“By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise.”
-Adolf Hitler
Propaganda – 1710-20. New Latin, short for congregatio de propaganda fide congregation. Or congregation for the propagating the faith.
- Information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
- The deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.
- The particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or movement.
- Roman Catholic Church. A committee of cardinals, established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, having supervision over foreign missions and the training of priests for these missions.
- Roman Catholic Church. A school (College of Propaganda) established by Pope Urban VIII for the education of priests for foreign missions.
“Whoever has the youth has the future”
-Adolf Hitler
Institutionalized Patriotism and the Prussian education system.
When most people think of propaganda they think of the Nazi war machine, Russia, or maybe North Korea. As Americans, we aren’t conditioned to think of the United States as a for-profit war machine. I for one never once gave thought to the United States disseminating propaganda until after the 911 attacks. I’d always viewed us as the “good guys” the “protectors.” The thought that the U.S. could be used as a mechanism for oppression never crossed my mind. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe Americans are bad people, not at all. We give more to charity than any other country, and like most people in the world, we are just good people. It’s the shadow government I’m speaking of. The corporatocracy. Some call it the shadow government. The CFR, Tri-laterial Commission, industry, the money movers. These groups have set up institutions which plug on long after our elected officials have come and gone. Our country has morphed into an unrecognizable beast of some kind. Our economy is in decline and every institution which made this country great is being systematically deconstructed. This includes family, industry, manufacturing, church, community, small farming, and private land ownership, even gender identity for god’s sake. Nothing is sacred, nothing is beyond scrutiny, and everyone is a victim with their hand out. The government has become autonomous and lurches forward dragging with it our elected officials who we pray will staunch the madness. I believe that most of those elected officials have noble ideas when they enter into public office but the nature of the beast changes them, and bit by bit, vote by vote, they are whittled down into a usable peg or they are discarded.
Like most of you out there, I am a victim of public education. And like everyone who just read that I never once considered my public education as indoctrination as such. Why would I? My parents got me dressed everyday and sent me off to school with a lunch pail and all my friends. My development and growth was defined by a standardized grading system which I was either praised or corrected. The subjects taught I understood were the foundation of what was required to be successful in our society, etc. It took me a few years after leaving our Prussian social conditioning system to realize what a prison it truly was. Almost anything worth learning or knowing was never even taught. The trivium, nor the quadrivium was ever mentioned. Classic education like logic, rhetoric, and debate were avoided, and instead we were fed sanitized government sanctioned material. Subjects were forty miles wide and only an inch deep, no wonder I hated school.
With the recent implementation of common core in the U.S. school system, the nightmare has compounded and children don’t stand a chance. Aside from the dumbing down and backward thought process of the system in general, the entire curriculum and testing is built around and graded to the collective. This means that a child will only excel in the public school system if he decides to adopt and grow along with the philosophy. Only those children who show an acceptance of collectivism and socialism move up within the system. Freethought and individualism are discouraged, and students showing these qualities are guided towards vocational skills. This is nothing more than social engineering. This is Hitler’s dream, only it’s now the U.S. education system.
I now realize that I was being conditioned for a life of service (in a labor of my choice) as a human resource in which the government would attempt to draw as much wealth (taxes) off of as they could possibly get away with before I expired.
I thought only Nazis dealt in propaganda.
Oh hell no, propaganda is as old as government. Although today’s world has become more sophisticated, not gone are the days of slogans, posters, and commercial ads. These mediums are still employed in our society due to their effectiveness. Like definition #4 above, those who came up with the term “propaganda” simply needed an institutionalized marketing tool, and that’s exactly what it is. Marketing. However, instead of selling you soap or cookies you are being sold ideas. For as strong as Governments are they are nothing without the will and consent of the people backing them.
“Propaganda, Marketing’s evil twin.”
Author
https://youtu.be/ddAkAxwkStM
Is all propaganda bad?
I’m thinking probably not, In fact, one can make a good argument that it is necessary to a certain degree. As a country, we are basically an institution and institutions as such require organization. In a tribal scenario, propaganda is not needed as motivation is usually driven by mutually understood survival needs. As this family gets bigger, the views and perspectives become many, especially in a free society which draws its strength from open debate. Fast forward to a nation of 300 million people. How does one begin to organize and rally the collective will of this many people? Propaganda of course, and it is at this point that ideas must be marketed and sold. This is how the government influences its citizens as well as the citizens of other nations in times of peace and war. It is also for this reason that a free people must be educated and continually engaged in their government if they expect to remain free. So in some respects propaganda is necessary and until something else replaces the current system I don’t expect to see it go away. In fact, I would look for it to only become more sophisticated and subtle. This has already begun and we see evidence of this in movies and TV.
