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A Culture Of Fear And Intimidation...
Submitted by Simon Black of Sovereign Man blog,
Last week when I arrived to Bangladesh, the immigration officials there were positively ecstatic to see a foreign tourist entering the country.
I’ve also been to places in Africa and the South Pacific where you’re greeted upon arrival by dancing tribespeople singing songs of welcome.
It’s not quite the same in the Land of the Free. In fact, before they even let people in the country, they program us to be afraid and intimidated.
For one thing, all the immigration officers are armed. There’s absolutely no reason for a government agent to carry a loaded pistol when all he does is stamp a passport. This is EXTREMELY uncommon in the rest of the world. Only in the Land of the Free.
Just like the airport security farce, which has millions of travelers assume the “I surrender” pose inside a radiation machine, US immigration checkpoints are there to train people to be afraid and submit to the state’s authority.
When you step back and look at the whole government apparatus, it’s apparent that this culture of fear and intimidation applies across the entire spectrum.
We’re programmed, for example, to be terrified of the IRS. It’s to the point that getting audited consistently ranks among people’s top fears in the Land of the Free, right up there with snakes and unexpected death. It’s quite sad, actually.
And whether this Soviet-style idea to target opposition political groups came from the top or from the lower ranks, it smacks of an entire organizational culture gone awry… one that thinks it has unlimited power and authority to squash anyone it wants.
We’re also programmed to fear the police… who are more commonly donning combat boots, assault rifles, and these hideous Urban Assault Vehicles as a show of force, as if they’re on patrol in Kandahar.
And we’re programmed to subordinate ourselves to the interests of the state… whether it’s “shared sacrifice”, i.e. everyone must universally suffer because politicians are incompetent, or ratting out our neighbors to Homeland Security (if you see something, say something) or the IRS.
There’s so much more. We’re told that we can be attacked by drones, held in military detention, or have our children taken away by the government. These are powerful tools in stoking a culture of fear to keep an entire civilization under control.
Yet these constant abuses of power are diametrically opposed to how a free society is supposed to conduct itself.
You’re probably aware of a particularly fitting quote, most frequently credited to Thomas Jefferson– “Where the people fear the government, you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty.” It’s absolutely true.
(There is no evidence that Jefferson ever said this, nor is the phrase contained in his works. It was first seen in print in John Basil Barnhill’s article, ‘Indictment of Socialism No. 3? in 1914.)
Jefferson did write in a 1789 letter to Welsh philosopher Richard Price that “wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.”
Unfortunately this isn’t happening; ‘the people’ aren’t rising up to set things right.
And this is an important reminder: we cannot rely on a government or society to provide us with freedom or the economic opportunity which stems from it. We can’t wait for tens of millions of people to ‘wake up’ and ‘vote the bums out’. Or take to the streets.
If history is any indicator, the fear and intimidation will likely get worse. This problem doesn’t just go away, and it doesn’t resolve itself.
The only viable strategy is to abandon the herd and focus on what we can all do as individuals to safeguard our wealth, preserve our liberties, and ensure the continued safety of our families.
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We are told that "fearing our government" is all part being "free"...so far the ignorant masses seem to be buying that shit!
Tyranny is pretty much like cancer. You don't attacking it with everything you've got and destroy it as soon as it starts to grow in or on you and you're toast
I smell burnt toast.
Bullish for butter!
I thought you we're going to say, cause you can trace it to Monsanto
History shows us that it's nearly unavoidable. People fall into complacency and the pendulum of freedom swings to tyranny and then back again over the vastness of time. Only individuals can react in the now. Staying somewhere to "fight the good fight" is like pissing into a hurricane: the storm IS coming.
Sadly the lesson of history is that freedom arises in frontiers. The problem is, unless mankind gets its butt into outer space, the surface of earth has pretty much run out of frontiers.
Sadly the lesson of history is that freedom never existed.
99.9999999999999999999% of humans are going to stay more-or-less where they are.
Which means they are forced to 'fix' what's broken, in-situ.
Which is why I repeatedly say "humans are finished".
Of course, I mean that phrase to apply to the 99.9999999% or so who do stay where they are. The only question at this point is, do any human beings escape before we reach the expiration date on mankind, or does all sentient life in the universe expire at that time.
Yes, that assumes there is no other sentient life "out there", which is a difficult assumption, and one that all my thought has not produced a reliable educated guess about. I really do grasp the enormity of the universe, and the number of places human-level or better consciousness might have arisen. That is a staggeringly huge number of places. However, it is extremely difficult to figure the likelihood that life will arise and develop, extremely difficult to figure the likelihood single-cell will develop into multi-cell in a form that eventually supports human-level or better consciousness, extremely difficult to figure the likelihood they'll survive long enough to become sufficiently technological, and extremely difficult to identify all other reasons (in arbitrarily different planetary environments) that all the required steps might not happen.
