You’re Being Propagandized, Programmed and Pacified

Propagandize, Program and Pacify – the Three P’s of despotic rule — and the DC’vers are wildly successful at it. Let’s examine their tactics and learn why we’re in heap big trouble if we let it continue.

Propaganda (n) - information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution or nation.

Propaganda is a primary tool in the elected official’s toolbox. In a liberated society, in contrast with a no-holds-barred despotic society like North Korea, the people must be gently prodded to accept more and more control by a national government. The average DC’ver uses various tools of propaganda to accomplish this. Here is a partial list, broken into two categories, with examples of more recent propaganda emanating from the DC’vers in DC:

Positive Propaganda

1. Investment vs. taxation – Confiscation of productive people’s income is the lifeblood of despotic rule. Throughout history, military might, direct confiscation, arbitrary law, and the like were used to confiscate property. In a Union like the United States that was once governed by the Rule of Law–that Law being the Constitution–there is a heritage of consent of the governed. The government can only take that which is consented to by a free people. So, DC’vers, wanting to enhance their rule over others, their status, and their fringe benefits, must find a way to get the people to consent to having their property taken.
This must be done in ways that won’t alarm people who love freedom.Thus, we’re told that the confiscation of our property is an “investment,” a word scrubbed of any odor of taxation. We understand investment in houses, 401Ks and education will secure us a good future. Every evening we’re bombarded with TV commercials telling us this. The national government, which is able to adapt to maintain their rule over others, their status, and their fringe benefits, piggybacks on this term. So, SCHIP is an “investment” in children’s health, they tell us. Wind power is a good government “investment”. When we pay by force of law into the Ponzi scheme called Social Security, we’re not being taxed, no; we’re “investing” in our future retirements. The DC’vers have propagandized us that the money confiscated from us every two weeks is an innocuous “investment” in our fellow citizens, or in more modern times, such “investment” as a good and patriotic thing, helping the poor, building schools, defending our nation. Either way, you’ve been propagandized.

2. It’s your civic duty – This propaganda teaches us to accept the size and scope of national government power as a condition of being a good, upstanding, and patriotic inhabitant of the Union. A free and moral people generally have a good grip on justice; what’s right is right we say. We believe that honesty is still an important value, so it’s not hard for the DC’vers to persuade us to turn on our neighbor. We see this every April 15th when the news comes out that billions of dollars are “owed” to the national government by citizens who don’t pay their taxes. Citizen after citizen will call into talk shows berating these people as tax cheats, tax frauds, unpatriotic, even anti-American–without ever stopping to think about what they’re defending. Rather than ask what Constitutional authority is there for SCHIP, Medicare, Social Security, EPA, DHS, Department of Agriculture, and the likes which make up the national government, we shame and criticize people who don’t like their property confiscated.And so, through this propaganda, the DC’vers accomplish two purposes: they deflect the citizens’ anger which they deserve for attaching our paychecks, and they recruit agents for their cause of maintaining their rule over others, their status, and their fringe benefits: We the People!

3. We have a “federal” government – We’re comforted by the word “federal” when attached to government. This hearkens back to our primary school years when we were first exposed to the founding of the Union, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the creation of the “federal government”. But because so little accurate history has been taught for generations now, we’re no longer able to discern the difference between national and federal government. Indeed, there was a time when the government was federal…but no longer.So, what is a “federal government”?First, we are not a “nation” as we understand other nations like France, Germany or Australia. We are a Union of separate and sovereign States. But you’ve not been taught that and neither was I; I had to go find this out for myself.
A federation is a union of self-governing entities. The United States of America was chartered in the Constitution as a federation of self-governing states, operating within a system of checks and balances where equal authorities keep each other from exceeding their powers. The two separate and distinct authorities are the federal government and the state governments, which are kept in check by the written legal framework of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. This system is also referred to as the Rule of Law.
There are both vertical and horizontal checks and balances. This is an essential and critical part to understand, failure to recognize these distinctions places all the power in the hands of the national government. When properly functioning, the three branches of the federal government (horizontally) have the authority to prevent the others from overstepping their Constitutional boundaries. When these internal horizontal checks fail, it is the duty of the states to check the federal government (vertically) via the 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution; the so-called “reserve” powers, and Article V State Called Amendment Convention of the exercising the unalienable right of the people to free association, called secession.
These are the three “vertical” tools the States have to check a federal government.When the states fail to challenge the excesses of the federal government, over time, we move from a federative system to a national government. Checks and balances are weakened and eventually lost. This is the condition of the United States today. There is no longer a federal government, but a national government that bends the legal framework to support its own growth. The national government is currently free to do whatever it pleases to the people comprising the 50 separate and sovereign States. These are just the facts, unpleasant as they are.Yet, for the DC’vers to hold onto their rule over others, their status and their fringe benefits, they repeat the propaganda, “we’re a federal government and what we’re doing in Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court is authorized by the Constitution.” And we go about our business believing them when nothing could be further than the truth.

