Resentment Politics
There is a class in this country that reeks of obscene wealth. From mansions in Beverly Hills and the Hamptons, they fly around in their private jets and sail the seas in their luxury yachts. Left behind are countless millions who are subjected to austerity programs and lectures about hard work. The rise, not just in the U.S., but globally, of right-wing politics is fueled by economic inequality. Goebbels was Hitler’s minister of propaganda. He always insisted that it was a mistake to rely on logic and facts to manipulate people. The skilled propagandist, he said, must focus on emotions, not reason. Everything must be depicted in simple terms and constantly repeated. Resentment is a powerful force. We see it in today’s politics.
Speaker
Richard Seymour
Richard Seymour is a writer, broadcaster and author of numerous books, including Disaster Nationalism, Corbyn: The Strange Rebirth of Radical Politics, and The Twittering Machine. His articles appear in The New York Times, London Review of Books, The Guardian, Prospect, Jacobin, and his own Patreon. He is an editor at Salvage magazine.
Jerry Markatos –
Thanks for this practical spotlight on psychology of delivery and reaction.
There is nothing subtle about the effects these targeted campaigns produce!