1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: From UFOs two, ghosts and government cover ups, histories real 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: the stuff and don't want you to now. Welcome back 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: to the show. My name is Matt, and I'm known 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: and I am Ben And most importantly, you are here 6 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: listeners that makes this stuff. They don't want you to know. 7 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: If you're listening to this the day it comes out, 8 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: then we hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. Wait, if 9 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: you're listening to this the day it comes out and 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: you celebrate Thanksgiving, we hope you had a good one. 11 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: That's correct. If it was just Thursday, we hope that 12 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: worked out. Clear. Do you guys, have you ever this 13 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: is just a question. Sure, have you guys ever deep 14 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: fried a turkey for Thanksgiving? And do you celebrate Thanksgiving? 15 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: I've been witnessed to send turkey deep frying. Yes, it 16 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: was good. I mean, you know, it's a fried thing. 17 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: I could you know, my god, it wasn't extra moist, 18 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: just pretty boist. Oh head word. You have to be 19 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: careful when in deep fry turkey, right, Yes, there's a 20 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: there's a certain set of procedures and the tastiness of 21 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: the turkey all inges on on that, and you don't 22 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: want to throw a frozen turkey into oil that is 23 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: extremely hot because you will be blind when you know fires. Yeah. 24 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: Actually it's funny because you see this thing on my hand. Listeners, 25 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: I'm holding up my right hand for the guys here, 26 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: and there is a series of like four or five 27 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: puncture wound looking things on the side between my index 28 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: finger my thumb, and it looks like a bite, right, yeah, 29 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: but it's not right, No, it's it's actually from trying 30 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: to fry a turkey cutlet because it's a grease bite. 31 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: It's a grease bite by the grease. Speaking of grease, Yes, 32 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: you know what they say about the squeaky wheel, right, 33 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: it gets the grease. I put the agrease on its skin. 34 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: Uh and or else it gets the vote. Again. Yes, 35 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: today we are talking about something that correlates to our 36 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: most recent video. Congress. We're talking about Congress today, ladies 37 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: and gentlemen. Uh So, the first question? First things first, 38 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: why why do we why do we have a Congress? 39 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: I guess I can take this onet the mind. Um So, 40 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: the United States federal government, there being real proper here 41 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 1: was purposely separated in three distinct bodies entities, if you will, legislative, executive, 42 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: and judicial. This is all kind of basic civics class stuff. 43 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: Under this arrangement, each branch was given the ability to 44 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: check and balance the other, so it's sort of like 45 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 1: one hand watching the other, etcetera, so that no branch 46 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: becomes more powerful than the other, which is called separation 47 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: of powers um and it's the basis of the entire 48 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: American system of government. Also applies in all cases except 49 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: for one, which is the presidential pardon. Yeah, the separation 50 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: of powers is extremely important when looking at how the 51 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: United States functions, how it was formed, and how it 52 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: was formed and how it functions, and the that that 53 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: whole idea of the presidential pardon being one of the 54 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: only things that is an exception to these three powers 55 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,399 Speaker 1: working together to try and make sure nobody has too 56 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: much of it. That is a unilateral decision the president 57 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: can make of for his own reasons. Yes, and the 58 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: only situation. There have been some controversial ones. Uh I. 59 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: You may have heard a couple of times, at least 60 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: recently with the past three or four presidencies. People who 61 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: are maybe acquaintances or friends, may even family who have 62 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: been pardoned from not to mention that turkey that he pardoned. 63 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: I mean, let's come full circles every years. I wonder 64 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: is it the same turkey. I think it's just a 65 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: stand in for all turkeys, you know. That might be it. 66 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: That might be it. But there is one other thing 67 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: that is kind of in a nebulous world outside of 68 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: these these three powers working together, and that is the 69 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: executive order, which interestingly is it's almost like a suggestion 70 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: to the other uh powers, right to the other three 71 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: that the Executive Office can say, hey, we we would 72 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: like this to happen. But an executive order cannot be 73 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: given to the actual citizens of the United States, like uh, 74 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: President Barack Obama couldn't say X, and then each citizens 75 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 1: within a state have to do that or each state 76 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: has to do that. Yeah, it can and also cannot 77 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 1: be UM cannot be directed at Congress or at the 78 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 1: Supreme