David Bell discusses the funding of right wing think tanks and the shift in American culture. Topics include the evolution of political labels, the influence of think tanks on policy decisions, the flawed strategy of the Rand Corporation in the Vietnam War, and the marketing of trickle-down economics.
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Quick takeaways
Brookings Institute focused on social justice and Vietnam arguments for the Great Society.
RAND Corporation influenced US policy in Vietnam with flawed expert predictions.
RAND's 'light at the end of the tunnel' mentality in Vietnam War led to devastating consequences.
Lewis Powell's strategic plan outlines corporate elite's influence on US government and culture.
Deep dives
Brookings Institute and Policy Analysis
The Brookings Institute, representing liberal positions and opposed US involvement in Vietnam, emerged as a key source of arguments favoring the Great Society. Brookings focused on social justice and Vietnam, with an emphasis on tonnage to win arguments.
RAND Corporation and Nuclear War Policy
The RAND Corporation, funded by the US Air Force, emerged post-WWII to plan nuclear war scenarios with the unofficial tagline 'thinking the unthinkable.' RAND functioned as a defense industry think tank, providing recommendations on US policy, notably in Vietnam, following a war game approach with war fanatic experts.
Nuclear War Scenarios and Cold War Realities
RAND researchers, including Leon Gour, conducted studies on North Vietnamese morale during the Vietnam War, predicting imminent collapse based on interviews with captives and villagers. Gour concluded that Vietnamese morale was low, suggesting victory with a few more months of engagement. This tunnel vision approach lacked a comprehensive human factor analysis.
Think Tank Evolution and Impact
The debilitating consequences of flawed expert predictions, influenced by game theory enthusiasts at RAND, underscored the critical role of human context in shaping policy decisions. RAND's misplaced optimism in the face of Vietnam's complexities highlighted the inherent risks in solely relying on think tanks for strategic guidance.
The Rand Corporation's Role in Vietnam War Escalation
The Rand Corporation played a significant role in the Vietnam War escalation by providing analyses that supported the 'light at the end of the tunnel' mentality. This mentality influenced President Johnson's strategy, leading to devastating consequences. The Gower study, identified by Carl Rowan, showcased the erosion of democratic decision-making processes in the conflict. The Rand interviews provided insights into the NLF cadre, highlighting a biased analysis filtering through a private corporation.
Misreading North Vietnam and the Wrong Assumptions
The Rand Corporation's work in the late '60s failed to grasp North Vietnam's unique nature and insurgency, leading to incorrect assumptions on their responses to escalations. Their ladder of escalation approach was based on flawed beliefs on how North Vietnam would react to military actions. The failure to understand North Vietnam's principles and commitment highlights the dangers of dehumanizing the enemy and overlooking their core motivations.
Powell Memorandum: Influencing American Social and Political Landscape
Lewis Powell's 1971 memorandum outlined a strategic plan for the corporate elite to influence and dominate the US government and culture. Powell emphasized the need for aggressive political and financial actions to combat perceived threats to American free enterprise. His strategies included critiquing textbooks, monitoring TV networks, and funding right-wing propaganda to counter consumer and environmental legislation. Powell's ideas continue to shape conservative approaches to political influence and power dynamics.
Robert sits down with David Bell to discuss how a consortium of rich failsons got together to fund a network of right wing think tanks and shift American culture in a fun new direction. (note: it was not actually fun at all)
