. It’s time to call the propaganda what it is, an underhanded attempt to cause the masses to be brainwashed into the propagandists (reporters) beliefs.

Let’s start with the title of the alleged un-biased piece…

With science undisputed, climate bill opponents turn to cost

Biased? or un-biased?

So I will analyze the article for it’s propaganda, and make some editorial comments as well.

But First, let’s review the SEVEN Propaganda devices…

Color Red: Name Calling — generally used to giving an idea a bad label which is used to make us reject and condemn the idea without examining the evidence.

Color Gold: Glittering Generality — associating something with a “Virtue Word” (a word that has several meanings or can mean something good, or bad to the people who hear it but is not quantifiable e.g. freedom it sounds good, makes us feel good, but it means different things to different people.) A Glittering Generality is generally used to make us accept and approve an idea or thing without examining the evidence. Or reject and not approve an idea, or thing without examining the evidence.

Color Blue: Transfer — carries the authority, sanction, and prestige of something or someone respected and revered over to something or someone else in order to make the later acceptable; or it carries authority, sanction, and disapproval to cause us to reject and disapprove something the propagandist would have us reject and disapprove.

Color Maroon: Testimonial — this can either be telling a story of how someone or something got to this point, or it can be having a respected or hated person say a given idea, action, or person, or group is good or bad.

Color Tan: Plain Folks — is the method to make people feel the speaker or group the speaker represents is just like them “one of us” or the speaker attempts to convince his/her audience that he/she and his/her ideas are good because they are “of the people” the “plain folks”

Color Pink: Card Stacking — involves the selection and use of facts and half truths and even lies, illustrations, distractions, and logical or illogical statements in order to give the best or worst possible case for an idea, program, person, or product. Just keep piling on “evidence” in his/her favor.

Color Green: Band Wagon — “Everybody is doing it.” Or at least all of us are doing it. And with this thought and “proofs” the propagandist tries to convince us that all the members of the group we belong to or want to belong to accept his/her program and therefore we must follow the crowd and “jump on the bandwagon”

The article can be found at http://www.mcclatchydc.com/257/story/39908.html

It was dated: Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The byline is By Renee Schoof | McClatchy Newspapers

[Card Stacking combined with Out and out lying]With science undisputed, [Card Stacking alone] climate bill opponents turn to cost

WASHINGTON — Opponents of [Glittering Generality]landmark legislation that would cut greenhouse gas emissions have taken a new approach this week as the Senate began debate on what could eventually be a huge reordering of how the nation gets and uses energy.

[Editors Note: The writer/propagandist of this piece is trying to imply that any “landmark” legislation must be good]

[Name Calling] Instead of challenging [transfer]scientific evidence of a warming world[transfer ends], they’ve focused on costs.[name calling ends] In the end, these opponents say, consumers would be hurt.

[Editors Note: there is a group of 31,000 + scientists right here in the USA broken down in the following professions: as of 6/6/08 there are 31,072 petition signers includes 9,021 PhD; 6,961 MS; 2,240 MD and DVM; and 12,850 BS or equivalent academic degrees. Most of the MD and DVM signers also have underlying degrees in basic science. see Global Warming Petition Project

Outlined below are the numbers of Petition Project signatories, subdivided by educational specialties. These have been combined, as indicated, into seven categories.

Atmospheric, environmental, and Earth sciences includes 3,697 scientists trained in specialties directly related to the physical environment of the Earth and the past and current phenomena that affect that environment.

Computer and mathematical sciences includes 903 scientists trained in computer and mathematical methods. Since the human-caused global warming hypothesis rests entirely upon mathematical computer projections and not upon experimental observations, these sciences are especially important in evaluating this hypothesis.

Physics and aerospace sciences include 5,691 scientists trained in the fundamental physical and molecular properties of gases, liquids, and solids, which are essential to understanding the physical properties of the atmosphere and Earth.

Chemistry includes 4,796 scientists trained in the molecular interactions and behaviors of the substances of which the atmosphere and Earth are composed.

Biology and agriculture includes 2,924 scientists trained in the functional and environmental requirements of living things on the Earth.

Medicine includes 3,069 scientists trained in the functional and environmental requirements of human beings on the Earth.

Engineering and general science includes 9,992 scientists trained primarily in the many engineering specialties required to maintain modern civilization and the prosperity required for all human actions, including environmental programs.

