0:00:07.546,0:00:12.630 There we go, we got it Bob! Hi! Sorry, we're running a little bit late. 0:00:12.631,0:00:14.551 Excuse me a second. 0:00:14.943,0:00:18.203 Hey Bob, think fast! [Glass breaking] [Shouting] 0:00:18.204,0:00:19.244 Sorry man! 0:00:20.154,0:00:23.162 Welcome to Culture in Decline, my name is Peter Joseph. 0:00:23.163,0:00:26.336 This show is designed for those that want to be a little bit more skeptical 0:00:26.337,0:00:29.302 about society, because perhaps, you're like me. 0:00:29.303,0:00:32.980 As you stumble around this experiment we call global society, 0:00:32.981,0:00:35.720 you can't help but feel an increasing sense of unease, 0:00:35.721,0:00:39.709 perhaps even frustration, with respect to how we, the human family, 0:00:39.710,0:00:43.215 have chosen to organize ourselves on this little planet. 0:00:43.216,0:00:47.311 The late astronomer and well-known advocate of scientific thought, Carl Sagan, 0:00:47.312,0:00:51.463 in his famed PBS series 'Cosmos', once invited the question: 0:00:51.464,0:00:54.900 If we were visited by a superior species from another part of the galaxy, 0:00:54.901,0:00:58.457 and we were forced to explain to them our stewardship of our planet, 0:00:58.458,0:01:01.082 not to mention the state of human affairs today, 0:01:01.083,0:01:03.617 would we be proud of what we described? 0:01:03.618,0:01:07.305 How would we frame our explanation of how almost half of the world, 0:01:07.306,0:01:12.225 over 3 billion people, are either barely surviving in abject poverty and sickness, 0:01:12.226,0:01:14.965 or are simply dying off unnecessarily 0:01:14.966,0:01:18.225 at a rate of about one person every couple of seconds, 0:01:18.226,0:01:21.801 all occurring in the wake of an advanced technological reality, 0:01:21.802,0:01:25.088 where we could easily feed, clothe and house every family on Earth, 0:01:25.089,0:01:28.074 in a respectable standard of living? 0:01:28.075,0:01:31.755 How would we frame the global warfare; 0:01:32.273,0:01:37.009 230 million killed by their fellow man in the past 100 years alone? 0:01:37.010,0:01:40.492 Based on what, meaningless territoriality, resources, 0:01:40.493,0:01:43.213 dogmatic, obsolete ideologies? 0:01:43.985,0:01:48.937 Again, this all occurring in the shadows of a looming scientific recognition, 0:01:48.938,0:01:53.108 that we are indeed simply one family sharing one household, 0:01:53.109,0:01:55.580 bound by the exact same laws of nature, 0:01:55.581,0:01:59.741 hence the same unifying operational ideology. 0:01:59.950,0:02:03.516 How about our economic system, the bedrock of what defines our society, 0:02:03.517,0:02:06.497 not to mention our dominant motivations? 0:02:06.498,0:02:10.268 How would we explain the reality that, rather than organizing ourselves efficiently, 0:02:10.269,0:02:14.411 as a single system to properly manage this household we share, 0:02:14.412,0:02:18.219 we childishly divide and compete and exploit each other 0:02:18.220,0:02:21.939 through an archaic, completely environmentally decoupled game. 0:02:21.940,0:02:24.730 A game, by the way, which not only appears to perpetuate 0:02:24.731,0:02:27.646 a vast spectrum of social atrocities, 0:02:27.647,0:02:31.723 but now seems to be further destabilizing society, 0:02:31.724,0:02:34.444 decreasing our public health. 0:02:34.873,0:02:37.777 Sorry to say, as an individual, 0:02:37.778,0:02:40.858 I really don't care what you believe, nor do I particularly respect it. 0:02:40.859,0:02:44.276 Why? Because I don't really respect what I believe either. 0:02:44.277,0:02:47.340 There is no evidence to show that any of the traditional values, 0:02:47.341,0:02:50.275 establishments, social structures or common practices 0:02:50.276,0:02:53.728 we have today, will be relevant tomorrow. 0:02:53.729,0:02:57.996 The only thing that appears to stand the test of time, is this very notion of change, 0:02:57.997,0:03:02.599 the ever-evolving understanding of ourselves and the world we inhabit. 0:03:02.600,0:03:05.892 Perhaps, some might think that that's actually the definition of human intelligence. 0:03:05.893,0:03:08.633 What do you think about that? Less about what we know, 0:03:08.634,0:03:11.020 more about how vulnerable we are. 0:03:11.021,0:03:13.172 So when you look out your window, ask yourself. 0:03:13.173,0:03:15.605 Do you see intelligence or do you see dogma? 0:03:15.606,0:03:18.403 Do you see a culture listening and working to realign itself 0:03:18.404,0:03:21.944 with the ever-emerging natural orders as they unfold, 0:03:21.945,0:03:25.154 or do you see desperately stubborn efforts by many, 0:03:25.155,0:03:27.491 particularly those in positions of power, 0:03:27.492,0:03:30.302 trying to keep everything the same to the detriment 0:03:30.303,0:03:33.067 of the entire human experiment? 