Jerk My Chain, Please! Dept.

One of the key tricks of propaganda — PR, advertising, or whatever — is to make the audience think whatever it is you're pushing was their idea all along. Don't just give the people what they want; give them whattheythinktheywant. The less they notice they are being manipulated, the better. And if they do notice it, just convince them you didn't so muchgive them any thoughts as you didawaken them.

I bring this up because I am noticing an alarming change in the way public manipulation of opini...