For those of us who feel we see the actions of the American-led empire correctly, the question that keeps reoccurring is why do so many people remain wedded to lies?
How does a culture change and what are its driving factors? How did attitudes do a complete reversal in a few short decades on smoking cigarettes and gay marriage, for example? Why are so many civil libertarians now siding with government authoritarians? Why do so many people seem to be so easily led to believe what seems to me at least to be things that are so clearly bogus?
Richard Dawkins' book The God Gene explores humans' predisposed evolutionary genetic belief factors in the context of religion, but I wonder if there aren't also wider societal and political implications at play here as well?
I've got no answers today; only questions. Why don't more people recognize the lies that are murdering Julian Assange?
I have similar questions. You may already be familiar with the concept of “mass formation” in social psychology. Professor Mattias Desmet of the University of Ghent is the current popularizer. His explanation of why so many seemingly rational people have rapidly and completely embraced totalitarianism comes as close to answering your questions as anyone I’ve heard or read. There are still (as of this moment) numerous interviews of Professor Desmet on YouTube.
I really feel the embarrassing silence in the British press regarding this international scandal is because British broadcasters and journos have been sent a very intimidating message by the authorities via their editors. Craig Murray has also suffered similarly for what I believe was his unflinching coverage of the Assange trial. They have all been duly cowered by this illegal intimidation especially seeing a judiciary that has bent over backwards to show itself subordinate to the empire.
All this is obvious to anyone even sort of paying attention.
People ignore this because they want to, because cognitive dissonance, because looking the truth in the face and recognizing it for what it is leads to some very uncomfortable conclusions and puts people in some very uncomfortable positions as a result.
I am routinely bringing up the issue of media competence and have to ask myeself if I am stuck with my thinking in trying to explain the shortcomings of our democratic relation we think we have, because kind of no one in my bubble talks about the fact how hard it is to orient in a mass media culture like ours.
Information is power, and since everyone with a mobile has access, a massive campaign to distribute fog of war is under way.
YOu and hubby both do an excellent job - just read his diatribe defending you - I come very late to the game - will be 81 on 12/28 - too many have no idea what is going on and down thanks to FAUX NOIZ by Murdoch;s suckups and also the big 5 "news" networks here in Murky Merica! Tonight I just called my own 52 year old son an asshole on phone with his recent technician's MASTERS in Data Science from Berkeley. Nobody has all the right answers if there is such a thing as RIGHT without MIGHT - Merica's current dilemma ?
The lawless persecution of Assange is, like it's commission of genocide, is another glaring example of the boundless, soulless evil that IS the American empire.
If wikileaks was such a threat to national security - which we are being led to believe - why did they plaster it all over the news for weeks? Free advertising for a 'super, dangerous' website 'revealing state secrets.'
It was BS from day go.
It's not an accident also that the vast majority of UK judges - and every single one in the upper echelons - are all from the elite from birth.
I wrote this song for Julian Assange in 2011. I recall playing this tune at my gigs and how no be knew what I was talking about and couldn’t have cared less.I followed him closely and watched him get shredded in the media and many allies abandoned him. I never have. “It’s gonna get ugly, it’s gonna get rough, I know just how tough they’re gonna play. The wanna shut you up, they gotta shut you down…”
The Assange case is part of the reason so many in America don't believe the government when it pushes vaccines for Covid over Ivermectin and HCQ. Joe Rogan and Jimmy Dore are beginning to sound like paranoid idiots, but they are more believable than any American government official. Where does that leave us? Just "Lost" or "Lost in Space"?
i disagree with this: "Joe Rogan and Jimmy Dore are beginning to sound like paranoid idiots"
I think, to a rational minded person, they are exhibiting healthy skepticism that is dully warranted given the innumerable lies the fed gov and their sycophants in the media have propagandized the public with for at least the past 5 years...we all know it has gone on longer than that (NYT suppressing stories skeptical of WMDs in Iraq, 2005 US fed gov finally admits there were north Vietnamese in the Gulf of Tonkin, again this list is nearly endless).
they are definitively more believable than most gov officials who constantly lie.
just yesterday we had pres joe biden still pushing the pandemic of the unvaccinated even though we are seeing covid cases climb in the UK due to omicron but against a 90% 2x jabbed populace.
here in the USA - even CNN cant avoid the truth - Cornell sending students home due to covid outbreak despite 97% 2x vaccinated student body...many also 3x jabbed
"Virtually every case of the Omicron variant to date has been found in fully vaccinated students, a portion of whom had also received a booster shot," said Vice President for University Relations Joel Malina in a statement.
