Excerpts
(Excerpts are not direct quotes from my book to avoid violation of Amazon’s exclusive rights rules during a special promotion)
The Propaganda Dictionary
Words we encounter in mass media are redefined and inserted into our political discourse He is a list of words and slogans are promoted through Republican propaganda:
• Politically Correct • Moral Majority • Socialists • Death Panels • Silent Majority • Build the Wall • Patriotism • Christian Nation • Family Values • Gun RIghts • Right to Work • Death Tax • America First • Rigged Election • Open Borders • Pro-life • MAGA • Drain the Swamp • Urban Elites • War on Christmas • Small Government • Deep State • White Lives Matter • Alternative Facts • Fake News • Witch Hunt • Hoax • Antifa • Stop the Steal • Enemy of the People • Voter Fraud • Cancel Culture • Woke • Critical Race Theory • Bleeding Heart Liberals • Lock Her Up• Globalism • Grooming • Take back our country
The Big Lie
In today’s political climate, it’s OK to lie if it gets you what you want. Take, for example, Trump’s “Big Lie.” Trump constantly lies about who won the 2020 presidential election. This lie led to an insurrection to stop the peaceful transfer of power to President-Elect Joe Biden. Trump’s fellow insurrectionists joined him in claiming the Capitol riots were only a protest that got out of hand, similar to the violence during the Black Lives Matter protests. This ridiculous claim clearly shows Trump believes keeping power is more important than protecting democracy.
Freedom: Myth and Reality
Propaganda transforms anxiety and suffering into resentment, feelings of being a victim, and anger. A charismatic, authoritarian leader encourages you to be angry about an imagined enemy, most often a liberal who will deprive you of your freedom.
You can alleviate uncertainty and anxiety by trusting God or by following a powerful leader. When you choose to follow a cult leader, you can reduce anxiety and remove it from consciousness. Instead of feeling powerless, doubtful, fearful, or like life has no meaning, you take refuge in allowing a cult leader to direct your life.
The Psychological Perspective
Sigmund Freud’ established the theory that emotional trauma during childhood is a major influence in shaping personality.
The purpose of the psychological perspective is to drill down to the psycho-dynamics of the individual in our attempt to fully comprehend the deplorable class. It is important to understand how propaganda affects some individuals but not others. Propaganda manipulates people whose character or personality traits include insecurity, fear, and anger. Psychoanalytic theory is invaluable in helping us understand how and why these emotions influence a person’s political ideology.