The herd...STOP IT!

sheep mug
Originally uploaded by icemakk.

From time to time friends and fans send me stuff that is sheep related. This showed up recently as a pic only. Damn, I would like to have this mug. Gary Larson and "the farside" always made me laugh.
I have always been fascinated with the sheep mentality of society- hence my act and CD about Sheeple. Why do folks seem to be led so easily? Programming, social engineering, misdirection by those in power that realize society's weakness.

Look at our country for example. We have a corrupt party in power. They have lied and stolen from the people yet the masses out east are still willing to vote for them. Why? Because the media (mostly owned by the corrupt party members) has led them astray of their options. Posting false polls of the Prime Ministers approval, putting false doubts of any other party in their minds and the masses go, "Gee he must be okay, I read it somewhere."

We have had official bilingualism forced upon us at a huge cost to appease only 17% of the population. There are French Immersion (diversion?) schools everywhere out west yet English rights are trampled on in Quebec and now in other areas. The people of Canada think this is fine. Why? Because the media and government have misled them and most never questioned why. There seems to be a hidden agenda behind it. Don't believe me? Read more from this group.

Canadian Language fairness

What about all the other languages of the people that helped make this country? In Vancouver Cantonese is the second language of the population. French is way down the list yet there are no Cantonese immersion schools. We accept this as normal. I am all for learning a new language but Canada is more than just 2 of them. We should demand choices for our kids but we don't.

Then there are the little things that show us we don't always think. I can't remember how many times I have come to a red light to see 2 lanes backed up 4,5...6 cars deep while one lane remains open. Why? Is that lane baaaaad?

Ask someone "How are you today." and without even thinking, the programmed response pops out of their head; "Fine". even if they are not. I have seen people with headcolds say "Fine" when really they should say they feel like crap. What if you feel more than fine? What if you just got laid and are on top of the world? Tell them.

We have cops set up speed traps in many areas where the speed limit is artificially low so they can pick our pockets. We just accept it. Why? We have been told so many times that it is for safety and you can't fight it, it is the law. Really? Why do I challenge all tickets and have them tossed out or at least reduced? Baaaa
Maybe it is this fear of the big bad speed cop ( the ones that can't catch real criminals) that causes people to go extra slow...even when they merge onto a freeway. And we wonder why there are so many accidents. Remember speed traps are for your safety!!
I have driven along, at or very near the speed limit and suddenly a cop car enters the flow of traffic or is parked on the side. Immediately brake lights come on everywhere even though all traffic is at or very near the speed limit. Programmed fear of being ticketed has tapped the brakes for these people. Near misses of rear end collisions occur.
I have even seen a cop go BELOW the limit and not one woolly bugger has the nads to pass him. Folks, it is okay to pass a cop that is not doing the speed limit if conditions are good. No really, trust me on this one.

Look at the US and all their color alerts. They have the people so scared of ....well we really don't know what but everyone is afraid. Even in Michael Mooore's movie "Bowling for Colombine" he points out how afraid everyone is of gun crime yet it has gone DOWN in recent years. The media has built the hysteria.
I think many Americans miss the point. Elect a President that is not a war monger, out for the interests of oil, and maybe other countries will not hate you as much. Don't segregate neighbourhoods based on race and have opportunity for all.Just a thought. Gun crime a problem in some areas? Look at why? Is there too much poverty? Racial unfairness? Things that make people a bit edgy? Believe me, it is not the fault of the weapon. If you really want to know what is going on in America, don't watch CNN, check out THE DAILY SHOW with Jon Stewart. It is much more truthful and a helluva a lot more entertaining.

In Canada we have the same hysteria. Lower crime rates but when one happens, it is splattered all over the news to make the herd nervous, thankful that the herding dog (the government) is there to protect them...albeit with reduced civil rights, extra taxes etc.

Since 911 we have had an extra fee tacked onto airline tickets all in the interest of national security. Do I feel safer? No. I feel broker and more inconvencienced by some schmuck, making 9 bucks an hour, having a power trip with his little wand. Harrassing people who are obvioulsly not a threat. One such goof kept going over me,back in July, because the brass loops and zippers on my cargo pants (hey they are comfy to travel in) kept making his wand beep. I pointed out that there was brass and he kept waving it over and over the same area. Maybe he gets off on the sound? I don't know. He was not an example of an alert barrier to any real threat. In fact, he looked like a terrorist to me.
Meanwhile not one person in the line made a peep to hurry up, afraid to upset this little wand nazi. I even had to remove my shoes, which I took my time putting back on, right in the "wand area". The wand boy asked me to do it off to the side. I stared him in the eye and said, "No thank you. You should have thought of that before. I am not walking across a dirty floor in my socks." and then replaced my footwear. He did nothing.
Then I finally boarded the plan only to realize after I landed I had my razor in my carry-on bag. Oops. Something they were supposed to catch. Thanks for taking 12 bucks security tax from me for nothing. You want me to feel safe? Put a sky marshall on our plans and hire people without brass and beeping fetishes. Oh by the way I am not about to use my razor for anything bad....the blades cost too much!!

Then we have the feeding troughs of the herd, fast food restaurants. Big, faceless corporations that have raped our planet for profit (read the book "Fast Food Nation" for more on this) that have us trained like little sheep monkeys to do work for them. After charging us for inferior food, then choking down their burgers of mystery meat and such, what do many of us do? We clean up. Stop it!
Leave it on the table. They have people to do this and maybe the table will get wiped down for a change. How many times have you spotted an empty table, rushed over with your tray only to find salt, ketchup and other remnants still on the table top from the last person? If a trained sheeple hadn't done a half assed clean up, the table would have been done right. The big chains can afford to clean it, really then can. I rarely eat there anyway. If you read that book, you may reduce your visits too.

So do I have a point here? Yes. Question things that don't seem right. Be unique and stop believing everything in the media until you check it out a bit more. Don't be led all the time.

When I ask you "How are you?" Please come up with something more orignal and truthful than just "Fine."
Try it. Next time anyone (store clerk, bank teller, cop) asks "how are you?"
Hit them with a new response. Try one of these:
"My bum itches but other than that, it is a good day"
"No you first, I insist."
"it is too early....let me get back to you on that"
"I am doing 37% better than most people!"
or anything else you can come up with. Then watch the confused look on their face. It will make your day.
So step out of the herd and observe once in awhile. It is an education. Think outside the box.

If anyone has good sheeple stories they have witnessed, please email them to me.
Cheers