0:03:33.068,0:03:34.988 You know, like you, 0:03:35.158,0:03:39.493 I might be only one member of this family that is now 7 billion strong. 0:03:39.494,0:03:43.291 And like most families, sometimes it's hard for us to agree. 0:03:43.292,0:03:48.103 But sometimes, things get so bad we need serious intervention. 0:03:48.104,0:03:50.416 The following series is that intervention 0:03:50.417,0:03:54.186 in the hope to salvage what is clearly, a culture in decline. 0:03:54.187,0:03:57.094 From the creator of the Zeitgeist film trilogy 0:03:57.095,0:04:00.049 comes the worst reality show of all time. 0:04:00.050,0:04:01.330 The Real One 0:04:03.000,0:04:04.760 GMP Films presents 0:04:07.081,0:04:08.841 Culture in Decline 0:04:12.997,0:04:15.797 With your guide, Peter Joseph 0:04:24.097,0:04:26.376 It's an election year in the United States 0:04:26.377,0:04:28.843 and some may say it's an election year for the whole world. 0:04:28.844,0:04:31.513 Still the dominant empire, the United States' political system 0:04:31.514,0:04:35.758 has spent roughly 25 billion dollars in the past decade alone. 0:04:35.759,0:04:39.094 An amount of money, if averaged and distributed annually, 0:04:39.095,0:04:42.679 could house and feed every homeless person in America, 0:04:42.680,0:04:44.953 effectively ending the epidemic. 0:04:44.954,0:04:46.999 Perhaps, like me, by the end of this program, 0:04:47.000,0:04:49.933 you'll find that money will be better well-spent. 0:04:49.934,0:04:52.760 Be that as it may, the 2012 presidential election 0:04:52.761,0:04:54.822 is gearing up to be one of the most expensive, 0:04:54.823,0:04:58.270 and ostensibly important elections of all time; 0:04:58.271,0:05:01.192 given the ongoing debt crisis, the unemployment crisis, 0:05:01.193,0:05:04.267 and the vast destabilization we see across society. 0:05:04.268,0:05:07.818 However, I'm not particularly interested in the left or the right, 0:05:07.819,0:05:11.213 or am I interested in any candidate's political merit. 0:05:11.214,0:05:16.262 What I'm interested in, is the entire idea of global democracy 0:05:16.263,0:05:19.836 in the tradition as it exists, and how it is blindly accepted 0:05:19.837,0:05:23.826 by the vast majority of people on this planet, as being the only option 0:05:23.827,0:05:26.775 to satisfy their interests and create good well-being, 0:05:26.776,0:05:29.309 and hence societal management, in its optimum state. 0:05:29.310,0:05:31.064 That's what interests me. 0:05:31.065,0:05:34.762 (P. Joseph) So, rather than debate about who should be the next president, 0:05:34.763,0:05:37.846 why don't we step back and consider some broader issues? 0:05:37.847,0:05:39.813 Such as, I don't know, 0:05:39.814,0:05:42.582 maybe, why we even have a president to begin with? 0:05:42.583,0:05:45.703 What is this, medieval feudalism? 0:05:47.325,0:05:51.894 I thought the days of kings, dictators, and giving one person enormous power, 0:05:51.895,0:05:55.029 was coming to an end. Or, more generally, 0:05:55.030,0:05:58.899 doesn't it seem a little absurd to claim a participatory democracy, 0:05:58.900,0:06:02.536 when the public itself actually has zero say, 0:06:02.537,0:06:06.063 when it comes to the actual decisions made by those elected. 0:06:06.064,0:06:10.590 It's bad enough that those voted in have literally no legal responsibility 0:06:10.591,0:06:14.148 to do anything they might have claimed on the campaign trail. 0:06:14.149,0:06:17.984 But if you examine history, you will find the historical fact 0:06:17.985,0:06:22.363 that the public good has always been secondary to other interests, 0:06:22.364,0:06:26.035 mainly, financial and business interests. 0:06:26.036,0:06:28.991 Of course, this is common knowledge now, right? 0:06:28.992,0:06:33.113 Why did the US government, completely against all known public interest, 0:06:33.114,0:06:35.447 allow the private banking system, 0:06:35.448,0:06:37.936 a system which actually creates nothing, 0:06:37.937,0:06:41.319 to be bailed out to the tune of 13 trillion dollars? 0:06:41.320,0:06:44.334 You have a 14 million dollar ocean front home in Florida. 0:06:44.335,0:06:47.214 You have a summer vacation home in Sun Valley, Idaho. 0:06:47.215,0:06:50.817 You and your wife have an art collection filled with million dollar paintings. 0:06:50.818,0:06:54.723 (PJ) While the public was left out to dry with overflowing private debt, 0:06:54.724,0:06:57.506 job losses and a stagnating economy. 