The Insecurity of Security: The Assault on Privacy and the Surveillance State

The United States was originally founded as a confederation of states. It didn’t take long before this confederation was replaced with a constitutionally driven democratic Republic, which is where it remained, with some slight adjustments via amendments, for 248 years.

Starting sometime after the end of World War II in 1945, when, at its political and economic apex, the country began a slow but determined transition from a republic into what it is now, a neo-fascist corporatocracy under the direction of an extremely wealthy and powerful oligarchy as President Eisenhower warned us in his farewell address (President John Kennedy would later echo the same warning).

Some have likened this to the feudalism of Middle Ages Europe. If you think of global corporations as modern versions of feudalistic fiefdoms it makes sense. Like their feudalistic predecessors,  who quietly influenced rulers, modern corporations exercise a similar control over today’s governments. To be successful requires a strong surveillance apparatus and ability to manipulate the public.

Most surveillance states use a myriad of excuses to acquire their power. But most often it centers on “public safety”. During the early years of the French Revolution in the 1780’s, Robespierre headed the Committee of Public Safety which he used as a steppingstone to the governing National Convention (eventually becoming its President).  

It official purpose was to undercover those hostile to the revolution and its stated goals of  “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”, the creation a constitutional republic, ending absolutism and the class system, or establishing equality under the law along with individual rights.  

However, as Lord Acton famously said, “power corrupts, and absolute powers corrupts absolutely”. Thus, it was this Committee of Public Safety under Robespierre which served as the driving force behind the infamous Reign of Terror which introduced as many as 17,000 to bite of “Monsieur Guillotine”.  

Just weeks after Adolf Hitler assumed power in January 1933, the German Reichstag (or “Parliament”) mysteriously caught fired and burned to the ground. Many suspected the Nazis of being behind the blaze, but there’s never been any hard proof. A mentally impaired Dutch communist, Marius van der Lubbe, wondering around the smoldering ruins. He was arrested, tried and convicted.  He was executed by guillotine on January 24, 1934. Both sides alleged a "false flag" attack. 

Nevertheless, not ones to let a manufactured crisis go to waste, the Nazis used the occasion of the fire to request and obtain approval to implement the “Enabling Act” or as it was officially known, the “Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich”, on March 23, 1933.

The Enabling Act served as the beginning of quick end to the Weimar Republic and with it, democracy in Germany. Of course, it was passed in the name of national security (after all, the symbol of German democracy, the Reichstag, had just been attacked). Like another similar act passed 68 years later, few knew exactly what was in it. But, among other things, it allowed for emergency laws to be implemented without the review or consent of the Reichstag (Article 48). 

Ultimately, all opposition political parties and newspapers were banned. A nationalized security apparatus and secret courts were established, and it granted the Chancellor dictatorial powers which could be renewed every four years (with the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, the offices of Chancellor and President were merged into one.  The new office was that of “Fuhrer und Reichskanzler” or  simply “ Office of the Fuhrer”).

In 2001, Congress enacted the “Patriot Act”, following the cowardly attacks of 9/11. Interestingly, the Patriot Act bore many similarities to the Enabling Act. For instance, the creation of a national security office (“The Office of Homeland Security”), it authorized warrantless widespread “spying” on U.S. citizens via existing intelligence agencies (including keeping secret files), the creation of the secret courts (aka “FISA” courts).

Importantly, it also permitted (some would say “encourage”) certain corporations to monitor customers/users, and employees (this was especially true for internet based companies) and so forth while granting these corporations legal immunity. So, apparently you could break the law as long as you were doing it for the government.

Of course, none of this is new historically. At its peak, during  the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian, it was said that a young naked virgin could walk the length of the Appian Way at midnight without fear of being accosted.  Why? Because every ten or so feet stood an armed Roman soldier. As an aside, in 49 BC Julius Caesar used the claims of "public safety" and "order" to have himself declared dictator as did the Roman General, Sulla, earlier in 82 BC. 

It was also because there were curfews imposed and restrictions on possessing weapons and punishment of crimes were severe in the extreme. The ancient Romans understood that people will often sacrifice their freedoms for security just as they understood that businesses required order and stability to function, which benefited the state. To me, this begs the question of whether such actions as the Patriot Act, stripped of their nationalism, was more for the benefit of state and big business than the security of ordinary citizen.

Today, we find the internet remains stifled with de facto censorship hidden behind cute euphemisms like “community standards” (which has often left me asking “who monitors the monitors?” and “why are certain comments censored and not others?”).

