I am going to say, “Manufacturing Consent,” by Noam Chomsky.
In the past, I had only heard him say things that contradicted what I saw on the news. I felt he was simply a contrarian. I dismissed his ideas.
Let me just admit I used to read and listen to mainstream content. I just believed that the US did not engage in propaganda. I thought that was a “Pravda” type of thing.
But after gradually feeling things were not right, and getting increasingly suspicious of our media, I picked up Chomsky’s book. It was very thoroughly researched and documented. It confirmed what I was beginning to suspect.
I really really wanted to believe that the US policies that I saw causing so much harm had been based on “good intentions.” We know well intentioned people can fail. I was not ready to believe that the US could do anything, “bad and wrong.” Dang I was such a naive person. I could not comprehend people willing to let people suffer and die for self interested motives.
Well. I am sad to know some things. I now believe Chomsky is “mostly right” about a number (not all) of things. Certainly this book didn’t completely change a worldview of mine, but rather I picked up the book after I was ready to hear it. It confirmed a different view that I didn’t really want to believe. One where I am not able to change anything and where I understand I have no power. Where people are manipulated and lied to. All the time.
People, we need to take our country back. Those who seek power and thrive on it are not your everyday people like us. People in large groups making small, self serving decisions eventually create a monster.
After running for Congress, I am even more convinced that something needs to change NOW. We are facing Robespierre’s ghost. We can’t survive this. I am very serious.
by Few-Disk9463