fake controversy

Fake Controversy

What do you do if you've done something really bad, like killing people, and you want to keep doing it? You create fake controversy.

For example, in the 1960's, the tobacco industry came up with a strategy for countering the growing awareness that smoking causes cancer -- create doubt and controversy:

"Doubt is our product since it is the best means of competing with the 'body of fact' that exists in the mind of the general public," the memo stated, referring to growing public concern about the health impacts of smoking. "If we are successful in establishing a controversy at the public level, then there is an opportunity to put across the real facts about smoking and health.

Here's the memo.

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