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I used to work for a PR firm in Chicago that would work with AT&T to do astroturfing. I never knew the details but the gossip about the contract with AT&T was i

by ok_coo 5y ago

I used to work for a PR firm in Chicago that would work with AT&T to do astroturfing. I never knew the details but the gossip about the contract with AT&T was interesting. Internally, they would never say the word, "AT&T" but had a client code #, like client 750, or something like that. It was always sketchy and everyone in the firm knew it was sketchy but they tried their best to keep the details from the employees. What they would do is work with "community outreach groups" to create fake outrage about certain "bad" legislation that, people participating in such protests, problem didn't even know who was ultimately behind it. Overall, pretty disgusting behavior and the fact that we let corps behave like this with no repercussions, speaks a lot to where we're at as a country and why. The US rewards sociopathic behavior. The PR firm: Jasculca Terman strategic communications. I believe their contract with AT&T was severed many years ago but I don't know the reasons why. So, I doubt that particular firm worked on this astroturfing but it doesn't matter because companies like AT&T have a whole bevy of companies at the ready to do this work for them.

prox 5y ago
Separation of church and state should be followed by separation of companies and state.
- wolverine876 5y ago
  > Separation of church and state should be followed by separation of companies and state. Very interesting!
- TOGoS 5y ago
  Good idea. Who will enforce it? Because those with the most to lose will always, by definition, have the most money to throw at un-separating them. I am not implying that it cannot be done, but I like to encourage people to think long and hard about why things are the way they are and what systemic changes would be necessary when they propose that "society should do X". Most people would agree that we shouldn't have big companies running the government. So why do we keep letting them do it?
  - prox 5y ago
    Because in many ways, companies control the narrative. I don’t mean that in a conspiracy kind of way, but more in a way where all companies share a vested interest into keeping close to the political body. One good rule would to introduce a law that would remove the ability to revolve door between a company and a political position. Another to show the sponsors directly and transparently for each political official. That would be a start. Two systematic changes that could help.
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    When separation of church and state was implemented, churches were very powerful. I wonder what the differences are between their power and modern corporations.

by ok_coo 5y ago

prox 5y ago

Separation of church and state should be followed by separation of companies and state.

wolverine876 5y ago
> Separation of church and state should be followed by separation of companies and state. Very interesting!
TOGoS 5y ago
Good idea. Who will enforce it? Because those with the most to lose will always, by definition, have the most money to throw at un-separating them. I am not implying that it cannot be done, but I like to encourage people to think long and hard about why things are the way they are and what systemic changes would be necessary when they propose that "society should do X". Most people would agree that we shouldn't have big companies running the government. So why do we keep letting them do it?
- prox 5y ago
  Because in many ways, companies control the narrative. I don’t mean that in a conspiracy kind of way, but more in a way where all companies share a vested interest into keeping close to the political body. One good rule would to introduce a law that would remove the ability to revolve door between a company and a political position. Another to show the sponsors directly and transparently for each political official. That would be a start. Two systematic changes that could help.
- wolverine876 5y ago
  When separation of church and state was implemented, churches were very powerful. I wonder what the differences are between their power and modern corporations.