PROPAGANDISTS AT WORK - AT 8:47 A.M. ET:  He who controls the vocabulary controls the country.  The following is brought to you, apparently, by the same people who "rightsize" rather than "downsize" corporations, and "demonstrate robustly" rather than "riot":  From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — The problem with global warming, some environmentalists believe, is “global warming.”

The term turns people off, fostering images of shaggy-haired liberals, economic sacrifice and complex scientific disputes, according to extensive polling and focus group sessions conducted by ecoAmerica, a nonprofit environmental marketing and messaging firm in Washington.

Instead of grim warnings about global warming, the firm advises, talk about “our deteriorating atmosphere.” Drop discussions of carbon dioxide and bring up “moving away from the dirty fuels of the past.” Don’t confuse people with cap and trade; use terms like “cap and cash back” or “pollution reduction refund.”

COMMENT:  Oh, they are so wrong here.  This is the kind of thinking done by those who believe the American people are dumb and uniformed.  They are neither.  They know that there are serious disputes over some of these issues, and they want the disputes aired openly before committing the future of the country to some trendy scheme.  They also know that some environmental actions can do as much harm as good, or even more, as with the disastrous banning of DDT in Africa.  The want facts.  Twisting the words simply shows the cynicism of the twisters.

May 2, 2009