We live drenched and waterboarded by propaganda – two (trivial) examples

There is that quote by Alex Carey, the Australian wicketkeeper social scientist about three big developments in the twentieth century being – well, let me google that for me.

“The 20th century has been characterised by three developments of great political importance. The growth of democracy; the growth of corporate power; and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.“

Well, the first quarter of the 21st century shows only an intensification of the enshittification of the “public” sphere.

In the last 24 hours – from Australia – “Australians for Prosperity” (do we need to counter it with “Actual real human beings for asperity”?)

From the UK – PR campaign may have fuelled food study backlash, leaked document shows

I could blog every single day with multiple ripe examples of more – cruder or subtler – , forms of, well, thought control in democratic societies. Or though suppression, shaping etc. The control doesn’t always work every minute of every day, but generally “their lies wash you down and their promises rust,” innit?