Last nite, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) showed a one-hour propaganda program called “Sweden: Lessons for America?” Produced by the Cato Institute, the program extolls Sweden’s move away from “socialism” and towards a “market economy”.
This could have been a really fascinating story had it been balanced. But it is a blatant piece of ideological propaganda masking as documentary. I am surprised that OPB showed it, without comment or balancing discussion.
The CATO Institute was founded in 1974 by the Koch brothers to promote a radical Libertarian agenda. In 1980, David Koch ran for Vice President, with Ed Clark on a radical platform of dismantling the foundations of American government. Their platform became the agenda for today’s radical Republican right.
Elements of this agenda are actively being promoted at all levels of US government through ALEC and other groups. For a more detailed discussion, read Democracy in Chains, by Nancy MacLean.
The Cato Institute appears to be getting active in discrediting “socialism”, just as lots of young people are exploring the concept.
We deserve a better discussion about it than this. If this propaganda is appearing on your local public TV station, please let your voice be heard.