Court. So you can't say sign an executive order 79 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: saying that now there will be eleven and a half 80 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: justices and one of them will just do twenty hours 81 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: a week. Yeah, so it's given. Sorry, just to clarify, 82 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: it's given to an agency, right right. It's like the 83 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: E P A, the D O T S something like 84 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: that exactly. Uh. And the the reason that we have 85 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:07,919 Speaker 1: this complex sort of rock paper scissors system is to 86 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: enforce a a kind of check and balanced idea. And 87 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: what that means, which every again, as Noll said earlier, 88 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: this kind of early civics stuff, it means it is 89 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: meant to keep one branch from controlling everything. Uh. However, 90 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: you know, I know there are a lot of people 91 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: in the audience will say, well, yeah, that's good. That's 92 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,359 Speaker 1: a part of the beauty of our democracy. Funny story, 93 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 1: you guys. Technically, the US is not really a democracy, 94 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 1: is not a direct democracy. A democracy originally is a 95 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: form of government where people decide policy matters directly. So 96 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: every time the US would make a decision, all all 97 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: three hundred what thirty plus million of US, we get 98 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: together and say, well, you know, I guess um, we 99 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: got this bill here about standardizing the size for straws, 100 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: and uh, I feel like they should be a democracy 101 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: like that, or a pure democracy. Even some people call 102 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: it a dramatic direct democracy. That may be something that 103 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: you remember hearing about when the Occupy Wall Street protests 104 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: were happening, and you would actually have groups of people 105 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: who would make proclamations, but they would take turns. Did 106 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: you guys ever go down to one of those. It 107 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: was fascinating to see it working at least somewhat working 108 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: on principle, But I cannot imagine that functioning on, you know, 109 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: with three hundreds something million people trying to do this right. Yeah, 110 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: there's uh. And that's what the founding fathers of the 111 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: US thought as well. But then if we're not a 112 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: true democracy, what kind of government are we? Who is 113 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: this tiny scamp? Well, I'll never mind. I'll answer your question, lad. 114 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: The US is technically speaking a wee public because what 115 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: we do is we vote or other people to go 116 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: and be our representatives, right to have our opinions. So 117 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: we'll say, okay, this person represents a trapload of people 118 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: in for months. Yeah, but they're all kind of the same, right, 119 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:25,119 Speaker 1: so it makes sense that one person would represent them. Sure. Yes, Uh, 120 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: if you live in the US and you vote, you're 121 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: only really voting for that representative on and we talked 122 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: about how you'd have to vote for every decision of policy. 123 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: The founding fathers thought that democracy direct democracy was a 124 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: terrible idea. Instability, crime, dogs and cats sleeping together, revolutions, 125 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: active property. That is one of the biggest problems that 126 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: could happen. I mean, especially if gosh, it's so horrible 127 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: to even think about, but the disparities in levels of 128 00:07:55,160 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: education and understanding throughout humans, I mean, mob rule is terrifying. No, 129 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: I think we take for granted that that we have 130 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: not really had to experience too much of that. Yeah, no, 131 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: you're right, we we really do. I don't think I've 132 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:14,679 Speaker 1: experienced mob rule in any situation. I mean, there's there's 133 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: like a going to a concert, for example, where you 134 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: can let this picture going to a concert and get 135 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: swept up in a mosh pit. You're not into it 136 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: at all, but you just you kind of have to 137 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: just go limp and go along for the right. That's 138 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: probably a simple version of what mob ruled. And then yeah, 139 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: that's good, that's good. And then there's reddit, oh yeah, 140 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: shots fired. Yeah, that's more of circle jerk actions. So 141 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: we could say, if we had an adjective, we could 142 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: call some different kind of democracy, maybe a representative democracy, 143 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: because we elect representatives and those are the people that 144 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,599 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about today. Interestingly enough, though, It 145 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: could also be called a constitutional democracy because the Supreme Court, 146 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:59,559 Speaker 1: according to the Constitution, appointed for life, not elected, never fired, 147 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 1: say whatever they want, and it's a law that's a 148 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: little weird. I mean, history is going to look back 149 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: on that as at the very best to compromise. So, 150 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: uh so, how did this all work out? These people 151 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: that we you know today? Democracy is often used to 152 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 1: describe a government that gets its power from the people 