Have you ever really stopped to think about all of the “Wars” America is fighting and the results of those “wars”?
Well let’s see there is the:
War on Poverty – Back in the 60′s the US government declared war on poverty, the results are as expected. We now have the highest percent (since 1994) of the US population at, or below, the poverty level. More US citizens are listed at, or below, the poverty level since the late 1950′s. (2009 figures)
War on Drugs – After 40 years, billions of dollars spent, local police forces militarized, hundreds of thousands jailed, untold numbers murdered/killed in the illicit trade, forfeiture laws that allow police to confiscate your property if they “think” it was purchased from proceeds from, or used in, the sale or manufacture of illicit drugs. All this and the current drug czar states the obvious, it is unsuccessful.
War on Terror – After the 9/11 attacks we declared war on “terror”. Since then about the only thing we’ve done is kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Afghan civilians, several thousand of our own soldiers, and almost obliterate the Bill of Rights in our own country. With laws like the misnamed “PATRIOT” Act in place there has never been a greater assault upon the liberties and freedoms in the history of this country. The success of this war is still undetermined, but taking into account the stunning track record the government has over the past 40 years, or so, and I think that this war will garner similar results as the other “wars” this country has fought in the same time period.
Taken in the singular any of these “wars” is a disaster. The destruction of liberties caused by any one of these examples of horrendous policy is bad enough. Taken together, in their totality, and the destruction is compounded and continuous. However, if you look at these policies from the “other side” they are so successful, so cunningly brilliant, they will surely be repeated in the future. For not only are these policies eroding our freedoms and liberties, we are begging them to do it.
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) are some of the governments most powerful weapons to use against the populace in order to confuse them into “submission”. We look to our government and it’s leaders to protect, not only our lives, but our way of life. FUD causes the populace to ask the government to increase its power and influence over our daily lives as long as we have even the faintest glimmer of hope that this new encroachments will protect “Us” from “Them”. By using the FUD factor they are able to speed up the process by enlisting the aid of the very people they intend to enslave.
As the character V said in the movie V for Vendetta:
“How did this happen? Who’s to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you’re looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn’t be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense.”
That is the very essence of FUD.
