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Scott R Bushnell – 8-12-2024– discussion of the 17th amendment to the Constitution
Summary & Transcript
- [00:00 → 02:03] Introduction and Context
- The speaker opens with greetings from Maui, referencing the date August 12, 2024.
- Announces positive news about Jason Schwartz, the original host, who recently had successful surgery and is recovering well.
- Notes the post-election atmosphere in Maui County but chooses not to discuss local election details.
- Introduces the main topic: the causes of the American Revolution, focusing on the lack of representation of the colonies in the British government. Colonists sought independence because they had no representation in decisions affecting them.
- Draws a parallel to contemporary issues in Hawaii, where locals feel disconnected from mainland decision-makers, echoing colonial frustrations.
- [02:03 → 06:35] Historical Background and Media Influence
- Explains King James’s rule as distant and god-like over American colonies, highlighting the disconnect between rulers and the governed.
- Compares this historical disconnect to modern grievances of Hawaiians feeling ignored by mainland powers.
- Discusses how governmental distance from the people leads to disenfranchisement and potential rebellion.
- Critiques modern mass media and social influencers for creating polarized, sensational content to maintain viewership and profits.
- Reflects on how media spectacle (e.g., “Jackass,” celebrity stunts) distracts and divides public attention.
- Emphasizes the decline of traditional news networks and the increasing dramatization of news to hold audience interest.
- [06:35 → 10:21] Trustworthy Journalism vs. Media Sensationalism
- Remembers Walter Cronkite as a symbol of trusted, fact-based journalism, contrasting with today’s highly opinionated and financially driven media landscape.
- Highlights the critical role of objective journalism in maintaining a healthy republic.
- Warns about the corrupting influence of money and power on politics and media.
- Raises the question: how do communities like Maui respond when they feel unheard and divided by media-driven narratives?
- Points out that while job creation statistics are positive, the reality includes many part-time jobs and a high cost of living, especially in Hawaii.
- [10:21 → 16:41] The 17th Amendment and Its Historical Implications
- Provides a detailed history of the 17th Amendment (ratified in 1912), which changed the election of U.S. Senators from being appointed by state legislatures to direct election by the people.
- Before 1912, Senators were appointed by state legislatures to maintain state sovereignty and provide a double layer of representation alongside the House of Representatives.
- Cites the Federalist Papers and writings of Jefferson, Ellsworth, and Hamilton emphasizing the importance of this dual structure to prevent centralized corruption.
- Explains the rationale behind the 1912 change was based on increased communication and information availability (newspapers, etc.) making direct election feasible and more democratic.
- Warns that this change removed a critical check and balance, weakening state power and increasing the risk of Senators disconnecting from local constituents.
- [16:41 → 20:40] Consequences of the 17th Amendment and Modern Campaign Finance
- Notes that since 1912, Senators no longer have to answer directly to state legislatures, which historically ensured accountability.
- Shares a personal anecdote describing how local representatives in Hawaii helped navigate federal healthcare issues, underscoring the importance of local access to elected officials.
- Highlights the massive rise in campaign funding required to run for Senate today, often sourced from outside the candidate’s state, which further distances Senators from their constituents.
- Points out this creates a “debacle” foreseen by the Federalist Papers, where money and influence corrupt representation.
- Discusses the unexpected reach of modern media and podcasts, which can influence tens of thousands, a factor unimagined in 1912.
- [20:40 → 25:59] The Need to Revisit the 17th Amendment and Local Representation
- Advocates for reconsidering the 17th Amendment to restore the appointment of Senators by state legislatures, enhancing local control and accountability.
- Acknowledges the fairness of voting but questions the influence of massive campaign funding and media manipulation.
- Emphasizes that Hawaii’s small, interconnected communities offer a unique opportunity for direct accountability between constituents and representatives.
- The speaker stresses the importance of local governance and close relationships in preserving democracy.
- Calls for action to prevent a modern-day “King George moment,” where people feel disconnected and disenfranchised.
- [25:59 → 32:09] Lobbying, Media, and the Weaponization of Information
- Explains the traditional role of lobbyists as advocates for specific industries or groups, often with deep expertise and commitment.
- Lists examples of lobbying groups: ILWU (union), Auto Workers, Medical Association, NRA, Beef Industry, Fishing Industry, Tourism Industry, etc.
- Notes lobbyists were once respected as essential communicators between the public and government, advocating for their constituencies.
- Critiques how high-dollar interests have increasingly bypassed traditional lobbying in favor of weaponizing mass media and social media to push agendas.
- Describes subliminal advertising history from the 1960s-70s as an example of media manipulation techniques.
- Warns of the growing power of money to control political outcomes and public opinion.
- [32:09 → 38:34] Cognitive Behavioral Change, Fear, and Media Influence
- Discusses how repeated messaging can transform public perceptions and behaviors, using a swimming fear example to illustrate cognitive behavioral change.
- Argues that media today often inflicts fear instead of fun, manipulating the public through repetition and sensationalism.
- Emphasizes loss of trust in news sources, contrasting older generations’ trust in figures like Walter Cronkite with today’s skepticism.
- Highlights the role of agendas from corporations, governments, and foreign actors in shaping media narratives.
- Uses the Iraq War example to show failures of government accountability and media scrutiny.
- [38:34 → 46:11] Internet, Algorithms, and the Illusion of Choice
- Challenges viewers to consider whether they are using the internet or being used by it, highlighting algorithmic influence on information consumption.
- Shares a study example showing how search results can be biased based on political affiliations, shaping public opinion covertly.
- Warns that much online content blends fact with opinion, often masquerading as authoritative.
- Describes how algorithms drive commercial decisions (e.g., supply stocking) based on search trends, demonstrating the internet’s pervasive influence.
- Stresses the need for critical thinking and awareness when using digital tools.
- [46:11 → 52:54] Political Messaging, Social Media Influencers, and the Call for Local Accountability
- Mentions popular independent media figures (e.g., Tim Pool) who have grown large audiences by offering uncensored content.
- Questions how to restore effective representation so local voices (e.g., in Maui) are heard by elected officials.
- Reiterates the call to reconsider the 17th Amendment to restore local legislative appointment of Senators.
- Emphasizes the importance of maintaining close, neighborly relationships between constituents and their representatives.
- Warns against repeating history’s mistakes of centralized power and disenfranchisement, citing the lead-up to the Civil War as a cautionary example.
- Highlights the economic struggles of many Americans as a barrier to political engagement.
- [52:54 → 56:58] Closing Remarks: Empowerment, Voting, and Awareness
- The speaker reflects on personal experiences and encourages active participation in democracy by voting and staying informed.
- Urges listeners to be conscious of how they use tools like the internet and media, avoiding being manipulated.
- Emphasizes the continuing importance of the Federalist Papers to understand the foundations and vulnerabilities of the U.S. government.
- Warns against confusing political messaging and marketing with genuine representation and governance.
- Ends with a motivational call to stand up, vote, and protect the democratic process.
Key Insights and Concepts
| Term/Concept | Definition/Explanation |
|---|---|
| Representation | The principle that citizens have elected officials who act on their behalf in government decisions. |
| King James Moment | A metaphor for when distant rulers lose touch with local needs, risking rebellion or loss of legitimacy. |
| 17th Amendment | Constitutional amendment (1912) mandating direct election of U.S. Senators, replacing legislative appointments. |
| Federalist Papers | A collection of essays by Founding Fathers explaining and advocating for the U.S. Constitution framework. |
| Lobbyists | Professionals representing specific interest groups to influence legislation and policy. |
| Cognitive Behavioral Change | Psychological process where repeated experience or messaging alters behavior or perceptions. |
| Weaponization of Media | The strategic use of media and social platforms to manipulate public opinion and political outcomes. |
| Algorithmic Influence | The shaping of information access and consumption by computer algorithms, often subtly guiding opinions. |
Timeline of Key Historical Points
| Year/Period | Event/Change |
|---|---|
| Late 1700s | American colonies rebelled against British rule due to lack of representation, leading to the Revolution. |
| 1774 | Continental Congress formed, representing the colonies in governance prior to the U.S. Constitution. |
| 1787-1788 | U.S. Constitution drafted and ratified, establishing a federal republic with checks and balances. |
| 1912 | Ratification of the 17th Amendment shifting Senatorial elections from state legislative appointment to direct popular vote. |
| 1960s-70s | Discovery and use of subliminal advertising in media, influencing consumer behavior. |
| 2024 | Current concerns about media influence, campaign finance, and political representation discussed. |
Frequently Addressed Questions
- Why did the 17th Amendment change Senator elections?
To make the process more democratic by allowing direct elections, reflecting the belief that increased public information made this feasible. - What were the original reasons for legislative appointment of Senators?
To maintain state sovereignty and provide a dual layer of representation preventing centralization of power. - How does media influence politics today?
Through sensationalism, polarization, social media algorithms, and large campaign donations that shift priorities away from constituents. - What parallels exist between colonial America and modern Hawaii?
Both feel disenfranchised by distant governance that does not adequately represent local interests. - What can be done to improve representation?
Revisiting the 17th Amendment, increasing local legislative control over Senator appointments, and improving voter awareness about media manipulation.
Conclusion
This video is a comprehensive reflection on the historical roots of American political representation, focusing on the 17th Amendment’s unintended consequences and the modern challenges posed by media, money, and technology in democracy. The speaker urges a return to stronger local control, greater accountability, and heightened public awareness to preserve the republic’s integrity. Emphasizing lessons from the Federalist Papers and historical patterns, the message is one of vigilance against disenfranchisement and manipulation in the 21st century political landscape.
