On two successive Mondays, March 17 & 24, 2008, Digging Deeper XLIII will examine two books on elections, politics, and propaganda: -- Spencer Overton's Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression (W.W. Norton, 2006; paperback 2007); -- and a collection edited by Andras Szántó entitled What Orwell Didn't Know: Propaganda and the New Face of American Politics (PublicAffairs, 2007). -- More information about the books below.[1] -- There is no charge for participation and anyone interested is welcome. -- Digging Deeper meets Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mandolin Café in Tacoma (but will not meet on Mar. 10 due to a UFPPC-sponsored appearance by antiglobalization author and photojournalist David Bacon at King's Books). NOTE: We've been contacted by Véronique Morrison, the proprietor of the Mandolin Café, to alert us to the fact that a St. Patrick's Day celebration will make it impossible to meet (or rather, to hear each other talk!) on Mon., Mar. 17, at the Mandolin. So we've reserved the public meeting room at the main branch of the Tacoma Public Library (1102 Tacoma Ave. South, Tacoma, WA 98402) as an alternative meeting space. We'll resume meeting at the Mandolin on Mar. 24.
1. WHAT: Digging Deeper XLIII: Elections, Politics, and Propaganda
WHO: Led by Mark Jensen
WHEN: Monday, March 17 & 24, 2008 -- 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mandolin Café, 3923 South 12th St., Tacoma, WA 98405 ***********************************
United for Peace
of Pierce County (WA)
Study Circle:
March 17 & 24, 2008
*********************************** DIGGING DEEPER XLIII: ELECTIONS, POLITICS, AND PROPAGANDA The 2008 election cycle is in full swing, and since elections are the principal legitimation of the existing political power structure, their sociopolitical significance is immense. These two books look beneath the surface of American elections to probe the history and politics that have shaped them. One analyzes the various mechanisms that are used to discourage citizens from voting or to make their votes count for less. The other collects twenty essays about modern techniques of propaganda and opinion manipulation that go far beyond anything imagined by George Orwell. —Spencer Overton, Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression (W.W. Norton, 2006; paperback 2007). "Overton takes a wonky but worthy look at the 'matrix' of 'thousands of election regulations and practices' that can discourage -- if not completely suppress -- citizens from voting or make their votes count less. A law professor and election reform activist, Overton makes concrete proposals for restoring power to voters. Redistricting, he says, is often conducted in a partisan manner; Overton recommends that the United States assign the responsibility to an independent commission. He calls for federal standards for counting ballots and the provision of voting machines. The much-debated Voting Rights Act, Overton argues, remains vital, though those invoking it should more carefully analyze 'practices that disadvantage voters of color.' In answer to those bilingual education opponents who might withhold 'democracy from Americans with limited English skills,' he also argues that bilingual ballots would 'advance citizen engagement.' Overton warns that a photo ID requirement for voting would exclude those (e.g., the poor, many people of color) who don't have driver's licenses. Citing relatively low voter turnout and lack of centralized election oversight, the author notes how the United States 'deviates from democratic norms' of other established democracies, concluding with profiles of activists to inspire the citizens' movement needed to enact the sensible reforms he advocates." --Publishers Weekly. —Andras Szántó, ed., What Orwell Didn't Know: Propaganda and the New Face of American Politics (PublicAffairs, 2007). "Three years before he published 1984, Orwell wrote 'Politics and the English Language,' an attack on the use of political speech 'in defense of the indefensible.' That essay (reprinted in full) serves as the point of departure for these 20 articles on modern methods of American propaganda, which editor and freelance journalist Szántó calls 'subtle, insidious, sugarcoated, focus-grouped, and market-tested.' Contributors are consistently thought-provoking, but happily diverse in background and concern: Farnaz Fassihi, senior Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, takes on war reporting; USC journalism professor Martin Kaplan explains why he refers to television news as 'the Infotainment Freak Show'; and cognitive scientist George Lakoff discusses the psychological principles manipulated to goose the efficacy of political messages. An epilogue from moneyed progressive George Soros (whose Open Society Institute co-sponsored the publication) expresses hope that this book will 'inoculate the public against false arguments'; timed to coincide with the 2008 presidential election, Szántó's collection should indeed resonate with Americans increasingly put out by the obfuscating tactics of many political campaigns (and careers)." --Publishers Weekly. MEETING SCHEDULE -- Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, WA. No charge for participation. Some copies available for purchase or loan. Contact: Mark Jensen (jensenmk@plu.edu; 253-756-7519). Regular meetings of United for Peace of Pierce County are held at 6:30 p.m. on 1st Thursdays and at 7:00 p.m. on 3rd Thursdays at First Congregational Church, 209 S. “J” St., Tacoma, WA. ***********************************
United for Peace
of Pierce County (WA)
Study Circle:
March 17 & 24, 2008
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