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jamenta's avatar

Welcome to the Plutocracy:

-4 companies control 55% to 85% of the meat market

-4 airlines control 80% of air travel

-3 companies control 92% of the soda market

-3 companies control 73% of the cereal market

-6 companies control 90% of the news

-10 companies control 90% of the gas stations

-10 companies control 95% of Internet Cable Access

- 2 political parties control the US Government

and as a finale:

10% of Americans own 93% of US stocks

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TS's avatar

And guess what? Those companies have overlapping boards of directors. Wanna bet?

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Joy in HK fiFP's avatar

And overlap with universities’ boards of directors, as well.

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Timothy Skeers's avatar

That last bit about stock ownership … I often see “liberals” posting stuff about how high the stock market is as proof of what a good job the Jomala Administration has been doing. A high stock market doesn’t mean diddly for that 90% who don’t own any!

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L O's avatar

Blackrock, Vanguard??

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jamenta's avatar

Honestly, I just named a small list and borrowed from a list I saw just yesterday. You probably could go on and on with it. For example, how many companies run most of the Defense Industry? 5, 6, 7? How many corporations own the majority of supermarkets in the US - probably a handful ...

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unwarranted's avatar

According to C. Wright Mill, your list may represent 8 individuals.

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Michael's avatar

I wouldn’t care if the 6 soda and cereal companies merged into one big conglomerate called the American Diabetes Association. They already collude to poison and rip us off

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Marci Sudlow's avatar

The only way to keep your health and sanity is to OPT OUT of as much of this crap as you possibly can. I eat only meat from grass-fed animals raised on small local farms, I don't fly, I don't drink soda (except an occasional organic soda sweetened with organic cane sugar), don't eat cereal, don't watch or read MSM's version of the news, will be cancelling DirecTV shortly, and I vote 3rd party (at least for the top spot). I have to put gas in my car but I drive very seldom. I don't own stocks; I own Bitcoin. To some degree we can all vote with our dollars against these monopolies.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

Marci Sudlow, what most people don't realiize is that - what you have described above about your lifestyle - comes from the vantage point of a certain amount of "privilege" in society. Many people DO NOT HAVE the luxury of following your life-style (even if they desperately wanted to).

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jamenta's avatar

It helps being old and retired. But it does make you a bit nostalgic for the days when more kids were out on the streets playing instead inside with their XBOX. And road rage wasn't a thing as American wage slaves working overtime don't get paid for it (among other things) - and going to see a doctor may end up with your family going bankrupt.

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Elisabeth's avatar

Indeed, thanks for saying this (same here) - only bad or worse news everywhere so depressing!

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Sep 17
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jamenta's avatar

Bill Gates foundation.

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Shanna L's avatar

Bill Gates UGH! The worst criminal! Should be locked up!!!

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7swordMary's avatar

It already has. NO One Voted for Harris to be a Presidential candidate

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Klonda56's avatar

Didn’t the Dems “primaries” also include some states where more people voted for “ none of the above” than for Joe Biden?

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

"None of the above" could do a way better job in office than Geriatric Joe or Holocaust Harris could!

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Mark Donaghey's avatar

"None of the above" is what we have had for the past 45 months; neither Senile Joe nor Cackling Kamala has been running the country - the Deep State has been running it through the National Security Council. This has been true, in fact, for all Presidencies since the National Security State was established by Harry Truman in 1947.

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7swordMary's avatar

Was it UnCommitted❓ That’s who got my vote

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Diana van Eyk's avatar

With lobbying and donating to campaigns, our elections are no longer democratic, and therefore we can't call the system we live under a democracy. Thanks more making this important point, Caitlin.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

It is a representative democracy ... thus the representative are potentially corrupted. Democracy is an unbelievably large term covering many systems ...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

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Diana van Eyk's avatar

It's representing those who have a lot of money.

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Feral Finster's avatar

"Rigged election" = the donor class didn't get its way.

"The People Have Spoken!" = the establishment wins again.

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Patrick Powers's avatar

Aristotle describes oligarchy, rule by the rich for their own benefit. It sounds very familiar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMguSl8PHS4

In ancient Greece each city had its own government. Change happened quickly. So it was an excellent laboratory for observing the various systems of government. Nothing has changed since then. There is only one way for the rich to rule for their own benefit and we are living in it.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

I wonder why people always cite ancient Greece like it's some magical pudding ... It's 2000+ years old seriously 😒

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy#:~:text=The%20pure%20form%20of%20direct,strong%20instruments%20of%20direct%20democracy).

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Patrick Powers's avatar

Anyone who bothers to listen to the vid will find out that what was going on then is exactly the same as what is going on now.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Yep, didn't say that it wasn't the case.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

To be clear, I'm not saying direct democracy is the way, I'm just saying it currently exists to this day so no need to call out old history and antiquated thinkers.

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Carolyn L Zaremba's avatar

Studying ancient history is not outdated. The way to avoid mistakes is to have knowledge of who made those same mistakes a long time ago. The history of human consciousness is long.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Yep, didn't say that we shouldn't study it.

Let me give you an example closer to my wheelhouse: I studied Lamarkism, learned about it, even teach it as historical context, but I don't go around the world focusing on that ... I don't even do that with Darwin ... I teach the Modern Synthesis. That's just me though.

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Darius Ihsan's avatar

I agree with what you say, Caitlin. But it seems like you’re walking on eggshells to not explicitly name Israel and Jewish Supremacy as the leading force for all of this corruption.

You use phrases like “shadowy cabal” and “lobbyists”. Technically true, but not direct and to the point. Further, it maintains a cloak of mystery around the perpetrators,

There’s only ONE lobby that dominates most of Americas policies: AIPAC.

There’s only ONE group of people that own most of the media.

If you can’t even say the name of these people, can’t call them out explicitly, then what hope do truth seekers have if an anti-empire writer dances around the issue?

Thank you for all your work, I’m a big fan.

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Caitlin Johnstone's avatar

I don't say it because it's not true, and it's dogshit analysis. Israel doesn't care about encircling China with war machinery. Israel doesn't care about regime change in Moscow. Israel doesn't care about subjugating Latin America. People who try to explain US warmongering by babbling about Jews just don't have a mature understanding of US warmongering. Even US warmongering in the middle east looks the way it looks because dominating that region is essential for ruling the world, which the US empire wants to do for reasons that have nothing to do with Israel. The Israel lobby exists because its narrative control benefits US hegemonic interests; the instant it stopped benefitting US hegemonic interests the empire managers would use the many tools they have at their disposal to remove its influence.

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Darius Ihsan's avatar

So when Israel is involved in the murdering of JFK, an actual US President, it was in US interest?

When Israel attacked 300 American soldiers on the USS Liberty, to blame Egypt and get US involved in their war, it was in US interest?

When RFK was murdered by a “Palestinian patsy” (riiight), that was in US interest?

When Israel was involved in the false flag of 9/11, stole $6-7 trillion from the US on wars against ISRAEL’S enemies in the Middle East, that was in the US interest?

When the support and supplying of the Gaza Holocaust is causing the US to lose its empire, standing, reputation, due to all American leaders professing their support of the genocide, that’s in the US interest?

When Jeffery Epstein was a blackmail Mossad agent, against many US figures of influence and power, that was in the US interest?

When US government officials helped Mossad steal US government secrets repeatedly and steal nuclear weapons, that’s in the US interest?

When the Israeli lobby is the biggest single pressure group in DC and has basically taken over the government by bribery, that’s in the US interest?

It’s not “dogshit analysis”, it’s following the trail all the way to its source, who is controlling us. Rather than sticking to double-speak like empire, cabal, oligarchies, lobbyists, shadowy, elite, neo cons, globalists.

Mainstream, alternative, left, right, no one dares mention the elephant in the room. God forbid, people with influence actually educate their audiences on the depth and spread of Israeli Jewish Power in America.

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Caitlin Johnstone's avatar

"Oh yeah but what about all these extremely tenuous claims that don't address a single thing you just said, huh??"

This is the kind of sloppy thinking and dogshit analysis I'm talking about.

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Darius Ihsan's avatar

All of those events demonstrates how Israel has manipulated and infiltrated the US. None of those mentioned are in the US interest, or show US sovereignty in any way whatsoever.

I’m talking about the bigger picture elephant in the room of Israel’s influence and takeover of the USA, rather than yourself focusing on individual claims.

The details of individual events are less important than the overarching influence, and US takeover of powerful Zionists, who shape US policy and decisions.