00:00
[Music] good morning Maui good morning the world it is August already August 12 2024 we have wonderful news from our producer Jason Schwartz which this is his platform that I am filling in on he had a successful surgery the other day he is up and moving around just rocking the world I know Jason and I walk together we water walk together and I am so excited to have him back in the water with me and then hopefully get him back doing our ground pounding walking the streets of keii at some point in the
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future so where are we today we are post elction uh for Maui County which is really exciting I know here at aak Kaku they had some incredible exciting things going on with their folks here uh I’m not going to talk about those races because I I’m GNA kind of leave that be so we’re going to talk about today where did where did England go wrong or where did the United Kingdom go wrong uh causing the American Revolution everybody goes did a bunch of rich people come and and uh come to the
01:31
United States or come to the Americas seeking wealth no they came seeking Independence they came because they didn’t have any representation they didn’t have any representation okay huh they didn’t have represent so so does that get you angry does that get anybody angry when they don’t have Fair representation well let’s talk about that today we’ve got a lot of different lot of different rabbit holes we going to down a lot of historic rabbit holes that I have spent my entire life going
02:03
down as far as this is concerned but back in those days King James and the founding of the colonies was the king of the America’s territories he basically was a god-like ruler he was so far removed from the colonies that he didn’t have any real grasp at what was going on there that may re ring true with a lot of Hawaiians are going like well hey you’re in New York City you’re in Washington DC how do you know what I want on my Island you’re telling me people in New York people on the East
02:44
Coast people all over the mainland are telling me how our Island should work well wow think about that just think about that think about that I hear that from every one of my homegrown Hawaiian and friends who have history on Maui why do they keep telling us from the mainland how to do things here I hear it over and over those are the same exact words that were coming out of the colonist at the time of the beginning of the American Revolution wow okay history does repeat itself it wraps itself differently the
03:32
language may be a little bit different but if you look across the entire world world governments throughout history the farther the governmental structure government being the management of the people’s business the farther it gets pulled away from the people who that it is serving the people that elected the people that put those managers in power to take care of their business business the farther it gets away the moment the closer we become to that King James moment where hey we just need to get together if
04:12
they’re not going to listen to us something’s got to change you hear a lot of concerns today um you know because mass media high dollar media stations um social influencers that make a lot lots of lots of money are getting paid to tell you one thing or another they need to make it so exciting and so extravagant and so polarized because if they don’t nobody will watch them you might remember that show um I don’t know 20 years ago I think it was called jackass and they did extraordinarily
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stupid stupid things and the producer of the show at the time on MTP I oh this will never work this is just too outrageous and it continued to work and continue to work and it was like that’s a symptom of a a a mental and a momentary time where we’re going like we need it to be so exciting so thrilling so exciting Tom Cruz repelling into Paris into the Olympic closing ceremonies it’s got to have flash glimmer Glory or it doesn’t sell okay the pitfall of the people that are selling that Glitz Glamour and glory
05:47
in order to sell their used to be newspapers sell their advertising time on all the major networks those things have changed the game has not my goal in the next few few sessions and hopefully I’m going to have some folks that actually make it in you know because sometimes that’s not an easy thing for folks to do we have this moment in time right now we’re having that King James moment part of our history where are we going to be a nation that gets driven by influencers that gets driven by high
06:35
dollar media who are making it so spectacular we can’t turn it off they have uh the major news networks are slowly slowly in Decline so as something goes in Decline they make it much more glitzy more exciting they want you to listen they want you to see their product many of us remember Walter kronite I I’m I’m at like the edge of that because you know that’s my parents generation my older brothers and sister generation Walter Kon kite got on the news when my brother was serving in
07:15
Vietnam and my parents were glued to that television broadcast they trusted him to bring the news Walter kronite did not bring his opinion of what he saw on the news or other people’s opinion of what he saw on the news he brought straight up facts and he brought them as clear as he could to the people of our country we had many great journalists throughout time who have strived to do that it is a Cornerstone of our Republic that we have people bringing us that information that is so absolutely
08:04
critical to our Republic but for anybody to do that there’s lots of money involved money corrupts everyone power is the greatest aphrodesiac once you get some power you are going to want more power so what do we do what do we do Maui what what do we do Hawaii what do we do our fellow countrymen we’re at that King James moment the media is trying to drive a narrative to drive us apart and this is the time we need to drive it together they tell us that we have more job creation than we’ve ever
08:52
had and they want to run with that they want to talk about that and that’s a great statistic they leave off the point that 3/4 of those jobs are part-time jobs and that over a third of our population up to half of our population are taking those part-time jobs to go along with their full-time jobs to make ins meet we’ve experienced that in Hawaii longer than anyone else our cost of living is has accelerated faster than any place else in the country so we know that we know our food cost but we love living here that’s part
09:32
of what who we are everything is in balance and we are in Balan with the AA so that works so let’s go back to 1774 the continental congress met you know we had a government before 1776 even after 177 it was the uh oh my L I love it when I and I lose my my brain here but we had the Continental Congress which were uh each of the states had Representatives that met together when they formed the United States Constitution our constitution is the absolute Bedrock of what our country is formed on