There is a line somewhere. I thin line which is always moving and seldom defined, this line separates marketing from propaganda. I would imagine that when marketing goes dark it is known as propaganda. Think of it as marketing’s evil twin.
I would like to be clear from the get-go here, this is not a left/right issue. I make no judgments about either party other than they are both as crooked as hell and an illusion of freedom. All our leaders have been guilty of lying to the American people for immediate ends and I will call it out when I see it. The parties don’t really mean anything anymore and only serve the puppet masters to put on a show of freedom and choice. True freedom begins between your ears and that is what this article is about.
Deploying Propaganda (A hypothetical scenario)
The president of the United States is driving in a motorcade somewhere in Texas. He is shot in public and within hours every television and radio station in the world is uttering the name, Lee Harvey Oswald. 
This name is repeated thousands of times in the next few days, plastered on the front pages of newspapers, photos of him are everywhere, and it is explained how he shot the president from the window of a nearby library book depository. Lee H. Oswald is himself shot in public the next day and killed. Every media source then reports that the president’s assassin, a “lone gunman” has been murdered by a patriotic citizen who was enraged by the injustice of it all.
What is happening is that a narrative is being created (deployed actually) and this narrative is coming from an official source with people in uniform standing behind the statements. Behind the scene, there is profound psychological work being done here. This news is being delivered on television and in print, and you along with everyone you know is are receiving the same information. This story is repeated thousands of times until it is written in a book somewhere and becomes official history. One would have to be a crazy conspiracy theorist to believe something other than what has reported thousands of times on T.V. and written in history books. After all, accredited and vetted experts with degrees and tenure have done analysis on the evidence and presented their reports. These reports were then given to official government offices who then filed them into the records. These reports were then subpoenaed and stamped into evidence during the official government investigation. The investigation finds that the JFK was killed by a “lone gunman” exactly as it was reported the first day on T.V. Everything else is a “conspiracy theory.”
“History is the Lie Commonly Agreed Upon.”
-Voltaire
A memorial is soon built to honor the event so that the memory of the tragedy will never die. News crews come to the memorial and do a bit on the Heads of State who dedicate the memorial to the fallen leader and the people of America. The nation mourns collectively and attempts to understand this great tragedy and the depravity of this “Lone Gunman.” All of this reinforces the official story.
The following year is the first anniversary of this terrible event and the cameras gather at the site to reflect back upon the tragedy. Updates are given about the family and the entire narrative is then reaffirmed through this display.
I’m willing to bet, at the time of this writing January of 2016, when you read the words “Lone Gunman” the name Lee Harvey Oswald comes to mind, regardless of the context in which it is being used. Geesh, how did that happen? Nobody ever stops long enough to notice that the words “lone gunman” and “book depository” have been uttered nearly every time this event has been mentioned. Who is even going to think to consider an alternative much less consider evidence to the contrary? Who would deny this tragedy and dishonor the memory of the dead by creating a delusional story which contradicts not only the news reports, but state and federal officials, co-workers, friends and family, and history books? What kind of paranoid lunatic would deny the “official narrative and concoct an elaborate story when the truth is so simple and clear cut? What in the world would they possibly have to gain?
There is now not only collective emotional equity in the official story but nearly a decade of decisions based on the fact that a “lone gunman” killed the president. If it were proved that there was indeed a conspiracy within the government this would force the public not only question policy and legislation enacted immediately after the assassination but force the issue of redress. Admitting a conspiracy now also has huge impacts on a person’s ego. For that person now has to admit that they believed a lie for all those years.
Well, in 1963 America’s gut instinct was pretty good, however, the television was still a relatively recent invention and Americans were primarily getting their news from it along with the newspaper. The United States was innocent in those days and if Walter Cronkite said it, it was gospel, however, people knew something was off. At this time over 50% of people believed the assassination of JFK was a conspiracy, and not the work of a lone gunman despite the onslaught of propaganda. This number swelled to around 81% by 1976 and today (2016) it is roughly around 53%. (More than likely the result of the next generation who learned of this event through the history books at public school.) We see these numbers change with the amount of propaganda pumped into the public sphere for consumption. Reality is what comes across the television. Reality is what you read in the newspaper. Reality is, in fact, the end result of an ongoing and never ending information war. Propaganda.
