"Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty"
There's another interesting psychological factor in play here: when you coerce or persuade people to go along with something that they know is wrong, it creates cognitive dissonance. In order to reduce the stress from that dissonance, they will actually try to convince themselves that the thing is NOT wrong.
In other words, people can't change what they've already done, but they can subconsciously change how they feel about it. And research shows that they do.
Oh, you supported burning those women at the stake? Maybe they really were witches. Oh, you voted for Hitler in 1939? Well, he had a great economic plan. Oh, you had your family injected with toxic pseudo-vaccine? It can't really be dangerous. Oh, you voted for candidates that seem to be hell-bent on destroying our entire civilization? They really aren't, it's just a bunch of misinformation that makes it seem that way.
This is part of the reason why the majority always enable atrocity. Once they take a step in the wrong direction, they don't want to admit they were wrong.
Great essay. It's good to see you go where so many others fear to tread.
Because all Western governments moved in lockstep during the pandemic, tossing out previously agreed upon plans, to implement non-sensical lockdowns, and then forced poisonous shots on their citizens, this is not strictly an American Deep State problem. Globalists, forever dreaming of the power and control that One World Government brings, have made their move.
That all Western governments immediately moved to the "Climate Crisis" agenda after Omicron threw a wrench in their plans is awfully coincidental, as well, no?
At this point, I am even questioning if this war isn't part of the Big Show, too. War is a great deck-reshuffler...a re-setter...a Great Resetter. Afterwards, the globalists can Build Back Better...
In terms of submitting to the absurd, just listen to all the interviews of “regular” people defending Fetterman in PA by regurgitating the most ridiculous nonsense. Just a little Aphasia? Brain damage shouldn’t hinder someone become a senator?
The people of PA, actually of Philly, have been easily convinced to vote for a guy to “represent” them even though he had evident brain damage, and a history of failure and laziness that predates the brain injury. They deserve what they get.
I was recently in DC, literally the country is being run by 25 year old staffers. They are pitched the idea, concept or need. They help draft the legislation or tell their congressman to vote on a particular bill. The elected leader seem to only have time for the big money movers. If we can start developing the minds of our young people (back to the way this country was founded) we could change the way this country is ran.
“The President in particular is very much a figurehead — he wields no real power whatsoever. He is apparently chosen by the government, but the qualities he is required to display are not those of leadership but those of finely judged outrage. For this reason the President is always a controversial choice, always an infuriating but fascinating character. His job is not to wield power but to draw attention away from it. On those criteria Zaphod Beeblebrox is one of the most successful Presidents the Galaxy has ever had — he has already spent two of his ten presidential years in prison for fraud.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Government parasites used to be smaller and sucked just enough blood from the host that the host didn't mind since its health wasn't terribly affected. If you match the amount of theft to just under the rate of growth, all looks well.
The parasites have now grown to the point where they're killing the host. Our choice is binary---Eradicate the parasites or be eradicated by them.
Yes, Johnson in the uk, Zelensky etc, serious engagement in the public sphere becomes almost impossible, as there is so little of substance to oppose; we are gaslit disoriented and mocked; we are ‘winded’ with relative powerlessness.
It’s not just the bureaucracy. The judiciary goes along with it. Whatever you think of Trump, how many cockamamie efforts to sideline him will the courts allow? He might be indicted for obstruction of justice in connection with a criminal investigation into presidential records initiated by the National Archives after being investigated for Russia collusion, a phone call and his efforts to seek an investigation into the conduct of the 2020 election. On top of that, his business is being investigated for loans that were repaid by a prosecutor who promised to go after him. When are the courts going to put a stop to the abuse of power?
I've often that the real power-brokers are simply saying to us: "This is how much power we have. We can put anyone in power that we want, even idiots like these and there is not a damn thing you can do about it."
Great column, and you're right.... except, when you really start to effectively name and shame the "deep state", that is when the clown show ends and Pennywise bares his teeth. We currently still have many people in jail, held without bail and quite literally being tortured, for what is now close to TWO years, for having the temerity to question what was obviously a questionable election. That's what happens when you actually take on the deep state.
"Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty"
- Hannah Arendt
There's another interesting psychological factor in play here: when you coerce or persuade people to go along with something that they know is wrong, it creates cognitive dissonance. In order to reduce the stress from that dissonance, they will actually try to convince themselves that the thing is NOT wrong.
In other words, people can't change what they've already done, but they can subconsciously change how they feel about it. And research shows that they do.