Governments and corporations are pushing for increased measures not just to track us, but also to monitor our financial transactions. Ideally, they would like to do away with currency and reduced all transactions to a series an electronic blips. Not only would a company be instantly paid (great for the bottom line), but big business and the government (which are increasingly becoming one in the same) can constantly monitor how much money you have, where it came from, what you spent it on, where you’ve been or what sites you’ve visited.

Personally, I don’t think it’s any of their damn business. However, my opinion seems to be increasingly a minority one simply based on age attrition. Millennials and to greater extent, GenZ, don’t have the same sense of privacy as do Boomers or Gen X. Repeated studies have shown that they are more than willing to share personal data, seeing more as a commodity than something to be protected.  

Is that because they are so comfortable with technology, having literally grown up with it? Possibly. Gen X, Babyboomers, and older generations seem to place a greater value on privacy. We’re more likely to protect certain information and who we share it with. We seem to place more importance on our “space”, be it physical or cyber. But then, we’re on the decline while Millennials and Gen Z are ascending politically and economically.

For corporations and the government, ever in search of more data, this is portrayed as a boon. Given this level of access, companies can now “cater” to individualistic buying habits, thus improving their bottom line while the government can more easily calculate exactly what you owe in taxes and then automatically deduct it from your bank account. 

Even your health will be monetized. Imagine coming into the world and the first two things you received are a social security number and a genetic health test in order to determine what markers you’ve inherited and to predict your health cost to employers or society. This health information will be traded between your bank, employer, insurance companies, and even the government to determine an overall health risk score. The lower the score, the lower premiums and taxes you'll pay and the more desirable you are to employers. I'm sure you will be able to buy temporary "high risk riders" for occasional wild and wooly weekend or for vacation. 

Examples would be like,  do you enjoy high risk activities like bungee jumping or motorcycle racing? They’ll rate it on your high risk rider, and you’ll pay higher premiums for it. For those who do it often or professionally, the rider will be permanent. Let's say you require a special diet for a health issue. But try to buy something not on the recommended list and see it declined on your debit card (as well as notated in your health record for not following their guidelines). 

Have inheritable health issues like diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure? Then could face possible higher tax rates, rejection of insurance, or being prohibited from certain jobs.  In addition to your employment and financial history, your overall “health score” rating will now play a part in your credit worthiness and employability.

In our fast approaching cashless society,  I can even envision the day where credit card companies, retailers, and public utilities will automatically deduct as pre-determined amount from your bank account before you even see it. You’ll get a brief text message alerting you of how much “net money” you have available to live on.

Your friendly taxman or woman will notify you and your bank by text the first of the year advising  of how much was deducted from your account based your income (as reported by your employer) and your personal information on file.  Thinking about deductions? Anything that can’t be electronically verified will be disallowed. There’ll be no more “estimated values”.

Crime rates are often cited as the reason for more cameras on street corners while infrared camera drones are becoming more commonplace. As of 2021, there were 71 million public surveillance cameras in use, an increase of 21% from 2018.  Businesses increasingly use bio-matrix programs to analyze nearly everyone walking in or by the business. It’s not uncommon for private residents to have surveillance cameras to deter would-be criminals.

In the sleepy backwater city of Louisville Kentucky for instance, there are 141 “Flock” cameras being used to read license plate numbers of suspected stolen cars (carjackings are a serious problem and growing) as well other vehicle infractions such as speeding, parking issues, or paying tolls.  Another 139 Flock cameras are expected to be added over the next few months. Louisville Metro Police access the camera’s database an estimated 18,000 per month!

Do you think it will be long before all this information will be tied into some database in the “Cloud” and accessed by government agencies, potential employers, insurance companies, and law enforcement? The Patriot Act has already laid the groundwork. Federal agencies such as the NSA have more than ample resources to carry it out and store it while the Office of Homeland Security would have no trouble managing it.

Wall Street and Washington have a symbiotic relationship already based on the control and consumption of resources, including data. In fact, as we’ve often discussed, there’s abundant research to confirm our former Republic is now a corporatocracy, functioning under the auspices of a tightknit superrich oligarchy (some prefer to call it a kleptocracy or plutocracy, which is just as accurate).

These are issues which may sound as if they belong in the realm of science fiction or won’t arise until sometime in the distant future. The reality of the matter is that these are issues which exists in the here and now thanks to the technology’s exponential advancements and our failure as a society to come to grasp the legal ramifications, let alone the moral implications.

