The Rise Of America's Lunatic Fringe
Authored by chindit
The Rise Of America's Lunatic Fringe
Anyone who spends any amount of time on the internet has seen them.
They are the moonbats, the wingnuts, the whackjobs, the Conspiratorialists. They are America’s new Lunatic Fringe, and their numbers are growing.
While the rise of the internet fed a segment of society that has always existed, when the cyberworld became an increasingly important source both of entertainment and information, an entirely new demographic joined what was already amongst us.
Who are they and what do they believe? The Lunatic Fringe is not uniform in either its background or beliefs. Some clearly seem to be emotionally disturbed. Some are racist and hateful. Others are simply naïve and gullible, or uninformed. Still more are frustrated by an economy and a government that are behaving out of whack with what most people expected from life and from leadership. They want to believe America stands for something noble, but it is increasingly felt by them that it does not. They are confused, frustrated, and disappointed. They feel violated and betrayed. They grow angrier by the day. Some harbor a diffuse rage which could blow at any time. Others have figuratively thrown in the towel and have joined the ranks of what are called Preppers and Survivalists.
Collectively, though individually they differ, the beliefs of the Fringe conspiracies behind the JFK assassination, the lunar landing, and 911. The collective also includes the Birthers, and believers in everything from FEMA Camps to chemtrails to that retro old favorite of Colonel Jack Ripper, fluoridation. The Fringe holds beliefs that have the world controlled variously by the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers, the Bilderbergers, Bohemian Grove, Skull and Bones, the Council on Foreign Relations, 33rd Degree Freemasons, the Vatican, the Queen of England, or just The Illuminati. Every event and every incident in the world is affected by some Master Plan carried out by whomever the believer chooses from the aforementioned gallery of rogues. For many, al Qaeda is really al CIAda, and the prime directive of that organization, along with all the other USG alphabet agencies, is to further the goals of the elite, usually through some “false flag” operation or “psy-op”, and funded through illicit drug sales.
Believers can “prove” each and every one of their claims via a series of cross-referenced and circular internet links, the source of many undoubtedly just someone’s fertile imagination, but very real to the believers.
To the uninitiated this all seems rather humorous, albeit slightly unsettling. It would be both wrong and unwise, however, just to slough it off as the ramblings of the insane. The reason such beliefs are gaining favor is because many Americans have lost faith and lost trust in the government and America’s elected leadership. Given what has happened over the last decade, this is not only understandable, it is even, in an odd way, reasonable. A continual drift to the fringe can be expected because of the many very real things that make the foolish things suddenly more believable.
Why have the people lost faith and trust? There is a host of reasons, perhaps beginning with the war of choice in Iraq and the vociferous and passionate claims of WMD that turned out to be false. That war cost lives, cost sympathy and diplomatic capital, and cost trillions even when America was told by former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz that the war “would pay for itself from oil sales” and that “Americans would be welcomed with garlands”. Neither was anything close to accurate. Instead the US has war dead, war wounded, a huge bill, fewer friends, and many more enemies.
What truly exacerbated the rush to the fringe were the Financial Crisis and the subsequent railroaded bailouts, which “democratic”
America opposed to the tune of 97%, and which were, and still are viewed as rewarding the very people who caused the collapse. The oft-spoken official claims that “the taxpayer made a profit on the bailouts” just adds salt to the taxpayers’ wounds, as it conveniently fails to take into account the host of programs---from TALF to ZIRP to QEI, II, and III and Twist---that virtually handed the banks the money with which they could “pay back” the bailout cash.
America sees backroom deals and favors to insiders every step of the way, and rightfully so they see this, because that is exactly how the bailout was affected. No one had to pay for his mistakes, and equally significant, no one has been prosecuted despite overwhelming evidence of fraud, malfeasance, and corruption. Americans cannot help but subscribe to the cynical quip, “everyone is equal under the law, except for those who are above it”. Fines don't count, especially when the money to pay them comes right back through another door.