0:06:57.507,0:07:00.908 If we're going to persist with this silly little game we've concocted 0:07:00.909,0:07:05.513 called the growth economy, where the movement of money defines everything, 0:07:05.514,0:07:09.372 it might be a good idea to do the math regarding what might actually help 0:07:09.373,0:07:13.029 this economic system operate at some passable level. 0:07:13.030,0:07:17.990 Therefore, if you raise taxes on the so-called rich, 0:07:18.902,0:07:23.462 you're really raising taxes on the job creators. 0:07:23.659,0:07:26.984 And if the goal is private sector growth, 0:07:26.985,0:07:29.957 you have to recognize that the best way to create that growth 0:07:29.958,0:07:35.298 is to leave capital in the treasuries of the job creators. 0:07:35.299,0:07:39.315 (PJ) If that money spent on the bank bailout was spent on, say... 0:07:39.316,0:07:42.428 relieving private household debt instead, 0:07:42.429,0:07:45.113 while letting Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan 0:07:45.114,0:07:50.016 and all of the other technically meaningless, non-producing financial institutions 0:07:50.017,0:07:53.508 experience the failure and bankruptcy they deserved, 0:07:53.509,0:07:58.021 simultaneously nationalizing the entire US banking system as a whole, 0:07:58.022,0:08:01.660 the US economy might have had a chance. Why? 0:08:01.661,0:08:06.500 Because banks don't actually contribute anything. People with jobs do. 0:08:06.501,0:08:09.842 [If] you want growth in this type of system, you need jobs. 0:08:09.843,0:08:12.378 If you want jobs you need demand, 0:08:12.379,0:08:14.965 and demand requires people having free money to spend. 0:08:14.966,0:08:17.052 So by helping the public debt burden, 0:08:17.053,0:08:20.201 you would plant the true seeds of economic growth. 0:08:20.202,0:08:24.284 As obvious as that may seem, many forget one thing: 0:08:24.285,0:08:27.683 the bailout had nothing to do with helping the US economy, 0:08:27.684,0:08:30.291 nor does it or will it work to help 0:08:30.292,0:08:33.057 any hurting sovereign economy in the world. 0:08:33.058,0:08:38.087 Why? Because we live in a plutocracy, not a democracy, 0:08:38.089,0:08:42.931 and the only true power is actually behind the curtain, not in front. 0:08:42.932,0:08:46.710 The financial and business powers not only own and control this country, 0:08:46.711,0:08:49.203 they own and control the whole planet. 0:08:49.204,0:08:53.774 And no, it's not a conspiracy, it's a value-system disorder. 0:08:53.775,0:08:57.919 As long as a dollar sign is associated with every blade of grass, 0:08:57.920,0:09:01.673 every plot of land, every fleeting thought or invention, 0:09:01.674,0:09:04.213 not to mention judging the merit of individuals 0:09:04.214,0:09:08.571 for their right to life through labor, we should expect nothing less. 0:09:08.572,0:09:10.870 Since the inception of the state itself, 0:09:10.871,0:09:13.372 coupled with the underlying power of money 0:09:13.373,0:09:17.335 as the ultimate driver of human decisions, and hence persuasion, 0:09:17.336,0:09:20.726 the true power has always been financial, 0:09:20.727,0:09:24.627 and those little people you elect into office every couple of years 0:09:24.628,0:09:28.143 they have owners too, and don't you forget it. 0:09:28.144,0:09:31.490 - Democracy: is that something you believe in as it exists today in America? 0:09:31.491,0:09:35.052 - When you say as in "believe in", does it exist? Like forest fires, God, 0:09:35.053,0:09:36.413 or the devil? 0:09:37.000,0:09:41.591 - What is your opinion of the American democratic system as it exists? - It's broken, 0:09:41.592,0:09:45.566 It's deeply, deeply broken. - Democracy, goes, of course, to Greece 0:09:45.567,0:09:50.391 and it's the theory that the people own the government. Is it happening 0:09:50.392,0:09:55.016 in practice, in 2012, in this country? Not close! It's a corporatocracy. 0:09:55.017,0:09:58.062 (PJ) All of this considered, let's now think a little more accurately 0:09:58.063,0:10:00.598 about this whole democracy deal. 0:10:00.599,0:10:04.071 Since the tradition of our democracy has to do with representatives 0:10:04.072,0:10:06.759 elected to apparently do our thinking for us, 0:10:06.760,0:10:10.325 a critical question becomes: where did these people come from? 0:10:10.326,0:10:13.410 Why are they the ones on your TV and not others? 0:10:13.411,0:10:16.316 Did you decide that these people are the best choices 0:10:16.317,0:10:18.982 to compete for such critical leadership, 0:10:18.983,0:10:22.581 or have you noticed that the most pronounced candidates 0:10:22.582,0:10:25.869 especially the presidential, sort of come out of nowhere, 0:10:25.870,0:10:31.572 and, through the media, are given credence merely by repetition of exposure? 