So today I open my email to see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCjg_k2cifE with the note: "take a look at this when you have 10 free minutes - pretty disturbing" sent from one of my friends. The clip (well, other than the scary music in the background) isn't nearly as disturbing as the fact that people believe it and continue to circulate it on the internet.
This clip and the stories behind it were created in the minds of a small group of conspiracy theorists and then perpetuated by 2008 losing Presidential nominee-hopeful Ron Paul. I don't even know where to start with this, but here goes....
In 2005, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) was launched by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The SPP is an initiative outlining a comprehensive framework, staffed by mid-level officials from the three countries, to synchronize customs, security and regulations while respecting the sovereignty and unique cultural heritage of each nation. Ideally this will lead to increased security cooperation against terror threats and improved trade in North America. The information is available (www.spp.gov) so if you don't know anything about it, the reason is NOT because it's being hidden from you but rather because you are choosing not to research the information. The clip indicates that the SPP and the "North American Union" (NAU) are one in the same. The NAU is a conspiracy theory and it is fictional. It does not exist.
The amero does NOT exist either. Daniel Carr, a coin designer, has minted a series of copper and silver ameros and sells them online to raise awareness of the NAU (and, no doubt, make himself a pretty good profit). His coins can be found here: http://www.dc-coin.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=8. The entire theory of the amero seems to be based on the interview shown in the clip of Steve Previs, Jefferies International, who hasn't been heard from publicly since.
The quote from David Rockefeller isn't cited and I can't find it anywhere which leads me to believe it has been completely taken out of context OR it is fabricated.
Aaron Russo is not only a filmmaker and producer but also a 9/11 conspiracy theorist. So, not surprisingly, he believes that the Federal Reserve, 9/11, the war on terror and the Iraq war have all been fabricated with the ultimate goal of.....wait, what did he say? To get everybody in this world chipped with an RFID chip. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?! Then, if you protest or don't do what "we" (not sure who he means here) want, we just turn off your chip. What are we, robots? I'm not really sure how to even respond to this because it is embarrassingly ridiculous. The creators of this video allow him to publicly "quote" Nicholas Rockefeller with no proof to us that it's even accurate.
Next, the "Real ID Act" was a provision of legislation passed in May, 2005 in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States (a conspiracy per this clip). The provision was prompted by the fact that 18 of the 19 hijackers had obtained fraudulent identification in order to board the planes that they eventually flew into the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon. The "Real ID Act" mandated that States implement a system to ensure that anyone applying for a license is who they say they are and don't pose a security risk. Starting in May, 2008 any person applying for, or renewing, a driver's license has had to provide documentation of identity, documentation of residence address and documentation showing that they are in the United States legally. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the proposed regulations establish common standards for States to issue licenses. The Federal Goverment is not issuing the licenses, is not collecting information about license holders, and is not requiring States to transmit license holder information to the Federal Government that they don't already have (i.e. social security number): http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/gc_1210269250821.shtm
The narrator of the video indicates that we are all a bunch of morons being unknowingly led by politicians, business leaders and government officials but then, ironically, tries to do the same thing by feeding us a bunch of undocumented, mostly untrue, garbage. Fear tactics (like this) work because people are unwilling or unable to do the research to uncover the truth. It is out there, you just have to look.
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Comments
Fear + laziness = sheep
I mused once that if the bravest people among us take more risks, die faster, and thereby have fewer kids than the most afraid among us, does that mean that we're generationally becoming more fearful? If so, that would be the best news ever for politicians, news media, and pharmaceutical companies.
Just a thought.
Nice post...aren't those emails infuriating?
BTW, if you travel and hold a passport than you are being tracked by an RFID chip. Whether this chip grows to be of "widespread" use by governments and corporations on human subjects (via implantation) is probably not far fetched at all.
thezenhaitian: I believe I have a healthy skepticism for most of what I read and hear, especially when it comes to our government and leaders. While this post wasn't necessarily about 9/11, since you brought it up....if the official story is wrong, where is the proof that it didn't happen as reported? Whether you choose to believe it or not, there is a lot of proof that debunks most of the questions raised by conspiracy theorists. I have no problem with people raising questions and being skeptical of government. In fact, I wish people weren't so complacent and would do that more often. However, I think there is a real danger in promoting unsubstantiated paranoia that discredits the governmental system under which Americans currently operate.
As for the RFID chip...putting it in my passport is a lot different than putting it in my body. If Americans become so complacent as to let a policy be created that requires RFID chip implantation (and believe me, I would fight it) then, unfortunately, I think we probably deserve it.