sheeple

Some would consider him a genius. This is a drastically exaggerated descriptor, but it does take a certain level of awareness to do what he’s done. He is labeled as one of the key factors in the republican dominance of this nation’s government that ended only recently. But the way he did it is not unique. It’s not original. It’s not new. In fact, it’s probably been used for millennia. It’s a basis of thought that helped build pyramids, provoke war between tribes, and it’s why governments and Big Business can do the things they do today.

There are likely a number of theories with different names that attempt to describe this idea, but it boils down to this: people, when in bulk, are excessively stupid. One person with independent thought, when grouped with other independent thinkers, and is then given expurgated information, becomes increasingly influenced by popular thought. The phrase “two heads are better than one” may be true, but a couple hundred heads have the equivalent IQ of a middle-school student. The unfortunate facilitator of the viral stupidity is the simple fact that popular thought is easily manipulated.

This may be caused by peoples’ general faith in others’ judgment. And the more other involved, the more true their ideas become. Good ideas spiral into popularity the same way. The first woman to push their swimsuit bottoms up her ass in order to catch more complete sun was likely looked upon as some sort of oddity. But with the help of time and a constant thirst for more carcinogens, the thong was born—and worn.

Bad ideas have the same exponential growth opportunity. The general populous is easily swayed. He knows this. He targets a demographic that he anticipates will hold influence over a larger group. Or he targets boisterous minorities that will catch the attention of substantial numbers of voters. He defines talking points that talk directly to these groups. These groups make up a base. The base holds the credibility that he lacks. With them on his side, his message will sway the masses. And the masses elect and re-elect a president.

The en masse tends to like the things they think everyone else likes. They follow what other people are saying. Fox News is an example of a mouthpiece. This station can say whatever it desires—no matter how bigoted, unpatriotic, or generally skewed—and it is taken with an undeserved sense of credibility. He doesn’t need this credibility because he has learned to use these mouthpieces in order to generate the credibility in others. He’s very skillful.

He’s not creating anything from nothing. Recent examples of small groups thwarting quality public thought can be seen with the tobacco industry of fifty years ago and the oil company today. Big Tobacco created a research organization with the sole intention of disproving, or at least casting doubt on, the science stating their product was killing people. It worked, and their customer base has only grown. Big Oil is doing the same with global warming to curb the trend toward renewable resources. The industry funds studies that cast doubt on our effect on the climate. Even with probably ninety-five percent of scientists—and I think I’m being generous—believing we’re having a disastrous effect on our environment, their efforts have kept the public in the dark until only very recently.

He brought an administration to power that uses the same theories remarkably well. Before they were the dominant force they wanted more transparency in government, and they wanted less restrictions on statements on law, and they fought for the moral high ground as though that ground held the last fertile soil on earth. Then, with the power, they are the most secretive administration since Nixon, they restrict almost every bill and add long-winded signing statements that negate its contents, and are so destitute of morals and filled with corruption that they have essentially lost all credibility, and have less influence with the new legislative branch.

This very small group of people was able, through small channels and loud mouthpieces, to throw our country into an unjust war. The public has been fed giant piles of lies, but keep feeding off them like flies. As long as the right group of people is spewing the falsities, the majority of people will take every word to heart. Unfortunately the ones with the greatest power also have the greatest incentive to keep things as they are and fight any opposing change.

The public even ignores immense hypocrisy until their sphere of influence calls attention to it. Our administration and legislative branch condemn Iran for continued efforts toward a nuclear program while increasing our nuclear technology and stockpiles. They try hard to end abortion because they support the right to life, but send thousands of soldiers to their death in a fabricated war. They repeat a mantra of a link between the wars we’re fighting and the tragedy of 9/11 when no evidence except financial shows that link. And if you factor in the financial connection, the administration is just as strongly to blame as Iraq. They continually leave minimum wage far below the poverty level while raising their wages routinely. The president chants, “support our troops” while extending their tours of duty and increasing the number a soldier must be a part of. He even goes as far as to threaten a veto of the very funds that our troops need because the congress is doing exactly as the Constitution allows and limiting his power.

How can a nation let this pass with little notice? Narcissism fills our social void as we grow farther apart, the media has completely abandoned reporting the news in favor of impotent gossip, and even with a wealth of knowledge at our fingers through the interweb, people still base their opinions on those of others. Thankfully the public thought has begun to change and some hypocrisy is being exposed—along with a few illegalities. The tide is in favor of smarter legislation and proactive in changing the world’s view of us, but it may be too late. He did his part, and even if he loses the influence he has gained, there will be another he to take his place because the populous will always be ripe and ready to be taken advantage of. They’re just too dumb to know any better.