153 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: and is accountable to those people when it comes to 154 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 1: use of the power. And if that's the thing, right, 155 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: if the folks that we're all sending to washing each election, 156 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: our are our conduit to the hallowed halls of power, 157 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: how's it working out? How do people feel about Congress? Well, 158 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: then people hate them, that's true. Here's a good stat 159 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: I love this with every ounce of my being. Um So. 160 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: According to five thirty eight dot com in public policy polling, 161 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: in Congress held a staggering approval rating. Now, if you're 162 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: not into polls, that might just kind of roll right 163 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: off you. What does that even mean? Here are some 164 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: things with a higher rating. One jar jar banks, two 165 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: dog poop, three traffic jams, four cockroaches, five completely unfair 166 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 1: in my opinion Brussels Sprouts. I love Brussels, huge fan 167 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 1: of Brussels Sprouts and six Nickelback. And you know, I'm 168 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: almost tired of ragging on Nickelback. I think it's it's gotten. 169 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: They've really been through a lot. They really have. Really, 170 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: guys really didn't No one's making me listen to their music. 171 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: Just look at this photograph. Look how sad the singer 172 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: of nickel Back looks. I know, I feel like Sarah 173 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: mclachman needs they come in on the side of that photograph. 174 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,959 Speaker 1: I was at a Halloween party in two thousand thirteen 175 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: and there was a house mix of music that was 176 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: going on, and there was a tiny little computer in 177 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: one of the corners, uh in this living room area 178 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: that was playing the mix, and Chandler Are, a co worker, 179 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: would go over and throw a Nickelback song in the mix, 180 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 1: and the owner of the house got so angry, and 181 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: not in a jokingly like funny, ha ha, that's funny 182 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: you're doing that. He was so pissed because he did 183 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: it four or five times after the dude, I've never 184 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: seen someone so upset about some music. And again, this 185 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: guy probably prefers Nickelback to yeah, you know. And also 186 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: it's strange because a lot of people don't participate in voting. Uh, 187 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: every four years, people will turn out to vote for 188 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: the president. However that is not that's not playing the 189 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: game to the full set of rules. Right. You're supposed 190 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: to vote for the person who is supposed to represent you. 191 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: However a lot of people don't do that, so with it, 192 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: so there is a little bit of irony in there. 193 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: You know, would would people vote for Brussels sprouts? I 194 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: think I would. I think they're tasty, especially if you 195 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: pair them with a little honey honey preserves. So we'd 196 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: like to talk about a little bit today is uh, 197 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: why people often don't participate or feel like it's useless 198 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: to vote, and why why Congress is so very very unpopular. 199 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 1: So what is it? Guys? What don't people like about Congress? 200 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: You're right, it is crazy that that that is our 201 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: real power as a citizen at three citizens of the 202 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: United States right here, and you're listening. If your sitisant, 203 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: I mean, that is our at least on paper, that 204 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: is our power. It's a very important right on paper. 205 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: Absolutely well. One of the reasons that people don't vote 206 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: and for a while there, I didn't vote is apathy 207 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: because it feels like it doesn't matter, especially if you 208 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: live in an area the way votes are counted, if 209 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: you live in an area that is predominantly one way 210 00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: or the other way because we have a two party system, 211 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: or if it's mander Yeah, yeah, jerrymandering is a huge issue. 212 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: It honestly doesn't matter what my opinion is if I 213 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: don't fall in with the majority. I mean, we live 214 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: here in Atlanta, which by all accounts is, you know, 215 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: something of a cultural hub. There's a lot of you know, 216 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: film activity that goes on here, a lot of music, 217 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: a lot of interesting culture. But it is a sliver 218 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: of the overall, you know, makeup of of Georgia, and 219 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: we can vote to we're blue in the face, and 220 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: it's not really gonna keep things from turning red. Well yeah, well, 221 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: but that again, it doesn't really matter what side drawing, 222 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: because you could say the same thing about certain areas 223 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: in New York, right. I mean, it's just like and 224 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: from the opposite direction, of course. But I think that 225 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: for me, at least in my experience, and for a 226 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: lot of people, I know, that feeling of apathy that 227 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,599 Speaker 1: you can't actually do anything in it. It's a meaningless 228 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: power not personally agree that. That is definitely a factor. Yeah, 229 