I hate to call anyone “stupid.” It’s a condescending term that suggests the speaker is above his or her audience, even an audience of one. It’s also the low road. But some people act stupid when they don’t believe one bit of what they spout, yet they persist in repeating their gibberish over and over again. Such is the case with political extremists or by a small percentage of religionists in every country. I am not referring to people and issues and circumstances in which reasonable people can and do disagree. I am referring to gross distortions and outright lies, uttered by those with an agenda, all in a “down home” or “holy” manner for the purpose of misleading common ordinary people into doing their bidding. It is a crude and ugly form of propaganda.

Propagandists are sometimes clever but always deceitful when it comes to twisting facts, when presenting beliefs or assertions as facts, and when lying in a thousand different ways in their efforts to achieve their political or personal goals. It is an affliction that I find disgusting, dishonest, and unworthy of any human being. The fact that such tactics take place in legislatures, in  churches, and in television programs make them all the more contemptible. Such are the activities of the propagandists in attacking virtually every idea, thought, or piece of legislation they are against, or when arguing in favor of those they support.

More people are susceptible to propaganda than you might think. In a country of 320 million (that’s us), about one-half (160 million) are ready made for the stuff. Another 106 million can be tricked into believing outright lies when they are presented in a cleverly wrapped package. That means 262 million Americans can be duped into believing a lot of trash they would not otherwise accept. That’s enough to make Josef Goebbels (Nazi propaganda minister) squeal with delight in his grave.

Who are the susceptible ones? If you believe that all members of Congress are crooked, you are susceptible. That’s exactly what propagandists want you to believe. The only crooked members of Congress are the crooks, just like every where else. Believing otherwise is to elevate the crooked ones into a higher group. If you believe that an opinion is as good as a fact, you are susceptible. Or, if you believe that a fact is really just an opinion, you are susceptible. If you believe that someone who makes 5 or 10 or 15 assertions in one sentence is smart as hell, you are susceptible. What he is doing is not giving you enough time to think about the lies that he is passing off as true . Or he doesn’t know enough about the subject at hand to discuss it intelligently. He hides his ignorance in a “stream of consciousness” hoping that you will get lost in his confusion along with him. If someone will not answer a question, but changes the subject with each difficult question, and you accept that ploy, you are susceptible. Liars hate the truth and difficult issues. If you believe that “sound bytes” and generalities are a sign of wisdom, you are susceptible. If you believe that politics and religion are a good mix, you are susceptible.

And the antidote to propaganda? Self-education is the best defense. Facts are easy to come by these days. Most can be checked by a selective and intelligent use of the internet. You can even become a very knowledgeable person on many subjects by learning about them on the internet. (Don’t accept all sources as equal. Research centers, government sources, Wikipedia, and respected news centers are the best sources for facts. Political and religious websites are among the worst). Slant and bias are easy to spot in most speakers. Those who select only facts that support their beliefs are slanting their presentation. Those who show favoritism toward one person, group. or idea are biased in their thinking. Those who do all three are blatantly insulting to your intelligence.

With a little practice and discernment, propagandists are easy to spot. They all have several things in common: They have no respect for the truth, and no respect for your ability to be able to recognize them for what they are: self-centered liars who think they deserve more than you, who believe they are smarter than you, and who hold you in contempt. Even though they are a small minority, they can cause a lot of pain and anguish throughout the land.

A propagandist is closed-minded.  He or she is not in search of the truth. They shut themselves off from reality and draw inwardedly from their own belief system.  But they always have a purpose.  And it is nearly always power and control over those who can be proselytized.  And they want your money, your assets, and perhaps you, or your wife, husband, daughters, sons, and neighbors.  You should know that all leaders of religious cults are propagandists.  But so are thousands of others with a high pyschological need for power.  They are not doers or achievers.  They are not kind, caring, or loving.  Many are politicians.