Remember Occupy Wall Street in 2011? When seemingly everyone, everywhere, united against the 1% of the world, tired of their “rules for thee but not for me” -attitude, financial corruption and general lack of interest in the public wellbeing? Of course you don’t. That was 10 years ago. But I bet the 1% do. In fact, it got them so scared that in response they launched the greatest propaganda operation the world has ever seen.
The public finally uniting against the ruling elite. The elite were worried. For a second. Until they remembered that the public is dumb and easily manipulated. So carefully and subtly an idea was introduced to the public subconscious: Maybe it’s not about the money. Maybe it’s about power. And maybe that power manifests itself in every action, everywhere, all the time. The person protesting next to you doesn’t share your gender, skin colour, personal history or political opinions. Maybe they have more power than you. Maybe you deserve that power. And so gradually the 99% became 3%, 7%, 23%, 17%, 36% and 13%. Problem solved.
Diversity, inclusion and equity
The three bullshit words that destroyed the real political left everywhere. Occupy Wall Street was diverse, inclusive and equal by nature. It got destroyed by the idea that maybe some members are more equal than others, or some grievances are bigger than others. If you create an impossible utopian goal, you guarantee failure every time. 99% uniting against the 1% have a real chance of succeeding and pushing meaningful political change. Tiny in-fighting fractions have zero chance.
This divide-and-conquer strategy has since evolved. Not because it didn’t work, but because it worked even better than expected. Not only did the general public everywhere disintegrate into dysfunctional identity-obsessed tribes, it also gave the 1% a new ultimate weapon: Magic words that you can sprinkle on any shit to make it taste delicious. Worried about two companies dominating the entire smartphone space (and thus access to all information)? No worries, they are diverse, inclusive and equitable. Worried about Wall Street manipulating the markets and stealing your money? Don’t be, they posted a black square once on Instagram. Thinking of voting for Bernie Sanders? Nah, he’s a white man and probably did something sexist in the 1970’s.
The 99% demanded real change and heads on sticks. In response the 1% got richer while they sent their white male middle-managers to diversity training. What a glorious victory.
The worst part?
2011 was a special time. We were just on the crux of our modern information age transformation. The 2008 financial crash was fresh in people’s minds. Social media was in its infancy. Wikileaks was in its prime. Snowden revelations hadn’t happened yet. There was a real opportunity and hunger to expose the corruption everywhere. And we had the tools to do it with.
Now I fear it might be too late. Avenues for free speech are diminishing. Social media censorship is rampant. Covid-19 restrictions proved that the public can be easily controlled with fear. Cancel culture makes it impossible to speak out. Snowden and Assange are still demonised. It’s hard to imagine a real general uprising that wouldn’t be put down swiftly and quietly by de-personing and de-platforming everyone involved.
But maybe this is just the wrong time. The calm before the storm. Good ideas tend to spread rapidly, no matter the censorship. More and more eyes are opening everywhere. Bitcoin, a truly independent monetary network, is the best-performing asset of the last 10 years. Free-speech advocating political candidates are surging everywhere despite the media-attempt to paint them as right-wing extremists. Even in the US, more and more states are taking an active stance for personal freedom in opposition to the Biden administration. And you’re still reading this.
We are still the 99%. Don’t capitulate. Don’t give them more control. And don’t let their divisive word salad of bullshit fool you.
Vaarallisia ideoita 