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: and then another thing I think that a lot of 230 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: people don't like about Congress, if we're talking about the 231 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: average voter, is that here's a disconnected it doesn't seem representative, 232 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: you know, like the average age. Remember the House of 233 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: Representatives is around fifty seven. And for the vast majority 234 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: of our listeners, many members of the House of Representatives 235 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: and Congress are going to be, uh, financially in a 236 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: much different place. Was that that you mentioned about the 237 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: the income of a member of Congress. Yes, they're They're 238 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: put in the fifth percentile, I believe, of all incomes 239 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: inside the United States. And that's just what they get 240 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: paid for being a member of Congress and for or 241 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: you know, in the Senate in particular. Isn't that about 242 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: what the president makes? I think the president makes about 243 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: four thousand year because I just have this memory if 244 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: when from when I was a kid and my mom 245 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: told me how much politicians made, and I remember thinking 246 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: that doesn't seem much, you know, like I would think 247 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: they'd be jillionaires. Well turns out well, and the thing 248 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: is that there are a lot of benefits. Benefits got 249 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: a lot of opportunities to become Yeah, especially then if 250 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: you're on the board of a couple of things, you know. 251 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: I mean there's I believe there's certain restrictions on some 252 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: of that, but as we're going to find out a 253 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: little later, there are ways around it, which I think 254 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: brings us to another point about why that sort of 255 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: related to the apathy about why people are distrustful of 256 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: Congress is there's I think a pretty palpable sense that 257 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: these folks aren't necessarily in it for the greater good. 258 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: They're in it for their quote unquote constituents, and they're 259 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: in it for their special interests, you know, and kind 260 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: of like for you know, to um propel their financial 261 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: you know, interests, or their you know, or their career, 262 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: their quest for power, their consultancy. So the yeah, this 263 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: this brings us to some disquiet things, Right, who are 264 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: the true constituents. One thing that we've joked about on 265 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: this show before is you know how race car drivers 266 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: wear sponsorship patches. That would be great if elected representatives 267 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: had to wear those two you know, I remember this, Yeah, 268 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: that's a great idea. I'm I am less and less 269 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: jovial about it as we go on, because it seems 270 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: like a better and better idea, just fantastic, you know. Well, yeah, 271 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: but the way a just this is my frame of reference. 272 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: A UFC fighter or an m M A fighter has 273 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: a big banner that has all their things on it. 274 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: If they when they go and make a speech, you 275 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: just had to be behind them at all times. Yeah, 276 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: what's wrong about that? They have to really go fine 277 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: with the print on something. So maybe just make a 278 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: bigger banner, right, So, yeah, maybe just make a bigger banner. 279 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: Maybe that's the problem with this country, right, ladies. And 280 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: you can create jobs doing that. I'm just saying that's true. 281 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: I was just thinking about graphic designers who would be 282 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: working on that. Here's the thing though, with Congress. A 283 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,679 Speaker 1: lot of the rank and file voters amongst uh, you know, 284 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 1: that's a group that we put ourselves amongst. A lot 285 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: of the rank and file voters see Congress as somewhat 286 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: above the law. And this came to head with an 287 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: insider trading scandal. For a long time, insider trading was 288 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: just fine with Congress. Well, yeah, when you could keep 289 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: it quiet and nobody's really talking about it. The with 290 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: the nature of lobbying, you've always got hand holding, right, 291 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:37,360 Speaker 1: and negotiations going on between the congressional body, and it's 292 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 1: just a hot tip, right, maybe I got a hot tip. 293 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: But but it becomes a problem then because when we're 294 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 1: talking about constituencies, then are they really looking after the 295 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: people they represent? Are they're looking after the people the 296 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: hand that is giving them some money. And that's how 297 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: a lot of unfortunately, that's how a lot of voters 298 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: see it. Without knowing every single congress person, I can't 299 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: I say, I can't really speak to it, but it 300 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: is a popular and widespread opinion that these representatives or 301 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: these elected officials are not representing the people so much 302 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: as the powers. And we came. We we saw this 303 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: really great thing, the intercept published back in what may 304 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: or something this year. UH. You may recall that, you 305 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: may recall that a few years ago, UH Congress got 306 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: in trouble with insider trading stuff that we were mentioning. However, 307 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:45,360 Speaker 1: H lawyers last summer filed a brief claiming that an 308 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:50,399 Speaker 1: SEC Security Exchanges Commission investigation of insider trading had to 309 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: be blocked on principle because lawmakers and their staff are 310 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: constitutionally protected from such inquiries given the nature of their work, 311 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:03,479 Speaker 1: because they are constantly in contact with these lobbying groups. 