Factchecking the Factchecker on Chomsky, Russia and Media Access
fair.orgI've heard and read anecdotaly that the Soviet Union by the late 1980s the average citizen was very far from being a kind of true believer in their own media media that I see here in this time. Perhaps they were less skeptical before the 80s I don't know. The 1980s was very demoralizing to the soviets from what I've heard. There was the famous Chernobyl accident and a very unpopular war in Afghanistan (I am not aware of the history of it beyond that). By my reading it appears that the average Russian had more skin in that game than the average American since there was conscription.
The economy was hurt and I read the phrase "They pretend to pay us, we pretend to work" was something that was a common feel at that place and time.
I am happy to read that many soviets actually did consider other countries news to weight and consider it per the Francis Bacon command.
From everyone I know in person, I've never met anyone still living who feels the same way.
Without communication and cooperation and the consumption of other views society becomes either beholden to 5 corps owning it all or eventually the collective media loses all of its credibility like in the USSR. The reason for this is, the media will lead the country off a cliff. See what happened to the Nazi media. None of it exists today. Germany exists.
It was never hip to fraternize with an public enemy though movies were made to it and books have been written. The enemy is a lot more similar than we know. Would you simply clam up if an angry neighbor was trying to get your audience about a car half parked on his lawn. Maybe you could explain it isn't your car. Or you could move the car. Now a days in some parts of the country if you are in a morally bankrupt city, some guy might shoot and not give it many other thoughts. It applies internationally too. We don't have to like them and we don't have to be beholden to it's wishes but simply dismissing all concerns by reason of it being a kind of imaginary black hole for truth is not very reasonable. Did the soviets ever ever get any where near as willing to close one eye at all times?
This is why many Eastern Europeans do not trust the media. A lot of immigrants from the soviet bloc are very confused at how much Americans trust their media/govt.
I know it is not just Eastern Europeans but there is something to be said about the level of distrust for the media after having lived through the USSR.
a lot of people in the west think Russian propaganda is very effective. It is loud, and it is constant, but it is not as effective as perceived. if you speak to the average Russian, you’ll find that this distrust of the state is now deeply embedded in the culture.