0:10:31.573,0:10:35.520 The term democracy comes from the Greek 'demos' which means people, 0:10:35.521,0:10:37.841 and 'krates' which means rule. 0:10:37.842,0:10:42.262 The people of a given society express their opinions through votes 0:10:42.263,0:10:45.183 and policy is created by the majority's interest. 0:10:45.184,0:10:48.318 It appears the process was formalized in ancient Greece, 0:10:48.319,0:10:50.770 and has been adapting ever since. 0:10:50.771,0:10:54.364 However, it didn't take long for a bit of cynicism to emerge 0:10:54.365,0:10:57.619 with respect to the process itself, given the fact that 0:10:57.620,0:11:01.613 the entire basis of the idea assumes that the voting public 0:11:01.614,0:11:05.486 actually is educated enough to know what they're doing. 0:11:05.487,0:11:08.411 Franklin D. Roosevelt once acutely stated: 0:11:08.412,0:11:11.816 "Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice 0:11:11.817,0:11:13.984 are prepared to choose wisely. 0:11:13.985,0:11:17.885 The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education." 0:11:17.886,0:11:21.089 Winston Churchill on the other hand, was a little less forgiving, 0:11:21.090,0:11:24.001 stating "The best argument against democracy 0:11:24.002,0:11:27.097 is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." 0:11:27.098,0:11:30.972 And of course, the infamous Mark Twain jumped to the inevitable punch line, 0:11:30.973,0:11:35.999 stating "If voting made any difference, they wouldn't let us do it." 0:11:36.000,0:11:39.930 I would like you to ask yourself: if we were in the ruling class, 0:11:39.931,0:11:44.236 the 'investment ownership class', to paraphrase Thorstein Veblen, 0:11:44.237,0:11:48.779 and we wanted to preserve our interests against any interference, 0:11:48.780,0:11:50.540 what would we do? 0:11:50.548,0:11:55.793 First, we need to take the broadest possible view we can. 0:11:55.794,0:11:59.658 We need to make sure the voting public is as uninformed as possible, 0:11:59.659,0:12:06.256 regarding relevant issues that might contradict our establishment's practices. 0:12:06.257,0:12:10.858 Coupled with that, we also need to eliminate as much independent, logical, 0:12:10.859,0:12:14.278 causal, scientific thought as possible. 0:12:14.279,0:12:17.932 So, let us support an extremely underfunded, outdated, 0:12:17.933,0:12:20.834 and deprived public educational system; 0:12:20.835,0:12:25.274 a system focused on merely getting a person a job one day, 0:12:25.275,0:12:28.286 not teach them how to critically and logically think. 0:12:28.287,0:12:32.425 - The heart of democracy is the basic assumption that the public is well educated 0:12:32.426,0:12:35.584 about critical thought, they know how to think about things and evaluate, 0:12:35.585,0:12:38.717 and therefore they can make proper decisions, right? What is your opinion 0:12:38.718,0:12:43.787 on American education and its effect on the democratic process? 0:12:43.788,0:12:47.897 - I think that we have multiple problems in the education in America. 0:12:47.898,0:12:50.647 One: I think we are dealing with the dumbing down of America. 0:12:50.648,0:12:53.480 - Do you feel that this sort of poor educational system 0:12:53.481,0:12:56.528 actually benefits the establishment? - Oh, absolutely! 0:12:56.529,0:12:59.606 Absolutely! Keep them stupid, keep them easily entertained. 0:12:59.607,0:13:03.124 If they're uninformed, they can't fight back! 0:13:03.125,0:13:05.801 (P. Joseph) However, to further reinforce this, 0:13:05.802,0:13:08.295 we also need to push and reward 0:13:08.296,0:13:12.182 belief systems that support passive obedience; 0:13:12.183,0:13:15.885 belief systems and values that are stubborn, irrational, 0:13:15.886,0:13:18.204 and promote closed thinking. 0:13:18.205,0:13:21.244 Religion becomes super helpful in this circumstance. 0:13:21.245,0:13:24.518 Is it possible, that religion is being politicized, 0:13:24.519,0:13:26.964 and that candidates are using it as a tool? 0:13:26.965,0:13:30.581 I believe that God created the Universe. 0:13:30.582,0:13:34.871 And we're enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might. 0:13:34.872,0:13:37.850 Let us nor pray that God is on our side, 0:13:37.851,0:13:42.449 in war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side. 0:13:42.450,0:13:45.081 May God bless the 7th Day Adventist church. 0:13:45.082,0:13:50.521 I think the God who loves us, the God who gave us life, who gave us our being... 0:13:50.522,0:13:53.574 And so to every sailor, soldier, airman and marine, 0:13:53.575,0:13:57.660 who was involved in this mission, let me say, you are doing God's work. 0:13:57.661,0:14:01.948 If people are groomed to be obedient and follow blindly, 0:14:01.949,0:14:06.152 they are ripe to extend that obedience to others who claim authority. 