All signed a petition that states:

“We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997, and any other similar proposals. The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advance of science and technology, and damage the health and welfare of mankind.

There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the earth.”

All 31,072 scientists signed this very statement.]

[Card Stacking] ”One huge change from previous debates is that only one person has raised a question that (global warming) is a problem,“[end card stacking] [transfer]said Manik Roy of the Pew Center on Climate Change, which works with large businesses.[end of transfer] ”The No. 1 thing to me is that it’s talk about how to solve it rather than whether to solve the problem.“

Under the global warming bill, or [glittering generality] Climate Security Act,[end of glittering generality] it would no longer be free for factories or power plants to emit carbon dioxide and other global warming gases into the atmosphere. Fees would be levied to curb such [name calling]pollution.[end name calling]

It’s not expected the bill will become law this year. President Bush has said he’d veto it if it passes. But with the presidential candidates supporting some version of the bill’s main ideas, it’s widely thought that emissions controls will be put in place in a year or so. For that reason, the debate now offers a hint of opposition to come.

Senators opposing the bill this week warned that the legislation could make the cost of gas go up. They’ve cited an EPA study that said that the bill could raise prices 53 cents a gallon over 22 years, or 2 cents a year, from 2008 to 2030.

[Editor's Note: What just 2 cents a year. Why we could afford that (said sarcastically)]

[Band Wagon] Several senators —Republicans Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire — said they agreed with the concept of limiting emissions and charging a fee for polluting, but wanted different ways to use the proceeds or a program on a smaller scale. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has said he wants more money for nuclear power.

Republican John Warner of Virginia is a sponsor of the bill, and Republicans Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and Olympia Snowe of Maine also spoke in support of it. [end of Bandwagon]

But most Republican senators echoed the remarks of the president on Monday. Bush said the bill would impose “roughly $6 trillion of new costs on the American economy” and called it a tax increase. The president rejects mandatory regulation of emissions.

[Editor's note: why is it "Bush" why not President Bush... he is the president of the USA after all. They referred to Clinton as “President Clinton”]

Bush’s $6 trillion remark referred to the estimated amount of money the bill would generate by 2050 from sales of permits to emit pollution. The overall limit on greenhouse gas emissions would be lowered each year.

[Editor’s Note: Notice how conveniently the writer neglected to mention the money SIX TRILLION DOLLARS in additional costs, while pooh poohing that objection with the lame excuse “overall limit on greenhouse gas emissions would be lowered each year” That is NOT an answer to dispute the SIX TRILLION DOLLARS this un-necessary law would cost. If you want to dispute something, then actually dispute it. She may as well have said, in answer to the SIX TRILLIONS DOLLARS... the train stopped running past my house each day. Because that has as much bearing as “ overall limit on greenhouse gas emissions would be lowered each year” neither address the cost, or attempt to dispute it. This is good journalism?]

The legislation spells out how money from the permits would be used, including $802 billion in a [glittering generality] tax cut for those who need help with higher energy costs and $955 billion for deficit reduction. Billions also would go to help develop cleaner fuels, improve energy efficiency and help wildlife. [glittering generality ends]

The legislation would “raise taxes, raise substantially gas prices, cause worker layoffs and hurt the economy, and leave us less competitive in the world marketplace,” Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said Wednesday. He called it a “sneaky tax” that would drive up energy costs.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., a sponsor of the legislation, said better fuel economy standards and alternatives to gasoline would drive down demand, end dependence on foreign oil and lower the cost of driving. She and other supporters argued that redirecting part of the proceeds from the sale of the pollution permits to renewable energy would create jobs and replace fossil fuels with cleaner alternatives.

[Editor’s Note: If Senator Boxer was truly concerned about lowering the cost of gas, AND reducing USA dependence on foreign oil... she would support drilling in Anwar — an area that was specifically set aside for drilling under Jimmy Carter’ presidency. She would also support drilling off the coast of Florida, in the mid-west, and Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. If this is really what Senator Boxer said. We don't know if she said the above claimed quote, as it is not quoted in quote marks by the writer.]

“The arguments they’re throwing at us are very shallow. In essence, not one of our opponents has ever even addressed the issue of global warming. They’ve just tried to get us off track on the fictitious attack on gas prices, which falls totally flat,” Boxer said at a news conference.

