This Explains a Lot

I recently saw this: “According to the U.S. Department of Education, 54% of U.S. adults 16-74 years old - about 130 million people - lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.”

I don't know what the stat would be on "logic", but I bet the number is even higher.

Doesn't that give a little insight into to how come the pols talk to us the way they do? Small, easily assimilated morsels of assumed meaning(s) loaded with subtext and meta messaging. Its called propaganda. Remember, "Kids in cages". Immigrant detainees held in "concentration camps". "Insurrection!" "Coup!" "Sleepy Joe." "Fake News*." In each case there's a grain of truth. My point is to be on the alert for attempts to convince you that the grain is the whole enchilada. Or, as Doctor Jill would put it, the whole "Breakfast Taco" at the local "Bodaga". *That "Fake News", there's more than a grain of truth with that one. Like, Gee Whiz! Did you see what Kim wore to the party??? Like that ... Fake News. This just in ... Ben and Jen got married!

And all those extra modifiers pols and press tack on to whatever they want you to how to see it. Like, as an example, "he walked across the lawn". No, he walked skulking across the lawn. "Suspiciously." "Languorously." "Lazily." "Sprightly." You can add whatever your personal fave denigrator word is. 

If you don't see that happening, maybe you're a dupe to confirmation bias? It's part of the playbook. But, that's what I think. You?

Then there's our individual mentality. Big subject. We generally assume that the world I see is the world you see. The world everybody sees. Well, the real world. But, given our individual makeups and individual unique experiences layered on/in along the way, we each see a different version of the world. Then, we argue over it.

I want to point out that there is the body-mind ... the mind/mentality that goes along with the identified person. Then there's the MIND. The one that the Buddhists describe as Clear, Luminous, and Unobstructed. The essential Mind. Tathakathagarba. [Gesundheit.] Put another way, there's the truth of our perception. Then there's Truth. Not perceived, but known directly. This is nothing new. You got this!

Of course the propaganda is all about getting us all on the same page, mentally. The nation that thinks together ... Majority rules. Problem is, just who wants us to think what? Those kids finagling all those algorithms, that's who. And, pollsters, with their focus groups where pols find out what to say so it goes in and gets you to go do whatever it is they want you to do. Or, think. And, let's not forget the machers. Those in the spotlight on the world stage telling us what's so, and how so. I wouldn't mind that so much except most in such positions of supposed influence are ignorant. Cooking up what's best for you and me out of their own ferkakta; pretending to know what's best, with all the answers.

We all deep down know that we don't know. The day seems to go to the one(s) what make the best pretense at knowing. Just say just about anything with confidence and a good crowd you can get on your side. If you're a movie star, make that an even bigger crowd.

If you watch for it you'll see that the whole media enterprise is geared toward framing our reality. And, we lap it up. Unaware. A prime example for me, pharmaceutical advertising. Seems like a service, don't it. Ask your doctor about "Copacetic", it'll give you a happy day. It's not the drug itself. The missed underlying point is that we are being framed into a world where chemical drugs are considered part of everyday life. [You know there's a difference between chemically correct, and biologically correct. If you don't think that's an important distinction, just follow the smooth talking disclaimers with soothing music on any given drug commercial. "You may experience projectile vomiting, loss of vision, possible death ... or, worse. Ask your doctor."] Doctors. And, that doctors are THE experts. Well, they are; when something's broke. Otherwise, they make the big bucks keeping sick people alive. The cure? Ain't no money in the cure! The money's in the drugs. And, the comeback. [Props to Chris Rock for them words.] Take that Kervorkian MD. Please. "As your doctor there isn't anything more I can do for you to allay your suffering. Well, maybe, except to kill you. Don't worry, I'll make it nice."

Net, net ... we're conditioned. From birth. And, not aware of our conditioning. Yet. There is such a thing as waking up. Not "woke". Awakening. Awakened. Big diff. 

So, where TF are we?

What we may have now is an end game situation where each side of the political divide is fully and righteously, absolutely with God-on-our-side cock sure that we are right; and, the others — read, those who disagree with us — are not only wrong, but the devil incarnate. If you follow the news surely you know what I'm talking about. Otherwise, you too, are what Hillary so aptly put it: a deplorable. Yes, you! Deal!

It even seems it's men versus women. Or, whatever you call them with the dicks and pussies that won't offend even the most sensitive listener. The battle of the sexes is not meant to be won! Nuff said. I refer you to your local jin/yang symbol for better understanding on that one. 

In this climate it's not a far stretch to see torches and pitchforks out in front of su casa. As Chuck Schumer would put it ... "reap the whirlwind!". As Maxine Waters would put it ... you "are not welcome here!" [i.e., those who disagree with her]. Even Prez 46 has trashed the legitimacy of the Judicial Branch over his disagreement with the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Disagree, fine. But, to suggest the institution itself is bogus ... What conclusion should we draw. "Don't trust!" That is, don't trust what we want you to don't trust. But, trust us. Hillary! Elizabeth! OAC! Where are you when America is in need of a hero? I wouldn't be surprised if in the not too distant future some smooth faced star of the silver screen will be the president. Again. Then we'll have what we want, something "presidential". Kanye 2024! He'll reunite with Kim and we'll have all the boxes checked in the White House. And, in a gesture of reconciliation and unity and noblesse oblige, Pete Davidson appointed Secretary of State. The youth vote, that's the ticket.

Is it just a matter of getting the kids to go to school?

Rabindranath Tagore, in Personality (1917: 116-17):

"We have come to this world to accept it, not merely to know it. We may become powerful by knowledge, but we attain fullness by sympathy. The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence. But we find that this education of sympathy is not only systematically ignored in schools, but it is severely repressed. From our very childhood habits are formed and knowledge is imparted in such a manner that our life is weaned away from nature and our mind and the world are set in opposition from the beginning of our days. Thus the greatest of educations for which we came prepared is neglected, and we are made to lose our world to find a bagful of information instead. We rob the child of his earth to teach him geography, of language to teach him grammar. His hunger is for the Epic, but he is supplied with chronicles of facts and dates ... Child-nature protests against such calamity with all its power of suffering, subdued at last into silence by punishment." 

My own take is that we've indoctrinated ourselves into servitude. Compliant robots. Functionaries for tasks. As progress progresses, of course, we'll have machines to do all that. Then those mindless twits we've educated for the culture can be left to their own devices, incessantly bombarded with political and mercantile propaganda to be "good" citizens, and eager buyers of goods, services, and entertainments. We are indeed a consumer culture. But, beware, when you are not in a position for whatever reason to be a consumer, some smarty pants might just get the idea that you are cancelable. 

There's a choice. I made mine. Make yours. What's the choice, you ask? I don't have that answer for you. Just a hint: of all the choices that are presented to us as voters and consumers, also remember that in addition to any one of those choices you may make, there's yet another choice. Sit with that. It will present itself.