Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

Frank Longo’s June 27 letter, “Trump has many accomplishments, as Crestwood reader cites them,” is an example of the impact propaganda and one-source news has on Americans.

Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s minister of propaganda, fed the German population the Nazis’ hateful, fascist message via the media of the day — radio, posters, newspapers. The idea of German superiority and nationalism was bolstered by patriotic gatherings and parades.

The Nazis created uniformed nationalist groups to foster identity to the Nazi movement. Thus, Goebbels created a one-source information environment controlled by the Nazis, and created a common enemy… Jews.

Japan’s Hirohito, Italy’s Mussolini and Russia’s Stalin all followed a similar fascist doctrine. Propaganda was central to the success of each, as was the control of information and its dissemination.

American fascism flourished under President Ronald Reagan, a skilled actor who knew the value of propaganda and control of the media narrative.

He touted nationalism and invented common enemies; government and “welfare queens.” Since, Republicans have cultivated a single-source news constituency, controlled the political and social narrative, demonized government and demeaned anyone who didn’t agree with their perverted vision of America.

Email, cell phones, text messaging, tweeting, cable television, a 24-hour news cycle and digital video have taken propaganda to a new level.

Fox News, while supporting President Trump, has develop a cult-like, one-source news audience to whom they feed Trump’s propaganda.

This manipulated and often false information is evidenced in Longo’s citing of Trump’s many alleged accomplishments. America is not destined to remain a democratic republic. Patriots must work to retain it.

Michael K. Broughton
Green Park

Editor’s note: Michael K. Broughton is a Green Park Ward 1 alderman.