See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

We're off to see the wizard.

It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. — Mark Twain

Before I list the 10 things I have learned about humanity during the last year and half, let me say that I believe the vast majority my two-legged species are good-hearted, compassionate people who wish no harm to others. As such, they cannot comprehend the fact that there are some people who are ruthless and without empathy, whose mission in life is to take as much as they can without concern for others. And because of this ‘blind spot’ the masses are unable to see why (or how) some leader or expert, could or would, lie and harm others without remorse or hesitation to achieve their goals. This ‘blind spot’ allows for totalitarianism to take hold and for all kinds of horrific things to happen that wouldn’t otherwise come to pass. Any cursory look at history will confirm this.

Ok, onto the list:

1. Most people prefer to conform with the majority, even if said majority is confused, ignorant, psychotic or just plain wrong. The masses want to appear virtuous and as if they are doing what’s ‘right.’ Even if, unbeknownst to them due to their profound cognitive dissonance, they aren’t and it isn’t. As such, once someone makes up their mind they will typically hold onto their belief no matter what, even when it is proven to be false.

2. Some minority of humans have a decided tendency toward authoritarianism and once they reach a certain level of power will undertake the most nefarious of agendas to achieve their ends. And when the conditions are ripe, they will act on this tendency without hesitation or thought for the consequences, even when it requires continuous lies, sacrificing human lives and participating in all manner of harm. The ends justify the means is their mantra, and they have convinced themselves they are doing ‘good.’ Thus, the reasoning behind them being sociopaths.

3. Most politicians (and corporations) are beholden to power and wealth above all else. The majority of humanity largely ignores this fact and chooses to place their trust in their elected officials and the so-called experts appointed by them. Even people critical of government tend to do this, and are unable to shake loose the conditioning and see the obvious. As Upton Sinclair said, ‘It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.’

4. ‘Science’ has become a pseudo-religion and has very little relationship to science itself.

5. Corruption exists across all industries as this point. It is just as easy to buy off a scientist as it is a politician, or a business man, or the media, or a lawyer, or an educator, or a doctor, or a celebrity, or a priest.

6. People fear two things more than any other: social disapproval and death. I’m not sure which fear is greater, but lately I’m leaning towards the former. And when put into a state of fear, as has been done over the last year and a half, the vast majority of us will demand authoritarianism. The masses have little passion for personal responsibility and actually prefer their subjugation. They desire security and safety above all else, despite the fact that safety and security are illusions, and most certainly cannot be provided by the government.

7. Having access to more information has made the average person more susceptible to propaganda, not less. We are getting dumber, not wiser. More easily manipulated and controllable, not less. Alas, human beings are a most malleable creature, we can be trained/conditioned to alter our behavior quickly and without much effort. This is true for better or for worse.

8. All things can, and will be, politicized. There are no exceptions. The government and media work in concert on this.

9. At the point in which inertia has set in, and it most assuredly has at this point, a return to the previous ‘normal’ is off the table.

10. If you are a ‘conspiracy theorist’ or as I prefer, someone who puts their critical thinking skills to work, you are able to see the mainstream narrative for what it is, and will have a much better understanding of what’s actually going on behind all the propaganda and deception. This does not make your life easier, but it certainly makes it more authentic and honest.

Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred. — Joseph Goebbels