Posted by
John Finnigan on Thursday, July 19, 2007 1:46:21 PM
I was watching Glenn Beck on CNN the other night, my wife really enjoys watching him, and I was amused by his confrontation with Robert Kennedy Jr. Kennedy Jr., as usual, was espousing his personal version of Ivy League snootiness which communicates things like: if you don’t believe what I believe you’re stupid; If you’re not stupid and don’t believe what I believe you’re evil; Only our oligarchy of intellectual reality is valid; If you disagree you’re stupid, evil, wrong and a menace to the world.
Now, to be fair, I dislike Glenn Beck. My wife says I remind her of him and that perhaps that is too close for my comfort. Even though I disagree with Glenn on some things, there are many others I firmly agree with him on.
So much of political dialogue today is pure propaganda. Propaganda, like advertising, works. The founder of CNN, Ted Turner, once said that the secret to his success was:
“ Early to bed; Early to rise; Work like hell; and Advertise.” Ted is a successful propagandist.
The key to political success today is successful propaganda. That goes for the left and right and so-called middle of the political spectrum. It’s about advertising, advertising, advertising. Ideas and ideals are the products being sold, and marketing campaigns sells candidates and parties. For the idea and ideal peddlers, power and control are the profits being sought.
The great political voter base is the target audience. Since 50% plus one of the actual voters determine the outcome of a political advertising campaign. Those who don’t vote only get ceremonial bones thrown to them to sooth their rage.
There is festering political rage in the country. The root cause, I believe, is that our world is changing at an ever increasing pace. As soon as many people learn to cope with radical change, more radical change comes along. Since FDR, people look to the government to protect us from change.
Truthfully, change is inevitable, it is however, manageable. But when was the last time the government managed something well?
The key to success as an individual human being is to cope with change as it continually comes; and ground yourself and family is what is eternal and immutable.
Advertising, both political and economic win never cease. However, eternity is not prone to advertising.
John