We Need a Facts Machine to Defeat the Fear Machine
In the 20th century, capitalism extensively researched cultural anthropology, psychology, behavioral science, data management and media technology to determine the most effective ways to get money from consumers, and then expanded the uses of that knowledge to influence legislation and ultimately shape public policy.
In the middle of that century, those "influence technologies" were still constrained by a comparatively narrow pipeline of communication sources widely regarded as both (mostly) reality-based, and authoritative by virtue of officially-sanctioned information flow. There were only three major television networks, a handful of wire services, and a recognized top tier of major print media and radio networks that channeled most national/international news.
Sufficient independence and competition remained in the local media markets (print and radio) to keep their focus on local content, remaining dependent on those meta-sources for non-local programming/news, etc.
It was a double-edged tool: Having a comparatively limited, clearly-mapped information network made it easier for those in power to disseminate a certain amount and quality of propaganda. But the "shared reality" nature of the public understanding produced by that primitive machine also kept it from the worst excesses of propaganda- the deeply divisive fear-mongering and intense manipulative techniques of the reality-denying darkprop we see today.
In the late 20th century, however, that machine was supplanted by a vastly-enhanced network of communications media and channels. Cable television and the internet combined with deregulation of media business to provide exponentially more commercial outlets controlled by fewer businesses, and a yeasty underlayer of virtually uncontrolled but swiftly-exploited "non-commercial" outlets.
This broke the chain on the most intensive, darkprop usages of influence technology and the first to exploit it were those who had the money and power, and vested interests in concentrating them. And their tools- the burgeoning new influence technology peddlers. They recognized the immediacy and efficacy of fear as an influence force.
They poured resources into elaborate, subtle, and powerful agitprop focusing on fear of change and fear of whatever convenient "others" they could exploit given any specific stimulus. A news event, proposed protections for consumers, a policy that threatened this quarter's profits, a helping hand for a bought-and-paid-for public official, whatever it was, they identified something that could be used to activate enough fear to deliver benefit to the greedy, power-hungry and uncaring.
And the Fear Machine wasn't just a home-grown product: Oligarchs and wannabe-dictators in nations all over the world bought and paid for more tools, more resources, and more power to the Fear Machine, producing a powerful feedback loop to increase its efficacy. And then they went back to that yeasty underlayer of "uncontrolled" media, and applied the Fear Machine.
And here we are.
I have no answers on how to make global-level changes to this devolution of our shared reality.
But I have seen some hopeful signs in the resurgence of organizing at the community level, as a cooperative project between ground-level activists and an 'establishment' of moderate-to-progressive interests and power that is now beginning to understand just how important it is to counter the Fear Machine.
We have begun the process of building an organized network to empower the vote and send competent, reality-based people to public office.
Now we need to build an organized network to support them and their work and give them freedom from interference produced and amplified by the Fear Machine.
We need a Facts Machine.
On the ground everywhere. Using all the tools and power of influence technology itself, to promote reality, science, the rejection of fear, the value of understanding, tolerance for complexity and ambiguity, awareness of interdependence, and the effectiveness of community agency.
We need the people who put so much creativity into the short election cycles, to develop and promote a sustained, entertaining, engaging narrative. To focus on how we share a reality full of promise and opportunity. To remind us we have the power, if we will use it, to act, to sustain life on this planet and improve the prospects of our children and build an amazing future for everyone.
This will not work without trust. We at the community level, and that 'establishment' power structure will have to earn each others' trust and find a balance where we can work together. Squabbles over who should be first in line to implement a change they need, or the redress of a particular historical injustice, will allow the Fear Machine to pound in a wedge and derail our efforts.
The best way to keep it on track is to find the broad strokes of the shared agenda, and integrate as much equity and access as possible into the implementation for each. None will be perfect, but we can do better with the next one. When fear diminishes and everyone sees improvement, we can address the imperfections and take it to the next level. And base each new level of the narrative in a better reality.
Without this, we will make only small increments of progress that will quickly be rolled back by the tide of reaction from the Fear Machine.
urgently,
Bright