So my position is, until and unless we have evidence otherwise, anyone who identifies and appreciates the amazing potential of human-level+ consciousness might be well served to assume "this is the one and only experiment that will ever happen".
Yes, eternity is also huge, and when I say things like that, I immediately get the feeling I may be making the typical mistake, dispite my grasp of the enormity of the universe and eternity. But for the time being, I am satisfied to take the "conservative" approach to this question until I have specific reasons not to.
Well, perhaps we could terraform Australia.
have no fear...the end is near
just bend over... take it in the rear
PLease tell what country respects FREEDOM and I'll go there!
Backyardica.
Indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=P772Eb63qIY
Countries, by their very nature, are anti-freedom.
It's in the name. GOVERN-ment.
Argentina.
aaaaaaaannnnndddd It's POMO at the close by a nose!!!!!
Kevin's little finger was probably blistered today hitting the buy button. I wonder if he will fare as well tomorrow using his left hand and no Pomo.
Surely he's used some of that "cash" to buy his own algobot by now?
This article is slightly disingenuous. My first encounter when entering the Vienna airport several years ago was the sight of heavily armed men patrolling the terminal. Additionally, every time I've entered Canada, the border security were armed with firearms.
I agree with much of the intent of the piece as well as the fact that we can not rightly be considered "the land of the free." I do NOT see the value in using hyperbole (dishonesty) to drive the point.
I agree, in France, at least 15 years ago, I saw their version of the Nat'l Police carrying fully automatic military machine guns. The fact is that when the Gubmint holds the gun to your head and says "all your money belongs to us" (taxes) then they spend it pissing off (and bombing on) other people around the world, then they need these heavily armed jack-boots at the points of entry to the country mostly to protect themselves. So, I'm trying to remove myself from the grid, to no avail, in an effort to remove the funding from the jack-boots so they cannot afford to piss off so many other peoples in the world. As far as I can see, there is only one problem with this idea: what they don't take from me the Federal Reserve will just print up and buy Gubbermint Bonds with. This really sux!
That's the way it seems to be with "Mr. Black": his heart and head are in a reasonably good spot, but his sales pitch is as about as subtle as a sack of shit.
Fear brings its own paralysis. Reject it. Plan and prepare. That's really all you can do.
I'm too scared to reject my fear. Without it I may have to do and think for myself, and that's too scary.
I only opened this post to type the following:
Dear Tylers,
Thank you for amending the front page blurb of this post to read "When Simon Black arrived in Bangladesh", because I knew immediately that it was a Simon Black post and I could skip reading it. Please do this sort of editing on all Simon's posts in the future; this way, I'll never have to open his guest posts again.
Sincerely, C. Obvious
Dear CO. Fick dich Arschloc!
And thanks for reading this too!
I know of a few people who have had their wages garnished arbitrarily by the DMV for registration payments.
If I had enough money for food in my checking account and ,gov can just go in and take it for some stupid registration, what is that? Freedom?
It used to be a bank account was yours and the bank protected your money.
Now you can't trust any bank to protect your coin.
Actually, that 'money' In the bank was never yours. It was, is, and always will be the bank's liability 'owed' to you. The only thing that has changed is that now you know the truth, and that's a good start.
And the bank is, for all intents and purposes, now a branch of government. Or should I say government is a subsidiary of banking? Either way.
Is the other way around. The government is, for all intents and purposes, a branch of the banksters. At their service. Army included, of course, and NATO.
Just checking, but isn't this one of those voices the big O debt brother told us not to pay attention to?
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=AIOF5R-7rx8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAI...
All one need do is have a discussion with a government employee. I have an acquaintance who is a retired government employee {HHS}. They have a superiority complex, they don't believe the rest of us can get along without them. They are indispensable. And boy do they have nothing but contempt for the private sector! Now you know why the IRS Jewess got up and walked out of Congress; HOW DARE I HAVE TO ANSWER TO ANYBODY! Since the USA has passed it's very own version of the Enabling Act, why wouldn't people feel fear and intimidation? Tried crossing the border lately? Come in through International Arrivals at the airport lately? It is enough to make you wish you had stayed behind. You see, gubmint is like a cancer, all it wants to do, is grow, at the expense of it's host {taxpayers}. And it has an insatiable appetite for more, more, more money. This is why in many areas of the country now, gubmint employees have it better than their taxpayer counterparts. Imagine that. I am old enough to remember when it was the other way around! Not that long ago actually.
I downarrowed you on account of this: "This is why in many areas of the country now, gubmint employees have it better than their taxpayer counterparts."
You're wrong. In fact, in EVERY area of the country, .gov.union employees have it better than the tax donkeys. Vastly better. Need examples?