At what point does personal privacy end? How far will we accept so-called “national security "interests into our lives? When does technology stop being a convenience and becomes our master?  Specifically, at what point are corporations or the government entitled to access of our personal information without our consent or is allowed to use it in making decisions about (or for) us?

As I said earlier, they will always have an excuse. Soon they may not need one. From my perspective, this is simply a new form of serfdom. It reminds me of a quote from Russian author, Fydor Dostoevsky, "The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he is in prison". To preserve our humanity, we should always be in control of our personal information regardless of whether we wish to protect it, sell it, or trade it without fear of retribution or coercion.   

 

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The Rise of Neo-Feudalism

The Road to Neo-Feudalism

How the Covid-19 Pandemic Reveals American Corporate Feudalism

 Committee of Public Safety

Enabling Act of 1933

How the Patriot Act Compare’s to Hitler’s Enabling Act

Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address

Louisville to install more than 100 additional Flock camerasto enhance public safety

The Private Life of Generation Z

 

 

Who Really Controls Our Lives? It May Not Be Who You Think

 

America isn't a democratic republic any longer. It's a corporatocracy. I think we all understand that by now. Most studies now list us as a "flawed democracy". We've devolved into a neo-fascist state which in many ways resembles the feudalism with its two tier legal, political, and economic systems. In lieu of feudal lords and ladies, we have the super wealthy who own the two main political parties as much as they do the government, legal system, and the media.

They control the economy, set domestic and foreign policy, while their lobbyists write legislation which become laws and you can bet they don't benefit us. They've become our overlords, whether we call them oligarchs, kleptocrats or plutocrats, their goal is all the same---control, be it assets, resources, or us.   

Collectively they've stripped us of many of our freedoms, and continue to do so. They've turned us against each other because divided we can be easily manipulated and pose no threat to them. They've turned our nation into a surveillance state where we're perpetually watched, tracked, and monitored. We're so frustrated and confused we don't know who or what to believe.    

While researching my next article, I came across the video below entitled " The Illusion of Democracy: Who Really Controls Our Lives". The video, which runs 1:18.13  was posted by Best Documentary. It was originally put out under the title "Freedom of Choice" in 2014, includes the following description:

" Life is about choice. What we eat, what we read, who we elect; every day we make choices that determine how we want to live. But what if these choices are just an illusion? In an era where regulations and red tape rule every industry, where lobby groups and big business wield more influence than ever before, our daily choices have become increasingly limited. Focusing on key areas such as food, medicine, finance, and media, Freedom From Choice provides viewers with a glimpse at the myriad of ways their lives are being dictated, and tells us who stands to gain."

I encourage you to set aside some time to watch this highly informative video even if you have to do so in short 15 minute segments. I think it will help to you to understand what has been going on and continues to be going on. You may find that your suspicions have been correct all along.

Video: The Illusion of Democracy: Who ReallyControls Our Lives

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Is a Civil War in the Cards for America?

 It's been said here many times, and I think it's appropriate to say it again. America is more divided than at any time since just before the Civil War just over 150 years. We are actually more divided on the number of issues than were our forefathers, and the division on those issues appears to be at least as deep as it was back in the late 1850's. There seems to be the same lack of interest in compromise. Politics has become, for all intent and purpose, scorched earth.  It's all or nothing.

Let's look as the recent 2022 election. For the first time (at least in recent history), there was a protest which morphed into an attempt at a coup by intimidation. Such was the anger directed at Congress. But who was really surprised? The approval rating for the House has been in the toilet for decades as has that of the Senate.

 In most countries, with approval ratings like these (some as low as 9%, but most around low 20's) would have already triggered a revolution.  What did we expect? Even the judicial system has shown negative numbers along almost every other institution in America. Ironically, despite the Antifa and BLM "peaceful" riots and lootings, the police was one of the few institutions whose numbers were positive (along with the military).  

As of September 2022, some ten months after the Presidential election, 61% of Republicans believe the election was rigged; that Joe Biden didn't win the election fairly. On the other side of that coin, some 64% of voters don't believe the January 6 protest was spontaneous. In both instances that's 6 out 10 individuals (as an aside, immediately after the election 70% of Republicans and conservatives that the election was stolen).