Your dismissive attitude claims of “sloppy thinking” and “dogshit analysis”, glosses over the systemic nature of my perspective, which is that Israel totally influences and controls the USA in a wide range of ways, even if that can’t be seen directly or transparently from the individual claims you make.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

>>"None of those mentioned are in the US interest"

Again, you fail to understand what "US interests" mean.

The Empire Managers, oligarchs, power elite, etc. DO NOT CARE about the ordinary citizens/denizens of America. They are a secondary thought. First and foremost, these Empire Managers care about themselves and their PROFITS.

One needs to look through the lens and framework of geopolitics and great power politics to truly explain the conundrum of why the US considers Israel as the 51st state of America. There are many reasons why the US supports Israel - some of them are:

(1) Israel acts as a proxy for the US in the Middle-East and represents its interests in the region.

(2) Israel carries out a lot of the dirty work (clandestine operations, arming US supported regimes, covert operations that benefit the US empire, etc.) on the US's behalf so as to avoid the bad PR that America would be blamed for. (Examples from history: supporting South African apartheid, arming the contras in Nicaragua, supporting rebels in Gautemala, etc. - the list is too long)

(3) Israel creates just enough chaos in the Middle-East to keep the Islamic Middle-East countries divided. This way, none of the oil and resource rich countries can ever unite and pose a threat to the US empire. This also helps the US maintain price-controls over resources such as oil.

There are many other reasons, but you get the idea. The Middle-East region is of great strategic interest to the US - mainly for oil and gas but also for trade routes.

Supporting Israel helps the US manage and control activities in the region. In reality, it has little to do with Jews or Judaism or Zionism. If Israel was occupied by some other ethnic nationality (i.e. if some other group played the role of Israel for the US), the US would end up supporting that entity as long as that entity could prove that it could represent America's interests in the region effectively.

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Darius Ihsan's avatar

So the US Empire Managers, care about themselves and profits. We agree there.

Then we can take look at how Zionists have infiltrated every level of important sectors of US society: news, media, politicians, government, wall street, technology, lobbyism...etc.

And so then the picture starts to make sense, US Empire Managers only care about themselves and profits, and they're mostly Zionist Jews.

Israel has done nothing but be a net negative, for the actual US Empire. Israel is the reason why the Middle East hates America. Because of the accelerated Gaza genocide, there's been a huge anti-Zionist movement. Polls also show that Americans are concerned and waking up to the reality that the Zionists are a genocidal entity and that the US shouldn't be supporting it. The problem is that the US is DOMINATED with Zionist billionaires, who control so many sectors.

And these self-interested Zionist lobbyists are responsible for this destructive foreign policy that doesn't even really serve US imperial interests. Meaning, the US empire is likely to collapse quicker and much more violently than it would need to if it pursued a wiser policy, putting diplomacy ahead of rabid genocidal endeavors.

But the people that profit from instability in the military industrial complex, and the rabid brainwashed Zionists who are just fanatical millenarian messianic extremists, those are the people who are responsible for this completely senseless and destructive and self-destructive foreign policy.

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Desert Ramada's avatar

100% x 100%

Zienst, Blinken, Garland, Haines, Yellen, Mayorkas, and so on.

>>> You CAN'T MAKE THIS UP

But, if you 'notice,' you're antisems

'We're living in occupied territory

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

Q. Do you even understand what "US interest" means?

Answer: it means the interests of the US Empire, the global capitalists and corporations, the power elite, the oligarchs. It DOES NOT MEAN the interests of the ordinary citizens of America. Once you realize that, the rest will be easer to understand.

>>"Israel is involved in the murdering of JFK"

Evidence? More conspiracy theories?

>>"RFK was murdered by a “Palestinian patsy”

??? Evidence? More conspiracy theories?

>>"Israel was involved in the false flag of 9/11"

Evidence? More conspiracy theories?

So many "Conspiracy Theories" in your comment, not much facts or critical thinking.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

EXACTLY! I keep trying to explain to people that it is not Israel that is making the US do all these things. It is the US Empire that does it, and Israel just makes it easier for the US by aiding and abetting their efforts (in the MENA and other regions with regime change operations and/or weapons/technology transfers, assassinations, etc.).

But for some reason, I don't understand why, people just don't seem to understand that. Maybe the propaganda runs really deep?

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Wizard's avatar

Imagine if Lockhead Martin canceled anyone who criticized them and used their power to make it illegal to boycott them; people would be under the impression that Lockhead Martin ruled the world and they controlled some unified conspiracy.