312 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: And remember that thing about checks and balances was also 313 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: because insider trading probes would violate the separation of powers 314 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: between the legislative and executive branch. It seems so counterintuitive 315 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 1: to me. It just seems like it's a rule to 316 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: keep there from having to be any rules. But there 317 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: was this thing called the Stock Act in two thousand 318 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: twelve that was passed by Congress, and it was it 319 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: meant to try and enforce some of these things right, 320 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 1: to stop insider trading. However, at the moment that that 321 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: that it actually started being acted upon, was like whoa, whoa, whoa, 322 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 1: whall hold on, guys, we come on, now, come on now, 323 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: we're Congress. So I was thinking, instead of doing an 324 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 1: ad today, you guys, could I tell you a horrible, 325 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: a horrible joke that I thought I wrote that you 326 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: thought you wrote, I'll explain. Okay, knock, knock, who's there? Two? Two? Actually, guys, 327 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 1: it's to whom you son of a I'm sorry, it's 328 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: such a terrible joke. Uh, and it has it has 329 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 1: nothing to do with what we're talking about. It's just 330 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 1: a little bit of levity there in place of uh 331 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: an ad until we hear back from what was that? 332 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 1: What was that other group called Illumination Global Unlimited. Yeah, yeah, 333 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: like I'd like to refer to them as I gu Yeah, 334 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 1: well we'll talk about it later. I don't want to 335 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,360 Speaker 1: talk af air kind of thing. Okay, Yeah, moving on. 336 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: Here's where it gets crazy because, as you might have guest, 337 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: ladies and gentlemen, Congress is the subject of a lot 338 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 1: of conspiracy theories, some big, some small, some I think 339 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:57,439 Speaker 1: completely true, and then some that are kind of wild 340 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: and then suddenly there or somewhere in between. Yah. And 341 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,159 Speaker 1: these are apart from the general stories of corruption that 342 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,479 Speaker 1: you'll hear on a micro and macro scale all across 343 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: the internet. Oh yeah, we're talking about stuff like JFK. 344 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: Ladies and gentleman John F. Kennedy. Uh and the the 345 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: How Select Committee on Assassinations, Right, the h s c 346 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 1: A investigated both Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Big deal. Yeah, 347 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: And it's something that we've talked about for on numerous episodes, 348 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: and it's a fascinating time when those things were when 349 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: the House Committee gosh, what is it, the Select Committee 350 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: Committee on Assassinations? Okay, yeah, when they were doing their thing, 351 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: just because for people who are reading along at the time, 352 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: again not me eight three over here, Um, they you're 353 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: following along with this news and it just seems like 354 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: there is information that or you're not getting all of 355 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:04,439 Speaker 1: the infra nation right, yes, or that it is changing. 356 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 1: And yeah. So the h s c A actually met 357 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,360 Speaker 1: from nineteen seventy six to nine seventy eight, and then 358 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: finally in seventy nine issued his final report that concluded 359 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: that Kennedy was probably assassinated by the mafia and that 360 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: the CIA was lacking in its investigation, right, Yeah, that 361 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 1: the CIA did not actually in assist even in the 362 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: limited role they were required to assist in and a 363 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: lot of people had the here's the thing. So they 364 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: did say that they believed there was a conspiracy to 365 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: assassinate John F. Kennedy. They said that they did not 366 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:52,159 Speaker 1: think any anti Castro groups or necessarily internal groups were involved. 367 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 1: They couldn't find out who Oswald was connected to. And 368 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: he's got some very interesting adventures before that. Before that 369 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: year when he forms the assassinations. We're traveling, yes, some 370 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 1: very strange traveling, and many people have studied this or 371 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 1: looked at it in either an attempt to prove their 372 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: pre existing opinion or in an attempt to find out 373 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: what actually happened. So this is one of the crown jewels. 