America's prisons are filled with people who did little more than use a banned substance. It's time some bankers and officials faced the possibility of similar accommodations, as their crimes are greater and victims substantially more.
The belief that all is not fair is further cemented when the Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer can be taped (PBS, “Frontline”) saying, "Well, I think I am pursuing justice. And I think the entire responsibility of the department is to pursue justice. But in any given case, I think I and prosecutors around the country, being responsible, should speak to regulators, should speak to experts, because if I bring a case against institution A, and as a result of bringing that case, there’s some huge economic effect — if it creates a ripple effect so that suddenly, counterparties and other financial institutions or other companies that had nothing to do with this are affected badly — it’s a factor we need to know and understand."
No matter how one parses that quote it still says the same thing: some are above the law.
The American people are well aware they have been lied to by the leadership. They know that a lobbyist has an infinitely greater chance of getting his way than an entire nation of voters. They know who pays the bills---the taxpayer---as well as who pays the politicians---the lobbyists. They see the Federal Debt ballooning to Greek-like proportions, and the best Congress can do, other than take vacation or kick the can, is to tell Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to “get to work, Mr. Chairman”, which means print more money, monetize the deficit, and further dilute the value of the dollar.
Even some people within the government are undoubtedly growing frustrated. Imagine someone in DEA, FBI, CIA, or the military, who sees the slap on the wrist fine handed to a certain non-US bank for a decade or more of drug money laundering and laundering money for Iran, some of which might well have found its way to Hezbollah or to parties aiding the Iraqi insurgency. There are people in Waziristan who face the wrath of a drone-fired Hellfire missile with less evidence to back up the attack. This bank, incidentally, received a $3.5 billion payment-in-full upon the US taxpayer bailout of insurer AIG.
When trust is gone, everything becomes an affront, a conspiracy, a power grab by the elite. The recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which gives the President incredibly broad powers, seems to obviate both habeas corpus and the entire Bill of Rights. When the trust is gone, people are less willing to believe that such a bill would never be used recklessly, or vindictively to put down vocal opponents of whatever Administration happens to be in power at the time. When trust is gone, the people question new efforts to alter the Second Amendment, even if many are personally outraged at the rash of gun violence that has come to epitomize the United States, so they rush to guns rather than run from them. When the trust is gone, the message of the Lunatic Fringe is afforded greater reception. When the trust is gone the Fringe grows into the mainstream. When trust is gone in some aspects of governance, all governance is questioned.
The government can no longer afford to ignore the Lunatic Fringe, because it is becoming less loon and more understandably and righteously indignant every day. The government did not create the Fringe, but through callous disregard, incompetence, blatant self-interest, cronyism, selective enforcement, and pandering to its financial support base, the government has fertilized the fringe until it has grown to redwood-like size. The nation's leadership is viewed not with respect, but with distrust. It is not the solution, but the problem. It has morphed from friend to enemy, at least for a not insignificant portion of the citizenry. The fringe is not going to go away, but instead it will grow. Its wounds will fester. It will continue to hammer away at an already fragile society. It may well lead to significant social unrest, even violence, and that violence is likely to be directed at those seen as responsible for the fiscal, financial and moral decay, which means the elite and the government that is seen as catering to it. New records in the Dow will not alter the focus, nor ameliorate the bubbling rage, even if the financial media or the Federal Reserve thinks it will. This growing demographic of citizens must have its concerns addressed before it is too late.
Woe to those who ignore it, because they will become the targets, rightfully or not.
To paraphrase a certain career New York Senator, “Mr. Government, get to work!” Or better yet, get out of the way.
(142 votes)
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And controlling the message/reality helps them get those votes.
Might I add a death wish and full-backing of all UN troops for the manpower?
With the votes in the House and Senate plus a certain percentage of the States the Government could completely repeal the Second Amendment. A lot of people think gun ownership as an inalienable right. But the 18th Amendment (prohibition of alcohol) was annulled by the 21st. So to the 2ed could be annulled by another Amendment. This is only theoretical possible but not political possible at this time. In the future, who knows?
Too many people, too much effort for da pimp to keep all the ho's in line.