Ashkenazis, particularly elite Ashkenazi zionist draw attention to themselves with anti BDA laws, hate speech laws, and the persecution of prominent influencers, so reasonable people can get the impression that "da joos" run everything.

Can you think of a better scapegoat than a mark who encourages everyone to blame him?

L

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

Sorry Wizard, I misunderstood your comment. Yes, the Zionists make it easy to blame them for everything. That way, the real EVIL forces can conveniently hide in the shadows. That is what people need to understand - how the system works - how global capitalism works - how the US empire works. Once people understand how these systems work, they will be able to see through the subterfuge, deceptiveness, scheming, deviousness, duplicitious, deceitful, insidious narratives manufactured by the Empire Managers (and supporting staff).

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

You're imagining incorrectly. In your analogy of Lockhead Martin, the goal is PROFITS! Anyone that thinks its about "Lockheed Martin wanting to control the world" doesn't understand Capitalism and Corporatism.

Similarly, the US Empire is about maintaining Global Hegemony for the purposes of Global Capitalists, oligarchs, etc. They will use whatever strategy they need (including Israel, other Western countries, etc.) for their purposes.

This is where the propaganda, illusions, PR, etc. comes in - whereby they have successfully convinced "people" that it is Israel that is causing the problems (instead of Israel being a puppet of US Empire Managers). They have similarly convinced "some people" that "immigrants" are the problem, or "LGBTQ+" are the problem, or whatever. NO! The real problem is the SYSTEM of CAPITALISM and everything that follows from the unfolding logic of Capitalism taken to its extreme stages. All these "excuses" are sleights of hand, tricks, gaslighting, etc.

This has very little to do with Jews (or religions). If Israel was not Jewish (or it did not exist), and instead it was made up of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, or whatever - the result/actions of the US Empire would be similar. The US would STILL try different strategies to maintain hegemony over that region (for obvious reasons).

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Wizard's avatar

You misunderstood me, I was agreeing with you and Caitlin, but as long as Ashkenazis draw attention to themselves they will get the the blame.

Do you disagree?

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

Yes, I did misunderstand you - sorry! Yes, they make themselves an easy scapegoat. They don't care. The people though, remain fooled.

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Desert Ramada's avatar

Not a word of that is true.

They ARE involved in each of these places, it's tautology.

Israel runs the U.S., the U.S. fights israel's wars

Neo-bircherism" 'it's some mysterious group,' when the very names of who runs the U.S. are on our screens 24/7. Zients, Epstein, Mayorkas, Zuckerberg, Garland, Blinken, Yellen, Haines, Nuland, Pritzker, Kissinger, Greenspan, Cohen.

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Caitlin Johnstone's avatar

That's a sloppy, poorly reasoned argument. You're saying Israel is also behind all US wars that have nothing to do with Zionist interests because Israel controls the US, and as evidence you're naming ten Jewish Americans in high positions of influence. I could fill this page up with names of empire managers who are not Jewish off the top of my head. This is the kind of sloppy thinking I'm talking about.

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Desert Ramada's avatar

Bah! It's Gentile thinking.

Israel's PM does a joint address of congress and gets dozens of standing ovations.

You: 'See, A K S U A L L Y, it's the Milliner Group' ' The Illuminati'

'No, really, it's the M.I.C!' 'It's NOT the jews'

You can't fill anything, the cabinet in satiated with jews.

there isn't room for even another Shabbos Goy.

I know it all sounds 'sloppy' ... to jews.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

Caitlin, I have a suggestion. Too many people (here and outside) do not seem to understand how Israel serves the interests of the US Empire.

Would it interest you in writing an article (I know, a book could be written on the subject) that would maybe somehow help people understand the difference between "the US interests of the Empire Managers" and "the US interests of ordinary people"? I think most people erroneously assume both are the same.

Also, I know you have highlighted the role Israel plays in supporting the US Empire (in multiple articles), but still people refuse to listen and think for themselves. How does one reach such people?

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russian_bot's avatar

try yoga chokaski, free resources online abound.

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Louis Ferdinand Celine's avatar

Caitlin. There is not need to say it is a dogshit analysis. Please respect other opinions.

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andy tonti's avatar

Yeah haven’t ya heard. You’re a friggin anti semitic if you even breathe the phrase. Right??

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Darkstar's avatar

Do you mean the phrase

" It's the Jews"

Because it trure,

they run the show.

