By Christina Lavers at Wake Up World
We live in a world with an incredible imbalance of power. Whether you believe in ‘conspiracies’ or not, there is no doubt that a tiny fraction of the world population has the means to manipulate and sway public opinion in order to maintain a paradigm that promotes and maintains their ability to control and profit off the masses. Common sense would dictate that any group who had the wherewithal to successfully claw their way into a top position would naturally invest heavily in ensuring their interests were protected. As increasing corruption is exposed in so many areas of society, we would be naive to think collusion wasn’t happening at the highest levels as well.
For instance… Recently a German journalist, Udo Ulfkotte, came forward to expose how he and, according to his claims, many other journalists were coerced into not only slanting their stories in order to sway public opinion, but to sign their own names to articles that were written by CIA staff as a means to garner support for war. (see video.)
Another respected journalist Sharyl Attkisson, came forward recently in a TED Talk to demonstrate how ‘astroturfing’, or fake grassroots movements funded by political, corporate, or other special interests very effectively manipulate and warp media messages. (see video.)
The more we look into it, the clearer it becomes that mainstream wisdom is not as benign, logical, sound or reasonable as it initially appears. Propaganda today is so highly sophisticated, outrageously pervasive, and incredibly subtle and cunning, that it can be difficult not to fall prey to its influences.
But, when we make a conscious decision to stop relinquishing our power to those who want to use it against us, we cease being pawns in the old paradigm game and step into autonomous, self-directed, empowering roles. The key is being aware of where we place our attention and focus. Do we place it on the many low frequency distractions that dance hypnotically around us, or do we consciously focus on raising our frequency and nurturing that which we want to see flourish?
Here are some beliefs that you may hold that would suggest you might not have been discerning enough in your evaluation of mainstream information.
10 Signs You’ve Bought ‘Spin’
You eat fast/processed food.
If processed food is still a significant part of your diet you have likely allowed yourself to be swayed by propaganda. Millions of dollars annually is poured into commercials and lab designed flavouring that make this chemically laden, nutritionally vapid, low frequency food seem appealing. Some might argue that while they know processed food isn’t good for them, it is the convenience that keeps them coming back. ‘Convenience’ is one of the favourite angles that the promoters of processed foods like to push. However, like most of what they sell, this is in reality just more spin. With a little research we can uncover a plethora of delicious and easy meals and snacks using healthy whole foods. (Learn more about the health impacts of processed foods here.)
You think that mainstream media news is a reliable news source.
With a handful of individuals owning the majority of mainstream news outlets it is not really surprising that the quality of mainstream news leaves a lot to be desired. As mentioned above there is increasing evidence that most news sources are corrupt and rather than being objective, are used as means to manipulate public opinion according to the wishes of society’s most powerful. Explore beyond the mainstream and learn to listen to your inner knowing to help you navigate through the choppy waters of information. (For more information, please see: Digital Deception – Can You Trust What You See?)
You covet designer items.
If you dream of owning designer items you have likely been duped by powerful advertising that has leached out of the commercial realm into ‘society’ pages and celebrity gossip. While there are some high quality products, with impeccable craftsmanship that warrant big price tags, a lot of designer items are really just average quality, sweat shop produced products, with a brand slapped onto them. Many of these products would hardly move off the shelves if they didn’t have massive advertising dollars behind them creating the allure of desirability. Look for unique quality items that have been made with love and awareness instead.
You base your definition of success on income level or possessions.
While those at the top benefit from having a consumer driven populace that is preoccupied with amassing material wealth, on an individual level this ego-based approach is unhealthy and contributes to our overall sense of disconnection. We are constantly bombarded with images and tales of ‘happy people’ driving flash cars, wearing expensive clothes and indulging in exclusive activities. However, while money certainly can add to our quality of life, true happiness comes from things like having meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose and connection to our internal and external worlds.
You are happy to drink fluoridated water.
“Fluoridation is the greatest case of scientific fraud of this century.” ~ Robert Carlton, Ph.D, former EPA scientist, 1992
Mainstream wisdom tells us that communities that add fluoride to their water will benefit from lower levels of tooth decay. In reality fluoride is a toxic industrial waste product that is being pushed onto populations by industry as a means to profit off a product they would otherwise have to pay to dispose of. More and more evidence is demonstrating that fluoride is in reality harmful to public health. Also worrying is the fact that fluoride calcifies the pineal gland, which is often described as our inner gateway to higher dimensions and consciousness. (For more information, please see: 15 Facts Most People Don’t Know About Fluoride.)
Instead drink filtered water (*depending on your system a special filter may be required to remove fluoride). Also, you’ll find easy-to-make, healthy natural toothpaste recipes here: Forget Fluoride! Make Your Own Toothpaste with These 3 Easy Recipes.
You believe that pharmaceutical companies have our best interests at heart.
Of course an industry based on developing drugs that extend our lives has our best interests at heart, right? Wrong, the pharmaceutical industry relies on a sick population to maintain and increase its profit levels. The industry loves to convince the public that it is determined to find cures for all that ails us. However, it is probably not a coincidence that so few real cures are ever found. Instead the industry produces medications that people are required to take on an ongoing basis, ensuring a steady inflow of cash to satisfy shareholders. Many of these medications also produce side-effects that require further medication to address. (For more information, please see: Big Pharma and Organized Crime — They Are More Similar Than You May Think.)
There are many natural alternatives to common pharmaceutical drugs that are safe and effective. Do some research and start being proactive in your journey towards health. (You’ll find a wealth of natural health information here on Wake Up World.)
You believe your country is better than others.
A well known strategy for one group to maintain dominance over others is to practice divide and conquer. On a national level, many countries use propaganda to instil the idea that their particular nation is the best, most progressive and special one in the world. Inundated with constant propaganda the belief that one is part of an exceptional group that is superior to all others is internalised by members. This creates an ‘us versus them’ mentality that makes it easy to mobilise the masses against an ‘enemy’ of the state. Instead, try to focus on the fact that there are really no planetary borders. Every human is equally divine and deserving of love.
You believe war is a necessary evil.
One of the central reasons that this world is in a constant state of war is because war is profitable. While the population is given a ‘reasonable’ seeming excuse for the need to go to war, anyone willing to look beneath the surface will discover the actual ‘cause’ is generally about accruing more money and power for a select few. A peaceful solution is always possible. (For more information, please see: Mutually Agreed Peace: Ending The Doctrine of Perpetual War.)
You think people who question mainstream assumptions are ‘crazy’.
The mainstream loves to paint people who question ‘official truth’ as part of a lunatic fringe who should be discouraged and disregarded. ‘Group think’ is a very powerful means of social control and those who break away from dominant thought patterns are often perceived as a threat to those that abide by them. If you use ridicule to deride and put down people who present a perspective that doesn’t ling with the mainstream you are following ‘the program’. These are tactics used to ensure that the majority of people stay within the confines of the group belief system. In a healthy society, questioning of dominant beliefs should be encouraged. (To learn more, please see: Propaganda: Mind Manipulation and Manufacturing Consent.)
You think all alternative healers are ‘quacks’.
As the journalist Sharyl Attkisson pointed out, the pharmaceutical industry are masters of deception. Paid shills, who present themselves as concerned, knowledgeable independent community members, and fake grassroots blogs work around the clock to discredit health modalities that don’t contribute to their employer’s profit margin. In fact there are many forms of alternative healing modalities that have been shown to be as effective (if not more) than many conventional treatments, often with much fewer side effects. (For more information, please read: A Case For Complementary and Alternative Medicine.)
Do your own research with an open mind.
