But more importantly, I think that we have a situation that organization theorists Cohen. march and Olsen call "garbage can model". This means that organizations - and that certainly extends to media, internet, etc - act as repositories of ideas and solutions to problems that do not necessarily exist. Hence the metaphor of the "garbage can". The argument is that these ideas and solutions simply sit there waiting to be applied to problems as they emerge. That process of application is collective - different factions define a given situation as a different type of problem, and different factions draw different "solutions" to so defined problems from the "garbage can." The definition of the solution to it that gets accepted is one that is least objectionable to all participants.
Hack propagandists know that and try to frame the problem in a manner that resonates with "stock knowledge" - a term that sociologists use to denote ideas commonly believed to be self evident and accepted without any further proof. This way, they have a better chance of their definition of the problem and solution to it being accepted by the group. Fear mongering about government power is a common trope in the American discourse and it never fails to make people jumping on the bandwagon. Since Obama administration is pretty scandal free - their Repug opponents must manufacture them to stoke up anti-administration sentiments. The IRS "targeting" conservative groups or government "spying" are such attempts.
These assholes are grasping for straws but do it remarkably well.
In any case, if we had institutional forces countervailing the power of business, we would probably have a more rational discourse about issues.
But in the current climate, the shots are called by Faux News and pro-business propaganda machine and people simply react to based on their political affiliation rather than anything else. Rational discourse and dialogue take the back seat in such environment.
On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 10:17 AM, Marv Gandall <marvgand2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Wouldn't you say individual temperament counts for more than political
> outlook? It seems to me more important whether someone is thoughtful and
> responsible than where they currently position themselves politically -
> left, right, or centre. There's plenty of two-way traffic between left and
> right in a crisis when political views evolve rapidly and old allegiances
> are shaken. Those expected to be on one side of the barricades not
> infrequently end up on the other. Today's young Ron Paul supporters, for
> example, remind me of those conservatives in the Young Americans for
> Freedom and other organizations who moved left under the impact of the
> Vietnam war and the effect it had on their ideals. More generally, of
> course, masses of tradition-bound workers and peasants were tied to the old
> order...until they weren't.
>
> On 2013-06-11, at 8:21 AM, Wojtek S wrote:
>
> > What is there to appreciate?
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 8:15 AM, michael perelman <
> > michael.perelman3 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Some of my best students -- even in my Marx class -- are very committed
> Ron
> >> Paul supporters. I never cease to be surprised by their interest. I
> also
> >> appreciate it.
> >>
> >>
> >> On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 4:28 AM, Marv Gandall <marvgand2 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> On 2013-06-11, at 12:22 AM, JOANNA A. wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> In addition, everyone should watch the 12 minute interview with
> Snowden
> >>> posted on the Guardian.
> >>>>
> >>>> It's one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.
> >>>>
> >>>> Joanna
> >>>
> >>> As a matter of interest and not to detract from your comment, Snowden
> is
> >>> reportedly a libertarian who donated to Ron Paul's bid for the
> Republican
> >>> presidential nomination in 2012.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ___________________________________
> >>> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Michael Perelman
> >> Economics Department
> >> California State University
> >> Chico, CA
> >> 95929
> >>
> >> 530 898 5321
> >> fax 530 898 5901
> >> http://michaelperelman.wordpress.com
> >> ___________________________________
> >> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Wojtek
> >
> > "An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."
> > ___________________________________
> > http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
>
>
> ___________________________________
> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
>
-- Wojtek
"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."