Edward Bernays, nephew of Sigmund Freud and creator of the Public Relations industry is one of the most significant figures of the 20th century. Along with Walter Lippmann, who was a master in the study and more importantly, practice of mass psychology, Bernays’ helped the ruling class, the behemoths of industry and Government sell their agenda to the world.
In Walter Lippman’s book,’Public Opinion‘
Lippman and Bernays explain that because people are so different, if they are allowed to exercise free-thought regarding everything in their lives, there would be no order. And what type of order would the rulers like to create? Maintain the status-quo, of course. The PR industry was created to give “form” to realities and narrow the scope of what can even be considered as free thought without being labeled as crazy.
The Manufacture of Consent has been the most important tool of oppression we have ever, and most certainly, will ever experience. When you consider the fact most people know very little about any topic and have only very rudimentary stereotypes, gained through the same mass-media channels, through which their “opinions” are based, it is little wonder that Liberty and Freedom are getting pushed farther back on the shelf for most people.
The common query: ’We live in the best Country in the world, why talk of all these negative things, enjoy it; What’s the problem? ‘ , seems to me to be a great reminder that the Liberty and Freedom most people think they have is self-sustaining, through Government, through religion, or some other means.
The perceived need for instant gratification is a major theme of our current state. Personal responsibility has been limited to such simplistic things that it hardly exists anywhere.The raising of children is a striking example. Whether it involves school or home life, most parents believe that their kids can do no wrong. Most certainly if there is blame it is to be placed on the teacher, the police officer, the judge, other parents etc. Having to examine ourselves, truly, is not how we’re shown to live.
All of these things I’ve mentioned seem so elementary, and “old hat”, don’t they? Yet, the vast majority of us continue down the same path, even after expressing awareness of the current state of affairs. Laziness is the key here. Intellectual sloth is a fitting and misunderstood term. It seems to me that many times when “intellect” is mentioned, people think of someone sitting in a library reading the Great Gatsby (or some such work). There was a time, not even all that long ago, when that representation had some relevance. The thought of professors in tweed jackets having rhetorical debates that no one outside that group thought applied to them. It has no relevance now. When I talk of the lack of intellect, I’m speaking of the inability to form ANY thought; to draw ANY conclusion on your own. Right down to which deodorant to buy; people need a dancing bear or some other “lovable” or “cool” character to tell them what they want. I still look at intellect as the ability to use my mind as independently from outside, oppressive forces as I possibly can. Reading the philosophies of many other people and relaying my own views in a forum such as this helps that aspect of my intelligence. The masses blindly accept the spoon-feeding they receive daily without any counterpoints. How many times have you read a newspaper article that says : ”….several experts have agreed with the findings and have expressed support for it”, and then not mention a single name or a single statement from any of these ‘several experts’. The term ‘expert’ is no longer challenged, just accepted at face value. Many of us express outrage at a certain political event we see on the news. The outrage is warranted, of course, but most times misplaced because the scope of the issue has been so limited that we aren’t even aware of the relevance of it at all. It just sounds like something we don’t like to hear and that’s as far as it goes; period. Not even elementary research is carried out. The next time it will be discussed by most people it will be the same unresearched opinions flooding the minds of everyone there to listen. Now we have a new reality; as far as these folks are concerned. This new reality – the one held by the lazy, needy, “helpless” majority – destroys the individual. The large group is a social organism, which does not, and cannot, support the individual. The individual is sacrificed for the survival of the group. When “our” group consists of out-of-touch, seeking-to-be-absolute rulers at the front of it, our laziness, perceived “needs”, and unwillingness – so far – to realize change is an option, we are forever economically and morally bankrupt.
The lack of awareness of the realities we face will be the downfall of everyone’s Freedom; The degree of the fall can be determined by us, however.
I would encourage everyone to re-read Plato’s Republic and the Cave. These 2 books go into great detail about the need for Manufactured Consent and Dissent, as well as the State’s need to create the reality of it’s people. Plato stated that no grass roots movement should ever be left in the hands of the people. The people should never be allowed to think for themselves, or have their own ideas. He knew this was detrimental to the Guardian Classes (elites).
We are told what to think, say, feel, and do on a daily basis through Public Relations and media. Our entire culture is shaped and controlled through these concepts. Our social acceptance is determined by Madison Ave. executives who are told what to make us feel, think, and believe.
I’ve always wondered why academia, and society are taught to believe that Freud was a quack, when our entire cultures and belief systems in the Western world is dictated and controlled by his beliefs. Maybe that is the answer itself.