WEBVTT 00:00:07.546 --> 00:00:12.630 There we go, we got it Bob! Hi! Sorry, we're running a little bit late. 00:00:12.631 --> 00:00:14.551 Excuse me a second. 00:00:14.943 --> 00:00:18.203 Hey Bob, think fast! [Glass breaking] [Shouting] 00:00:18.204 --> 00:00:19.244 Sorry man! 00:00:20.154 --> 00:00:23.162 Welcome to Culture in Decline, my name is Peter Joseph. 00:00:23.163 --> 00:00:26.336 This show is designed for those that want to be a little bit more skeptical 00:00:26.337 --> 00:00:29.302 about society, because perhaps, you're like me. 00:00:29.303 --> 00:00:32.980 As you stumble around this experiment we call global society, 00:00:32.981 --> 00:00:35.720 you can't help but feel an increasing sense of unease, 00:00:35.721 --> 00:00:39.709 perhaps even frustration, with respect to how we, the human family, 00:00:39.710 --> 00:00:43.215 have chosen to organize ourselves on this little planet. 00:00:43.216 --> 00:00:47.311 The late astronomer and well-known advocate of scientific thought, Carl Sagan, 00:00:47.312 --> 00:00:51.463 in his famed PBS series 'Cosmos', once invited the question: 00:00:51.464 --> 00:00:54.900 If we were visited by a superior species from another part of the galaxy, 00:00:54.901 --> 00:00:58.457 and we were forced to explain to them our stewardship of our planet, 00:00:58.458 --> 00:01:01.082 not to mention the state of human affairs today, 00:01:01.083 --> 00:01:03.617 would we be proud of what we described? 00:01:03.618 --> 00:01:07.305 How would we frame our explanation of how almost half of the world, 00:01:07.306 --> 00:01:12.225 over 3 billion people, are either barely surviving in abject poverty and sickness, 00:01:12.226 --> 00:01:14.965 or are simply dying off unnecessarily 00:01:14.966 --> 00:01:18.225 at a rate of about one person every couple of seconds, 00:01:18.226 --> 00:01:21.801 all occurring in the wake of an advanced technological reality, 00:01:21.802 --> 00:01:25.088 where we could easily feed, clothe and house every family on Earth, 00:01:25.089 --> 00:01:28.074 in a respectable standard of living? 00:01:28.075 --> 00:01:31.755 How would we frame the global warfare; 00:01:32.273 --> 00:01:37.009 230 million killed by their fellow man in the past 100 years alone? 00:01:37.010 --> 00:01:40.492 Based on what, meaningless territoriality, resources, 00:01:40.493 --> 00:01:43.213 dogmatic, obsolete ideologies? 00:01:43.985 --> 00:01:48.937 Again, this all occurring in the shadows of a looming scientific recognition, 00:01:48.938 --> 00:01:53.108 that we are indeed simply one family sharing one household, 00:01:53.109 --> 00:01:55.580 bound by the exact same laws of nature, 00:01:55.581 --> 00:01:59.741 hence the same unifying operational ideology. 00:01:59.950 --> 00:02:03.516 How about our economic system, the bedrock of what defines our society, 00:02:03.517 --> 00:02:06.497 not to mention our dominant motivations? 00:02:06.498 --> 00:02:10.268 How would we explain the reality that, rather than organizing ourselves efficiently, 00:02:10.269 --> 00:02:14.411 as a single system to properly manage this household we share, 00:02:14.412 --> 00:02:18.219 we childishly divide and compete and exploit each other 00:02:18.220 --> 00:02:21.939 through an archaic, completely environmentally decoupled game. 00:02:21.940 --> 00:02:24.730 A game, by the way, which not only appears to perpetuate 00:02:24.731 --> 00:02:27.646 a vast spectrum of social atrocities, 00:02:27.647 --> 00:02:31.723 but now seems to be further destabilizing society, 00:02:31.724 --> 00:02:34.444 decreasing our public health. 00:02:34.873 --> 00:02:37.777 Sorry to say, as an individual, 00:02:37.778 --> 00:02:40.858 I really don't care what you believe, nor do I particularly respect it. 00:02:40.859 --> 00:02:44.276 Why? Because I don't really respect what I believe either. 00:02:44.277 --> 00:02:47.340 There is no evidence to show that any of the traditional values, 00:02:47.341 --> 00:02:50.275 establishments, social structures or common practices 00:02:50.276 --> 00:02:53.728 we have today, will be relevant tomorrow. 00:02:53.729 --> 00:02:57.996 The only thing that appears to stand the test of time, is this very notion of change, 00:02:57.997 --> 00:03:02.599 the ever-evolving understanding of ourselves and the world we inhabit. 00:03:02.600 --> 00:03:05.892 Perhaps, some might think that that's actually the definition of human intelligence. 00:03:05.893 --> 00:03:08.633 What do you think about that? Less about what we know, 00:03:08.634 --> 00:03:11.020 more about how vulnerable we are. 00:03:11.021 --> 00:03:13.172 So when you look out your window, ask yourself. 00:03:13.173 --> 00:03:15.605 Do you see intelligence or do you see dogma? 00:03:15.606 --> 00:03:18.403 Do you see a culture listening and working to realign itself 00:03:18.404 --> 00:03:21.944 with the ever-emerging natural orders as they unfold, 00:03:21.945 --> 00:03:25.154 or do you see desperately stubborn efforts by many, 00:03:25.155 --> 00:03:27.491 particularly those in positions of power, 00:03:27.492 --> 00:03:30.302 trying to keep everything the same to the detriment 00:03:30.303 --> 00:03:33.067 of the entire human experiment? 