[Editor’s Note: notice Senator Boxer was quoted in the sentence above... with quote marks even!]

[Band Wagon] Boxer noted that The National Academies, the government’s top advisers on science, engineering and medicine, have reported that the Earth is warming and that most scientists agree [Band Wagon ends] that human actions that have increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are to blame.

[Editor’s Note: except for the 31,000+ USA scientists whose backgrounds include (detailed analysis of the signers' educations follows):

Atmosphere, Earth, & Environment (3,697)

Atmospheric Science (114)

Climatology (40)

Meteorology (341)

Astronomy (58)

Astrophysics (25)

Earth (2,148)

Earth Science (107)

Geochemistry (62)

Geology (1,601)

Geophysics (334)

Geoscience (23)

Hydrology (21)

Environment (971)

Environmental Engineering (473)

Environmental Science (256)

Forestry (156)

Oceanography (86)

Computers & Math (903)

Computer Science (217)

Math (686)

Mathematics (575)

Statistics (111)

Physics & Aerospace (5,691)

Physics (5,106)

Physics (2,310)

Nuclear Engineering (215)

Mechanical Engineering (2,581)

Aerospace (585)

Aerospace Engineering (585)

Chemistry (4,796)

Chemistry (3,156)

Chemical Engineering (1,640)

Biochemistry, Biology, & Agriculture (2,924)

Biochemistry (703)

Biophysics (65)

Biology (1,365)

Biology (985)

Ecology (72)

Entomology (57)

Zoology (145)

Animal Science (106)

Agriculture (791)

Agricultural Science (314)

Agricultural Engineering (111)

Plant Science (292)

Food Science (74)

Medicine (3,069)

Medical Science (726)

Medicine (2,343)

General Engineering & General Science (9,992)

General Engineering (9,751)

Engineering (7,289)

Electrical Engineering (2,075)

Metallurgy (387)

General Science (241)

But GEE... I guess those 31,000+ scientists don’t count. It’s like they don’t even exist.

“That's really why our opponents aren’t debating us on this anymore, because they've lost all traction,” Boxer said.

[Editor‘s Note: Maybe they lost all traction because the press refuses to report on a side or report information that does not agree with their individual point of view and do their best to hide facts that point out the fallacy of their beliefs? Could that be it?

[Name Calling] Shortly afterward, the debate stopped altogether Wednesday afternoon. Republicans refused to accept the usual practice of debating a bill without hearing a full reading of it, saying the reason was to pressure Democrats to get more circuit judges approved. [end of Name Calling]

[Editor‘s Note: Oh, those dastardly Republicans.]

The result was that clerks took turns reading the 500-page bill for hours.

[Editor‘s Note: Well, at least we know someone read it. After all why have a piece of “Landmark Legislation” read? “Landmark Legislation” should be a simple one or two page bill... right???

It‘s irresponsible reporters and editors in the press like the one in this example that can help you understand why we are in the shape we are. How stupidity is triumphing over clear thought and critical thinking.

###

Dear Reader, think things through. Think critically. Just because an article is in a newspaper and not on an editorial page, does that mean it‘s not an editorial? Does that mean the article is not biased?

Try and find the writer‘s motives for writing the story, and what belief they are trying to persuade you of, if any.

Then verify for yourself what you read or heard. Don‘t let opinion masquerade as fact.

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Thought For the Day… Will the Real Manchurian Candidate Please Stand Up!

admin — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:25:12 +0000

Thought For the Day… Will the Real Manchurian Candidate Please Stand Up!

Last night I saw the original “Manchurian Candidate” movie starring Frank Sinatra

You know the one… The plot goes like this

During the Korean War, members of a U. S. Army patrol are captured and taken to Manchuria by Chinese Communists who brainwash them into believing that Raymond Shaw, a mother-dominated sergeant, has led a successful action against the Communists.

Back in the United States, Raymond is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on the strength of his comrades’ testimony.

Actually he is now a puppet of the Communists; at the sight of a Queen of Diamonds, his mind is triggered into obeying any instruction, retaining no knowledge of his subsequent actions.

These are the important parts I want to talk about.

