The Manipulation of America's Political System
In a recent article on HarmanReport.com, the author raises an important question - why don't Americans know who's manipulating our political system? The author discusses the origins of the hyper-racist, nativist, fascist-loving faction that has taken over the Republican party and points to a little-known historical event that played a significant role in shaping American politics.
The Environmental Crisis of the 1960s
The author points out that in the 1960s, America was suffering from a very real environmental crisis. Rachel Carson's book, "Silent Spring," which highlighted the harmful effects of DDT on birds, sparked the first nationwide environmental movement. This led to legislation outlawing DDT and resulted in heightened public awareness about environmental issues. The 1960s saw numerous environmental disasters, from a massive oil spill off the coast of California to severe car exhaust pollution causing birth defects and cancer in major American cities.
Response and Backlash
In response to public pressure, President Richard Nixon established the Environmental Quality Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1969 and 1970, respectively. However, this move was met with immediate backlash from wealthy industrialists, particularly those in the fossil fuel and chemical industries. These individuals felt persecuted by the regulations imposed by the EPA, as they were accustomed to pouring unlimited amounts of poison into the environment without consequence.
The Oligarchs' Plot
The author delves into the plot hatched by wealthy industrialists in the 1970s. Buoyed by a memo written by Lewis Powell in 1971, which encouraged the wealthy to buy up the media, create think tanks, and influence public opinion, these individuals went on to build a network of think tanks dedicated to degrading the EPA. They also sought to roll back the high income tax rates on the wealthy that had been implemented in response to the perceived excesses of the rich during that period.
Manipulation of Public Opinion
Throughout the 1970s and onward, this network of think tanks, coupled with deregulation and tax cut propaganda, aggressively pushed the idea that the EPA was evil and that regulation was a terrible thing. The narrative of supply-side economics and trickle-down theory was also propagated as the means to achieve prosperity, further shaping public opinion.
Consequences for Republican Voters
The impact of this concerted effort to manipulate public opinion was far-reaching. By 2015 and 2016, Republican voters had been thoroughly misled and indoctrinated into believing that cutting taxes on the wealthy and doing away with regulations was beneficial. The author argues that these voters had essentially been made gullible and were being taken advantage of by wealthy individuals and their propaganda machinery.
The Rise of Trump
The author asserts that the stage had been set for a professional con man like Donald Trump to exploit the vulnerability and gullibility of these voters. Trump's promises to save America from various issues were contradictory and largely false. However, the author argues that these voters, used to being lied to by wealthy conservatives, were primed to accept these falsehoods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the author underscores the need to tell the story of how America's richest men executed a plot over 50 years to manipulate public opinion and shape the political landscape to serve their interests. The article serves as a call to action to shed light on this insidious manipulation of the American political system, thereby empowering citizens to be more discerning and critical of the information they receive.