10:21
today I want to talk about the 17th amendment I would love to see the lines light up to sell tell me somebody that’s going to know what the 17th amendment is is reading The Federalist Papers and I’ve been going over the Federalist Papers now um for about three or four weeks I’ve been prising um some of the Federalist Papers I belong to an organization called the 10th Amendment and uh I’ve been reading and I’ve been listening and some of the greater Scholars when we set out as a new
10:53
Republic of States we had many opportunities to conform our government to our needs because they were an extension of us at the time of the 17th Amendment there was a ratification made in 1912 just prior just in that real limic period before World War I doing all that where there was a lot of change going on prior to the 1912 uh compromise for the 17th Amendment the House of Representatives in Washington T was combined of directly direct directly elected representatives from each State’s District to represent their state in
11:44
Washington DC to carry out the people’s business prior to 1912 senators from each state were appointed by their state legislature to do the state’s business in Washington DC the Senators prior to 1912 were appointed by the legislators of each state to go and do the business of the state Jefferson writes Ellsworth writes All In The Federalist Papers that this alignment gave the states the power to keep and hold the sovereignties of our states it gave a double reinforcement that the people’s house the House of
12:46
Representatives elected directly from my state and your state handled the people’s business but on a double safety belt our Senators were appointed by the state legislators in the in the Articles of the Republic the our Constitution Article 17 and you might say well that’s not fair but what it is and what Jefferson writes what Ellsworth writes what many of the scholars of Hamilton I could go on and on their Scholars wrote back then and they knew that 200 years ago that keeping it that way keeps the centralized
13:38
power which could offer the most opportunity for corruption and be creating a whole new king ship in the United States we don’t want that to happen we need to make sure the power rests in our states we want to make sure here in Maui that our voices are heard and how we want our Island ran is largely heard by our state by our elected council members by our mayor by our Representatives we want our voice we don’t want people coming in and telling us what to do back to my first point that’s why under the article
14:20
17 up until 2012 or up excuse me up until 1912 that was intact during that time in 19122 when they amended this what were they thinking well the newspapers became more affluent the turn of the N 1912 everybody was getting newspapers they had access to news their argument for making the change to having directly elected Senators was it’s doable now let’s do it I mean it it it works why can’t we do this very few people went back as far as I can read there was some argument some debate but very few actually argued the
15:06
point back then that why didn’t they do that at the outset of the 17th Amendment they should have today we have Senators that have spent oh excuse me let me take that back to 1912 again in 1912 up until 1912 Sen senors who are appointed by their local Congress back to local back to Hawaii back to back to the people here like in every state those Senators had a direct responsibility to their constituents to their people their families the people that did businesses in in their little communities there’s little States the
15:54
little farming communities the ranchers everyone they those people had Direct access to the state legislature who put them in Washington DC to be Senators that changed at the time that they did that in in 1912 from what I read they thought it was because people were more informed they were more understanding and I I I I can Venture the state their they thinking was a lot like today um with instantaneous voting if we look back in our nation’s history and we look back at mob voting just Google Salem and the witch
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trials that was mob voting that was mob voting you get an angry mob together and convince him of something that’s kind of what democracy can look like without checks and balances in 1912 they removed one layer of that check imbalance that was absolutely critical for our country to keeping itself on the straight and narrow because it’s took more rights away from the states so without those that check mark that says hey you know that Senator has to go back and answer to their local legislature up until 19
17:30
12 legislature or people that are elected to the senate for the last 112 years have not had to come back and answer directly to their legislators why is that important because on a very small scale we have access to our Representatives here on island back 10 years ago when I was was struggling with cancer and I was going through all the pitfalls of getting through the the federal health care system and all of that and I I said you know what I’ll pick up the phone and I made one call to telsey Gabbert’s
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office and within two months everything was sorted out because my local control that I had my representative was able to do things for me in Washington DC I actually gave Senator maisy’s office a call she was also helpful but that’s what we need this King George moment I’ve been talking about where we feel disenfranchised we don’t feel like we have any access to what’s going on that 1912 moment when our Senators could serve term after term after term after after term has created the exact debacle
19:04
written in the Federalist Papers over and over again they didn’t realize the scope that the media was going to play back in 1912 when they made this amendment they did not realize the amount of money that could cross hands to get Senators elected when you think about it and you look at senatorial campaigns across this country the money that’s raised is Unholy it’s an Unholy amount to get a senator elected when you have to raise that kind of money to get elected what kind of representation are
19:51
you going to get as a citizen where your Senator has reli received over 90% of his campaign contributions from somebody off the island I’m not saying that as a fact I’m just using that as as an example two terms two six six-year terms appointed by the by the local legislature gives a stop gap for senators across this country from running away from their constituency from running away from their legislators this was one of those mistakes 112 years ago that is coming home to roost they didn’t know 112 years ago
20:40
