Are Most Americans Insecure And Fearful?
Friends, as I was replying to a comment this morning the thought dawned upon me that Americans, in the main, are insecure and fearful.
Now I realize this thought clashes with the aura of brash invincibility that most Americans project but perhaps that is all an act. Perhaps, underneath it all, they feel uneasy, feel that their grasp on power is tenuous, feel that their position on the planet is constantly under threat. Let’s consider a few things.
Firstly, why do Americans need to have the biggest army in the world? Perhaps they think that because they only have 300 million people in a world of 6.6 billion (4.5%) that, being so heavily outnumbered, they need to compensate or, more correctly, employ overkill. So they spend more on defense than most other nations combined.
The trillions of dollars they spend on their military means that they have poor quality health care and educational facilities and their infrastructure is crumbling but that doesn’t matter. As long as they fill the oceans of the world with nuclear submarines and warships and fill the skies with heavily armed fighter jets and bombers and have their armies strategically placed all over the world they feel a little safer, the emphasis being on the word ‘little’. Politicians in America only have to mention the word ‘terrorism’ and most Americans panic!
Secondly, why do most Americans own guns?
It would appear that Americans not only fear the rest of the world but they fear each other as well. Many sleep with a loaded handgun under their pillow. Many have an arsenal of weapons ready to go. Perhaps it was the Red Indians which put them in a mindset of fear. Perhaps the Civil War added to this phobia. Perhaps it was also the Wild West where problems were sorted out with a Colt. Whatever it is, obviously Americans thinks that owning a gun makes them safer. However, when they hear a sound in the night, they must still feel fear because if someone bad is intruding, they may be armed too and be better shots or have a Black Belt.
Thirdly, why do Americans think that killing people who mess with them is the only way they can solve problems? Remember Vietnam? America killed millions there trying to stop a political movement called Communism. It now trades with Communist China. Remember Korea? The same justification. What about Iraq and Afghanistan? It was about fighting Osama, an ex-ally, and getting rid of WMDs which didn’t exist. Again many hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians died.
It suggests to me not only the existence of mass paranoia in America but also an entrenched predisposition towards violence. If this is so, then the world can expect a troubled future, one that is filled with ever more violent wars.
Could psychological counselling help Americans to be less fearful, less insecure, less violent?
Interesting David, I never thought of it that way. On reflection yes Americans are the scardy cats of the world. Yes they are very afraid and have been conditioned to display an emotion (fear, Hate, revenge) from a single word like terrorist, or anticapitalist for exmple. They are beyond help from mental health experts which will only leave the American dream crumbling at their feet, as sad as it is. Mikhail is right, the yanks need another revolution, desperately to stop the down hill spiral.
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Kemosobi, you’d need a lot of psychologists to help millions of people I guess but, given time, it could be done.
Then, if the more aware folk in America began to help the fearful and the insecure, that would start the ball rolling in a positive direction. And if Hollywood could stop spewing out violent movies that denigrate and violently take down people from other cultures that would help too.
And if greed could be presented as the scourge that it is, again it would be a positive thing. And if the gun lobby was legislated out of existence…
And if Obama manages to move the country in a new direction, one that’s less imperialistic, one that favours negotiation over using bombs and bullets, that would be a big plus.
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Think that Americans are brainwashed to fear everything, terrorists, swine flu, etc. The zio press promotes these insecurities, relatively harmless, buy this lotion and look younger or very dangerous, e.g. bomb, bomb, bomb. And it’s all for profit. Wars are needed. The enemy is irrelevant and might change as you pointed out but the war machine is turning out weapons to both sides. The banksters always win….American Civil War is a prime example. Very, very bloody and financed by banksters on both sides. The Erlangers for the South. Son in law Slidell had a town named after him and there is also the town of Erlanger. The Seligmans in the North. They are still in the banking industry. and towns were named after them. Unfortunately most Americans are quite unaware (on purpose) how they were duped by the banksters throughout their history. Instead of a civil war, they finance foreign wars, supposedly for democracy and freedom. Greed, raw materials,drugs, and the military complex and most of all war profiteering are the real reasons for all wars. Best when 2 of their enemies fight each other, yeah. Christians against muslims, throw in some hindis – life is good! Let me count the money!
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David G Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Margit, thanks for adding to our understanding of what drives America and Americans to choose the war path rather than the path of peace.
Obviously those who profit from war push war but if the average America was peace-loving (thou shalt not kill) and refused to involve themselves with it then it would go nowhere.
I guess you can’t be peace-loving if you have an arsenal of weapons in your home, can you? And you can’t claim to be secure and unafraid if you need your country to have the biggest army in the world either.
Cheers.
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Sadly, the lumping of “all americans” simply is not true.
The media may express that, but in the end, money and power, like your country and every other is what moves and shakes the world.
