Throwing red meat to the lions

I watched an interesting TV show last night about the origins of the Nazi party in the immediate post WWI Germany.  (Yes, I'm a history nerd.)  Stay with me here....this is leading to a modern corollary.  

It told the familiar story of a few malcontents who met regularly in dark Munich beer halls, how Hitler met Goering and the original party core was formed, etc.

 

 Propaganda Minister Goebbels wrote the book on print and electronic thought manipulation.

But then it told of how things were moving in slow motion until they bought a small Munich newspaper, the Das Groobenshinerbocklageramberale (not sure about the spelling).  That was their original propaganda mouthpiece, and that's when their membership took off. 

They filled its pages with slanted news, sometimes factual, sometimes made up, to whip their fellow malcontents into a frenzy.  And they soon found radio had an even wider audience.

The Fox News of the 1930's?

That's not likely to ever happen again.  Today we're much more sophisticated.  Or are we?  Ever watch Fox News?  In a headlong race to the bottom, they're in first place by a wide margin.  They're not even subtle about it.  

They're a mouthpiece for the ultra-conservative right....the Tea Partyers, and those who are (or at least think they are) in a privileged position.  Some of their "contributors" are actually funny they're so absurd.  Fox News today is the ultra-right wing's Das Groobenshinerbocklageramberale.

In fairness, the ultra-left has their mouthpiece, too....MSNBC.  The only difference is, nobody watches it.  They once invented their own propaganda radio network (Air America) and it flopped miserably, too.  I guess they haven't read that book by Goebbels, Propaganda, Lies, and Just Plain Bullshit.  Fox News obviously has, and has even added ts own prologue.

The right says the New York Times is a liberal mouthpiece, but as long as you stay off their editorial pages, I don't see it.  It's pretty much just who, when, where, why, and how plain vanilla news.  I had a good chuckle recently when my pseudo-Tea Party brother showed me a "conservative" article in the Dallas Morning News, then started lambasting the "liberal NYT".  

Only then did I show him the by-line of the article's author at the end of the Dallas News story....it was a NYT journalist.  They just copy and pasted his story.  Haha!

Anyone who quotes from either Fox or MSNBC as their source loses huge credibility with me.  People today only want to hear that which reinforces what they already believe.

We need to learn to read more widely and think for ourselves again.  We've become very gullible people.  What's that old saying about history repeating itself?

S

Vanity

I never cease to be amazed at the gullibility of some people.  What I've noticed, however, is the divide between "educated" gullibility and "ignorant" gullibility.  An example of ignorant gullibility is the scam from the "National Bank of Nigeria" telling me my fortune is waiting for final disposition, AFTER I send them a sum of money for the last bit of legal work, of course.  Obviously they're pushing people's "greed" hot button.  I guess it works or else they wouldn't keep sending out such emails.

Educated people are probably too smart to fall for that.  Instead, those trying to get into educated wallets tend to aim for our "vanity" hot button.  I can promise you if you've ever written a letter to your Senator or Congressman, or contributed to any politician's campaign, your name is on their sucker list.

I regularly get correspondence on official letterhead from the Chairman of both the Republican and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees commending me for my "thoughtful reasoning and civic responsibility".  They tell me I'm the kind of person Senator _____ would like to have on his Grass Roots Steering Committee, advising the good Senator on issues that affect us all.  

But first, of course, Sen. _____ must get re-elected.  Won't I please be a sport and give (pick one) $100, $500, $1,000, or more?  And as a thank you, Senator _____ will rush me a lapel pin signifying to the world what a VIP I am.  WooHoo!

(Umm....can I wear a lapel pin on a T-shirt?  After Labor Day?)

Have you been anointed like me?  Does your Senator call you by your first name?  Are you on his Rolodex?  Do you have a personal invitation to stop by and visit Sen. _____ anytime?  I do, 'cause I'm special.  (He said he would be in his car somewhere.)  

S

The Coalition to Save the Cute Puppies

Don't you just love the way special interests hide their real intentions behind oh-so-innocent sounding non-profit organizations?  "The Coalition to Save the Cute Puppies" (fictional) might well be a group of scummy puppy mill owners scheming to get the SPCA de-certified.

We must be the most gullible people on earth.  Our hearts are definitely in the right place, but it seems many of us check our brains at the door.  Watch this funny Penn and Teller piece on how environmentalists, good people that they are, can so easily be duped:

This could just as easily have been a group of casinos in one state (God-Fearing Christians Against Evil Gambling) working to kill the chances of any new casinos opening just across the state line, stealing their customers.  "Sure I'll sign your petition Brother Bugsy, and here's a few of my hard earned dollars for your wonderful cause, too."

In my state we have a non-profit called something like "Supporting Our State Troopers" which leads people to think if they give a few $$$ and put the trooper's membership sticker on their car they will be given a "pass" if they're caught speeding.  

Truth is, almost none of the money goes to any state trooper groups, and you will NOT be given a pass if caught speeding.  Their motto might as well be "Thanks suckers!"

The old saying "A fool and his money are soon parted" is as valid today as it ever was. Do be compassionate and selfless, but be smart, too.

S