However, I'm convinced that the biggest reason why the left's message defeats the right's message is because the left controls almost all of the mass media. So the leftists choose the narrative, they get the first word, and they get the last word. Anyone who's ever been in a debate knows that you can't beat that no matter how good your message is and how true what you say is.
The left also has the structural advantage that their message isn't exclusionary, and isn't constrained by reality. "A chicken in every pot" is a more effective message than "some of you are going to get two chickens" and there's nothing the right can do about that besides lying.
The media knows where to hit the weakest points of resistance. It may insensitive to say this but I can’t help but snicker at the point which blue state willing to to self-mutiliate to make some kind of, well, rather vague point. I live in WA state, on the OlyPenn and it has become a woke sh*t of just ugliness. In an astonishing short amount of time…post lock down., surely.
Thank you so much for putting to words what I’ve been struggling to talk about with my friends.
In regards to my personal experience, I can totally attest to what is being put forward here. I feel much better and balanced after getting off social media and no longer watching movies. And since reading was always my preferred entertainment, I never fell fully into shitllibery.
In the late 40s there was an influx, but it is worth mentioning the influx at the turn of the century, which arguably was much more consequential, and enabled the 40s influx and its consequences.
In any case, this is a great piece. These are foundational matters for our future and this does well to broach them.
If you’re going to watch movies at all, watch them in black & white.
There is an absolute treasure trove of GREAT American cinema that portrays a very healthy world outlook to pre-rationally imbibe (plus, the quality of actors was just plain *better* during the Golden Age of Hollywood).
I know this is not all the same thing as being right-wing but: republican voter watch more tv and read less, boomers watch more tv, boomers tend to vote more republicans, tv watchers tend to vote more republican compared to the journal readers.
Yes, and the TV they consume propagandizes them with the same message as the prog women who watch Desperate Housewives. This is how the xLady Maga" and "look at our based blacks/gays" became such a powerful thing for the cons.
Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone is worth reading for many reasons, even today. But the part that has stuck with me the most is the observation that as television watching increased, socialization decreased. It makes sense. When you watch "Friends" on TV, your brain mistakes it for being surrounded by real friends.
The right would do well to read George Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant." Written during the Bush years, it was an expose on the propagandistic tactics of Frank Luntz and the "framing" of conservative debating. It lays out a lot of the left's playbook as it was written as a gen-pop field guide for "progressives."
Great essay and a perspective about the mess we're in that garners little discussion. I have seen this "infection" in myself and work diligently to purge its impact. That said, I'm afraid "passive entertainment" is here to stay, there is little appetite to change on this front.
So, what to do?
At some level, an origin story has to be created that crafts a new way forward because all of the systems recorded in history have failed, i.e. there simply are no "good governments." Some better than others to be sure (I forever desire to live here vs. the Soviet Union in the 50s when I was born). But I don't think we can say the latest iteration of government is the pinnacle of mankind's achievement can we? At least I hope not!
We could create a narrative about the superiority of cultural homogeneity via secession. But conservatives almost knee-jerk gravitate towards federalism never grasping that federalism ensures the continuation of heterogeneity. And look where that has got us.
Sadly, we spend so much time defending against the current and supporting the systems that got us in this mess. This time spent is girded by another narrative; "only this time, we need to do it right!" The reality being that we spend almost no time imagining an alternative to totalitarianism circling us. So as you've explained, those who control the narrative often assure an outcome. We're going to have to figure out how to advance a new narrative and social media is our ace in the hole if we get the right narrative.
I think we (me included) need to improve on forward-looking narrative telling as a way to restore hope. Fighting defensively, as I've been doing for 45 years, even as a Senior Legislative Assistant for two GOP "conservative" Congressmen is exhausting, demoralizing, belief shattering and hopeless.
The chief weakness of the Right is that it cannot think anything it hasn't thought before. And it is unable to think pragmatically, always virtue-signalling how every idea is anchored in some 'essence' of 'the past'.
Unable to adapt to new information or novel situations, the Right is constantly out-manuevered by *any* opponent willing to focus on future gains rather than past losses.
You describe the neocons, and you're correct. The right-wing in this country (as small and largely disorganized as it is) does not have this problem. At least not in our sphere.
I don't disagree with anything in this piece.
However, I'm convinced that the biggest reason why the left's message defeats the right's message is because the left controls almost all of the mass media. So the leftists choose the narrative, they get the first word, and they get the last word. Anyone who's ever been in a debate knows that you can't beat that no matter how good your message is and how true what you say is.
Yes, I agree. I address this in the article as well.
The left also has the structural advantage that their message isn't exclusionary, and isn't constrained by reality. "A chicken in every pot" is a more effective message than "some of you are going to get two chickens" and there's nothing the right can do about that besides lying.
