Propaganda, the deliberate manipulation of information to influence public opinion, relies on several key factors to achieve its effect. Here are some of the most important:
Appealing to emotions: Propaganda often bypasses logic and reason, going straight for the heartstrings. This can involve fear, anger, excitement, or even patriotism. Techniques like using charged language, emotional appeals, and evocative imagery can trigger strong reactions and cloud judgment.
Simplification and exaggeration: Complex issues are often presented in black and white, with clear-cut heroes and villains. Propaganda often exaggerates positive aspects of its own agenda while minimizing or distorting opposing viewpoints. This creates a simplified narrative that’s easy to grasp and reinforces desired beliefs.
Us vs. them mentality: Propagators often create an “us” group in opposition to a threatening “them.” This fosters solidarity within the “us” group while demonizing the “them,” making it easier to justify actions against them.
Selective use of information: Propaganda omits or downplays facts that contradict its agenda, highlighting information that supports it. This creates a one-sided picture of reality and hinders critical thinking.
Repetition and consistency: Consistent repetition of a message can make it feel true, even if it’s false. Propaganda often bombards audiences with the same message through various channels, aiming to wear down resistance and ingrain the message in their minds.
Credibility and authority: Using figures of authority, trusted sources, or emotionally charged symbols can lend credibility to a message. Propaganda often utilizes endorsements, testimonials, and official-looking graphics to appear trustworthy.
Targeted messaging: Effective propaganda tailors its message to specific audiences, considering their pre-existing beliefs, fears, and desires. This increases the chances of the message resonating and influencing their behavior.
Stifling dissent: Propaganda often seeks to silence or discredit opposing viewpoints. This can involve censorship, smear campaigns, or simply making it difficult for alternative voices to be heard.
That so many Americans are easily swayed by these techniques even though they don’t rely on truth or facts is hard to explain IMO, but then when you realize the number of people who support a move toward authoritarianism it is clearer.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
The craft of using propaganda to persuade and motivate has been around a long time throughout history. It has been used effectively in most cultures in all mankind historical periods. Religious groups, political groups, governments are notorious for recruiting followers to their various causes. The development of more powerful media technologies to practice the craft magnifies the power of propaganda. Beware of Artificial Intelligence to magnify it exponentially!
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Thats true
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Great article. That just about covers it! I have personally chosen to withdraw from watching the MSM and getting spun up over politics. I live a traditional and low-stress life, knowing that most of the BS on TV doesn’t affect me one way or another.
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I see the same thing occurring with my lefty friends–they watch MSNBC and , for instance, the racist Joyless Reid, and come forth with some of the most bizarre thoughts and ideas. All you need to do is hear their thoughts on “from the river to the sea”, or “the rich don’t pay taxes”, or “illegal immigration is an economic positive for this country” –“the border is closed”–you oppose illegal immigration then say the MSNBC type folks you are a racist bigot. Don’t want drug queen school library day for your 8-year old child or grandchild you are a bigot again.
Folks might have issue with those government scientists after people were told no funerals during covid unless you were John Lewis. Stay 6 feet away but we were told the burning and riots of summer 2020 was exempt from that as the cause was too great. Didn’t we just learn the 6 foot rule was made up–no real scientific evidence.
You see in my world it just depends on what side of the fence you are on. People see the faults of those they disagree with but seemingly not their own.
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I agree with you that there are wacko lefties out there like RFK Jr and the Hamas supporters. I promise that I would go after them just as hard if they controlled a major party and almost succeeded in overthrowing our democracy or instituting a kleptocracy like Trump. But there is still a sane middle in the country that is not brainwashed by Fox News or MSNBC, and still has trust in the institutions that made our country great (press, civil service, scientists, law enforcement, military)
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I have got to agree with Al Lindquist. Where you sit depends on where you stand. There is a reason a lot of people tell you they watch Fox News or listen to a radio commentator instead of MSM. It is because of bias. There is never a counterpoint to the idea of the border can’t be controlled or the earth is boiling hot or any other one sided idea.
Propaganda is real and on both sides and from where I stand, the lefty side is the worst offender.
