Shopping....

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, President George Bush told us to just "go shopping". That was a jaw-dropping moment for me. Apparently, that would keep us busy and not asking questions.

I once read that in all governmental structures there is a bludgeon to keep the people from getting out of control. The bludgeon list includes threats, ostracism, beatings, incarceration, torture, burning at the stake, genocide, and "disappearing".

"Ah," you say, "We don't have any of that in the U.S." We actually do, but that will be another postcard. What we do have is entertainment. We are kept entertained with sports, TV, outrageous news, working long hours, and shopping. As long as we are busy and happy, we won't be asking the question, "What is really going on here?" It is almost as if we don't really want to know. What would happen if we suddenly stopped being pacified by shopping?
Sent March 24, 2017