Political Theatre category archive
“Americans Fall For It Too” 0
Given the news reports about disinformation in Russia, David points out that it’s not just Russians who can fall for fakery. (Warning: Short commercial at the end.)
The Lies of the Land 0
Behavioral economist Lionel Page explores how propaganda works. A tiny little snippet from a very long article:
In a related vein, Badtux argues that, strictly defined, propaganda may be slanted and manipulative, yes, but it may not necessarily be false.
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*Hence the success of Fox News.
BOLO* 0
Gene Collier thinks he may have spotted a wrong-doer.
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*Back in the olden days, when I was a young ‘un, they were callled “All Points Bulletins” or “ABPs.”
A Picture Is Worth 0
What happens when members of a society eschew the common good and ignore the social contract?
The answer is below the fold.
Tournament of Trumpians 0
Above the Law’s Joe Patrice asks, “Which Trump Lawyer Is The Biggest Disgrace?”
Follow the link to see how he handicaps the brackets.
I disagree with his prediction. I think we would see Bill Barr v. Sidney Powell in the Trumpianship playoff, but I am not a lawyer and Patrice is.
Aside:
I thought I wanted to be a lawyer when I went off to college, but then I met some law students. I decided nothing was worth being that uptight. Of course, I’m not claiming I met a representative sample of law students by any means . . . .
The Hole Truth 0
Methinks Alby has a point.
A Tune for the Times 0
Mangy comments at the Youtube page:
When Putin announced his plans to ‘liberate’ part of Ukraine, and unilaterally declared sections of Ukraine to be independent nations, Trump praised Putin for being “smart”, “savvy” and “genius”. If given a second term, Trump would have withdrawn from NATO and would have allowed Putin free rein to march unimpeded into Ukraine. That’s what happens when the Russians have ‘kompromat’ on a sleazy US official like our former president.
Mangy Fetlocks wanted to call out some of the ramifications of the ‘genius’ move that Putin has made, as Trump was busy labelling American diplomats and officials “dumb”. Only a sociopath like Trump could make such a call.
A Tune for the Times 0
Mangy comments at the Youtube page:
In an interview recently, when Trump was asked about the Ukraine situation, he launched into some crazy BS about how this was related to the Green New Deal and that windmills were a root cause of energy market instability or maybe it was daylight savings time. And THIS is a man some believe should be back in charge of the nuclear codes.
Those Consistent Conservatives 0
Leonard Pitts, Jr., looks at the record.
You think that’s harsh? You think it’s overly sweeping? The record begs to differ.
Follow the link for the evidence.
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
David interviews Alexandra Hudson, who intriguingly argues that “politeness” and “civility” are not the same thing and that we need less of the former and more of the latter.
“But There’s No Other Possible Explanation” 0
Thom talks with Kelly Weill about why persons are susceptible to conspiracy theories.
This discussion is well worth a listen.
The Wall-Eyed Piker 0
The Arizona Republic’s Elvia Diaz points out that Trump’s wall keeps tumbling down, just like everything else (Trump steaks, Trump vodka, Atlantic City casinos, and almost the United States of America) that Donald Trump has been associated with. A snippet:
It’s true. The $15 billion wall, which Trump claimed over and over again that Mexico would pay for, “is no match for a $15 hand saw.”
Even cheaper tools probably would have poked holes in it.
Lies and Lying Liars 0
Psychologist Christian Hart has studied lies and liars for over a decade. He proposes a three-factor theory to explain when and why persons lie. In the light of the proliferation of perfidy in the polity, methinks his piece is worth a look.
Here are the three factors; follow the link for a discussion of each and the interplay among them.
1. The perceived utility of lying.
2. The perceived external disutility risk of lying (the probability and consequences of being detected) is acceptable.
3. The perceived internal disutility of lying (guilt, regret, shame) is acceptable.
Aside:
It seems to me that, as a corollary, if one is incapable of shame, one might have an infinite capacity for lying.
Not that anyone like that might be in our public lif–oh, never mind.
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
Canadian professor of communications Robert Danisch offers a taxonomy of linguistic toxicity, identifying seven rhetorical techniques that foment division and hostility (or, to put it another way, he reveals the Fox News playbook). In introducing his article, he points out that
What’s worse, these seven rhetorical tactics tend to beget one another and inspire a communication cycle in which emotions are amplified and conflict is escalated.
I commend his article to your attention.