There is a bit of art in understanding what makes people tick. Heck, people have degrees on the subject from institutions of higher learning, practice their whole lives in the field, and pass on what they know to the next generation, but we have not yet figured it all out. I don’t know many people who can honestly say they fully understand what makes them tick, let alone everyone else. However, we do all collectively know a few things. After all, we are fairly smart animals, can pick up on most social cues, and read body language with the best of them, whether we realize it or not.
What I mean by “Useful idiots”
We are emotional creatures; years of evolution have allowed us to be around because of our ability to make decisions based on our instincts and emotional stimuli. The results may not be what our rational or logical side would have come up with, but it will get you out of a tight spot… usually. Given the choice and the time, however, I’m not sure if most people wouldn’t take time to sleep on it, to go over the problem a few times to make the best choice. The folks selling you something, the ones wanting to get you to swing to their way of thinking, and those wanting to pressure you into something know it, too. If they can park that logical side of the brain and get your emotions ramped up, they know you are more impressionable and easier to control. Yep, marketing, sales, and psychology are at work every single day to work overtime on your most primitive nature… so do you think politics is any different?!
Many have heard the term “Useful Idiots” a few times but perhaps are not sure of the origins. Most attribute it back to Vladimir Lenin, founder of Soviet Russia, who referred to those who could be manipulated to destabilize an existing organization, allowing the real revolution to occur. The use for the individuals was over when the conditions were favorable to proceed to the next stage of the real plan, they were disposable. There is obviously disbelief, shock, confusion, and a sense of betrayal. The Useful Idiots often thought they were going to be in control, they were faithful to the “Cause” and couldn’t believe that the real objectives they were working for were not real. This is not new; it has repeated itself time and time again.
Some of the more real and haunting points on the subject come directly from those who had used the tactic, and some even gave demonstrations. One thing that comes to mind is that Joseph Stalin, known for his kind heart (yeah, right!), demonstrated how people could be manipulated and harmed and still come back to the hand that caused the harm for support. To demonstrate, he plucked a live chicken, let it go on the stage, then threw down some chicken feed, and the chicken that he had just caused unimaginable pain came back to him for food and comfort. Folks that employ the useful idiots model know full well what they are doing.
A defector back in the 70s laid out the process extremely well, chilling when you look objectively at current events of how it may be employed or, depending on your vantage point, is being deployed.
Communist Tactics Examples
Here is one such account by former KGB agent Yuri Bezmonev when describing the USSR method for growing communism in the West.
- Yuri Bezmenov was a Soviet journalist for Novosti Press Agency (APN). In 1970, as a member of the KGB Soviet mission in New Delhi, India, Bezmenov defected to the West and was re-settled in Canada pursuant to an arrangement between American and Canadian security agencies.
- “[T]he useful idiots, the leftists who are idealistically believing in the beauty of the Soviet socialist or Communist or whatever system, when they get disillusioned, they become the worst enemies. That’s why my KGB instructors specifically made the point: never bother with leftists. Forget about these political prostitutes. Aim higher. […] They serve a purpose only at the stage of destabilization of a nation. For example, your leftists in the United States: all these professors and all these beautiful civil rights defenders. They are instrumental in the process of subversion only to destabilize a nation. When their job is completed, they are not needed anymore. They know too much. Some of them get disillusioned when they see that Marxist-Leninists come to power—obviously, they get offended—they think that they will come to power. That will never happen, of course. They will be lined up against the wall and shot.”
Complacent, apathethic populations give birth to monstrous leaders
The Nuremberg trials post World War 2 brought the full horror to light of how populations could not only be controlled but made complacent, too scared, and too apathetic to do anything. We would like to say that all these items are in the past, that it could and never would happen again. Most folks fail to realize that when these methods are employed, it’s a long game. Typically, it takes years. It only seems rapid once the stage is set and the real plan is put into motion when it’s “Too Late” to turn back.
When we have energy-deficient nations setting the narrative for what “Green / Clean” energy is. As an energy-rich nation, we must be wary of others saying what is good and what is not allowed. When we have large organizations that are led by ideologically and economically driven leaders who are not elected and, in fact, think that the whole democracy thing is antiquated, we should be wary.
