As the ‘pre-crash’ policies gather momentum, some of us are wondering why large sections of the public appear to have faith in those who orchestrated the meltdown.
How is it possible to use (and abuse) public opinion, influence it, predetermine-, select-, shape-, control and restrict it, to serve those disastrous ends?
Books have been written with titles such as “The Opinion Makers“, and “The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies“, which seem to support Edward Bernays assumption, that, “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”
Winston Churchill didn’t seem to have much faith either when he scorned, “There is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published opinion.“
The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda