Neo-Cons and Think Tanks

The neo-cons are the “new conservatives,” who aren’t really conservatives at all (see Conservatives). Neo-cons are the people and organizations funded by business to influence political policymaking. Since it is illegal for businesses to directly do this, “think tanks” were created to conduct research, to write articles, policy papers, and books that are favorable to business. Businesses donate billions to fund these “think tanks.” To add credibility to these “think tanks,” college professors that support “free market” economics are hired to author books, conduct research, and teach at universities. It is really quite an ingenious scheme in which they can create nine studies that advocate “Neo-con” goals, while impartial professors struggle to find the funding for one study. In this way, they swamp the library shelves with their books. They publish poll results that are biased. They use this quantity of “support,” in order to sway Congressmen into supporting legislation favorable to business. The Neo-con “think tanks” even create endowments for the hiring of their professors at universities, so that they can spread their “free market” propaganda to aspiring economics students (see Propaganda). These are a few of the ways that corporations are able to “manufacture consent”.

Here is a partial list of conservative/neo-con think tanks, all funded by corporations:

National Association of Manufacturers, 1913, created to influence legislation by impacting public opinion. Produces millions of documents and thousands of weekly anti-communist, anti-socialist, anti-union, anti-New Deal messages over the years.

Remington Rand Corporation, 1936. Created the “Mohawk Valley Formula”

American Advertising Council, 1947, created to “sell” the American economic system to the American people. Pushed “free enterprise” to shift Democrats into the Republican camp.

Conference Board, 1916, created to improve the image of business and portray labor unrest as a severe threat to the economy.

Hoover Institution, 1919, created to collect, analyze, generate, publish, and disseminate to the public, the media, lawmakers, support for a conservative viewpoint.

Brookings Institution, 1916, devoted to the research, analysis, education, and publication focused on influencing public policymaking.

Committee for Economic Development, 1945, organization of business leaders dedicated to policy research and implementation of its recommendations.

American Enterprise Institute, 1943, conservative think tank that is frequently cited, with a Board of Trustees from large corporations, budget of about $20 million.

Heritage Foundation, 1973, to formulate and promote public policies, promoted aggressively, constantly markets their viewpoint. One of the most influential conservative think tanks with a large staff and a budget of $50+ million.

Cato Institute, 1977, a traditional conservative think tank that is frequently cited in support of Republican proposals, with a budget of $13+ million.

Business Roundtable, 1972, 150 CEOs from America’s largest corporations, representing $3.7 trillion in revenues, advocates vigorous economic growth and a global free market economy.