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Wizard's avatar

What do you think of Caitlins response to Darius? It made a little sense right?

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Darkstar's avatar

It sure did,Wizard.

However, if you look at the folks that are in the places of decision, that tell our forces to prepare to fight China, and start wars in Ukraine, and get all.the Lolita rides for their big shot costumers:

It's the Jews.

And always, it will be.

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Carolyn L Zaremba's avatar

Thanks again, Caitlin, for reminding us that we live in a funhouse filled with mirrors.

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Vin LoPresti's avatar

I chillingly recalled today how I was once forced to sing "God Bless America" in grammar school and it reminded me how long they've been trying to perpetrate this farce in my life.

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Michael's avatar

For us it was the Pledge of Allegiance and even at this tender young age I could sense the bullshit along with childhood friends who’d adjust the words a bit to ‘I pledge allegiance to the ‘Fag’ of the United States of America…. Sorry, about the pejorative but it was the 70’s and the beginning of antiestablishment leanings for me. I wish more people could make fun of the brainwashing of course with less insulting words.

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

" It’s why you see them arguing over the minute details of what capitalism and imperialism should look like, rather than if capitalism and imperialism should exist at all."

Bingo. And you're so right, Caitlin, when you note that it's not just the rich and powerful who act like "socialism" is the worse thing imaginable. I'm always shocked how working class folk are also quick to criticize "socialism" even in they don't have any health insurance or are living way below the poverty line. The brainwashing by the oligarchy has been thorough. Let's hope more wake up every time we share these kinds of posts with others.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

CJ>>"All US elections these days come with allegations of election interference, especially from the losing side."

If the Democrats lose and Republicans win -> there will be election "Conspiracy Theories" about the Republicans.

If the Repubs lose and Dems win -> there will be "Conspiracy Theories about the Dems.

As Caitlin says, whichever PARTY loses, it will accuse the other of "election fraud" and other conspiracies.

We saw this in 2016 with "Russiagate" conspiracy theories created by the Dems. We saw this again in 2020 with "The Big Lie" conspiracy theories created by the Repubs.

MEANWHILE, the PEOPLE ALWAYS seem to lose (no matter which party wins). Its way worse this time with the Genocide and the Ukraine conflict -> both will go on regardless of which party wins.

TIME TO CHANGE THIS DYNAMIC (if not for your country, then at least do it for Palestine)!

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Joy in HK fiFP's avatar

Don’t forget the actual stolen election, right in front of our noses, in 2000. They got away with that, and apparently stuffed it down the Memory Hole.

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andy tonti's avatar

Yesssssssssss!!!

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Steve  Bull's avatar

Elections: public theatre to provide the masses with the illusion that they have choice and agency in their societies so as to legitimize the status quo power and wealth structures. Less expensive and more effective than blatant violence/force to keep the hoi polloi compliant, but also to keep them complicit in the entire fraud and less likely to rebel.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

Well said!

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Isabel's avatar

Wow Steve Bull. THIS^^^^^

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SW's avatar

I saw a clip today of Dana Bash asking JD Vance about the cats and dogs supposedly being killed in Springfield , Ohio but not a word about the children being killed in Gaza. No mention of this slaughter at all, like the ducks deserve our attention but helpless children are to be ignored.

Trump sold out to Israel a long time ago along with Kamala, the Congress and Europeans. What I’ve never understood is where the money has been coming from for all these years.

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Michael's avatar

So you watched episode 982 of the reality show ‘American Idiocracy’. I’m sure funding the production of this easily fits into our trillions in budget deficit.

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Michael  Lynch's avatar

"IDIOCRACY" is the Only film in history that was originally filmed and sold to the public as Comedy/Satire and has since been reclassified as a Documentary Film. Meanwhile the film "JONES PLANTATION" precisely illustrates what has always gone on in US Politics.

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Joel Bentarz's avatar

"We are free to praise the democratic robe on the naked tyrant." Dartwill Aquila

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Klonda56's avatar

It’s easy to understand that the big commercial media are sellouts and refuse to give the non-war parties any attention or airtime.

But the “Democracy Now”news show on supposedly independent liberal media too? They refuse to give airtime to the Green Party and Jill Stein. I haven’t seen the Uhuru 3 on there either. NotScott Ritter.

What phonnies!

A whole lot of closets have been cleared out this past year. Now we know who’s who.

