Saturday, May 22, 2021

Captives


     For centuries, nailing someone to a crucifix or saltire was a tortuous method to prevent their escape.  That can be said for how the USA--and its conglomerates--ensnare people.  The image above illustrates how a typical American is "nailed into place".  The technique uses four elements--which coincidentally are the biggest causes of debt in the USA:  

1. College debt.  
2. Car & Home debt.   
3. Family-planning costs (childbirth, medical, school tuitions).
4. Unhealthy (but highly profitable) foods & pharmaceuticals.  

     If federal/corporate entities get a person "hooked", that person usually remains stuck for life.  


That's not how life is in other first-world nations.

     You might be familiar with old Soviet propaganda that brainwashed its citizens to believe that their world was best to keep their citizens as captives.  The United States does the same thing.  If you look at American sitcoms and cinema from 1950 until now, you'll see what's wrong with America: a lack of responsibility, ignorance of foreign countries, lawlessness, sexism, stereotypes, and a hopeless belief that their lives are overstressed because it's part of the "American Dream". 

     With a vast territory and population to manipulate, America has the world's largest output of mindless films and television shows.  Nearly all are financed by corporate sponsors who have underlying subliminal themes to keep viewers in mindsets of over-consumerism and "staying in America".  

     To coerce citizens to stay and suffer, American films and TV series corral citizens like sheep via unwavering subplots and background details.  For example:

Characters rarely travel abroad.  If they do, they have a bad time and can't wait to return home.
  
Kitchens are always cluttered with every conceivable gadget, and living rooms always have big stereos and televisions.

People usually haver indoor electronic entertainments, instead of venturing outdoors for fun.

Car owners rarely participate in eco-friendly "car pools".

People irrationally overspend and get themselves into debt, but that rarely has a negative consequence for them.  Everything works out easily.

Adults are less mature than typical children.

Against reasoning, they inexplicably choose to overspend--especially during holidays.

As if there is no other possibility, holidays are fraught with easily-avoidable fighting, debts, and improbable catastrophes.

Nobody has a sensibly-priced wedding.  Overspending in  atrocious ways is considered normal.  That causes in-fighting and stress, but those are considered "part of the experience".

Funerals are overly expensive for no reason.

People are unnecessarily violent, often exploding with temper tantrums and childish feuds.  Such qualities are considered normal.

If a character eats nutritiously, they are portrayed as a novelty or hippie whom everyone else makes fun of.

If a character tries a health-conscious food, they inexplicably revert back to "junk food".

If characters participate in meditations or a "cleansing of the mind", they are portrayed as a novelty or hippie.  They often find those attempts to be overly-frustrating, so they fail.

Alcohol, shopping, and "substance abuse" are the main ways for people to release stress.  

Despite being in a car-centric society, characters often choose drugs and alcohol as "stress relievers"... despite the hazardous DWI consequences.

"Drug use" is portrayed as amusing and inconsequential.  The same attitude applies to cosmetic surgery.

Shopping or "indulgent spending" is usually the answer to a problem.

American characters overreact to things and "flare up" into tirades that cause bigger problems.  People rarely behave calmly or think sensibly.

Most characters are self-centered and revert to envy, back-stabbing, canceling at the last minute, and making situations "all about them", instead of paying attention to others.  Their crassness never has long-lasting consequences.  

Instead of communicating directly, most characters use "behind the back" disdain and gossip to interact with others.

Instead of "helping their neighbors", characters compete with them irrationally or have envy.  

You rarely see a character do an anonymous good deed.

Garages, attics, and cellars are depicted as overcrowded catch-alls for unused stuff that people irrationally spent money on.

Colleges and universities are usually chosen because they are a popular "partying schools" for debauchery.  

Being intelligent or an "achiever" is scoffed at.

Using a varied vocabulary is scoffed at.

Characters rarely go for walks or strolls.

Screen-time is rarely allocated to show characters doing volunteerism.

In America's car-centric world, characters rarely ride bicycles.  If they do, they are portrayed as weird or a "health enthusiast".

A new car has the highest value in society.

People rarely lose their homes due to debt.

Most city apartments are abnormally spacious, bright, and clean.

You rarely see the decrepit NYC Subway, despite numerous shows occurring in NYC.

Slums, immigrant housing, and overcrowded low-income homes are not shown.


     That cavalcade of same-minded characters--spewing a torrent of the same brainwashing--is intended to make Americans think that such behavior is normal.  Many gullible viewers believe that it is... despite hundreds of other nations knowing that an American way of life is abnormal and oppressive.

     Look at that picture again, and tell me if anyone you know suffered from any of those four points but was able to relocate away from their hellhole existence?  The system is not intended to let you flee; it is meant to tether you so you pay more, suffer more, lose more, and enjoy less.


Friday, May 21, 2021

Comparison to China

      Lewis and I have a friend who immigrated from China and resided in New York City for a decade.  He recently shared a video of interviews with Americans who live in the Communist culture of China.  Here are snippets; they are enlightening and revealing.  


*Speaking of a "recent shooting", NYC had yet another.  Things are unchanged. 


China outclasses the United States of America with its application of tax dollars to provide complimentary services, such as education and healthcare, which cost a small fortune in the USA.  




We noticed the same thing in Northern European nations.  Meanwhile, the US relies on outdated forms of monetary transactions via credit cards (because the pro-corporate USA is lobbied by credit cards, who enjoy collecting interest fees, late fees, overdraft fees, annual cardholder fees, and processing fees.




That is a true statement, whereas each generation of Chinese citizens see vast improvements.  We witnessed it during our trip through China.  Inversely--due to America's greed--new generations of college graduates find themselves mired immediately in huge amounts of debt, an oversaturated job market, cheap over-demanding employers (look at the sitcom satire Superstore), overpriced housing, overpriced commutes, and irrationally high costs of living.




If you live in a metropolis (and you pay attention and get out of your own zip code), you'll learn a lot from people born in other countries.  Also, the best way to learn about your own culture is to hear about it from outsiders.  Whenever Lewis and I are abroad, we hear people's criticism and witticisms about the USA.  Such truth is sadly unknown to oblivious Americans... which is why they're content to wallow in a problematic society.  (Wait for the next financial crash, and tell me what you think).




Exactly!





Sunday, May 9, 2021

Bridges & Tunnels

      Pursuant to my previous entry, I thought you might like to sew what the land around New York City's bridges and tunnels looks like.  Enjoy seeing how the USA's wealthiest city maintains its property.


Alexander Hamilton Bridge










Harlem River Bridge






Broadway Bridge



Brooklyn Bridge






Brooklyn Battery Tunnel (under the landmark Battery Park)






George Washington Bridge








High Bridge









Holland Tunnel






Lincoln Tunnel








Macomb's Dam Bridge



Manhattan Bridge





Sadly, the Brooklyn area of DUMBO is an acronym for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass, because NYC callously trampled its boroughs when finding ways to feed itself with commuters.  






Park Avenue Tunnel




Queens Midtown Tunnel




Queensboro Bridge






*In Queens, the onramp and offramp are alongside large, raunchy stripper clubs.


Spuyten Duyvil Bridge



Williamsburg Bridge








Now see how Amsterdam situated its vehicular tunnel and maintains the area around it.