To make matters worse, the majority of Americans no longer trust the mainstream media (or as conservatives now call it, "lamestream" media). To further irritate the Right, the liberal media continues to call the opposition to Biden's election the "Big Lie", echoing Reich Minister Joseph Goebbels' use of the term when referring to his brand of propaganda (a backhanded way of calling Republicans and conservatives "Nazis").

When Trump was President, the Left routinely waved flags and chanted "not my President" and the media encouraged it. When Trump supporters did the same thing (referring to Biden), it's suddenly "anti-American". Could the bias get any more obvious? 

Meanwhile, political establishment has lined up to go after Trump and his supporters every way they can, with the media carrying virtual non-stop coverage despite continuously getting some of their lowest viewership numbers ever.

The media's role has traditionally been providing the American People and the world with impartial and unbiased news. It's essential to a free nation. However, since Watergate the media (which has come under an ever tightening control of a smaller and smaller number of corporate owners) has become increasingly biased as to be essentially nothing more than the mouthpiece of their owners.

According to a Gallup Poll from October 2022, only 34% of Americans trust the mainstream media...despite how slick or sincere they look. When broken down by the partisanship, 70% of Liberals and Democrats trust the media, which given its liberal list, isn't surprising. 14% of conservatives and Republicans agree (likely Fox viewers), along with 11% of Independents (the nation's majority political bloc).

In case you're wondering, 96+% of all media is owned by just five corporations. That means everything you read, see, and hear. It also includes the movies you watch. The music formats you hear. The newspapers, magazines, and even what books are published.

They control internet content (and who gets censored, blocked, or "shadow blocked" such as yours truly). They even willing cooperate with government agencies in turning over personal information. Joseph Goebbels would have wet dreams over this kind of clout!

So, how serious it is...really? Well, it ain't good. According to a poll taken in August 2022 said that 66% of Americans believe that the divisions in this country have gotten worse since 2021. 62% of those think things are going to get worse with 60% expecting an increase in political violence.

Another poll from August 2022, roughly 43% of those polled think a civil war is likely in the next 10 years. A further 14% expect something close to a Civil War within the next decade or so. 55% of Republicans and conservatives agreed. So did 40% of Democrats. A earlier poll, from July 2022, indicated the number of Americans who expected a civil war sometime "over the next several years" was 50%.

The liberal leaning Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights was even more pessimistic. They said that 78% of Americans believe democracy is currently "under attack" (it is, but not by who they think). 53% think that America will no longer be a democracy in four to five years (not breaking news: we never were a democracy. We were a Republic, but no longer. We're a neo-fascist Corporatocracy). 54% say we're on the path to a civil war.

As an aside, their polling also indicated that race relations in America is getting worse. 62% say that discrimination against blacks is a "big problem". 62% think the government should do more to protect blacks. 66% want the government to take steps to lessen racial inequality while 55% want to see the government to do more to end income inequality. 67% want to see gay marriage protected while 62% want to protect abortion rights. 

A University of Virginia poll from  October 2020 said that they felt America was already in a cold civil War. The same poll also showed that 41% of those who voted for Joe Biden thought it was time to "split the country".  The Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School released an even more stunning poll result.

According to their poll, over half of those under 30 years of age saw America as "failing" with over one-third expecting a civil war in their lifetimes. But what if that happened? Well, the Civil War was the bloodiest America has ever experienced bar none. Approximately 600,000 people died during the four year conflict. 

Using the same percentage killed based on population, that would translate to about 19.8 million today, and that number could easily go higher. Much higher given that we have a far greater percentage of trained veterans as a percentage of population now than they did then, not to mention the deadliness of the weapons available.

They say that every revolution contains within its own seeds for self-destruction. While the Civil War was fought to preserve the Union, America's future might be more balkanized. Our increasing diversity---racial, ethnic, and so forth, all under the guise of "multiculturalism" may well be the culprit.  It has already manifested itself in our politics by challenging our values, traditions, and even language.  

These changes are showing up in our neighborhoods and communities in the form of more drugs, more crime, and more violence, especially in the form of racial and ethnic gangs murdering for control of territory. In some instances, they demand "their own" do the policing, which is rejection of our legal system.

We already see "Little Havana", "Little Vietnam", "Little China", "Little Columbia", and so on. No longer do they seek to mix and integrate into their new homeland as our immigrant ancestors before them had done. Instead, they remain aloof and separate. Some don't even bother to learn English or allow their children to be taught the language despite being supported by taxpayer dollars, adding insult to injury.