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Patrick Powers's avatar

Democracy Now! is supported by Big Money donors. That's all you need to know. Back in 2014 or so I caught them censoring their own transcripts.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Wait, are you all really just waking up to that fact in 2024, only a couple of months before the elections??!!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist_Democracy_Index

https://www.democracymatrix.com/ranking

I mean ...

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Caitlin Johnstone's avatar

Yes, anyone who says anything is just realizing the thing they said for the very first time. Those are the rules of the internet.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

I'm only going off what your post says and nothing is in there indicating that this has been a problem for a long time. I'm not the one who wrote that post, you are, I'm just the one pointing the fact that this has been going on for a long time.

Also, I'm not okay with that, in fact, I agree with your assessment, it's just not a new problem and, unless I missed it, none of your original post indicates this being a long term problem (it has been a problem in America for ever).

Finally, I didn't say you didn't know that before, I said that you were waking up to that fact only now, so close to the elections.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

Dude, are you new to Caitlin's substack? Read some of her articles (if you need context) behind this one. Knowing is NEVER enough. These things have to be REPEATED in multiple different ways so as to sink into the minds of people - because people NEVER learn (either from experiences or from history).

Hence, find multiple ways to get your message across REPEATEDLY - which is what Caitlin is doing.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Hmmm and who is reading this but the choir? We all know activism is virtual these days but come on ...

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

And you know this how? What data analysis have you performed? Do you have access to Substack's data analytics? Do you not understand the concept of "word of mouth" messaging and ripple effects? Or of heightened personal agency based on being motivated/inspired by reading something and spreading the word at every chance you get?

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Oh I get the word of mouth and spreading the good word, but that doesn't happen in echo chambers 😕.

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russian_bot's avatar

"Substack's data analytics" - 🤣🤡

chokaski the self-applied tech whiz (as in taking the whiz) has not a tiniest idea what it mumbles.

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russian_bot's avatar

the cheapo fuckhead chokaski strikes again. subscribe properly chokaski before attempting to police the forum cheapskate. and even then learn to keep your censoring piehole shut.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

I hear Trump University still has some open spots for their "Trolling" degree. Hurry, Mr. I Elect Trumps™ -> don't miss out on this opportunity! Your savior Trump will appreciate your effort!

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Trying not to feed the trolls here, but where did you take it that there was some censoring going on here?

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russian_bot's avatar

Noble attitude. Also useful to know some context before chiming in.

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Michael's avatar

Maybe you’re missing the evidence that the problem is worsening quickly toward something far more dangerous. Of course we’ve been duped since the founding of the nation into believing ‘we the people’ run things, but once the propaganda stops working and we’re no longer numbed by entertainment, our protests will be met with the force of the tyrants that rule us. This is why we’re paying more attention at this time in history. So Luc, you really think it’s nothing new? Nothing to see here?

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Carolyn L Zaremba's avatar

Luc makes me tired. He is the type I now avoid dealing with. He has made up his mind to be recalcitrant and I prefer to spend my time with people who want to know things.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Sorry exchanging on topics you care about makes you feel like that unless said exchange reinforces your thoughts/positions. I prefer exchanging with people thinking differently than me, even if I'm trying to keep those differences slight for obvious reasons (I'm not engaging the far right trolls for example). In other words, I'm actively trying to get out of my echo chamber.

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Chang Chokaski's avatar

>>"I'm not engaging the far right trolls for example"

Spend some time in the comments sections of this substack (eg. this whole year so far), and you will realize that you ARE engaging with a far-right/alt-right troll called "russian_bot" (from his profile: I elect Trumps). Look at his use of language, how he attacks people he disagrees with, how he trolls, how he abuses women with his misogynist remakrs and verbal diarrhea. Evidence is your only antidote here, and you need to spend some time going over the comments sections to collect that.

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

Hmmm I didn't say there was "nothing to see here" implying we shouldn't care. I was only pointing out the fact that the op lacked a context. To be clear, I do think this is a big problem.

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russian_bot's avatar

Everything to see for those who's been blind and deaf. Not everybody was, at every single one of those periods, you see.

Shallow folks tend to assume everyone's going through the same stages of awakening (that's why they're shallow). They also tend to get really angry, understandably so, but they should direct anger at themselves, not at those who point those things out.

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Jim S's avatar

Thank You Caitlin

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