00:03:33.068 --> 00:03:34.988 You know, like you, 00:03:35.158 --> 00:03:39.493 I might be only one member of this family that is now 7 billion strong. 00:03:39.494 --> 00:03:43.291 And like most families, sometimes it's hard for us to agree. 00:03:43.292 --> 00:03:48.103 But sometimes, things get so bad we need serious intervention. 00:03:48.104 --> 00:03:50.416 The following series is that intervention 00:03:50.417 --> 00:03:54.186 in the hope to salvage what is clearly, a culture in decline. 00:03:54.187 --> 00:03:57.094 From the creator of the Zeitgeist film trilogy 00:03:57.095 --> 00:04:00.049 comes the worst reality show of all time. 00:04:00.050 --> 00:04:01.330 The Real One 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:04.760 GMP Films presents 00:04:07.081 --> 00:04:08.841 Culture in Decline 00:04:12.997 --> 00:04:15.797 With your guide, Peter Joseph 00:04:24.097 --> 00:04:26.376 It's an election year in the United States 00:04:26.377 --> 00:04:28.843 and some may say it's an election year for the whole world. 00:04:28.844 --> 00:04:31.513 Still the dominant empire, the United States' political system 00:04:31.514 --> 00:04:35.758 has spent roughly 25 billion dollars in the past decade alone. 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:39.094 An amount of money, if averaged and distributed annually, 00:04:39.095 --> 00:04:42.679 could house and feed every homeless person in America, 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:44.953 effectively ending the epidemic. 00:04:44.954 --> 00:04:46.999 Perhaps, like me, by the end of this program, 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:49.933 you'll find that money will be better well-spent. 00:04:49.934 --> 00:04:52.760 Be that as it may, the 2012 presidential election 00:04:52.761 --> 00:04:54.822 is gearing up to be one of the most expensive, 00:04:54.823 --> 00:04:58.270 and ostensibly important elections of all time; 00:04:58.271 --> 00:05:01.192 given the ongoing debt crisis, the unemployment crisis, 00:05:01.193 --> 00:05:04.267 and the vast destabilization we see across society. 00:05:04.268 --> 00:05:07.818 However, I'm not particularly interested in the left or the right, 00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:11.213 or am I interested in any candidate's political merit. 00:05:11.214 --> 00:05:16.262 What I'm interested in, is the entire idea of global democracy 00:05:16.263 --> 00:05:19.836 in the tradition as it exists, and how it is blindly accepted 00:05:19.837 --> 00:05:23.826 by the vast majority of people on this planet, as being the only option 00:05:23.827 --> 00:05:26.775 to satisfy their interests and create good well-being, 00:05:26.776 --> 00:05:29.309 and hence societal management, in its optimum state. 00:05:29.310 --> 00:05:31.064 That's what interests me. 00:05:31.065 --> 00:05:34.762 (P. Joseph) So, rather than debate about who should be the next president, 00:05:34.763 --> 00:05:37.846 why don't we step back and consider some broader issues? 00:05:37.847 --> 00:05:39.813 Such as, I don't know, 00:05:39.814 --> 00:05:42.582 maybe, why we even have a president to begin with? 00:05:42.583 --> 00:05:45.703 What is this, medieval feudalism? 00:05:47.325 --> 00:05:51.894 I thought the days of kings, dictators, and giving one person enormous power, 00:05:51.895 --> 00:05:55.029 was coming to an end. Or, more generally, 00:05:55.030 --> 00:05:58.899 doesn't it seem a little absurd to claim a participatory democracy, 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:02.536 when the public itself actually has zero say, 00:06:02.537 --> 00:06:06.063 when it comes to the actual decisions made by those elected. 00:06:06.064 --> 00:06:10.590 It's bad enough that those voted in have literally no legal responsibility 00:06:10.591 --> 00:06:14.148 to do anything they might have claimed on the campaign trail. 00:06:14.149 --> 00:06:17.984 But if you examine history, you will find the historical fact 00:06:17.985 --> 00:06:22.363 that the public good has always been secondary to other interests, 00:06:22.364 --> 00:06:26.035 mainly, financial and business interests. 00:06:26.036 --> 00:06:28.991 Of course, this is common knowledge now, right? 00:06:28.992 --> 00:06:33.113 Why did the US government, completely against all known public interest, 00:06:33.114 --> 00:06:35.447 allow the private banking system, 00:06:35.448 --> 00:06:37.936 a system which actually creates nothing, 00:06:37.937 --> 00:06:41.319 to be bailed out to the tune of 13 trillion dollars? 00:06:41.320 --> 00:06:44.334 You have a 14 million dollar ocean front home in Florida. 00:06:44.335 --> 00:06:47.214 You have a summer vacation home in Sun Valley, Idaho. 00:06:47.215 --> 00:06:50.817 You and your wife have an art collection filled with million dollar paintings. 00:06:50.818 --> 00:06:54.723 (PJ) While the public was left out to dry with overflowing private debt, 00:06:54.724 --> 00:06:57.506 job losses and a stagnating economy. 