Caitlin Johnstone nails it once again. Mass propaganda is pernicious, pervasive, and pluripotent. Writers like Caitlin are essential, not just for calling out state-sponsored bullshit but because she mercilessly breaks the plutocracy's complicated misdirections into simple base elements everyone can understand.
Would propaganda be enough, on its own, to sustain the rapacious global empire? Is it simply a case of show the truth, expose the sociopath elite, watch the revolution? I suspect not. I'm thinking there's two further obstacles to fomenting widespread resistance, two factors the ruling class bet their very existence on being able to exploit: path of least resistance and insensible imperative conceit.
It would be very interesting to read CJ's insight - and ideas for solution - on these twin evils.
Path of least resistance handicaps us all. It's another piece of our evolutionary toolkit that probably helped our ancestors survive but has been completely subverted by the modern world. Path of least resistance covers fear of change, aversion to expressing real freedom, preference for the sham security of demagogues, nationalism, and the reductio ad wanker of binaries like right/wrong, good/bad, ingroup/untermensch. Path of least resistance is the perpetual crude oil state power (and corporate consumer capitalism) uses in its propaganda refineries to manufacture consent (and sell us shiny crap).
Insensible imperative conceit is harder to describe - at least for a non-writer like me. Insensible means not seeing or hearing or allowing yourself to be exposed to truth/facts reality or some other person is trying to present. Imperative because time is short and we're driven by perceived urgency of getting from A to B without risk wasting time on possible distractions. Conceit because we think we know what's best and we see unfamiliar or uncredentialed sources of new information as a personal affront. "Who do you think you are to try to educate me?" and "I don't have time to listen to your quibbles, let alone debate them." The perceived toxicity of social media is caused more by our own insensibility than any outrage algorithm or trolling. We complain to avoid having to question ourselves, because conceit wants us blameless and urgency leaves us brainless.
So, in short, it'd be fascinating to see an exploration of these propaganda facilitating aspects of empire mass control. It feels like we need to deal with both path of least resistance and insensible imperative conceit, as well as laying bare the lies of the elite, if we're going to push back on the neocon-neoliberal cartel of doom.
I agree, I wrote this in reply to a comment above, I would add, control. Is the control of Russian natural resources a key to climate tipping point? Wind and Solar will never produce the energy we need at even past consumption rates. There is only one energy resource that can and empire would only be comfortable with absolute control?
You're right that there's a factor of natural resources, but it has to do with WEALTH and POWER, not climate change. The US has a very skanky empire/hegemony that consists of militarily smashing other countries in order to economically smash them into giving up their resources... It's been done over and over and over and over... And Russia has the ability to UNDO the US hegemony, and so does China, and that is why both countries are a THREAT. Simple as that, in a general overview kind of way.
Caitlin Johnstone nails it once again. Mass propaganda is pernicious, pervasive, and pluripotent. Writers like Caitlin are essential, not just for calling out state-sponsored bullshit but because she mercilessly breaks the plutocracy's complicated misdirections into simple base elements everyone can understand.
Would propaganda be enough, on its own, to sustain the rapacious global empire? Is it simply a case of show the truth, expose the sociopath elite, watch the revolution? I suspect not. I'm thinking there's two further obstacles to fomenting widespread resistance, two factors the ruling class bet their very existence on being able to exploit: path of least resistance and insensible imperative conceit.
It would be very interesting to read CJ's insight - and ideas for solution - on these twin evils.
Path of least resistance handicaps us all. It's another piece of our evolutionary toolkit that probably helped our ancestors survive but has been completely subverted by the modern world. Path of least resistance covers fear of change, aversion to expressing real freedom, preference for the sham security of demagogues, nationalism, and the reductio ad wanker of binaries like right/wrong, good/bad, ingroup/untermensch. Path of least resistance is the perpetual crude oil state power (and corporate consumer capitalism) uses in its propaganda refineries to manufacture consent (and sell us shiny crap).
Insensible imperative conceit is harder to describe - at least for a non-writer like me. Insensible means not seeing or hearing or allowing yourself to be exposed to truth/facts reality or some other person is trying to present. Imperative because time is short and we're driven by perceived urgency of getting from A to B without risk wasting time on possible distractions. Conceit because we think we know what's best and we see unfamiliar or uncredentialed sources of new information as a personal affront. "Who do you think you are to try to educate me?" and "I don't have time to listen to your quibbles, let alone debate them." The perceived toxicity of social media is caused more by our own insensibility than any outrage algorithm or trolling. We complain to avoid having to question ourselves, because conceit wants us blameless and urgency leaves us brainless.
So, in short, it'd be fascinating to see an exploration of these propaganda facilitating aspects of empire mass control. It feels like we need to deal with both path of least resistance and insensible imperative conceit, as well as laying bare the lies of the elite, if we're going to push back on the neocon-neoliberal cartel of doom.
I agree, I wrote this in reply to a comment above, I would add, control. Is the control of Russian natural resources a key to climate tipping point? Wind and Solar will never produce the energy we need at even past consumption rates. There is only one energy resource that can and empire would only be comfortable with absolute control?
You're right that there's a factor of natural resources, but it has to do with WEALTH and POWER, not climate change. The US has a very skanky empire/hegemony that consists of militarily smashing other countries in order to economically smash them into giving up their resources... It's been done over and over and over and over... And Russia has the ability to UNDO the US hegemony, and so does China, and that is why both countries are a THREAT. Simple as that, in a general overview kind of way.
I wouldn't call you a "non-writer." Are you saying that because you're not paid to do it? Don't inhale that capitalist bullshit! I like your comment.