that this small podcast or this cast that Jason Schwarz started putting out decade ago could reach 41,000 people like the one we did on the Wildfire the other day the Wildfire firefighters Association which are trying to get secured income they never knew that something is simple it’s happening in a small radio station here on Maui TV radio could reach out across the United States to 41,000 homes but it has they did not even think that that was not in anyone’s wheelhouse back in 1912 if it had been in their wheelhouse
21:18
I don’t believe this amendment would have passed so I think we need to revisit how we get our Center ERS to Washington DC I believe in voting I believe it’s the Hallmark of our our our government our state government and our federal government our state representatives that go to Washington DC are directly directly elected by the people of Hawaii our state [Music] senators are are elected by the people of Hawaii the caveat to that the caveat to that and every other state how do they come up with 500 $900
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million to run their campaigns I very much doubt that a candidate in the state of Hawaii could raise that kind of money from the Corner Store Mom and Dad bakery or you know one of our other little stores no we’re losing that moment in time and we’re drawing closer to that King George moment where we need to make sure that people who say I’m not being listened to are listen to and that’s really what this is all about it’s happened throughout history I talked last week with Jason about it I talked
23:02
about how the fall of Greece the fall of Rome the fall of many many countries have failed when we went to war with England we learned how to do something absolutely fundamental in this country we learned how to fight for our freedom once we got our freedom then we kind of got lost going well how do we do we manage this new world we have okay we have 13 colonies we have 13 unions we have 13 independent governments it started getting lined out then it started getting thought through then that all politics need to stay
23:54
local a senator today who can raise a billion dollars in a phone call isn’t beholding to its people as well as a senator that has to go back to their state legislatures their state Senate and their state house and justify what theyve voted for what they’ve supported there’s that two- layer safety net that our as our constitutional state is as we are needs to be upheld we lost track of it it needs to come back I don’t believe that will be easy but I think the people need to know where that came from what happened way
24:42
back then how in the heck what what were they thinking when they changed that in 1912 they were thinking well we just want it to be more of a republic more democratic we don’t want anybody appointed well you elect we are in a republic no don’t ever forget that we directly rep we directly vote for our representatives in the state house and in the state senate those are directly from you and I I voted the other day I waved to the Hawaii camera and say hey I’m dropping my ballot off because I never remembered
25:21
mail things and it’s like wow okay that person who’s representing me if they live on island which often times they do there is direct access there we’re a small group of folks over here even even our families on other islands are still close family if you if somebody’s elected here generally speaking somebody in your family knows somebody in their family that knows how to contact them directly and that’s how government works the government is the machine that does the people’s business
25:59
so where are we going Scott where is this whole argument going where are you going how do we fix it the fix is not going to be easy but if we don’t make those hard choices they’re going like uh well well how do we SK it I I’ve had so many people that have emailed me after the show going well what can we do and I said you know we need to revisit this we need to revisit 17th Amendment we need to revisit what we did in 1912 we need to revisit how we send our representation to Washington
26:34
DC because big money has changed everyone and everything and that’s very important let’s talk about another way let’s talk about what happens when we send our our representatives and our Senators to Washington DC it used to be not long ago and it used to be at the time of this 1912 decision to amend the 17th article that we had lobbyists in Washington DC there’s lobbyists everywhere I’m not going to say that they’re not and they’ve gotten a bad R for the most part but being a
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lobbyist in Washington DC or in the State House State Senate that was an incredible badge of honor and a badge of trust joeo public has access directly to their house member or their Senate member here in Hawaii as they do in the other states but our lobbyist our organization ILWU down here on uh on lower main they’ve always had a very strong Lobby what do they Lobby for up until about 25 years ago they lobbied for nothing but their workers the Auto Workers always lobbied for nothing but Auto related in
28:07
infrastructure um the lobbies for the medical association lobbied for nothing but things that fell in the Wheelhouse of the people who are paying union dues or voluntarily paying dues to these lobbies the NRA is a Lobby the the the beef industry as a Lobby the fishing industry is a Lobby the tourist industry is a Lobby those are organizations that we could all belong to here a lot of us do belong to multiple organizations because they’re a coalition each one of them of something that means something to me about how I
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run my business or what I think our country and where our country needs to go so we belong to these these groups so that we can put Lobby in place and these lobbyists aren’t Joe smoke people that is a lifetime commitment most of them have advanced degrees some Doctorate Degrees in jurist doctorate so they understand how the political system works so then they pick up a 5,000 page piece of legislation which many of them are these Lobby groups will go through them with a fine tooth comb and say my
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cattle people my beef industry people my goat raising people my grasslands people my people that want to keep the islands craters free of everyone they each have their situation and when they gather together they have a lobbyist that can convey that clearly indecisively where are you going with this Scott sure we know about Lobby groups they’ve been demonized they’ve been demonized by the media they’ve been demonized absolutely everywhere why have they been demonized because if high dollar people that are
