It is somewhat of a knee-jerk reaction. That said, European governments and media have been serving a relentless propaganda. It started with the invasion of Ukraine but has recently taken an even more sinister turn. This sort of thing does work and does change public opinion.
You believe that what you believe is true (you have to by definition). But is it? What is truth? That's the whole point of propaganda in shaping public opinion.
It can also be very subtle because what you are told may be "true" but may not be the whole truth and may not give a comprehensive account of all the facts at play. I think that's broadly what separates propaganda in Western countries (where outright lies are difficult to sustain) vs propaganda in dictatorships.
In Europe the reactions to apparent changes in US policy are overblown, the "Russian threat" is overblown. Both are for a reason. But it seems that people have been so "prepared" that governments can announce doubling defence budgets (with what money?), conscription, the EU stepping into defence and almost no-one blinks.
Which part of it is overblown? The loss of trust in US being a stable enough partner to trust them, or the outrage regarding US bullying tactics in international politics?
Threatening to invade your allies has consequences, and the damage has already been done.
the reactions to apparent changes in US policy are overblown
A friendly country seeing its upper hand, and deciding to leverage it to squeeze your economy... what is overblown about being wildly concerned about that exactly? Its coming on top of an inflation driven affordability crisis, and many people are already at their limits. Having prices further increase is a really big deal for many people.
the "Russian threat" is overblown.
Country with one of largest nuclear arsenals in world building up military, supressing dissent, invading neighbors - none of these statements are twisting facts. Even if you didn't know Putin's aims, it would be extremely concerning.
You mean the current war Russia started in Ukraine, which is part of Europe, and where countless people die? Russia is not a threat, we're way past that.
Russia WILL attack the Baltic States in a few years after they're done with Ukraine, this is a fact.
changes in US policy are overblown
Trump threatening to annex Greenland (Europe!), Canada, or Panama canal is overblown? He's the president and chief or the biggest army in the world, if anything it's underblown. The only reason this is not considered a war declaration is because everybody knows he's mentally unstable and dumb as a brick.
You believe that what you believe is true (you have to by definition). But is it? What is truth? That's the whole point of propaganda in shaping public opinion.
I don't know what you think your point is. Back in the real world, having dependencies on services provided by the US became a serious risk. De-risking is what every single decent project manager does. Only a moron drops by a discussion on risks and argues that a risk scenario doesn't matter because of propaganda.
I’d argue it is downvoted because it contradicts many people’s perception of the truth - including mine. I say perception because we don’t have all the information - and never will - in complex cases like global politics. However, given the limited information we all have at hand, there are more and less reasonable conclusions to draw, and the downvoted comment is in many people’s eyes drawing unreasonable conclusions.
Well if what has happened over the years and accelerated since Trump was elected does not raise red flags in curious and inquisitive minds then nothing will...
My take is that at least part of what is going on is to overblow risks (especially the risk of a Russian "invasion") to make the public accept a future proposal to create an EU army, which in turn means a further critical transfer of power to the EU. Let's see how the next 12 months play out.
Comments
It is somewhat of a knee-jerk reaction. That said, European governments and media have been serving a relentless propaganda. It started with the invasion of Ukraine but has recently taken an even more sinister turn. This sort of thing does work and does change public opinion.
It's not propaganda if it is true.
You believe that what you believe is true (you have to by definition). But is it? What is truth? That's the whole point of propaganda in shaping public opinion.
It can also be very subtle because what you are told may be "true" but may not be the whole truth and may not give a comprehensive account of all the facts at play. I think that's broadly what separates propaganda in Western countries (where outright lies are difficult to sustain) vs propaganda in dictatorships.
In Europe the reactions to apparent changes in US policy are overblown, the "Russian threat" is overblown. Both are for a reason. But it seems that people have been so "prepared" that governments can announce doubling defence budgets (with what money?), conscription, the EU stepping into defence and almost no-one blinks.
Which part of it is overblown? The loss of trust in US being a stable enough partner to trust them, or the outrage regarding US bullying tactics in international politics?
Threatening to invade your allies has consequences, and the damage has already been done.
Edit: spelling
A friendly country seeing its upper hand, and deciding to leverage it to squeeze your economy... what is overblown about being wildly concerned about that exactly? Its coming on top of an inflation driven affordability crisis, and many people are already at their limits. Having prices further increase is a really big deal for many people.
Country with one of largest nuclear arsenals in world building up military, supressing dissent, invading neighbors - none of these statements are twisting facts. Even if you didn't know Putin's aims, it would be extremely concerning.
You mean the current war Russia started in Ukraine, which is part of Europe, and where countless people die? Russia is not a threat, we're way past that.
Russia WILL attack the Baltic States in a few years after they're done with Ukraine, this is a fact.
Trump threatening to annex Greenland (Europe!), Canada, or Panama canal is overblown? He's the president and chief or the biggest army in the world, if anything it's underblown. The only reason this is not considered a war declaration is because everybody knows he's mentally unstable and dumb as a brick.
I don't know what you think your point is. Back in the real world, having dependencies on services provided by the US became a serious risk. De-risking is what every single decent project manager does. Only a moron drops by a discussion on risks and argues that a risk scenario doesn't matter because of propaganda.
this thing that a comment slightly not aligned gets downvoted, must stop
I’d argue it is downvoted because it contradicts many people’s perception of the truth - including mine. I say perception because we don’t have all the information - and never will - in complex cases like global politics. However, given the limited information we all have at hand, there are more and less reasonable conclusions to draw, and the downvoted comment is in many people’s eyes drawing unreasonable conclusions.
Well if what has happened over the years and accelerated since Trump was elected does not raise red flags in curious and inquisitive minds then nothing will...
My take is that at least part of what is going on is to overblow risks (especially the risk of a Russian "invasion") to make the public accept a future proposal to create an EU army, which in turn means a further critical transfer of power to the EU. Let's see how the next 12 months play out.