As the illusion of stability and order continues to dissolve, more and more characters, agencies, and institutions are being outed and/or accused of being bad actors. In some cases, these exposures make perfect sense and are not a surprise for a considerable numbers of us. In other cases, there is less certainty and more disagreement about the nature of these agents.
This article follows my last week writing entitled, Is Trust Going Extinct?, which could make this a part two, but it stands on its own as well.
Many of you have probably heard the debate around Elon Musk. Is he a force supporting freedom of speech, challenging globalism, and calling out media and government hypocrisy? Or, is he a technological transhumanist hell bent on complete domination of the economy, information, and human biology? Perhaps it is both, and maybe more.
When it comes to Musk, it is easy for me to see some good things he has contributed to the cultural discussion - like allowing the content of the Twitter Files to surface and his vocal opposition of the World Government Summit, amongst other things. That being said, anyone who is excited about humans plugging into the Matrix, (i.e., Neuralink) is not really welcome in my post-pandemic apocalyptic-navigating community.
The bottom line with Musk is that I don’t trust him but I can appreciate some of the wrenches he throws in the spokes of globalists and other megalomaniacal characters. I also like his sense of humor.
I loved this:
But enough about Musk. He is not invited into the inner sanctum of our new village. Ironically, sharing writing on Substack to Twitter has just recently become blocked. It has been reported that this is the consequence of Musk and Taibbi’s squabble and/or Musk’s defense against the Substack’s Notes poised to compete with Twitter. Whatever it is that’s enough about it here.
(If you’d like to connect with me on the new Substack Notes, let me know you got there from this article by replying here.)
The thing is Musk is not the only well known personality who is being questioned. It seems almost everyone is. For example, I have heard that Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Robert Kennedy, Jr., and many more notable voices of dissent are controlled opposition. Of course, I cannot be certain about any of them as I do not know them personally, but I do find it hard to digest that virtually anyone with a large platform - regardless of the stated position - is ‘in the club’.
If this is true, it is a very black pill perspective. It is so black pill that I don’t think it is worth believing in. I have previously entertained some of these ideas in the article, The Fog of the Info War, so I won’t go deep here, but I will say it is unproductive to see everyone as the enemy. It might even be a symptom of PTSD or another pathology. I don’t blame you if you do because we have gone through some tumultuous times with unparalleled levels of betrayal and nefarious psychological operations. However, what are we fighting for and trying to hold on to if everywhere we turn we see evil?
I still hold onto the notion that we need to focus on what we are fighting for rather than what we are fighting against, as I described in 2022 in the article below:
Paranoia will destroy-ya. In my opinion, the way of the warrior is a balance of toughness and vulnerability. The momentous effort it takes to rise each morning and face the world with all its gloom and doom, malevolence and deceit, corruption and greed, would be a waste if we shut out the propensity for inspiration and joy, kindness and trust, collaboration and community. Our hearts must stay open even if we leave them susceptible to further insult. This is at the core of the humanity that we are striving to maintain in the face of the encroaching schemes of these digital vampires.
I cannot accept Rogan, Brand, or Kennedy as controlled opposition. Maybe I am fooling myself but I have followed their work for a long time and their words and energy resonate have resonated deeply with me. I am trusting my instincts here and that is another vital aspect of the way of the warrior. I am not looking to them as being saviours or as heroes but as bright points amidst as sea of so much disappointment. There are others too.
Maybe I’ll change my mind. I am allowed, you know. If substantial evidence arises, it is okay to shift. I think it is healthier for me to give these people the benefit of the doubt. I think it helps to fuel my tank and keep my hope shining. I know some people choose a different path because disappointment is far too painful and they feel it is better to avoid further hurt than experience temporary joy. That is not my way.
I know some people have posted on social media about the controlled opposition and even challenged me there on this topic. I think some have been disappointed in my stance and have retreated from further interaction with me. It is unfortunate that it has to be this way. I hope they will come around. An inability to trust and an overwhelmingly jaded outlook on life seems to be a route to a nihilism that decays the spirit.
I am highly resistant to the path of nihilism as I have already ventured down it and found an unforgiving existential angst. I think my article, To NPC, or Not to NPC, It Shouldn't Even Be a Question: Do individuals have any real power to alter the trajectory of humanity?, captures many of the layers of this issue well.
Maybe you think I am being naive. Maybe you think I am being idealistic. Maybe you think I am controlled opposition.
As far as I know, I am not. Trust me. ;-)
RFK, Jr. is announcing his run for the presidency. While I am nonpartisan and distrusting of all politicians, I hope he wins. I think it is a long shot but I see it as a good thing regardless of the outcome. I’m not interested in swaying people to vote one way or another, or to hold any idols up as saviours. I just think that this man has spent a lot of energy, time, and resources in fighting for things that benefit the vast majority of people. He has stood against the forces of Big Agriculture, Big Chemical, Big Pharma, and more. These forces are all about maximum profits with minimal care about people, health, and sustainability. They make the future for our kids and grandkids less hopeful.
Let’s make hope believable again.
Aubrey Marcus’ IG post above can be linked here.
One more thing, as far as controlled opposition goes, aren’t we all controlled by our circumstances, our upbringing, our culture, our education, etc., at least a little bit?
Can we make change in the world without playing the game, at least a little bit?
Is that not being controlled opposition?
Perhaps we can be somewhat controlled opposition and then unlearn what we have learned so we can be free from the control of our conditioning and truly make seismic changes.
What do you think?
I will leave you with this:
We can trust others and keep an open heart without surrendering our agency and hope to them as saviour. Trust yourself above all but build community while you are at it. I believe that’s how we stay human.
As I wrote recently on another platform: distrust, then verify you were correct to distrust. Then, CO or not you are insulated.