00:06:57.507 --> 00:07:00.908 If we're going to persist with this silly little game we've concocted 00:07:00.909 --> 00:07:05.513 called the growth economy, where the movement of money defines everything, 00:07:05.514 --> 00:07:09.372 it might be a good idea to do the math regarding what might actually help 00:07:09.373 --> 00:07:13.029 this economic system operate at some passable level. 00:07:13.030 --> 00:07:17.990 Therefore, if you raise taxes on the so-called rich, 00:07:18.902 --> 00:07:23.462 you're really raising taxes on the job creators. 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:26.984 And if the goal is private sector growth, 00:07:26.985 --> 00:07:29.957 you have to recognize that the best way to create that growth 00:07:29.958 --> 00:07:35.298 is to leave capital in the treasuries of the job creators. 00:07:35.299 --> 00:07:39.315 (PJ) If that money spent on the bank bailout was spent on, say... 00:07:39.316 --> 00:07:42.428 relieving private household debt instead, 00:07:42.429 --> 00:07:45.113 while letting Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan 00:07:45.114 --> 00:07:50.016 and all of the other technically meaningless, non-producing financial institutions 00:07:50.017 --> 00:07:53.508 experience the failure and bankruptcy they deserved, 00:07:53.509 --> 00:07:58.021 simultaneously nationalizing the entire US banking system as a whole, 00:07:58.022 --> 00:08:01.660 the US economy might have had a chance. Why? 00:08:01.661 --> 00:08:06.500 Because banks don't actually contribute anything. People with jobs do. 00:08:06.501 --> 00:08:09.842 [If] you want growth in this type of system, you need jobs. 00:08:09.843 --> 00:08:12.378 If you want jobs you need demand, 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:14.965 and demand requires people having free money to spend. 00:08:14.966 --> 00:08:17.052 So by helping the public debt burden, 00:08:17.053 --> 00:08:20.201 you would plant the true seeds of economic growth. 00:08:20.202 --> 00:08:24.284 As obvious as that may seem, many forget one thing: 00:08:24.285 --> 00:08:27.683 the bailout had nothing to do with helping the US economy, 00:08:27.684 --> 00:08:30.291 nor does it or will it work to help 00:08:30.292 --> 00:08:33.057 any hurting sovereign economy in the world. 00:08:33.058 --> 00:08:38.087 Why? Because we live in a plutocracy, not a democracy, 00:08:38.089 --> 00:08:42.931 and the only true power is actually behind the curtain, not in front. 00:08:42.932 --> 00:08:46.710 The financial and business powers not only own and control this country, 00:08:46.711 --> 00:08:49.203 they own and control the whole planet. 00:08:49.204 --> 00:08:53.774 And no, it's not a conspiracy, it's a value-system disorder. 00:08:53.775 --> 00:08:57.919 As long as a dollar sign is associated with every blade of grass, 00:08:57.920 --> 00:09:01.673 every plot of land, every fleeting thought or invention, 00:09:01.674 --> 00:09:04.213 not to mention judging the merit of individuals 00:09:04.214 --> 00:09:08.571 for their right to life through labor, we should expect nothing less. 00:09:08.572 --> 00:09:10.870 Since the inception of the state itself, 00:09:10.871 --> 00:09:13.372 coupled with the underlying power of money 00:09:13.373 --> 00:09:17.335 as the ultimate driver of human decisions, and hence persuasion, 00:09:17.336 --> 00:09:20.726 the true power has always been financial, 00:09:20.727 --> 00:09:24.627 and those little people you elect into office every couple of years 00:09:24.628 --> 00:09:28.143 they have owners too, and don't you forget it. 00:09:28.144 --> 00:09:31.490 - Democracy: is that something you believe in as it exists today in America? 00:09:31.491 --> 00:09:35.052 - When you say as in "believe in", does it exist? Like forest fires, God, 00:09:35.053 --> 00:09:36.413 or the devil? 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:41.591 - What is your opinion of the American democratic system as it exists? - It's broken, 00:09:41.592 --> 00:09:45.566 It's deeply, deeply broken. - Democracy, goes, of course, to Greece 00:09:45.567 --> 00:09:50.391 and it's the theory that the people own the government. Is it happening 00:09:50.392 --> 00:09:55.016 in practice, in 2012, in this country? Not close! It's a corporatocracy. 00:09:55.017 --> 00:09:58.062 (PJ) All of this considered, let's now think a little more accurately 00:09:58.063 --> 00:10:00.598 about this whole democracy deal. 00:10:00.599 --> 00:10:04.071 Since the tradition of our democracy has to do with representatives 00:10:04.072 --> 00:10:06.759 elected to apparently do our thinking for us, 00:10:06.760 --> 00:10:10.325 a critical question becomes: where did these people come from? 00:10:10.326 --> 00:10:13.410 Why are they the ones on your TV and not others? 00:10:13.411 --> 00:10:16.316 Did you decide that these people are the best choices 00:10:16.317 --> 00:10:18.982 to compete for such critical leadership, 00:10:18.983 --> 00:10:22.581 or have you noticed that the most pronounced candidates 00:10:22.582 --> 00:10:25.869 especially the presidential, sort of come out of nowhere, 00:10:25.870 --> 00:10:31.572 and, through the media, are given credence merely by repetition of exposure? 