0:14:06.153,0:14:06.793 Check. 0:14:07.480,0:14:09.630 Next, it's critical we recognize 0:14:09.631,0:14:12.979 a unique, sociological characteristic of the human condition. 0:14:12.980,0:14:16.392 Something we will call 'herd psychology'. 0:14:16.393,0:14:20.096 This is the tendency for us humans, when faced with mass appeal, 0:14:20.097,0:14:23.977 to often behave in extremely thoughtless and malleable ways. 0:14:23.978,0:14:27.023 In the words of Charles McKay, famed author of 0:14:27.024,0:14:31.123 "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" 0:14:31.124,0:14:34.335 "Men, it has been said, think in herds; 0:14:34.336,0:14:37.044 it will be seen that they go mad in herds, 0:14:37.045,0:14:41.985 while they only recover their senses slowly and one by one." 0:14:41.986,0:14:46.975 However, this doesn't just apply to, say, a soccer riot. 0:14:46.976,0:14:52.048 Such mob persuasion can be generated trough simply shared cultural events. 0:14:52.049,0:14:55.918 Remember September 11th? Talk about mass insanity! 0:14:55.919,0:15:01.382 This event created an immediate crowd madness with fear and revenge, 0:15:01.383,0:15:05.270 and it didn't take long for the US government, and other governments, in fact, 0:15:05.271,0:15:07.581 to harness that madness, and funnel support 0:15:07.582,0:15:11.142 for draconian legislation and illegal invasions. 0:15:11.143,0:15:15.090 However, this herd psychological tendency is not only very useful 0:15:15.091,0:15:18.686 for implanting and guiding perceived issues of importance, 0:15:18.687,0:15:22.676 it is also critical in setting rigid limits of debate, 0:15:22.677,0:15:26.593 creating the tendency for those who begin to question beyond those limits, 0:15:26.594,0:15:30.528 to be ostracized and rejected by the herd itself. 0:15:30.529,0:15:32.700 You know, if someone talks about 0:15:32.701,0:15:35.815 a more equitable distribution of income in society: 0:15:35.816,0:15:40.799 all the growth that has occurred in our country, over the last decade or more, 0:15:40.800,0:15:45.680 has gone to the upper 1, 2%. "Fucking communists!" 0:15:45.818,0:15:50.270 If someone speculates about the obvious power manipulation and corruption, 0:15:50.271,0:15:54.463 "God damn it! I am so sick of these conspiracy theorists and their lies! 0:15:54.464,0:15:57.886 The Federal Reserve does not collude for its own self interest!" 0:15:57.887,0:16:00.488 And heaven forbid we get those do-gooders 0:16:00.489,0:16:03.442 who want to actually apply modern scientific knowledge 0:16:03.443,0:16:07.083 and improve society with it. "Yeah right! 0:16:07.084,0:16:10.505 Feed, clothe and house everybody on Earth with technology? 0:16:10.506,0:16:13.866 Utopian jackasses!" [glass breaking] 0:16:14.410,0:16:18.543 Remember, probably the greatest way to control human thought, 0:16:18.544,0:16:21.905 is to establish a deep fear of social rejection, 0:16:21.906,0:16:26.866 and associate that fear to culturally taboo subjects. 0:16:27.235,0:16:29.731 So, with that ground work in motion, 0:16:29.732,0:16:32.249 we now have to deal with the pesky problem 0:16:32.250,0:16:35.240 that the public just might wise up enough, 0:16:35.241,0:16:38.004 and work to maneuver a person into political power, 0:16:38.005,0:16:40.148 that will cause us problems. 0:16:40.149,0:16:44.409 Therefore, some more specific structural safeguards are in order. 0:16:44.410,0:16:48.732 Basically, we need to make sure that those unwanted candidates, 0:16:48.733,0:16:53.277 are unable to get anywhere near the major outlets for public digestion; 0:16:53.278,0:16:56.385 and if they do, the practice is to treat them like freaks. 0:16:56.386,0:17:00.792 Are you suggesting that heroin and prostitution are an exercise of liberty? 0:17:00.793,0:17:03.527 What you're inferring is "You know what? 0:17:03.528,0:17:07.257 If we legalize heroin tomorrow, everybody is going to use heroin." 0:17:07.258,0:17:10.063 How many people here would use heroin if it was legal? 0:17:10.064,0:17:12.641 How do we do that? With money, 0:17:12.642,0:17:15.762 and our corporate constituency has plenty. 0:17:15.765,0:17:18.339 We just need to make sure the use of this money 0:17:18.339,0:17:21.839 for political influence goes uninhibited. 0:17:21.839,0:17:26.528 In a US supreme court 1976 decision, the freedom for a candidate 0:17:26.529,0:17:31.071 to use unlimited personal money for their campaign was deemed legal, 0:17:31.072,0:17:34.958 equating spending money with the right of free speech, in fact. 0:17:34.959,0:17:37.212 What this translates to, in effect, 0:17:37.213,0:17:41.013 is the removal of any regulated fairness of expression, 0:17:41.014,0:17:44.556 and hence, whoever has the most money has the most resources, 0:17:44.557,0:17:47.037 and hence effect. Perfect. 