374 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: I would argue of the reason that historically people don't 375 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: necessarily trust Congress, regardless of what political stripe you like 376 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:32,679 Speaker 1: to paint yourself with, regardless of your philosophical differences on 377 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: the nature of federalism, etcetera. Uh, you know, if you 378 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: get the idea that your own government is is shooting 379 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 1: your heroes, yeah, we're going to trust them. Strangely enough, though, 380 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: in this instance, this is the House of Representatives saying that, hey, 381 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: your government is like may have had a hand in this, 382 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: or at least said there was a conspiracy. Right they didn't. 383 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: They don't give you anything. Well in the next the 384 00:23:55,800 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: next thing is what I think makes the Congress seem 385 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 1: even less trustworthy, right, Yes, because this the report in 386 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy nine, It's not only consisted of the full report, 387 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: but also twelve volumes of appendencies on both assassinations and uh, 388 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: and that was published by Congress. I did have one 389 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: quick question. I just was wondering if either of you 390 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 1: know how many pages this report was. I'm just always 391 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: kind of amazed at how massive some of these official 392 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: documents are. And you know, when you think about how 393 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:28,880 Speaker 1: easy it is to kind of slide things in there 394 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: when there's that much just absurd overload of information. Interesting 395 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: that you say that, Um, they say slide slide in 396 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 1: there because it's a it's about one page, uh simal sided, 397 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 1: so they can slide it underdoors. It's twelve twelve twelve volumes, 398 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: and then they had a single volume summary report. So 399 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 1: without getting an exact page count for you, it's, uh, 400 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: it's a dictionary, got it. You know, it's huge. Um, 401 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: And I would say that in a lot of people 402 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: probably didn't read the whole thing, or got someone to 403 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,120 Speaker 1: read it for them, or got someone to read them 404 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: for them, which is pretty common. There. What I was 405 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 1: gonna finish with with you, however, just to throw this 406 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: back in just mentioning that there are there's still a 407 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:20,360 Speaker 1: lot of information that we that exists, that was found 408 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: during this House Select Committee on Assassinations that is still 409 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: locked away and it will be released if the sitting 410 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: president decides that it will be released, and it's this 411 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: date that will just continually be pushed back until the 412 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 1: president decides that, hey, it can come out this year. 413 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: How does that work? I mean, if it doesn't occur 414 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: to a president to even consider it, someone just like 415 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: put in front of him and say, hey, how about 416 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,679 Speaker 1: this thing. He's like, yeah, you know, let's keep pushing 417 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 1: it all right, Well, what I'm feeling spunky today, Let's 418 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 1: let's let's go ahead and let it out there. I 419 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:57,479 Speaker 1: would say it's a highly calculated decision because you know, 420 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: some people know what's included in those documents, and depending 421 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 1: on how it's going to affect things based presidents since 422 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: this commission, based on what's going on politically, you know, um, strategically. Yeah, 423 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: probably not the best idea to let this album. Same 424 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: thing with aliens. Dude, here it is, says Matt Sprain. Yeah. 425 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: So it's strange because we we talked a little bit 426 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: about this, and without going too far into a JFK 427 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: episode or something, Robert Blakely, who was the chief counsel 428 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 1: of the committee, uh changed some of his views and 429 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 1: in a two thousand three interview, he is he strongly 430 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 1: comes against the CIA and says that I think all 431 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 1: of their statements and representations are suspect, and I think 432 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: the CIA was obstructing justice. And I'm just gonna read 433 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: this quote if I can, and I no longer believe 434 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,239 Speaker 1: that we were able to conduct an appropriate investigation of 435 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 1: the agency and its relationship to Oswald. We now know 436 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: that the agency withheld from the Warren Commission the CIA 437 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: mafia plots they killed Castro. Had the Commission known of 438 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: the plots that would have followed a different path of 439 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: in its investigation, the agency unilaterally deprived the Commission of 440 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: a chance to obtain the full truth, which will now 441 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 1: never be known. Jeez. So I don't want to go 442 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: like with the rest of the quote. But Congress was 443 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: fighting to Congress is an entity fighting itself, you know, 444 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: because when when we talk about these reports and this 445 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 1: secrecy and the secret interpretations of laws and stuff, there 446 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: are a lot of people in Congress who are fighting 447 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 1: against it and saying, hey, this is ridiculous. How can 448 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 1: we hold people, um now, how can we hold people 449 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: culpable for a thing that is not like they're not 450 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: allowed to know about that's a bizarre thing, and it 451 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: brings us to