Fear Equals Control

Prior to World War II the United States of America was merely an emerging world power with isolationistic tendancies, mostly because the population had only recently mushroomed as a result of immigration, and having clusters of people from different countries scattered throughout the land presented a danger of nationwide destabilization in the event that America took a definitive stance. This was particularly true during the First World War and it explains why America flirted with both sides before it finally committed to help the Allied cause.

America became a world power during the Second World War, although most of its success can be attributed to two major factors - industrial production by a diverse workforce, and geography that provided enough distance for its industrial prowess to be reached, which may not have happened if American facilities were under constant bombardment like its allies were. Still, America used its resources to defend freedom and democracy in the world and was justifiably proud of itself when it got the job done.

When the soviets detonated their own atomic weapons on August 29th, 1949, however, the United States lost its monopoly on the most destructive force man has ever used against ourselves and the whole world was plunged into the Cold War, wherein any minor country that didn't openly declare allegiance to either side was at risk of being manipulated by one of the two superpowers. Worse yet, everyone alive had to learn to live with the possibility of mutually assured nuclear destruction. This wasn't anywhere close to the first time the people in power instilled fear in their people to facilitate greater control over them, but because of the emerging forms of media used to get the various messages out the effects were much more wide ranging and insidious.

Then, on November 9th, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and communism began to unravel worldwide. This inspired many optimistic people to believe the world was about to become a much better place. However, with no other superpower to compete with, the American government proceded to promote domination instead of democracy. This is nothing short of disgraceful. A dereliction of duty.

Now, with the chance to bolster the democratic process still at hand for as long as a massive military advantage is in place, America faces the choice of cementing its place in history as the champion of democracy it has purported itself to be for the past sixty years or completely blowing its opportunity to guarantee the freedoms and liberties it has always said it represented. Yet it continues to work the fear and control theory of power.

Today terrorism is the scourge America worries about the most. The media is on board promoting the idea and a new branch of government has been created to combat this 'great threat'. The current threat level is orange - elevated - and it hasn't changed in one direction or another for years. Why? Because it allows government agents to instill fear in people every time they travel. And I can tell you from direct experience that this policy is not effective because I have smuggled a gun through the bus system and a dozen razor blades onto planes in my caryy on luggage. Remember that the next time you're standing around in your socks, waiting to be screened. The government isn't looking out for anyone except the power brokers.

Just another in a long list of reasons for us to assert ourselves and take our government back from those who manipulate it. And manipulate us in the process.

There's nothing to be afraid of. We're perfectly capable of controlling our own destiny. All we need to do is stand up for ourselves.

Thank you for your time.

...has no clue what "fear equals control" means. Please elaborate.

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"I should be calling collect from jail for the things I commit each night in my head" - D. Mustaine.

It means that people need to be afraid in order to accept being treated like idiots by such a slight minority of overrated jackasses. Were we not, we'd stand up for our rights and kick these nincompoops to the curb.

No, no....I was being facetious.

"Fear" is our government's #1 commodity. Without it, they can't act like the deities that they think they are. Without fear, they can't steal money from us, to go spend on solving man-made global warming (which still hasn't been proven). Without fear, oppressive government regulation wouldn't be possible.

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"I should be calling collect from jail for the things I commit each night in my head" - D. Mustaine.

Fear is only necessary for those who don't trust their fellow man.

Egads! You trust everyone? I certainly do not but the one does not necessarily follow the other.

How do you propose that people "stand up for themselves" and take back government from the "manipulators"?

I give everyone the benefit of the doubt up front. What they do with that is their business. My lament is that if people were more responsible, there would be a lot fewer people likely to violate that trust.

Stand up for ourselves by legally and peacefully firing the government through a constitutional amendment for term limits. Boycott if necessary to get our point across, but never come together in large groups to give the mob mentality a chance of misdirecting our energy towards negative effects. It's how we assume responsibility for the stewardship of this planet and control of our destiny as individuals and members of the same species.

Manipulators' biggest asset is their ability to influence people, usually with their wealth. That too can be curtailed with an amendment to reduce greed's impact on life.

Any other questions, dahlin'?