That begs a question…

Could One or Both of the Current Presidential Contenders Really Be A Manchurian Candidate

Rather than the Queen of Diamonds, it’s one of these phrases that triggers their mind into obeying any instruction… phrases like “Capitalism”, “Free Enterprise”, “Global Warming”, “Universal Health Care” and “Muslim Terrorists”.

Here is some food for thought…

McCain

He was a Prisoner Of War in Vietnam. Could he have been brainwashed into anti-Capitalism, anti-Free Speech, anti-USA?

It’s possible… Look at some of his pronouncements and laws he sponsored.

Point One —McCain Finegold It purposefully places limits on Freedom of Speech. Now please remember Freedom of Speech is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America Yet McCain who wants to be President of the United States of America sponsors legislation contrary to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Point Two —McCain is anti-Capitalist Want proof? OK. Who said this… “I don’t like obscene profits being made anywhere — and I’d be glad to look not just at the windfall profits tax&lrquo; Obama? Josef Stalin? Karl Marx? Vladimir Lennon? If you answered yes to the above, your answer would be wrong. It was… that professed patriot… John McCain. Gee… I thought the USA was a Capitalist country. Capitalists do their best to make what some people call “Obscene” profits. And Obscene by who’s standards? A person who never had to make a profit? Can you say McCain? Why he even bragged about that.

Point Three —McCain’s Belief in Man made Global Warming Man made global warming is a myth. It is far, far, far from a fact. In fact more than 31,000 scientists across the U.S. – including more than 9,000 Ph.D.s in fields such as atmospheric science, climatology, Earth science, environment and dozens of other specialties – have signed a petition rejecting “global warming,” the assumption that the human production of greenhouse gases is damaging Earth’s climate. SO it is really far from a consensus. The politicians love pushing the idea of man made global warming because it gives them an excuse to further attempt to control individuals, strip them of their freedoms, and control businesses, and strip them of their profits. And get “contributions” to line their own pockets by doing “favors” for the contributors. Just ask McCain about Lincoln Financial.

Point Four —He was the pointman on the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill, which included amnesty for illegal aliens. Illegal is illegal. If illegal aliens want to be here in the USA, they can do it like all the LAW ABIDING aliens who wait years to get their status (green card, or citizenship). Look at it this way. You want to get in to see a movie, you have been waiting patiently in line for 3 hours. Then suddenly, some people who just arrived, and were not waiting in line cut in at the front of the line. Way in front of you. Can you honestly say you would not mind??? Can you honestly say their time is worth more than yours??? After all YOU were the one who spent all the time waiting in line. So… how would YOU feel? So according to McCain, it’s OK to disobey the laws. Laws are for others, not the ones he feels like giving a break to.

Point Five —McCain being instrumental in fining Big Tobacco Look, if you smoke YOU no one else except YOU are at fault for what happens to your body. There are warnings on cigarette packages. EVERYONE KNOWS Tobacco IS harmful to your health. And if you smoke in spite of this… Sorry, but you are an idiot! No make that IDIOT! And whatever happens is your own fault, not big tobacco. Again anti-Capitalist.

Point Four —Federal Government drug-testing athletes. Obviously McCain wants to get rid of the individualism that made the USA great and replace individual thought and responsibility with a nanny state. A Country where the government owns everything, mandates how much you can make, how much your company can make, where you can go and where you can’t go, what you can say and what you can’t say, and how you can spend your money.

McCain is for Collectivism NOT Individualism. Collectivism is a euphemism for Communism.

Sounds like the Perfect Manchurian Socialist Candidate to me

Could McCain have been brainwashed to promote Collectivism

Let’s look at the other… the projected democrat Presidential candidate… democrat Presidential candidate number 2… because McCain is republican in name only… and his belief in regulating women’s bodies (against abortion). But fiscally and his anti-business, anti-individualism views, and anti-profit views are 100&perc; today’s democrat party views.

Obama

Point One —Obama is anti-Capitalist… or at least a lot of his statements and “handlers and advisors” are.

Point Two —Obama is pro Muslim anti-Jew… or at least a lot of his statements and “handlers and advisors” are.

Point Three —Obama is anti-White… or at least a lot of his statements and “handlers and advisors” are.

Point Four —Obama is anti-Business… or at least a lot of his statements and “handlers and advisors” are.

Point Five —Obama espouses Communistic beliefs and appears to want to change the USA economy to a Communist one… or at least a lot of his statements state his beliefs are.

