GARETH VAN ONSELEN: Six core characteristics of the EFF propaganda machine
You will rarely find any measure or proportion in EFF language — to do that would require the party to be grounded in reality, defined as it is by difference and inconsistency
The EFF, like all political parties do to one degree or another, engages in propaganda. That is, the propagation of information and opinion, essentially misleading in nature, designed to persuade or compel people into believing its point of view. For most political parties, bound by the democratic norms and standards of reason and rationality, the room to manipulate facts and evidence in this way is limited. And so, typically, it boils down to a matter of emphasis, occasional misdirection by omission and a fair dose of hypocrisy. There is the occasional blatant lie, but for the most part the party line is driven quantitatively — through mass publicity (posters, media statements and adverts) — rather than qualitatively (by actually using misinformation to poison the well). Otherwise, conventional political parties attempt to win the battle of ideas in the obvious way — by winning arguments. The EFF, however, is a different kettle of fish. Heavily influenced by revolutionary thinkers ...
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