Techdirt reports that the US embassy in Berlin has been offering to pay organisations to produce pro-TTIP propaganda.
If you haven't been following the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) negotiations, that's no surprise given they are taking place in secret. The 'free trade' agreement negotiations are less to do with free trade and more about standardising issues like providing corporate sovereignty over national sovereignty, and ratcheting up copyright and patent laws in secret.
The key negotiators have long been complaining about "misinformation" being spread about this and other agreements [...] But instead of transparency, it appears that the US State Department has settled on another option: paying for propaganda.
No joke, the US Embassy in Berlin has apparently been tweeting out offers to give out between $5,000 and $20,000 to organizations willing to produce pro-TAFTA/TTIP propaganda.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by AnonTechie on Tuesday June 24 2014, @09:58AM
Wonderful, now Spam Companies have a new business opportunity, they can get paid by the US Embassy to spam !
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
(Score: 2) by WizardFusion on Tuesday June 24 2014, @10:35AM
Why do they never learn.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by azrael on Tuesday June 24 2014, @10:43AM
Maybe they're learning the wrong things?
People will do anything for money...
Other people will believe anything they're told...
(Score: 4, Insightful) by choose another one on Tuesday June 24 2014, @11:18AM
They have learnt - that doing it this way gets them nice fat pay packets while negotiating, working with minimal/no review required, followed by nice fat pensions and/or nice fat consultancy engagements later, and with minimal hassle from those awkward media people and the nasty/smelly/poor ordinary people during the process.
What lesson was it you wanted them to learn again ?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by morgauxo on Tuesday June 24 2014, @12:55PM
So, who can come up with some propaganda that is pro TTIP on the surface and these guys will be fooled into buying but is really sarcasm that the public will see as anti-TTIP.
(Score: 2) by Rune of Doom on Tuesday June 24 2014, @01:50PM
Step 1: Shell Company
Step 2: Churn out some sarcastic 'pro-TAFTA/TITIP' propaganda
Step 3: Profit!!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24 2014, @02:08PM
Who needs sarcasm? Just write promotions for those who like anal sex telling them they can get what they need by turning their backs on the problems that can/will arise from TAFTA/TTIF, bending over, grabbing their ankles and waiting for the governments of the world to take care of them and their families and friends from cradle to grave. Relax and enjoy, government is there for you!
(Score: 1) by meisterister on Tuesday June 24 2014, @11:28PM
You forgot a step:
Step 2.5: ???
There you go.
(May or may not have been) Posted from my K6-2, Athlon XP, or Pentium I/II/III.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by gallondr00nk on Tuesday June 24 2014, @12:57PM
"TTIP - What you don't know can't hurt you"
I expect my payment promptly, thanks US.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Thexalon on Tuesday June 24 2014, @01:10PM
With TTIP, everyone will get rich, nobody will have to work ever again, and there will be sunshine, rainbows, motherhood, and apple pie! This will bring peace and prosperity never before seen to billions of people!
(Dear US State Department: I accept my $20,000 in cash or check.)
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24 2014, @01:19PM
Is this what the USA thinks democracy means?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by JeanCroix on Tuesday June 24 2014, @02:16PM
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24 2014, @02:46PM
"Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none." -- Thomas Jefferson
"Tis our policy to stay clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." -- George Washington
"Alliance. In International politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pockets that they can not separately plunder a third." -- Ambrose Bierce
And the USA was never supposed to be a democracy but a democratic republic, many of those in the USA recognize its steady decline into tyranny though.
"When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing more to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader." -- Plato
There is nothing new under the sun after all, rinse and repeat.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24 2014, @03:10PM
TTIP = Total Tyranny and Imperialism Pact?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Tuesday June 24 2014, @05:28PM
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/21/americas-oligarchy-not-democracy-or-republic-unive/ [washingtontimes.com]
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Wednesday June 25 2014, @01:45AM
1) Start company
2) Spew badly under built propaganda
3) Get official recognition
4) Turn 180° and ruin your own propaganda and others
5) While also taking the credibility of the hand that gave credibility with you in a cesspool of distrust!
Pr0f1t?