When human groups divide and become fragmented, during a period of malaise and conflicts, they may come to a point where they are reconciled again at the expense of a victim. Observers nowadays realize without difficulty, unless they belong to the persecuting group, that this victim is not really responsible for what he or she is accused of doing. The accusing group, however, views the victim as guilty, by virtue of a contagion similar to what we find in scapegoat rituals. The members of this group accuse their "scapegoat" with great fervor and sincerity. More often than not some incident, whether fantastic or trivial, has triggered a wave of opinion against this victim, a mild version of mimetic snowballing and the victim mechanism.
HEADLINE NEWS!!!! Taiwan gov't tipped off by Spain in 2009 could be something wrong with the oil! Or adulterated oil company executive appears in court and is unrepentant! Defense Ministry to seek compensation for suspect oils!
The oil scandal is so useful. The oil companies are scapegoated for all the food sins of Taiwanese firms, the meat packed with antibiotics, the fraudulent organic food, the pears from Dongshih sold as Lishan pears, the rice noodles that aren't rice...
...and when was the last time you read an article on the wiretapping issue? Gone from the news. Never mind the stagnant incomes, the capital gains tax, the land tax... modern Establishment media is so useful, if it didn't exist, it would have to be invented.
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Daily Links:
- Econ growth forecast downgraded to 2.31%
- Taiwan seeking observer status at climate meeting
- MOFA changes mind, is more generous with aid to the Philippines
- Editorial in TT explains how Ma plans to change KMT charter to hang on to power as Chairman in event KMT does badly in 2014 elections. Remember when they changed the charter so he could run for President?
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1 comment:
I don't get it. Are you saying the oil companies should be let off the hook because other people are also doing bad things? I'm pretty sure it's allowed for the government to pass laws about multiple things during the same year.
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