Listen to this article: Do you remember how there was global outrage after the Panama Papers exposed a massive international tax evasion scheme involving many high-profile wealthy elites, leading to mass incarcerations and sweeping overhauls to the world's taxation and legal systems?
The old “Manufacturing Consent” paradigm is way past its usefulness. The ruling elite don’t need consent anymore, they just do it out in the open & tell us, with the willing assistance of the corporate media water-carriers, it’s not how it looks. Millions gratefully accept this propaganda rather than, as you say, face the uncomfortable truth.
Did you see that conversation btw Yuval Harari (wrote Sapiens, Ph D history) & Daniel Kahneman (PhD psych, nobel prize winner for economics, wrote Thinking Fast and Thinking Slow)? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yhg7NmTeVg
they had an hour long discussion - i believe recorded in 2020 on a number of topics. worth the watch in my opinion.
During the conversation, Harari makes your exact point - in political events - citizens will prefer the nicer sounding lie than the uncomfortable truth which reveals the ills and bad deeds perpetrated by one's own government.
Caitlin, this is an outstanding piece of writing; thank you.
i find it remarkable that - in the information age - instead of freeing us from the tyranny of these psychopaths because their bad deeds and selfish motivations are exposed- their grip on power seems tighter. it almost seems like it is easier to get the masses to believe the lies. perhaps it is because information technology makes it easy to repeat falsehoods in the echo chamber of main stream media...
I think there is another "Harari-ism" that is co-morbid which exacerbates this issue. in "21 lessons for the 21st century" (Harari's newest book) he uses the idea of "data cows" to refer to inhabitants of "the west". Like the milk cow - the west's inhabitants have been bred and coddled to be good tax serfs for the oligarchy but possessing less critical thinking and physical skills than our ancestors.
The clearest analogy l can find to the empire controlling us is Derek Chauvin, not the least concerned being recorded in broad daylight, so comfortable and secure that his place and actions are rightful.
The number of people who raced to defend such brutality simply because Floyd was no Boy Scout provide their own sad corollary to these perilous times.
Are you aware of camera perspective bias? Are you aware that a prosecution witness on cross examination, after viewing a video taken from a different angle, said that Chauvin's knee was not on Floyd's neck, but on his shoulder blade? Could that be why Chauvin looked so comfortable and secure?
I believe the more likely reason is that a cop with numerous complaints against him for misconduct without reprimands or consequences gives him little inducement to stop committing more.
I take no position on his guilt or innocence on any of the charges as I haven't seen all the evidence or heard all the testimony, but I did find the testimony about the placement of his knee and several other details brought out during cross-examination to be of concern. You didn't answer my question. Were you aware there were other camera angles and the testimony of the police officer witness for the prosecution who said on cross that in the alternate view it appeared his knee was on Floyd's shoulder blade? Guilty or innocent, I don't think the circus atmosphere permitted a fair trial. Are you aware of Sam Shepherd, who was convicted of killing his wife but whose conviction was later overturned because of press coverage?
Neck or shoulder blade; it matters not because Floydd said - repeatedly- he couldn’t breath. The medical examination concluded Chauvin’s knee prevented him breathing which caused the heart to stop.
Which "medical examination" are you referring to, the official autopsy or the second opinion, which was not dependent on an independent physical examination? As I said, most of us didn't see all the trial evidence, but it is disturbing that one of the jurors was not entirely honest on the selection questionnaire and there was blatant prejudicial efforts on the part of a member of Congress.
I find the exact placement of Chauvin's knee of lesser importance than having it be there in the first place. Once a suspect is handcuffed, the job of a police officer is to take them in for booking, or in Floyd's case, the hospital. I really can't speak to whether to how "fair" the trial was. I've sat on a jury and won't pretend to be a mind-reader regarding their actions or motivations.
Have you read the MPD's training manual? I believe the prosecution had to admit during the trial that restraint of that type, especially if it's not on the neck, is OK. The length of time and the fact the restraint was not removed after Floyd became unresponsive are worth considering, but no using a knee. Plus, it's difficult to gauge the amount of pressure from a video. The judge(s) who overturned Shepherd's conviction didn't need to read the jurors' minds. All the judges had to do was read the newspapers.
Suffice it to say that I'm happy that Chauvin is no longer a police officer. While it also may be legal for Israel to train our police, I don't believe that makes it appropriate. The list of things that are currently deemed "OK" by one authority or another which clearly aren't, is nearly endless.