0:17:48.208,0:17:50.648 However, lets secure this a little bit farther. 0:17:50.649,0:17:53.025 Lets also make sure that our corporations, 0:17:53.026,0:17:56.686 are given the legal right to promote our little puppets without limit. 0:17:56.687,0:18:01.343 Luckily, in 2010, our pals again at the US supreme court, 0:18:01.344,0:18:04.167 confirmed that the government may not restrict 0:18:04.168,0:18:08.063 political spending by any corporation in candidate elections, 0:18:08.064,0:18:12.278 as they are, once again, protected by the 1st Amendment. 0:18:12.279,0:18:16.125 So now we can buy mad ad space to promote whoever we want, 0:18:16.126,0:18:20.446 as much as we want, drowning the opposition in the media. 0:18:20.447,0:18:22.367 ...and double check. 0:18:22.976,0:18:25.600 With those broad measures in place, 0:18:25.601,0:18:28.893 it is still important to control the basic unfolding 0:18:28.894,0:18:31.836 of the electoral process, from start to finish. 0:18:31.837,0:18:35.543 The best way to do this, is to create a false duality: 0:18:35.544,0:18:38.060 the illusion of competition between parties. 0:18:38.061,0:18:43.524 We need a 2-party system that, constantly argues with each other in general, 0:18:43.525,0:18:46.998 but still upholds the basic elitist policies 0:18:46.999,0:18:50.105 that we need to maintain our advantage. 0:18:50.106,0:18:52.687 The beauty of this dominant 2-party farce, 0:18:52.688,0:18:56.711 is that it not only gives the public the needed illusion of choice, 0:18:56.712,0:19:01.546 it more importantly, oppresses those upstart third parties. 0:19:01.547,0:19:05.039 As we know, these annoying self righteous third parties, 0:19:05.040,0:19:07.512 have been trouble makers from day one. 0:19:07.513,0:19:10.758 The civil rights amendments, women's suffrage, 0:19:10.759,0:19:15.931 broad worker rights, child labor laws and other agitations for industry, 0:19:15.932,0:19:19.748 all came from these rising third parties, historically, 0:19:19.749,0:19:22.901 not from the dominant, established group, us. 0:19:22.902,0:19:25.158 So we need to be vigilant here. 0:19:25.159,0:19:29.217 We need to get the public so used to this 2-party dictatorship, 0:19:29.218,0:19:33.225 that they don't even mind if the two parties are given direct control 0:19:33.226,0:19:36.387 over most of the electoral process itself. 0:19:36.388,0:19:40.659 They need to have the power of organizing the rules of electoral redistricting, 0:19:40.660,0:19:43.743 the primaries, the caucuses, and debates, 0:19:43.744,0:19:47.291 and of course, we, the ruling class, will moderate their actions 0:19:47.292,0:19:50.626 through lobbying, campaign contributions, you know, 0:19:50.627,0:19:56.533 exactly what the free market promises: the freedom to manipulate everything. 0:19:56.534,0:20:01.901 Meet our friends: the commission on presidential debates, or CPD. 0:20:01.902,0:20:05.263 In 1988, the democratic and republican parties, 0:20:05.264,0:20:08.105 or the demo-publicans, as I like to call them, 0:20:08.106,0:20:11.286 established the commission on presidential debates. 0:20:11.287,0:20:16.408 Posing as a non-partisan institution, the CPD successfully took control 0:20:16.409,0:20:20.290 of the most influential election event, the presidential debates. 0:20:20.291,0:20:24.365 The CPD, which is a private corporation co-chaired by the former heads 0:20:24.366,0:20:29.334 of the republican and democratic parties, decide through secret contracts, 0:20:29.335,0:20:33.630 who is going to participate in the debates, and what is going to be talked about. 0:20:33.631,0:20:38.185 Those pesky third parties, along with controversial ideas, 0:20:38.186,0:20:44.106 can only come into play if the demo-publicans decide they can. 0:20:45.013,0:20:49.210 Really, can you imagine what would happen if those annoying social upstarts, 0:20:49.211,0:20:51.997 actually were able to up against the trite, 0:20:51.998,0:20:57.922 miserable, logic, and narrow subject matter typical of our rigged debates? 0:20:57.923,0:21:02.603 But for the nurse, the teacher, the police officer who 0:21:02.604,0:21:06.281 frankly, at the end of each month, they have a little financial crisis going on. 0:21:06.282,0:21:09.987 They're having to take out extra debt just to make their mortgage payments. 0:21:09.988,0:21:12.226 We haven't been paying attention to them. 0:21:12.227,0:21:15.114 If you look at our tax policies, it's a classic example. 