The media knows where to hit the weakest points of resistance. It may insensitive to say this but I can’t help but snicker at the point which blue state willing to to self-mutiliate to make some kind of, well, rather vague point. I live in WA state, on the OlyPenn and it has become a woke sh*t of just ugliness. In an astonishing short amount of time…post lock down., surely.
Great piece! It reminded me of this recent article: https://open.substack.com/pub/drmonzo/p/hot-media-hypnosis-the-death-of-contemplation?r=2qcffe&utm_medium=ios
Both should be combined in order for us to rethink the way we engage with media.
Thank you, this is a good read.
My pleasure!
Thank you so much for putting to words what I’ve been struggling to talk about with my friends.
In regards to my personal experience, I can totally attest to what is being put forward here. I feel much better and balanced after getting off social media and no longer watching movies. And since reading was always my preferred entertainment, I never fell fully into shitllibery.
Billions of blustering barnacles your right!
In the late 40s there was an influx, but it is worth mentioning the influx at the turn of the century, which arguably was much more consequential, and enabled the 40s influx and its consequences.
In any case, this is a great piece. These are foundational matters for our future and this does well to broach them.
Great piece! I loved it! So terrifying to contemplate. I have a bit of a sense of having a Cassandra complex now:-(
WOW!
If you’re going to watch movies at all, watch them in black & white.
There is an absolute treasure trove of GREAT American cinema that portrays a very healthy world outlook to pre-rationally imbibe (plus, the quality of actors was just plain *better* during the Golden Age of Hollywood).
I know this is not all the same thing as being right-wing but: republican voter watch more tv and read less, boomers watch more tv, boomers tend to vote more republicans, tv watchers tend to vote more republican compared to the journal readers.
Yes, and the TV they consume propagandizes them with the same message as the prog women who watch Desperate Housewives. This is how the xLady Maga" and "look at our based blacks/gays" became such a powerful thing for the cons.
Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone is worth reading for many reasons, even today. But the part that has stuck with me the most is the observation that as television watching increased, socialization decreased. It makes sense. When you watch "Friends" on TV, your brain mistakes it for being surrounded by real friends.
The only true way to resist having the propaganda stain our subconscious minds is to avoid engaging with it at all.
I am doing a month no tv. I watch Murdoch Murdoch on my phone but that doesn’t count…
The right would do well to read George Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant." Written during the Bush years, it was an expose on the propagandistic tactics of Frank Luntz and the "framing" of conservative debating. It lays out a lot of the left's playbook as it was written as a gen-pop field guide for "progressives."
Great essay and a perspective about the mess we're in that garners little discussion. I have seen this "infection" in myself and work diligently to purge its impact. That said, I'm afraid "passive entertainment" is here to stay, there is little appetite to change on this front.
So, what to do?
At some level, an origin story has to be created that crafts a new way forward because all of the systems recorded in history have failed, i.e. there simply are no "good governments." Some better than others to be sure (I forever desire to live here vs. the Soviet Union in the 50s when I was born). But I don't think we can say the latest iteration of government is the pinnacle of mankind's achievement can we? At least I hope not!
We could create a narrative about the superiority of cultural homogeneity via secession. But conservatives almost knee-jerk gravitate towards federalism never grasping that federalism ensures the continuation of heterogeneity. And look where that has got us.
Sadly, we spend so much time defending against the current and supporting the systems that got us in this mess. This time spent is girded by another narrative; "only this time, we need to do it right!" The reality being that we spend almost no time imagining an alternative to totalitarianism circling us. So as you've explained, those who control the narrative often assure an outcome. We're going to have to figure out how to advance a new narrative and social media is our ace in the hole if we get the right narrative.
I think we (me included) need to improve on forward-looking narrative telling as a way to restore hope. Fighting defensively, as I've been doing for 45 years, even as a Senior Legislative Assistant for two GOP "conservative" Congressmen is exhausting, demoralizing, belief shattering and hopeless.
Again, great essay!
Plato's cave comes to mind. Those in charge of programming are the puppeteers creating the shadow images that the chained see and think is reality.
The chief weakness of the Right is that it cannot think anything it hasn't thought before. And it is unable to think pragmatically, always virtue-signalling how every idea is anchored in some 'essence' of 'the past'.
Unable to adapt to new information or novel situations, the Right is constantly out-manuevered by *any* opponent willing to focus on future gains rather than past losses.
You describe the neocons, and you're correct. The right-wing in this country (as small and largely disorganized as it is) does not have this problem. At least not in our sphere.
Not really, it affects Trumpists the same way. They’re basically 90s conservatives, after all.
How often does the average woman see images of a woman getting attacked by a man? Vs attacked by a bear?
Red FTW