Psychopathic astroturfing
Why the Right’s ‘Astroturfing’ Propaganda Is Textbook Psychopathic
Here’s a quick test, a sort of free-association game: What do egocentrism, deceitfulness and aggressive criminality have in common?
If you guessed that they are characteristics of disturbed behavior, you’re half right. They are in fact features of the Psychopathy Checklist Revised, a template for diagnosing psychopaths, designed by Canadian psychologist Robert D. Hare.
But what’s more interesting about this triumvirate is the fact that it’s being employed in the recent slew of corporate-backed, faux grassroots outbursts (also known as “astroturfing” campaigns) across the country.
Organizations behind these events, like Bonner & Associates and FreedomWorks, are promoting a mind-set that’s textbook psychopathy. And like many psychopaths, they’ve been getting away with it for years.</em>
Recall the motto of TTP: If you have to lie to make your point, you don’t have a point to make.