Most americans “do not own guns” although if you listen to the fringe on the so called right, they do.
Most americans are insecure? Yikes, none of my friends feel that way, nor own guns, etc, etc.
I guess this is what’s leading me away from tv, most localized news, and dealing with the public.
Too much lumping of everyone in a country, into one bucket.
It’s simply not true here, or most countries, of that I am sure.
Just call me naive ; (
Cheers!
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How about if the media only publish what they know as fact and not what they wish?
It is as bad to profit from death as it is to inflame or stupefy people who tend to believe what they read; the results are generally the same.
Some of the American People keep guns as a deterrent to the tyranny of politicians. That doesn’t seem to be working very well though.
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Yes, many americans are scared of just about everything and a lot of that comes from the mass media hyping the terrorist threat or the swine flu threat or what I call the threat of the day. If you spend any amount of time listening to TV there will be plenty of stories to fill you with fear of some strange and foreign other. Talk shows add on to the media circus so that when you talk to people you often hear them repeat the latest fear mongering they heard on TV with no one stopping to think about how true it is or if they themselves are in any real danger.
The latest threat is the serious danger all americans will be if we let Gitmo “terrorist” be held in our supermax prisons. That no one has ever escaped from one seems not to enter their minds. That these “terrorist” may be innocent and that if one did escape they surely would not hang around to get caught does not seem to be a thought woth considering. The common response is that they need to get a gun to protect themselves.
In some ways it is funny; in others tragic.
The real dangers that americans face (like the list you posted yesterday) never or rarely get mentioned and most people seem to be unaware of them or dismiss them as some liberal idea which here in the US is the kiss of death.
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Yes, the people of the USA definitely watch too much television. I’ve read that the more you watch, the more afraid of your fellow men you are. It cetainly is true, though, that the violent crime rate is high, and that is why I have a gun.
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I think most people in most countries are insecure and fearful. It is part of the human condition – even under the best possible social and political conditions.
As human beings we are always very vulnerable, physically and mentally. Of course our innate fears are constantly exploited for political and other aims, everywhere on this planet. For US citizens it might be more difficult to see through the manipulations because of their fantastically efficient propaganda machines and their terrible military-industrial power complex. But in general I don’t think that they react more paranoiac than other people.
Look at the results of the EU elections of last week: big gains for right wing parties in small and big countries. Obviously it was very easy to exploit some vague fears about foreigners and about Islam taking over Europe…. BUT: only 40% of the people voted. What do the other 60% think? We don’t know. Even in this case lumping together all “Europeans” is problematic.
Fact is: The majority of those “peaceful”, secure, rich European countries are NATO members and not only take part in terrible neocolonial wars, they also make big money selling weapons.
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There have been some interesting if contradictory responses to my thesis thus far. Is America trying to take over the world or just reacting out of fear and insecurity? Surely it must be one or the other!
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The banksters are planning for a one world government, with a central bank ruling us, herding us, then exterminating us. War and chaos is their goal. The plan is awful: reconstruction-style colonisation. Right now, “Fear Rules,” as Paul Craig Roberts writes so well. Arrest the criminal banksters, like Alex Jones strongly recommends. Since October, they have taken twice the DNP from the people, since they own Congress and Mr. obama (no more will I honor him with the title president).
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Is America trying to take over the world?
Yes, I believe that is the problem with “America.” With military bases all over the world and local populations that have no authority over those military installations. The Imperial ambitions are what we were warned about in the Declaration of Independence. We were warned then, to attend to our own problems and not go abroad. That would be our downfall. It was sternly written. But never mind that. Remember 9/11 changed everything (sound of drumbeat.)
or just reacting out of fear and insecurity?
Geez, all it took was a few guys with box cutters to bring a nation down!! people’s fears were manipulated by the rhetoric that was on every t.v. channel. (Fair here to generalize)Everyone watched t.v. after 9/11. There was absloutely an aire for a couple of years after- that questioning our (vice)P-resident and all the choices that were being made in ‘our name’ was considered traitorous. Of course, we here understand that, to question is patriotic. In fact it was written into our most sacred of texts that we MUST participate, which involves questioning. What ever happened to: nothing to fear, but fear itself? Nobody gets reminded of this on tv news. In fact, People outside of this country may not realize how superficial our television news is! At most 30 seconds to one minute will be spent on any given topic. There is no time to even digest what information is disseminated. Also, it is predigested anyway. Like a mother bird who chews the worm for us.
Could psychological counselling help Americans to be less fearful, less insecure, less violent?