Perhaps the only solution would be the balkanization of America, leaving  it a loosely based confederation of regions. It's happened before. It happened in Ancient Greece, in Ancient Rome, the Holy Roman Empire, the British Empire, and elsewhere. We are, as humans, naturally tribal after all.

 One thing is for sure, doing nothing will not only result in a de facto balkanization along various social, racial, and economic lines, under a neo-fascist Corportracy, but also allow the increasing diverse cultures to come into conflict, providing a greater excuse for the expansion of the surveillance state.

It seems there is only one other option, and that's to accept the multiculturalism on our own terms. But that means that the country we've known---our collective history---and we grew up with has to be allowed to fade into the past. No dominance of any one race or culture or language. It means changes in laws, values, and acceptance of different or perhaps new religions which could dominate or replace older ones. It means starting over again as a country surrounded by those who wish us harm.

It's possible. It's too has happened before, under Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great, the Kings of Persia, and, albeit briefly, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. You could even include the Mongol Empire. But it's all dependent on maintaining liberal societies along with tolerant leaders and capable administrators. The instant someone comes who shows a preference or a tendency toward despotism, and it crumbles. Some have suggested an economic and political system run by artificial intelligence.

The power elites who dominate this country has been trying to divide us any way they can for decades. In that they've been largely successful. Divided we are easily controlled and manipulated. United and we're unstoppable, but can we do it? We've reached one of those historical crossroads. A "Rubicon" if you'd like, which will be crossed whether we want to or not. What will it be?  

 

 If you want to know more about this article's topic, please check out the links below. If you enjoyed the article, please consider passing it along to others and don't forget to subscribe. It's free! Lastly please be sure to "like" us on whatever platform you use to read anotheropinionblog.com. It helps with the algorithms and keeps our articles in circulation. Thank you! 

 

Poll: 61% of Republicans still believe Biden didn't win fair and square in 2020

64% Think The January 6th Attack On The Capital Was Planned

Americans' Trust of the media Remains Near Record Lows.

Two in five Americans say a civil war is at least likely inthe next decade...

Leadership Conference  Poll:  54 Percent Fear America Is on the Path to Another Civil War...

Imagine another American Civil War, but this time in everystate

The Rise and Fall of Multicultural Empires

 

In America We No Longer Trust?

 

Our currency says "In God We Trust", but what about America? Do we still have confidence in our country? Americans, it seems, do have a serious trust issue, especially when it comes to the government and authority figures. That distrust is part of the American character stemming from those who first settled and explored this land. Many were viewed as being social, political, and religious outcasts.

The economics and social structure of the Pre-19th Century hamstrung the lower class merchants, craftsmen and subsistence farmer who toiled away on land they rarely owned while idle rich reaped the profits through rents and taxes. The social system often locked them into their social class of their birth with little or no hope of rising above it. Life for the majority was a grueling battle just to survive while the ruling elite were all but oblivious to their plight. To the elites, it was all due to "divine" ordination.

This "New World" offered a chance to change that. It was a risk, often requiring them to sell their selves into servitude for as much as a 1/3 of their anticipated lifespan just for this one rare opportunity to step up on the next rung of the social ladder. In the Jamestown of the early 1600's, approximately 75% of the population was indentured.

Upwards to 50% would die before ever seeing their freedom due to disease, exhaustion, or being undernourished.  Even for those who survived to reach the end of their servitude, many would find the land they received for their decades of bondage was infertile land or too small to sustain them. But they came anyway.

America was settled primarily by social, religious, and economic outcasts who built a new life of their own. No lords. No masters. It's helped create the image of the "rugged individual" and sense of independence which we still value to this day (and something others in foreign countries struggle to understand).  

Our alleged "insolence" and "rebelliousness" as England's King George III referred to us was even written into the Declaration of Independence while our belief in the dignity of the individual was expressed in the Bill of Rights.  So, it's no wonder that we distrust authority, which is borne out by a recent Pew Poll.

As an aside, this poll is not about "approval ratings" which often fluctuates weekly based on a variety of issues like the popularity of a party, legislation, or person as presented by the establishment media. Instead, this poll examined our "trust" or "confidence" in government, which more long term.  It also delved a bit deeper to look at other national institutions.   

Polling about the government has long been interesting, if for nothing else than from a perverse perspective to see just how low it will go. Americans have long disliked and distrusted Congress no matter which party is in control, and for the matter, the presidency. However, we have still held the Supreme Court in (relatively) high esteem, but all that's changed and we'll explain how. 