00:10:31.573 --> 00:10:35.520 The term democracy comes from the Greek 'demos' which means people, 00:10:35.521 --> 00:10:37.841 and 'krates' which means rule. 00:10:37.842 --> 00:10:42.262 The people of a given society express their opinions through votes 00:10:42.263 --> 00:10:45.183 and policy is created by the majority's interest. 00:10:45.184 --> 00:10:48.318 It appears the process was formalized in ancient Greece, 00:10:48.319 --> 00:10:50.770 and has been adapting ever since. 00:10:50.771 --> 00:10:54.364 However, it didn't take long for a bit of cynicism to emerge 00:10:54.365 --> 00:10:57.619 with respect to the process itself, given the fact that 00:10:57.620 --> 00:11:01.613 the entire basis of the idea assumes that the voting public 00:11:01.614 --> 00:11:05.486 actually is educated enough to know what they're doing. 00:11:05.487 --> 00:11:08.411 Franklin D. Roosevelt once acutely stated: 00:11:08.412 --> 00:11:11.816 "Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice 00:11:11.817 --> 00:11:13.984 are prepared to choose wisely. 00:11:13.985 --> 00:11:17.885 The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education." 00:11:17.886 --> 00:11:21.089 Winston Churchill on the other hand, was a little less forgiving, 00:11:21.090 --> 00:11:24.001 stating "The best argument against democracy 00:11:24.002 --> 00:11:27.097 is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." 00:11:27.098 --> 00:11:30.972 And of course, the infamous Mark Twain jumped to the inevitable punch line, 00:11:30.973 --> 00:11:35.999 stating "If voting made any difference, they wouldn't let us do it." 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.930 I would like you to ask yourself: if we were in the ruling class, 00:11:39.931 --> 00:11:44.236 the 'investment ownership class', to paraphrase Thorstein Veblen, 00:11:44.237 --> 00:11:48.779 and we wanted to preserve our interests against any interference, 00:11:48.780 --> 00:11:50.540 what would we do? 00:11:50.548 --> 00:11:55.793 First, we need to take the broadest possible view we can. 00:11:55.794 --> 00:11:59.658 We need to make sure the voting public is as uninformed as possible, 00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:06.256 regarding relevant issues that might contradict our establishment's practices. 00:12:06.257 --> 00:12:10.858 Coupled with that, we also need to eliminate as much independent, logical, 00:12:10.859 --> 00:12:14.278 causal, scientific thought as possible. 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:17.932 So, let us support an extremely underfunded, outdated, 00:12:17.933 --> 00:12:20.834 and deprived public educational system; 00:12:20.835 --> 00:12:25.274 a system focused on merely getting a person a job one day, 00:12:25.275 --> 00:12:28.286 not teach them how to critically and logically think. 00:12:28.287 --> 00:12:32.425 - The heart of democracy is the basic assumption that the public is well educated 00:12:32.426 --> 00:12:35.584 about critical thought, they know how to think about things and evaluate, 00:12:35.585 --> 00:12:38.717 and therefore they can make proper decisions, right? What is your opinion 00:12:38.718 --> 00:12:43.787 on American education and its effect on the democratic process? 00:12:43.788 --> 00:12:47.897 - I think that we have multiple problems in the education in America. 00:12:47.898 --> 00:12:50.647 One: I think we are dealing with the dumbing down of America. 00:12:50.648 --> 00:12:53.480 - Do you feel that this sort of poor educational system 00:12:53.481 --> 00:12:56.528 actually benefits the establishment? - Oh, absolutely! 00:12:56.529 --> 00:12:59.606 Absolutely! Keep them stupid, keep them easily entertained. 00:12:59.607 --> 00:13:03.124 If they're uninformed, they can't fight back! 00:13:03.125 --> 00:13:05.801 (P. Joseph) However, to further reinforce this, 00:13:05.802 --> 00:13:08.295 we also need to push and reward 00:13:08.296 --> 00:13:12.182 belief systems that support passive obedience; 00:13:12.183 --> 00:13:15.885 belief systems and values that are stubborn, irrational, 00:13:15.886 --> 00:13:18.204 and promote closed thinking. 00:13:18.205 --> 00:13:21.244 Religion becomes super helpful in this circumstance. 00:13:21.245 --> 00:13:24.518 Is it possible, that religion is being politicized, 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.964 and that candidates are using it as a tool? 00:13:26.965 --> 00:13:30.581 I believe that God created the Universe. 00:13:30.582 --> 00:13:34.871 And we're enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might. 00:13:34.872 --> 00:13:37.850 Let us nor pray that God is on our side, 00:13:37.851 --> 00:13:42.449 in war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side. 00:13:42.450 --> 00:13:45.081 May God bless the 7th Day Adventist church. 00:13:45.082 --> 00:13:50.521 I think the God who loves us, the God who gave us life, who gave us our being... 00:13:50.522 --> 00:13:53.574 And so to every sailor, soldier, airman and marine, 00:13:53.575 --> 00:13:57.660 who was involved in this mission, let me say, you are doing God's work. 00:13:57.661 --> 00:14:01.948 If people are groomed to be obedient and follow blindly, 00:14:01.949 --> 00:14:06.152 they are ripe to extend that obedience to others who claim authority. 00:14:06.153 --> 00:14:06.793 Check. 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:09.630 Next, it's critical we recognize 00:14:09.631 --> 00:14:12.979 a unique, sociological characteristic of the human condition. 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:16.392 Something we will call 'herd psychology'. 00:14:16.393 --> 00:14:20.096 This is the tendency for us humans, when faced with mass appeal, 00:14:20.097 --> 00:14:23.977 to often behave in extremely thoughtless and malleable ways. 00:14:23.978 --> 00:14:27.023 In the words of Charles McKay, famed author of 00:14:27.024 --> 00:14:31.123 "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" 00:14:31.124 --> 00:14:34.335 "Men, it has been said, think in herds; 00:14:34.336 --> 00:14:37.044 it will be seen that they go mad in herds, 00:14:37.045 --> 00:14:41.985 while they only recover their senses slowly and one by one." 00:14:41.986 --> 00:14:46.975 However, this doesn't just apply to, say, a soccer riot. 00:14:46.976 --> 00:14:52.048 Such mob persuasion can be generated trough simply shared cultural events. 00:14:52.049 --> 00:14:55.918 Remember September 11th? Talk about mass insanity! 00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:01.382 This event created an immediate crowd madness with fear and revenge, 00:15:01.383 --> 00:15:05.270 and it didn't take long for the US government, and other governments, in fact, 00:15:05.271 --> 00:15:07.581 to harness that madness, and funnel support 00:15:07.582 --> 00:15:11.142 for draconian legislation and illegal invasions. 00:15:11.143 --> 00:15:15.090 However, this herd psychological tendency is not only very useful 00:15:15.091 --> 00:15:18.686 for implanting and guiding perceived issues of importance, 00:15:18.687 --> 00:15:22.676 it is also critical in setting rigid limits of debate, 00:15:22.677 --> 00:15:26.593 creating the tendency for those who begin to question beyond those limits, 00:15:26.594 --> 00:15:30.528 to be ostracized and rejected by the herd itself. 00:15:30.529 --> 00:15:32.700 You know, if someone talks about 00:15:32.701 --> 00:15:35.815 a more equitable distribution of income in society: 00:15:35.816 --> 00:15:40.799 all the growth that has occurred in our country, over the last decade or more, 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:45.680 has gone to the upper 1, 2%. "Fucking communists!" 00:15:45.818 --> 00:15:50.270 If someone speculates about the obvious power manipulation and corruption, 00:15:50.271 --> 00:15:54.463 "God damn it! I am so sick of these conspiracy theorists and their lies! 00:15:54.464 --> 00:15:57.886 The Federal Reserve does not collude for its own self interest!" 00:15:57.887 --> 00:16:00.488 And heaven forbid we get those do-gooders 00:16:00.489 --> 00:16:03.442 who want to actually apply modern scientific knowledge 00:16:03.443 --> 00:16:07.083 and improve society with it. "Yeah right! 00:16:07.084 --> 00:16:10.505 Feed, clothe and house everybody on Earth with technology? 00:16:10.506 --> 00:16:13.866 Utopian jackasses!" [glass breaking] 00:16:14.410 --> 00:16:18.543 Remember, probably the greatest way to control human thought, 00:16:18.544 --> 00:16:21.905 is to establish a deep fear of social rejection, 00:16:21.906 --> 00:16:26.866 and associate that fear to culturally taboo subjects. 00:16:27.235 --> 00:16:29.731 So, with that ground work in motion, 00:16:29.732 --> 00:16:32.249 we now have to deal with the pesky problem 00:16:32.250 --> 00:16:35.240 that the public just might wise up enough, 00:16:35.241 --> 00:16:38.004 and work to maneuver a person into political power, 00:16:38.005 --> 00:16:40.148 that will cause us problems. 00:16:40.149 --> 00:16:44.409 Therefore, some more specific structural safeguards are in order. 00:16:44.410 --> 00:16:48.732 Basically, we need to make sure that those unwanted candidates, 00:16:48.733 --> 00:16:53.277 are unable to get anywhere near the major outlets for public digestion; 00:16:53.278 --> 00:16:56.385 and if they do, the practice is to treat them like freaks. 00:16:56.386 --> 00:17:00.792 Are you suggesting that heroin and prostitution are an exercise of liberty? 00:17:00.793 --> 00:17:03.527 What you're inferring is "You know what? 00:17:03.528 --> 00:17:07.257 If we legalize heroin tomorrow, everybody is going to use heroin." 00:17:07.258 --> 00:17:10.063 How many people here would use heroin if it was legal? 00:17:10.064 --> 00:17:12.641 How do we do that? With money, 00:17:12.642 --> 00:17:15.762 and our corporate constituency has plenty. 00:17:15.765 --> 00:17:18.339 We just need to make sure the use of this money 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:21.839 for political influence goes uninhibited. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:26.528 In a US supreme court 1976 decision, the freedom for a candidate 00:17:26.529 --> 00:17:31.071 to use unlimited personal money for their campaign was deemed legal, 00:17:31.072 --> 00:17:34.958 equating spending money with the right of free speech, in fact. 00:17:34.959 --> 00:17:37.212 What this translates to, in effect, 00:17:37.213 --> 00:17:41.013 is the removal of any regulated fairness of expression, 00:17:41.014 --> 00:17:44.556 and hence, whoever has the most money has the most resources, 00:17:44.557 --> 00:17:47.037 and hence effect. Perfect. 