Posted on 05/10/2010 1:37:13 PM PDT by opentalk
Is the Obama Administration preparing the ground for a Ministry of Truthiness? The President's latest wide-ranging speech at Hampton University made a halt at a very strange outpost, before moving on to education. Obama, it seems, is vexed by the idea of conspiracy theories. Apparently people aren't thinking the right thoughts.
Obama's internet Yoda, Professor Cass Sunstein*, is also besotted with the idea. Two years ago, Sunstein proposed what you might call an 'active government solution' to conspiracies.
The best way to counter conspiracy theories, Sunstein and co-author Adrian Vermeule argued, is with the "cognitive infiltration of extremist groups". This would entail government sponsoring fake "experts" to appear on the media to provide their own disinformation. It's as surreal, in its way, as discovering that the CIA sponsored abstract expressionist artists during the Cold War.
No one is more influential in devising Obama's internet policy than the prolific Professor Sunstein, on leave from Harvard's Law School, Obama's alma mater. His fingerprints are all over Obama's latest speech.
At Hampton, Obama warned students they were "coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don't always rank all that high on the truth meter", fretting that "some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction".
What did he mean? He specifically mentioned people who think that government is "inherently bad". This, he said, puts democracy at risk.
But people who believe this include many of Obama's predecessors - through which democracy survived - and a substantial section of public opinion. The belief that a bureaucracy creates work for itself, or that state programs created with the best intentions often produce sub-optimal results, is quite legitimate. Holding such an opinion doesn't make one a bomb-throwing anarchist. Lumping extremists who intend to harm together with opponents of expansive government doesn't seem particularly honest.
Sunstein's writing swings wildly between technology utopianism, such as lauding the Hive Mind in his 2005 Infotopia: How Many Minds Produce Knowledge, and dystopianism. His 2000 book Republic.com (PDF via Google) warned of a world where wider choice of information meant people only read material that only confirmed their own prejudices.
These look like two polarities, but in fact they're sides of the same coin: they arise from the belief that ordinary people can't think rationally and make up their own minds. Both naturally lead to paternalism, because some kind of benevolent agency is required to save us from ourselves. Sunstein has a very clear idea of what this might be.
It's a problematic solution, however. Many may wonder what place government has to counter falsehood with fake experts - isn't this another form of deception, only one at the taxpayer's expense?
The language reflects an odd kind of elitism. Sunstein's idea owes much to military thinking. It views the public as a kind of enemy.
And there's another interesting aspect of the term "conspiracy theorist" which is that as a pejorative term, it's used to bully, chivvy, and close down discussion. A good example was highlighted when the Climategate emails surfaced. Some prominent environmentalists recognised that there was a problem, that damage had been done, and that the scientists ought to clean up their act. But many other activists demanded that critics disclose the details of their conspiracy theory. (Conjugate this: I have a legitimate alignment of interests, You have a legitimate alignment of interests, He has a conspiracy.)
There's no evidence that Obama is already committing funds to this dubious media exercise. But the speech is undoubtedly useful in preparing the ground for a new kind of media policy.
The anxieties of Obama and Sunstein reflect some lack of frustration with many voters for not engaging with their idea of government. Maybe they're simply not an inspiring vision. In a democracy, the public is always right. ®
Bootnote
Yes, it's the same Cass Sunstein who thinks animals should be able to take you to court. He's a Law Professor.
Additional links in article at site.
What did he mean? He specifically mentioned people who think that government is “inherently bad”. This, he said, puts democracy at risk.
No it doesn’t, it puts it in perspective. Only an asshole that thinks Govt is the answer to everything would assert such a thing. Hampton University, some real stunning intellects there.
And to think that the Washington Post refused to report positive news items on our military operations in Iraq "because we aren't going to carry your propaganda".
wouldn’t that be like a vegetarian opening a butcher’s shop?
bump
Goebbels would be proud!
Orwell called it the Ministry of Truth, or Minitrue. That was 1947; funny how he saw it coming.
And Obama thinks that America and capitalism are inherently bad.
At least in a democracy, the people can voice dissent at the government. Not so in Obama's America 2.0.
Seems like Obama just smacked down the MSM for not doing its job well enough.
Didn’t 35+% of all Democrats believe Bush and Cheney blew up the WTC?
I didn’t hear 0bama bash people for thinking that way. Did any of you?
from article - Apparently people aren't thinking the right thoughts.
I think Glenn Beck is going to cover this on his TV show today. One of the most dangerous people in the group.
The Ministry of Truth was the first thing I thought of too. It’s sad how prescient Orwell was. War is peace.
The Obummer is an a$$hole, plain and simple.
Thought Police.
Orwell was right.
This lunatic must be removed from office.
2012 cannot come soon enough.
Obamama wants a Propaganda Ministry, plain and simple.
Hmmmmm, when does this ministry start work? Are they going to ignore when Obama pounced on evil ipads, playstations, etc. when Obama himself is addicted to a crackberry (or were we not supposed to have noticed the hypocracy?)
Ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.