Selling Anything

While the main focus of this video is selling war, and we are in that mode right now with regard to Russia, the beginning about what we eat was on target for me starting up again my series on eating and diet. 

Why is the traditional American breakfast bacon and eggs? The answer is propaganda. 

Today it is not the bacon companies, it is the cereal companies that want you to eat a "healthy" breakfast. I am not saying that you can skip breakfast, nor am I saying you can't eat cereal. Experiment on yourself and see how you eat on days you skip breakfast, or have a smoothie, or bacon and eggs, or have cereal. What do you eat after each of these experimental breakfasts? Do you pass up or eat the office donuts? Do you go to the drive through at Starbucks for a Carmel Macchiatta? Know thyself. 

The important thing to remember is that each of us is different, and that you are being played by the advertisements you watch. Why would food companies spend billions on ads each year? The obvious answer is that the ads work. 

As we proceed on this topic, I will be offering some suggestions on how to leave the business, religious and military system I, and the Bible, calls Babylon the Great. 

When In Doubt, Quote Socrates

Why do you buy the products you buy? Or even more scary, why do you think the thoughts you think? Socrates' famous proverb that the unexamined life is not worth living is just as true today as it was when he said it millennia ago. 

We are products of our culture in ways we do not even realize. That culture is a construct of each of us, but yet we are also constructs of our culture. The "powers that be" use various techniques to influence society. Maybe I am amused easily, but I find it funny that these same "powers" are just as much a victim of their own propaganda as everyone else. That is the power of culture and of propaganda and its sister advertising. 

As the quote from Socrates shows this has always been a problem. But with modern media the problem for modern society is more acute. 

This YouTube video examines these issues by talking about the father of modern PR, Edward Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freud. I will post other parts over the next few days. 

Ukraine Refuses to Pass Gas

The Ukrainian Parliament will soon vote to ban the passage of Russian gas into Europe. Since this is 50% of Russian gas exports! I do not see how Russia can ignore this. Why is this being considered? It seems that Ukriane wants to be invaded. While one should never underestimate the power of stupidity, this seems particularly stupid. 

Who benefits?

 Ukraine doesn't. 

The only benefit is those that advocate a destruction of Russia. This has been US policy for decades, it did not end the with the Cold War. 

This seems stupid, even for the strange US foreign policy of the modern era. 

A Typical Senate Candate

David Stockman

While I am not expected a collapse, a crisis is in our future.