Ah David, counselling and medications are a big part of treatment for every American who exhibits any amount of anxiety, depression, any kind of instability; to get through difficult times, etc. Alot of psych experiments and studies have been condicted by our military and our ability to assess and treat is ‘state of the art.’ We have the largest prison population on the planet and most of all prisoners are on some kind of meds. I was assessed after my neck injury and told that I could work, like 50% (direct quote) of the American population, “I could work whiile medicated.”
Welcome to The Dome.
Mad Max Thunderdome is where we are headed. As we speak, there are internment camps on American soil, built by Halliburton, modern, sitting empty. An increasing unemployed and homeless population. What to do, what to do?
Remember: Everything changed after 9/11.
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Therese and Grace, your comments add to a picture which is rather frightening. The U.S. said it would ‘vigorously’ apply the U.N. sanctions to North Korea.
That provocative statement by the world’s biggest warmonger can only have one outcome!
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It has been said that an anxious and fearful population is easier to control than people who are not afraid…In the last twenty or so years there has been a deliberate effort to make people fearful of just about everything…there is a great book that really explains how this came about called “The Culture of Fear ” be Barry Glassner…a must read…
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David G Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Thanks for mentioning the book, Kate. It’s amazing that after 10,000 of civilization we still live in an environment of fear. There is fear within our families, our communities, our states, our nations, and across the world.
It says a great deal about our intelligence, doesn’t it?
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Yes David..it does say something about our intelligence…however the fact that we now have a means of finding truth outside of propaganda and available on line to millions..that alone gives me hope..I believe in the power of the people and G_d works in truly mysterious ways…change is happening in the “implicate order” (Bohm’s hypothesis) and this unseen world is more powerful than all we can see in the explicate order..Kate
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Ordinary americans are virtually isolated. Most spend hours per day alone in their vehicles and this often results in road rage.
You’re driving along, drifting mentally when another driver does something you consider inconsiderate & the interuption of mental fantasies can cause massive eruptions.
If I made the rules there would be no talking or texting while operating a car.
In the 1950′s when big corporations took over they moved people all over the country.
My own family seems to have a wanderlust gene that missed me, I like to stay put.
But the results of breaking apart generations from their families compounds the isolation and causes people to feel more vulnerable.
I’ve often thought that the USA was jealous of the close knit extended families in the middle east, they’re very rare here in the land of the free & the home of the brave.
When I saw the Iranian protests & contrast them to the bovine complacency around me it certainly refutes who is free in the world.
And when I see the Afghans with primitive weapons standing against armed drones & hitech killing machines, I definately know which side is brave.
I leave my doors unlocked, I’m forbidden to own arms as a result of reefer conviction in the 70′s and yes I’m afraid, I’m very afraid of the bureaucrats of the US government, those who are supposed to be my employees.
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Kate, the people have the power. It’s convincing them to use it that is the problem.
Kate B, the breakdown of the extended family to provide factory fodder for capitalism has brought many negatives. Chasing money and promotion, sadly, has become our raison de etre.
It’s time to change course, change our values!
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People are still thinking of America as a separate country. The bankers who comprise the globalist power elite are the ones behind 911, for the purpose of using America to enable a worldwide socialist dictatorship under their control. Electronic voting machine companies are all controlled by the “intelligence” “community”, so I reject the notion that the people, or even the Congress, can do anything but slow the long term trend, planned and covertly manipulated, toward a globalist’s workers dystopia. Albert Pike related the historical outline of the twentieth century in his book in 1870. The only ameliorating factor is the widespread development of the psychic faculties of broad swaths of the population, which will ultimately render conspiracy, coercion, and even money obsolete, and embarrassing anachronisms. The control freaks who predominately populate the ranks of politicians, lawyers and cops will be seeking remedial therapy from experienced acid heads and yoga adepts.
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David G Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Thanks for your comment, Bobo. There is much there to reflect upon!
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Thanks Bobo–great insight..so true..please continue to post your opinions..great reads on these posts David..thanks..
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Interesting, Bobo. Just this week I was looking at my house and figuring where I could have a healing room. After the spinal injury I had to stop the spa work, but lately have been thinking about what I can do. Just helping people return to the garden. Hot rocks placed on the back, salt scrubs, soaks, peaceful music, silence, swimming. I mean, in this world there is so little that we remotely have control over (except for ourselves). The New Frontier is not outside of us, but within. If we are going to live in harmony with the Earth, then trusting our internal voice and instincts are key.
The social isolation many Americans exist in is a big problem because we are not a zen like people in general, though there are many exceptions. Kate, I agree, the breaking up of families compounds this common feeling of isolation. The Generation Gap has been a divide and conquer tactic of the powers that be and has been a tragedy for the American family experience, generally speaking. Of course there are always exceptions -and lately more young parents are having large families to bring back the old Ponderosa Americana Grande Family. Livin’ the myth. Gee, and people love to hate on the Mexicans and their big familias. I was pleasantly surprised while living in a Tibetan village to see that the Tibetans experienced NO generational gaps. The old and young and all between were at the same party on Saturday night and listening to the same music and remarkably happy. Coming from California I have lived in the most multicultural places, but these Tibetans were something else for me.
