If you knew how powerful you really are you'll be shocked! That's the main issue. "They" know how much (potential) power you have and that's why they have put in place the most sophisticated propaganda machinery the world has ever known, focused on first, preventing you from realizing how powerful you are, and second, preventing you from uniting in order to exercise that power.
And the sad thing is that the people doing this could (only) be characterized as unprincipled, greedy, cowardly sociopaths who are united around a very simple principle: The citizenry, if prevented from being fully informed and united, can be easily manipulated and exploited with the unique intent of satisfying an unquenchable greed of a very tiny (tiny) group of people.
I'm going to describe the situation in very simple words that could be easily understood (for brevity sake). And most importantly, I'm going to suggest a very simple solution to the problem.
I think by now people are beginning to understand that our political system is broken, and that there is an increasingly corrupt ruling elite consolidating power in order to exploit the citizenry.
The first step is in understanding (and defining) the current state of affairs: The entire U.S. government is under the (indirect) control of a plutocratic elite. The consolidation of this control has been taking place (in its current form) during the last 35 years or so. The country has always dealt with the danger of something like this happening, and in fact, has been ruled under different versions of this system, but it has never been as efficient and embedded as it is today.
There is a media infrastructure in place with many purposes, and one of them is to serve as an incredibly powerful and effective propaganda machine used to manipulate you, control you, and make you act against your own interests.
You (myself included) are being manipulated every single day. The level of manipulation is extraordinary (almost beyond belief).
I can't stress enough how important it is to get your head around this proposition (above). Until you realize (fully) that that's the accurate state of affairs, you'll be at a disadvantage (and will continue to be exploited and manipulated).
Now, I understand that when it comes to reasonable people of good will, the concept of lock-step militant discipline against an opponent is foreign. I've heard it said that it is like herding cats. But my dear reader, nothing less is needed during these perilous times.
And here's how it can happen... I understand that in the "reality-based" community people have all kinds of interests, and the definition of justice and equality may vary among different groups of people. Some may focus on women's rights, or worker's rights, animal rights, wage equality, the environment, income inequality, political reform, etc.
Obviously, those are extremely important issues, and individuals and organizations that focus on addressing them must be applauded and supported. It's what being a responsible citizen is all about.
However, this approach to socioeconomic issues has the unfortunate (an unintended) effect of diluting your power.
Remember, on the other side (the side of the insatiably greedy sociapathic ruling class), their task is much simpler (and hence, much more effective): To keep you uninformed (of the real situation), so you can be controlled, manipulated and exploited, with the ultimate goal of personal enrichment.
You can't beat that! It explains how a very tiny elite (of less than 1% of the population is capable of controlling and exploiting the other 99%).
Imagine this... Their focus (and incentive) of consolidating power and wealth is so disciplined that if it were a weapon, it would be like a giant laser beam directed at one body (the citizenry) at very high doses (huge).
On the other side, each citizen also has a laser beam, (but of course, not as powerful by itself). However, in the aggregate, if just a fraction of the citizenry were to come together to focus their laser beam back at the real enemy (the insatiably sociopathic ruling elite), the power would be exponentially higher.
If you were to reflect on this, then "stop" your laser beam , think about it carefully, and find others who have come to the same conclusion, and then decide to (all together) point your laser beam at these monsters, then we'll have a chance to turn things around.
Understand that the battle ahead is very difficult. As it is, a neo-fascist wave is sweeping the country as you read this (draconian immigration laws, curtailment of women's rights, destruction of the middle class, war profiteering, trillions of dollars stolen by the sociopathic ruling class by their bag-men in Wall Street and their enablers and protector in Washington, the end privacy, etc.)
Also understand that you can't take any of the rights you have now for granted. Every single right you enjoy as a citizen, and the benefits of a modern secular society are constantly under attack. And the attack is fierce and relentless, conducted by wild-eye fundamentalists (not unlike the Taliban in manner of thought). Think of it as a marauding gang of barbarians with a battering ram motivated by a obsessive zealotry based on religious fundamentalism.
Folks, it's a real battle and you have to engage, otherwise you will not be free any longer (whatever degree of freedom based on secular and progressive values is left).
So my suggestion is to see if there is a way to form some sort of Elite Secular Guard focused on protecting liberalism and progressive values in society. It's akin to the so-called "Republican Guards" that many governments put in place with the sole objective of defending the seat of government.
I understand that some people may find the "militant" talk, and allusions to special guards distasteful, but I think it's important to illustrate the precarious situation we are in, and what it would take to fight back against the oppression and manipulation of the sociopathic greedy ruling elite running (indirectly) running the country right now.
I'll be writing about this topic often, and welcome input and ideas focused on bringing about the necessary ingredients to help bring about a strong, powerful and focused wing of the progressive movement. I'll be posting more information on my Website at www.raypensador.com.
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