TED Talk Tuesday invaded by FOX News: What if…?


“What if the two-party system were actually a mechanism used to limit so-called public opinion? What if there were more than two sides to every issue, but the two parties wanted to box you in to a corner, one of their corners?

What if there’s no such thing as public opinion, because every thinking person has opinions that are uniquely his own?

What if public opinion were just a manufactured narrative that makes it easier to convince people that if their views are different, there’s something wrong with that – or something wrong with them?

What if the whole purpose of the Democratic and Republican parties was not to expand voters’ choices, but to limit them?

What if those vaunted differences between Democrat and Republican were actually just minor disagreements?

What if both parties just want power and are willing to have young people fight meaningless wars to enhance that power?

What if both parties continue to fight the war on drugs just to give bureaucrats and cops bigger budgets and more jobs?

What if government policies didn’t change when government’s leaders did?

What if no matter who won an election, government stayed the same?

What if government were really a revolving door of political hacks, bent on exploiting the people while they’re in charge?”

Who watches the watcher?
The answer is clear.
It’s you and me!
An enlightened and knowledgeable population.
The government and corporations and banks don’t rule us.
They serve us.
We can change the power imbalance that has drifted to them.

Yes.
We can.

4 thoughts on “TED Talk Tuesday invaded by FOX News: What if…?

  1. Who knew Fox News would be so contrarian and, dare I say, enlightening? Thanks for turning me on to this! I love when someone sees complexity instead of polarity.

    1. You’re welcome, Kellie. I was a partisan back in the day, but I soon realized that the most important issues are being neglected by both parties, like giving tax breaks to companies for sending jobs overseas, tax loopholes that allow corporations (and many individuals) to skimp their income tax, and bailing out banks every 5-10 years which promotes their careless behavior. I’m glad this resonates with you.

      1. Ara, you missed a few. How about storing individuals’ personal data without law or warrant? Killing “enemy combatants” with drones? Operating illegal prisons? Holding people indefinitely with no oversight? I could continue.

  2. Aaron, thanks for adding those. HL Menken said “Most people want security, not liberty.” I contend that you cannot have security without liberty. Security is a feeling of empowerment that grows from liberty. The type of security you list is sadly not the variety that supports empowerment. Instead, it takes it away.

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