Hate Sells category archive
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Elesa Zehndorfer takes a look at a rapidly growing career path: “Disinformation entrepreneurs” who propagate claptrap via “social” media for money. She notes (emphasis added)
Follow the link for her article, and, remember,
- The things that you’ve seen,
And can read on your screen,
They ain’t necessarily so.
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
The things that you’ve seen,
And can read on your screen,
They ain’t necessarily so.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Writing at the Detroit Free Press, Arlene Frank, a daughter of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the United States, listens to Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and hears a rhyme.
Here’s a bit:
Follow the link to read the article.
______________
*Mark Twain.
The Wannabe, One More Time 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, David Kyle Johnson identifies characteristics common to fascist movements (note that he does not claim this to be a complete list) and asks whether it reminds us of anyone in the news.
Here’s the list; follow the link for a detailed discussion of each item.
- Nostalgia for a Mythical Past
- Leader Cult and Hero Worship
- Us vs. Them Thinking
- Anti-Intellectualism and Distrust of Expertise
- Victimhood and Conspiracy Thinking
- Glorification of Violence and Aggression
- Obsession with Purity and Control
Afterthought:
In a related vein, Steve M. offers some thoughts as to why so many persons seem willing to overlook the warning signs that Donald Trump, if given the chance, will try to become America’s Hitler.
Polarization Nation 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, David Evans considers why dis coarse discourse has become so coarse and offers some suggestions for reducing today’s political polarization. In our current political climate, his article is well worth a read.
Here’s a tiny bit; follow the link for the rest.
But around the year 2000, the country began to be more polarized.
(snip)
A big factor has to do with the way we receive our news. Early in the twentieth century, the radio came into prominence, and the government required that all broadcast stations be licensed. Herbert Hoover as Secretary of Commerce at the time, recognized that the stations were a public trust and shouldn’t favor one political party over the other. So he instituted the Fairness Doctrine.
The Fairness Doctrine required that a broadcast entity, when it reported a story about one political party, had to also give the other side a chance to respond. Both political parties needed to be treated fairly and equally.
But Ronald Reagan, as president, vetoed the Fairness Doctrine, and the equal treatment of both political parties in the news vanished. Before long, partisan broadcasters such as Rush Limbaugh appeared and, soon after that, Fox News.
A Palmer Reading 0
Robert Reich, in a longer piece about Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Arnold Palmer, reports an item which leapt out at me. He notes that Palmer was no fan of Trump. Here’s that excerpt:
Follow the link for context.
The Hurricane Disinformation Hurricane 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Susan A. Nolan and Michael Kimball look at the swirl of falsehoods that followed hurricanes Helene and Milton and at the reasons some persons allowed themselves to be swept up in the cyclone of claptrap. They also offer some suggestions for preparing a storm cellar in which to shelter from the stormers.
In view of the amount of traffic on the disinformation superhighway, I find it a worthwhile read.
“They Want Apartheid Back” 0
Thom talks with a caller about why some people vote Republican, even though Republicans’ “policies” are inimical to their health and well-being. He offers a simple explanation.
As someone who grew up under Jim Crow and remembers my Daddy making sure he had paid his poll taxes, who was in school during desegregation, who trained in U. S. History with an emphasis on U. S. Southern, and who freaking pays attention to what’s going on, I find it difficult to take exception to Thom’s argument.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Jackie Calmes makes a compelling case that Donald Trump has shown us who he really is many times.
The question is, “Are enough people paying attention?”
“The Good Old Days” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Eva M. Krockow takes a look at what she calls “declinism,” which I would loosely describe as the notion that the world is going to hell in a handbasket coupled with a yearning for the mythical good old days. She suggests that this feeling is can be fed by news reporting, which quite naturally focuses on stuff that goes wrong, and by politicians seeking to appeal to persons’ fears and unease. She closes her piece with some suggestions as to how to avoid declining into declinism.
A couple of snippets (emphasis added):
(sni0
One example of political declinism includes the Brexit campaign slogan “Take Back Control,” which implied the need to regain sovereignty to prevent further decline. Another example is Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign slogan “Make America Great Again,” which suggested that things were better in the past.
Methinks this a timely read.
Afterthought:
You might ask some Brits how Brexit is working out is working out for them. (Hint: It isn’t.)
A Notion of Immigrants 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Joseph A. Shrand considers why so many would dehumanize those from other countries and cultures, aka “aliens.” Here’s a tiny bit from his essay; follow the link for the complete article.
The Appeal 0
Grung_e_Gene offers a theory as to Trump’s appeal.
Methinks he’s onto something. Follow the link for his reasoning.
Establishmentarians 0
Truthout reports that the states of doctrinal indoctrination may soon have some days in court.
Image via Job’s Anger.
Afterthought:
Suppose I spec a product for purchase. Then suppose that said spec can be only satisfied by one supplier, though the basic product is available from many sources at much lower prices.
Is it conceivable that my specifications might be viewed with suspici–oh, never mind.
The Invalid Syllogism 0
Michael in Norfolk is perplexed.
More perplexity at the link.
The Perpetual Prejudice 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Allison Abrams takes a deep dive into the roots and fruits of antisemitism over the ages. She notes that
While antisemitism has worn many faces throughout history, its underlying characteristics of scapegoating, conspiracy, and dehumanization remain. Each era may bring new rhetoric and justifications, but the core narrative remains unchanged.
Now, it’s not my area of scholarship, but, I must say, I’m not sure that I agree with everything she says. Nevertheless, given events both domestic and foreign, I think the entire article is very much worth a read.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
At the Hartford Courant, Robert Helfand argues forcefully that the coverage of J. D. Vance’s and Donald Trump’s lies about Haitian immigrants is missing the point. Here’s how he opens his article (emphasis added); follow the link to read the rest.
The Parody Party 0
Cliif Schecter argues that the Republicans no longer have a party.
They have a parody.
Via C&L, which has commentary.