WRT "paranoid idiots", let me attempt to clarify. First I said "sound like", which probably doesn't correctly convey what I meant. They are definitely not idiots and perhaps adoption of a bit of paranoia is the appropriate option during this time. I went on to say that Dore and Rogan are more believable than government officials. IOW, who ya gonna believe?
Your choice of qualifier, "a rational minded person", is not helpful because it presumes a definition of "rational" that does not exist in the context of COVID. The anti-vaxxers consider themselves to be "rational". The pro-vaxxers consider themselves to be "rational". It has been my experience that most people put themselves in one camp or the other. While I've been 3x vaxxed, I respect my friends choice to not be vaxxed at all -- does that mean I'm the rational one because I'm choosing the on-the-one-hand/on-the-other-hand path?
Or, are we all sounding like paranoid idiots?
We have been lied to for so long about so much by so many so often that we now believe nothing.
Caitlin had a good article giving advice on dealing with this lost feeling to which I rambled on and on and on. Found it for you: How To Actually Effectively Cope With Your Covid-19 Anxiety
While the CNN article you link to may be "true" isn't "the truth". I apologize that I am probably not making my point but CNN will have a different story in 20 seconds that will be "selling" something else.
So speaking of "the Truth" the UofMN is suppose to be having trials on treatments for COVID including Ivermectin. The web site says they're paying $400 to participate. I was "detected" with COVID, I called, emailed and signed up on their web site. Haven't heard a thing. The Oxford PRINCIPLE study has been suspended -- supposedly because they can't get any Ivermectin. I seem to be "over it", and now wonder "what's the big deal"?
Just some random "facts" to confirm my own "idiot paranoia" and pass it on.
thanks for the response. I believe we likely agree on much.
Notably, I agree with you, my qualifier of a "rationally minded person" is subjective - BUT - I think when one engages with another in dialogue, based on the back and forth you can deduce if this person is rational (thinking logically) or operating from fear. Again, it's all subjective because my risk/benefit of this disease/vaccine is different than yours, which is different from your neighbors.
I believe the majority of the world is operating from a position of fear, for a virus with an average infection fatality rating of less than 1% (i am being generous). now again, nuance is necessary, because this is a highly age stratified disease in terms of outcome. the IFR for a 70+ year old is MAGNITUDES higher (seeing estimates of 3-5%) than that of a 50 yr old. I've heard/read epidemiologists say one's risk of death & sever disease doubles every 10 years of age - this comment was based on an analysis which attempted to focus on age explicitly - removing other health factors from consideration.
like you, I think we all may be victim of hypochondria & idiot paranoia. however skepticism of what fauci "the science" says or any of the policies coming from the fed gov/CDC, or international bodies like the WHO is NECESSASRY given their track records.
wishing you and yours the best this holiday season!
Thanks, interesting, Fox has become more honest than the official media narrative . We will know something has changed when our substack leaders like Caitlin stop reflexively condemning Fox, when it is no longer obligatory to condemn fox for fear of social ostracism amongst the commentariat . Glenn Greenwood is avant-garde in this respect.
I would venture that Fox News should not be judged by Tucker Carlson. He has a very popular opinion platform but is no means representative of the network, which still pumps out reams of bullshit, just like the other corporate networks.
I find Caitlin's criticisms of Fox neither reflexive nor incorrect.
When Trump was in power Fox was pathetic cheerleading. Now they’re performing the function of loyal opposition and seem infinitely more honest to me than the other standard MSM. And I agree Tucker stands out as less jingoistic and more inclined to honest inquiry.
I get that, but I'm afraid their principles are only rooted in convenience because republicans/Trump now happen to be in the censorship cross-hairs. I admit that I don't watch Fox News so my views might be dated and/or incorrect. My impression is that they largely still worship the military, Israel, and Trump, who is a traitorous blowhard, so if I'm wrong please correct me.
I tip my hat to Tucker for having opposing voices on. I'm not sure that sense of balance extends to Fox & Friends, Hannity, or any of the other programs that Fox News produces.
Carlson is as much a media whore as Maddow. Whatever it takes to get eyeballs so they can up their advertising rates. It is naive to believe that there are only two sides debating the question. Doing so suggests a misunderstanding of Caitlin's article.
Assange is being persecuted for the “crime” of embarrassing. As if the American government needed any help.
You are a voice of truth and reason, Caitlin. It's not complicated.
For those of us who feel we see the actions of the American-led empire correctly, the question that keeps reoccurring is why do so many people remain wedded to lies?
How does a culture change and what are its driving factors? How did attitudes do a complete reversal in a few short decades on smoking cigarettes and gay marriage, for example? Why are so many civil libertarians now siding with government authoritarians? Why do so many people seem to be so easily led to believe what seems to me at least to be things that are so clearly bogus?
