David F. Ruccio — Liberal Superman theory

Epistemology rather than economics.

Epistemological absolutism holds that there are absolute criteria and methods available for applying them to gain certain knowledge. Epistemological relativism holds that there are neither.

Without getting into the weeds about this, suffice it to say that this epistemological distinction is not particularly relevant to the point that Professor Ruccio makes in the post, which revolves around mistaking ideology for fact. Here he is spot on and can be shown regardless of whether one is an epistemological relativist or absolutist.

This also accounts for the obsession with controlling the narrative in order to shape consensus reality and the role of "experts" in doing it. This is just plain old sophistry, know colloquially as "duping the rubes."

Occasional Links & Commentary
Liberal Superman theory
David F. Ruccio | Professor of Economics, University of Notre Dame

Robert Parry — Russia-gate Breeds ‘Establishment McCarthyism’

In the past, America has witnessed “McCarthyism” from the Right and even complaints from the Right about “McCarthyism of the Left.” But what we are witnessing now amid the Russia-gate frenzy is what might be called “Establishment McCarthyism,” traditional media/political powers demonizing and silencing dissent that questions mainstream narratives....

It's about Establishment control of the narrative that establishes consensus reality.

Consortium News
Russia-gate Breeds ‘Establishment McCarthyism’

Robert Parry

David P. Hamilton — Understanding the ‘Fake News’ Hysteria

It's about controlling the narrative.

For the most part, “fake news” is a fake concept designed by the corporate news media to discredit those who challenge the official U.S. hegemonic narrative. The typical MSM fake news accusation starts with some egregious fictionalization and then morphs over to the real targets: the subversives, those who would dispute foundational elements of the official history or its recent approved updates.

The New York Times building in Manhattan. (Photo credit: Robert Parry)

These subversive elements are likely to question important myths, such as the necessity of the nuclear incineration of Hiroshima or – before the Iraq War – Saddam Hussein possessing WMD, and hence must be silenced.

There are people in this world who write what they know to be fiction and try to pass it off as fact. Many of them work for the CIA and related institutions. Then, there are satirists like The Onion who write fictionalized truth. These professional prevaricators are not what draws the ire of the corporate “news.”...

Are the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, et al, lying knowingly? Not exactly. The news media doesn’t have to invent the lies, only repeat them. They are mainly the stenographers of governmental agencies that provide the raw material to be quoted, invariably substantiating the validity of the official position. The owners of those news outlets likely believe that narrative, but mainly they want you to believe it.

The pundits and talking heads of those news media, the on-camera personalities, must think within the parameters the official narrative or they wouldn’t have been hired to the position of highly paid spokesperson for it....

How objective can you be about issues of income inequality when you’ve been the top .0001% for six or seven generations? And if one dare to go off the reservation, the next thing you know you’ll be working for RT for a lot less money like Ed Schultz.

Consortium News
Understanding the ‘Fake News’ Hysteria

David P. Hamilton

VIPS — Intel Vets Challenge ‘Russia Hack’ Evidence

Letter to the President.

Consortium News
Intel Vets Challenge ‘Russia Hack’ Evidence

Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)

Jason Ditz — CIA Chief Warns of WikiLeaks Plotting to “Take Down America Any Way They Can”

The CIA Director conflates the US Deep State and ruling elite with America.

Message for Mike Pompeo: Americans are fed up with endless war. This is all about "taking our country back."

The US Deep State, including the military and military-industrial complex, realize that the US can only present a credible threat in bullying its "adversaries" (read all that refusal to be the American elites' bitch) if the American people are behind more war. This requires the construction and control of a consensus reality by controlling the narrative. Wikileaks is a threat to that.

AntiMedia
CIA Chief Warns of WikiLeaks Plotting to “Take Down America Any Way They Can”

Jason Ditz

See also

The witch-hunt and smear campaign continue.

"Smears against the Green Party for participating in elections are nothing new, but raising the smears to the level of McCarthyism is a recent wrinkle," said Scott McLarty, media director for the Green Party, in an interview with The Hill.

Sputnik International
Jill Stein Comes Under Trump Jr.-Russia Probe Scrutiny