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That is exactly what they want you to believe. That you can’t trust anyone but them. That anything that goes against your preconceived beliefs must be propaganda from the other side. But the fact is, there are plenty of actual authoritative news sources that strive to be accurate, issue corrections if found to be wrong, and focus on hard facts rather than opinion pieces. I don’t want my news sources to be balanced, I want them to be accurate.
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Can you name 3-4 authoritative news sources that strive for accuracy? Hard facts seems to be a stretch to me–take everything with a grain of salt–remember the Big Lie that Trump had colluded with the Russians and then we learn the dossier was paid for by the Hillary folks.
Or the Hunter Biden computer which we were led to believe was Russian disinformation by the press and 51 national security folks. Only NY Post got it right from the start–what sources told you the 51 folks were wrong and yes, it was his computer?
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Trump was not exonerated by my report, Robert Mueller tells Congress
BBC, 24th July 2019
“He concluded that Russia had interfered in the election with the intention of benefitting Mr Trump’s campaign.”
“In all, 35 people and three companies were charged by the special counsel on matters relating both directly and indirectly to alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. No members of the Trump family were charged.
Mr Mueller and his team concluded that they were unable to charge the president with a crime, but could not exonerate him either.”
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What exactly was done?? Was it bots? What precincts are involved–ballot boxes stuffed–“alleged” interference. Anything specific that actually happened? Sounds like the charges Trump makes about 2020. No specifics just speculation that the courts threw out. Can I have some names, dates–Trump folks and Russians directed this? Any trials of folks indicted for tampering with the election?
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All of Robert Mueller’s indictments and plea deals in the Russia investigation
The investigation is now complete.
By Andrew Prokopandrew@vox.com Updated Dec 17, 2019
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Good point Stephen. Not to mention it lines up exactly Trump’s stated views, his admiration for Putin and his plan to allow Russia to take Ukraine and China to take Taiwan when elected for a second term. I was in the U.S. intelligence community when Trump literally said that he trusted Putin more than his own intelligence agencies. If you like Trump’s anti-abortion policies or cutting taxes for him, by all means vote for him, but don’t pretend he doesn’t have an abnormal connection with Putin that goes against all previous norms in America for both parties.
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What does Hunter Biden’s laptop have to do with the price of tea in China?* About the same as “Billy Beer”. Another family member taking quasi-moral advantage of his connections.
*Rhetorical question, it was propaganda, and you fell for it.
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Well said, the Hunter Biden stuff is just silly
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Gee, did Billy have 51 national security folks tell us his drunken exploits was just an example of opposition research?
Really–propaganda–you mean nothing found in the “Russian disinformation” has no bearing on anything? No doubt you fell for the “Russian disinformation” hook, line, sinker.
You probably believe Hunter was hired because of his expertise in the oil and gas industry at $80,000 a month. By the way where is Hunter employed today?
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I apologize to you and to the board. I should not have tried to be snide, but…
On the topic of propaganda, I do not believe they have a prayer of actually impeaching Joe Biden*. But they can use the process to sow doubt and drag out the accusations forever, or until it is no longer politically advantageous. It is becoming embarrassing even to many Republicans and could very well be their undoing. I sincerely hope so.
*And they know it.
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I wonder if “Trump’s plan to let Ukraine and Taiwan go” is propaganda? Where did that come from?
I thought Putin went into to Crimea and Ukraine with Obama and Biden being the chumps? Obama was tough though with his “cross the red line” in Syria rhetoric–and just recently with Biden and “don’t–don’t” after 160 or so Iran backed strikes.
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My favorite line is when people tell me that they just can’t trust government, scientists, or main stream media. Then I ask them where they get most of their news. And it ends up being Joe Rogan or Fox or some QAnon YouTube channel. So I think the most effective propaganda technique is to convince people that they can’t trust institutions anymore. That is what is causing most of the turmoil. You can’t even have an objective discussion anymore with people who have fallen prey to this, because there is no data set that they would trust if it runs counter to their already formed beliefs. And then they just self select information that reinforces their beliefs and reject any information that challenges them. Strangely though, I do see a change. Five years ago, I was worried about the older folks addicted to Fox News, getting spun up over crazy stuff. But now it seems like the over 65 crowd has adjusted quite well, and now it has become an education gap issue among all generations. It is interesting to watch this develop.
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