We're fucked

132  2016-05-16 by rathskellar

Just wanted to stop by and say that I've noticed that in every single thread, doesn't matter what sub I'm in, there are always people arguing over minutia details and irrelevant shit, often overlooking or ignoring the general picture. Just one example because I'm sure some of you notice this as well, the Nevada caucuses in /r/politics. I don't give a fuck what anyone has to say to the contrary, there is a system in place that is going to put Hillary into the white house. And yet most people can't seem to accept this fact. Then go on to argue about completely irrelevant details such as the rules in the Nevada caucuses. Regardless of the truth about this particular example.

It's extremely frustrating to be witness to this going on, even in topics unrelated to politics or religion or something of relative "importance". And obviously Reddit does not represent the entire human race, but seeing people incapable of coming together on certain issues and remaining argumentative over the bullshit leaves me with little hope that we can progress out of the de-escalating situation that most conspiracy theorists are aware of. Even this sub isn't a shining example of people coming together thanks to trolls and shills, but I posted it here because people actually seem to be capable of critical thinking and challenging the status quo here moreso than in other subs.

Thanks for listening

147 comments

Arguing over the irrelevant is a classic trolling technique to distract the conversation. You see this a lot whenever Monsanto or Israel gets brought up. I will do my part to down vote the trolls.

While that almost certainly accounts for a percentage of it, redditors have always been like this. They argue the minute details and nitpick arguments to death as though it somehow makes them correct or more intelligent. It's extremely annoying but does not automatically make someone a shill.

Certainly, I wasn't trying to say that everyone who does this is shilling. A lot of people, even if they're not on reddit or the internet in general, do this.

However, I think it is important that people understand these "techniques" are employed by shillsshills, which is why I shared the link. Obviously most people on /r/conspiracy already know of this, but there are some noobies to this sub everyday.

I agree with that for sure. I just see a lot of people jump to calling people shills a little too quickly on here at times.

Yeah, that is unfortunate. It's to be expected, though, considering the nature of this sub.

Shill / armchair basement dweller with no other place than reddit to feel important and get human interaction through negativity or nitpicking.

The effect is the same.

that's the funniest (saddest) part - so much of what people think is a conspiracy is actually just a virtual perpetuation of the ignorance carried over from the real world. just because you have 50 idiots tell you something, that doesn't make them correct nor does it make them a coordinated site-wide government takeover.

you would think that by nature, with a super computer behind everyone's finger tips, we would all be making great strides towards truth and understanding as opposed to spreading misinformation and fallacies. this nature depends on the user, unfortunately. and the general nature we witness is as you described:

They argue the minute details and nitpick arguments to death as though it somehow makes them correct or more intelligent

It's a shame, really. Stop battling for upvotes. Battle for truth, people. Meh, I'm preaching in the wrong sub.

monkey see monkey do

Yeah, you say this like people haven't been programmed to be this way. It's not reddit, it's because most people who go through the system as usual stay in it and support it and will do all they can to keep others from dissuading or disillusioning their mindsets.

I agree. I was going to say this is also an apologetics tactic because arguing over written rules reminds me of what I used read in police brutality threads back when cops weren't as exposed for being corrupt as they are now. You'll have a thread about a video of a cop beating someone to hell and most people who see this video will agree something is egregiously wrong with the cop's behavior. But then the cop apologists will chime in quoting statutes and laws, trying to justify and explain how the cop was in the legal right to basically brutalize someone. Then the thread gets completely derailed with people trying to interpret and reinterpret the laws. The law is beside the point. The point is one human is beating another human to dust and getting away with it. The apologists want to mask that fact with as much jargon and complexity as possible so that the truth is basically buried and cognitive dissonance sets within the minds of most people reading the thread.

Cognitive dissonance is the goal for apologists actually. They want your mind hooked like a fish and tugged at from opposite ends until you can't think or act anymore. Then you kind of just walk away confused and silent and then you'll work hard to get it out of your mind. You're not thinking about it anymore: Apologists win.

Great example, I see this all the time. It's sad how many people succumb to these type of arguments.

Can we get back to talking about Rampart?

I agree with you, if that counts for anything.

On a conspiracy suhreddit, people still think the system isn't rigged. Come on!

I've noticed that as well. Tis most frustrating

I couldn't agree with you more mate; there are some things so simple that we should all be able to agree on them; things like corruption is bad, morality is good, but they've flipped just about everything and I try talking to people nowadays and their moral/emotional gauges are so abused from Hollywood and other satanic influences. People simply can't realize how fucked they, and I'm starting to believe they are in an actual trance. The constant state of Orwellian hypnosis has actually lulled people into a conscious trance. They are physically awake, but they do not process. They are like a computer set to hibernate; they're in a setting where they simply cannot operate, but all it would take is a little push and they'd awaken immediately. The right media can awaken people. Whether it's a 9/11 truth video, or something else, people can go from asleep to awake given the right catalyst. That's why I love this place so much, and refuse to give up on it.

I agree. All it took for me 5 years ago, when I was 20 was a Ron Paul ad on YouTube. It was like 12 minutes long (long for an ad) so I was curious and watched it. Didn't even know who he was prior to watching this ad. I noticed how this dude was talking about things that actually mattered and yet the mainstream media was shunning him and doing their best to keep him out of the spotlight. It didn't make sense why this was the case and I was definitely asleep at this time. But it piqued my interest and was the catalyst that led me down the rabbit hole and awakened me to the truth. Haven't been the same since.

