In 1939, the Harcourt, Brace and company of New York at the Institute of Propaganda Analysis commenting on the propaganda analysis noted that “It is essential in a democratic society that young people and adults learn how to think, learn how to make up their minds. They must learn how to think independently, and they must learn how to think together. They must come to conclusions, but at the same time they must recognize the right of other men to come to opposite conclusions. So far as individuals are concerned, the art of democracy is the art of thinking and discussing independently together.”

Propaganda Techniques – A Discussion
From the above, one may duly observe that propagandists have been using various techniques either to influence or to avoid the truth. However, an insight into the techniques used shows that irrespective of the technique used, there is always some element of censorship or manipulation with the objective of deliberately leaving out information, or presenting it in a distorted manner. The negative aspect of using such techniques is that most if not all are ‘indistinguishable’, except for the techniques employed for the purpose of social benefit, religious and commercial affairs. However, the persuasion technology has been one that has gained the most popularity, as it is one of the techniques which are equally used in mediums including the digital imaging, persuasive presentation, persistent telemarketing, to as complex as repetitive techniques, thus making them practically unavoidable.

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Persuasion technology is just one of the many techniques used for election campaigning, as it has gained immense popularity. This has perhaps been due to the equally huge sums spent on scientific research, the use of proprietary databases, audience response measurement, sociological research as well as an increased understanding of biological basis for human behavior. Thus, one may observe that persuasion technology is employed, to a large extent, to change the minds on commercial or political matters by each presidential candidate. Some of the common tools used for utilizing persuasion technology include 'Disinfopedia, Wikipedia, consumerism, Greenpeace.org, and crit.org.

Aside from the propaganda techniques, that is perhaps in its infancy and has yet to mature in comparison to the more rhetorical techniques used as a propaganda purposes. A brief into some of the rhetorical techniques, as outlined by the now-defunct Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA) during the era between the two World Wars shows that it included such techniques as "bandwagon, euphemisms, fear, glittering generalities, name-calling, plain folks, testimonial, and transfer.
Propaganda Technique of “Bandwagon”
The example of the ‘Bandwagon technique’ and ‘fear’ are briefly described to show how rhetorical techniques were and are still used to attract and elicit public opinion, irrespective of the fact that the candidate have chosen a right course of action or not.

In the 'bandwagon technique', the famous slogan, "you are either with us, or against us" is commonly used. This is done largely to influence the audience as well as attract public opinion and activity simply because every body else is joining the race. The purpose of applying the 'bandwagon technique' is to nurture feelings of loyalty and nationalism, but more so for the desire to join the winning side.

This particular technique has been widely used as it successfully obscures the ethics of the activity, at the expense of victory. Thus, one could also take it to imply that it would be far better to be on the winner's side, rather than focus on the rightness of the means to accomplish the same. Another common slogan which is used in the 'bandwagon technique' is the famous "4 out of 5 doctors recommend.......” thus somewhat forcing the larger population to follow suit and accept the status quo, simply because everybody else is doing the same thing.
Present day example of the use of 'bandwagon technique' can be found in the US war against terrorism. Thus, one may observe that is practically no one to comment, let alone criticize against the Bush Administration’s foreign policies, which strongly assert their fight against terrorism, axis of evil, the makers of weapons of mass destruction, and those against freedom.
However, one cannot obscure the fact that this set of powerful propaganda was disguised to cover up realities, such as the fact that the United States was and still is the world's largest arms dealer. The US also has more weapons of mass destruction than any other single nation on the face of the earth.

One may observe that techniques such as 'bandwagon technique' truly suit countries such as the United States. This is true for both, whether in their empty slogans of targeting poverty-stricken nations, or winning an election at home. Yet, everybody is simply listening to and watching and doing nothing because the larger populations have chosen not to pursue the ethical, moral, or for that matter political aspects. Instead, our choice is to follow the heard, and that is exactly what we are doing today.

In this respect, even if one were to take testimonials and anti-testimonials as an effective means to elicit populations, these too are severely obscured behind the facade of 'fear', which is yet another very strong propaganda technique. Thus, the propaganda technique of 'fear' by warning members of the consequences of a failed action on their part will lead to disaster, in effect leads them to adopt a particular proposal. One that has a tendency to reduce that fear, while in reality, it is an excellent exercise to redirect the attention of the audience from the true merits of the particular proposal.

Examples of the various types of 'fear' propaganda include fear of foreigners, fear of terrorism, crime, economic hardships, ecological disaster, disease, invasion of privacy or even discrimination. Propaganda techniques such as 'fear' can be easily multiplied with conditions of uncertainty and doubt, such as the case with the present day crisis in Iraq.

The US lead invasion of Iraq was unjustified. Yet propagandists were successful in portraying Iraq as a nation in possession of weapons of mass destruction, a reality unfolded long after much of the poor nation had been devastated both physically (through armed invasion), as well as economically (through international embargo on its imports and exports).

Thus, propaganda whether in the form of 'bandwagon', or that of 'fear' as instilled on entire nations is a common practice, including one that is used for selecting (not electing) a US President, and will perhaps continue as a vital aspect of our daily lives.