Warning: The site discussed in this post might be a scam. Check the comments before doing business with this site.
I visited The Art of Mental Warfare tonight. It presents itself as a “clarion call to action for an apathetic nation.” The site is based on a book of the same name, by David Vincent. The site offers the following quote by that well known Republican, Dwight D. Eisenhower:
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.”
The themes of the site?
Corporate media, for starters. How many corporations dominate US mainstream media? It’s dwindling:
1983 = 50
1993= 14
2007 = 5
How much do we pay for public broadcasting?
Germany $85
UK $83
US $1.54
Hence, the battlecry:
The mainstream media is an elaborate and sophisticated propaganda apparatus that is designed and utilized to deceive, manipulate, dumb down, distract and marginalize the American public. We realize that the mainstream media is not giving us the vital information that we need to develop informed opinions and participate in this so-called “democracy.”
However, the average US citizen still does not understand this. They are too busy working hard trying to make ends meet, trying to provide for their families, trying to pay off their homes, credit cards and debt. They don’t have the time to spend hours everyday researching issues that the mainstream media doesn’t even mention or discuss.
In fact, with hundreds of television channels, radio stations, magazines, newspapers and movies, the average citizen thinks the amount of viewpoints in the media are overwhelming and diverse. They don’t realize that the vast majority of media companies are controlled by a handful of the world’s most powerful interrelated corporate interests. They don’t realize that over the past 25 years we have experienced a scandalous concentration in media ownership and an all out attack on public TV and radio.
I took a look at the site and was fairly underwhelmed. The stuff you quoted is all true, I mean, but the idea that we're all being ruled by corporations isn't exactly a novel insight. This kind of talk has been around for a while.
I read down the page as far as I could, until the words started sllding off my eyeballs, looking for something like a unifying premise. Does the author have anything to say besides "In case you were wondering, this is why we're all screwed. Have a nice day"? Or is he just trying to sell a book of rants?
If he's making a call to action, I wish he'd make his point so we can get busy. We've wasted too much time already.
I came across a link to artofmentalwarfare.com back in November 07, followed the link, read a little and decided "what the hell" and pre-ordered the book. I never got the book, which was to have shipped late January, nor do I expect to get the book. The site is now practically abandoned. The author is unresponsive to myself and others about the wherabouts of the book we payed for. Scam. This is a scam.
As I've gone over and over this site looking for any info from the author about delivery of his (perhaps nonexistent?) book, I'm also underwhelmed. The 2000 election was stolen??? 2004 too??? Hey, I wonder if Oswald acted alone…Had I read the excerpts more attentively, I would never have ordered this "book" which, if the excerpts are any indication, reads like a rambling, unfocused blog. My strong suspicion is that there is no book, just an opportunist feeding on those who would express dissent.
Another thing: I got an email notice, or noticed a link about this book in November of 2007. I think there was a quick PR blast of info about this book, an effort to create a little buzz, take some money and disappear.
I did the same as above. Came across the website back in December and ordered a copy. Its now March and despite a few emails asking for a status update on the book, it hasn't arrived. Perhaps the guy has been bumped off, or perhaps its a scam as is likely. A pretty good one as someone as knows what they are doing. I take things on trust and this just pisses me off.
There is always hope but on this case, I don't hold much faith. Don't order this book as you will lose your money.
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Unfortunately, I, too dished out 30 bucks for this phantom book. Why am I such a dumbass? Total Scam. A good scam though, had me going for months. Wish I waited a few months before ordering & went to this site first. Please don't feed money to this f***.