The old “Manufacturing Consent” paradigm is way past its usefulness. The ruling elite don’t need consent anymore, they just do it out in the open & tell us, with the willing assistance of the corporate media water-carriers, it’s not how it looks. Millions gratefully accept this propaganda rather than, as you say, face the uncomfortable truth.
Did you see that conversation btw Yuval Harari (wrote Sapiens, Ph D history) & Daniel Kahneman (PhD psych, nobel prize winner for economics, wrote Thinking Fast and Thinking Slow)? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yhg7NmTeVg
they had an hour long discussion - i believe recorded in 2020 on a number of topics. worth the watch in my opinion.
During the conversation, Harari makes your exact point - in political events - citizens will prefer the nicer sounding lie than the uncomfortable truth which reveals the ills and bad deeds perpetrated by one's own government.
Caitlin, this is an outstanding piece of writing; thank you.
i find it remarkable that - in the information age - instead of freeing us from the tyranny of these psychopaths because their bad deeds and selfish motivations are exposed- their grip on power seems tighter. it almost seems like it is easier to get the masses to believe the lies. perhaps it is because information technology makes it easy to repeat falsehoods in the echo chamber of main stream media...
I think there is another "Harari-ism" that is co-morbid which exacerbates this issue. in "21 lessons for the 21st century" (Harari's newest book) he uses the idea of "data cows" to refer to inhabitants of "the west". Like the milk cow - the west's inhabitants have been bred and coddled to be good tax serfs for the oligarchy but possessing less critical thinking and physical skills than our ancestors.
a dangerous combination...
The clearest analogy l can find to the empire controlling us is Derek Chauvin, not the least concerned being recorded in broad daylight, so comfortable and secure that his place and actions are rightful.
The number of people who raced to defend such brutality simply because Floyd was no Boy Scout provide their own sad corollary to these perilous times.
Are you aware of camera perspective bias? Are you aware that a prosecution witness on cross examination, after viewing a video taken from a different angle, said that Chauvin's knee was not on Floyd's neck, but on his shoulder blade? Could that be why Chauvin looked so comfortable and secure?
I believe the more likely reason is that a cop with numerous complaints against him for misconduct without reprimands or consequences gives him little inducement to stop committing more.
I take no position on his guilt or innocence on any of the charges as I haven't seen all the evidence or heard all the testimony, but I did find the testimony about the placement of his knee and several other details brought out during cross-examination to be of concern. You didn't answer my question. Were you aware there were other camera angles and the testimony of the police officer witness for the prosecution who said on cross that in the alternate view it appeared his knee was on Floyd's shoulder blade? Guilty or innocent, I don't think the circus atmosphere permitted a fair trial. Are you aware of Sam Shepherd, who was convicted of killing his wife but whose conviction was later overturned because of press coverage?
Neck or shoulder blade; it matters not because Floydd said - repeatedly- he couldn’t breath. The medical examination concluded Chauvin’s knee prevented him breathing which caused the heart to stop.
Which "medical examination" are you referring to, the official autopsy or the second opinion, which was not dependent on an independent physical examination? As I said, most of us didn't see all the trial evidence, but it is disturbing that one of the jurors was not entirely honest on the selection questionnaire and there was blatant prejudicial efforts on the part of a member of Congress.
I find the exact placement of Chauvin's knee of lesser importance than having it be there in the first place. Once a suspect is handcuffed, the job of a police officer is to take them in for booking, or in Floyd's case, the hospital. I really can't speak to whether to how "fair" the trial was. I've sat on a jury and won't pretend to be a mind-reader regarding their actions or motivations.
Have you read the MPD's training manual? I believe the prosecution had to admit during the trial that restraint of that type, especially if it's not on the neck, is OK. The length of time and the fact the restraint was not removed after Floyd became unresponsive are worth considering, but no using a knee. Plus, it's difficult to gauge the amount of pressure from a video. The judge(s) who overturned Shepherd's conviction didn't need to read the jurors' minds. All the judges had to do was read the newspapers.
Suffice it to say that I'm happy that Chauvin is no longer a police officer. While it also may be legal for Israel to train our police, I don't believe that makes it appropriate. The list of things that are currently deemed "OK" by one authority or another which clearly aren't, is nearly endless.
"not using"
Apparently you didn't take the concept of this video to heart
https://youtu.be/m_aTN3yKOkY
I really wish that people seriously looking at what happened on 9/11 could have a "big reveal" moment.
This is the best article I read in many years. A fan from Brazil
Superb article