00:17:48.208 --> 00:17:50.648 However, lets secure this a little bit farther. 00:17:50.649 --> 00:17:53.025 Lets also make sure that our corporations, 00:17:53.026 --> 00:17:56.686 are given the legal right to promote our little puppets without limit. 00:17:56.687 --> 00:18:01.343 Luckily, in 2010, our pals again at the US supreme court, 00:18:01.344 --> 00:18:04.167 confirmed that the government may not restrict 00:18:04.168 --> 00:18:08.063 political spending by any corporation in candidate elections, 00:18:08.064 --> 00:18:12.278 as they are, once again, protected by the 1st Amendment. 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:16.125 So now we can buy mad ad space to promote whoever we want, 00:18:16.126 --> 00:18:20.446 as much as we want, drowning the opposition in the media. 00:18:20.447 --> 00:18:22.367 ...and double check. 00:18:22.976 --> 00:18:25.600 With those broad measures in place, 00:18:25.601 --> 00:18:28.893 it is still important to control the basic unfolding 00:18:28.894 --> 00:18:31.836 of the electoral process, from start to finish. 00:18:31.837 --> 00:18:35.543 The best way to do this, is to create a false duality: 00:18:35.544 --> 00:18:38.060 the illusion of competition between parties. 00:18:38.061 --> 00:18:43.524 We need a 2-party system that, constantly argues with each other in general, 00:18:43.525 --> 00:18:46.998 but still upholds the basic elitist policies 00:18:46.999 --> 00:18:50.105 that we need to maintain our advantage. 00:18:50.106 --> 00:18:52.687 The beauty of this dominant 2-party farce, 00:18:52.688 --> 00:18:56.711 is that it not only gives the public the needed illusion of choice, 00:18:56.712 --> 00:19:01.546 it more importantly, oppresses those upstart third parties. 00:19:01.547 --> 00:19:05.039 As we know, these annoying self righteous third parties, 00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:07.512 have been trouble makers from day one. 00:19:07.513 --> 00:19:10.758 The civil rights amendments, women's suffrage, 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:15.931 broad worker rights, child labor laws and other agitations for industry, 00:19:15.932 --> 00:19:19.748 all came from these rising third parties, historically, 00:19:19.749 --> 00:19:22.901 not from the dominant, established group, us. 00:19:22.902 --> 00:19:25.158 So we need to be vigilant here. 00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:29.217 We need to get the public so used to this 2-party dictatorship, 00:19:29.218 --> 00:19:33.225 that they don't even mind if the two parties are given direct control 00:19:33.226 --> 00:19:36.387 over most of the electoral process itself. 00:19:36.388 --> 00:19:40.659 They need to have the power of organizing the rules of electoral redistricting, 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:43.743 the primaries, the caucuses, and debates, 00:19:43.744 --> 00:19:47.291 and of course, we, the ruling class, will moderate their actions 00:19:47.292 --> 00:19:50.626 through lobbying, campaign contributions, you know, 00:19:50.627 --> 00:19:56.533 exactly what the free market promises: the freedom to manipulate everything. 00:19:56.534 --> 00:20:01.901 Meet our friends: the commission on presidential debates, or CPD. 00:20:01.902 --> 00:20:05.263 In 1988, the democratic and republican parties, 00:20:05.264 --> 00:20:08.105 or the demo-publicans, as I like to call them, 00:20:08.106 --> 00:20:11.286 established the commission on presidential debates. 00:20:11.287 --> 00:20:16.408 Posing as a non-partisan institution, the CPD successfully took control 00:20:16.409 --> 00:20:20.290 of the most influential election event, the presidential debates. 00:20:20.291 --> 00:20:24.365 The CPD, which is a private corporation co-chaired by the former heads 00:20:24.366 --> 00:20:29.334 of the republican and democratic parties, decide through secret contracts, 00:20:29.335 --> 00:20:33.630 who is going to participate in the debates, and what is going to be talked about. 00:20:33.631 --> 00:20:38.185 Those pesky third parties, along with controversial ideas, 00:20:38.186 --> 00:20:44.106 can only come into play if the demo-publicans decide they can. 00:20:45.013 --> 00:20:49.210 Really, can you imagine what would happen if those annoying social upstarts, 00:20:49.211 --> 00:20:51.997 actually were able to up against the trite, 00:20:51.998 --> 00:20:57.922 miserable, logic, and narrow subject matter typical of our rigged debates? 00:20:57.923 --> 00:21:02.603 But for the nurse, the teacher, the police officer who 00:21:02.604 --> 00:21:06.281 frankly, at the end of each month, they have a little financial crisis going on. 00:21:06.282 --> 00:21:09.987 They're having to take out extra debt just to make their mortgage payments. 00:21:09.988 --> 00:21:12.226 We haven't been paying attention to them. 00:21:12.227 --> 00:21:15.114 If you look at our tax policies, it's a classic example. 