Bush the Conservative p. 15
The statement in I.B.2 gives a fairly direct statement of economic theory. It is a restatement of Milton Friedman’s Quantity Theory of Money (Friedman, 1969). The basic idea is fairly straightforward: increasing the amount of money in circulation will force the economic output to grow. This is generally referred to as the Monetarist School of thought in economics.
There is also reason to believe that this is more than mere lip-service to economic theory. On May 9, 2002, President Bush honored Milton Friedman for lifetime achievements. Chief among these accomplishments, the President cited was a moral commitment to free market economics (Bush, 2002). In fact, Milton Friedman’s defense of the free market hinges upon much the same fundamental basis as does Ayn Rand’s – it is the ultimate exercise of personal freedom (Friedman, 1962).
This reveals a direct linkage between the economic theory favored by the President, and utilized extensively in his direct ideological engagement of elite audiences, and the keywords used in his communication with non-elite audiences. Some evidence exists that the President really does believe this economic theory – and there is no evidence to the contrary that has been brought forward at this point. What is lacking at this point is any means of fulfilling the requirements of our definition of ideology: “a system of beliefs that is held as a matter of emotional commitment and habitual reinforcement.”
The use of propaganda for advancing this policy self-fulfills the requirement of an emotional commitment. As well, the repetition inherent in the President’s statements constitutes a “habitual reinforcement”. The elevation of this words to the status of “God Words” fairly well cuts off discussion that would disagree in the least. What has been created, then, is a self-fulfilling ideology that is particularly resistant to arguments to the contrary. This could well explain the continued support for the President despite results that are less than spectacular.
Go on to Page 16
There is also reason to believe that this is more than mere lip-service to economic theory. On May 9, 2002, President Bush honored Milton Friedman for lifetime achievements. Chief among these accomplishments, the President cited was a moral commitment to free market economics (Bush, 2002). In fact, Milton Friedman’s defense of the free market hinges upon much the same fundamental basis as does Ayn Rand’s – it is the ultimate exercise of personal freedom (Friedman, 1962).
This reveals a direct linkage between the economic theory favored by the President, and utilized extensively in his direct ideological engagement of elite audiences, and the keywords used in his communication with non-elite audiences. Some evidence exists that the President really does believe this economic theory – and there is no evidence to the contrary that has been brought forward at this point. What is lacking at this point is any means of fulfilling the requirements of our definition of ideology: “a system of beliefs that is held as a matter of emotional commitment and habitual reinforcement.”
The use of propaganda for advancing this policy self-fulfills the requirement of an emotional commitment. As well, the repetition inherent in the President’s statements constitutes a “habitual reinforcement”. The elevation of this words to the status of “God Words” fairly well cuts off discussion that would disagree in the least. What has been created, then, is a self-fulfilling ideology that is particularly resistant to arguments to the contrary. This could well explain the continued support for the President despite results that are less than spectacular.
Go on to Page 16
© 2004 by Xpatriated Texan
<< Home