Propaganda Techniques, Part 1

Okay, this is such a huge topic that I've shrunk back from getting started on it, until now. It's just absolutely too important not to blather out into cyberspace where no one can hear me scream.

Rule #1: Accuse your opponent of whatever are guilty of. For example, now John McCain is saying that "Barack Obama will say anything to get elected." Oh boy! (See Yahoo News). This has, of course, been true of McCain for the past year.

Rule #2: Telling a BIG LIE is more effective than telling a small one. Hitler proved this. Big lies so violate the rules of civility that people will almost always give the liar the benefit of the doubt and try to reconcile the lie with the things they know to be true. That gives the liar a huge advantage.

Rule #3: Repeat your lie many, many times, even after it's been disproven. Eventually, the lie will take on the value of accepted fact by at least a percentage of the population.

Rule #4: Get the jump on the listener's memory. As soon as possible after an event (such as a debate), misrepresent what your opponent has just said. For example, if Obama said repeatedly, "Under my tax plan, 95% of Americans will pay lower taxes," tell the interviewer, "It's outrageous that Obama wants to raise taxes on the vast majority of Americans!" There is research that shows you can actually make people clearly "remember" the opposite of what they actually heard or saw.

Whew, okay, that's all I've got the energy to write for now!