What if we turned on our T.V.’s tomorrow and we learned that President Putin had been shot by a crazy lone gunman who was then shot by patriotic strip bar owner who just could stand the injustice of it all. What if hours later the Russian government installed a president whose political views were 180 degrees opposite of Putin’s? Would we buy that story for a minute? Does the probability of that scenario make any sense to you at all? No, It would be obvious to the world that it was a coup.
Today’s Americans aren’t as naive as they once were. In fact, most people under 30 no longer believe half of what they hear on T.V. They receive the majority of their information from the internet, and make no mistake there is a war on for control of this technology. I believe the internet set back those who would be our would be masters decades and now they are trying to reign it in. I imagine they will use the same scare tactics they have been using for a decade now, that being terrorism. The big evil boogie monster that they can pull out of a hat whenever they need to in order to foment the desired change. Our government has been caught red-handed training, funding, and arming these people for years now. Of course it was denied until proven, then they just said it was a matter of policy and the reasons were classified. There was the funding and arming of Isis as well, but that was to have them help remove Assad. Of course what we are fed over here isn’t what is actually going on over there. Anyone seeing a pattern here?
The Nayirah Testimony
(From Wikipedia) The Nayirah testimony was a false testimony given before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on October 10, 1990 by a 15-year-old girl who provided only her first name, Nayirah. The testimony was widely publicized, and was cited numerous times by United States senators and President George H.W. Bush in their rationale to back Kuwait in the Gulf War. In 1992, it was revealed that Nayirah’s last name was al-Ṣabaḥ (Arabic: نيره الصباح) and that she was the daughter of Saud Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States. Furthermore, it was revealed that her testimony was organized as part of the Citizens for a Free Kuwait public relations campaign which was run by AmericanHill & Knowlton for the Kuwaiti government. Following this, al-Sabah’s testimony has come to be regarded as a classic example of modern atrocity propaganda
Here is another example of modern day propaganda as it relates to the war on Isis.
Naomi Wolf has some insight on Government “news events” and false flag operations.
https://youtu.be/K7LmxyZXMw0
Personal reality and worldviews
The vast majority of Americans (I would guess upwards of 80%) operate and form their daily worldview based on an extremely narrow cross section of media sources. Sources which repeat the exact same story as every major media outlet in the country. Most of these people believe they are quite informed because they wake up with (insert favorite news network), listen to some talk radio on the way to work, or scan the morning paper. They may then briefly discuss these news events with a coworker and each reaffirm their collective reality. But what has just really happened? A few things actually.
- That person was exposed to information about a new event which was first decided upon as news, and then filtered, packaged, and disseminated according to them and in accord with federal law.
- The validity of this version of the event covered in the morning news was reinforced by peers, and co-workers, solidifying a collective reality. The facts and narrative have been “set.”
- When they get home and turn on the evening news, the story is still being covered and new reinforcing facts are added to the initial story solidifying it as fact.
- They wake up the next day with emotions, and personal judgments surrounding the event and share them with peers in an effort to maintain the established parameters of what is normal and accepted behavior in the society in which they live.
Now imagine for a moment if that news source was controlled. Imagine if one story was chosen over another and covered to exhaustion while perhaps a more important story went uncovered. This wouldn’t even have to even be a wide-reaching conspiracy. One would only have to control the editor, for it is he/she who decides what gets disseminated and becomes “news.” And that can easily be controlled through corporate policy. Anyone who counters this direction is replaced. Much how things operate at your own workplace. “Hey, I’m just doing my job man.” “I’m not authorized to make that decision.” “That’s not an option on my screen sir.”
To some extent, everyone (myself included) is affected by mainstream media and is an extension of the this apparatus. Unless you’ve spent the time researching what you’ve just heard, and consider the alternatives, sources, etc then you are simply a passive participant. But that’s a lot of work. Who has the time to track down every story and research it for themselves? Not many people and that is why this medium exists. In today’s world of never ending news cycles how does one pick and choose what is worth listening to and believing? By what stays on the radar to longest (media saturation) and what their friends are saying of course.
The Power of Propaganda
How the sheep police themselves
People believe themselves to be individuals with independent thoughts, goals, and dreams; while the government as an institution views them quite literally as a “human resource”. You don’t believe me? Try telling your dreams to the IRS and see how far it gets you. For a few to control the many brute force is rarely an option. The control must be woven into the institutions of their society and fear deployed surgically and regularly. It’s much easier to get the people to police themselves than to stand behind them wielding a whip. Financial control solves this problem by controlling peoples actions as does shame and ridicule. These are extremely effective as they play directly into human physiological hard wiring. If you want to know how to control people, start with simple psychology. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs will define the battle ground for this incursion.