00:21:15.115 --> 00:21:18.411 I'm sorry to interrupt Mr. President, but I couldn't agree more. 00:21:18.412 --> 00:21:21.550 However, don't you feel that the tax policies 00:21:21.551 --> 00:21:25.340 and other common acknowledgments about what is hurting the average American, 00:21:25.341 --> 00:21:27.793 is actually quite benign, when compared to 00:21:27.794 --> 00:21:31.023 the very foundation of our economic system? 00:21:31.024 --> 00:21:35.862 You know, making money out of debt, charging intrest on it that doesn't exist, 00:21:35.863 --> 00:21:40.487 which means that there's always more outstanding debt than there is money to pay for it. 00:21:40.488 --> 00:21:44.183 Of course, that lends itself to more debt being created to cover it, 00:21:44.184 --> 00:21:47.861 and essentially, failure and bankruptcy is inevitable. 00:21:47.862 --> 00:21:51.233 Not for the upper classes as much as the lower middle classes. 00:21:51.234 --> 00:21:55.403 Why? Because the lower classes are the ones taking the loans 00:21:55.404 --> 00:22:00.669 for their home and their car, while the upper class are making interest income. 00:22:00.670 --> 00:22:03.967 Rather than paying interest, they actually make interest 00:22:03.968 --> 00:22:06.985 through their deposits and investments. 00:22:06.986 --> 00:22:11.280 Obviously, this secures a massive growing class divide, structurally. 00:22:11.281 --> 00:22:15.041 Is that not something worth considering? 00:22:20.791 --> 00:22:23.614 As a final point about the CPD, 00:22:23.615 --> 00:22:26.967 our corporations can now directly donate to them, 00:22:26.968 --> 00:22:32.437 hence the parties, imposing our financial influence, and hence agenda, even more, 00:22:32.438 --> 00:22:36.617 making another end run around that pesky legal legislation, 00:22:36.618 --> 00:22:41.084 barring corporations from contributing directly to political campaigns. 00:22:41.085 --> 00:22:43.085 A beautiful end run. 00:22:44.708 --> 00:22:48.129 However, nothing is perfect, and you can't be too careful. 00:22:48.130 --> 00:22:52.470 Sometimes, good old fashioned, time-tested tactics are needed. 00:22:52.471 --> 00:22:57.615 Nothing is as old-fashioned, as good old direct electoral fraud. 00:22:57.616 --> 00:23:00.950 Let's get some of our corporate buddies to build some voting machines, 00:23:00.951 --> 00:23:03.187 with really terrible integrity, 00:23:03.188 --> 00:23:06.568 and get them in as many critical spots as we can. 00:23:06.569 --> 00:23:09.577 Yeah, I know, it's sloppy. It has already become public, 00:23:09.578 --> 00:23:13.376 that the machines can be hacked remotely, with about $10 of materials, 00:23:13.377 --> 00:23:15.725 and an 8th grade science education. 00:23:15.726 --> 00:23:19.626 But, since most Americans are completely distracted by their debt, 00:23:19.627 --> 00:23:23.016 lowering standard of living, and ongoing job losses, 00:23:23.017 --> 00:23:26.617 the liberal media falls on deaf ears. 00:23:30.354 --> 00:23:31.954 So, let's recap. 00:23:32.816 --> 00:23:35.146 Free thinking people tend to recognize 00:23:35.147 --> 00:23:38.081 the need for ongoing adaptation and change, 00:23:38.082 --> 00:23:42.298 so we need to make sure education supports the existing tradition, 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:47.164 through mere rote learning, not critical, logical thought. 00:23:47.165 --> 00:23:50.679 Next, we establish clear limits of debate in the culture, 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:53.257 and make sure those who go beyond the pale, 00:23:53.258 --> 00:23:57.738 are shutdown by endless ridicule and debasement. 00:23:57.916 --> 00:24:00.357 Then we need to harness the herd psychology, 00:24:00.358 --> 00:24:03.425 and guide it through our media, to either identify 00:24:03.426 --> 00:24:07.350 with the issues we need in the forefront, or distract them outright. 00:24:07.351 --> 00:24:09.505 As far as large scale influence, 00:24:09.506 --> 00:24:11.971 we need to have the freedom to do whatever we want, 00:24:11.972 --> 00:24:14.747 and to use our vast corporate wealth to influence 00:24:14.748 --> 00:24:18.407 both public opinion and the candidates themselves. 00:24:18.408 --> 00:24:23.357 Our legal status as a corporate person, now ensures our free speech, 00:24:23.358 --> 00:24:25.633 and hence free spending. 00:24:25.634 --> 00:24:29.153 Next, we create the public illusion of competition and choice, 00:24:29.154 --> 00:24:33.249 and gain as much control over the election process as possible. 00:24:33.250 --> 00:24:38.107 Our demo-publican pawns, with our endless sponsorship and lobbying, 00:24:38.108 --> 00:24:42.045 now handles this well, including the restriction of public debate, 00:24:42.046 --> 00:24:46.196 and the denial of all interfering third parties. 00:24:46.197 --> 00:24:49.902 If that wasn't enough, screw it! We'll just reorder the ballot counts ourselves, 00:24:49.903 --> 00:24:56.783 with the black box voting hacks in the most influential electoral states. 