4. The mythic oath of office, pomp, and circumstance – Every two and four years, we’re treated to a spectacle of another group of elected officials taking their seats in Congress or the White House or both. There is much fanfare surrounding these events: parties, parades, ceremonies, speeches. Each element of the events are cleverly choreographed to deliver maximum comfort that the “peaceful transition” of power was accomplished and the newest group of officials will guide the Federal Government (read national government) the next two or four years.
Central to this propaganda event is the oath of office, administered to every elected official. Each oath contains certain terms to assure the populace that adherence to the Rule of Law will continue:”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter;So help me God.”But, do we ever stop and wonder whether or not the people raising their right hand, placing their left on the Bible and uttering a few words actually keep their oath? There is little evidence that the DC’vers actually do or even intended to. Perhaps there’s some wiggle room in the phrase “uphold,” “defend,” “preserve,” “support”? Maybe, assuming you’re looking for wiggle room, but isn’t that the exact problem?
Everyone likes a loophole if it benefits them; we’re all subject to human nature. But, shouldn’t character help us to overcome these natural urges; especially when the actions taken by a governing body may affect millions of people?If the primary purpose of the majority of the DC’vers is self-aggrandizement, why do we believe them when they take their oath? Do their oath match their record? If the oath is meant to pledge allegiance to the Rule of Law, why don’t we actually do something when they break it? After all, as Jefferson so eloquently put it in the Declaration of Independence, “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Did you consent to having your property, and liberty taken by people who could care less about an oath?

5. The Constitution-waving elected official – A more recent propaganda trick, thanks to the Tea Party, is the constitution-waving candidate. They’re trying hard to convince you that they “honor” this document, though the reality is, most know next to nothing about it…and why should they need to? As discussed above, we no longer have a federal government constrained by a written constitution; we have a national government wielding arbitrary power with the illusion of Constitutionality.And there is no better prop than whipping out the Constitution at a campaign rally. Or mentioning it, along with a couple of Founders’ quotes, during a speaking engagement. This propaganda tool depends on the average person having little to no knowledge of the document; and this is largely true of Americans now.

6. The visualization of power, Washington DC – Do you ever wonder why House Representatives and Senators like to have buildings, bridges, highways and legislation named after themselves? Or how about all the monuments in the Capitol? All contribute to the propagation of an idea: we’re a nation, and its leaders are the DC’vers. We tend to view these “monuments” with a certain awe because of the size and design. We emotionally connect to the power of a 40 ft Abe Lincoln, or a all white marble majestic Capitol Building or White House. Powerful acronyms like the FBU, CIA, NSA all speak to the power of the “national” government. We’re subtly asked to embrace these emblems and in doing so, take with them a sense of power. All of it pointing back the Washington DC, the “Nations” Capitol.

7. The illusion of legality of all laws – Do you believe all laws are legal? If you do, you’ve fallen prey to one of the biggest frauds the DC’vers perpetrates on the masses. Read Jefferson’s words in the Kentucky Resolution and ask yourself if you agree or disagree.

“That they will concur with this commonwealth in considering the said acts as so palpably against the Constitution as to amount to an undisguised declaration that that compact is not meant to be the measure of the powers of the General Government, but that it will proceed in the exercise over these States, of all powers whatsoever: that they will view this as seizing the rights of the States, and consolidating them in the hands of the General Government, with a power assumed to bind the States (not merely as the cases made federal, casus fœderis but), in all cases whatsoever, by laws made, not with their consent, but by others against their consent: that this would be to surrender the form of government we have chosen, and live under one deriving its powers from its own will, and not from our authority; and that the co-States, recurring to their natural right in cases not made federal, will concur in declaring these acts void, and of no force, and will each take measures of its own for providing that neither these acts, nor any others of the General Government not plainly and intentionally authorized by the Constitution, shalt be exercised within their respective territories.”