I hear ya, I'm trying to get a jump on everything by applying to become Amish; got the beard going on and have thrown away nearly all of my shiny buttons.
An added benefit is you rarely have to worry about a buggy drive by shooting.
Apparently you've never been to an Amish quilt off.
What a big misconception.
It isn't "the government" as the institution.
It's the guys who run the House. Which aren't there on your behalf but on behalf of their masters.
It's about WHO has the Power. Your State, as many others (most of UE States, i.e.) have been taken from you. They put their men in gvt. Against the Constitution, they're not at your service as it should be.
Your enemy isn't "the government" but this kind of government, tyranny: oppressive power exerted by government.
Not a misconception at all. IT IS THE GOVERNMENT. Who do you think they hire for the most part? Nepotism is rampant. They hire maladjusted people with pathologies. Most government employees wouldn't last a day in the real world of the private sector. It is where the losers go to hide out. The very nature of modern government is to suppress the individual. Every time Congress convenes, you lose a right or freedom that you had yesterday. They honestly feel that the rights of the people COME FROM THEM, NOT THE CONSTITUTION! You have been deceived, or you are a fool. Or maybe you are a gubmint employee.
Happy free businesswoman in Backyardica, here.
The very nature of modern government is to suppress the individual.
So, you, inmigrants descendents, should have integrated with the natives of the land your ancesters colonized. Natives lost their freedom and lives on your ancesters' hands which in a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, presided over by George Washington in 1787, signed the US Constitution establishing US national government and fundamental laws. Certain basic rights for your ancesters as citizens were then established (to be violated all along).
Natives they killed didn't need a Constitution.
No, my brainwashed friend, your account of history is incorrect. It wasn't until after 1865 that the oppression of the Indians began. Funny, that was when the whole "Big Daddy Washington" began, and states rights were burried. Just for your information, my ancestors wore gray. Many Indians fought with us against the "blue coats".
+ 1
it's all here. http://lfb.org/shop/history/insatiable-government/
The only thing different now is the uniforms are not as cool as NAZI uniforms.
It is pretty much the only difference.
Otherwise, except for the camps and crematoriums, we have arrived.
as these types of Regimes continue to evolve, more and more people are slaughtered, until the Party Members begin to turn on each other.
We all know how this ends.
What you decide to do Now is what might allow you to survive.
I'm a government employee. Want to have discussion to see if I have a superiority complex, or have contempt? Or do you just want to stick with your sweeping generalization as if that makes a valid point?
re I'm a government employee.
Not sure if being on Welfare/Foodstamps counts....
America is the FEAR capital of the world. That is how everyone is kept under control. Heck even the weather forecasts are made to make you fearful
the weather is the republicans fault.
Smile for the drone when ya say that brother.
Oh yes. The FEDs are in attack mode against the United States of America at this time. They are doing ongoing attacks of terrorism through use of unannounced drills to check points, TSA at the airports and false flags as well putting themselves above the law and saying that they are going to steal your property, children and they are purchasing billions of bullets, machine guns and tanks to kill you and they will use the IRS to attack you and they will put a hazardous waste company above the law so Monsanto is allowed to poison you. And you will take flu shots if you work in a hospital or lose your job and Aganda 21 will reduce your property values and force you out of your homes and Banks will be allowed to forclose on properties they don't have title to and so on and so on.
It is time to force the FEDs out of our lives and out of the United States of America.
MUST SEE TV...
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=apocalypto+fear+quote&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDkQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DI8ibl4nPmRE&ei=yHueUdDnOo_C0AHW2oDwAQ&usg=AFQjCNEBivk2eYLiDFDLWh-h4OIRz0_-yw&bvm=bv.47008514,d.dmQ
"Fear. Deep rotting fear. They were infected by it. Did you see? Fear is a sickness. It will crawl into the soul of anyone who engages it. It has tainted your peace already. I did not raise you to see you live with fear. Strike it from your heart. Do not bring it into our village."
http://www.sovereignman.com/tax/check-this-out-irs-scandal-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-11853/
Nope. Banglas are not afraid of their Government. Or it's pesky regulations like building codes. Which is why buildings fall, factories go up in fire killing thousands. And no one does anything about it. For who is afraid of the Government? They don't live in a benighted country like America where businessmen and corporations are terrorised into following rules. No siree!
Simon's words might mean a little more if he stopped begging all of these governments for permission to live.
simon is such a wealthy little boy and always has been and obviously has no idea about how other people live. i loved his article about how easy it was for him to pass customs with some stupid amount of 1 oz. gold coins. most people on the planet don't own a single one, couldn't and never will.
I very much enjoy Simon's regular discourse on distant lands.
