How do these ICE people get away with wearing masks?

[OldBaldy1701E]

21. Obey. Work. Consume.

'Rest is for the weak.'
'If you want to succeed, you must give everything. And then, give even more.'
'Time off is time out.'

That programming.

Being shamed and forced to work until you die without a thought as to doing anything else.

(This is being used as a metaphor, but you get the idea. I do not believe that aliens have taken over the planet. The unfettered uber-rich have done a pretty good job of it on their own. And, the irony is that their message is the same as those aliens in the movie.)

Being told that the uberwealthy in our society are the best that humanity has to offer because they are the richest and therefore we should never question what they do, and that their ideas are the only ones that should be considered because they are the only ones that make (fiscal) sense. Even if you may not especially want to emulate a particular wealthy person, you are still trying to be as rich as they are, and believe that getting there will make you someone to be loved and admired as well, because they told you that you could. They have rigged the system so that you cannot, but they still want you to believe that you can. 'American Dream' and all that.

Being taught that the economy is more important than the people. If one does not rush out and either become wealthy or work oneself to death making someone else wealthy, then one does not exist. There is so little upward mobility anymore that now, anyone who is not rolling in it is pretty much going to be joining myself in the bread line.

Oh wait... there are no bread lines. Any help for anyone who is not able to work three jobs is nonexistent. And, thanks to this same propaganda, we are deciding more and more that anyone who is not working towards an early grave to prop up that oh-so-important economy is not really worth the trouble. Yes, even those who are unable to work in the usual sense, if at all. (This is regardless of any level of effort one has made in the past, by the way. In this day and age, the United States follows the Janet Jackson School of Social Interaction...)

That programming.

Of course, these have been my experiences in my life in my little corner of the world. Others experiences may (and usually do) vary. However, one can conceivably draw a correlation as to those who have had similar experiences to mine being as cynically cynical as I am, and those who were born and/or raised in a more... fiscally solvent... part of town being less cognizant of why someone like me is so cynical, which usually gets me the 'that whiny bitch' award from someone who will probably never know what socioeconomic suffering is, and therefore can't truly believe in it. ("Can't you just buy another car?&quot

(Addendum: I am well aware that there is way more suffering in the world than mine. Right now, it is time for me to finally start worrying about myself, first and foremost. So, yes, I know. But, I cannot change the world, despite my attempts to do so in my own way. Now, I am just trying to not be too much of a burden to my husband before my heart gives out, although it might be my brain that goes first. I am seeing more evidence for that. Anyway, the rest will just have to find their own path. Mine leads to nothing.)