The simplest recipe for the wizard behind the curtain is dynamic judicial interpretation, eliminating a single Supreme Court precedent, and abrogating the Constitution by treaty.
A much shorter and cheaper list of ingredients-
5 Supreme Court Justices +
1 Secretary of State +
1 President +
67 Senators =
74 whores
Whether they are brought on board by ideological sympathy, financial incentive, intellectual subterfuge, or a good old slap upside the bitch's head is only a minor tactical detail...
You had best read the Ninth Amendment.
Amendment 21 did not annul Amendment 18. The enumeration, where Amendments appear, cannot be construed in that fashion.
But who follows the Constitution?
Sorry to inform you with the truth and to confuse you with the facts.
OK you don't like the word annul. How about repeal
From Wikipedia:
The Twenty-first Amendment (Amendment XXI) to the United States Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which had mandated nationwide Prohibition on alcohol on January 17, 1920. The Twenty-first amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933. It is unique among the 27 Amendments of the U.S. Constitution for being the only one to repeal a previous Amendment, and for being the only one to have been ratified by the method of the state ratifying convention.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-first_Amendment_to_the_United_States...
"Sorry to inform you with the truth and to confuse you with the facts."
They cannot be repealed. It takes a Constitutional Convention to do that.
Read the Ninth Amendment!!!
Tyler(s) needs to bring the strikethrough pen out again. (sarcasim indicator on post titles.) Even before this article, new people weren't getting it. After this article ... well ... we have a new signature on our FRNs.
To judge from both the title and the content, the intent of the article was to equate the growing number of people who have woken up to, mistrust, and despise the self-serving, sociopathic actions of the oligarchy who rule over us as a mere "lunatic fringe". I take umbrage at such a grossly inaccurate mischaracterization of many millions of honest and (mostly) highly intelligent people.
If that was NOT the intent of the article, then please enlighten us as to what YOU feel its intent was. Because it sure came across to me, after two complete readings, as a broad-brushing hatchet job on anyone who would dare criticize or condemn the powers-that-be.
You skipped the first question I posed.
It may be designed to elicit and guage the response. Which would imply that the Tylers are complicit.
akak said:
I think you might want to reconsider what Cdad said. You are an intelligent "US 'american' citizen" and, as such, I would blame any misinterpretation on the author's somewhat awkward word choices and a writing style which, in some places, begs for clarification.
Cdad asked:
The article, at least to me, appears to be targeting the "watchers" (those who, on the taxpayer dime, are on the lookout for thoughtcrime and monitor sites where free-thinking individuals congregate).
The intent? I'd say it's to point out that the endless fraud, crime, war, and lies that TPTB have been propagating are collapsing the system upon itself, and to warn them that the only path out is to come clean, stop the lies, and face the music.
But then, what do I know?
clue for dj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShfM-wViCgI
The first 7 or so paragraphs made my blood boil. The rest seemed like a justification for (most of) our beliefs. To me, it seemed like a sophisticated rope a dope to lure in fascists then destroy their fucked up way of thinking. Then again, it's late and although I've been cruising these pages for a few years, I'm not familiar with this chindt individual.
Same here...on Chindit. I don't know any history on him.
But...on the ropa dope...I believe you are on to something.
dup
Very nice.
tinfoil p.s. log off your gmail before you click
spend a bit of time scrolling through the archives for his stuff...
you'll have your answer...the guy was full-on psyop...best one they had, pick o the crop, special insert for the ZH platform...
went down in flames after we nailed his christian-sionist schtick.
Believe it or not, don't matter to me, but this guy was not writing tongue n cheek...though Tylers letting have a platform prolly was!
Probably so. Knowing the author affected my interpretation. Then again, you do that with authors
This is describing all my friends on ZH.
They is (mainly) good people. Come on all you ***ers who hate me - junk me. Is that the best you can do?
How many lies does it take to maintain a DEBT MONEY ponzi scheme?
