Looking upon Trump's favorite author, and playing the game his wife did with Obama's speech, we find the secret to what has happened.
Propaganda is a weapon, and nothing but a weapon -- it is a terrifying weapon in the hands of those who know how to use it. The question of decisive importance is this: To whom should propaganda be made to appeal? To the educated intellectual classes? Or to the less intellectual?
Propaganda must always address itself to the broad masses of the people. What are called the intellectual classes to-day are not properly susceptible to propaganda -- for them scientific, or fact based argument works somewhat better.
Propaganda is used to attract the attention of the crowd and is without substance.
When there is a question of bringing a whole nation within the circle of its influence, propaganda cannot invoke a high level, which presupposes a relatively high degree of intelligence among the public -- the public is devoid of intelligence -- to gain decisive success, one must focus exclusively on public sentiment.
The art of propaganda consists precisely in being able to awaken the imagination of the public through an appeal to their feelings, in finding the appropriate psychological form that will arrest the attention and appeal to the hearts of the national masses.
The receptive powers of the masses are very restricted, and their understanding is feeble. On the other hand, they quickly forget. For this reason, the message must be simple and repeated often.
It was, for example, a fundamental mistake to ridicule the worth of the enemy -- you stand to profit if you attract a pattern of ridicule which has nothing to do with substance. This is made more powerful when your attacks focus on substantiative issues, for it will then take only one fact to prove all the lies true.
By presenting the opposition as overwhelming strong, Barbarians and Huns without honor, you prepare your own people for attacks which will only reinforce the image; the opposition people will come to reject everything from their leaders present as pure swindle and humbug.
The sole responsibility should have been laid on the shoulders of the opposition, without any discussion whatsoever. The idea of fair and balanced presentation or concessions is out of the question.
The aim of propaganda is not to try to pass judgment on conflicting rights, giving each its due, but exclusively to emphasize the right which we are asserting. Propaganda must not investigate the truth objectively and, in so far as it is favorable to the other side, present it according to the theoretical rules of justice, yet it must present only that aspect of the truth which is favorable to its own side.
The great majority of a nation is so feminine in its character and outlook that its thought and conduct are ruled by sentiment rather than by sober reasoning. This sentiment, however, is not complex, but simple and consistent. Allow no half-measures which might have given rise to doubt.
Remember: Propaganda must be limited to a few simple themes and these must be represented again and again.
People grow sick and tired of everything. They always long for change and will always be incapable of putting themselves in the position of picturing the wants of their less callous fellow-creatures in their immediate neighborhood, let alone trying to understand them.
The chief function of propaganda is to convince the masses, whose slowness of understanding needs to be given time in order that they may absorb information; and only constant repetition will finally succeed in imprinting an idea on the memory of the crowd.
The leading slogan must, of course, be illustrated in many ways and from several angles, but in the end, one must always return to the assertion of the same formula.
Think about the steady attacks on Hillary -- on Obama -- steady, dependable and totally without regard for facts or truth. But always returning to a single simple issue. And now think about all the negatives which arise with Trump -- a flood and none stay around because attention is always diverted to a new one.
DONALD TRUMP is what you get
...for not paying attention.
And the fun part?
You were warned, even before he announced.
Note.we'll hold with the idea that he does NOT want an actual victory.
Victory could cost him a fortune with no benefit.
But that's for another discussion.
