CommonDreams: The Attack of the Useful Idiots

[marmar]

Published on Thursday, August 13, 2009 by CommonDreams.org
The Attack of the Useful Idiots

by Guy Reel


You almost have to laugh at the idea of the “marketplace of ideas” when you hear the vast majority of today’s talk radio. What functions in that forum is not a marketplace, but a virtual monopoly — an echo chamber of the same points over and over, where lies and distortions are both commodity and currency.

Of course, the customers and hucksters of right-wing radio would argue that it is in fact a marketplace — it’s just that there is very little market for liberal views. That may be true, although one suspects that the market is attended not by shoppers who want to sample various wares but instead by those who are strictly brand-loyal. It is apparent that these people are uninterested in hearing anything that may challenge their worldview, and thus they amount to a very good market niche for anyone willing to lie to them.

If this seems simplistic, consider the level of “discourse” offered by those who have disrupted the recent town hall meetings on health care. Not only do they not want to hear much about health care, they apparently don’t want to hear anything at all except their own whining and shouting about “taking back our country,” obeying the Constitution and decrying government control, etc.

Some have argued that these protesters are “Astroturf” — fake grass-roots groups bused in for the purpose of shutting down debate. That may be so, but it doesn’t really matter, because there can be no doubting their sincerity. These people may be a minority of voters, and they may not fully understand the issues. But can there be any doubt that these are the same people who fervently believe in the right-wing shouting points heard daily on the radio all over America? They may not be mainstream, but they are real and they must be heard. Just ask them (or don’t — they will gladly shout at you anyway). They have been taught for 30 years or more now that their liberties are being stolen by nefarious traitors and liberals, and that they must fight back or lose their guns, livelihoods, neighborhoods — even their lives. So, when they come to these gatherings, they display a rather telling demeanor — they apparently think these town hall meetings are just another version of right-wing radio. They have no basis for separating normal civil conversation from the daily diatribes of the seemingly endless parade of charlatans, fools, liars and dupes who pass for commentators in every city, town, village and hamlet in the country. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/13-7

[RandomThoughts]

1. And they would have voted for a third term for Bush.

Even after everything we know.

Here is the thing, the more an issue seems important the more people will dig for information on it. When the screaming right gets the attention of many 'in the middle people' they will dig a bit more for information, and they will think on it more.

If things are shallow attention, the subtle manipulations have the most effect, but when people pay attention and think and look for information, it is the difference from awake and asleep, simple lies do not hold sway or power when people think and dig on things, and they actually backfire as people start to see they are lies.

Getting people to think on the topic is a win for the side that is telling the truth for good reasons.

So even though they scream and are frustrated, they actually help the side of the argument that is on the correct side, and most people think the correct side is the side that helps the most people.