It would be a hoot to join him for a beer and compare passport stamps from far away places.
I get the feeling from some of the negs he gets that there are quite a few ZH readers who have never been outside of N. America.
It is a big world out there. Experience it before getting out requires you to fight your way to the airport, jump a fence or pay off an immigration officer.
Is the world actually changing? I notice the usual anti-Simon Black haters are not so evident on this post. I don't actually have a problem with much of what he says although I am not interested in buying anything else he is selling.
Facts are what they are. America has been desending into facism for decades now, as is much of the world. If you are happy where you are all I can say is God Bless. If you are not, you had better quit the blah, blah talk and get on your walking shoes. Leaving while you can still control (more or less) your financial resources is far better than leaving as a refugee. Refugees will not be welcomed anywhere soon. I really don't know if America will follow a similar path that the Germans travelled some years back, but FEMA camps may well become just a modern version of those special places where critics are sent sooner or later.
"Is the world actually changing? I notice the usual anti-Simon Black haters are not so evident on this post."
I notice how markedly shorter the comments sections of Bitcoin threads and the stupidity therein are becoming here also. Perhaps more people might be starting to realize that as the world moves forward there is more to living one's life and preparing for one's future than listening to self-reinforced, programmed thought, paranoia and prejudice bouncing back at them off the walls of a keyboard-warrior-infested echo chamber to a degree. Not that there isn't a ton of great commentary still to be had in these comments sections, don't get me wrong there. However, I've never understood why "Simon Black" is hit so hard here.
Well the Gubmint must be preparing for an outbreak of liberty because their arming to the teeth to prevent it.
Want to hear the punch line to the greatest joke ever?!
Here goes: "...land of the free, home of the brave."
Makes me laugh every time, then I go check and clean the arsenal.
The victims of a home invasion robbery .... are not free .... at that moment .... even though they were considered .... freedom loving bon vivants .... prior to the robbery ! This Simon Black smacks of liberal whining .... what's his complaint .... you Americans are out of step .... with the socialist states ?
awesome soooo true, 1984 here we are. thankyou.
In fact, before they even let people in the country, they program us to be afraid and intimidated.
We’re programmed, for example, to be terrified of the IRS.
We’re also programmed to fear the police
And we’re programmed to subordinate ourselves to the interests of the state
Uuuummmm, speak for yourself buddy. I'm not "terrified" of the IRS or "fear" the police. They may be trying to program us, but lately I think they are slowly but unsurely failing in this aspect of governing.
And this is an important reminder: we cannot rely on a government or society to provide us with freedom or the economic opportunity which stems from it. We can’t wait for tens of millions of people to ‘wake up’ and ‘vote the bums out’. Or take to the streets.
It has never been governments job to provide us with freedom. It has always been governments job to take away our freedoms. The people are the only caretakers of their freedoms.
Fear gets lost like a fart in a tornado when rage raises it's ugly head.
-"Unfortunately this isn’t happening; ‘the people’ aren’t rising up to set things right."
-"If history is any indicator, the fear and intimidation will likely get worse. This problem doesn’t just go away, and it doesn’t resolve itself."
The majority of Americans, (see: Fatasses) are too ignorant and complacent to rise up at this point. As most Alcoholics know, things are fucked now, but they aren't fucked enough yet to call the masses to action. It will get worse eventually, when people's lives are at stake instead of their mere comfort.
Re A Culture Of Fear...
With broads in the goobermint that, without apology, actually look like Hillary, Nancy, Janet & Michelle et al. - I reckon A Culture Of Being Absolutely Terrified would have been a more accurate descripton of our plight...
Well, I edited... I did not say well edited. However this would be another way to state things with a little more ZH influence towards resisting fear and intimidation. You have been warned....
http://www.boatingaccidentnews.com/do-everyone-a-favor-and-go-drone-yourself-already/
the use of fear is a practiced art by the bush crime syndicate and rockefeller nazis who perfected it via the mkultra program....the armed government thugs are irrefutable proofs that the nazis who put hilter in power have established total control in amerika.....the biggest terrorist organization in the world is the cia. they have completely nazified this country.
Take all the evil of socialism .... combine it Nationalistic territorial aggresion .... you have National Socialism .... Nazional Sozialistische Deutshe Arbeiter Partei .... NASDAP .... WTSHTF .... when the shit hits a four bladed fan .... you get a bent fan .... a SWASTIKA ! Monedas 1929 Comedy Jihad Protected Political Speech Freedom Of Expression Comic Art World Tour
This is EXTREMELY uncommon in the rest of the world. Only in the Land of the Free.
__________________________
Then coming to a custom office near you, thanks to the americanization of the world.
An 'american' country, one that can afford, will adopt that way of doing because that is the 'american' way of doing.
'Americanism' works that way.