What Matters to You – Signs, Symbols, and Useful Idiots

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.

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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