1. health care will make it better
2. you can trust banks
3. The education system is effective
4. the government is enforcing the law
5. the constitution is our guiding document
6. market price discovery is fair
so, 6...so far
7. Building 7 was not a controlled demolition. Fire caused its collapse.
And Federal buildings always explode from both the inside AND outside when ANFO is the source of the detonation. A thorough investigation always includes quickly scooping up the debris and throwing it in the fucking ocean too. The ocean is also a great place to throw the bodies of Amerkas most wanted Terrorists. If the Ocean isn't handy a proper investigation dictates a big fucking fire, like in WACO for example...........
And banks accept pallets of $100 dollar bills in Latin America from drug dealers purely by accident and the USGov doesn't know a thing about it.
and large airliners can be flown with never before seen accuracy by Cessna idiots into holes thirty feet wide and leave little to no trace of the crash while keeping the lawn so pristine even Martha Stewart would be proud. It was such an amazing circus performance that the authorities seized every inch of camera footage only to release a few seconds which proved nothing. Guess they're waiting to sell it on ebay for big bucks. God knows they need the money
Here's something...our friends the 'banks' are trying to drive us to a purely cashless world. There is very soon going to come a day when cash will be removed completely from the system and controlling someone will be as simple as cutting off their access to money for them and everyone around them.
http://betterthancash.org
Very paranoid, but when they are out to get you, true.
8. there's plenty, no, lots of gold in fort knox
A nearly symmetric collapse into its footprint at near free-fall acceleration, which the BBC reported before the actual collapse?
Hmmm.
7+. We are tireless servants of the people who deserve your honor and respect
42?
...per day?
Per douglas Adams. RIP
A little snarky.
and after stating the obvious the tool who wrote it still turns to government.
Just a guess but I'd say your lunatic description fits most of the people who regularly visit this website (especially MDB).
But gotta say it, a "conspiracy theory" is no longer a theory if it's true. And for major "turnings" such as the JFK, RFK, and MLK assasinations, one was proven in court to be just that, rather than the "one lone nut" theory; the jury's still out on the other two.
Regarding 911, c'mon, man get with the program! Too many smarter folks than me have proven it could not have happened according to the official story...what does that leave us with.
Conspiracy FACT
Is what many of those things are the author denegrates.
The true lunatic fringe are those that believe 9-11 was Only done by a few guys' in caves half way around the world, no international financing conspiring applies(what the hell are the interlocking corporate boards)
Etc
No, actually the worst, and most dangerous, lunatics are those who naively hold faith and trust in authority, no matter how manifestly corrupt and self-serving, and who hold that institutionalized coercion, i.e., government, is fundamentally benevolent and should be the primary guiding force of society.
i.e. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Fundamentalists - The wack jobs who think it's the good will of "God" for a father to attempt to kill his son.
Oh, and remember: Lloyd Blankfiend is also doing "God's Work".
Akak....++++++++1000- Very profound and very true. Zorba bows to you.
akak said:
Preach on, bro!
I couldn't have put it any better myself.
RFK Head Wound had Powder Burns. Sirhan could not have got that close. Furthermore there were too many bullets fired for one gun. There must have been two shooters.
Facts, facts. Are you going to believe your lying eyes or me?
How can anyone disregard anything these days?
Ah, a sane voice for a change. If you want people to rate your article well, however, you'll need to blame something on the Jews.
wj,
correct, you are an astute zh-vocate...
www.zirpinusa.com
google MP David Ward Holocaust to see the latest Zionist news
What truly exacerbated the rush to the fringe was the Financial Crisis and the subsequent railroaded bailouts, which “democratic” America opposed to the tune of 97%, and which were, and still are viewed as rewarding the very people who caused the collapse.
"Viewed" as, dude, really. I vew a bank robbery and I identify the criminal. Talk about
mental slaves.
Hey, Tylers, this dude needs some Fight Club re-education.
What truly exacerbated the rush was Gold and Silver rising 1,000%.99% can't do that, only the 1%...so who are the lunatics, the first ones at the bank in a run or the last??????
www.ZIRPinUSA.com