Lies and Fear
M Alan Roberts

I wanted to write something about politics this month, but I really don't know that much about the subject. Well, I know just one thing about politics. I know that all political races are based mostly on what I like to call crap. Yeah, they lie to us - not just little white ones either - big black ones. Common people are blindly led through a constant barrage of untruths and misinformation in order to instill a sense of false power within them. Do it for long enough and they actually come to believe that their opinion matters to these "venerable leaders" of the masses. As this happens, the politicians and those who buy their services are free to sit back in luxury - relishing their "victories" over the ignorant.

So, I guess that politics is out of the question for now in my life. There's always religion, but I really lack a solid knowledge base in this field as well. What I do know is that most doctrines of organized religions are based on what I like to call control through fear. Let's face it: The governments of the world needed religion to make their peoples listen to them. If you threaten a person with the IRS or the police, they will be deterred, but ultimately still quite mischievous. However, if you lay a threat of eternal damnation on them, they are far more likely to fear you and therefore obey

That's exactly why there has always been such a delicate balance between the church and the state. Not so long ago, the church held far more power than the state because greater numbers of people lived in ignorance concerning historical facts and they also had greater distances between themselves. As the world's population exploded and people grew together in huge cities, they became more prone to misbehave - and the church lost control. Then came the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and later, wonderful works like The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. Once the people of the world began to realize that the lessons that were driven into their minds since birth may be erroneous, they had less reason than ever to behave. And they started to think for themselves a bit more. People like George do not like that one bit.

Now, let me tell you what I know about the United States prison system. It's larger than ever and continues to grow every day. The government knows that they can't control the masses any longer. They know that it's just a small matter of time before all people are enlightened enough to no longer believe their ludicrous lies. They are positioning a new church - The Church of the Cell Block. Religion is now failing the government that has continually abused its people as a method of mass control - and the government is fighting back. It's spending far, far more cash on new prisons and jails (and war) than for schools and domestic programs for life enhancement. I also know that the US comprises only about 5% of the planet's population and that it is housing about 50% of the world's prisoners. Yep - sounds like crap to me.

Politics and organized religion are the two biggest farces that have ever existed and it's way past time for us all to stand up. This life is all of ours to live equally. We are supposed to enjoy our lives. We are allowed to be free. Of course there needs to be law and order, but must that mean that the laws have to be so ridiculously easy to break? More than 1 out of every 100 adult Americans are now incarcerated. That doesn't include those of us on probation. When you count us in, 1 out of every 25 American adults are in trouble with the law. Hmm.

So, as usual, I won't bother discussing who is ahead in the polls; if John McCain was really tortured; if Obama will choose a woman to run with him or anything like that. Likewise, I won't talk about the unholy Chinese crippling of the Tibetans or child-raping priests. I'll just keep my thoughts to myself and try to maintain my own decency. I'll pay off the probation department and disassociate with them. Perhaps I'll go back to the Alaskan wilderness and live out my life where people are still free-thinking enough to stand up for their own rights.

You never know though - maybe I'll get selfish and start lying with every word and become a politician. Or better yet - a preacher.