Was Persuasion (Propaganda) Methods Employed – You be the Judge by: Michael Madigan

1. Regarding: The Buffalo News: “Curing the health care confusion”By Jerry Zremski and Henry L. Davis28-March-2010 headline 3 page “Educational” article Was Persuasion (Propaganda) Methods Employed – You be the Judge by: Michael Madigan UB Graduate Major in Communication

2. Presentation Outline • Introduction to methods and techniques of persuasion and propaganda • Analysis of excerpts from the article 3. Items Omitted from article that would support reader making fully informed decision 4. Conclusion

3. Techniques in The Principles of Persuasion: A brief overview Reference material: “”Age of Propaganda: the everyday use and abuse of persuasion” by Elliot Aronson: Methods/Techniques: 1). Implied consensus: Example: Most people, most Americans, believe children are becoming obese….no data supporting claim supplied. People have a natural tendency to feel most comfortable when they conform to commonly held views and positions. 2). Use of Expert Testimonials with Qualifier in absence of supporting data: Scientists (experts, economists..etc.) believe that XYZ……Example: Most Scientists believe that the Polar Bear Population is in danger of extinction. • The Polar Bear population is in fact at a 60 year peak as per 2008 estimates by the Canadian Government (International Wildlife IUCN Polar Bear Study Group). It is 5 fold higher than 1950 and 2.5 fold higher than 1970. 3). Use of a Strawman: Example: President Obama suggesting that a surgeon will profit as much as $50K for an amputation of a diabetic’s leg and a Childs tonsils • The strawman creates a source to focus animosity and raises anger and incites action in the intended target audience – highly effective 4). The one sided debate. Writer acknowledges that there is a dispute or debate and they then present only the one side of the debate effectively suggesting that the other side’s concern is invalid based on how the one side (their side) is presented.

4. Methods and Techniques of Persuasion (Continued) 5). Use of Qualifier to suggest a point of view with no supporting reference data (qualifier exempts requirement to cite data to support). Example: It is suggested that x will occur…. 6). Use of Spin to support/bolster position: Examples: The title of the health care bill: Patient Protection and Affordability Act. Who can vote against patient protection and affordability? 7). In the case of newspapers the positioning of information in the article impact the level of influence. Front page above the fold has greater influence than below the fold on page 23. 8). Omission of key facts that a journalist, who deems themselves knowledgeable on the topic, would be aware of that would assist the reader in forming a complete understanding of the topic being covered.

5. Analysis of Excerpts from the Article Was Propaganda Techniques Employed: You Be the Judge

6. Was Propaganda Techniques Employed: You Be the Judge 1). Article title: “Curing the confusion” : The writers assume the American people are confused and uninformed and that this is their basis for not supporting Obamacare – this title is Spin - above the fold front page. • The writers failed to note the valid concerns of a majority of citizens and instead chose to suggest the people are confused (54% oppose plan as per Rasmussen polls at the time this article was written) • Following >1 year of debate, thousands of news articles, network and cable news stories and plan reviews these writers assume our lack of support is due to confusion……the current 58%, who want the plan repealed, are confused – while the 42% are the informed minority of which the writers are a part of. In fact opposition has grown since this article was written. 2). Article Introduction (Above the fold - Implied consensus ): “Most Americans”,understandably, don’t know how it will change their lives….–Use of word “understandably” is face saving for what the writers view as unintelligent, uninformed and confused readers. Writers seek to re-educate and hope to convince (re-educate) readers of why they should support plan. 3).Paragraph 3 of main article (above the fold - spin): Writers characterize the plan as being a “reinvention” and a “reconstruction” of the American Health system. Most view the plan as destructive not constructive to the American Health Care System. These 2 writers are in the minority (<43% view the plan as constructive)

7. Was Propaganda Techniques Employed: You Be the Judge 4). Paragraph 9 above the fold “And if things go right” double digit health care increases will disappear and Americans will see bigger paychecks. To quote Hillary – these writers “educated” opinion requires a “Willing Suspension of Disbelief:”. According to the most recent Rasmussen Polls 81% of voters believe the cost is significantly underestimated. Only 10% believe the current government estimates are accurate. These two reporters are part of that 10% minority apparently. If these writers do not belong to this extreme minority then why would they spin this information in this manner – what is their objective? 5). Paragraph 12 Above the fold – use of qualifier: “Will you pay more taxes?” Answer: “Not if you make less than $250K/year…..That’s the way things will lookifeverything goes as planned”. Only 10% of Americans believe this will go as planned. Is it really possible that these writers believe this – what is their objective for reporting this? 6). The next reference is revealing: Paragraph 17 above the fold: “In hopes of helping our readers understand the law better, The Buffalo News” is devoting two full pages today to explaining it” . The News is willing to sacrifice time and space towards this re-education in hopes of seeing this as they do and supporting the bill apparently. If we support their minority position, in their view, eliminates our confusion

8. Was Propaganda Techniques Employed: You Be the Judge 7). Q: “I have had arguments withhealth insurance companies over coverage (use of a STRAWMAN persuasion/propaganda technique),including being denied a policy because of a pre-existing medical condition. Will any changes reform how insurers do business”? A: The writers respond essentially suggesting that these arguments will end and service access will improve - once again the writers find themselves in the extreme minority with <10% in Rasmussen Poll believing service and access will improve 8). These writers saved the most disturbing revelation of their article for the dead end (3rd page) following a number of questions and answers that became repetitive: Q: And what will happen if the law ends up costing far more than projected? A: “That's an open question. Congress could curtail benefits or increase taxes to pay for the cost overruns — or simply let the federal deficit grow to even higher record levels. None of those solutions is particularly politically palatable • “Curtail Benefits”: The use of minimization of a very serious claim. The Buffalo News Suggests an option of rationing healthcare exists.This bombshell was saved for the 3rd page dead end of their analysis. The News Knows it will cost far more than projected . Minimally $700 Billion based on 40% under-funding and projected >$500 Billion Medicaid/Medicare costs cuts that are highly improbable of being realized • To place this in context the IRS Collects just $900 billion/year in income taxes. This plan is likely underfunded by greater than this amount – this is not sustainable and as per The Buffalo News this would either result in curtailed benefits (rationing) or what could be very significant tax increases • Why was this left at the dead end of a 3 page report, this was news worthy. Was the reason because it is contrary to the objectives they had for writing the article?