Oh, you supported burning those women at the stake? Maybe they really were witches. Oh, you voted for Hitler in 1939? Well, he had a great economic plan. Oh, you had your family injected with toxic pseudo-vaccine? It can't really be dangerous. Oh, you voted for candidates that seem to be hell-bent on destroying our entire civilization? They really aren't, it's just a bunch of misinformation that makes it seem that way.
This is part of the reason why the majority always enable atrocity. Once they take a step in the wrong direction, they don't want to admit they were wrong.
https://dystopianliving.substack.com/p/the-psychology-of-compliance
This has been my conviction for a while - that the absurdity is merely part of the design. What do clowns do? They divert and subvert.
Great essay. It's good to see you go where so many others fear to tread.
Because all Western governments moved in lockstep during the pandemic, tossing out previously agreed upon plans, to implement non-sensical lockdowns, and then forced poisonous shots on their citizens, this is not strictly an American Deep State problem. Globalists, forever dreaming of the power and control that One World Government brings, have made their move.
That all Western governments immediately moved to the "Climate Crisis" agenda after Omicron threw a wrench in their plans is awfully coincidental, as well, no?
At this point, I am even questioning if this war isn't part of the Big Show, too. War is a great deck-reshuffler...a re-setter...a Great Resetter. Afterwards, the globalists can Build Back Better...
God help us from what's coming.
In terms of submitting to the absurd, just listen to all the interviews of “regular” people defending Fetterman in PA by regurgitating the most ridiculous nonsense. Just a little Aphasia? Brain damage shouldn’t hinder someone become a senator?
The people of PA, actually of Philly, have been easily convinced to vote for a guy to “represent” them even though he had evident brain damage, and a history of failure and laziness that predates the brain injury. They deserve what they get.
This is the best presentation I have seen. The genius from SC is not to be believed.
Brilliant as usual, Señor Gato!
Do not presume malice where incompetence suffices.
But...
Above a certain level of incompetence, malice is back on the table.
I was recently in DC, literally the country is being run by 25 year old staffers. They are pitched the idea, concept or need. They help draft the legislation or tell their congressman to vote on a particular bill. The elected leader seem to only have time for the big money movers. If we can start developing the minds of our young people (back to the way this country was founded) we could change the way this country is ran.
Hey fellow commenters, is it just me, or is this the most delightfully worded piece of brilliance you have ever read?
“The President in particular is very much a figurehead — he wields no real power whatsoever. He is apparently chosen by the government, but the qualities he is required to display are not those of leadership but those of finely judged outrage. For this reason the President is always a controversial choice, always an infuriating but fascinating character. His job is not to wield power but to draw attention away from it. On those criteria Zaphod Beeblebrox is one of the most successful Presidents the Galaxy has ever had — he has already spent two of his ten presidential years in prison for fraud.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Government parasites used to be smaller and sucked just enough blood from the host that the host didn't mind since its health wasn't terribly affected. If you match the amount of theft to just under the rate of growth, all looks well.
The parasites have now grown to the point where they're killing the host. Our choice is binary---Eradicate the parasites or be eradicated by them.
Yes, Johnson in the uk, Zelensky etc, serious engagement in the public sphere becomes almost impossible, as there is so little of substance to oppose; we are gaslit disoriented and mocked; we are ‘winded’ with relative powerlessness.
It’s not just the bureaucracy. The judiciary goes along with it. Whatever you think of Trump, how many cockamamie efforts to sideline him will the courts allow? He might be indicted for obstruction of justice in connection with a criminal investigation into presidential records initiated by the National Archives after being investigated for Russia collusion, a phone call and his efforts to seek an investigation into the conduct of the 2020 election. On top of that, his business is being investigated for loans that were repaid by a prosecutor who promised to go after him. When are the courts going to put a stop to the abuse of power?
I've often that the real power-brokers are simply saying to us: "This is how much power we have. We can put anyone in power that we want, even idiots like these and there is not a damn thing you can do about it."
The proles have learned doublethink. Keep feeding them newspeak, and soon there will be no more thoughtcrime.
- Not exactly George Orwell, but implied
Great column, and you're right.... except, when you really start to effectively name and shame the "deep state", that is when the clown show ends and Pennywise bares his teeth. We currently still have many people in jail, held without bail and quite literally being tortured, for what is now close to TWO years, for having the temerity to question what was obviously a questionable election. That's what happens when you actually take on the deep state.