Today's Lessons Concerning the Total Complacency of the Masses For the Past Quarter of a Century

"He who thus domineers over you has only two eyes, only two hands, only one body, no more than is possessed by the least man among the infinite numbers dwelling in your cities; he has indeed nothing more than the power that you confer upon him to destroy you. Where has he acquired enough eyes to spy upon you, if you do not provide them yourselves? How can he have so many arms to beat you with, if he does not borrow them from you?"

Étienne de La Boétie 

Notes: I wrote and published an article  titled, "The USA PATRIOT Act and Finance: The Hidden Threat," on September 1, 2006. I wrote this article as a warning about the tyranny happening at the time, and what was sure to come in the future. Some listened, but few took heed. That attitude never really improved, and in fact, the total complacency of the masses manifested by blind compliance and obedience, just got worse, and more evident over time. In that article published 18 years ago, I attempted to explain the ruling class and government's totalitarian plans, including mass surveillance and all-consuming control, that would greatly advance and lead to the enslavement of society if the people refused to protect their own freedom. Jumping forward, we are now at the brink of complete tyrannical control, and the bulk of this country and others are simply awaiting the loss of everything, and a life of control and financial imprisonment.

Some of us saw the writing on the wall, and attempted to warn, but alas, here we are at what seems to be very close to a time where there will be no solution possible (all dissent will be annihilated) to turn away this tide of global totalitarian control. Exactly what fake 'emergency'(s) will be used in order to strike universal fear among the pathetic masses, so as to implement the entire digitization of society, causing the financial and monetary destruction necessary to gain that complete control, are not known, but it is now no secret as to what is coming. When the central bank currencies roll out, and 134 countries are already currently onboard, that will be the end of all liberty.

Here is part of what I wrote almost two decades ago:

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The USA PATRIOT Act and Finance: The Hidden Threat

"After 18 years in the investment business, a time I might add that has been rewarding in many ways, I am now truly questioning whether I should stay in this profession. It just isn’t fun anymore. When it actually stopped being fun is hard to pinpoint, but why it stopped is not. Although we in this industry have always been regulated, or shall I say controlled, by Big Brother (Department of the Treasury, IRS, NASD, an            d SEC), we got along okay most of the time. But since September 11, 2001, things have changed dramatically, and not for the better; not better for the brokers and certainly not better for our clients, those hard-working individuals who save and invest and drive this country forward.

Although the USA PATRIOT Act is the tool being used, I don’t want to give the impression that this single piece of legislation is the only problem. The attacks in 2001 enabled the government to expedite plans for more power, something it continually seeks just by its very nature, but can never acquire fast enough to suit its desires.

(The USA PATRIOT Act was just one of many beginning invasions and surveillance tools to come)

We investment advisers are now “agents” of the government, told to secretly watch our clients and report any “suspicious” activity. We even have an in-house czar, if you will, called the AML Officer, or Anti-Money-Laundering Officer. We are to report anything deemed suspicious directly to him, and he in turn will decide whether or not to turn this information over to the government for further investigation. These reports are called Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs); they are filed directly with the U.S. Treasury and made available to law enforcement and federal securities regulators. We are also required to verify the identity of and do a background check on any client opening a new account. This program is called the Customer Identification Program (CIP). An outside database is used to verify information supplied by the client. This is done every night by the firm, and results are received by the credit department the following morning. If a discrepancy arises—an address hasn’t been updated, a digit is missed in the Social Security number, or the client’s name happens to match one on a watch list—we are required to get additional identifying documents, such as a driver’s license or passport, and to enter identifying numbers in the firm’s database. This database, I might add, is open to the Treasury.

I know some of you will say, “I don’t have a brokerage account, so I don’t have to worry about it.” Really? So far I have only been talking about my own business, but all financial institutions are bound by law to keep an eye on you. The PATRIOT Act defines a financial institution as almost anything. The list includes everything from convenience stores to travel agencies to auto dealers to insurance and investment companies. Even jewelry stores qualify. This unwarranted invasion will affect just about everyone at one time or another. Many will be affected regularly, and this will happen for the most part without their consent or knowledge. Are you beginning to get the picture?

Also, every account opened with our firm is checked against the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) list of countries and individuals “suspected” of being involved in money laundering, and even existing accounts are automatically checked against this list. Any branch disbursement check requested for any third-party recipient must be checked against the OFAC list. In addition, all disbursements made from the home office are checked, regardless of payee or recipient. This is now standard procedure and the law.

As brokers we not only have to watch our clients, we are also liable if we fail to report anything deemed suspicious and could face loss of license, fines, and/or imprisonment. “Suspicious” for our purposes could include:

• anyone wanting to do business who resides in a country deemed uncooperative by the government;

• anyone attempting to wire funds from his own account for no apparent reason;

• anyone opening an account and not investing right away; and

• anyone who makes multiple deposits.

We are also to be watchful for “high-risk” customers, such as offshore corporations, any charitable organizations, and all nonbank business, such as money-services businesses that provide check-cashing services. Also included are currency dealers, convenience stores, parking garages, restaurants, and others. “Others” is not explained, but I take it that we should be suspicious of everyone, or else. Our list of “suspicious activity” could include any account from a young first-time investor to a 90-year-old grandmother.

I have worked many years to build a good business and to build trust with my clients. What do I tell them now? Oh, by the way, I am now not only your broker but also a government spy. Don’t worry though, you will never know when you and/or your accounts are being checked or investigated. It’s a secret! This is beyond anything I could have imagined just a few years ago. I am now a threatened agent of the government. How absurd.

Does It Protect?

Why are so many in this country in favor of the PATRIOT Act? Do they actually believe this will protect them from all harm? Why are modern-day 'conservatives' insistent that any and all power should be handed to this government in the name of safety? Given the financial aspects alone, why wouldn’t conservatives and everyone else abandon their support for this invasion of our rights? If our entire financial business is constantly being watched and investigated without cause by government, what else is going on through the sweeping powers granted in the PATRIOT Act? Is this administration and the rest of the government really only wiretapping suspected terrorists, or is it much more far-reaching? These questions must be answered if we are to have any chance to regain and sustain our liberty.

No politician can change this course we’re on. Only we as a people have the power to control our own destiny. If we do nothing, as seems to be the current plan, our rights to life and liberty will continually be threatened. If left unchecked, government will continue to grow and in time will consume all."

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Obviously, this was written long ago, before technology had advanced to this stage, or more likely, before the same technologies were exposed and allowed to be known. Financial control has been in the works for decades, but continually ignored. As I warned, the plot against us has been a long-term plan, but now we face dire circumstances, and the globalization, digitization, censorship, surveillance, financial and monetary takeover and control, property confiscation, and destruction of all natural food stocks and agriculture, is not only well under way, but nearly complete. There is no time left, so any continuation of total complacency by this population will be the death knell to us all.

"The mob has always behaved in this way—eagerly open to bribes that cannot be honorably accepted, and dissolutely callous to degradation and insult that cannot be honorably endured."

Ètienne de La Boétie