The Art of the 'Crisis': Manufactured Standoffs, Predictable Outcomes
Let's follow the trail: CASE A: The Domestic Shutdown – A 'Resolution' to a Manufactured Crisis Mainstream media consistently frames government shutdowns as unfortunate, but ultimately resolved, negotiations between warring political factions. The language used often suggests an unexpected, if albeit frustrating, breakdown – a 'political stalemate' or a 'budget battle.' The focus remains on the
specific demands, such as border wall funding, and the immediate impact on federal workers or public services. Curiously, the media rarely delves into the long-term implications of these shutdowns beyond the temporary inconvenience. For instance, the shutdown in question, occurring in late 2018 into early 2019, resulted in 800,000 federal employees either furloughed or working without pay for 35
days – the longest in US history (Congressional Research Service, 2019). While the human cost was significant, the underlying structural issues that enable such brinkmanship are seldom examined. CASE B: The 'Crisis' Abroad – When Narrative Drives Intervention Contrast this with how 'crises' are often portrayed when they involve countries deemed adversary to US interests. Take, for example, the
consistent framing of economic or political instability in nations like Venezuela or Cuba. Here, the narrative shifts dramatically. These aren't 'stalemates' but 'untenable situations' or 'desperate conditions.' Leaders are not 'negotiators' but 'dictators' and the 'crises' are rarely presented as internal political theater but as existential threats validating external intervention, often