Regarding The Original Conspiracy Theorists

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Sunstein advocates that the Government's stealth infiltration should be accomplished by sending covert agents into "chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups." He also proposes that the Government make secret payments to so-called "independent" credible voices to bolster the Government's messaging (on the ground that those who don't believe government sources will be more inclined to listen to those who appear independent while secretly acting on behalf of the Government). This program would target those advocating false "conspiracy theories," which they define to mean: "an attempt to explain an event or practice by reference to the machinations of powerful people, who have also managed to conceal their role." Sunstein's 2008 paper was flagged by this blogger, and then amplified in an excellent report by Raw Story's Daniel Tencer.

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Initially, note how similar Sunstein's proposal is to multiple, controversial stealth efforts by the Bush administration to secretly influence and shape our political debates. The Bush Pentagon employed teams of former Generals to pose as "independent analysts" in the media while secretly coordinating their talking points and messaging about wars and detention policies with the Pentagon. Bush officials secretly paid supposedly "independent" voices, such as Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher, to advocate pro-Bush policies while failing to disclose their contracts. In Iraq, the Bush Pentagon hired a company, Lincoln Park, which paid newspapers to plant pro-U.S. articles while pretending it came from Iraqi citizens. In response to all of this, Democrats typically accused the Bush administration of engaging in government-sponsored propaganda -- and when it was done domestically, suggested this was illegal propaganda. Indeed, there is a very strong case to make that what Sunstein is advocating is itself illegal under long-standing statutes prohibiting government "propaganda" within the U.S., aimed at American citizens:

As explained in a March 21, 2005 report by the Congressional Research Service, "publicity or propaganda" is defined by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to mean either (1) self-aggrandizement by public officials, (2) purely partisan activity, or (3) "covert propaganda." By covert propaganda, GAO means information which originates from the government but is unattributed and made to appear as though it came from a third party.

Covert government propaganda is exactly what Sunstein craves. His mentality is indistinguishable from the Bush mindset that led to these abuses, and he hardly tries to claim otherwise. Indeed, he favorably cites both the covert Lincoln Park program as well as Paul Bremer's closing of Iraqi newspapers which published stories the U.S. Government disliked, and justifies them as arguably necessary to combat "false conspiracy theories" in Iraq -- the same goal Sunstein has for the U.S.


snip>http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/01/15/sunstein/index.html

Scary.

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What is most odious and revealing about Sunstein's worldview is his condescending, self-loving belief that "false conspiracy theories" are largely the province of fringe, ignorant Internet masses and the Muslim world. That, he claims, is where these conspiracy theories thrive most vibrantly, and he focuses on various 9/11 theories -- both domestically and in Muslim countries -- as his prime example.

It's certainly true that one can easily find irrational conspiracy theories in those venues, but some of the most destructive "false conspiracy theories" have emanated from the very entity Sunstein wants to endow with covert propaganda power: namely, the U.S. Government itself, along with its elite media defenders. Moreover, "crazy conspiracy theorist" has long been the favorite epithet of those same parties to discredit people trying to expose elite wrongdoing and corruption.

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The greatest purveyor of CT are governments and the RW media.

While not always spot on, the Public that is suspicious of what they are being told, is to be roundly applauded for standing up for the truth.

Your OP is a great bit of wisdom that people need to know.

Hope they are looking for real terrorists and not people with valid and legitimate opinions !

kick

and this should, of course, be in General Discussion --

but though I've looked at it before, it became even more important to me tonight .....

Sunstein advocates that the Government's stealth infiltration should be accomplished by sending covert agents into "chat rooms, online social networks,

or even real-space groups."

I watched something happening at Barnes & Noble book store here in NJ yesterday which I was

questioning -- and wondering about -- and in rereading this post tonight I feel more certain

I was correct in my suspicions --

Usually at this time of the year when B&N would be restocking shelves, I like to go in and

browse and get caught up with anything new -- and old stuff, as well. Btw, supposedly they are

being sold? Anyway, yesterday was fairly quiet there for a Saturday because of the holiday, I think.

As always, lots of people sitting around trying to read -- as I walked by the last grouping of

lounge chairs, I stopped to look at some material, and I could see three white men who sounded

as though they were getting a grasp on what was actually happening in the country. But, just as

I was feeling confident about them, a guy across from them who was generally dressed just a bit

better than they were began to throw some confusing stuff in forcing the three males to kind of

backtrack on what they were saying. It went thru my mind to stay in a position where I could

hear what was going on and think about straightening it out -- but then doubt struck me --

I was on my way out and decided this time I wouldn't intervene.

I mentioned it to my husband tonight -- and he said what makes you think they're in book stores?

I told him mainly my suspicion --

Usually I go into B&N now and then over the fall period -- if I see it happening again I'll be

more sure about it -- thanks!!

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