This is a video read of the following essay.
Intelligence is more than a trait—it is a status symbol. People want to be perceived as knowledgeable, rational, and on the “right side of history.” More than anything, they crave the feeling of superiority over others. But what happens when this desire is weaponized?
Propagandists have mastered the art of exploiting people’s deep-seated fear of looking ignorant, using psychological manipulation to pressure individuals into conformity while silencing dissent. Through a consolidated and manipulated media, academic gatekeeping, and social coercion, the left has created a world where compliance is framed as intelligence and skepticism is ridiculed as stupidity. This framing defines nearly every debate of our time.
By examining key psychological studies, historical and modern propaganda tactics, and coordinated influence operations, it becomes clear: leftist messaging is not designed to persuade through logic but to manipulate people into submission.
Ideological dominance is not the primary goal; rather, the conditioned response creates a self-reinforcing system where obedience is rewarded with the illusion of intellectual superiority—along with the endorphin-fueled satisfaction that comes with it. For those addicted to this sense of superiority—much like a rat pressing a lever for a treat—the conditioned response strengthens with repetition.
The Psychology of Propaganda
The Asch Conformity Experiments (1951): The Power of Groupthink
Solomon Asch’s famous conformity experiments demonstrated that individuals will give blatantly incorrect answers just to align with the majority. In the real world, the majority opinion is harder to control than in lab settings. Rather than allow opinions to develop organically, successful propagandists create the illusion of consensus through media manipulation, social pressure, and censorship.
When mainstream institutions present progressive views, they frame them as the "intelligent" perspective. Consequently, many people conform—not because they are convinced, but because they fear standing out. They fear being mistaken for the ignorant. They fear their membership in the "intelligent" group could be stripped away for the crime of having the wrong opinion.
The Spiral of Silence Theory (Noelle-Neumann, 1974): Silencing Dissent Through Social Pressure
The Spiral of Silence theory explains why people self-censor when they believe their opinions are unpopular. Leftist propaganda exploits this by aggressively labeling opposing views as “racist,” “sexist,” or “anti-science,” making disagreement socially costly.
Dissenting views are often pathologized—defined in terms of sicknesses or phobias. The belief that border security is weak, for example, is framed as xenophobia, as if no rational argument could exist. This tactic is particularly effective on social media, where dissenters risk public shaming, job loss, or digital deplatforming.
The False Consensus Effect (Ross, Greene, & House, 1977): Manufacturing the Illusion of Unanimous Agreement
People tend to overestimate how widely shared their beliefs are. Leftist propaganda capitalizes on this by making progressive views seem universally accepted. Media outlets, social media algorithms, and academic institutions contribute to this illusion by amplifying one-sided narratives while suppressing alternative viewpoints.
When every movie plot, talk-show monologue, and award show speech promotes the same ideological position, the true will of the majority becomes irrelevant and silenced.
Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital Theory (1984): Defining Intelligence to Fit an Agenda
Pierre Bourdieu’s theory explains how elites define what is considered “intellectual.” Leftist institutions, particularly in academia and media, have redefined intelligence to mean agreement with progressive ideology.
For those unable to earn intellectual status through achievement, the alternative—attaining it through conformity—is irresistible and the only option. Basic biological facts, historical realities, and economic principles are dismissed as “outdated” if they contradict leftist dogma, while radical theories like gender ideology and Critical Race Theory (CRT) are framed as enlightened.
The Fear of Looking Stupid (Festinger’s Social Comparison Theory, 1954)
Humans assess their intelligence by comparing themselves to others. The modern leftist, much like the famed "poor white racist,” constantly seeks someone they favorably compare to. Since stoking racial tensions is a core feature of leftist propaganda, perceived intelligence and moral superiority are an easy replacement.
Through repetition and control, certain beliefs are made the hallmark of an “educated” person, while skepticism is branded as ignorance. Questioning government policies on COVID-19, climate change, or race relations is framed as “anti-intellectual,” even when data supports alternative views.