My story is similar to yours but it really started when i watched "The Matrix".

Definitely a mind-opening movie.

funny thing is watching people fall for the same scam over and over again, like donald trump (a clinton and bush family friend and campaign donor being set up to control clinton's opposition and split it in half/discredit her opposition by connecting it to an idiot like trump).

a clinton donor and family friend set up to "run against" a Clinton, who appeared on the political scene just at the moment she needed someone to split her opposition and share a fake election with -- he's a fake incarnation of Ron Paul, key word fake, which is why he's getting such amazingly heavy promotion online and on TV (he was given center stage at the debates, how did it work out for Paul or Bernie?)

these are the most obvious scams on the planet but people fall for it every damn time, I see a ton of trump signs around me and I want to make some signs to put next to them that say trump "is a Clinton donor and family friend who's being set up to "run against"a Clinton, it's a scam", but people are just too far gone to handle reality at this point in time.

Until he wins

He won't win. Clinton will pull it out in the general with the same shady tactics her and the DNC are using to stifle Sanders.

It blows my mind how people are incapable of seeing through the charade. I'm not the smartest guy but it really didn't take much research to see how the system works. Now, I don't even need to follow the news anymore. I stopped several years ago, it was just making me sad & depressed. But I know how things work now, I don't have to be told what to think, and can often see right through it.

Ron Paul woke me up too. He woke up a lot of people, in spite of the media blackout.

There's a word or phrase that describes this. I can't really remember but it's like, when the system is based on lies and you purposely ignore someone who speaks the truth, you become aware of the lies even further.

You're thinking of the Streisand Effect.

Yes! Thank you

I've believed it's rigged for a long time but I've decided to play along. I think 99% of every thing I read or see on tv is bullshit. I've had fun playing along

How do you play along? I play along in certain ways, I suppose. But not in the political arena.

I vote, I read up on politics, I participate in discussions..I think it's all mostly bullshit and rigged but I suspend belief.

Gotcha. I do the same thing then, as well.

[deleted]

also OP, the reddit admins post web stats on the reddit admin blog, and it's common to see Eglin AFB as the #1 visitor to reddit.com of all the cities in the world.. not LA, not NYC, not London.

guess what else happens at Eglin AFB? The USAF runs their online information operations and "inform and influence" activities (ie propaganda posting). surely just a coincidence.

that's not even the beginning though, as PR firms and advertisers are all over this place.

[deleted]

Yep, it's not limited to the American government or military either. All capable states are using the internet as a propaganda hub, and here on reddit they use old bought accounts to post a general narrative and manage the major subreddits.

Hahahaha wow, that's fucking hilarious.

This example is a bit harmless in the grand scheme of things but it still applies. Recently a new Doom game was released. A few weeks before that I was seeing little tid bit facts about the previous Doom games suddenly appearing on Reddit. I started to see TILs mentioning Doom but not completely related to it. Doom pictures. Doom logo. Doom first game to do this, first game to do that. At the time I didn't know a new Doom was coming out. My mind was seeded with Doom interest and I went to google to search about Doom, hoping to download the original. Then I read on Steam that a new Doom was going to be released in two weeks. Wow, what a crazy "coincidence".

Then as the release date drew nearer I saw more Doom threads but interestingly they weren't about the new Doom as I assume they would be if this was really grassroots. They were just cute little TILs about Doom in general.

Its purpose is just to make Doom feel fresh in your mind, to remind you of Doom and then give you the option to buy the new game. That's what it tried to do with me. Immediately I went and searched for Doom and "discovered" that a new one was coming out. It's all part of the plan. They're balls deep in. the psychology of the masses.

Just because you weren't aware a new Doom game was coming out doesnt mean we all were. Yes, doubtless some of those posts were from corporate entites but doubtless many others were fan made. Doom is an extremely important and well loved classic game.

Good example. I've noticed this as well. Edward Bernays was the pioneer of this modern-day propaganda.

Yup, and I'd recommend a read of The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon, it's older but laid the groundwork for Bernays in crowd psychology.

Yes, anything you disagree with is the product of shills and should be studiously ignored. Thats how critical thinking works. /s

I find it extremely frustrating too. Reddit has really turned to shit. I have a strong feeling millions are being spent on campaigns to railroad any meaningful discussions on public websites like this. It never use to be so bad.

It has been co-opted for sure. You can't let anything get too big and still have a community of dissenting opinions. It's bad for business :p

Capitalism at work. Business wants to influence perception arpund their products. Not a conspiracy and entirely predictable.

It might not be a conspiracy on the lower-middle levels but that's because the conspiracy at the top is controlling it from the top down letting the system do the work, essentially

the internet has turned into SHIT ever since the presidential race started. it's ridiculous. i cant go 5 minutes without reading a headline about Trump or Hitlary.

Truth.

You can trace it turning sour to the beginning of facebook

there are always people arguing over minutia details and irrelevant shit, often overlooking or ignoring the general picture.

Because posting the general picture gets you banned by the admins.

I don't give a fuck what anyone has to say to the contrary, there is a system in place that is going to put Hillary into the white house. And yet most people can’t seem to accept this fact.

But but but but but but but but but but but Bernie can still win, guys!

It’s extremely frustrating to be witness to this going on, even in topics unrelated to politics or religion or something of relative "importance".

