The simple truth about the totalitarian character of all form of government hides behind the veil of complication. Governments that call themselves democratic have devised simple and efficient methods to preselect potential actors in their arena. Ostensibly, bureaucracy runs the country while politicians decide about the framework for economy and the citizens.

Legislation became so detailed that hardly anyone interested could grasp all of it, no matter how much one has to oblige to these written laws. This allows an easy way to prosecute dissenters or other unwanted persons. More importantly, it limits the public's attention on politics, which happily trusts politicians instead of questioning their legitimacy.

Democracy means for many just the ability for free and independent voting. Citizens don't bring up topics into the public sphere, they merely need to choose sides on the talking points brought up in the media, just like in a game of sport, pick your team.

Sex and violence remain the focus of attention more than politics, and the media supplies the required weapons of mass distraction aplenty. Trivia captures minds, keeps them busy and engaged to prevent explorations of the mind itself.

Music works more efficient in providing tidbits of stories to create individual identity and to understand the rules of the surrounding society. Themes in popular music often focuses on relationships, and perpetuates prevailing gender stereotypes. Meanwhile, music and the related fashion industry cater for the identity shoppers.

Music does not only supplement the consumerist identity, it also provides a group identity. Singing as a choir in a church or sport arena unites people, and the herd instincts get reinforced. The domesticated human sings in tune, walks in line, accepts the majority opinions provided by experts, votes and cares mostly about panem et circenses.

The combination of the suggested easy access to sexuality by consumption of the right kind of products, fashion stressing sexual attributes and a repressive sex moral within the society produce feelings of guilt, confusion and desire. Boobs or a tight bum turn into carrots on a stick that lead susceptible individuals on a windy path of personal dramas.

These personal dramas follow the schemata of song lyrics, soap operas, books and movies. The embedded memes provide a variety of templates, suited for the local or even for the global community.

Of course, this doesn't affect all people, yet I wouldn't give numeric estimates unless I tried to sample this phenomemon scientifically. However, the weapons of mass distraction weave the matrix which in turn molds the reality of malleable masses.

The meme of the happy coexistence of diverging ideas, a prerequisite for any democratic system, needs to knock loudly on the door to our society.

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