“The receptivity of the masses
is very limited, their intelligence is small, but their power of forgetting is
enormous. In consequence of these facts, all effective propaganda must be
limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last
member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your
slogan.” ~ Adolf Hitler
And so began the task! In order for the
powerful to control the masses, a compliant populace is required. Those who
hold the real power over the political class and media have been successful in
their efforts to gain this control. This has always been, and given the human
condition, will most likely always be. If only it were not so easy to fool the
crowd, all could be different. But then, any crowd is easy to please, and easy
to fool, that is the nature of the beast that is the mob.
Common
people, generally speaking, believe what they want to believe, and most often
choose the most comfortable path. Personal conflict due to the
shattering of accepted norms is avoided at all costs, and any truth that can
cause doubt is quickly rejected. So long as the lies fed to the crowd fit their
belief system, and so long as the public can avoid emotional discomfort, they
will accept most anything and forget almost everything. It all comes down to
those in power knowingly taking advantage of the mental imperfections so
obvious among the mob by stoking their ego and alleviating their fears. This
manipulative coddling is all that is normally necessary to calm any question or
stifle dissent by the people.
Some
might think this a cynical attitude to take, but they would be mistaken, as
reality can never be classified as cynical for it is simply truth. If any were
to honestly assess the condition of America today, and the path traveled to get
here, it would seem that the bulk of society has always been content being
slaves to a voluntarily accepted tyrannical system.
The truth has become a lie, and lies have
become truth. This could only happen in a land where logic and reason have been
replaced by emotion and ignorance. This is a classic result in any society
where the individual thinker is shunned in favor of the common collective.
Since intelligence does not exist collectively, the masses are left with little
more than confusion, gullibility, and indifference.
The
only way to reach a full understanding of our political predicament, especially
regarding government as a whole, and the government controlled media, is to believe
nothing and question everything. This advice should be taken literally,
as anything less can lead only to confusion and a detachment from reality.
Those who fail to question will be left in a state of bondage, and relegated to
a life consumed by ignorance.
We
now live in a world where fake news is an everyday occurrence, and given
current and future technological capabilities, this phenomenon can only worsen
from here. But lies and fakery are not new, and the atrocities committed by the
ruling class in the name of its citizens, have been continually allowed to
happen due to the complicity and support of the people. There is nothing new
about the lies used by those in power to brainwash and control the general
population, but more frightening is the fact that the average
American has apparently learned nothing throughout history about the deception
of those in power. The masses continue to be fooled into not only sanctioning
the evil and barbaric acts of the elites, but also at the same time reveling in
the festivity of false “patriotism.”
Just in the past one hundred years, there
were the lies that led to World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Cold
War, and Vietnam. None of these wars were legitimate, and all were based on
lies and deceit, but still most of the American public supported these horrific
events. The same is true in modern times of the entire so-called “War on
Terror,” which has led to wars of aggression against Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria,
Yemen, and others. It has even led to a war against all Americans as well. All of these aggressions were based on
lies, and supported by the masses.
Countless
assassinations, military coups, false flag events, cover-ups, political
corruption, economic manipulations, and illegitimate wars continue without
pause, and the people rarely question the official narratives given to them by
their masters about these government crimes. This is true even when the
evidence against these narratives is overwhelming. Think about events in
the past like Pearl Harbor, the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the Oklahoma City
bombing, 9/11, weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the so-called killing of
Osama bin Laden, and many, many more.
As I
write this today, a drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil fields is being blamed
on Iran, which could lead to more horrific war. Already, the public is being
prepared to accept $100 dollar a barrel oil, and possibly to back attacks
against Iran. Regardless of
all the mainstream news about this “attack,” nothing is known, and no factual
evidence whatsoever has been presented in support of any accusations. None will
likely be forthcoming. Is this the next big lie being sold to the public?
Deception by the government and media
are ever present. Propaganda and lies are constant. Disinformation is the rule,
and honesty is almost non-existent. The only way to combat this insanity is to
believe nothing and question everything in order to find the truth. Most are
conditioned to not question authority, to accept what they are told, and to go
with the herd, but most are always wrong. To escape the chains of the mindless
hoard and find the truth, one must walk alone. Only then will light replace the
darkness, and the truth be exposed.
Gary D.
Barnett [send
him mail] is a retired investment professional living and writing in
Lewistown, Montana. Visit his website.