NPCs, in video games, are non-player characters. They’re inserted into a game to populate the world and give it a feeling of life and fullness. They are, of course, completely unconvincing at this, as there are only a limited number of responses that the programmers can ever give to one (or more) computer characters. These responses eventually exhaust themselves and the NPCs begin repeating identical phrases no matter what you try to do or how many times you activate them.

There are NPCs in the real world.

There are people who autonomously follow groupthink and social trends in order to appear convincingly human. They have no thoughts of their own. They do not create, they do not discuss, they do not change, and they barely even reason.

When you talk to them they say the same thing every time. “TRUMP IS HITLER”, “JUST BE YOURSELF”, “SPORTSBALL”, “THE NEW ADELE SONG XD OMG.” If you get in a discussion with them, it's always the same buzzwords and hackneyed arguments. They’re the kind of people who make a show of discomfort when you break the status quo to invoke a real discussion. Sometimes they won’t even respond correctly. It’s terrifying, actually. If you were to ask about politics, they would reply with sports. Ask about economics, they’ll reply with mindless minutiae about their personal lives. Try to get them to care about the invasion of Europe and they’ll start humming.

It’s terrifying.

NPCs, in video games, are non-player characters. They’re inserted into a game to populate the world and give it a feeling of life and fullness. They are, of course, completely unconvincing at this, as there are only a limited number of responses that the programmers can ever give to one (or more) computer characters. These responses eventually exhaust themselves and the NPCs begin repeating identical phrases no matter what you try to do or how many times you activate them.

There are NPCs in the real world.

Wow, very well put. I never thought about it like that. But you're right. Especially when it comes to almost anything mainstream. Such as music, news, movies, sports, phrases (swag, 100, fam, insert any phrase), etc. I've noticed how many people I can actually have a mind opening discussion with and it's definitely a minority. The rest are essentially programmed to think & respond a certain way. Truly terrifying.

One of my rules to live by is to never go with the mainstream. The mainstream is full of idiots and they are always wrong.

This has been one of my "rules" as well. It's actually allowed me to see how things operate more efficiently. The way they herd the masses is an important step in understanding how they play their game.

hi bud, while I agree that you get banned for posting too much of the truth on reddit, maybe you can address some of the actual concerns people have about your favorite billionaire clinton campaign donor.

2 families are passing the highest offices and appointments back and forth between each other and their own wives, sons, and campaign donors/family friends(which is what Trump is to both Clintons and Bush families) -- and you think he's opposition? Will you also believe in the fake election when Putin's wife is "running against" a Putin campaign donor and family friend who is pretending to "be her opposition"? How stupid does a person have to be to fall for that shit? How easy to scam are you? It's so sad to see people fall for the same thing over and over again, administered by the same people, their wives, their campaign donors, and their sons.

When Bush son #2 ran, he "ran against" his own frat brother from Skull and Bones, now when Clinton wife runs, she runs against a Bush and Clinton family friend and political campaign donor -- and you think that's genuine? I don't believe you and I think you must be a PR firm hireling - either that, or you are playing along with and being fooled by a dangerous anti-american force, my friend. an anti-democratic force that runs the same scams over and over again using different actors, billionaires, family friends, sons, wives, people who are stupid enough to work for them, etc.

Time for you to think things through instead of falling for the same scams over and over again. Trump is false opposition, he's part of the incestuous, intermarried anti-democratic forces that have staged an anti-american revolution in our country.

while I personally have near-zero faith in politicians, the general idea behind Bernie supporters is that Bernie is the only one who isn't a Clinton family friend and campaign donor like Trump is, who's been set up and heavily promoted (eg given literal center-stage at debates) to "run against" a Clinton like Trump has, and Trump's doing nothing but making a fool out of all of you poor guys who keep falling for the same propaganda and emotional manipulation scams over and over again administered by a clique of powerful criminals and their families, donors, and friends (like Trump is to both Bush and Clinton families, to repeat for you).

Trump appears on the political scene at the exact moment a Clinton needs someone to control and split her opposition - eg tricking the stupid right wing idiots into following a fake ron paul, so that they never get their heads out of their asses and stop fighting the fake "socialism"(which we already live under, corporate and foreign state socialism and for wars based on lies, instead of tax money being used for americans). how stupid do you have to be to fall for that?

Trump is the repugnantcan version of Obama to trick the idiots and to split, disgrace, and discredit the "anti-establishment" sentiment brewing in America by connecting it to a combover billionaire asshole who wants to "ban all the muslims and darn immigrants" -- while the REAL dangerous immigrants (massive corporations) are the actual danger, and the real socialism is already administered for them by every political party -- but you're busy mocking and fighting against the only candidate who is talking about them or who has a record of action against them. Congrats on falling for that dude.

How can you not see what's going on here? He's only existing to split Clinton opposition and make "anti-establishment" people look like racists/extremists/all the other propaganda terms that are used to label you fools - but you aren't fools because of being racist, you're fools for falling for an obvious anti-democratic scam administered by billionaires and anti-american families who have run a coup in our country and who are now passing high office back and forth while tricking the stupid poor and middle classes who can't manage anything but to consent, cooperate, and participate in their own subjugation - while smiling and cheering at rallies, like North Koreans.

it blows my mind that people can fall for Trump after watching what happened to Ron Paul (and watching the same happen to Bernie this election) while Trump "breaks through" in every way and is given literal center-stage at mainstream debates and absolutely MASSIVE press coverage, "o ya man, super real opposition to the establishment bro". LOL. You guys must be fake posters driven by PR firms hired by the repugnantcans and trump to trick the idiots just like the dumbocrats were tricked by Obama. This is why those darn smart people you hate so much don't support Trump, because it's an OBVIOUS SCAM to anyone with 2 brain cells to rub together.

