Ministry of Propaganga

[Seattle Zack]

Ministry of Propaganda

(from USA Today)

One in three U.S. high school students say the press ought to be more restricted, and even more say the government should approve newspaper stories before readers see them, according to a survey being released today.
The survey of 112,003 students finds that 36% believe newspapers should get "government approval" of stories before publishing.

The findings aren't surprising to Jack Dvorak, director of the High School Journalism Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington. "Even professional journalists are often unaware of a lot of the freedoms that might be associated with the First Amendment," he says.

An aside ... Only 3% of Americans can actually name the five freedoms that are guaranteed by the First Amendment, so this is no surprise to me.

So here's your chance to vote on the new Propaganda Minister. It shoud be, at least, a Cabinet Level position. At any rate, under the Homeland Security umbrella. Headed by that guy .. oh, wait, he quit ... that other guy ... the one keeping our beloved country safe from terrorists. That guy that raises the alert from purple to orange, or whatever. That guy.

So, in no particular order, here are the nominees (feel free to write in your own):

"You won’t have me to kick around anymore, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference."
--Richard M. Nixon (1968, after losing the California gubanitorial election)

"Until those who, without authority, reveal classified information are deterred by the real prospect of productive investigations and strict application of appropriate penalties, they will have no reason to stop their harmful actions."
--(former) Attorney General John Ashcroft

"You know why there's a Second Amendment? In case the government fails to follow the first one."
-- Rush Limbaugh

"I'm in charge here."
--Alexander Haig (March 31, 1981)

"Closing her eyes she concentrated on the tingling sensation of water flowing against her body. Suddenly another sensation entered, Ashley felt two large hands wrap themselves around her breasts and hot breathe on the back of her neck. She opened her eyes wide and giggled, "I thought you drowned out there snorkel man."
-- Those Who Trespass, Bill O'Reilly

"I am mindful of the difference between the executive branch and the legislative branch. I assured all four of these leaders that I know the difference, and that difference is they pass the laws and I execute them."
--George W. Bush

 

[Seattle Zack]

One of the most important means of ideological-political work with the masses is our press, which J.W. Stalin correctly observed is the party's strongest and sharpest weapon. The party speaks to millions of people daily through its press, informing them of its policies and increasing their socialist consciousness. The newspaper is the most important instrument the party leadership has to carry out its leading role. The significance of the press cannot be overestimated.

At the same time, however, the press has another side to it that is often overlooked or neglected by party offices and editorial offices. The newspaper is one of the most important parts of the daily life of the masses. "Man does not live by bread alone." Newspapers and books are as important to people today as bread and meat. They are intellectual food. An important element of our new course is to better satisfy, both in number and quality, this need for intellectual nourishment. The needs in our republic are enormous, as is shown by the growing circulations of all of our newspapers and magazines, and even more by the fact that we cannot entirely meet the demand either with regards to our party press or even less so in the case of magazines like the "Wochenpost."

On the General Improvement of our Political-Ideological Work Among the Masses
by Fred Oelßner (1954)

 

[rgraham666]

I doubt it will actually be called the Ministry of Propaganda. The whole point of propaganda is to obfuscate the truth.

I would say Ministry of Truth, but George Orwell made that too obvious.

I imagine they'll pull the old fallback of Ministry of Information. That usually seems to work.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

No, The American Department of Freedom, Truth, and Democracy.

With a name like that, it must be patriotic right? Anyone who would say elsewise would be a commie terrorist liberal.

 

[impressive]

Department of American Freedom and Truth ... or DAFT, for short.

 

[neonlyte]

No, The American Department of Freedom, Truth, and Democracy.

With a name like that, it must be patriotic right? Anyone who would say elsewise would be a commie terrorist liberal.

Luc, why stop there, change one letter and you have the whole continent:
The America's Department of Freedom, Truth and Democracy.

Cost the same money, go the whole hog.

 

[oggbashan]

36% of students?

That sort of percentage probably think that the original Eiffel Tower is in Paris, Texas; that Elvis is still alive and serving in a McD; that Iraq was responsible for 9/11; and that cheap gas is a God-given right.

Oops. Sorry. Those statements are for the rest of the class. 64% think Elvis is alive. The 36% have been abducted by aliens more than once.

Og

 

[lil_elvis]

The thread title looked like Ministry of Propaganja and they'd legalized marijuana.

My bad.

Now, where'd those damned aliens get to? Always leaving me to find my way back to the mothership!

 

[R. Richard]

There is a clean and compelling choice for the post of Propaganda Minister [or in this case] Ministers. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you [drum roll] the editors of Newsweek!

 

[rgraham666]

No, The American Department of Freedom, Truth, and Democracy.

With a name like that, it must be patriotic right? Anyone who would say elsewise would be a commie terrorist liberal.

Damn, Luc. You're good.

Must be the thousands of years experience corrupting mankind.

 

[oggbashan]

I nominate George Galloway.

He could make black sound like white or like green with purple spots in the mother of all speeches.

He is a typical UK politician.

Og

 

[yui]

Damn, Luc. You're good.

Must be the thousands of years experience corrupting mankind.

He's positively wicked, isn't he?

 

[SeaCat]

We already have one. Margeret Spellings, head of the Department of Education.

Cat

And you wondered why Education seems to be going downhill in the United States? We have a plan.

 

[rgraham666]

We already have one. Margeret Spellings, head of the Department of Education.

Cat

And you wondered why Education seems to be going downhill in the United States? We have a plan.

Of course. The uneducated make for a much better class of peon, don't they?

 

[minsue]

Department of American Freedom and Truth ... or DAFT, for short.

Perfection