Propaganda in a Democratic Society - Aldous Huxley

[Room101]

...<snip>

There are two kinds of propaganda - rational propaganda in favor of action that is consonant with the enlightened self-interest of those who make it and those to whom it is addressed, and non-rational propaganda that is not consonant with anybody's enlightened self-interest, but is dictated by, and appeals to, passion. Were the actions of individuals are concerned there are motives more exhalted than enlightened self-interest, but where collective action has to be taken in the fields of politics and economics, enlightened self-interest is probably the highest of effective motives.

If politicians and their constituents always acted to promote their own or their country's long-range self-interest, this world would be an earthly paradise. As it is, they often act against their own interests, merely to gratify their least credible passions; the world, in consequence, is a place of misery.

Propaganda in favor of action that is consonant with enlightened self-interest appeals to reason by means of logical arguements based upon the best available evidence fully and honestly set forth. Propaganda in favor of action dictated by the impulses that are below self-interest offers false, garbled or incomplete evidence, avoids logical argument and seeks to influence its victims by the mere repetition of catchwords, by the furious denunciation of foreign or domestic scapegoats, and by cunningly associating the lowest passions with the highest ideals, so that atrocities come to be perpetrated in the name of God and the most cynical kind of Realpolitik is treated as a matter of religious principle and patriotic duty........

http://www.deoxy.org/huxley1.htm

[arcane1]

1. sweet! Thanks!

:toast:

[Maat]

2. Exactly -- sweet! Thanks!

Scary, though. 'Papa' has turned into a parrot, who spits out the Repuke catchphrases whenever we ask him why he's not voting for Kerry. 'Higher taxes!' It is not worth the effort it would take to try and convert him.

[arcane1]

3. sounds like my dad

they have heard it so long, so frequently, that they deny the truth even when it's looking right at them

that freeper thread about the mercenaries is a great example. They know that's what they were, but still say "nuh-UH!"

:crazy: