Think Tank - I actually had doubts about whether to include this on the list of newspeak, as it seems to have taken on negative connotations all on its own. I still much prefer to call a spade a spade, however, and most think tanks are paid liars. If one prefers a less confrontational term, Belief Tank also captures the phenomenon nicely.
I still much prefer to call a spade a spade, however, and most think tanks are paid liars. If one prefers a less confrontational term, Belief Tank also captures the phenomenon nicely.
What about Shill Tank. *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
Stink tanks? Spin tanks? Fink tanks? B.S. Tanks?
Artifice Aquariums? (too long)
Enough from me.
Karen in Austin Thence comes our true nobility by grace, It was not willed us with our rank and place. Chaucer
As you know corporations and special interests groups set up fake organizations which are supposed to appear to be spontaneous gatherings of concerned citizens. Some clever wag coined "astro-turf" organizations as a play on both grass roots and the real fake grass Astroturf. We'll I'm looking for some similar cleverness to denote those organizations which are currently called right-wing think tanks. What they have in common is that they (at least in the US) are all funded by super wealthy rightwingers, their personal foundations and, sometimes, large corporations. In this case they are trying to create the appearance of a real scholarly instituted or department within a university. I haven't come up with anything, but I think a play on ivory-tower might be a useful jumping off point.
We'll I'm looking for some similar cleverness to denote those organizations which are currently called right-wing think tanks. What they have in common is that they (at least in the US) are all funded by super wealthy rightwingers, their personal foundations and, sometimes, large corporations. In this case they are trying to create the appearance of a real scholarly instituted or department within a university.
I haven't come up with anything, but I think a play on ivory-tower might be a useful jumping off point.
ceebs:
Towers of Babble
tax-exempt propaganda
Depleted Craniums