Richard Dawkins' book The God Gene explores humans' predisposed evolutionary genetic belief factors in the context of religion, but I wonder if there aren't also wider societal and political implications at play here as well?
I've got no answers today; only questions. Why don't more people recognize the lies that are murdering Julian Assange?
I have similar questions. You may already be familiar with the concept of “mass formation” in social psychology. Professor Mattias Desmet of the University of Ghent is the current popularizer. His explanation of why so many seemingly rational people have rapidly and completely embraced totalitarianism comes as close to answering your questions as anyone I’ve heard or read. There are still (as of this moment) numerous interviews of Professor Desmet on YouTube.
Thank you for the reference. Found an interview on the Savage Minds site I will check out.
I really feel the embarrassing silence in the British press regarding this international scandal is because British broadcasters and journos have been sent a very intimidating message by the authorities via their editors. Craig Murray has also suffered similarly for what I believe was his unflinching coverage of the Assange trial. They have all been duly cowered by this illegal intimidation especially seeing a judiciary that has bent over backwards to show itself subordinate to the empire.
"I really feel the embarrassing silence in the British press..."
American press: "Here, hold my beer..."
All this is obvious to anyone even sort of paying attention.
People ignore this because they want to, because cognitive dissonance, because looking the truth in the face and recognizing it for what it is leads to some very uncomfortable conclusions and puts people in some very uncomfortable positions as a result.
Again, I love you for saying it, Caitlin.
Absolutely.
I am routinely bringing up the issue of media competence and have to ask myeself if I am stuck with my thinking in trying to explain the shortcomings of our democratic relation we think we have, because kind of no one in my bubble talks about the fact how hard it is to orient in a mass media culture like ours.
Information is power, and since everyone with a mobile has access, a massive campaign to distribute fog of war is under way.
Thank you.
YOu and hubby both do an excellent job - just read his diatribe defending you - I come very late to the game - will be 81 on 12/28 - too many have no idea what is going on and down thanks to FAUX NOIZ by Murdoch;s suckups and also the big 5 "news" networks here in Murky Merica! Tonight I just called my own 52 year old son an asshole on phone with his recent technician's MASTERS in Data Science from Berkeley. Nobody has all the right answers if there is such a thing as RIGHT without MIGHT - Merica's current dilemma ?
The lawless persecution of Assange is, like it's commission of genocide, is another glaring example of the boundless, soulless evil that IS the American empire.
The thing that is never spoken:
If wikileaks was such a threat to national security - which we are being led to believe - why did they plaster it all over the news for weeks? Free advertising for a 'super, dangerous' website 'revealing state secrets.'
It was BS from day go.
It's not an accident also that the vast majority of UK judges - and every single one in the upper echelons - are all from the elite from birth.
I wrote this song for Julian Assange in 2011. I recall playing this tune at my gigs and how no be knew what I was talking about and couldn’t have cared less.I followed him closely and watched him get shredded in the media and many allies abandoned him. I never have. “It’s gonna get ugly, it’s gonna get rough, I know just how tough they’re gonna play. The wanna shut you up, they gotta shut you down…”
https://youtu.be/Qo_GBzpMKCE
The Assange case is part of the reason so many in America don't believe the government when it pushes vaccines for Covid over Ivermectin and HCQ. Joe Rogan and Jimmy Dore are beginning to sound like paranoid idiots, but they are more believable than any American government official. Where does that leave us? Just "Lost" or "Lost in Space"?
i disagree with this: "Joe Rogan and Jimmy Dore are beginning to sound like paranoid idiots"
I think, to a rational minded person, they are exhibiting healthy skepticism that is dully warranted given the innumerable lies the fed gov and their sycophants in the media have propagandized the public with for at least the past 5 years...we all know it has gone on longer than that (NYT suppressing stories skeptical of WMDs in Iraq, 2005 US fed gov finally admits there were north Vietnamese in the Gulf of Tonkin, again this list is nearly endless).
they are definitively more believable than most gov officials who constantly lie.
just yesterday we had pres joe biden still pushing the pandemic of the unvaccinated even though we are seeing covid cases climb in the UK due to omicron but against a 90% 2x jabbed populace.
here in the USA - even CNN cant avoid the truth - Cornell sending students home due to covid outbreak despite 97% 2x vaccinated student body...many also 3x jabbed
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/14/us/cornell-university-covid-cases/index.html
from the article
"Virtually every case of the Omicron variant to date has been found in fully vaccinated students, a portion of whom had also received a booster shot," said Vice President for University Relations Joel Malina in a statement.
just a quick edit regarding the gulf of tonkin incident. i meant to write: "admits there were NO north Vietnamese"
WRT "paranoid idiots", let me attempt to clarify. First I said "sound like", which probably doesn't correctly convey what I meant. They are definitely not idiots and perhaps adoption of a bit of paranoia is the appropriate option during this time. I went on to say that Dore and Rogan are more believable than government officials. IOW, who ya gonna believe?