9. What Was Omitted or Downplayed in Article?Omission/withholding information that is essential to making an informed choice is part of many effective propaganda campaigns

10. The following items were either omitted or down played in article: • What big government entitlement program has ever: • Reduced the deficit? • Only cost what it says it will and lowered the costs of goods and services? • Improved quality? • Enhanced efficiency? • Decreased delays? • Fostered more choice and competition? • Featured competent bureaucracy? • Operated with honest accounting? • Avoided fraud, abuse, waste, maddening red tape, and higher taxes? Question: Did the authors intentionally ignore the wealth of historical data that would be directly relevant to the concerns (as opposed to confusion) of the general public? Question: Did the authors address what has been the primary basis of the oppositions concerns or did they choose to ignore these concerns in order to support their own position on the topic? Question: What was the writers objectives based on they way in which they presented this material?

11. Items either omitted or down played in article (Continued): • ObamaCare slashes Medicare by $528 Billion: • Seniors will be forced off Medicare Advantage Plan ($136 billion savings) • An additional $23 billion in cuts to Medicare will come from a panel charged with slashing Medicare spending (rationing). • Doctor payments will be slashed by 21% - many doctors will no longer accept new medicare/medicaid patients due to insufficient payment (the primary source of savings). • Sustained higher unemployment – in 2010 an estimated $14 Billion in write-offs are expected due to impact of plan since plan passed. Such increased burden will impact recovery and employment • Addition of 32 million new patients concurrent with projected retirement of >20% of existing doctors over the next 5 years (baby boom retirements) will create severe doctor shortage. Specialists will be inaccessible accept for the very rich. • Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts that ObamaCare will increase the average family’s premiums by as much as 13 percent by 2016 (this does not factor in doctor shortage driven price increases) – this is contrary to what writers presented • Due to severe doctor shortage, costs will be driven significantly higher (supply-demand driven price increase) • Value Added Tax or some other funding source will be required due to severe under funding of plan beyond 2020. • Reduction in 2011 of tax free health spending accounts (HSAs) from $5000 to $2500 maximum. Consumer driven/out of pocket tax free healthcare spending is an effective way of reducing costs. This “reform” bill cuts rather than expands on this effective method of cost control (??). Patient empowerment reduced while dependance of government dramatically increased.

12. Items were either omitted or down played in article (Continued): • Starting in 2011 OTC drug purchases through HSAs eliminated (ouch!) • Loss of privacy: Your healthcare file must be uploaded into Federal healthcare data base to permit ready access to doctors, hospitals, Federal agents (regulatory panel) and IRS auditors • Significant increase in data documentation requirements by healthcare providers (doctors and hospitals) this will increase costs. These costs will be passed on to consumers. • Added tax complexity: You and your employer will be required to report your health insurance information to IRS as part of tax filing (added tax complexity) • Increased IRS audits: IRS is adding 17,000 agents to cover new enforcement requirement in plan – this will result in a significant increase in audits and intrusion by government into our personal and private information and lives • Marriage Penalty: Penalty of up to $10,000 for couples making >$250K – “divorces of convenience” will increase when factoring in current marriage tax penalty • The constitutionality of the requirement to purchase a good or service by the Federal Government – this is unprecedented and breaches a number of sections in constitution. • Not to mention the unprecedented corruption that led to the passing of the bill – this same corrupt system will now be entrusted with millions of elderly, sick and unborn American lives. • Think about the fact that these same corrupt people who accepted bribes to vote yes will be entrusted with life and death decisions for millions……consider the lobbyist influence and the implications this has. This fact alone is a singular basis for immediate and complete repeal of the entire bil – we can’t allow such corrption.

13. Conclusion This analysis was just one example and is not a unique case of the type of journalism that is being passed as news to the general population. The conversion of once reputable news organizations into extensions of the government (state run media) is a issue that should concern all Americans. We must take action and call attention to this propaganda and we must begin to send a message to these news organizations that this is unacceptable.

15. Entitlement Concern – Prior to Underfunded Health Care Plan • In 2010: 14 percent of payroll taxes and premiums go towards these entitlements (Health Care Plan not factored) • By 2020, in addition to payroll taxes and premiums, Social Security and Medicare will require more than one in four federal income tax dollars. • By 2030, about the midpoint of the baby boomer retirement years, the programs will require nearly half of all income tax dollars. • By 2060, they will require nearly three out of four income tax dollars

16. Welcome To Grand Island Patriots Meeting Agenda: • 6:30 PM Convenes meeting and reviews agenda – Kathy Knight (mtg Chair) • 6:40 PM Importance of voting - Kevin Hardwick (Erie County Leg.) • 7:15 PM Health Care Plan – How it impacts you – Mike Madigan (Teanewyork.com) • 7:45 PM Citizen Action – Effective Methods - Greg Thrun (Americans for Prosperity) • 8:10 PM Primary Challenge – Committeeman sign-up - John