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It struck me over the last few years that we've been constantly lied to by the "movers and the shakers" in this country. By that I mean the Rich Fuchs of America.
Let me explain: I came of age during the Vietnam era. We were told about how badly the Commies wanted to take over Vietnam, march down SE Asia into Australia and right down Main Street, USA. The "authorities" had us children during routine air-raid drills which always seem to involve getting under our desks or going out into the hallways and, on command, dropping on or knees and curling up with our hands over our heads. How this was supposed to save us during a nuclear attack, I don't know--but the propaganda effect was tremendous.
This was on a steady diet of John Wayne movies that show Americans as wholesome, righteous, and unbeatable--usually centering around killing "Injuns" or "Japs" who would do us harm. All the time we were being manipulated by corporations to accept the "American Legend," all the while as they ripped us off left and right (no pun intended).
Well, we were such "good" people we didn't notice, or mind much, how the MIC and industrialists, including the oil companies, were fabricating lies to keep us in failed wars while robbing us blind. After all, we were "Murikans!" Good and wholesome...
It's clear to me now that there was no good reason to be in Vietnam. However, voicing this view brought on accusations of "Commie," "Pinko," and "Love it or leave it." I laugh now when I go to major retailers and see clothes and other consumer items made in Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. These were the "god-less" bastards who wanted to "march down Main Street, USA" Now we buy their products and services on Main Street, USA.
Corporatist were geniuses in crafting a propaganda program that would have Americans believe that any opposition to their capitalist agenda was tantamount to treason. Real "freedom" and "liberty" meant embracing corporatist doctrine, even though that doctrine would eventually lead to the outsourcing of jobs, diminishing wages and job security, and eroding health care and education (Oh, yeah! Love capitalism while capitalists take your jobs and move them over to--gasp!--"commie" countries!). We were played for chumps and we are still being played for chumps.
This all came to a head during the bogus election of 2000, the bogus call for invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, the bogus accusation that public-financed healthcare was "communism," and the bogus bailing-out of the Big Banks and Wall Street---
Now I ask you, didn't you hear growing up about how if you want to succeed in this country, you work hard. And you don't make foolish choices because you'll be held accountable for those choices? Sound familiar? Well, we just trashed that "philosophy" with TARP! Failed capitalists were bailed-out and even rewarded for making foolish choices (even criminal choices). The game's rigged, folks, but keep believing in that old mantra: "America's a land of opportunity for those who want to work hard."
So go back to enjoying your "freedom" as an American, courtesy of the Rich Fuchs of America.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe "Back to Bataan" is coming up on the TV...
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