Tactics of Left-Wing Propaganda: How Compliance Is Framed as Intelligence
The Use of ‘Expert’ Endorsements
Left-wing institutions flood the media with “experts” who all agree on a given topic—whether it’s climate change, gender ideology, or economic policy. This creates the illusion that no intelligent person could possibly disagree, reinforcing the False Consensus Effect. Often, actual expertise is secondary to status—Bill Gates is presented as a virology expert, while Sean Penn is elevated as an authority on geopolitics.Language Inflation: Sounding Smart Without Substance
Progressive jargon—such as “systemic oppression,” “decolonizing narratives,” and “lived experience”—gives leftist ideas an air of intellectualism, even when they lack substance. Those without scientific expertise can adopt technical jargon, creating the self-perceived illusion of authority.Academic Gatekeeping: Controlling the Definition of ‘Knowledge’
Universities and left-leaning think tanks define intelligence in a way that benefits their ideology. Conservative viewpoints are often censored, ridiculed, or dismissed rather than debated.The Appeal to ‘The Right Side of History’
Leftist propaganda frames issues as a battle between progress and regression, claiming their policies are the inevitable path of history. By this logic, all societal change must be positive—despite history proving otherwise.Mocking Opponents as ‘Low-Information’
Instead of engaging with opposing arguments, leftist propaganda relies on ridicule. Conservatives and libertarians are frequently labeled “stupid,” “brainwashed,” or “uneducated,” discouraging debate. A person who questions America’s funding of a proxy war against Russia must secretly love Putin. No opposing view is ever considered legitimate—it’s simply dismissed as propaganda.
The Role of Foreign Influence: China’s Information Warfare & Leftist Propaganda Networks
While domestic leftist institutions manipulate public opinion, foreign actors—especially the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—have taken these tactics to new heights.
During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, CCP-backed accounts fueled racial grievances and unrest in the U.S.
Amid COVID-19, state-controlled media spread conflicting messages—first downplaying the virus, then promoting extreme lockdowns.
China engages in "astroturfing," creating fake grassroots movements that align with Beijing-friendly narratives.
Conclusion
The success of this rhetoric is not completely a result of the sophistication and effectiveness of the strategy, as this style of propaganda has emerged throughout history with varying degrees of success. Rather, the form of influence is so wildly successful become of the tremendous demand.
Short on accomplishments and the satisfaction that comes from them, the desire to feel included in something has become a sort of religion. A 2020 Pew Research Center survey found that 56% of white liberal women aged 18-29 reported having been diagnosed with a mental health condition by a healthcare provider. Conformity comes from a desperate place to feel positive about one’s self. The fact that the same demographic is the most overwhelmingly left-wing one in America comes as no surprise.
The battle for truth is ultimately a battle for freedom. As long as mass media, foreign adversaries, and left-wing operatives dictate what the public is allowed to think—while flattering those who comply—real freedom remains at risk.
As the addiction increases severity as time goes by, the claims being put forward are also becoming more extreme. They now shape American immigration, perceptions on geopolitical activities, healthcare, education and economic policies.
Historians familiar with the Maoist revolution will recognize the shocking parallels. Much like today’s progressive elites, Maoist propagandists did not persuade through logic but through relentless social coercion, public shaming, and the illusion of consensus. During the Cultural Revolution, intelligence was redefined—not as the ability to think critically, but as the ability to align with Mao’s ideology.
From advocating open borders to supporting irreversible child medical transitions, today’s progressives, much like Mao’s revolutionaries, show no limit to their willingness to embrace absurdities in the name of ideological purity.
What started as seemingly harmless has served as stepping stones towards the complete abolition of liberty and sanity. For those currently conforming due to fear, and that number is high, the time has come to finally embrace honesty. History shows the course we’re heading, and truth is the only weapon each and every human has at their disposal. It is both the bare minimum that one should contribute to society and the only agent of preservation to stop the world from rotting.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
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