0:21:15.115,0:21:18.411 I'm sorry to interrupt Mr. President, but I couldn't agree more. 0:21:18.412,0:21:21.550 However, don't you feel that the tax policies 0:21:21.551,0:21:25.340 and other common acknowledgments about what is hurting the average American, 0:21:25.341,0:21:27.793 is actually quite benign, when compared to 0:21:27.794,0:21:31.023 the very foundation of our economic system? 0:21:31.024,0:21:35.862 You know, making money out of debt, charging intrest on it that doesn't exist, 0:21:35.863,0:21:40.487 which means that there's always more outstanding debt than there is money to pay for it. 0:21:40.488,0:21:44.183 Of course, that lends itself to more debt being created to cover it, 0:21:44.184,0:21:47.861 and essentially, failure and bankruptcy is inevitable. 0:21:47.862,0:21:51.233 Not for the upper classes as much as the lower middle classes. 0:21:51.234,0:21:55.403 Why? Because the lower classes are the ones taking the loans 0:21:55.404,0:22:00.669 for their home and their car, while the upper class are making interest income. 0:22:00.670,0:22:03.967 Rather than paying interest, they actually make interest 0:22:03.968,0:22:06.985 through their deposits and investments. 0:22:06.986,0:22:11.280 Obviously, this secures a massive growing class divide, structurally. 0:22:11.281,0:22:15.041 Is that not something worth considering? 0:22:20.791,0:22:23.614 As a final point about the CPD, 0:22:23.615,0:22:26.967 our corporations can now directly donate to them, 0:22:26.968,0:22:32.437 hence the parties, imposing our financial influence, and hence agenda, even more, 0:22:32.438,0:22:36.617 making another end run around that pesky legal legislation, 0:22:36.618,0:22:41.084 barring corporations from contributing directly to political campaigns. 0:22:41.085,0:22:43.085 A beautiful end run. 0:22:44.708,0:22:48.129 However, nothing is perfect, and you can't be too careful. 0:22:48.130,0:22:52.470 Sometimes, good old fashioned, time-tested tactics are needed. 0:22:52.471,0:22:57.615 Nothing is as old-fashioned, as good old direct electoral fraud. 0:22:57.616,0:23:00.950 Let's get some of our corporate buddies to build some voting machines, 0:23:00.951,0:23:03.187 with really terrible integrity, 0:23:03.188,0:23:06.568 and get them in as many critical spots as we can. 0:23:06.569,0:23:09.577 Yeah, I know, it's sloppy. It has already become public, 0:23:09.578,0:23:13.376 that the machines can be hacked remotely, with about $10 of materials, 0:23:13.377,0:23:15.725 and an 8th grade science education. 0:23:15.726,0:23:19.626 But, since most Americans are completely distracted by their debt, 0:23:19.627,0:23:23.016 lowering standard of living, and ongoing job losses, 0:23:23.017,0:23:26.617 the liberal media falls on deaf ears. 0:23:30.354,0:23:31.954 So, let's recap. 0:23:32.816,0:23:35.146 Free thinking people tend to recognize 0:23:35.147,0:23:38.081 the need for ongoing adaptation and change, 0:23:38.082,0:23:42.298 so we need to make sure education supports the existing tradition, 0:23:42.299,0:23:47.164 through mere rote learning, not critical, logical thought. 0:23:47.165,0:23:50.679 Next, we establish clear limits of debate in the culture, 0:23:50.680,0:23:53.257 and make sure those who go beyond the pale, 0:23:53.258,0:23:57.738 are shutdown by endless ridicule and debasement. 0:23:57.916,0:24:00.357 Then we need to harness the herd psychology, 0:24:00.358,0:24:03.425 and guide it through our media, to either identify 0:24:03.426,0:24:07.350 with the issues we need in the forefront, or distract them outright. 0:24:07.351,0:24:09.505 As far as large scale influence, 0:24:09.506,0:24:11.971 we need to have the freedom to do whatever we want, 0:24:11.972,0:24:14.747 and to use our vast corporate wealth to influence 0:24:14.748,0:24:18.407 both public opinion and the candidates themselves. 0:24:18.408,0:24:23.357 Our legal status as a corporate person, now ensures our free speech, 0:24:23.358,0:24:25.633 and hence free spending. 0:24:25.634,0:24:29.153 Next, we create the public illusion of competition and choice, 0:24:29.154,0:24:33.249 and gain as much control over the election process as possible. 0:24:33.250,0:24:38.107 Our demo-publican pawns, with our endless sponsorship and lobbying, 0:24:38.108,0:24:42.045 now handles this well, including the restriction of public debate, 0:24:42.046,0:24:46.196 and the denial of all interfering third parties. 0:24:46.197,0:24:49.902 If that wasn't enough, screw it! We'll just reorder the ballot counts ourselves, 0:24:49.903,0:24:56.783 with the black box voting hacks in the most influential electoral states. 