 According to the poll results, taken in July 2022, the amount of "trust" or "confidence" we had  for Congress in 2021 was a meager 12%. But as of July that figure had dropped to a pathetic 7%! As for the presidency (not the President), that "trust factor" dropped from 38% in 2021 to just 23% in 2022. When it came to the U.S. Supreme Court, they were not so "supreme".

Historically, the Supreme Court has been the one branch of government which somehow managed to sidestep the wrath of the public. Perhaps it's because it's rarely in the news or deals with issues many of us have only a passing interest in. Besides, there's always been some kind of mystique about the highest court. It's members, appointed for life, were seen as close to infallible as we mere mortals could get. They were each highly qualified for their position. The court, as a whole, was also seen as being impartial and above or outside the slimy dealings of politics.

However, the Pew Poll showed something different. In 2022, the confidence factor of Supreme Court was only 25%, which was down 11% from the 2021 results of 36%, which was still shocking. What would cause the results typically associated with Congress (on a good day) or the President? One key factor was Citizens United, a ruling that has had devastating consequences for the average American.

Citizens United, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2010, all but removed ordinary voters from politics and gave it to Big Business. Corporations were now seen as having the same rights as the average person, with one major exception (more on that shortly). Corporations are a legal construct. They are soulless artificial legal entities. They do not speak or act for their employees (it's often also pointed out that corporations are not democratic. They act as feudalistic kingdoms). 

Corporations function based on the collective voice of their board of directors with limited input from their shareholders. They exist solely to make a profit for those invested in its performance. Thanks to Citizens United, corporations now give virtually unlimited amounts of money to whomever they want, essentially buying the officeholder or political party.

The Supreme Court (and certain members of Congress) justify this by saying that "money equates with free speech" (of course, you and I are limited by the amount of "free speech" we donate by both legislation and practicality). That's the major exception I alluded to earlier. Even unions, which act more on behalf of the corporations they're suppose to protect workers from than the workers, can't compete. Unions are only able to donate one dollar for every ten corporations donate.

Citizens United was the final screw in creating the "Frankenstein" which transformed our Constitutional Republic into a neo-fascist Corporatocracy; our representative democracy is now run by a corporate like board of directors; an oligarchy of unbelievably rich individuals on behalf of equally rich shareholders. 12 years later and still 75% of Americans regardless of party oppose Citizens United.

The court's recent decision reversing Roe v. Wade also deeply affected the public's trust. 62% of American surveyed said the court made the wrong decision, adding that abortion should be legal in every state.

Related to the Supreme Court is the criminal justice system. As many know, we have the highest percentage of individuals behind bars, 0.7%, than any other country on the planet, be they "democratic" or authoritarian (including monarchies). That's nearly 700 individuals per 100,000. That's more than France, Russia, China, Turkey, Mexico, or Brazil. Not surprisingly, confidence in the criminal justice system is just 14%, down from 20% in 2021.

When it comes to other institutions which comprise the foundation of our nation, they've done just as poorly. In fact, 11 of the 16 institutions mentioned in the survey had declined between 2021 and 2022, and of those remaining five, their trust factor remained the same. Let's look at business first.

"Big Business" which includes companies like Walmart, General Electric, and Kroger have a current trust factor of 14% thus far in 2022%. which is down from 18% in 2021.  Large technology companies, such as Google and Apple, went from 26% to 23%. Banks and other financial companies "to big to fail" dropped from 33% to 27%.

Meanwhile, small business (or what's left of them post Covid-19), remained strong 68%, having fallen just 2% from 2021 until now. It seems we still prefer the "mom and pop" businesses that reflect our appreciation of the individual and entrepreneur, as well as the everyday familiarity which comes from the smaller local businesses and the knowledge that we are also helping our community by buying local.

Organized labor was one of the very few groups included in the survey which didn't show a decline, however, it didn't increase either. In fact, trust in unions remained at a 28% low. It's likely due to the low number of workers represented by unions as well as the corrupt reputations many unions suffer from because of the actions of a few.

The medical system took a hit from the Covid pandemic, "mandatory" vaccinations, masks, and the prolonged quarantines which hurt small businesses (which were forced to close) while helping big corporations (which were allowed to remain open). Unanswered questions regarding the vaccinates and the seemly endless "boosters" didn't do them any favors either. 

Many people nowadays question whether doctors, pharmacies, and hospitals serve the interests of insurance companies and medical research companies over the health of their patients. This lack of confidence is reflected in the poll  with just 38% trusting the medical industry compared to 44% in 2021 (we can even link the technology companies mentioned above back into this too).