Did you know that NEWS actually means something? It is an an acronym for NORTH, EAST, WEST, SOUTH. The word “news” was meant to convey what is happening in all directions around you.
It’s my opinion that people no longer watch the news to learn about what has transpired in their immediate world, but rather to verify and reaffirm their personal world perspective. I believe they simply attempt to reassure themselves that they are not alone, and that others do in fact think as they do. The more unsure they are about their world, the more “news” they will consume, ergo, reinforcing their beliefs. What you end up with isn’t so much educated people, as extremely keyed up, polarized individuals who feel the need to defend their world view for the sake of preserving the frailty of said world view.
At this point one need only manipulate the media to control the bias of the people. Better yet, polarize them into two controlled camps in order to give the illusion of choice and thought. After all, our species is already genetically hard wired to think this way. Why in the world do you think there are only two teams which ever play each other in sports? Why not 3 or 5 or 8? Vanilla vs chocolate, Conservative vs liberal, white vs black, red vs blue, good vs bad, Democrats vs Republicans, Dallas vs the Patriots. Good vs Evil. Our brains process information by contrast and it is this varying degree of contrast which we scrutinize and process into usable information. This is why there are only two. Simply keep the people occupied with a simple understandable choice, allow them the ability to get involved, and they think they are in control. Meanwhile, lay out the parameters of their world through laws and regulations, tell them they are free, give them two days off a week, diversion (sports) and booze and wala, you have a controllable system in which the masses themselves will strive to protect, defend, and self regulate. Of course there will be a few strays but these can easily be rounded up and either turned back into the herd or simply butchered.
If one wishes to make drastic changes within this system and the masses aren’t willing to go along with it simply implement the Hegelian dialectic. Otherwise known as Problem, Reaction, Solution.
Say you want to disarm the American people but they just aren’t willing to give up their 2nd amendment right. You could create a “problem” by orchestrating a number of coordinated school mass shootings with non-stop media coverage. The “Reaction” is outrage and emotional outpouring by the people of the nation who in turn demand that something is done to prevent this from ever happening again. The “solution” would be the legislation which has already been written and in the hands of a legislature just waiting for such an event to occur. Can’t happen you say. Just look into operation “Fast and Furious.” That is exactly what it was all about and it’s only by a slim twist of fate that it ever came to light.
Crazy? Do you know what legislation came out of the 911 attacks? Answer, The Patriot Act. The single most oppressive piece of legislation to ever roll back the freedoms and rights of the U.S. citizen. However it was given a sexy name, and marketed as a tool with which to fight terrorism and keep Americans safe. To this, the American people rallied and urged their representatives to see that it was passed. Do you feel safer today then you did September 12th 2001? Have all the x-rays and frisking at the airport helped to keep you safe? The TSA its self admits that they haven’t caught a single terrorist. The fact that you no longer have any electronic privacy, or can be held indefinably without being charged or legal representation should scare the hell out of you. Constitutionalists, patriots, and veterans have been classified as the greatest threat in regards to domestic terrorism while 80% of the country is sucking down beers and watching the Kardashians. When they look up long enough to catch a breath they are bombarded with an endless news cycle of terrorists attempting to kill someone somewhere, identity theft, or the onset of the worst flu season ever. It is nonstop mental terrorism and it is being inflicted by our own government. Since 911 the United States has been engaged in endless conflicts which has spawned an endless bombardment of fear porn and social anxiety ever since. Our police have become militarized, and the racial divide is greater than ever before. How much of this could be alleviated by simply not consuming mainstream news? In the words of the great John B. Wells “If you want something to go away, stop buying it.”
To change gears a bit a recent Huffington Post poll revealed that 48% of adults in the U.S. are open to the idea that alien spacecraft are observing our planet- and just 35% outright reject the idea. See here. This poll offered me a unique chance to test some social theories while at work. In my profession I experience a substantial cross section of people from different parts of the country as well as the world over. I will sometimes bring up the topic of UFO’s and watch for the resulting activity. Most people I find will usually respond in scoffing, joking manner while throwing in something about tin foil hats. Regardless of their position on the subject, this they assume is a safe position on the subject and will save them from the ridicule of believing in something generally deemed to be fiction. It’s then I will exclaim my view on the subject and my reasons for believing in such matters and only then do they begin easing up on their feigned disbelief and dig into the topic often admitting that they themselves have pondered this possibility and believe that there may be something out there.
“The receptivity of the masses is very limited, their intelligence is small, but their power of forgetting is enormous. In consequence of these facts, all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan.”
―Adolf Hitler
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great article, it only lacks the information necessary to distinguish the principal actors in this global scam