0:24:58.383,0:24:59.983 And so it goes! 0:25:00.558,0:25:02.720 Since the beginning of civilization, 0:25:02.721,0:25:06.323 those in power have successfully restricted the interests of the majority, 0:25:06.324,0:25:10.382 by regulating their values, by controlling resources through money, 0:25:10.383,0:25:14.199 not to mention controlling the very processes that exist to challenge them. 0:25:14.200,0:25:18.519 Is it a conspiracy? Do such powerful men meet in dark rooms, 0:25:18.520,0:25:20.849 and work to figure out how to keep their power? 0:25:20.850,0:25:23.496 Actually no, not as much as you might think. 0:25:23.497,0:25:27.462 You see, the hilarious thing about all of this, is that such a process 0:25:27.463,0:25:30.342 of manipulation is actually self-generating, 0:25:30.343,0:25:32.877 justified in a step by step manner, 0:25:32.878,0:25:36.652 with basic self-interest guiding the whole way. 0:25:36.653,0:25:41.458 You see, the real corruption is not occurring in back-room meetings, or at the docks; 0:25:41.459,0:25:45.531 the real power resides in how you, the public, 0:25:45.532,0:25:48.605 actually perpetuate, condone and support 0:25:48.606,0:25:52.580 the very underlying systems that oppress you. 0:25:52.581,0:25:56.453 Final thoughts: many watching this program's content, 0:25:56.454,0:26:00.326 will likely interpret the broad farce known as American democracy, 0:26:00.327,0:26:03.076 or really the farce of global democracy, in fact, 0:26:03.077,0:26:06.461 as a system in need of better regulation. 0:26:06.462,0:26:11.606 The ACLU, Democracy Now!, Michael Moore, Occupy Wall Street, Annie Leonard, 0:26:11.607,0:26:15.312 and other intelligent and outspoken activist institutions and figures, 0:26:15.313,0:26:17.792 seeking what they call 'change', 0:26:17.793,0:26:21.689 all actually operate within the same presupposition: 0:26:21.690,0:26:25.222 "If only if we could better regulate monetary and corporate power, 0:26:25.223,0:26:27.543 we can fix the world." 0:26:28.292,0:26:28.692 No. 0:26:30.322,0:26:33.799 I'm sorry to say that until the social premise itself, 0:26:33.800,0:26:37.181 and hence the fundamental psychological drivers of our economy; 0:26:37.182,0:26:41.313 imbalance, scarcity, narrow self-interest, exploitation and competition- 0:26:41.314,0:26:45.209 until those are altered to the extent that the system begins to reward 0:26:45.210,0:26:49.366 and reinforce collaboration, human and ecological balance, 0:26:49.367,0:26:55.245 efficiency and sustainability, nothing is going to really change. 0:26:55.246,0:26:59.378 In a sociological condition, where everything is based on advantage over others, 0:26:59.379,0:27:03.428 what we call corruption today isn't actually corruption at all; 0:27:03.429,0:27:05.889 it's just business as usual. 0:27:05.890,0:27:08.619 Seriously, what did you people expect? 0:27:08.620,0:27:12.084 In an economy where everything is for sale by the very ethic inherent, 0:27:12.085,0:27:16.429 underscored by the false notion that we can't possibly work together intelligently 0:27:16.430,0:27:20.706 to benefit all, no level of supposed corruption 0:27:20.707,0:27:23.267 should surprise any of us. 0:27:25.310,0:27:28.787 In short, to assume we're going to perpetuate this economic philosophy here, 0:27:28.788,0:27:33.158 and then contradict it over here with the idea that certain elements of society 0:27:33.159,0:27:37.263 should be off-limits for monetary manipulation and gain, 0:27:37.264,0:27:40.224 is completely naive and absurd. 0:27:41.137,0:27:45.947 But don't take my word for it; just sit back and watch the ebb and flow 0:27:45.948,0:27:50.591 as we move from one set of corrupt, damaging practices to the next. 0:27:50.592,0:27:54.947 Sure, we'll slowly fix a few issues with our in the box thinking, 0:27:54.948,0:27:58.430 but until the whole system is addressed at its core, 0:27:58.431,0:28:01.059 unfortunately, it's all mostly a waste of time 0:28:01.060,0:28:03.933 and improvement would be very little. 0:28:03.934,0:28:08.698 Until we grow up to that level, sit back, relax, enjoy the show 0:28:08.699,0:28:11.837 and until next time, I'm Peter Joseph 0:28:11.838,0:28:16.158 an agent and victim of a culture in decline. 0:28:17.958,0:28:20.879 Please note that no demopublicans were injured 0:28:20.880,0:28:23.350 or abused during the taping of this show. 0:28:23.351,0:28:28.631 (However, it appears their extinction might be imminent.) 0:28:29.805,0:28:33.799 This broadcast was made possible by generous grants from the Rockefeller foundation, 0:28:33.800,0:28:36.706 George Soros, the Theosophic Society, the Bilderberg Group; 0:28:36.707,0:28:39.808 the Council on Foreign Relations, the new world order, Alex Jones 0:28:39.809,0:28:42.623 and the satanic death cult known as the Zeitgeist Movement.