posted on Dec, 3 2008 @ 06:34 PM
The video makes a number of good points and many of its essential premises are sound, yet it glosses over a great deal of history and ignores the
human element in government.
I maintain that the three worst ideas in human history have been government, religion, and money, which this video deals with, but I think this guy is
barking up the wrong tree. In advocating personal freedom and empowerment, he tries to demonize and blame an external entity, and in so doing implies
that we are at the mercy of consciously malicious bodies of elites which have functioned throughout time, solely for economic benefit. This is
partially true, and partially distorted. If you are enslaved, you are enslaving yourself, and no other entity can be blamed. Opposed, yes, if you
wish, but I would argue that the problem of elites exploiting the masses is FAR less of a conscious, profit-oriented effort than this video (and many
a conspiracy theory) claims.
All wacky Icke-ish theories aside, human beings compose governments, religions, and businesses. Presumably we are all human beings posting on
this site (until proven otherwise, that is). We are different, but really quite the same. There are malicious people, true enough, but I am of the
mind that most people are genuinely decent and caring underneath the surface. Exploitation and deceit, violence and suffering, manipulation and greed
- these all occur, but not because we are controlled, but because the system (if you will) is out of control. People are imperfect. We make
mistakes and errors in judgment. We are sometimes warped by troubled childhoods and traumatic life experiences. We act out of fear, and so perpetuate
a broken system, largely unconsciously. Instead of fearing an evil bogeyman - be it in the form of a politician, government agent, priest,
king, or businessman - why not choose to see that person as what he or she is? A person, just like you. Love and understanding are remedies to
fear.
I am not advocating excusing, denying, or ignoring unjust actions by any government, but suggesting that we are not slaves or livestock. Being a
vegetarian, I would prefer that livestock not be treated like livestock either, but to the point, we are all responsible for our own lives. To
paraphrase Lincoln, nobody can govern you without your own consent. You could argue that we consent to be slaves, but I'm suggesting that the world
is exactly what you want it to be, right now. If you want it to be different, it can be made so. Other people may seek to oppress you, but the choice
is always there for you and for them, and it's not just an illusion.
This video, for all its valid points, is severely cynical. To suggest that artists and intellectuals and teachers are primarily propagandists for the
system is not only a cynical viewpoint, but an ignorant one. Indeed, it is often those very people who speak out against and raise awareness about
unjust situations, government corruption, and religious hypocrisy, for example, and who are often the first victims of totalitarian regimes when they
take power.
The video makes some good observations but is fundamentally crippled by cynicism, pessimism, and inaccuracies.