Jefferson makes the case quite clearly, if a law is made that is not authorized by the Constitution these laws (Acts) are “void, and of no force”. Bet you weren’t taught that in high school were you? No, the DC’vers who desire to rule over others, maintain their status, and their fringe benefits need you to believe everything they do is lawful. Pssst…folks, most of what we fear from the government is unethical, immoral, and based in ZERO Constitutional Authority. How’s that sit with you?

Negative Propaganda

1. Well-placed news stories intended to scare us – We’ve all seen them: “the IRS raided so and so’s home after they were charged with being delinquent on their taxes…stay tuned for the full story at 11:00!” Or,“Tonight, on Gold Rush, watch as the MSHA inspectors close down Dakota Fred’s mining operation.” While not directly placed by the national government, they nonetheless achieve their desired goal: to scare the heck out of the masses by visually showing them that if you cross the national government, you can lose everything.Ask yourself, where in the Constitution are the DC’vers authorized to have created MIOSH in the first place? But we never ask these questions, no, we watch this travesty and probably get a little angry, but we also might say to ourselves, “glad that wasn’t me!” And another seed of negative propaganda has just affected how we think about the national government.

2. Taking advantage of a crisis – This is a particularly insidious tack the national government takes, so well-summarized by Rahm Emmanuel, who said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Under the influence of an impossible assertion–“we’ll protect you”–we are scared by a crisis into handing over our liberties. Consider the TSA. No one argues that radical Islamists pose a threat and there needs to be security at airports. But we never ask, “is there a better way to secure our aircraft than being felt up, radiated, or strip-searched before we get on the plane?” No, we dutifully submit to the DC’vers who are probably sincere in their desire to secure aircraft but have knee-jerk reactions like “let’s nationalize airport security”. Does anyone ever stop to wonder whether or not there is ANY Constitutional authority to do this? And perhaps, is there a better, safer, more convenient way to handle airport security? Of course there is.

3. Invasion of privacy – We’re bombarded almost daily with news stories about this or that agency tracking cellphone use, Internet behaviors, even travel and purchase habits. How much of it is true? I don’t know; probably no one does, but what matters is that it’s been ingrained in our psyche that all of us are under the watchful eye of the national government. This negative propaganda is sometimes released in a manner that provides a sense of comfort, and sometimes it is released as a warning. For example, a report issued by the Department of Homeland Security speaks of having gained information about “right-wing extremist chatter”. This Report was disseminated throughout the media and eventually caused a great uproar. But look at the three words in that phrase:

a. Right-wing – What is their definition of a “right-winger?” There’s no appendix in the report, but clearly, the DHS has a definition they’re working with. Are social conservatives right-wingers? How about 10th Amendment supporters? Or churchgoers? Or Ron Paul supporters? Who is a right-winger?

b. Extremist – What is their definition of an “extremist?” Again, no appendix, but clearly the DHS has a definition they’re working with. Are Jeffersonians and Constitutionalists extremists? Are people who oppose the Incorporation Doctrine extremists? How about people who point out the voluminous record of anti-constitutional acts by the national government? How about people who call the national government the national government? Are these people all “extremists?”

c. Chatter – A deeply troubling word. Ask yourself this: how does the DHS know about the “chatter” going on in “right wing extremist” groups? How are they monitoring this chatter?

Propaganda is a weapon that has been used for well over 150 years to pacify and terrorize a free people. I’m not suggesting there is a grand conspiracy here or some sort of “Star Chamber.” No, this is just the natural course of consolidated national governments throughout history, which are run by people who like to rule over others, maintain their status and their fringe benefits. National governments naturally end up here for self-preservation. That is why the Framers strove to create a very small, minimally-powerful federal government; they understood history, the inherent nature of men, and the inevitable path national governments take. There need not be any star chamber, just people in power that like to rule over others, maintain status and fringe benefits. This group of people, without any real coordination, will naturally steer the national government in this direction. It is instinctive to them to create more and more laws to control more and more behavior until every citizen (except themselves) is at some point breaking a law and is subject to punishment as defined by the lawmakers. Today, the lawmakers are Congressmen, the Executive Branch (via regulations) and the Supreme Court. In days gone by they were monarchs, emperors, and outright tyrants. All used threats based on a law to control people imbued with Unalienable Rights.

Propaganda is a powerful tool that has programmed us all to obey our masters in DC. Sure, we’re allowed to rally with our signs and yell through bullhorns. We’re allowed to have radio shows that complain, complain, complain…but that’s about it. Step outside of that box, or cross a national government law, and you will run foursquare into the powerful hand of the national government; not a place any of us want to be.

