Controlling the flow of information

[billvon 3,131]

Any tyrant needs to control the flow of information to remain in power.  Hitler had Alfred Hugenberg, the German media mogul, who would publish glowing articles about how great Hitler was with kids, and at the same time publish stories about how the evil foreigner Jews were committing heinous crimes and destroying Germany, and were being sent to relocation centers where they would be comfortably housed until the war was over.  Later Hugenberg's papers would report that the war was going great, and they would soon be victorious.  With such tight control of the media, the German people had no reason to doubt that everything was going great.

Trump is gradually gaining the same sort of control.  Through lawsuits that he basically can't lose since he controls the Justice Department, he is gaining control of the media.  For example, he sued ABC for saying he raped E. Jean Carroll, an allegation that was proven in a court of law.  But ABC realized that Trump would win no matter what, so they settled.  He is now suing the Wall Street Journal for publishing a birthday card he sent to Jeffery Epstein.  Neither of these lawsuits is over the topic itself; the purpose is to send a message that if you report the news accurately, Trump will destroy you.

He recently fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for publishing the actual state of the economy.  That way he can install a lackey and have them report whatever good economic news he wants them to.  And recently he ordered NASA to destroy two satellites that monitor carbon concentrations in the atmosphere; if there are no reports of increasing carbon, there is no reason to worry about it.

Trump is realizing that there's no way he can enact his agenda without total control of the media and the flow of information.

[wmw999 2,600]

2 hours ago, billvon said:

Trump is realizing that there's no way he can enact his agenda without total control of the media and the flow of information.

I’m hoping that in this internet era, there won’t be such a large cadre of people who believe only because there isn’t any other information. He’d have to fuck with Google, FB, etc, the way China is doing. Dunno about what Russia’s doing, other than making sure vocal dissenters have a limited life span.

But yeah

Wendy P. 

[JerryBaumchen 1,471]

28 minutes ago, wmw999 said:

I’m hoping that in this internet era, there won’t be such a large cadre of people who believe only because there isn’t any other information. He’d have to fuck with Google, FB, etc, the way China is doing. Dunno about what Russia’s doing, other than making sure vocal dissenters have a limited life span.

But yeah

Wendy P. 

Hi Wendy,

'But, yeah' is absolutely correct.

Trump is slowly, but surely beginning to control the media.  This, along with the other dark web sites, is what can sink democracy in this country.

I have been saying for years, that things are similar to the Third Reich in the 30's.

The Nazi's first came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.  Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.  Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up

because I was a Protestant.  Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me.

 Rev. Martin Niemoeller

Jerry Baumchen

PS)  Bill, keep speaking up; we need to hear this stuff.

 

Edited August 7 by JerryBaumchen

[JoeWeber 2,967]

3 hours ago, billvon said:

Any tyrant needs to control the flow of information to remain in power.  Hitler had Alfred Hugenberg, the German media mogul, who would publish glowing articles about how great Hitler was with kids, and at the same time publish stories about how the evil foreigner Jews were committing heinous crimes and destroying Germany, and were being sent to relocation centers where they would be comfortably housed until the war was over.  Later Hugenberg's papers would report that the war was going great, and they would soon be victorious.  With such tight control of the media, the German people had no reason to doubt that everything was going great.

Trump is gradually gaining the same sort of control.  Through lawsuits that he basically can't lose since he controls the Justice Department, he is gaining control of the media.  For example, he sued ABC for saying he raped E. Jean Carroll, an allegation that was proven in a court of law.  But ABC realized that Trump would win no matter what, so they settled.  He is now suing the Wall Street Journal for publishing a birthday card he sent to Jeffery Epstein.  Neither of these lawsuits is over the topic itself; the purpose is to send a message that if you report the news accurately, Trump will destroy you.

He recently fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for publishing the actual state of the economy.  That way he can install a lackey and have them report whatever good economic news he wants them to.  And recently he ordered NASA to destroy two satellites that monitor carbon concentrations in the atmosphere; if there are no reports of increasing carbon, there is no reason to worry about it.

Trump is realizing that there's no way he can enact his agenda without total control of the media and the flow of information.

Maybe he'll just come to his senses and it'll all be a nothing burger.

[nigel99 641]

5 hours ago, wmw999 said:

I’m hoping that in this internet era, there won’t be such a large cadre of people who believe only because there isn’t any other information. He’d have to fuck with Google, FB, etc, the way China is doing. Dunno about what Russia’s doing, other than making sure vocal dissenters have a limited life span.

But yeah

Wendy P. 

There is a quiet war on the internet happening.

Under the guise of banning social media for under 16s it’s rapidly coming in that to have any social media account you have to register showing your government issued ID. 

People traveling to the US are being forced to show their social media content and I’ve seen some Americans are also nervous about travelling with their phones, computers etc due their social media content.

[JerryBaumchen 1,471]

9 minutes ago, nigel99 said:

There is a quiet war on the internet happening.

Under the guise of banning social media for under 16s it’s rapidly coming in that to have any social media account you have to register showing your government issued ID. 

People traveling to the US are being forced to show their social media content and I’ve seen some Americans are also nervous about travelling with their phones, computers etc due their social media content.

Hi Nigel,

Once Trump can control The Fourth Estate [ which now includes our electronic devices ], he can control info like this:  Less than five years after urging rioters to "kill" police at the Capitol, a former Jan. 6 defendant is working as a senior adviser for the Department of Justice

Former Jan. 6 defendant who called cops 'Nazis' gets DOJ job : NPR

This is why he is pulling the money out of any version of The Fourth Estate; i.e., Public Broadcasting.

The truth hurts.

Jerry Baumchen