DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS

Bamboozled non-voting majority
Ruled by the Money-clad minority
Non-voting majority abdicated
Functioning democracy desecrated

consider: MICHAELANGELO-RAPHAELO: Oliver Stone: The untold history of the United States (10 Links)... http://michaelangelo-raphaelo.blogspot.com/2015/01/oliver-stone-untold-history-of-united.html?spref=tw

-- CARL SAGAN, "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection," Parade, February 1, 1987

One of the saddest lessons of history is this:

If we've been bamboozled long enough,

we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle.

We're no longer interested in finding out the truth.

The bamboozle has captured us.

It is simply too painful to acknowledge

-- even to ourselves --

that we've been so credulous [gullible].

Finding the occasional straw of truth awash

in a great ocean of confusion and bamboozle

requires intelligence, vigilance, dedication and courage.

But if we don't practice these tough habits of thought,

we cannot hope to solve the truly serious problems that face us

-- and we risk becoming a nation of suckers,

up for grabs by the next charlatan who comes along. (emphasis added)