  • "the best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves" - VI Lenin (you know, one'uh dem darn commies)

    it's what happened in Russia and it's now what is now happening here and you trumpers are supporting it all.

it's so obvious I have a hard time believing people are really falling for it, but just like all the wars and lies everyone falls for, they will fall for this as well. they are easily tricked into being victims of the dangerous anti-democratic revolution currently unfolding in America - one that will continue whether Trump or Clinton "wins" this "election" between themselves.

welcome to reality and the real reasons why a great many people aren't stupid enough to believe donald trump is any meaningful political player. Trump and Clinton are just part of the emotional manipulation used to manage the masses. Neither will do anything for you or for America, except to weaken it and abuse it.

also, if you listen to alex jones, you should stop listening to alex jones and realize he's another example of "the best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves".

I agree with you on all fronts. Good post, thank you

and you think he’s opposition?

He’s running for the opposite of everything (((they))) want, so yeah.

It’s so sad to see people fall for the same thing

So being the exact opposite of national policy for the last 70 years is “the same thing”?

ow when Clinton wife runs, she runs against a Bush and Clinton family friend and political campaign donor -- and you think that's genuine? I don’t believe you and I think you must be a PR firm hireling

You’re a fucking lunatic with zero comprehension of what’s going on. Trump has believed the same things for 30 years now.

Time for you to think things through my friend, instead of falling for the same scams over and over again. Trump is false opposition

Nah. Still voting for him. Nothing you say can stop me. If he’s genuine, you get blown the fuck out like the shill you are. If he’s not, we tear the whole motherfucker down anyway. I literally cannot lose, and you literally cannot win. You’re just entrenching us at this point. We will have our due.

while I personally have near-zero faith in politicians, the general idea behind Bernie supporters is that Bernie is the only one who isn’t

He’s a jew, he’s a marxist, he holds no American values, and he wants more globalism than anyone else who is running. Fuck. that. shit.

you poor guys who keep falling for the same propaganda and emotional manipulation scams

Says the Bernie supporter.

Trump appears on the political scene at the exact moment a Clinton needs someone to control and split her opposition

Unified it and expanded the non-Clinton voting base, but whatever.

how stupid do you have to be to fall for that?

Not as stupid as you have to be to think that’s what’s happening.

Trump is the repugnant can

Holy shit, that’s cute. Gonna call him “Drumpf” next (as though that was ever his family name), or are you older than two years of age?

to “ban all the muslims and darn immigrants"

They will all be going back.

while the REAL dangerous immigrants (massive corporations) are the actual danger

So you missed the part where he’s the only candidate who is actually going to do anything whatsoever about the globalist bullshit? Because you missed it. Everyone else wants the genocide of America and the destruction of her sovereignty.

you’re busy mocking and fighting against the only candidate who is talking about them or who has a record of action against them.

No, I’m supporting Trump. You must have missed that.

How can you not see what's going on here?

That’s my line.

He’s only existing to split Clinton opposition and make "anti-establishment" people look like racists/extremists/all the other propaganda terms that are used to label you fools

We don’t give a shit. Of course we’re extremists. Of course we’re racists. Of course we’re those other propaganda terms. They don’t matter. Words don’t matter. They don’t mean anything. They don’t hurt us. THEY WON’T STOP US. IT’S FUCKING OVER FOR YOU. The thing about liberalism is that eventually they spend enough time antagonizing and attacking everybody who would disagree or even question them… they spend enough time tearing down everybody and shaming everybody and eventually their opponents come to a very simple conclusion. You want a bad guy? You’ve got one.

And all of a sudden the shaming doesn’t work. All of a sudden the mockery gets thrown back twice as hard. All of a sudden calling someone an “-ism” isn’t winning the argument, it makes them look like a damn fool while their opponent doubles down and presses harder. Suddenly their tactics are being used against them and it hurts because they’ve never been on the receiving end. Suddenly they find themselves in the precarious position of having spent all of their time crying wolf. Now that someone has decided to ruin them, there is no one who cares that the pack is circling.

It’s a deep hole these people have dug, and we will be all too happy to bury them in it.

anti-democratic

You say that like it’s a bad thing. We’re not a democracy.

it blows my mind that people can fall for Trump after watching what happened to Ron Paul (and watching the same happen to Bernie this election)

It blows my mind that people think that Ron Paul wouldn’t shoot Bernie between the eyes if it was legal.

You guys must be fake posters driven by PR firms hired by the repugnantcans and trump to trick the idiots just like the dumbocrats were tricked by Obama.

Great theory. Spectacular detective work. Except that, you know, you don’t have the first fucking clue what you’re saying.

This is why those darn smart people you hate so much don’t support Trump,

Trump’s greatest support is among the poor and the high IQ.

(you know, one’s dem darn commies)

Who will all be executed for treason in the very near future. You’ll want to rethink your worldview.

welcome to reality

Said the marxist.

a great many people aren’t stupid enough to believe donald trump is any meaningful political player.

