Convincing

New ideas presented to people are often rejected before being processed fully. In the old days religious dogma was the idea that was promoted most. Strong arm tactics were used in the Crusades and the Inquisition. Holy wars are wars of ideas and dogma.

Later the Jesuits took a somewhat gentler approach while trying to convert the populations of Asia, South America and Africa. Though it was softer, it still used elements of bribery, violence, intellectual superiority and belittlement.

Those times are thought to be the dark ages of brainwashing and mind control, but seeming harmless brainwashing techniques still take place today. The techniques are based upon fear, greed, guilt, ego and psychotropic rewards.

How else could a country convince so many of its children to sign up and risk their lives in military service to fight a war in the Middle East where the geography and culture is so distant from anything these children have ever known? If you think this is an exaggeration, consider all the times the President and the administration have mentioned the word “terror” while speaking in public. A day never goes by without its utterance. Greed comes into play when they boast of signing bonuses and paid education benefits. Playing to the ego there is the “Army of One” and “Be All That You Can Be.” Finally if you ever visit a Job Fair or County Fair in this county the military has displays that dwarf all other. A few years ago at the Fair Grounds the military used the entire arena to display trucks, tanks, climbing walls, mobile bridges and cool technology. They had rooms where the children could play video games and some games are even given away as prizes. There were all sorts of free gifts handed out in an attempt to indoctrinate these children into an early acceptance, which adds up to easier future recruitment.

Children are also the targets of brainwashing with subliminal and not so subliminal product placement in TV shows and movies. They are the targets of cereal, candy, soft drink and toy companies. This is constant assault and the children haven’t a chance to escape unscathed.

It’s not just children. Males at 18-25 years of age are the golden cash cows for most of corporate America. But what is being sold to people above that age? Mostly luxury items, medicine, politics and philosophy.

Here in Dried Salmon County you are presently being sold on a number of things. First there is LNG plant. The LNG industry is trying to sell their plans for development by sending out faux watercolor pamphlets in the mail. They try to brainwash us that it is safe and good for our county, the river, the wild life and the world and it will provide jobs.

We are being told that we need to replace Port Commissioners. We are being told that we need a new college. The tools that those in the selling seat are using on us are fear, greed, ego, and guilt. Oddly, no one is giving psychotropic rewards, yet.