Why Can’t We Just Do As We’re Told? July 6, 2008
Posted by bensix in Uncategorized.trackback
Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, has a piece on Comment is Free that encourages religious, scientific and political communities to ‘persuade a cynical public that global warming is a very real threat‘.
“It is…not difficult to “blame” either religion or politics for the ills of our world, but suspicion and cynicism — whether of politics, science or religion — are cut from the same cloth and are equally destructive.”
To be suspicious is to doubt and distrust appearances that may not be reliable. If history has taught us anything, it is that this state of mind can be applied to nothing better than representatives of politics and religion. If the populace has become unduly cynical – and I suspect that it hasn’t – then it can only be the result of having centuries of suspicions proved correct.
The ‘beat the bastards into submission‘ propaganda approach only succeeded over 42 days because the public were convinced that it wouldn’t impinge upon their lives. Soothing homilies, meanwhile, descended from fashion decades ago, and can be found in veiled forms among the media.
What is needed is for the government and media representatives to present the evidence honestly and openly. Either that, or they’ll just bugger about independently and inconsequentially.
Update: I’m very happy to report that public opinion has backed away from 42 days, if, indeed, it was ever actually associated with it.
> If the populace has become unduly cynical
and how would you test that? is there an official level of due cynicism? and what is the official SI unit? lets say you can have up to 10 MegaWogans … but anything more … is undue. bring me my Woganometer! to the batmobile.
It’s quite simple, dear D. In this context, public cynicism is defined as distrust shown towards the state. If, then, the public is still acting on the pronouncements of the state it is reasonable to assume that the public has not become particularly cynical.
Of course, a Woganometer does sound rather more fun.
B