It's been eerie being born and growing up as an American, even being patriotic and somewhat proud of my country in my youth, but then having the mask of illusion slowly ripped off. Partially, because the country has I believe become much more corruptly run - yes, it was corrupt before, but now it is blatant corruption and the wealth disparity gap has become obscenely large, and economic exploitation hearkens back to feudal age work slavery and serfs - and partially because I bought the now pretty obvious propaganda disseminated via the media networks in my younger days.
It is sad to see so much potential be used for destructive purposes - destruction of ordinary lives of both Americans and so many human lives abroad, destruction of the planetary ecosystem, destruction of the hopes and dreams of people who are forced to live in the chains of poverty through no fault of their own, in a system that exploits mercilessly anyone that wasn't born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
And the only way this corrupt American system justifies itself is by demonizing the "other". Demonizing Russia and China. Like any classic psychological projection - the enemy is out there, and can't be within our own borders.
Agree. In feudal times, if one were poor and even homeless, it was assumed that this was just your natural state - and you weren't stigmatized with the poverty. Today's homeless (and poor) in the US, not only are demonized with their poverty, and you get the never ending propaganda of the Horatio Alger myth and the "American dream" myth - that anyone can make it in America - today's American homeless are also stigmatized with the propaganda and false narrative that it is their own fault that they are homeless - because they're lazy, or weak - that the only "winners" in America are the rich, the billionaires and "entrepreneurs" - which Americans have been indoctrinated with endless propaganda as being human beings who have the largest value in society. Instead the billionaires are a predatory class who have robbed Americans of their supposed democratic government, and exploited American labor mercilessly so they can enrich themselves further.
Meritocracy is a myth in America. And to stigmatize the poor and homeless for their plight, is pathetic and immoral.
It's been eerie being born and growing up as an American, even being patriotic and somewhat proud of my country in my youth, but then having the mask of illusion slowly ripped off. Partially, because the country has I believe become much more corruptly run - yes, it was corrupt before, but now it is blatant corruption and the wealth disparity gap has become obscenely large, and economic exploitation hearkens back to feudal age work slavery and serfs - and partially because I bought the now pretty obvious propaganda disseminated via the media networks in my younger days.
It is sad to see so much potential be used for destructive purposes - destruction of ordinary lives of both Americans and so many human lives abroad, destruction of the planetary ecosystem, destruction of the hopes and dreams of people who are forced to live in the chains of poverty through no fault of their own, in a system that exploits mercilessly anyone that wasn't born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
And the only way this corrupt American system justifies itself is by demonizing the "other". Demonizing Russia and China. Like any classic psychological projection - the enemy is out there, and can't be within our own borders.
Demonizing the "other" includes demonizing the homeless within the US borders.
Agree. In feudal times, if one were poor and even homeless, it was assumed that this was just your natural state - and you weren't stigmatized with the poverty. Today's homeless (and poor) in the US, not only are demonized with their poverty, and you get the never ending propaganda of the Horatio Alger myth and the "American dream" myth - that anyone can make it in America - today's American homeless are also stigmatized with the propaganda and false narrative that it is their own fault that they are homeless - because they're lazy, or weak - that the only "winners" in America are the rich, the billionaires and "entrepreneurs" - which Americans have been indoctrinated with endless propaganda as being human beings who have the largest value in society. Instead the billionaires are a predatory class who have robbed Americans of their supposed democratic government, and exploited American labor mercilessly so they can enrich themselves further.
Meritocracy is a myth in America. And to stigmatize the poor and homeless for their plight, is pathetic and immoral.
Did not Memphis Minnie teach the masses thusly?
"I had to travel, ',fore I got wise..."