While the Covid crisis was raging, so was more civil violence resulting from the recent deaths of individuals at the hands of the police. Whether the police were at fault is a matter of opinion, but it certainly affected the public's confidence in law enforcement.

The poll backed that up by showing a decline from 51% in 2021 to 45% in 2022; a 6% drop. Along with the loss in confidence, police departments across the country are losing  law enforcement officers as hundreds continue to retire or resign each month as we reported earlier.  

Trust in the military was another one of the very few which, while dropping slightly, still remained strong with 64%. In 2022, that number had been 68%. No doubt the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting and perception of a second military defeat played a big factor in 4% decline. Still, we cherish our men and women in uniform.

Turning from the military to religion, organized religion continues to decline as we reported in our last article. Overall, trust in religion is 31%, which represents a 6% drop from the previous year. While there are several factors, certainly some must include the Vatican's continuing refusal to deal with its pedophilic priests  (a issue which has spilled over to other religions), not to mention corrupt televangelists, along with issues concerning  married priests, ordaining women, birth control and abortion, gays in the church, and the centuries old conflict with science. 

Not surprising is the fact that even our school system isn't safe. Confidence in our schools and even our teachers have been on the decline for decades, starting with forced bussing and the decline of discipline in the schools in the 1970's.

Schools are now largely thought of as either public babysitters or pre-incarceration centers. Schools were once seen as safe havens, but not anymore. Respect for teachers have dropped, as has the desire to learn (for some minorities, academic achievement is often seen as "acting white" and typically results in being bullied and/or ostracized).

Today, the emphasis is on appeasement, especially if it has a racial or sexual orientation slant to it. They "graduate" individuals who can't read at grade level, can barely write, have little or no knowledge of literature, English grammar, science, or history and no appreciation of the arts.

They don't understand civics or what it means to be a citizen or to have respect for others. They have no critical thinking skills, but they sure know their sports!  They're taught that college and debt is their only option rather than the trades which are more in demand, cheaper and quicker to obtain, and pay better than average. Is it any wonder confidence in the school system is just 28%, down from 32% the year before?

Last on our list is the mainstream media. 96% of all media, including videos, movies, TV and radio programming, newspapers, books, and magazines, and even internet content are owned by just five companies. They literally control what we see and hear. They influence what we think on every topic. Most Americans nowadays no longer trust the media, which is labeled as "fake news". I find no surprise that television news has a trust factor of only 11% while newspapers (and print media) is a just 16%.  

It's not uncommon for the approval rating of this or that individual or group (such as Congress) to be in the dumpster, depending on the popularity of their party, their personality, or how they're portrayed by the media, but this poll goes further than that. It's a snapshot of our confidence in the very foundations of our society. It's also a warning.

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Confidence in U.S. Institutions Down; Average at New Low

Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2022

Majority of Public Disapproves of Supreme Court's Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade

Millions of Small Businesses Closed in 2020: The LongRecovery Ahead

The pandemic may have caused 200,000 business closures---fewer than expected

 

 

 

The Game Plan

Let's assume illegal immigration and the blatant refusal of the US government to secure the border, is simply part of a secret agreement--an addendum if you will--to NAFTA, which at its heart was designed to create an open border between Canada, the US, and Mexico, was extended to some of other nations south of border. Suppose further that the Latin American nations have chosen either to enact that portion of the agreement that allows its citizens unrestrained access to the US either directly or indirectly through Mexico, and because Washington was unable to "sell" NAFTA (though it passed, it has remained unpopular)---for whatever reasons such as a downturn in the economy, job outsourcing, union opposition, crime, unexpected prolonged wars or especially open immigration, decided to "dump" their children on our border, perhaps as a pointed reminder, or frustration over Washington's foot dragging? If true, does the hidden terms work both ways? What if Americans or Canadians decided to "invade" Mexico or South America in droves? How would their governments react? One or two, or even a few dozen would likely be imprisoned since they have (ironically) a no tolerance policy for illegals or those who aide them in anyway. But what about a few hundred or even thousands? What if these illegal Americans or Canadians demanded access to public services--such as health care or education, and in English? If Mexico's refusal to release a single US citizen, US Marine Andrew Tahmooreisi, is any indication, neither the US or its Latin American neighbors are prepared to deal with reverse illegal immigration, but I think they'd certainly be willing to discuss the situation with us.