Record primary turnout, millions of voters stolen from the other party, exploded in popularity and destroyed his opponents, and will soundly defeat Clinton in the general, perhaps with over 300 EVs. So who’s stupid, again?

Neither will do anything for you or for America, except to weaken it and abuse it.

K. Enjoy your delusions.

also, if you listen to alex jones

Paid shill for (((DA EBIL NAZZIES))) against whom he so rails.

”the best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves"

“We will no longer surrender this country, or its people, to the false song of globalism. Under a Trump Administration, no American citizen will ever again feel that their needs come second to the citizens of foreign countries. AMERICA FIRST.”

– Donald “Your Shitter Will Be Irrevocably Shattered Come November” Trump.

Awesome man!

Your first comment was good but, man. This is comment is exactly what I'm talking about. Arguing over the bullshit. I'm not trying to say you're wrong but Trump is controlled opposition.

I’m not trying to say you're wrong but Trump is controlled opposition.

  1. So you’re literally exactly trying to say that I’m wrong.

  2. It’s not “bullshit” or a niggling detail to disprove the shills when they claim someone is controlled opposition (or to uncover the real controlled opposition).

  3. Already proven that he’s not, so tell your handler to give you a different set of cue cards.

How could he prove that he's not if he hasn't even become president yet?

Try taking a look at what (((they))) are saying about him. They’re terrified.

They aren't terrified. They're acting like they're terrified. If they were actually terrified they'd be doing the same thing they're doing with Sanders. Ignoring him.

Uh... Sanders is one of them.

Is one of whom?

(((Them.))) You know who they are.

you been shillin since been shillin 'haint ya?

Thanks for admitting that I am correct in everything I have said.

Sad, but true.

look at the numbers man, the only way bernie gets in is if hill dog gets indicted. And since she's the chosen one, it don't look likely. If we want change, we all need to quit our jobs, and march to the white house

Couldn't agree more. But she would need to be indicted before the general election. That only leaves a couple more months. If it's taken this long thus far, it's hard to hold onto any hope.

But yea, the problem is the majority are too satiated into comfort. People aren't missing any meals. I heard a quote, "revolution is only four missed meals away."

so true. the thing is TPTB know this. They're smart enough to keep the tv running and the food in plenty.

Exactly and that's what worries me the most with the advent of VR. What can the dissenters do if a majority of the population is plugged into an alternate reality, completely subjugated?

There are NPCs in the real world.

That's hilarious because that's exactly how I've seen people at times. It's also total fucking bullshit. If you dare to break out of sperg mode, start talking to people, and listening to them, appreciate them a little for who they are, have a little empathy or learn to fake it, you find almost all of them have something interesting to say.

Good stories can come from NPCs. It's good to have empathy and understanding but that won't dig us out of any holes. Only knowledge and wisdom will

"In other news, Anonymous has attacked the FED. Citizens are very happy with this as it challenges the Elite bankers, something that sounds cool but they have no understanding of. THIS JUST IN, the government has cracked down and instituted more internet censorship as a retaliation against internet hackers. The public rejoices."

Haha, golden.

As we debate divisive, same-old-shit (abortion, gun control, etc) we are currently bombing (civilians) in half a dozen countries in wholesale slaughter. Every person who pays their income tax is complicit to these crimes, yet we shrug it off and not even think about it.

Obama-led drone strikes kill innocents 90% of the time:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/oct/15/90-of-people-killed-by-us-drone-strikes-in-afghani/

That's why I can't get on the bandwagon of people hating on those who evade our tax system. Especially under the new panama papers light, and even moreso with the Emma Watson thread that had people outraged.

I don't think it's right for large corporations to use loopholes and tax havens to circumvent our tax system. It's one of the reasons why we're in such crippling debt. So much wealth and equity is being held out of the US/global economic system. But at the same time, I don't want to pay my taxes (I do anyhow) knowing full well where they go. I would be happy to pay my taxes and even pay higher taxes if I knew it was going to social programs that actually benefited our fellow humans.

If these rich people care so much why don't they use their power and influence to help change the system instead of shipping their money overseas and keeping their mouths shut??? They don't give a shit about bombing people overseas, they're just greedy entitled fucks who don't think they should have to pay their way.

They don't care and they are greedy. I certainly wasn't defending them. But, if I could afford a lawyer to circumvent the tax code, I would and then use that money that I save and put it towards donations and charities or something. My intentions might look greedy and apathetic but I really feel it's immoral to pay taxes to the U.S. govt knowing where they reallocate it. Large corporations and billionaires are the greedy ones and just want to save every penny possible.

What percentage is greater, the amount of tax dollars funding drone strikes or the amount spent on education, research, and healthcare?

Funding our military and paying back our debt to the federal reserve are the highest percentages at the moment

I would be happy to pay my taxes and even pay higher taxes if I knew it was going to social programs that actually benefited our fellow humans.

I used to value the idea of social programs, too; and then I started using Reddit for five years, and found out what many Socialists are really like. Angry, self-righteous, mean-spirited human beings, who are utterly crippled by perpetual self-victimisation and envy. Capitalism might be a depraved ethos, but Marxism is ultimately no less so.

I've also been living with hippies for the last two years, and believe me when I say that collectivism really is not what it's cracked up to be. Collectivist scenarios don't mean that the people involved with them magically lose their ego. It simply means that ego battles get resolved in far more pathological ways, because the ideology usually will not allow even admitting that there is an ego battle in the first place.

