Last night, I watched John Carpenter’s THEY LIVE.

If you’ve never seen it, the basic premise is that grotesque aliens have secretly infiltrated the United States, causing the worst for humanity through hidden mind control. The whole thing is social/political commentary about what was happening after the Reagan era at the end of the 80’s. In 2024, it’s elevated to a new level.

The scene that hit me hardest was the one where Roddy Piper’s character, Nada, is looking for work.

The board is filled. Jobs o’ plenty.

If there are so many jobs, why does this old woman say…

“There’s nothing available for you right now.”

I feel ya, Rod.

A few minutes later, Keith David’s character, Frank, tells Nada:

“The whole deal is like some kind of crazy game. They put you at the starting line and the name of the game is ‘make it through life,’ only everyone’s out for themselves and lookin’ to do you in at the same time. Now, you do what you can, but remember, I’m gonna do my best… to blow your ass away.”

For the longest time, it’s seemed like this is the general perspective of everyone I encounter in public all the time, every day.

As I keep watching, I hear the voice of the “hacker” that speaks a message on the TV.

“Our impulses are being redirected. We are living in an artificially induced state of consciousness that resembles sleep. The movement was begun 8 months ago by a small group of scientists who discovered quite by accident these signals being sent through —”

“The poor and the underclass are growing. Racial justice and human rights are nonexistent. They have created a repressive society and we are their unwitting accomplices. Their intention to rule rests with the annihilation of consciousness. We have been lulled into a trance. They have made us indifferent to ourselves, to others. We are focused only on our own gain.”

“Please understand, they are safe as long as they are not discovered. That is their primary method of survival.”

“Keep us asleep. Keep us selfish. Keep us sedated.”

“They are dismantling the sleeping middle class. More and more people are becoming poor. We are their cattle. We are being bred for slavery.”

It’s the definition of exactly what’s happening today, except it’s gotten so much worse and it’s not broadcast over the air.

Are our portable electronic smart devices controlling our minds? Absolutely, thoroughly and repeatedly.

The messages are pumped into our brain every time we go to CNN.com, watch YouTube, check Facebook, watch TikTok or whatever else.

The laptops on our desks, the tablets on our nightstands, and the phones in our pockets.

OBEY

CONSUME

SUBMIT

MARRY AND REPRODUCE

DO NOT QUESTION AUTHORITY

COOPERATE

STAY ASLEEP

WATCH TV

NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT

SURRENDER

HONOR APATHY

NO IMAGINATION

REWARD INDIFFERENCE

CONFORM