Internet, Fake News, Propaganda: Using Scare Tactics to Silence Those of Us Who Speak Truth to Power

I love my wife more than I could ever tell her. She is a worrier. All too often she believes what she reads on the internet, not realizing that as much as 95 percent of everything we read on the misinformation highway is propaganda designed to frighten the average person, and designed to prevent them from telling or learning the truth.

I often rely on the wisdom and honesty offered by one of the greatest men in the history of the world.

“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

The most important human right guaranteed by the Constitution is the combination of free thought and free speech. The Constitution and our system of government encourage honest dissent. Nothing works in Washington without intelligent deliberation and compromise. This works just as well in the private sector.

This is of greater importance in the 21^st century than ever before. The mainstream media hides the truth from the American people every day. To find the truth on the internet takes time and persistence. Social media is composed of approximately 98 percent false stories and blatant lies. All politicians lie. Law enforcement and the entire judicial system cannot be trusted. Our military forces are brainwashed. Although Trump calls them “suckers,” and “losers,” they remain loyal to a draft dodger. It is necessary to question everything and demand direct answers to direct questions. Anyone who refuses to answer honestly and completely is lying.

For example, anytime a politician answers a question with this response: “I cannot answer that for reasons of national security:” they are covering up facts because they fear the truth.

The biggest liar in history is clearly Donald John Trump. It is fair to say that if his lips are moving, he is lying. Even his most loyal supporters know this after his illegitimate reelection in 2024. He was lying every time he made a promise he never intended to keep.

Everyone on the right-side of the aisle uses the same tactics: lies, followed by baseless and dishonest personal attacks, and attempts to instill fear in the minds of the electorate. The truth is their greatest enemy.

The bottom line is do not be afraid to say what you believe, and doing the right thing every time is all that matters. Once again, a quote by Dr. Martin Luthe King Jr.

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”

Op-ed by James Turnage

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