# How Much Propaganda Are We Getting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 22, 2000, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406 "2000-01-22T03:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freedomx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@Freedomx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedomx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/21 "2000-02-05T17:42:00Z")
BTW… Waco is a perfect candidate for the propaganda thread. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/22 "2000-02-05T19:00:00Z")
RobRoy: what invitation? Did I say “Go away?” Did I say “Here’s a freaking ticket?” No; I expressed my curiosity. FTR: I’m from Germany, you jackass. I’m quite happy that I came to the United States and am even more happy that I served 20 years in the armed forces. Nazi Germany died the death it deserved. No, I don’t think criticizing any of the media makes one a communist; however, your particular strawman arguments above certainly bear the “old line communist party” alarm. As I said above, your argument approaches “the Illuminati’s out to get us!” Too bad there’s no such group, otherwise you’d have a damn good discussion going on. ---
**Author:** ![HOTSHOT225](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HOTSHOT225](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HOTSHOT225)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/23 "2000-02-05T22:37:00Z")
WHO REMEMBERS THE GAS SHORTAGE!!!,I SEEM TO REMEMBER ALL TOO WELL GAS LINES FOR ODD AND EVEN PLATES,IT JUST SEEMED TO FADE AWAY.I NEVER HEARED ANYONE TAKE RESPONSABILITY FOR IT, NOT EVEN OPEC.THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS BEING LAUGHED AT BY THOSE IN POWER.CAN ANYONE , GET RIDE OF THE I.R.S ?. I WOULDN"T BET ON IT UNTIL, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY STOP WORK FOR ONE DAY AND LET THE GOVERNMENT KNOW WHO REALLY IS THE POWER OF THIS COUNTRY.BUT NOW ADAY’S PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF THEIRE OWN SHADOW.KIDS MAKE DUMB MISTAKES,I HAVE AND IM GLAD THEY WERE MADE IN A TIME WHEN PASSING GAS COULD GET A LAUGH OR A TEASE,WHEN RACING YOUR BUDDY DOWN A DESERTED ROAD WASNT THE ACT OF BEING PUBLIC ENEMY #1.IN MY OPINON,CALIFORNIA IS ALREADY A POLICE STATE,AND THE TAKING OF GUN’S FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS ABSURD.CRIMINALS WILL ALAYS HAVE GUNS ( THEY MAY EVEN BE OUR ALLIES IN A CIVIL WAR)AN ALCHOHOLIC WILL DRIVE DRUNK,IS THE NEED FOR PROHIBITION COMMING SOON.POLICE ARE GETTING TO THE POINT OF MAKING OUT CRIMINALS OF JAYWALKERS, THEY ARE ONE OF A FEW WHO CAN MAKE THEIR OWN JOB SECURITY AT THE COST OF OTHERS. REMEMBER IF HE SEE"S YOU WHEN WALKING BY ,YOUR CURTAIN OPEN,YOU ENJOYING SEX WITH YOUR PARTNER, YOU CAN BE ARRESTED, IF YOUR IN THE 69 POSITION, AND BY LAW,HE IS REQUIRED TO DO SO. " THE LAWS MAKE CRIMINALS" * * * ---
**Author:** ![Erik\_Raven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Erik\_Raven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erik_Raven)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/24 "2000-02-05T22:46:00Z")
Not that I’m an old timer or anything, but for a first post, that left a lot to be desired. ---
**Author:** ![Freedomx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@Freedomx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedomx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/25 "2000-02-05T22:54:00Z")
Caps off and spaces if you know what I mean… And this is coming from two new guys… Better hope the oldtimers don’t come round… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/26 "2000-02-05T23:01:00Z")
So I guess now the propaganda is spreading from the news to the sitcoms. Apparently the government has inserted anti-drug messages into the plots of over 30 shows. Last time I checked, this was America and not the USSR, but I could be wrong … * * * The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reasoning. –Voltaire ---
**Author:** ![HOTSHOT225](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HOTSHOT225](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HOTSHOT225)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/27 "2000-02-06T08:42:00Z")
OBVIOUSLY, YOU DONT GET OUT MUCH,I TRY TO TALK OF PROPAGANDA WITH EXAMPLES OF TRUTH. AND THE BEST RESPONSE IS CAP LOCKS,AND LOST RELIGION.I BET YOUR ONE OF THOSE GUY’S WHOM ALWAYS HAS THE RAIN ON HIS BACK!!AND IS HAPPY TO SING IN IT, WITH THE SUN ON HIS FACE. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/28 "2000-02-06T09:10:00Z")
Let’s try that one again. In English this time … ---
**Author:** ![Freedomx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@Freedomx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedomx)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/29 "2000-02-06T15:09:00Z")
Check out the Pit. My guess is that this guy is a reincarnation of Newtons Apple etc… 2 posts…Feb. Registration… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/30 "2000-02-06T16:50:00Z")
There is a discussion about the war in Yugoslavia at [http://www.3rdparty.org/bbs/](http://www.3rdparty.org/bbs/) about half-way down (3/99). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/31 "2000-02-06T20:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by puffington: > \*\*So I guess now the propaganda is spreading from the news to the sitcoms. Apparently the government has inserted anti-drug messages into the plots of over 30 shows. Last time I checked, this was America and not the USSR, but I could be wrong … > > \*\* Most likely as you’re 100% wrong about the government inserting those messages into the sitcoms. What the government did, though, was to reward shows which voluntarily had those messages. Check some news sites for verification (CNN & FOX come to mind). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/32 "2000-02-06T20:22:00Z")
And you see this as okay? There’s a fine line between economic ‘incentives’ to fall in step with the official line and outright coercion. The Chilean government put a tax on newsprint that was so high most newspapers couldn’t afford to stay in business. But they offered ‘tax incentives’ to those papers who were willing to spout the party line. But hey, they didn’t actually hold a gun to anyone’s head, so I guess that’s okay, huh? BTW, one of the things the CIA did to ‘destabilize’ the government of Chile was to smuggle in paper for presses who couldn’t afford to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/33 "2000-02-06T20:25:00Z")
Dhanson: yes, I see it as okay. Firstly, becuase your comparison is invalid. Secondly, the entertainment industry is not taxed skyhigh if they DON’T include those messages. Thirdly, even without the rewards/incentives involved, the entertainment industry is still viable. ---
**Author:** ![Freedomx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@Freedomx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedomx)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406/34 "2000-02-06T22:47:00Z")
No way. The government is not supposed to try and subliminaly shape public opinion. The government has life and deth power over the networks as far as renewing licenses, assessing fines and making policy decisions. Are you aware that the first season they just credited them if they approved of the scripts after the show aired, but for the second season they were asking to see the scripts in advance? After they established this with the anti-drug message, do you really think they would not have gone after other messages? Would it be ok if they put in anti-Second Amendment messages? How about if they tried to shape public opinion of a foreign country? What if they were pushing an anti-scool voucher program? The government is supposed to be shaped by the people, not the other way around. I would feel a lot more comfortable if I knew the government and the media were seperate. The freedom of the press becomes a moot point if the government CONTROLS the press behind the scenes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-propaganda-are-we-getting/17406.md?page=1)