I did a permaculture design course, and then I watched permaculture largely die in a head on collision with Capitalism, not to mention getting hijacked by Peak Oil whackjobs like Michael Ruppert, and the cult of Rudolph Steiner. To paraphrase John Lennon, I've well and truly tried giving peace a chance. The entire thing is hollow; it's all just one giant lie.

The entire thing is hollow; it's all just one giant lie.

Do you have a link, that's a juicy quote/paraphrase?

Thanks, but that came from me.

I've well and truly tried giving peace a chance

John Lennon paraphrase ~ from what?

Well, whether we like it or not, thanks to the rise of AI and automation in nearly every job sector, we're going to have some form of socialism/marxism in the future. So, maybe it's time we re-educate people so that we can transition into this future model without so much angst towards the idea.

In regards to taxes.. (summary, taxation is theft and government is a monopoly on violence)

"If we approve of state programs that redistribute wealth... we must also approve of threats of violence on peaceful individuals, because this is how funds are collected."

https://youtu.be/PGMQZEIXBMs

LOL. We'd all be better off in a Hobbesian nightmare, amirite?

Agreed. "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." - Henry David Thoreau

I'll also give a shout-out to u/yardley7

I like that quote. Thanks

...there are always people arguing over minutia details and irrelevant shit,...

That's not true

seewhatIdidthere?

Hillary is a shriveled old woman with serious health problems who is being exposed as a criminal day by day, with each day that passes. If the Democratic Party succeeds in putting her in the White House, it will be as an urn full of ashes.

If she lives to the age of Bush Senior, Albright, Cheney, McCain, Feinstein, Rumsfeld, Kissinger or even the fucking queen of England, then she still has DECADES left.

Never wondered why these bastards just won't die? They're all ancient! One truly has to wonder how or why, since their lifestyles aren't really indicative or associated with getting very old.

To know that these murderous sociopaths are still breathing while many humans don't even reach half their age, is just mind-boggling and infuriating ... Absolute proof that there is no God, no immanent justice and nothing but obscenity on this fucking planet.

I can't figure out how Jimmy Carter is alive. His whole family dies of cancer and didn't he have pancreatic cancer? Pancreatic cancer killed Patrick Swayze but can't kill a 90 year old? Actually I know why Jimmy Carter is alive, he either sold his soul to the devil or there is a cure for cancer.

I wouldn't doubt it. They always say military technology is 20+ years ahead of mainstream tech. I'm sure they use that tech to improve their lives. There's a lot of technology that we likely don't even know about

I'm crossing my fingers that this is the case. But then again, who would supersede her?

The young man BERNIE!!!!!

I'll cross the fingers on my other hand for that.

I've got all my fingers and toes already crossed!

The practical definition of unity, is having your most important life decisions made by someone else. Unity is a scenario where you voluntarily give your own power away, in the name of peace.

We do not need unity. Unity is not the answer; it's the opposite of what we need. If everyone stopped focusing their attention on what the government is doing, and simply did their own thing, how would the government stop them? Do you really think it has sufficient manpower to do that? The entire reason why they have had to work so hard to brainwash people, is because they know full well that said brainwashing is the only real power they have.

Understand something else. All of the myths which the system has caused you and me and the rest of us to believe, rest on irreduceable arguments.

Government is an inherent source of authority. How? Why? Occasionally someone will offer the Lockean argument, but Locke's social contract has never existed in formal or de jure terms, literally anywhere on the planet.

Unity and/or world federalism is supposedly essential, and is the only hope for large scale peace. Why? We are never told. We are simply shown imagery of Gandhi or Martin Luther King in association with this statement, and are then expected to get tears in our eyes and turn our brains off. Unity is mandatory, end of story, case closed; and if you don't understand that, then you are obviously an evil, unspiritual person, but again, don't bother asking why that is.

I do not believe in unity any more, and the reason why, is because I have never seen a single human group of any kind, anywhere, which does not have some kind of hierarchy or power structure; even if, in the case of instant return or hunter/gatherer societies, the only purpose of said power structure is actually to prevent any other kind from developing.

You can not go anywhere there are other human beings, without finding someone who wants to dominate you. At this point I am completely certain of that. Some of them are subtle about it. Hippies try and pretend that there is no hierarchy within communes, but when push comes to shove, you will always ultimately find one person who owns the place, or thinks they do. Same with the Amish. Sure, they're a spiritual community, but watch how fast you get shunned if you don't tow the line.

So I do not want to be a member of a group with more than five people at the most; and even then, I don't want to be dependent on any of those people for my survival. I do not want to sleep in the same room as anyone else, and I do not want to eat with anyone else for the most part either, because the only thing that those activities result in, is someone else using that as a basis for controlling me. I do not like cooking, but I will now gladly go and buy salad sandwiches or cook eggs for dinner, in preference to having anyone else cook for me, because unless I pay someone with money for that, I pay with my freedom.

Again, I know that some of you will probably respond to this by saying that I am a sick, selfish, evil human being; but what you very predictably will not tell me, is why I am supposedly selfish and evil. Is it so wrong that I do not want to be the target of someone else's manipulative, narcissistic control dramas? I have seen far too many cases now, of people who were supposedly enormously giving and compassionate, when the only reason why they did any of it, was because they either wanted people to thank them, or wanted to use that as a form of leverage, so that they could tell their supposed beneficiaries what to do later on.