We should be extremely wary when groups and organizations believe in freedom of speech, movement, economic , “Social Choice”, medical choice, gatherings, freedom of civil protest, and religious beliefs.
We should be wary when families, the relationships between parents and their children become secondary to the relationship with state-run institutions and the relationships with the children. We should become very wary when we cannot communicate with one another or have access to information.
Find out who the “useful idiots” are!
I’ve said at many of the town halls I’ve either hosted or attended that we “Park the Politics and just work the problem so that we can come up with the solution”. The whole intent there is also to park the emotions and, quite literally, the baggage we are carrying from being inundated with certain information from others trying to have us do their dirty work by turning on each other. I have to say that when we make that separation, bring down the emotion, identify the problem, and together propose and work the solutions, we win big. We not only felt better about the meeting, but we also came up with something that could be actioned.
There is a bigger plan at play out there right now to take away our advantages of having many natural resources at our disposal. Quite honestly, an abundance of energy that is the envy of the world over. We have an absolutely pristine environment compared to many nations in the world, and we have the conscience and the wealth to ensure we can keep it that way. We have the ability to do the right thing by ourselves, but more importantly, by others. So why is it, that we continue to be beaten up, have the goal posts moved, and be set upon each other, so that others who don’t have these resources can get ahead of us, or lead us down their path?
I encourage you to step back, look around, and see things for what they are. We have an unparalleled advantage that can ensure many future generations will have the freedoms we have today, and moreover, if we play our cards right, the freedoms our grandparents enjoyed. We have to make sure that the definition of “Clean / and Green” is not done by others. We have to define that ourselves. We have to seek relationships with good trading partners. We must ensure we allow our logic and intellect to be fully utilized rather than being hijacked by emotion and those “Useful Idiots”.
Final Thoughts
I know that I and many others are causing discomfort to those trying to weaken our province and country. Most recently, because of how I arranged our provincial symbols and motto. I used our provincial shield, our provincial mammal, the Big Horn Sheep, and Strong and Free. I worked with the graphic artist to have all the items in gold on a black background (Alberta energy), with a couple of crossed swords behind the shield. I put them on a clock and posted an ad offering the clocks to any halls, seniors groups, sporting clubs, not-for-profits, or local businesses. If they want one, simply reach out to my office. I said in the post it was “Alberta Strong and Free Time!” The vast majority of people loved it. The others, the folks who want us to be weakened, the ones who can’t stand what those symbols represent, absolutely came out of their skates against “Such a Thing!”. I think I’m onto something here.
I’ll keep our old democracy. I’m not much into a “New Democracy” that none of them want to define.
I’ll keep standing up for those who need it, I’ll keep being vocal for those who need a voice, and I’ll keep working hard to make sure we pull together for the betterment of our province and our country.
This isn’t just what I believe, it’s what I’ve heard out there from the folks I’ve met, and if you’ve managed to keep reading this far, it’s also what matters to you.
Sincerely,
Shane Getson
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PLEASE NOTE:
If you have any comments to this blog post or others, please write to me at LacSteAnne.Parkland@assembly.ab.ca and I will respond to you personally as soon as possible.
For any further question on the constituency of Lac Ste Anne Parkland feel free to connect with your MLA Shane Getson by calling the phone number : 780.967.0760 (click2call), by email LacSteAnne.Parkland@assembly.ab.ca or by mailing us to:
Constituency Office
#18, 4708 Lac Ste. Anne Trail North
P.O. Box 248 “Onoway PO”
Onoway, AB
Canada T0E 1V0
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MLA Shane Getson (UCP)
Shane Getson was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland on April 16, 2019.
Engagement
I currently serve as Deputy Chair on the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and as a Member of the Standing Committees on Resource Stewardship.
Check often my Engagement page to discover my Focus Projects for 2021, among which I want to introduce you to the importance of Utility Corridors. I have the firm belief that the usage of these corridors will contribute immensely to Alberta's future so, for more details please contact me at your convenience.