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sending your representative your Senator big chunks of change to get reelected are taking that big chunk of change then they have a vested interest in getting what they want push through Congress they have an interest at putting what they want through Congress without using so much of the lobby as much as they used to rely on now they rely on weaponizing weaponizing social media with influencers they’ve weaponized national broadcasting with all the major networks they’ve weaponized everything for their
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agenda no Scott they haven’t done that huh what do you mean did they weaponize it I’m not getting shot I’m not getting yelled at back in the 60s 7s they came out with ad subliminal advertising um I don’t know if you remember you know you should Google this and that’s a whole another world Google it Siri It Whatever find out about subliminal advertising the FCC who controls our station here on Maui who controls many media uh where we get our information controls whether or not
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subliminal advertising can be put into your mind back in the 60s and 70s when we were running cellular or cellular you know video or movies would come and they’d be real to real they be F they could put one Flash in there and say you go buy a Coke and maybe another two minutes they’d have one Flash in there that you can’t see see but your brain can see and next thing you know intermission comes and you’re going to lobby and you’re buying a Coke and they prove that to work with
32:09
unquestionably across the board subliminal advertising works okay so where are you going with the lobby here big big big money has the opportunity to set the stage they have enough money to produce commercials they have enough money to actually be the produc the dollar producers behind a lot of the media that’s flowing freely out there from the mass media if it’s an FCC regulated station that can’t happen I talked about it last week I’ve talked about it before we have this thing in my field
32:57
called cognitive behavioral change when I help people get over their fear of swimming get over their fear of the ocean when I walk them through that process and sometimes it’s slow sometimes it’s difficult sometimes it takes a long time some people you have to give them an eyedropper of information at a time and you give them another eyedropper of information and slowly they become aware that when Uncle Buck picked them up by their short and threw them in the ocean and they got gagged and choked and
33:34
everybody on the beach laughed and that formed their opinion of what the ocean was all about and they never swam or got in the ocean again that was locked in rock tight and solid when they were four or five years old for many not all but for many and those people come to me when they’ve reached their 50s 60s and 70s and I work them through those fears but the weaponization of the process that I take people from Fear to fun is sad you take people from fun and loving to fear if you keep repeating
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something over and over and over on Multi if I hear if I you know let’s say all the power was off on the island and this happens frequently um and you go to your neighbor what do you know happened and they said well I heard that uh you know a palm tree fell over over at the power plant and everything got knocked out and then you talk to another neighbor and they heard the same story and they heard the same story and they heard the same story about a palm tree that blew over out at the power
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plant they didn’t have any way to find that out but it was just passed on you didn’t question it because you trusted your neighbor yeah we used to trust wal Walter concrate we have a whole generation of people who are now senior citizens and older that still have that belief that everything they hear on the news is Gospel truth it’s not people have agendas corporations have agendas other foreign governments have agendas our government has agendas in other countries it’s plain it’s clear you need
35:36
to wake up and understand if a country hates us we better figure out what we did and piss them off what did we do look past it look past oh this happened or that happened and all of a sudden the machine goes into the machine our past rep representative telsey talks about that a lot many folks in government talk about the machine once it grabs hold and tells you we’ve got to go to there is weapons of mass destruction sitting all over a rock they’re going to use them they’re going to use them how do we
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know why wasn’t anybody asking that question why wasn’t the evidence produced at House and Senate meetings why when our Representatives came back when we went to a war with Iraq did the people’s house in the state of Hawaii and across this country say why did we go there why did we spend trillions of dollars where’s the evidence there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction and we went and lost many American lives some friends some family and way too many who made money who made money on each of
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our Wars find that out why I’m talking about this when I say find it out there is the key component of why it’s so difficult today we all believe that we’re using the internet do you believe you’re using the internet do you believe you’re using the internet or do you believe the internet is using you if you can fundamentally answer that question Scott I’m using the internet the internet is not using me you need to wake up the internet is using you they are programming your searches
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they are influencing you social media social influencers are changing on augmenting the algorithms the way we look for things it used to be when I was looking up The Federalist Papers and I referred to those many times in my life because they’re the foundation of what our forefathers were thinking when we came up with this form of government that we live under they something that need to be Revisited over and over the things we do make so much sense when you take the time to actually dig through those Federalist
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Papers there were brilliant men back in those days they wrote some incredible words they saw the pitfalls that we’ve fallen into 200 years ago it’s difficult to believe that but it’s true they knew what could happen if one branch of government got more more power than the other in 1912 where I started this disconnect that division became more prevalent we almost created a whole new division of government when we elected our Senators directly by the people because we took the power away from our