I have also seen how relentlessly vindictive and fundamentally rotten Millennial collectivists are; how even the vaguest hint of ideological non-compliance is used as an excuse for savage public mockery, and how the only thing that matters to any of them is that they belong, yet they never can truly belong, because they are constantly being tested for ideological non-compliance, and unless they are literal zombies, they are constantly failing those tests.

If you want "unity," then you can have it. I want none of it.

Hmm, extremely interesting post. I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I used to believe in unity myself and I still sort of do. You're right that no matter where you go there will always be someone trying to control others. But here's how I imagine it; If everyone was simply doing their own thing, like you mentioned in the first couple paragraphs, it would render govt useless. A unified Utopian future is where mostly everyone is aware they are in charge of their own life and sets out to pursue their passions and desires. Whatever they may be. If a majority is educated and responsible for themselves then those who try to rule over others or harm others are cast aside. They will be in such a small minority that their selfish, controlling, harmful desires would be easy to bring into the light and do something about.

This, to me, is the unity that I'm optimistic about. Not some unifying group or govt that says, "you must all be equal or else." That seems to defeat the purpose. It's more along the lines of, nearly every person fulfilling their individual responsibilities and helping each other as communities and (extended) families. We are already truly one with each other, it's an illusion that we're separate. If we work together to bring about this change, it will be easy to deal with those who want to go against this system. But that won't happen anytime soon.

no no everythings gonna be fine. just shove your head up your ass, you'll see. HAIL SHITLERY!

I got near the smelly anus and backed off. With your encouraging words, I am now prepared to go full head-up-ass. Thanks fellow slave.

Hi! Welcome to America!

America. Fucking up everyone's shit in the name of righteousness. Welcome to Earth.

Europeans. Fucking up everyone in the name of "we are better".

Ftfy

No we're not. Our bodies are born and they'll die, they'll be "fucked" (hopefully?), but it's not who we are. Lucidity is unmistakable, it contains eternity and unlimited joy. The rest is transient. Don't mistake me for a parrot.

Demoralization is a well-known and developed war tactic, let's not fall for it.

And de-moralize they have.....

I'm certainly not demoralised. I mean, I am about the future but not about my life. When I first learned all of this stuff I was pretty young. I thought the world was going to come crashing down in the next 3-5 years so I spent a lot of time on literally nothing. Just waiting for the whole thing to collapse. Then I realised I was falling prey to the same type of propaganda I was learning about and knew it was time to man up and actually do something with my life. And just hold onto the knowledge and wisdom that I gained through the process.

“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ http://bible.com/111/tit.3.10-11.niv

I personally believe it's just base human nature to search for differences and emphasize those. It takes a level of maturity and awareness to move past the inevitable differences and celibrate commonality. Awareness and maturity are becoming more scarce by design.

"...there is a system in place that is going to put Hillary into the white house." - Indeed, there is.

I'm sure there's a lot more we can agree upon than argue about. I don't care how much a person knows, what matters is who you are as a person, how you treat others and use your intelligence.

Consider the daffodil... and while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

  • Jack Handy

I don't give a fuck what anyone has to say to the contrary, there is a system in place that is going to put Hillary into the white house.

She fucked up her chance at Sec of State. She won't be president.

As for your title...We have always been fucked.

Agreed we have always been fucked.

But when she doesn't become president, I'll believe all the people who have been saying so. Again, it's pointless to argue about it. She is the establishment's choice candidate and ya, she fucked up. But they need her to be their puppet and that is the plan. She fucked up in the eyes of the law but the system that needs her to be president isn't going to allow any true justice to be brought down on her

What if I propose that their hedges/puppets/choices are Trump or Sanders (either will do) and Hilary is just there for show and will be indicted? See what people fail to understand is, she fucked up with the wrong group of the shadow government (intelligence). Those agencies run the shadow government. This wasn't just a law thing, but a trust thing within the intelligence agencies and she failed to prove herself in this capacity.

Well, it's hard to know exactly how deep the rabbit hole goes. If you want my opinion, I think they're using Trump and Sanders as a means to completely polarise the population and obviously keep us fighting amongst ourselves. The issue with Trump is obvious, the issue with Sanders is that he's a proponent of big govt and govt is the reason we're in this shithole to begin with. I know it's not possible for him to accomplish all of the things his platform is based upon but I had some shred of hope that with leadership like him, we might actually swing the country in the right direction. Obviously not possible if he never becomes president.

I agree with your second statement, though. There are different factions or groups within the government that have different agendas and each different/varying levels of power and influence. I agree that she fucked with the wrong people and we might actually see something done about that because if you're in a position of power, they don't fuck with you unless you fuck with other people in power. But maybe to the intelligence faction, they don't really see her as a big threat, I could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong. I want to see her indicted. But they may just take the hit if it would hurt them in the long run/big picture to indict their choice candidate. Who knows though? At this point it's all speculation until something real happens and right now we can only sit back and watch as these different factions within the govt fight it out.

I get the feeling that Bernie and Trump are relatively hard for them to control. Bernie because of his beliefs, Trump because he cannot be bought. Hilary will do/say anything to get in. She is a bought and paid for whore. She is a sockpuppet and when they wiggle their fingers, she moves.

