Reply #2: 1984 Doublethink --from another thread [View All]

[Ouabache]

I saw this distlled in another thread by someone familiar with the novel 1984. Sorry I forgot who that is, so some of that is below with a few observations of my own thrown in to boot.

Two contradictory facts can be held as truth, depending on which one the maximum leader signifies is currently the "operative truth".
Since so many of the Bush camp-followers are "true believers" as described by Eric Hoffer in a book I remember reading ages ago, this is not an exercise in cognitive dissonance for them at all. They merely switch to the curently operative truth.
I think the keys to it are:

1. excellent propaganda dissemination(Faux et al.)
2. a cognitive system that uses belief and faith as opposed to reason.

Remember when the Nixon Whitehouse throughout the Watergate era would issue contradictory updates and declare that previous statements were "inoperative" ? They were still trying to maintain a logical, reasoned approach to the world. And, of course it unravelled.

What worries me about the Bushies is that this break from the past is totally illogical but they aren't worried about spinning a logical inconsistency because theirs is a 'faith-based' White House, so they and their most devoted followers can just ignore the previous constructs and switch to the currently "operative" belief. What's scary is that they can switch back if needed from their point of view, as well. It is totally delusional and out of touch with reality. (The ability to do this depends on the propaganda remaining excellent.)

We see it for what it is. A large part of the population will just go on auto-pilot for it because it "computes" so badly, and they can't face it. (the "good" Germans)

Where we end up is anybody's guess at this point.