Astroturfing - Say it with Me

[catscradle]

I learned a new word today - Astroturfing. According to the article below it's "The name for mass corporate marketing disguised as grassroots efforts by individuals..." That's what their calling the "Tea Parties" that have supposedly been spontaneously popping up all over the country lately in protest against the Obama stimulus package.

Comments

[gairid]

I'm going to post this in my blog if that's okay with you. I am actually flabbergasted at this---I know I shouldn't be surprised at anything anymore, but damn. This really blindsided me.

[catscradle]

That's perfectly fine with me :) I've been following the story for a while and I'm totally disgusted with the marketing and packaging of feigned protest. The sad thing is, we really *should* be rioting in the streets over what is happening - but I doubt the Republicorps would get behind a real protest of the corporate megagreed that got us into this mess.

I find it interesting that they are so willing to protest a bill that includes job creation, helping out the people through tax breaks and reducing the interest rates on housing - but they didn't squawk all too much at the Bush plan which handed over 750 billion to banks with no oversight whatsoever. The Obama bill is by no means perfect, but at least it remembers that people are involved in the equation.