The Great American Brainwashing Machine

The Great American Brainwashing Machine
Ladies and Gentlemen, bring your children along for the greatest spectacle of all time! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Here we have the 10th wonder of the world, bigger than King Kong, Hotter than Johnny Storm, Darker than the Darkest Water. Yes my dear enthralled friends what we have here is the best, the brightest, the shiniest little do dad you have ever had the sheer misfortune to lay your foggy, unfocused, beady little eyes on. This is indeed the marvel of all marvels, a thing fit to put a stop to all human suffering I promise. Right behind this curtain, you can see it for yourself and right now today, for you my friends it is absolutely free. No need to thank me your presence is enough.
Nine times out of ten when you hear the bellowing voice of the carnival barker it would be most wise to keep your money in your pockets, your eyes forward and your feet moving. Sure the draw is enticing and that crumpled and faded dollar bill in your pocket is just itching to be set free. You will find a spectacle of such massive and overwhelming proportion. The spectacle? Your own gullible nature of course. But I am here today to tell you dear reader that I have something to show you, you will be shocked and amazed. So now follow me, if you dare, beyond the curtain and into the truth.
Many of us question the state of our nation. We wonder what has gone so terribly wrong with our men and women, we wonder why our children are lost and out of control. We point our fingers and make outrageous statements and claims as to the cause of our nation’s woes. Is it the sex and violence on television? Is it today’s popular music, maybe the videogames? I am here to tell you that these industries are as much the victims of the real issue as any of the zombies lost in the morass. The real issue has much deeper roots than our choices of entertainment and relaxation. The real problem lies deep within the American culture itself.
Think on this. From a very young age we are constantly bombarded by standardized, manufactured images. These images are specifically designed to target a particular demographic. Women ages 18 to 25, Men ages 30 to 55, Teens ages 12 to 18 the list goes on; no longer people but rather a target group, studied, hunted and placed squarely in the cross hairs of big business. They tell us how we are supposed to look, how we are supposed to think, what we are supposed to eat, wear, watch, drive, sleep on, under and with. They tell us where to shop and how much we are supposed to spend, they feed our weak egos with hopes and dreams of a better future once we have that 1500 dollar 78 inch 16:9 High Definition Digital Quality entertainment center with surround sound and TiVo. They tell us what’s in and what’s so much out; what’s new and improved, better than ever and fresh off the line. And we sit there, soak it up, save our pennies, nickels, and yes even our dimes. We work harder than ever, sleep less, drink more and dance till dawn with Bacardi and Cola. We chase the hot chicks and the hunks, we bun and thigh roll, Tae Bo, five minute ab flatten, pill pop, carb. drop and weight watch. Seems like a great deal of activity, so much to keep up with so much to do if you are going to look like the girl in the ad.
The Ad, an enticement designed to keep you empty in the head following the program and never once stopping to think. No time for that the people who made it obviously know if it’s the best thing or not right? Of course they do, carry on stupid ass. That’s exactly what they expect you to do. Keep your head down, your mouth shut, your eyes closed and your money out. Blend in, don’t stand out. Look like everyone else, talk like everyone else, drive what everyone else is driving. And next year don’t forget to upgrade.
Now we have a nation of mindless consumers, buying because that is what they know how to do. We are a people on the verge of poverty just one week after being on the verge of success. Week after week, day after day struggle and strife and not one fucking clue how to break the cycle. Want a hint dear reader? STOP IT! Take a moment to really look at what you are being told. Think a minute before you make a decision as to which toothbrush you are going to buy. Was it a commercial flash back that put you in front of that 15 dollar spin brush? Do you recognize a pattern in the commercials you don’t mind watching? Is it the music, the images, the overt sexuality that gets your motor running? Look around your house; look at the things you own. Do these things bring to mind any advertisements? Maybe yes maybe no, maybe you are lying.
Think, think, and think!
Think education for a moment here. In our country the numbers are more important than the students. The more students that pass the scholastic tests the more money that district receives. They would like for you to believe that that money is allotted strictly to give your child a better education. Yet because of the standardized tests we allow no room for exploration and experimentation. The true hallmark of intelligence is not in what you can recite, not in what you know, but in how well you can apply what you know to a given situation. Our nation’s students are not given that freedom. They must stick to the curriculum so that they can be certain to score as high as possible on this test that will ask these questions. Nothing more need be learned. This is a real problem and it becomes more and more apparent as the years pass. We have more problem children who are dropping out of school or just not getting the hang. Without some sort of individual attention and encouragement this trend amongst our youth will continue to grow. I cannot place all of the blame on the schools however; they are under legal restraint and are too fucking cowardly to fight about it.
No, you parents are too at fault. You have no time any more to spend with your children doing anything other than sitting in front of the Ad box in your living room, or shuttling your kids off into their rooms so you can relax. You have no idea what they are into and you have the fucking nerve to be outraged when you find GTA San Andreas in their Xbox. Spare me your bullshit indignity because the resources are available. You can take the time to read about what your kids are into and what all of the details are. You are capable but maybe you don’t give a flying shit really. Gotta get that big screen right? No fault of your own though you are as much a victim of this consumerist society as anyone else.
I am not condemning our system here; I am however condemning the people in it. I am condemning our inability to stop for two fucking seconds and think for ourselves. If we change the system will change. It works because we want it to work. It’s convenient, simple, one touch, and easy bake, microwave able, portable, streamlined and user friendly. It also removes all need for higher brain function. Do it because you were told, don’t ask questions, don’t explore the alternatives, don’t research and learn for your self, don’t sing a different song, do a different dance, read a different magazine. Keep on keeping on. The carnival barker is in your face, bellowing. I say keep your money in your pockets, your eyes forward and your feet moving. Don’t fall for the okey doke.
The Great American Brainwashing Machine Directions for use:
Place your unused brains in the bowl, lower the mixer, set to high and leave for the rest of your life.