There seems to be a global interest in the concept of "democratic liberalism", or as it's sometimes referred to, "friendly capitalism without borders". Think of it as democratic socialism as practiced by, say, Germany as opposed to Scandinavia. Social services, now paid for by States or a federal government, would instead be paid for through a transnational organization of some sort, perhaps the UN or one of its agencies. There has been, after all, much interest in expanding its role along with the influence of the UN, WTO, and/or World Bank, which collectively already controls much of the world's finances (along with the Federal Reserve) and dispersal of capital.

How could this be accomplished? The simplest tool would be a tax levied on a federal government and thus either directly or indirectly on the public. State specific programs would of course remain in place. This transnational "public welfare" tax would detail its own unique qualifications, which would be resident neutral and administered by each host country (notice "host" as opposed to "sovereign"). Since this would eliminate all or most other federal programs, administrative costs should be generally cheaper. The formula for taxation could be based on GDP, which would mean poorer countries would pay the least while richer countries would pay the most. While one could argue against this loss of sovereignty, it could increase the globalization of the commerce and through its concept of "open borders", enhance the development of worker movements since movement of workers would be unimpeded; something I'm sure would be unintended by the powers that be.

But as alluded to earlier, something happened. The US isn't playing the game as it's supposed to. There's the fact that America is becoming more fascist; certainly more "police state" like. To be more precise, corporations are behaving more feudalistic. In keeping with the concept, our national government is assuming the role of a dukedom; that, they are acting like overlords or administrators serving their lieges and lords. There is nothing "democratic" or "socialistic" here since we are not becoming more democratic by seceding more power to the People, nor are the People more in control of their own collective destinies, while government serves less our needs and more the needs of K Street and the 1%. States are increasingly losing powers guaranteed under the Constitution as well and must beg with hat-in-hand on bended knee for the funds to keep local governments going.

Meanwhile, threats to the expanding modern feudal State continues. Putin's Russia, and to a lesser degree, China and India (which tends to hedge its bets thanks to job outsourcing), have resisted dominance by the global "McState" and are threatening to undermine the US dollar as the defacto global currency; a currency backed solely on the "faith and trust" of a bankrupt government--economically, politically, and morally. Should they succeed, it would collapse the US economy as our unsustainable debts become due but it would have dire consequences worldwide in this interconnected world economy, eventually collapse the economies of the rest of the world like a house of cards. As the saying goes, when the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold, and this cold would be terminal.

Then there's the situation in the Middle East, which appears, at least to yours truly, to have been initally an attempt to increase control of oil reserves and oil production, by these feudalistic corporations and away from these artificially created nation-states, and now appears to have spunned out of control. We are now faced with brutal terror organizations which we helped to create, arm, train, and finance, to deal with the last terroristic organization which we created, armed, trained, and financed ad nauseam.

These terrorist groups, which are being portrayed by the corporate media, to operate virtually at will, could, in truth, be easily snuffed out by the power of the US military. But what's the point in that? At present, "terror" is a useful tool in the arsenal of the Corporate State. It inspires fear at home, and thus in the name of security, increases the "demand" for security, or to call a spade a spade, a police state. After all, businesses require stability in order to operate. People require a sense of safety in order to feel comfortable to go about their daily affairs, which just so happens to includes spending money, so what's the loss of freedom among friends...or big brothers? By the way, this "necessary evil" for the care and grooming of a fascist or feudalistic society is never a requirement for either a democratic or socialistic State. So much for the notion we're becoming "socialist".

So, there you have it folks; "the plan" as I've termed it, and an explanation in a nutshell. An addendum to an agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the US to do away with borders, and an apparent reaction by Latin American leaders to Washington's delay in implementing their portion of the agreement due to their (perhaps chagrin) inability to sell it to the US People. Russia, China, and to a lesser extent, India, resisting this latest variation of the game of Risk by the WTO among others while holding a gun at our heads and one at their own. A spiraling problem in the Middle East as the result of failed plans to secure oil reserves by destabilizing resistant governments with the use manufactured "terrorists" who aren't following the playbook. You would think that after Watergate, they would have stopped using amateurs. But, on the upside, using terrorists as sort of the all purpose bogeyman behind every lamppost, an opportunity to expand government monitoring and police power under the auspices of "security" while corporate control of Washington not only increases, but emerges from the shadows. So my fellow Americans, what are you prepared to do? And then what are you prepared to do?