Reading Response 9/30

1. I think that Roberts-Miller’s ideas analyzing demagogic discourse are well-said and backed by great examples. Much of what she says is valuable information, especially in a world today when we see this sort of negative propaganda often. Roberts-Millers provides a detailed list of all of the topics that are considered demagoguery including ideas of polarization, scapegoating, victimization, and many more.

To start, I think it was important that Roberts-Millers included the clarifying information that “… all demagoguery is propaganda, but not all propaganda is demagoguery” (Roberts-Millers 1 & 2). This was important for the author to begin with because we, as consumers, are always seeing propaganda. However, I don’t think many people know the difference between propaganda and demagoguery. At least, I didn’t until reading this article. Further, one type of demagoguery I found interesting was the idea of scapegoating. I think many of us can understand this concept with the example of Osama Bin Laden on the United States or Hitler with the Jews that Roberts-Millers inserted in parentheses for us (Roberts-Millers 4). This idea of pushing guilt or responsibility on the out-group party is a demagoguery tactic that powerful leaders often use to justify their actions or beliefs. This is a type of propaganda that we must never give in to.

2. Furthermore, when reading George Wallace’s inauguration speech, one particular concept from Roberts-Millers came to mind: the idea of god and devil terms. In Wallace’s speech we hear this concept when he refers to himself and his in-group opposed to the out-group, that according to him ought to be shamed. Some examples include:

” We find we have replaced faith with fear and though we may give lip service to the Almighty, in reality, government has become our god. It is, therefore, a basically ungodly government and its appeal to the pseudo-intellectual and the politician is to change their status from servant  of the people to master of the people, to play at being God without faith in God and without the wisdom of God.”

(Wallace, 3).

” It is a system that is the very opposite of Christ for it feeds and encourages everything degenerate and base in our people as it assumes the responsibilities that we ourselves should assume. Its pseudo-liberal spokesmen and some Harvard advocates have never examined the logic of its substitution of what it calls “human rights” for individual rights, for its propaganda play on words has appeal for the unthinking.”

(Wallace, 3).

” … a government first founded in this nation simply and purely on faith, that there is a personal God who rewards good and punishes evil, that hard work will receive its just deserts, that ambition and ingenuity and inventiveness, and profit of such, are admirable traits and goals that the individual is encouraged in his spiritual growth and from that growth arrives at a character that enhances his charity toward others and from that character and that charity so is influenced business, and labor and farmer and government.”

(Wallace, 4).

These quotes spoken by George Wallace illustrate Roberts-Millers claim on god and devil terms. The demagoguery tactic Wallace uses is through this. He wants it to be known that his beliefs are justified by God and anyone who doesn’t agree with him is “ungodly” (Wallace, 3). Moreover, Wallace categorizes God and the founding fathers in the same category: right. Because Americans respect their founding fathers and their religious God, these words become very powerful. Ultimately, Wallace using the specific words he did, makes his audience question whether they are right or wrong.

3. I think that we, today, are seeing an increase in demagoguery propaganda due to presidential elections and political campaigns. With issues of fake news, various media outlets, Twitter and other platforms, it is easier to spread this kind of information without even checking whether or not it is true. Without getting into specifics, the 2016 presidential election dug up many instances of demagoguery propaganda. It forced some consumers to learn to question everything they see, but it also led some consumers to make the switch to more radical beliefs. Roberts-Millers offers many different examples of leaders and situations where we have seen certain types of demagoguery. This kind of propaganda is extremely powerful and wide-spread, however, we must not give into it. We must learn to question things and challenge those who fall for the set-ways of thinking. I think that this article is very relevant and more people need to learn about this type of public discourse.