one of the last points. So I 452 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: want to go on to long uh, mass surveillance, mass surveillance, 453 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 1: because when it's decided that mass surveillance can happen, guess 454 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 1: who makes those decisions? Guys, No, I wish I wish 455 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: you was. Well, no, no, I don't who makes who 456 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: makes those decisions? I gonna have to let go of 457 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: this particular delusion of grandeur. Well, the laws, obviously are 458 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: are decided by the Senate and by the well, by 459 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: the House of Representatives and then the Senate, And it's 460 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: one of those things where these are our representatives deciding 461 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: whether or not our stuff is private, truly private or not. 462 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: And this gets into a huge conversation about hey, Ben, 463 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: what's the future of privacy? Yeah? Are you doing? I mean, 464 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: we can't. I think we have several times I feel 465 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: about it. Yeah, Yeah, it's it's a strange and horrible 466 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 1: thing to think about how quickly privacy is just not 467 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 1: going to exist very very soon, and how how recent 468 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: it was historically. I would say go back to I 469 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: think it was wasn't our conversation about the deep Web 470 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: where we really got into some of that stuff. That 471 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: might be a really good episode to listen to if 472 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: you're interested in this. M agreed. I have a question 473 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: for you guys. Before we closed this out, we did 474 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 1: have another story about someone in Congress being obsessed with 475 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 1: conspiracy theories, which which we might have to hold for 476 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: a later day. There were just a lot of searches 477 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: for it. Uh. But I have a question for you guys. 478 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: All right, m h would you like to hear a 479 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: laundry list of things your congress person won't tell you? 480 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: It was up the show? Okay, I found this as 481 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: we were as we were going in. All right, so 482 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: this is by a couple of former senators in former 483 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 1: House reps. In many cases, lobbyists write the bills. Yes, 484 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: we've heard this right, five or ten lobbyists per congress 485 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: person for a high profile issue. And then let's see, 486 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 1: most of the staffers on the hill are in their 487 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 1: early to mid twenties. Why is that? I guess that 488 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: the people who will work the hours is that interns interns. Yes. Uh. 489 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: And then as soon as someone gets to Washington, whether 490 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: a Republican or Democrat, their party pulls them into a 491 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 1: retreat and apparently tries their best to brainwash them, like 492 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: all progresses built on beating the other party. Yeah, party lines, man, 493 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: And you can see that happening and getting increasingly increasingly 494 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: more so over the years. And your calls and emails 495 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: do matter, probably more than you think. Every one of 496 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: them is assigned to a database, and or there's a 497 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: database that tracks everyone rather and then when somebody's going 498 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 1: out to vote, they'll ask for that number of how 499 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 1: many people are for it or again it um And 500 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 1: let's see, it's against ethics regulations to make fundraising calls 501 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: from a congressional office, so a lot of people go 502 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: to another office just down the street. You know, I've seen, 503 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 1: I have seen when we were in d C. Ben, 504 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 1: do you remember seeing all of the other official offices 505 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 1: for congressmen but not officially congressional offices, right, yes, yes. 506 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 1: And it's it's weird because there's so much there's so 507 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: much stuff going on that is accepted as traditionally the 508 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 1: rule of thumb, but is not necessarily in an in 509 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: an explicit written form in a legal document anyway. Those 510 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 1: are just a few things that I thought were important 511 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: to know. I just want to say, I'm just imagining. Okay, 512 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 1: so we already know that a huge amount of time 513 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 1: for any elected official is spent campaigning for the next 514 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 1: time they have to come up for election, right right, 515 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: And now I'm just imagining all of all of our 516 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 1: elected officials having to leave the office like they have 517 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 1: to go. It would be like taking a smoke break 518 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: and having to walk, you know, to another building or something. 519 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 1: But every time when an election season comes around, instead 520 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 1: of focusing on what their representatives want or need to 521 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 1: be passed, they're just in the other office doing their thing. 522 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 1: But I guess they can do congressional stuff from that office, 523 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: right Yeah. And then they're also it's true, and they're 524 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 1: also um, they're also members of Congress who are just 525 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: busting their humps to make a positive change or to 526 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 1: accurately represent their constituents, by which I mean the people 527 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 1: who voted them into office. And then if you have 528 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: a list of those people, we would love to hear it. Well. 529 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: I also think it's just it's easy to beat up Congress. 