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PE from each of us who are casting a vote for them and gave it to the power of people who control our algorithms who show us what we want to see on social media I have a few friends that are much more savvy than I am with this and one of them posted some videos where he took two separate laptops and this was um oh goodness this was 10 years ago so this was quite a while ago in computer and internet terms and they did multiple searches and every one of their search as they did on one computer they did with the vision of a
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George Bush and the other one had a div then they were mostly was a Hillary Clinton kind of uh thing where they were always kind of looking for something Hillary Clinton said and one the other laptop was something that George Bush said and they were going back and forth and back and forth and then when they wanted to look up let’s say the 10th Amendment they wanted to look up the 17th Amendment they would get opinions opinions on the 17th and 10 10th Amendment that will relate to something that either George Bush had
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said or Hillary Clinton had said or any of the candidates that were in high dollar positions at that time believe it you may think you know how to use the internet but it’s using you at every opportunity it’s using you you you we love to think that we can just get all this information but we never question whether it’s good information is it someone you trust is it verifiable or am I getting an opinion of The Federalist Papers on the 17th Amendment am I getting an opinion of today’s
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interpretation of the first and second amendment wow and they presented and such a beautiful package it has every bow every looking legal it has this beautiful banner that looks like it is from the federal government or some major university and it may have but it may not have the Walter krite this is how it is this is what happened today no it has their interpretation their highlight lights their most looked at moments on these things so are you being used by the internet are you using it this is a
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brand new tool can you believe I can dictate to my phone rewrite things look at them over and again before I compose something that I would like to write it’s amazing when I was in college I was the first one in my dorm in Oregon Oregon Southern Oregon State and I got a computer I got a Tandy 1000 anybody that knows me knows that I’ve struggled with writing and composure most of my life I’ve all Scott would never shut up but when it came to writing things out I really struggled and I was blessed
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my I got a Tandy 1000 from Radio Shack it was like one of the first home computers that came out lo and behold there was this big old floppy after I wrote something I put it in there and it check my spelling my GPA went through the roof oh my God oh my God that was in 1983 excuse me 19 somewhere back there don’t get old it’s not for the fate of heart now my phone my laptop they don’t just check my spelling they check my punctuation they offer suggestions on rewriting whether I want to make it a
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dermatic writing whether I would like to make it a persuasive writing wow and what’s really amazing with AI today and before the show last night I was I was looking this up I just had a curiosity I said okay what are people talking about on talk radio people are talking about these at list about six different talk topics and I said if I wanted to write a topic I asked the AI I said do I want to write a topic on one of these things and then it hit all these points so this is what you need to talk about
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on a radio show if you did this did this and I’m like wow it doesn’t just know that those are the number one topics across the United States on talk radio right now they also know the opinions of those people who are calling in those people who are being interviewed they also know the EB and flow of information and they would like to change the tides and they have been changing the tides for 50 years they control the tide of information we believe that getting a computer getting a cell phone with
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internet on it was freeing I love them I will I hope to never live without one because I believe it’s the greatest tool that has ever existed in the history of mankind that we know of but knowing that we also need to know that it can use us and that was the purpose of the tool if they know listening to me or seeing what I’m searching that they can create an algorithm that tells Walmart or Albertson’s or Safeway or Costco go that Bread’s getting really popular they’re going to be making it they’re they’ll
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get a small algorithm that’s going to say we’re going to need to up flower shipments to X store X store and Z store because we see that the search algorithm is showing people looking up how to make homemade bread because it costs so much to buy a loaf of bread here on island okay then they see in that algorithm that people are looking up how to use the best flower the best flour to make the best bread that has not been bleached or chemically altered and all of a sudden Safeway Costco or Whole Foods now has a sale on
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that particular brand of flour what no yes yes people we need our representative government back but we have the greatest tool we’ve ever had with our computers with the internet but sadly that tool is being used against us if it’s just to buy soap or bread or flour or what we’re shopping for but what it also can do was help a politician who’s got high dollar resources to Contour a speech Contour a message because they have an algorithm that’s going to hit at the core of people who listen to shows like Jason
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and I to Oprah to everyone across that’s doing these I have my superhero guy that I love following on social media Tim cast Tim pool um I’ve been following this young man a skater kid since he was covering uh social disrupts across the world he’d be on his skateboard taking videos and selling him to Media outlets now he has his own station he’s uncensored he’s clean he’s crisp and he’s one of the few people that I look at and go interesting and he seems to have made it he’s getting more
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views now when I first started listening to him hearing him he had maybe 10,000 viewers now he’s got more than CNN more than ABC CBS I’m like okay okay the people are speaking out they want to be listened to but how are we going to fix our representation and bring it home how are we going to make sure that the people of Maui are heard not just by mayor biton who I definitely have great deal of respect for Josh green and our representatives and our Senators we need to bring it home we need to
