| Truth does remain an issue, doesn't it?
When words of ignorant hate are mixed in with actual statements from international leaders, there is harm. Truth is damaged. For example, Austrialia was not founded as stated -- it was a criminal colony of the British. Just for a start .... but most important is making internet users notice that all sorts of untrue statements are sent out this way. The election will be a major testing ground for this type of political propaganda. And as fast as the web works, it probably will work.
At least LBJ's 1964 ad showing the little girl with the daisy in front of a mushroom cloud -- if you're old enough to remember that attack on Barry Goldwater -- could only be shown once before the next day's answer in a dozen newspapers. On the web it could have been shown a million times, with no answer really possible. |