Political gaslighting

What is gaslighting? “To manipulate another person into doubting his or her perceptions, experiences, or understanding of events.” Visit www.dictionary.apa.org/gaslight.

What is political gaslighting? “Refers to the phenomenon in which someone insists so strenuously on a false version of events that those listening start doubting the reality right in front of their eyes.” Visit www.polisci.washington.edu/events/2017-02-27/gaslighting-government.

“Gaslighting can even impact political polls. It’s not uncommon for a politician or political entity to use gaslighting as a tactic to divert public discourse and use manipulation to garner support for or against a certain viewpoint,” according to a 2021 article in Forbes.

Visit www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-gaslighting/.

“Lies, gaslighting, and propaganda” is a 2020 article by Alex Sinha in The Buffalo Law Review. “In fact, in the political context, brazen dishonesty takes on a distinctive character because it can be difficult to believe that a public figure would intend to offer a demonstrably false statement to an audience so large that a demonstration of the statement’s falsity is all but assured.”

Gavin Esler writes about the lies of leaders Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Boris Johnson in an article about government gaslighting. “It’s time we stopped allowing ourselves to be deceived.” Visit www.perspectivemag.co.uk.

Joe Biden pushed COVID-19 vaccines and proclaimed the chances of getting sick were near zero – not true. He proclaimed the unvaccinated were a danger to the vaccinated – not true. He pushed the boosters as the remedy – not true.

“In a free country such as ours, dishonesty at the highest levels of government is no small thing. If we can’t trust the president, how do we know what to believe? How do we know what our government is really up to? People in power must be held accountable in a democracy — but that’s not easy when you don’t know what’s true and what isn’t,” opines Bernard Goldberg, opinion contributor to The Hill. Visit www.thehill.com.

We expect mammoth lies and gargantuan gaslighting from dictators: Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, Bashar al-Assad, Miguel Diaz, Isaias Afewerki, but not from leaders of sovereign nations.

How can you tell if your own government is gaslighting you? How can you tell if the globalists of the New World Order are gaslighting you? Or the climate crusaders? Or any political power person with an agenda? Or the mainstream media? Or the fact-checkers? What about Big Pharma or the Federal Reserve? Or the CDC, WHO, UN? How do you know when a weasel is in the hen house? Or a Benedict Arnold is in an elected position? Who is the patriot and who is the traitor?

Hmmm. These questions drain my brain and muddle my mind. Will the real truth please stand up.

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” ―Mahatma Gandhi

Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is a syndicated opinion-editorial columnist. She lives in USA.