I’m more suspicious nowadays not of outright lies, but of the reasons behind why lies are told.
For example, we really have no idea who to trust nowadays with our media consumption and ad spending moguls. For example, my most hated commercial here is a multinational media conglomerate’s tagline/rationale: “X million people in all of Latin America can’t be wrong.”
Again, examining world history we know that’s the same logic the Germans sitting on the fence used before they joined the Furher and made history.
If groupthink is wrong or not is not the point; its all about how marketers “tell the story.” The independent radio stations have been pushed out of the marketplace, and replaced with conglomerate which predetermines the songs and amount of airtime plus commercials to play across the channel and continents. They gained share of market by buying out everyone else, so radio station listeners can either tune in or buy Sirius. I can’t afford Sirius so I’m doomed to listen to Katy Perry and Lady Gaga on loop. … in Mexico City.
No. I’m intrigued at how since the death of OBL the US has now turned its beady eye to their neighbors south of the Rio Grande. What really needs to stop is this senseless Mexican violence that is now an everyday occurrence thanks to the latest war in vogue, Drugs. As global Gestapo, concerned with protecting the virtues of gentle folk, how does the US plan on stopping this frenemy?
EVERY DAY there are 3, 11, 42 or some number of mass graves, bodies or beheadings happening in this skinny country (See Peter’s Projection map for the actual size of continents. Its like finding out that Magnums also come in size small- disappointing.)
People are chased down on highways, out of their cars and into warehouses where they are gunned down and die. Machetes are being sharpened to cut through vertebrae- a clean beheading. Videos are email emailed of faces being expertly cut and shorn off muscled faces, like masks; moustache and all. Faces are being sewn onto soccer balls and tossed into Acapulco discotheques. What. the. Fuck.
The images seen and heard about are as macabre as a medieval torture tools exhibit. Rack or Iron Chair? Machete or Drill? This much hatred and cruelty can’t be doing us any favors with the Big Guy. Theology aside, human to human; this is simply not good. And although this caliber of violence has been thriving for centuries, like a bad song, we always look back and say “How barbaric!” The Dark Ages were really dark, hence our delight and celebration of the Enlightenment/Age of Reason, for example.
My point is this: We are living in some dark times, but its possible to learn from mistakes and chose to live with another perspective, to identify the real bully and fight your personal battles on your own. Its possible to be considerate of someone besides ourselves and its possible to consider your role in the madness of the bigger picture.
What happened to reason? Dialogue? Understanding?
One of the most basic tenants in economics is the concept of supply and demand. If you’ve played Sims or owned a virtual farm, you know this. Same thing applies in real life.
(By the way: Does life imitate reality shows/virtual life or does virtual life/reality shows imitate life? Its not so obvious to me anymore.)
The “War on Drugs” has a nice ring to it and feels like a morally correct battle to wage. It also jives with all of the other “wars” the US is currently occupied with, so the pill is easier to swallow.
But who is it exactly that we’re fighting against? And why are all these random Mexicans dying?
According to The Atlantic’s 2009 analysis of data (from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health), Cambrige University psychologist Jason Rentfrow said: “I think it’s interesting that cocaine is high for finance, law and quant professions. Although we can’t infer whether it’s people in those jobs actually doing drugs, those professions are generally regarded as intense and lavish. So it’s interesting that an expensive stimulant like cocaine is used more often in places where comparatively large numbers of people work in intense and high-paying jobs. …
“It’s also interesting that marijuana is popular in places with artists, designers, and architects because those are jobs that encourage divergent thinking, and marijuana is a psychoactive drug that’s associated with creativity.” (1)
Lawyers?? Doing coke?? NO WAY. And these people have nothing to do with laws or government enforcement of high standards and societal mores. How about THAT for irony?
The Atlantic was examining the relationship between drug use and class… (2) How many working-class Mexicans do you know can afford to party with coke? … How many baller-ass Mexican lawyers have you heard of? I’m not saying they don’t exist, I’m merely framing this situation.
Imagine ants everywhere. While it may be entertaining to take them out one by one, if you’re serious and want to get on with it, you hit the source by taking out the queen + her eggs and thus kill the colony.
Now that we know that there has been some shady activity with the so called War on Drugs, with both sides dropping the ball on reform, and a cute covert US op to see what would happen if a bunch of high tech arms made it into the hands of thugs (gee—power trip + firearms = unnecessary deaths?) without addressing the real problem which would be the origin of the demand causing the need for supply…
We all have vices, and I’m not here to criticize yours. I’m just asking you to consider indulging in a vice that kills only yourself without causing (physical) harm onto others. Booze and tobacco are still legal… And if its too uncomfortable to examine the origin of the feelings that are making you miserable,
“Ask your doctor if _______ is the right choice for you. See our latest ad in Reader’s Digest.”
1- http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer heavy_states_see_higher_cocaine_use/
2- http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2009/08/this-is-your-occupation-on-drugs/23028/