530 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 1: You're right, it's an easy target. It's an easy target. Also, 531 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 1: it's uh for the right person. It's it's a tremendous 532 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 1: responsibility and it's a tremendous opportunity. But are you what's that? 533 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 1: Are you? Oh? I would never get elected. You know that. 534 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 1: I don't know get elected. I don't know. I know 535 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 1: would get elected. I don't know if I would get 536 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 1: elected for you. Yeah, I think a lot of people 537 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 1: would vote for just to watch the world burn. See 538 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 1: what you do up there? Man, Yeah, that'll be my 539 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: that'll be my slogan. Uh, let's let's wing it right 540 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 1: if you let's happens. I can I can imagine you 541 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 1: being in a public office. I'm not sure how to 542 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 1: feel about that statement now, No, like not. I think 543 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:47,760 Speaker 1: you're extremely diplomatic, and I think you could actually work 544 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: with people. I think you could get your way been. 545 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: I think you couldn't you could unite the aisle. You 546 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,480 Speaker 1: way too nice. Here's what we do, here's what we do. Okay, 547 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:01,320 Speaker 1: So I'll agree to run for office if one of 548 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,720 Speaker 1: you guys will help me out and run for the 549 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 1: same office in the opposing party. Okay, so we can 550 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:11,440 Speaker 1: still get whatever we want. I'll be I'll be the craziest. 551 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: Well know that it doesn't matter who gets elected, man, 552 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 1: we can still keep what we were going to do 553 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:18,480 Speaker 1: and the other ones in the right hand. Either way, 554 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: it's like donating to both parties. Okay, alright, that's what 555 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 1: the Koch brothers do, right, it is I think it 556 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:29,000 Speaker 1: is George. Does George Soros do that? Or just pretty sure? 557 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 1: I don't know what it's I don't know what it's like. 558 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:33,560 Speaker 1: I haven't been in that rarefied air yet. It's like 559 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 1: any bet, right, I mean, you got a bet a 560 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 1: little over here, a little over there. The payoff it's 561 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,000 Speaker 1: going to make up the difference, you know. I think 562 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,879 Speaker 1: you're on the right track. Yeah, for that air up there. 563 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:46,800 Speaker 1: You know, I've I've never gambled in like a casino. 564 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: I mean, that's good. It's done like I've done Russian roulay, 565 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: you know, just a lot. All right. You said you 566 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: ran a Russian relay. I did that, ran a Russian 567 00:34:56,680 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 1: relay and I don't speak Russian. So it was hilarious. 568 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:02,920 Speaker 1: Have been drinky. It was tough. It was tough because 569 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,239 Speaker 1: we're gonna get out of here. Nol. You've been kinda 570 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 1: you've been kind of quiet too. Do you want to 571 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:10,280 Speaker 1: have the final word? Oh? Real quick, you guys already 572 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 1: know this. We say it every time. We'll just cut 573 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 1: past the small talk, Facebook, Twitter, conspiracy stuff. We have 574 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 1: a website stuff they want you to know what it's 575 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: where you can see all our podcasts. The last word 576 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:22,400 Speaker 1: goes to you, Mr Brown. I guess I would just 577 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,880 Speaker 1: you know, I would encourage people to cut through the 578 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: apathy and try to do some research and figure out 579 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:33,399 Speaker 1: what issues are the are most important to you, and 580 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 1: you know, cast your vote accordingly. Just be part of 581 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:40,279 Speaker 1: the process if you can. I mean, I understand that 582 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,360 Speaker 1: it's it seems futile at times, and I feel the 583 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:45,799 Speaker 1: same way. But we you know, if you look at 584 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 1: what's going on in other parts of the world, we 585 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: are very, very lucky to be in a situation where 586 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 1: we even have the guys of any kind of voice. 587 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 1: So take that for what it's worth. Excellent. Well, it's 588 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 1: very optimistic, you know, And that is a pretty good 589 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 1: way to end the episode. Uh, I think I think 590 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 1: we're done. Hey, Matt, one less thing. If somebody has 591 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: an idea for an upcoming topic, or they want to 592 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,720 Speaker 1: react to this or let us know where their opinion 593 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:15,200 Speaker 1: of Congress and they don't like all that social media rigamarole. Uh, 594 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,680 Speaker 1: where should they send the email? So what you do, 595 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,800 Speaker 1: go into the nearest bathroom you can find, look directly 596 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: into your eyes in the mirror, and then just whisperate, 597 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 1: were you really quietly conspiracy at house Don't Works dot 598 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:40,440 Speaker 1: com From more on this topic, another unexplained phenomena, visit 599 00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:44,399 Speaker 1: YouTube dot com slash conspiracy Stuff. You can also get 600 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:47,720 Speaker 1: in touch on Twitter at the handle at conspiracy stuff.