Trump is controlled opposition. He still plays into the hands of the 1%. You can argue that Bernie does as well but because of his moral code and always being on the right side of history, yes, he is much harder to control. Which is why they're doing everything they can to prevent him from getting any real traction. IMO, they're giving all the states to Hillary that she needs to win the democratic primary and letting Bernie have the rest to, again, further polarise the population, but proving to the people (Bernie supporters) they don't have any power over the outcome.

This, right here. Our government has been jacked. Agencies with three or more letters run our lives...the placeholder....not so much.

In your estimation, was her fuck up due to incompetence or arrogance?

That's a good question. I'd probably say more arrogance, than incompetence.

Undoubtedly arrogance. She did not get to where she was through incompetence.

What are you referring to? I was thinking she more or less toed the line

Mishandling intelligence. Spooks don't care for those who are arrogant and dangerous to the club.

Go ahead and give one example of sanders being a puppet. Go ahead. Shouldn't be hard since you've clearly thought this through.

I'm a Sanders supporter and like I said above, he is a proponent of big govt. Meaning, he's a fan of making the system of what got us into this mess even larger. In my opinion, this is not good. But he has a true moral compass and would hopefully lead the country in the right direction. But we do still have checks and balances and not everyone in the other branches of govt have the same moral code. So while the govt grows, the system still stays fucked.

People know that "the system is rigged.", but they hope that at least in their home state of Nevada where the people are generally kind, that the kind of bs that works in Washington DC will not fly. They are disturbed and surprised to discover that they are actually part of the same rotten system.

Yup.

Yikes, your right. So what can we do about it?

Live your life to the fullest. Strive for personal success, happiness and wealth (not necessarily money).

Shitty thing is, the only way to live life to the fullest and have the most potential for a successful future is to make money to acquire the position. Maybe if we all work really hard to establish a lifestyle that is fully sustainable on its own, then we can kick the money bucket.

Yes and no. It comes down to what you want out of life. It also helps to know that none of it matters anyways. You're going to lose all your possessions, any success, all your money when you die. So pursue what really makes your heart happy. In my case, that's drums and longboarding. I'm sure I'll find other things I enjoy doing but for now those are good enough for me. It took me a long time to finally afford my own drumset and since then I've never been happier. But I managed to take control of my life and I own my own business. I make decent enough money to pay the bills and put food in my belly but not enough to really save up or get a nice place for myself. But I am my own boss, I don't have to answer to anyone and it allows me the free time to do things that I would otherwise have to do to make money in a lower paying job.

Having more money would definitely give me the advantage to pursue other things that I may want to try or get into, such as skydiving or piloting or going into float tanks (sensory deprivation chambers), etc. But if I stressed over not being able to do those things yet, I wouldn't enjoy the time I'm spending here in the present.

I really like your response. I agree. I am a small business owner too and it is so nice being your own boss. Keep working hard and build that business! Peace!

Same to you!

Watch the movie MindWalk. It goes over your qualms in very good philosophical detail. Movie from the 90s; actual actors; really good overall if you can watch 2 hours of dialogue.

I'll check this out, thanks.

Why is reddit crawling with shills but not the Chans?

Mods protect shills on Reddit.

Huxley was definitely right

I don't believe we are anywhere near being fucked. You raise the topic of American politics and speak of it as being omnipotent. There are another 195 countries in this world that sit outside of the American political agenda. Yes you could argue that American influence spans the globe but that will stop real quick when peoples lives are at stake. I'm talking about the 6 billion people living outside of a Trump or Hilary presidency.

Conspiracy theories aside, when it comes time for people to fend for themselves (and it will) it won't be us who are fucked, it will be the establishment. You think cops are going to arrest you for stealing baby formula when they will be doing the same.

The common people will always win, but it won't happen until we are forced. That time will come, and the commoners will be victorious

Most non-American countries have much less than 0.5% of the influence that the United States has in world affairs. Sad but true. I'd estimate: 10% (china), 5% (Germany), 3% (Japan, Russia), 2.5% (UK), 1% (India), 0.5% (France, Spain, Italy, Brazil -- if they get their shit together, Indonesia, Phillipines, Australia), 0.1% (Israel, Argentina, Pakistan, Switzerland, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, South Korea), roughly 0% (everyone else).

you must be new here. this shit has been going on for decades

Not new here, just finally grasping a full scope of what my knowledge has brought me to.

Why talk about important issues when we have to figure out what bathrooms kids have to use in school?

Ahh, great question. I'm really worried about people peeking through stall cracks.

Environmental degradation is more important than any political issue.

History has survived tyrants; we are forced to contend with nature's wrath itself.

This entire sub is wasting time.

No one talks about Fukushima.

I couldn't agree with you more. We are an adaptable species and I'm sure we would find a way to make it work but yeah, we're heading down a dangerous path that can't be fixed as easily as some of the other issues we're facing

The election is a red herring. You are encouraged to rock the vote because it is a waste of energy. If I had you vote between vomit and feces for dinner you'd spot the problem and go after the menu-makers... especially if there were a precedent for assassinating would-be pizzas.

You seem blinded by ego. Surely this is not your first sign of an uphill battle, so why lose your shit? Thanks for fighting the good fight while you were willing and able, but perhaps it's is about time for a vacation before you stress yourself out to the point of incompetence. Don't worry... the eternal struggle will be here waiting for you.

I like that quote. Thanks

Try taking a look at what (((they))) are saying about him. They’re terrified.

(((Them.))) You know who they are.