I can tell you that living the life with no extended family feels like a tragedy.
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Persons feeling isolated should try to establish their own extended “families”. People don’t have to be blood relatives, just responsible. They used to call these “hippie communes”, and I’ve lived in several. Large ones were well administered by political science buffs, but with a little experience, living in groups like this can be quite a pleasure, and a terrific boon to everyone’s social life. The ideal size seems to be between six and twenty people, depending on the nature of the real estate involved. Perhaps the bad patch in the economy will bring them back into fashion. They’re quite fun. Just find a big space and run some ads for roomies. The emphasis on blood relatives seems to devalue relationships with other people unnecessarily.
I also highly recommend drum circles as a venue of social interaction and development of ‘community’, particularly when sited outdoors in a government free zone. (This latter can be facilitated with my favorite psionic device, the “succor punch”(correct spelling), introduced to me by Don Croft, when he lived here. This is a potent intent amplifier and mind control device, generating a scalar wave modulated by your stated intent. Actions have consequences, and unethical use of this is highly ill advised. An excellent pig repellent and attitude improver. The exact wording of your intent seems very important, and an emotional charge really gets it across. They’re expensive but easily made if you do the research. I think it can actually render you invisible[unnoticeable], if that’s your need.)
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Bobo, the idea that communes might come back into fashion is interesting. Problem seems to be that most of them seem fairly short-lived or suffer from a quick turnover.
The question could be asked as to whether we humans are social animals or just animals who have been partly socialized.
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Human evolution can be viewed as a do-it-yourself project rather than the default setting at survival of the fittest, with some acquired traits being passed on(my belief) or accidental mutations being the sole source of progress. My choice is to speed things up for the only human I deign to have control over: myself. (I’m glad to help others, but the effort needs to come from them.) In any case humans are, or should be, moving targets not subject to easy categorization.
As to the longevity of communes: the matter is irrelevant as long as everyone benefited from the arrangement. A very large one that I lived in during the early 70′s was still there in 1987, and may still be, but likely with a substantial occupant turnover . I see a situation where people can move freely between group living arrangements. People in their early twenties generally need some additional socialization to function well in that kind of environment, but usually rise to the occasion, and frequent address changes are typical of unattached people in that age bracket, life being logarithmic. I’m not talking about group marriage here after all. I think that was largely media borne anti-hippie hysteria, which may have resulted in the blood relative cohabitation laws that appeared in many areas.
Dave McGowan’s excellent website has a series of article about Laurel Canyon and Rock music that makes the case that the whole hippie thing was a creature of military intelligence, designed to distract the baby boomers from their opposition to the war of colonization in Southeast Asia.
http://www.davesweb.cnchost.com/
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I grew up in Nicholls Canyon. One canyon over from Laurel Canyon. People were just using and using each other. Too many drugs. Could never last in that state. People died of overdoses and drug deals gone bad and porn being filmed up in those canyons. I suppose I was lucky being a kid and seeing all the adults destroy themselves. All that cocaine had to be a creature of military intelligence. All that crack in the Black neighborhoods; Bloods & Crips. Gary Webb the San Jose Reporter who died, exposed the CIA connection to all this. Seemed to go overnite from everybody smoked dope to the cocaine phenomenon. In SF, once speed hit the Haight, all the true peace loving hippies headed for the hills and mountains. Today, you will still find alot of speed on Haight. Very exhausting to visit. I believe that the Republican voting Chinese were imported to fill the neighborhoods destroyed by Drugs and The Generation Gap. Very convenient.
There are intentional communities where people are living in harmony. You will probably find no drugs or simply home-grown high quality marijuana. There are people living as Neo Humans now in some of these communities scattered around the world. Thanks Bobo for your perspective and that communes are a viable alternative in our modern world. People just need to understand what worked and works. Peace.
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Bobo, the idea that governments spawn movements which suit their dark purposes is not far-fetched at all.
Grace, as usual your contributions to this blog are invaluable. I hope you are right about folk living as neo-humans. It is comforting!
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“Bobo, the idea that governments spawn movements which suit their dark purposes is not far-fetched at all.”
It certainly isn’t to me. More the case is that governments are rich targets for covert takeover by secret alliances, as we currently and historically have experienced.
I’ve seen all that Grace attests to on both coasts in my years of traveling. IMO the world’s leading drug “kingpin” is the CIA/DIA/NSA. I’ve lived all over in my undercover housecar.
The sovereignty movement is of the greatest interest to me, and may be an effective way of correcting this situation on an individual basis, particularly for the less mystically inclined.
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