Why Are We The Good Guys? : Reclaiming Your Mind From The Delusions Of Propaganda

Golden rule of State violence -- Shoring up the edifice of benign power -- How to cover your tracks after promoting war -- Promoting public ignorance -- Global climate crime -- Power's assault on democracy -- Endless echoes -- Madness of the global economy -- Beyond indifference -- Freedom at last?;"One of the unspoken assumptions of the Western world is that we are great defenders of human rights, a free press and the benefits of market economics. Mistakes might be made along the way, perhaps even tragic errors of judgement such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But the prevailing view is that the West is essentially a force for good in the wider world. Why Are We The Good Guys? is a provocative challenge of this false ideology. David Cromwell digs beneath standard accounts of crucial issues such as foreign policy, climate change and the constant struggle between state-corporate power and genuine democracy. The powerful evidence-based analysis of current affairs is leavened by some of the formative experiences that led the author to question the basic myth of Western benevolence: from schoolroom experiments in democracy, exposure to radical ideas at home, and a mercy mission while at sea; to an unexpected encounter with former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, the struggles to publish hard-hitting journalism, and the founding of Media Lens in 2001."--Publisher description. Content: Acknowledgements 1 The Golden Rule of State Violence Two Classroom Experiments A Shock to the System The Marshall Plan: Myth and Actuality Bad News from the Middle East The BBC Ponders Another Moral Issue Helen 'The Hidden' Boaden 'A Brilliant Act of Hypnosis' 2 Shoring up the Edifice of Benign Power The Origins of Media Lens The Unreporting of the West's Genocide in Iraq The Propaganda Model and the Price of Iraq Burying Unpeople and Inconvenient Facts A Strange Encounter with the Former Foreign Secretary When Untruths Prevail, Catastrophes May Ensue. 'The Price Has Been Worth It, ' Once Again3 How to Cover Your Tracks After Promoting War All the Apocryphal Stories Fit to Print The Observer: 'Yes, We Read the Paper, Old Friend' ITN: Nothing to Apologise For Independent on Sunday: A True Guardian of Power Head of BBC TV News: 'Always Happy to Debate' Don't Look at Us -- Look at Them! The Masquerade of Media Balance 4 Promoting Public Ignorance The Chains of Seduction 'We See Further into the Future' 'A Load of Cobblers' Balance Sheets, Death and Silence 'Public Opinion of No Value' 'Fantasy Land' Burying the Cable. The BBC 'Notes' Privately That There Are Dissenting Views5 Global Climate Crime Dancing with a Fossil Fuel Dinosaur Climate out of Control Guarding the Mythology of 'Failure to Act' Who's Holding Us Back? 'A Death Sentence for Africa' 'A Crime of Global Proportions' The Eightfold Nay: The Great Unmentionables of Climate Coverage 6 Power's Assault on Democracy The Invisible Corporate Shadow 'Good People Work for Corporations, Too' Poverty and the 'Defence' Budget The Power Inquiry and Gaping Holes in Media Coverage Public Interests Would Mean 'Disaster' for Elites. 7 Endless EchoesRacing the Enemy The Real Meaning of the Potsdam Proclamation Crucial Questions About Truman Left Unanswered 'Deeply Flawed' Casualty Claims What Compelled the Japanese Surrender? The Nuclear Hammer Still Above Our Heads 8 The Madness of the Global Economy A Sprinkling of Stardust Covering Ugly Realities The Masters of the Universe Cling to Power Boom and Bust Official Fraud and Propaganda The Neoliberal Nightmare 'Most of Us Get These Things out of Our System When We Are Students': A Tangle with the Economics Editor of the Sunday Times. 'You Sanctimonious Nitwit': Financial Times Chief Economics Commentator Unhappy with Debating in Public'Dealing with the World as it is'? Jousting with Independent Economics Commentator The Latest 'Success Stories' of Capitalism 'A Large Statistical Glitch' The Failure of Professional Journalism 9 Beyond Indifference Authentic Existence and the 'Outsider Problem' Spring Bloom and a Burst Appendix Indifference Arising from Clutching Desire Contemplating Death The Unanswered Question: What Would Nietzsche's Superman Actually Do? Total Compassion, Not Total Indifference. One Of The Unspoken Assumptions Of The Western World Is That We Are Great Defenders Of Human Rights, A Free Press And The Benefits Of Market Economics. Mistakes Might Be Made Along The Way, Perhaps Even Tragic Errors Of Judgement Such As The 2003 Invasion Of Iraq. But The Prevailing View Is That The West Is Essentially A Force For Good In The Wider World. Why Are We The Good Guys? Is A Provocative Challenge Of This False Ideology. David Cromwell Digs Beneath Standard Accounts Of Crucial Issues Such As Foreign Policy, Climate Change And The Constant Struggle Between State-corporate Power And Genuine Democracy. The Powerful Evidence-based Analysis Of Current Affairs Is Leavened By Some Of The Formative Experiences That Led The Author To Question The Basic Myth Of Western Benevolence: From Schoolroom Experiments In Democracy, Exposure To Radical Ideas At Home, And A Mercy Mission While At Sea; To An Unexpected Encounter With Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, The Struggles To Publish Hard-hitting Journalism, And The Founding Of Media Lens In 2001.--publisher Description. Golden Rule Of State Violence -- Shoring Up The Edifice Of Benign Power -- How To Cover Your Tracks After Promoting War -- Promoting Public Ignorance -- Global Climate Crime -- Power's Assault On Democracy -- Endless Echoes -- Madness Of The Global Economy -- Beyond Indifference -- Freedom At Last? David Cromwell. "One of the unspoken assumptions of the Western world is that we are great defenders of human rights, a free press and the benefits of market economics. Mistakes might be made along the way, perhaps even tragic errors of judgement such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But the prevailing view is that the West is essentially a force for good in the wider world. Why Are We The Good Guys? is a provocative challenge of this false ideology. David Cromwell digs beneath standard accounts of crucial issues such as foreign policy, climate change and the constant struggle between state-corporate power and genuine democracy. The powerful evidence-based analysis of current affairs is leavened by some of the formative experiencesthat led the author to question the basic myth of Western benevolence: from schoolroom experiments in democracy, exposure to radical ideas at home, and a mercy mission while at sea; to an unexpected encounter with former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, the struggles to publish hard-hitting journalism, and the founding of Media Lens in 2001."-- Provided by publisher Cromwell challenges the false ideology and unspoken assumptions that the Western world is essentially a force for good in the wider world, that we are the great defenders of human rights, a free press and the benefits of market economics. The author digs beneath standard accounts of crucial issues such as foreign policy, climate change and the constant struggle between state-corporate power and genuine democracy. This evidence-based analysis of current affairs is leavened by some of the formative experiences that led the Cromwell to question the basic myth of Western benevolence: from schoolroom experiments in democracy, exposure to radical ideas at home, and a mercy mission while at sea; to an unexpected encounter with former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, the struggles to publish hard-hitting journalism, and the founding of Media Lens in 2001. --Adapted from publisher description A provocative challenge to the standard ideology that Western power is a benevolent force in the world.

A provocative challenge to the standard ideology that Western power is a benevolent force in the world. Abstract: A provocative challenge to the standard ideology that Western power is a benevolent force in the world