This is the first in a short new series of infographics:
How to expand this image
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How to download this image.
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The image library
We are planning a library of these images. It will be available soon (I hope).
AI use
In one way or another, I used AI when creating this post, including for spell-checking as I was writing it. I explain how I use that technology here. I also used a word processor, my brain, coffee, discussion, and experience based on about 50 years of reading and observation.
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This one is excellent Richard – thank you.
Thank you
Excellent roundup of the main suspects.
Thank you
Gaslighting on an industrial scale. The public are being well and truly led up the garden path. As a concerned citizen, I would like this particular infographic to be distributed far and wide.
It draws together the consequences of neoliberal policies foisted onto the country by a succession of timid and often openly corrupt politicians. The question it raises in my mind is probably that raised in most gaslighting situations:
Why do reasonably sensible people allow themselves to be so treated, often going further and voting against their own interests? I know there is a hardcore right- wing who cannot be persuaded because they really believe in a flawed economic system, plus a further group whose livelihood depends upon the deception being believed. We also need to account for a biased and corrupt media bought and paid for by wealthy people acting purely out of self interest.
The remainder, surely a majority of the population, allow themselves to be deceived. The only answer to this is to make them aware of the truth by education and disseminating articles such as this. I know that is what you are trying to do, with limited means and the pressures of time. Obviously this restricts what methods can be used and it can never compete with the resources and reach of those doing the gaslighting. Best of luck, anyway.
I’m so enjoying the infographic series. In terms of economic gaslighting these also come to mind:
“Once we leave Europe the UK will enjoy a Brexit dividend”
“GERS figures demonstrate Scotland is better off in the union”
I bet commenters will think of many more.
I should think about GERS
Infographics like this, remind me of lethal Ukrainian drones.
If I was a neoliberal monetarist I’d be very worried about subversive arguments like this gaining a foothold amongst the general public.
KUTVGW!
These are really good – could they be made into posters I wonder? A hook up with ‘Lions Led by Donkeys’ I wonder – your Ely event about networking just got me thinking is all. I’m not suggesting more work for you by the way.
Thanks
We need to think about this…
Really useful! I tried to make this my what’s app profile photo but the resolution got too grainy! Really must broadcast this as much as possible. Thank you
This should be a quite god quality image. Did you screenshot or download it?
Great info, condensed into neat bullet points. I must confess I am less impressed with the AI generated graphics.
Government money creation being illustrated by a picture of a desk-top printer slips far too easily into the trope of governments “just printing money” which my economically illiterate friends alway use as an answer to my assertion that government can afford to pay for what is needed. References to Weimar and Zimbabwe are never far behind!
I have read the comments, and your replies, to your explainer of how you use AI and I understand that you use it as a tool and maintain strict control of the text produced. I think an equally careful assessment of the function of these graphics, which look fun and friendly, but don’t really add any explanation of the text, would be in order.
I remain sceptical about the overall benefits to society of AI. In particular the Data Centres which we are assured are essential infrastructure and are being proposed without scrutiny until the plans are well under way. In the South of Fife, not too far from where I live, the residents of a tiny village called Auchtertool are currently struggling to come to terms with the prospect of an edifice as tall as a ten story building, with an area equal to 50 football pitches – larger than the village itself. This will be near enough to be seen and heard and for adverse effects on the local air quality, water and power availability which are usually brushed over and are only just becoming fully apparent.
You mention the various other tools you use, and I admit I am using some of them to write this comment, but I avoid AI if I can.
I leave others to comment.
These infographics work.
Do people think I should drop the images?
And I suspect you do not avoid AI. Your word processor is almost bound to use it.
Economic Gaslighting Panel 5: Key Australian Institutional Equivalents
Central Bank: Reserve Bank of Australia () (replaces Bank of England)
Treasury/Finance: Department of the Treasury / Department of Finance (replaces HM Treasury)
Tax Collector: Australian Taxation Office () (replaces HMRC)
Debt Issuer: Australian Office of Financial Management () (replaces UK Debt Management Office)
Government Debt Instrument: Australian Government Securities () / Treasury Bonds (replaces UK Gilts)
Key Programs: Medicare, NDIS, Aged Care, Aged Pension, Submarines/Defence (replaces NHS, UK Social Care, Trident)
Hi Richard thank you what is our source software please I wish to make an Australian centric version, I am dual national, Ruth
I write them. That’s the point to stress. When I have a text, I ask ChatGPT to make it using a prompt the team here developed. This looks like a good guide on infographic creation, but I did not use it. https://ruben.substack.com/p/infographics?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=4937949&post_id=208193379&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=3862x&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
[…] published an infographic on economic gaslighting yesterday. This seems like the obvious […]
Can you make the image larger? It’s 550×824 now. I’d at least double it. The HTML can always show it the way you want but expanding/zooming it makes it blurry right now. Also, how about making it a link which just opens it in a new window?
Thx
This is really good. have you considered sending it to Jeremy Vine, or are his views too entrenched?