Propaganda

Long ago in my social studies and journalism classes, I kept running into a list of propaganda techniques that are foisted on us in a steady diet. In these congressional hearings of late I recognize several, if not all of them, being used:

1. Bandwagon

2. Card stacking

3. Plain folk

4. Testimonial

5. Glittering generalities

6. Namecalling

7. Transfer

Those are the ones I remember learning about, but here’s another list where the points are no less recognizable:

1. Ad nauseum = I’m sick of hearing it

2. Ad hominem = genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument

3. Appeal to authority

4. Appeal to fear

5. Appeal to prejudice

6. Bandwagon

7. Inevitable victory

8. Join the crowd

9. Beautiful people

Recognize any? And like the old drunk says, "It's enough to want me to take another drink."