The Most Vulnerable Are Being Misled

During the Cold War many reformers and activists traveled to Russia to observe the Utopian society called “The Workers Paradise”. Officials of the Komitet Gosudarstvenno Bezopasnosti (KGB) would tour these crusaders through the Kremlin and show them Potemkin Villages; structures that mislead others into seeing a bright appearance instead of the realities that existed. One reality was starvation; brutality and massacres that were conducted daily on a grand scale.

These optimistic idealists left Russia convinced that Marxism was a model vision for humanity. A world with no struggle nor class, wealth and property was abolished and everyone was equal.  Vladimir Lenin called these crusaders for causes they weren't fully aware of “useful idiots“.

During The Great Depression the world was ripe for our most vulnerable to become “useful idiots” for populist and demagogues that eloquently preached of a better tomorrow. To many capitalism seemed heartless, barbaric and cruel. As many lost their jobs and their homes were seized, the soil was fertile territory for demagoguery. The thirties gave rise to Anti-Semites, isolationist and agitators such as Father Coughlin, Charles Lindberg, and Huey Long.

These fiery rhetoricians eloquently used language to manipulate and garner support by instilling a sense of ethnic pride and nationalism. These soothing messages of hope for the soul left the poor susceptible to believe in a savior or hero.

The question arises is: are today's demagogues and orators any different from those during The Great Depression? Is the same isolationist rhetoric by Rand Paul or Ted Cruz any different from Charles Lindbergh and Father Charles Coughlin?  Or are orations of labor bosses and Al Sharpton any more duplicitous to those who hunger, work and toil than the communists and trade unions of the thirties?

Populism has always had  appeal among the masses whether it’s class warfare, or the men of the people; who do these people benefit?  While these guys seem to advance their agenda, their followers seem to end up poorer and broker.

I am afraid that our most vulnerable citizens have become “useful idiots” for the charismatic demagogues that uses flowery rhetoric and class warfare not to advance their interests but to enrich themselves with television shows, and political offices while the poor crusade, agitate, and rally for causes they are not fully aware of.

One has to shake their head in disbelief seeing Walmart Moms arguing against higher wages  or gun lovers defending  assault weapons. Those on the left seem to be just as mislead as they wear Trayvon Martin hoodies in protest while remaining silent when our black children shoot each other down everyday.  It’s sad to see after fifty years that many still march and sing in protest for the same things that Martin Luther King preached about. Instead of asking the question: have their spokesman acted in their best interest?

Truth is the poors’ problems don't stem from inequality nor oppression, but an inability to understand basic economics.  The reason why the poor are poor is because they keep listening to these smooth talking demagogues that exploit the poor with idealistic visions of hope that keep them misled, uninformed and unemployed.

When the poor learn that power is in numbers, the rich won't stand a chance. If they quit spending their money on material things that don't produce anything and collectively put their resources together, they will be self supporting and have control of their own agenda without the aid of representatives and advisors. This will in return create an economic base that have the people’ interests aligned and will form businesses that hire people in their own communities  instead of degrading themselves  protesting and begging politicians and corporations such as Wal Mart and McDonalds for a living wage.

Marcus Garvey once said “Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.”

I truly believe there is no gentler words to say to someone then ”Do it yourself”.

When the poor learn to rely on the gift which God gives all the gut feeling, they no longer will be persuaded by double breasted suits and eloquent language. They will be able to say “Satan flee from me“, and not be heartbroken by these flowery speeches of “hopes and dreams“  while you wait in line for bread baskets.

History has shown when people rely on the all knowing or powdery puff rhetoric. You become prey to these flatterers who do not have your interest at heart. The way to combat this is not to just blindly take there word, but to look for the answer yourself and trust that basic instinct that God has granted everyone.

The gut