Your choice of qualifier, "a rational minded person", is not helpful because it presumes a definition of "rational" that does not exist in the context of COVID. The anti-vaxxers consider themselves to be "rational". The pro-vaxxers consider themselves to be "rational". It has been my experience that most people put themselves in one camp or the other. While I've been 3x vaxxed, I respect my friends choice to not be vaxxed at all -- does that mean I'm the rational one because I'm choosing the on-the-one-hand/on-the-other-hand path?
Or, are we all sounding like paranoid idiots?
We have been lied to for so long about so much by so many so often that we now believe nothing.
Caitlin had a good article giving advice on dealing with this lost feeling to which I rambled on and on and on. Found it for you: How To Actually Effectively Cope With Your Covid-19 Anxiety
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/03/30/how-to-actually-effectively-cope-with-your-covid-19-anxiety/
I'm not disagreeing with you.
I'm pretty much just reiterating Catlin's points about COVID and "the truth".
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/?s=Covid
While the CNN article you link to may be "true" isn't "the truth". I apologize that I am probably not making my point but CNN will have a different story in 20 seconds that will be "selling" something else.
So speaking of "the Truth" the UofMN is suppose to be having trials on treatments for COVID including Ivermectin. The web site says they're paying $400 to participate. I was "detected" with COVID, I called, emailed and signed up on their web site. Haven't heard a thing. The Oxford PRINCIPLE study has been suspended -- supposedly because they can't get any Ivermectin. I seem to be "over it", and now wonder "what's the big deal"?
Just some random "facts" to confirm my own "idiot paranoia" and pass it on.
thanks for the response. I believe we likely agree on much.
Notably, I agree with you, my qualifier of a "rationally minded person" is subjective - BUT - I think when one engages with another in dialogue, based on the back and forth you can deduce if this person is rational (thinking logically) or operating from fear. Again, it's all subjective because my risk/benefit of this disease/vaccine is different than yours, which is different from your neighbors.
I believe the majority of the world is operating from a position of fear, for a virus with an average infection fatality rating of less than 1% (i am being generous). now again, nuance is necessary, because this is a highly age stratified disease in terms of outcome. the IFR for a 70+ year old is MAGNITUDES higher (seeing estimates of 3-5%) than that of a 50 yr old. I've heard/read epidemiologists say one's risk of death & sever disease doubles every 10 years of age - this comment was based on an analysis which attempted to focus on age explicitly - removing other health factors from consideration.
like you, I think we all may be victim of hypochondria & idiot paranoia. however skepticism of what fauci "the science" says or any of the policies coming from the fed gov/CDC, or international bodies like the WHO is NECESSASRY given their track records.
wishing you and yours the best this holiday season!
Are both Fox and the liberal media condemning Assange? Are both sides of the culture war agreeing that Julian Assange was a villain?
Tucker Carlson is defending Assange on Fox.
Thanks, interesting, Fox has become more honest than the official media narrative . We will know something has changed when our substack leaders like Caitlin stop reflexively condemning Fox, when it is no longer obligatory to condemn fox for fear of social ostracism amongst the commentariat . Glenn Greenwood is avant-garde in this respect.
I would venture that Fox News should not be judged by Tucker Carlson. He has a very popular opinion platform but is no means representative of the network, which still pumps out reams of bullshit, just like the other corporate networks.
I find Caitlin's criticisms of Fox neither reflexive nor incorrect.
When Trump was in power Fox was pathetic cheerleading. Now they’re performing the function of loyal opposition and seem infinitely more honest to me than the other standard MSM. And I agree Tucker stands out as less jingoistic and more inclined to honest inquiry.
I get that, but I'm afraid their principles are only rooted in convenience because republicans/Trump now happen to be in the censorship cross-hairs. I admit that I don't watch Fox News so my views might be dated and/or incorrect. My impression is that they largely still worship the military, Israel, and Trump, who is a traitorous blowhard, so if I'm wrong please correct me.
I tip my hat to Tucker for having opposing voices on. I'm not sure that sense of balance extends to Fox & Friends, Hannity, or any of the other programs that Fox News produces.
Carlson is as much a media whore as Maddow. Whatever it takes to get eyeballs so they can up their advertising rates. It is naive to believe that there are only two sides debating the question. Doing so suggests a misunderstanding of Caitlin's article.