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demand that we reassess the 17th Amendment and say we want our local legislators to appoint our Senators so that when they come home from Washington DC we can hold their feet to the fire we want to let them know you did an amazing job because we have Direct close nextdoor neighbor relationships to our Senators of Hawaii and our Representatives that serve in honlulu those person those folks are our neighbors they are people from our Island there are people who have blood on the island they this is our family
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our Hana this needs to be the way government has been repaired we don’t need a King George moment we do not need to push it over the edge we need to look back on our amendments we need to read our Federalist Papers and go oh my God they saw this coming they had no idea what television was they had no idea what a telephone was but they foresaw this trap that we have fallen into it’s amazing what’s happened here and we fell right into it I can remember going through school and I studied political science and I
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remember reading The Federalist Papers and I went yeah those guys had it together but not until the last five six years have I realized the dynamic presence of those forefathers of our government our Republic and their Brilliance their foresight and the pitfalls of giving too much power to one central place we’ve fallen in the pitfall that Jefferson wrote we’ve fallen in it that Adams wrote about Monroe wrote about they all wrote about it in the Federalist Papers it’s astonishing and they debated it they
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debated they went back and forth but they knew that at their particular time that it didn’t seem like it was even possible for what’s happened today 112 years later that we were losing touch with our form of government who lost touch with their forms of government King George lost touch with what his colonies needed wanted if he could have kept touch with the colonies and somehow amended how he was handling the colonies we could still be a colony of the United Kingdom like Canada and Australia and New Zealand but we’re
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not we’re too damn independent and I’m glad we are but within that Independence it takes responsibility to know when you’re being used and it’s not by people it’s by an algorithm it’s by A system that has grown so large we need to bring that system home we need to make sure it’s accountable to everyone we don’t want to get that King George moment back at the the crups the beginning of the civil War beginning when Lincoln was elected the beginning of that whole moment of the Confederacy went against
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the union the people’s needs of the southern states a few people’s needs of the southern states were getting oh their voices weren’t being heard the people in the northern states most people were just worried about getting food to eat and a place to sleep in a safe place wow here we are again where half of Americans are worried about making rent paying their bills using credit cards to buy groceries and gas here we are again at that Revolutionary War moment where everyone is too busy paying the rent car insurance
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keeping the car running buying groceries to worry about their government when that’s the first thing they should be worrying about we have reached the 11 53 moment here on kku Maui the neutral zone the not always neutral zone as Jason loves to say Jason is healing up I got text from him this morning that he’s actually out and walking on his brand new body Parts I haven’t asked him if he can run faster or jump higher like getting a new pair of Keds in the 70s but I’m sure he’ll be back with us
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soon so I am still learning how to make sure I’m looking at the right clock and making sure that I’m not running way too far over but it looks like I’ve got about two minutes left so again you have my phone number um it’s on the thing at the bottom there 808 37 27009 you can find me on Facebook Instagram uh Rumble true social X the liberal news everything I believe in being transparent you can reach me in a number of ways most of those are just for people who have uh Gone their whole
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life not learning how to swim but I would love to talk obviously I’ve been talking for an hour and Jason’s not even over here sitting so we’re doing good today so again here we are we’re running down we have 1 minute 52 seconds left at that’s correct I’ve got Tony over in the other room he’s the Lord and Master of this space and he’s coaching me through this so again if I leave you with one thing we’ve been given a great tool the internet we have it on our phones and
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our laptops we have it everywhere we go don’t be a tool of the internet use the internet to be a tool for your knowledge don’t be used by it just because you’re using it doesn’t mean you’re not being used again this is Scott akaku radio 88.5 FM the neutral zone Jason will be back with this probably a not too far away he gets himself all rehabbed and if I had a little window that showed me what Tony was yelling at me about I’ve got one minute again you want to talk about this
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uh some of my groups I belong to online it talk about the constitutionality and it’s not the Constitution is one document but the Federalist Papers bam what is the first amendment well you could probably pretty much tell me that’s freedom of speech Second Amendment right to keep and be arms and so on and so on but if you really want to understand those amendments you have to go back and read The Federalist Papers those were the discussions and the arguments that were had and discussions that were had to create
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those planks of our constitution because we the people are still we the people so stand up make sure you vote make sure you’re not being used I have seen so many people friends family all of a sudden realized that they had been getting used in the last seven8 years and went whoa wait you mean that’s why I got a coupon for tide oh yeah that’s why you got a coupon for tide they know what’s going on out there it helps them make money it helps them bring you products better but the product that we don’t want them to
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confuse for you is our elected officials and that’s the weaponization that’s going on again this is Scott Bushnell and here we go I’ve got a little play button I’m going to hit over here try to get it the right way this time and here we go
