Right wing stepping up attacks on renewable energy

[kristopher]

7. Who put forward a concept, "fascist Ministry of Truth" or otherwise?

I'm not making any proposal at all. I'm asking for opinions. The OP article describes a propaganda campaign that is designed to prevent action on global warming by subverting public opinion. I personally consider this one important, but isn't the only campaign of this sort by any means. Ever since the manipulation of public opinion by the tobacco industry, the use of covert and strategically designed propaganda efforts to sway public opinion has been a reality. If you think social media like DU is immune to such efforts for one reason of another then your answer would be that you don't see a need for a comprehensive policy to address the issue.

If on the other hand you do not think DU is immune then you either accept it as good, or you think it should be dealt with. It's clear you think we should deal with it and the policy you state you endorse is to let it be argued in a public forum; the truth will carry the day, right? You feel that we only need to "refute" those arguments and to do that good will is all we need.

Could you be more explicit and describe how that is to occur? If you mentally walk through a few scenarios I think you'll find it is much harder to do than simply letting it happen hit or miss.

How will you recognize it?

What makes you think that rational debate is, in fact, the objective of those who would misinform?

They are not practicing science, they are practicing the promotion of a message that is designed to sway emotions. How do you deal with it if there are a swarm of people pushing the same false messaging and constantly ridiculing you for showing them that they are presenting false information?

If your answer is to do what has been done to stop the propaganda campaign against the science of global warming I remind you that we've been losing that fight. Public opinion is unquestionably moving in the wrong direction and political action has become completely toxic. What makes you think the results will be different regarding renewable technologies?

A number said they had come to DC for strategy tips and PR advice. ...

"Everybody is amateur and everybody is learning from the ground up and re-inventing the wheel and the discussion among some of us was as to whether or not we could be a little more efficient and share resources and information," said Carolyn Gerwin an attorney and Tea Party activist from Pontiac Illinois who was among the participants.

Gerwin has been active in both Illinois Wind Watch and the Tea Party Patriots, and lobbied against wind energy at the state and federal level, her sign-in questionnaire for the February meeting said. "I'd like to see us develop a nationwide network of wind warriors that can be mobilised on very short notice," she wrote in a questionnaire distributed to participants.

There is evidence that network is already coming into being. Since the meeting, participants have pooled efforts to make phone calls and send email to members of Congress.

Social media isn't specifically mentioned, but there is abundant evidence that every professionally advised PR campaign being waged today is targeting the internet community as one of the most effective tools for spreading their message. Do you think DU is immune?