Propaganda Report

[eltrevo]

Im doing an assignment about propaganda, where I have to find a current event and do a write up on it. Can anyone help me here? I need something to help me with this cause I have until Tuesday to get it done.

[Ahiga]

It's a big topic. =\

What are you focusing on?

[eltrevo]

Nothing really. Though I need something that fits into a variety of topics, I won't go into this here because it is an extremely large subject.

[John Wayne]

Do a write up as in makeing your own propaganda? Or do you have to find a current piece of propaganda?

[eltrevo]

you have to find a current piece.

[John Wayne]

That's easy! Just pick something and run with it, like political cartoons.

[HopliteGlory]

Or perhaps something on FOX News? Just kidding, maybe if you want to be controversial with your report you could do something on the possibility of Bush using propaganda to enter the war in Iraq.

Just a suggestion. Good luck!

[removeduser_487563287433]

If you want a good essay then you need varying examples with detailed information. Suggestions;

Iran banning western music,
FOX news,
WMD debate.

Off the top of my head.

[Gwendylyn]

Maybe the television ads claiming that smoking marijuana funds terrorism?

I dare anyone to claim those ads are anything but propaganda.

You could be less controversial in the classroom by picking propaganda made by fringe groups, like fundamentalist Christian groups in the US (think of the Phelp's family from Kansas), where you'd be sure the teacher would agree with you. There are a lot of influential nutters that spread their own brands of propaganda, and they are easy to analyze because they are often over the top.

[monorail]

You might find some insperation here.

http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Frank_Luntz

Frank Luntz is a advertizing/political adviser. He attempts to manipulate people using leading questions and the words he uses.

Classic example of his work was turning the "Estate" tax, into the "Death" tax. Most people are happy to tax people that live on estates (ie. the rich), if you call it a death tax, it sounds both scary and like it affects everyone, as everyone dies.

Hope this helps.

[eltrevo]

Gwen, a link to some of those ads?

[Red Harvest]

"Compassionate conservative" comes to mind.

The characterizations of the national budget/deficits/tax cuts are full of propaganda. By propaganda I am referring to things that are demonstrably (with numbers) untrue and purposely mischaracterized to gain acceptance. My understanding of all the smoke and mirrors used to support the tax cuts is probably better than anyone else on this board and I'm still fuzzy on many parts and have difficulty finding all the actual numbers on demand--simply because it is so complex and ever changing and there is so much spin involved on both sides that getting accurate summaries is difficult.

[Gwendylyn]

"Compassionate conservative" comes to mind.

I know some compassionate conservatives. They do exist

Gwen, a link to some of those ads?

News: http://www.dea.gov/pubs/pressrel/pr090302.html
Videos: http://www.mediacampaign.org/mg/television.html
Thats from the government website (linked from the office of drug policy etc. website). I do not know which one(s) are the terrorism ones (especially since I believe they just pulled all of them off the air), but they should all have heavy doses of propaganda in them. I mentioned it because there was recently a news article on how those marijuana = terrorism ads were actually having the absolute opposite effect. You should, though, be able to find transcripts online even if you can't find the videos.

[Evariste]

I know some compassionate conservatives. They do exist

I hate that term. Conservatives should already consider themselves compassionate. In their mind, the free market is more compassionate than forced wealth redistribution. What makes a compassionate conservative different from a democrat?

[Gwendylyn]

I hate that term. Conservatives should already consider themselves compassionate. In their mind, the free market is more compassionate than forced wealth redistribution. What makes a compassionate conservative different from a democrat?

The difference is being economically conservative as opposed to economically liberal. Yes, conservatives should already consider themselves that, but that doesn't stop extreme liberals from characterizing them all as greedy self-serving moneybags. "Compassionate conservative" is just a phrase to negate that characterization.
and yes, the term makes me want to roll my eyes whenever I see it too

[danzig]

I hate that term. Conservatives should already consider themselves compassionate. In their mind, the free market is more compassionate than forced wealth redistribution. What makes a compassionate conservative different from a democrat?

The term came about thanks to years and years of liberals attacking conseratives as completely uncaring about people themselves, a generalization that is unfair and laughable since all conservatives arent cut out of the same mold. So the term came about as a sort of defense against that. It is amusing too because some liberals are basically doing the same thing by trying to reinvent themselves as religious liberals after years of attacks on liberals as being anti religion by conservatives...which is also equally unfair since you cant box people up into tiny, universal labels.

[Red Harvest]

The problem with that is that a true free market view is incompatible with compassion. A free market seeks efficiency, not human comfort/compassion. It can be quite brutal, not because it is somehow evil, but simply because a market is not a feeling/sentient being. This is one of the reasons for some degree of regulation. The black and white characterizations at the extremes rarely work. However, the term "compassionate conservative" implies lack of compassion being the norm for conservatives (true or not.) So in ways it backfires.

"Family Values" is another favorite of mine. When a candidate says "family values" more than once in an ad, then I probably need to vote against them, because they are appealing off emotion rather than ideas. (I'm reminded of various business commercials where they say they will treat me "like family." Hey, the last thing I want is the level of general abuse that family can dish out. LOL.)

[Evariste]

"Family Values" is another favorite of mine. When a candidate says "family values" more than once in an ad, then I probably need to vote against them, because they are appealing off emotion rather than ideas. (I'm reminded of various business commercials where they say they will treat me "like family." Hey, the last thing I want is the level of general abuse that family can dish out. LOL.)

The true could be said of your reasoning with the free market. For what is compassion if not an emotional ideal? But I'll agree, it is a strange concept. The idea that through self interest and greed, humanity will be served for the better is a hard pill to swallow. But, it's one that I can down with a tall glass of water.

[Gwendylyn]

The problem with that is that a true free market view is incompatible with compassion. A free market seeks efficiency, not human comfort/compassion. It can be quite brutal, not because it is somehow evil, but simply because a market is not a feeling/sentient being. This is one of the reasons for some degree of regulation. The black and white characterizations at the extremes rarely work. However, the term "compassionate conservative" implies lack of compassion being the norm for conservatives (true or not.) So in ways it backfires.

Free market (with restraints - no one but extremists argue for completelyfreemarket) can be compassionate if you think like a economic conservative. Ex: You give the money to charities and grassroots organizations instead of creating more ineffecient government beauracracy. Efficency in this sense is quite important because its the efficiency in which the funds are used. I really don't want to hijack the thread, expecially not to debate a point I don't fully agree with (I am a centrist). I just want to point out that someone claiming to be conservative doesn't mean they aren't looking first to how to help others, but just tend to bit a bit more realistic/pragmatic than some liberal economism.

"Family Values" is another favorite of mine. When a candidate says "family values" more than once in an ad, then I probably need to vote against them, because they are appealing off emotion rather than ideas. (I'm reminded of various business commercials where they say they will treat me "like family." Hey, the last thing I want is the level of general abuse that family can dish out. LOL.)

Family values crowd = social conservatives. They make my skin crawl, to tell the truth, and are the only reason I would never be able to identify with the Republican party. I still think writing an essay on propaganda by people like Fed Phelps or other "family values" nutters would be more fun.

[eltrevo]

OK, I got the thing done on the issues in Sudan, this does not need to be open any longer.