The division is intentional. I really believe that.
Left against right. Red vs blue. Us vs them. Pick a side. Hate the other. Rinse and repeat.
We're so busy fighting each other we don't see who's actually benefiting from the chaos.
Spoiler: it's not the little guy.
I have a neighbor who flies a particular political leader's flag on his flag pole. I've said before that I've never talked to them because there's probably nothing I have in common with them because of that.
But that's most likely not true.
They're most likely very much like me in many ways. Just a person trying to make it. Trying to make a living, put food on the table and take care of their family the best they can. But I'm judging them based on a flag they're flying of a political figure they support. I've written them off without ever saying a word to them.
That's fucked up when I actually think about it. And that's exactly what they want us to do.
Politicians need us divided. Divided people are easier to control. Give them an enemy to hate and they won't notice you're not actually fixing anything. Promise to protect them from the other side and they'll vote for you forever. Never mind that nothing ever gets better. Just keep the fear alive.
Media needs us divided. Outrage gets clicks and fear gets views. Calm reasonable discussion gets ignored. So they pump out content designed to piss you off. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. Doesn't matter if it's the whole story. Just make them angry, because angry people stay tuned in.
Social media needs us divided. The algorithm feeds you what keeps you scrolling. And nothing keeps you scrolling like content that makes your blood boil. They're not showing you reality. They're showing you a funhouse mirror designed to make you hate your neighbor.
Corporations need us divided. While we're arguing about culture war bullshit they're squeezing every last dollar out of the working class. But hey, at least we owned the other side on Facebook or X right?
Here's the thing. The guy down the street who votes different than you? He's not your enemy. He's worried about the same shit you are. Paying bills. Taking care of his family. Trying to get by. But we've been programmed to see each other as threats instead of neighbors.
I'm not saying there aren't real issues. There are. I'm not saying everyone's the same. They're not. But the level of hatred we have for each other right now? That's manufactured. That's intentional. That's profitable for someone and it sure as hell isn't us.
We're being played. Both sides. All of us.
The sooner we figure that out the sooner we can stop tearing each other apart and start fixing actual problems.
Or we can keep doing what we're doing. Keep hating. Keep fighting. Keep making the same people rich and powerful while we get nothing but angrier.
What do you think? Are we being played?
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using MS Paint and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.