00:24:58.383 --> 00:24:59.983 And so it goes! 00:25:00.558 --> 00:25:02.720 Since the beginning of civilization, 00:25:02.721 --> 00:25:06.323 those in power have successfully restricted the interests of the majority, 00:25:06.324 --> 00:25:10.382 by regulating their values, by controlling resources through money, 00:25:10.383 --> 00:25:14.199 not to mention controlling the very processes that exist to challenge them. 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:18.519 Is it a conspiracy? Do such powerful men meet in dark rooms, 00:25:18.520 --> 00:25:20.849 and work to figure out how to keep their power? 00:25:20.850 --> 00:25:23.496 Actually no, not as much as you might think. 00:25:23.497 --> 00:25:27.462 You see, the hilarious thing about all of this, is that such a process 00:25:27.463 --> 00:25:30.342 of manipulation is actually self-generating, 00:25:30.343 --> 00:25:32.877 justified in a step by step manner, 00:25:32.878 --> 00:25:36.652 with basic self-interest guiding the whole way. 00:25:36.653 --> 00:25:41.458 You see, the real corruption is not occurring in back-room meetings, or at the docks; 00:25:41.459 --> 00:25:45.531 the real power resides in how you, the public, 00:25:45.532 --> 00:25:48.605 actually perpetuate, condone and support 00:25:48.606 --> 00:25:52.580 the very underlying systems that oppress you. 00:25:52.581 --> 00:25:56.453 Final thoughts: many watching this program's content, 00:25:56.454 --> 00:26:00.326 will likely interpret the broad farce known as American democracy, 00:26:00.327 --> 00:26:03.076 or really the farce of global democracy, in fact, 00:26:03.077 --> 00:26:06.461 as a system in need of better regulation. 00:26:06.462 --> 00:26:11.606 The ACLU, Democracy Now!, Michael Moore, Occupy Wall Street, Annie Leonard, 00:26:11.607 --> 00:26:15.312 and other intelligent and outspoken activist institutions and figures, 00:26:15.313 --> 00:26:17.792 seeking what they call 'change', 00:26:17.793 --> 00:26:21.689 all actually operate within the same presupposition: 00:26:21.690 --> 00:26:25.222 "If only if we could better regulate monetary and corporate power, 00:26:25.223 --> 00:26:27.543 we can fix the world." 00:26:28.292 --> 00:26:28.692 No. 00:26:30.322 --> 00:26:33.799 I'm sorry to say that until the social premise itself, 00:26:33.800 --> 00:26:37.181 and hence the fundamental psychological drivers of our economy; 00:26:37.182 --> 00:26:41.313 imbalance, scarcity, narrow self-interest, exploitation and competition- 00:26:41.314 --> 00:26:45.209 until those are altered to the extent that the system begins to reward 00:26:45.210 --> 00:26:49.366 and reinforce collaboration, human and ecological balance, 00:26:49.367 --> 00:26:55.245 efficiency and sustainability, nothing is going to really change. 00:26:55.246 --> 00:26:59.378 In a sociological condition, where everything is based on advantage over others, 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:03.428 what we call corruption today isn't actually corruption at all; 00:27:03.429 --> 00:27:05.889 it's just business as usual. 00:27:05.890 --> 00:27:08.619 Seriously, what did you people expect? 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:12.084 In an economy where everything is for sale by the very ethic inherent, 00:27:12.085 --> 00:27:16.429 underscored by the false notion that we can't possibly work together intelligently 00:27:16.430 --> 00:27:20.706 to benefit all, no level of supposed corruption 00:27:20.707 --> 00:27:23.267 should surprise any of us. 00:27:25.310 --> 00:27:28.787 In short, to assume we're going to perpetuate this economic philosophy here, 00:27:28.788 --> 00:27:33.158 and then contradict it over here with the idea that certain elements of society 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:37.263 should be off-limits for monetary manipulation and gain, 00:27:37.264 --> 00:27:40.224 is completely naive and absurd. 00:27:41.137 --> 00:27:45.947 But don't take my word for it; just sit back and watch the ebb and flow 00:27:45.948 --> 00:27:50.591 as we move from one set of corrupt, damaging practices to the next. 00:27:50.592 --> 00:27:54.947 Sure, we'll slowly fix a few issues with our in the box thinking, 00:27:54.948 --> 00:27:58.430 but until the whole system is addressed at its core, 00:27:58.431 --> 00:28:01.059 unfortunately, it's all mostly a waste of time 00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:03.933 and improvement would be very little. 00:28:03.934 --> 00:28:08.698 Until we grow up to that level, sit back, relax, enjoy the show 00:28:08.699 --> 00:28:11.837 and until next time, I'm Peter Joseph 00:28:11.838 --> 00:28:16.158 an agent and victim of a culture in decline. 00:28:17.958 --> 00:28:20.879 Please note that no demopublicans were injured 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:23.350 or abused during the taping of this show. 00:28:23.351 --> 00:28:28.631 (However, it appears their extinction might be imminent.) 00:28:29.805 --> 00:28:33.799 This broadcast was made possible by generous grants from the Rockefeller foundation, 00:28:33.800 --> 00:28:36.706 George Soros, the Theosophic Society, the Bilderberg Group; 00:28:36.707 --> 00:28:39.808 the Council on Foreign Relations, the new world order, Alex Jones 00:28:39.809 --> 00:28:42.623 and the satanic death cult known as the Zeitgeist Movement.