Op Ed: How 'Information'
Becomes Knowledge
For Wise Decisions

“Informed Opinion” Shaped By Ethical Learning Process: Part Two

Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courtesy: obits.eons.com

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Famously, not too long ago, a very wise economist stated: “"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion; but not his own facts." Daniel Patrick Moynihan can hardly be seen as a radical: His insights are strongly welcomed by all who seek the truth about economics, ostensible science now at the heart of life for all around the world.

Long before the advent of “digital delivery” --now surely reshaping the world in many ways even beyond all basic communications-- the “glut of information” was complexifying everyone’s life. “It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information,” Oscar Wilde declared in the late 1850’s.

There and then, the absolute need to build solid “knowledge” for practical pursuit of any satisfying lifestyle was emerging, more strongly than ever before.

That modernizing trend was strengthened, multiplied, modified, and made useful by rapidly emerging new technologies for communication: Magazines, daily newspapers, books, encyclopedias, our colleges and universities, and much, much more --all built into the cultural, social, economic, even religious impacts of modern life.

That’s the common base for our strong mental process to convert “information” into trustworthy “knowledge”: The process has emerged from practical experience by millions -- and just in time, too !!

The “common school” concept --basic ever since our own Founders-work to establish our democracy--was among the major instruments already mounted by our society for that essential process.

That instrument still safeguard our democracy, even though damaged and denigrated by failings widespread in our vaunted American “free press” itself.

Academic endeavor, cognitive research, and the very testing aspects of truly “free press” formation of public opinion --displayed and demonstrated in broad political encounter for many decades-- have all been our compelling teachers.

We can now see how it is that the average Joe or Jenny manages the demanding conversion of “information received” into what responsible, accountable citizens must achieve to play their essential democratic roles.

Given the malign intentions of private interests to dominate current information-flow, and thus shape our understandings (read: working knowledge), we must now make sure we know that process well --and protect its full operation for our own safety, sanity, and security.

Ironically, in communications technology “the great leap forward” that provides us with the most active and knowledgeable citizen understandings of our democratic governance plan ALSO arms our opponents with their strongest weapon.

They can now, by distortion/perversion, manipulate and motivate millions to deny, delay and perhaps defeat what it is we know we must now accomplish.

With dollar-power overwhelming any single person, no matter how prolifically progressive in print or any other channel, they can defy, delay, deny and even defeat the wit, wisdom and will of any insightful group --even the American people en masse.

Open dialog in honest, democratic channels offers the greatest opportunities for us to share and learn together, to reach the further development of our “great American experiment in democracy.”

We’ve shown our combined, mutual determination to do just that in our Nov. 4 election of Barack Obama as our President, with huge mandate for massive, if often painful, actions as inherited necessity now unavoidable.

The process itself is simple; most persons use it all the time without even realizing it is at work. BUT it does shape, solidify, arm and motivate much of what they then THINK --and, eventually, DO, too.

What happens is that most persons take into mind some --never all, and perhaps not even the most crucial part-- of the information flow they encounter daily.

Often that flow, nowadays, is far from either accurate, comprehensive or competent --sometimes by intent and often by flat factual realities of those initiating it.

Most persons seek to see, hear, adjust to, and accept for action whatever comes from familiar sources or those they consider reliable --with both judgements shaped and motivated via life experience and education.

Most persons do not have the personal insights demanded to determine for themselves when they are succumbing to manipulative persuasive impact from any outside source.

Most persons do NOT make the required effort to distinguish proposals, observations, value judgements, or simplistic assumptions one from the other; or to clearly and comprehensively evaluate alternative views.

That’s WHY many are so vulnerable to cumulative affect and mpact of the “noise machine” we know well has been in operation for political manipulation purposes ever since FDR-days --well/funded by billions from Far Right sources over the past 40 years.

That history, too, is irrefutable: Their manipulative public opinion-shaping intent is on record by clear meaningful statement from originators and perpetrators.

The wholecloth operation first became nationally evident --and thus well/known and widely appreciated--by the early design, designation and rapid, costly development of multiple “brain tanks”, special-purpose foundations, and a number of dedicated publications, now known for strong bias and propaganda production.

Despite detailed disclosures --some as “mea culpa” statements in depth by former perpetrators-- millions still do not know or appreciate the flat, verifiable fact that these all have been --and continue to be-- motivated by the constant-attack pattern we have allowed malign forces to put into proven operations.

That such manipulation continues constantly is no longer open to challenge -- too many involved in making it happen have come forward to reveal the exact process, with overwhelming example and demonstration from public records --in both press-print and broadcast formats.

It matters little --often not at all !!-- when these (perhaps unconsciously) motivated citizens are presented --often via Internet dialog channels-- with offsetting information from reliable, national, checkable, testable sources, presented as “See with own eyes” and “evaluate with own mind.” They simply ignore that opportunity to share, learn --and grow as citizens.

They persist in precisely the most damaging possible political pandering, defending and even denying proven erroneous dependence on controversially debatable --often long defeated-- “political principle”.

That constant debate-format --where ALWAYS someone must dominate and eventually “WIN”-- is the current bane of many blogs and Internet channels.

It is perhaps ultimately the most-dangerous damaging factor now hampering the open, honest and very democratic dialog-channels available to all on our fabled, open, free, and universal Internet.

Dialog is driven by implicit meanings; it allows us to become learners in a process of mutual exploration. To dialog we must listen one to another, aiding us to inquire, explore, reflect and LEARN.

We can still disagree --and repeat the process, filtering out strengths, exploring personal positions and winning cooperation by consensus.

Debate is driven by individual interests; it demands head-on competition between persons. It unavoidably pits one against another “to see who wins and who loses”. By its very nature it exploits any weaknesses, increases alienation, and forces participants to protect personal positions --willy-nilly, endlessly.

It is a personal combat, demanding confrontation for completion --often missing cooperation at any cost.

Whenever we participate in any valuable open Internet channel, seeking to learn-and-grow into our role as citizens in a democratic republic, we MUST CHOOSE which mode within which to operate.

Given the past three decades of political party destructive debate and desperate policy-decision --driven far more by debate than by dialog --which will you choose to strengthen and shape YOUR role?

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Reader’s Note: Classic reference on Dialog vs Debate is “The Ethical Process”; Marvin T. Brown; Prentice-Hall;1999; ISBN: 0-13-977620--6. “See also” his text: WORKING ETHICS: Strategies for Decision Making and Organizational Responsibility’ Jossey-Bass; 1990; ISBN: 1-55542-280-2.

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Henry Clay Ruark is one of, if not the most experienced, working reporter in the state of Oregon, and possibly the entire Northwest. Hank has been at it since the 1930's, working as a newspaper staff writer, reporter and photographer for organizations on the east coast like the Bangor Maine Daily News.
Today he writes Op-Ed's for Salem-News.com with words that deliver his message with much consideration for the youngest, underprivileged and otherwise unrepresented people.