That’s Why It’s Called “Programming” — Mickey Z. 

Alleged Bansky mural (credit unknown)

Mickey Z. — World News Trust

March 29, 2021

“Some poor, phone-less fool is probably sitting next to a waterfall somewhere totally unaware of how angry and scared he’s supposed to be.” (Duncan Trussell) 

I’ve always found this comparison to be provocative: When a law enforcement officer of any kind is accused of misconduct, they are investigated by (wait for it) other cops. “Internal Affairs,” they might call it. When a medical/scientific professional (backed by corporate funding) claims to have made a discovery or advance, their work is investigated by (wait for it) other doctors and/or scientists (also backed by corporate funding). “Peer-reviewed,” they call it. We dwell in a time and place in which the majority of humans trust powerful organizations to monitor themselves — in a trustworthy manner — on life-and-death issues.

(Graphic from The Hollywood Reporter)

I couldn’t find the exact or most current numbers, so I’m open to any help with this. But, for now, here’s what I discovered: As of 2016, more than 300 police dramas and more than 100 medical dramas have aired on U.S. network, cable, and syndicated television. This admittedly incomplete list doesn’t count the last five years’ worth of programs and the recent introduction of the streaming series. It also does not factor in comedies, cartoons, news specials, etc. 

From a very young age, the screen-addicted masses are reared on a steady supply of pro-cop and pro-medicine/science propaganda (not to mention hundreds of war movies). Translation: Pop culture, social media, and the full range of corporate news sources are very, very useful delivery systems for indoctrination, encouraging conformity, and keeping existing paradigms strong.

Sure, there has also been no shortage of “love” stories imposed upon us by movies, TV, and the internet. On the surface, this may appear to effectively counter my point above. But, look closer and ask yourself how these romantic tales are trying to condition us. Rather than inspire us to recognize the commitment and hard work it requires to sustain a relationship, they’ve got us swooning over fairy tales about “once upon a time” and “love at first sight.” Instead of acknowledging a 50 percent divorce rate for first marriages (the number jumps up dramatically for the second, third, etc.), we’re taught to trust in “soul mates” and “happily ever after.”

Inevitably, when reality shoots down these fables, we’re left to feel inferior. Everyone else has figured it out. Therefore, we must be missing something. If only I was thinner or smarter or cooler or sexier or famous or more up-to-date on all the latest celebrity gossip and sporting events. The qualifications list is endless and it’s constantly updated. That’s one of the methods by which we become loyal consumers. Fad diets, exercise trends, make-up, clothes, social media notoriety, and so on — we spend, spend, spend to chase the dreams we’ve been sold since childhood. Reminder: Pop culture, social media, and the full range of corporate news sources are very, very useful delivery systems for indoctrination, encouraging conformity, and keeping existing paradigms strong.

Part babysitter, part opinion-giver, and part cult leader, the Unholy Trinity of TVs, computers, and phones have come to fully dominate our lives. We learn what to eat, how to dress, what to say, and how to think from those glowing screens. The payoff for all this spectatorship is a lifestyle based on imitation, competition, materialism, and self-delusion. 

Our devices keep us inactive while our biology desires movement. Our devices sell us junk food while our bodies crave nutrients. Our devices train us to be obedient while our minds yearn for freedom. Our devices teach conformity while our souls demand individuality.

With a nod to Situationism, I’d say it’s time to reinvent everyday life — steal it back from corporate propagandists and reintroduce the joy of living. Stop settling for less pain and start demanding more pleasure. Today’s rebels can provoke dramatic changes simply by refusing to submit to the societal formula they’re presented with.

We know how we feel. No longer should we allow Hollywood, YouTube, the government, social media, or Corporate America to define our needs and desires. Sometimes, all it takes is thoughtful introspection to liberate oneself from the seductive, profit-motivated web and move into the realm of freethinking and individuality. Breaking away from the omnipresent, primitive corporate message of “work, consume, and obey authority without question” can be your way of challenging — and smashing — the status quo to help create a society in which industrial pirates, murderous politicians, and vacuous celebrities are no longer the ideal we strive for and worship. Again: We already know how we feel. It’s time to live it.

Did you ever notice how animated people get when you ask them what they'd do if they ever won the lottery? They can suddenly articulate dreams and wants and desires in a hopeful, confident way. It's as if someone has given them a shot of adrenaline… a new lease on life, if you will. Wouldn't it be neat if we could all get that excited and optimistic about our lives and our future without the promise of some unattainable monetary prize?

“Life, uh… finds a way”

Step. Away. From. Your. Devices. Allow yourself to experience life without constant artificial stimulation. Allow yourself to get bored. That’s often the place from which creativity and magic spring. Don’t delegate your moral decisions to the will of the algorithm-driven masses. Help others. Help them again. Keep helping them and do not stop. This reconnects you to your core values and distances you from the pseudo-needs created by the digital-industrial complex.

You can only be responsible for your own integrity and humanity. Do not expect corporate or State leaders to provide that for you. Only you can define “pleasure” for yourself. You will not find that definition in your news feed or on any streaming service. Don’t wait around for a perfect plan. It doesn’t exist. Rely on what you know right now and take the risks necessary to escape the programming and recapture your personal autonomy. 

Like the child in “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” break free of what you’ve been told. Recognize that it’s the accepted culture that’s confused, not you. Be more excited to discover new questions than to memorize old answers. Follow your heart, not the echo chambers. Embrace a beginner’s mind even if what you see is considered to be nonsense, madness, or heresy. And remember: “Withdrawing in disgust is not the same as apathy.” 

Mickey Z. can be found here. He is also the founder of Helping Homeless Women - NYC, offering direct relief to women on New York City streets. To help him grow this project, CLICK HERE and donate right now. And please spread the word!