When we spend most of our formative years being bombarded with the message—from parents, teachers, the media, agents of the state, etc.—that obedience is a virtue and disobedience is a sin, we “learn” that lie at a very deep psychological level, way beyond merely an intellectual understanding.
Tag: propaganda
Veteran’s Day is the Worst; I Hate Veterans
Now before you blow your top, you easily triggered little snowflake you, allow me to rephrase: I hate the idea of veterans. We only have veterans because we have war, and we only have war because greedy politicians just can’t help themselves to the spoils that are the result of sending other people’s children to war.
Dying for the Empire Is Not Heroic
Predictably, the news media spent most of the week examining words Donald Trump may or may not have spoken to the widow of an American Green Beret killed in Niger, in northwest Africa, in early October. Not only was this coverage tedious, it was largely pointless. We know Trump is a clumsy boor, and we also know that lots of people are ready to pounce on him for any sort of gaffe, real or imagined. Who cares? It’s not news. But it was useful to those who wish to distract Americans from what really needs attention: the U.S. government’s perpetual war.
The Russia-Blamers Think You’re Stupid
Americans never had rowdy disagreements with each other over race and religion until last year, and wouldn’t be having them now if not for those dirty, no-good Russian hackers who stole the 2016 presidential election from the second most hated candidate in history, on behalf of the most hated candidate in history, operating through subterfuge to achieve the outcome that some of us predicted months in advance, long before anyone mentioned Russian hackers.
Social Media: When Does “Actively Working With the Government” Become Censorship?
To put it differently, when does it cease to be merely “you can’t talk like that in my living room” (exercise of legitimate property rights) and start becoming “you can’t talk like that, period” (censorship)?
The Missing Link between Truth and Goodness
In addition to being economically inefficient and ethically unjustifiable, statism is also aesthetically revolting: it suggests that complex social challenges can be addressed by the crudest principle of “might makes right”, or, to put things metaphorically, that broken quantum computers can be fixed by repeatedly pummeling them with a caveman’s club.
The State Thrives on Ignorance
The state needs the general public to be ignorant, but it doesn’t simply stand aside hoping that people left to their own devices will end up that way.
Patriotism, an Abomination
How exactly does “celebrating freedom” equate to swearing allegiance to a republic (which is a form of “government,” or ruling class)? Well, it doesn’t. And, for those who dare to look, this is where the true, diabolical nature of “patriotism” starts to rear its ugly head.
Influences II
With every week that passes, I think of new names to add to my list of influences. But the thinkers shown in today’s effort are those with the names that I carry around in my head — writing them down as a reminder is not needed. Today, I will write about Dr. Robert Higgs, Henry Louis Mencken, and Mark Twain, whom I have mentioned, probably, in reverse order of each’s world renown.
Does the Pope Advocate the Initiation of Violence?
The Pope is either a despicable liar or a complete ignoramus. Or possibly both. (How’s that for a gentle opening statement?) If you think that’s a tad harsh, read on.