Industries disguise self-interested advocacy as grassroots citizen voice

Evidence

Introducing a petition drive to a bank of reporters, another member, EIleanor, repeated the pattern of privately voicing broad concern and publicly silencing her broad concerns. Publicly, she presented her motives like this: … I care about the people living here, and I especially care about the children that are growing up in this unique and wonderful place. — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 80 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Citizens United redefines influence as following the money and super PACS as independent speech — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s…, 345; Well-funded national advocacy organizations signal grassroots engagement’s absence — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 504; Industries equate product use with free speech to shift regulatory debate (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Activists privately voice broad political concerns but publicly frame motives narrowly #complicates (0.72) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 80