HUMILIATION RITUALS

     I came across another story today symptomatic of the barbarism to which our society has fallen. Apparently some delayed flights in NYC led to some extraordinary mistreatment of the passengers. We say extraordinary because airline travel in the United States today is characterized by dehumanizing and degrading conditions. A few decades ago, airlines handled these problems by giving passengers a place to stay, often with meal vouchers and other perks if they had to delay flights. But that was then, this is now.

   In Postmodern America, both Government and Corporate bureaucrats seem to take delight in humiliation rituals, which is what this incident at JFK Airport was. Humiliation Rituals have no actual purpose except as a form of legalized bullying designed to put us little people in our places and to serve as a constant reminder of how worthless and powerless we are compared to our Masters. Mandatory Masks, Social Distancing, and being forced to declare one's medical status for the privilege of participating in social events are also Humiliation Rituals which have their precedents in earlier rites. Masks are direct product of mandatory seat belts, and helmet-laws; Social Distancing stems from anti-smoking harassment; the Vaxx Passport comes from national drinking-age laws. Taking the Loyalty Vaxx as a condition of employment comes from the Drug War, where employees were forced to submit to the humiliation of urinating in front of a bureaucrat to prove they were drug free. 

    In fact, these forms of public harassment and degradation have been going on for so long and so continuously that most Ameroboobs slavishly submit to them without even noticing any more. We've really reached such a state of abasement that we march dutifully through metal-detectors, present our papers on demand, comply with asinine rules, submit to background checks: in short, while calling ourselves free, we're forced to behave like suspects or actual criminals.  

    Corporate America---who actually own the political classes---have been doing the same. When mergers and outsourcing became legalized during the Clinton and Bush Eras, we saw the common sight of men who'd given 20, 30, or even 40 years to given company dumped onto the Unemployment lines. "I got mine, sux to be you!" was about as much sympathy as any of them got. The few jobs available were increasingly lower wage, longer hours, and zero labor rights. The monopolies created gave these same bullies the power to push around consumers too. Anyone who's purchased a home recently must realize that all they actually got is a Lease-Option with the banks and insurance cartels actually owning the property and arrogantly dictating terms. 

   If what happened at JFK Airport this weekend had happened 50 or so years ago, the FAA and FTC would have stepped in and likely Congressional Hearings would have been opened. But again, that was then, this is now. Today there is neither the political nor the popular will to change. We've very much become a nation where bullies are respected: admired by many and feared by most. 

   Since the situation is unlikely to change, the best defense we have is avoiding---as much as possible---situations where these humiliation rituals are practiced. However, public humiliation has become such a pervasive and accepted practice, it's nearly impossible to avoid completely. Especially since the Elites have uniformed thugs on standby to back up their will at gunpoint. Even if one cannot avoid them, understanding what they are and what their purpose is takes away much of the intended effect.