And they know we know that.

Program (verb used with object) – to cause to absorb or incorporate automatic responses, attitudes, or the like; condition.

Our typical elected officials are not noble people; in most instances, they possess a deep-seated desire to rule others. They are generally not trustworthy to protect Unalienable rights; in some cases out of malice and in others out of a lack of knowledge or sheer ignorance. Now to be sure, from time to time, anomalies appear, but as a rule, the people exercising power over the citizens thirst to rule over others, desire status, and to obtain fringe benefits that come from their position. They do not respect authority by and large, and cleverly seek ways around it; in relation to this article, the authority for the national body of elected officials is the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

In order to reach their objective of maintaining their rule over others, desire for status, and fringe benefits, these officials must find a way to overcome the limitations of the Constitution. The biggest threat to them is an informed and engaged electorate, thus the need to begin, as early as possible, programming the populace to accept their unconstitutional activities. All despots program the people via propaganda until pacification is achieved.

Just about all of the relations we have with government, in almost all levels, is based in a programmed response from us. In an ordered society like ours, this is to be expected. But order and respect is different from being programmed. This is why the DC’vers use disguise language like “investment” or the newest term, “revenue.” Don’t think for a moment that these words weren’t focus tested. So much of what happens at the national level is filtered through a PR Firm. Words and phrases are tested for public consumption, it is really insidious. We the People are being sold a bill of goods and we do not have the discernment to resist them.

Frank Luntz of Luntz Global makes a living advising politicians, lobbyists and special interest groups on how to “message” you on a particular policy, program or candidate. But this is only successful because we’ve been programmed to accept this, to become comfortable. To believe that if we depart from what we perceive to be the status quo, we’re on the fringe, an outsider of sorts. It is almost inherent in us to comply and the programmers know this. So, they use propaganda to reduce the chances that we’ll actually not comply. All sorts of peer and societal pressure is brought to bear until we eventually no longer consider resisting or complying. No, we just obey even though we may have that knot in our stomach. The pressure of status quo is just too strong. When this is achieved true pacification can occur in a population–and we’re almost there.

Propaganda leads to Programming leads to Pacification.

Pacification (n) – Reduction, as of a rebellious district, to peaceful submission.

The ultimate goal of despots who desire to rule over people, maintain their status and their fringe benefits is pacification and submission. The DC’vers cannot accomplish their goal of self-aggrandizement without the little people submitting to their rule; and submit we do. This is why Jefferson said, “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” Jefferson is correct; there simply is no other way to make the government fear the people than a little rebellion from time to time. Is it messy? Yes. Risky? Yes. Fraught with danger? Yes.

But worth it? YES!

OK, ready for a test? This is easy; it’s multiple choice.

Have you been propagandized, programmed and pacified?

1. When you go to your mailbox to retrieve your mail and in the stack is a letter from the IRS. Do you:
   a. Lift up your hands and thank God you’ve heard from your national government?
   b. Or, begin to feel a little increase in your heart rate, flush in the face, and a little nervous as you open the envelope?
    
2. When you open the envelope and read the first sentence; “Dear Taxpayer, you returns for 2009 and 2010 have been selected for review by the Internal Revenue Service.” Do you:
   a. Break open a bottle of Dom Perignon because your national government has selected you for this honor?
   b. Begin to panic, lose sleep and weight, living in fear of your national government and what it can do to you because you’ve seen the well-placed stories about what happens to people when they cross the IRS?

If you answered “b” for both questions, you’ve been pacified and, willingly or unwillingly, you will submit to the national government on almost anything they chose to do to you. You may muster the courage from time to time to make a sign and go protest or attend a Tea Party rally, but when push comes to shove, deep down you are afraid of your government. And the reality is…you should be.

“When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” This quote has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson but probably came from a series of debates by John Basil Barnhill. Regardless of who said this, the principle holds and I hope you embrace it.

Once you admit your own fear of the national government and the DC’vers who seek to rule over others, maintain their status, and their fringe benefits, standing up to them becomes easier. For while they can destroy your life, they cannot take your love of liberty. And until you admit your own fear, you’ll never understand an equally powerful emotion: principled courage.

In review, what is it that the DC’vers desire?

To rule over others, status and fringe benefits.

See how easy it is to use propaganda to program you?