Could Obama have been captured and brainwashed on his trip when he dressed up in Muslim costume in Nigeria?

He would be the perfect Muslim Manchurian Candidate.

This is Just Philosophizing

I really don’t believe either candidate was brainwashed by “Evil Forces” They just come by their belief’s naturally.

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Sometimes I Really Don’t Get It… I Think Neither Do Those in Power

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:35:42 +0000

Gee I Guess The Sky Is Falling

Talk about stupidity…. Make that STUPIDITY.

Let’s try and twist something, because as everyone in the USA and basically around the world knows, the USA ALWAYS seems to need an enemy.

Why? Because having a common enemy in the past united the people of the USA. So now those in power have decided to manufacture them.

Don’t believe me?…

Great, I love it when you do that…

Look.

In an article entitled “U.S. sees Russia, China, OPEC financial threat” it is once again a “sky is falling” article.

The Logic is Mind Bending

The article dated Feb 5, 2008 starts with…

The United States is worried that Russia, China and OPEC oil-producing countries could use their growing financial clout to advance political goals, the top U.S. spy chief told Congress on Tuesday.

Duh!!!

They have lots of currency, they have gold and oil reserves… we don’t. At least not like theirs.

Did you know that China is currently the number two producer of gold? It only missed South Africa by a few tons. And with the strikes going on in South Africa possibly this year China will be the number one producer of raw gold.

And besides, isn’t that what the UK, the USA and any other country or group does?

Don’t they use their financial clout to get their way?

Security Threat?

The article went on to say

Such economic matters joined terrorism, nuclear proliferation and computer-network vulnerabilities as top U.S. security threats described by National Director of Intelligence Michael McConnell in an annual assessment.

Gee… A country using it’s financial clout now equals terrorism? What kind of world are we living in? What are they going to do, bury us in our increasingly useless US Dollars?

Maybe if those “learned ones” in Washington DC would actually care about the people they were elected to serve rather than care for themselves and their personal power they would act in the best interests of the USA. But that’s a bit much to ask.

The article went on

In the energy sector, a weak U.S. dollar had prompted some oil suppliers, including Iran, Syria and Libya, to ask for payment in other currencies, or to delink their currencies from the dollar, McConnell said. ‘Continued concerns about dollar depreciation could tempt other producers to follow suit.’

Wouldn’t that make economic sense?

Ask yourself, if you could make more money in the stock market than you could putting your money in a savings account, would you do it?

If you could make more money and your money was safer in bonds rather than stocks would you do it?

If your financial wherewith all was safer in one currency over one that was dropping worldwide like a rock, would you get out, and not want to be paid in that currency?

If you answered NO, then I have a suggestion for you. Somalia has about a 10,000% inflation rate right now. Change your currency into Somali money. It costs somewhere around 1,000,000 Somali dollars for a loaf of bread according to an article I read over the weekend. That’s up from around 3000,000 a few months ago.

But you are NOT stupid. You wouldn’t put your money at risk, so why would anyone expect businesses to do so? Why would any sane person expect countries to do so?

Seeing an Enemy Where There Is None

The most telling part regarding China — who so many on the left, right, center, and in the media seem to see as the enemy… this quote from National Director of Intelligence Michael McConnell in the article should put an end to it.

“China has pursued a policy of global engagement out of a desire to expand its growing economy and obtain access markets, resources, technology and expertise,” McConnell said.

“It seeks a constructive relationship with the United States and other countries, but as its influence grows ‘Beijing probably will increasingly expect its interests to be respected by other countries,’ he said.”

Ummmm so let’s see. China is NOT posing a threat. They are peacefully expanding their influence by trade. They are working on expanding their economy looking to get access to more markets, more resources, and more expertise… like any growing entity whether business or country should do. They are looking for a constructive relationship with the USA (who seems to regard them as an enemy),and China expects it’s “interests to be respected by other countries” Gee! What a surprise.

One last thought before I get off this rant…

It is time for the self centered, babies to grow up. The whole world does not revolve around them. The whole world does not revolve around the USA. The government can not protect anyone against every possible negative thing. Whether it’s bullies in the school yard, some knuckle dragging idiot who overpays for a house, or whatever. We will all get along better if we simply adopt the belief of treating others as we would like to be treated ourselves.

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