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Programming
Why Do You Believe What You Believe?
By Don Bennett, DAS
February 12, 2000

     This column is devoted to passing on fascinating and enlightening information that directly concerns each and every one of you. You may occasionally find your jaw dropped. And you may discover some disturbing information, but you'll be the wiser for it.
  An expression comes to mind: And the truth shall set you free. But for the truth to set you free, you must be able to recognize it.
    Today's society makes recognizing the truth difficult at best. Between the misinformation, disinformation (deliberately misleading information made public in order to influence public opinion), and the agendas that aren't in your best interest, many people may be making lifestyle decisions based on information that's more myth than truth.
  I take many polls, and here's one of my favorites: "Do you think you're being given the straight scoop by corporations, associations, governments, and other organizations?" The overwhelming majority answer with a most definite "No". Yet, when asked to give an example, most people can't think of anything specific. What does this tell us? It says we know we're being bamboozled, we just aren't sure exactly how.
    But what about why? The best reason for keeping the public misinformed, is money; or more precisely, the want of money.
    The economy is a big machine. And it's powered by the profit motive. Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with that, except when you're taken advantage of, for the sake of profit, at the expense of your most valuable possession, your health.
    Getting you to embrace that which is not good for you is accomplished with programming. First let's look at a recent example of some relatively harmless programming.
    The cover of the January issue of Newsweek proudly proclaims, "January 1, 2000 - Welcome to the 21st Century."
    Let's scrutinize this a little. The first year, A.D., was numbered "1." At the end of that first year, one year had passed. At the end of 100 years, year 100 A.D., 100 years had passed and the Second Century was ushered in. The end of year 1000 saw the beginning of the Second Millennium. Notice I say the end of.
    So then why do the vast majority of people tell me, in no uncertain terms, that we are now in the 21st Century, and that the "New Millennium" has begun. It doesn't take a mathematician to understand that the 21st Century and the Third Millennium don't begin until next New Year's Day. But when Corporate America and the media say otherwise, and say it often enough, the people believe it to be so.
    True, this is no big deal; they're only arbitrary numbers. But your health is a big deal. Now let's look at some programming that affects health.
    In another issue of Newsweek (I don't mean to pick on them, but my auto mechanic has piles of 'em), an article entitled, "Shaped by Life in the Womb" admonishes pregnant woman to "...limit yourself to a couple of cups [of coffee] a day", and says, "Excessive alcohol causes facial and heart defects..." Excessive? Does that imply that drinking alcohol in moderation when pregnant is okay? Indeed, TV news shows have presented us with stories touting alcohol's beneficial properties. And we'd like to think these stories are balanced. But little to no mention was made of the damaging effects of alcohol to various organs. So how is that balanced? Obviously, it isn't. Yet I'm now hearing from folks everywhere about the "benefits" of drinking alcohol. They don't call it "television programming" for nothing.
    Common sense would dictate that if coffee and alcohol can negatively affect a fetus, one should abstain from these substances altogether for maximum protection. 'Tis better to be safe than sorry, right? Not so it would seem, according to those who profit from the sale of such substances.
    Being an educated consumer is your first line of defense in the battle to retain/regain your health. Remember, ill health is BIG business. There is no profit in your being fit as a fiddle, but you've got everything to gain if you're healthy as a horse.
    So remember folks, make sure your programming is in your best interest. What you don't know CAN hurt you! And what can also do you great harm is what you know, that just ain't so.

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