What The TV Wants Me To Think

I’m beginning to think my TV wants me to hate Russia.

Not just a little, either. A lot.

I’m beginning to think my TV wants me to ignore Yemen

And to think Israel is always good. Always.

I think my TV wants me to believe that Julian Assange is not a journalist.

Why else would all the handsomely paid journalists on TV not rush to his aid?

I think my TV wants me to believe that anyone without a corporate media contract shouldn’t be able to express their views at all.

That it’s everyone else’s job just to parrot what they’ve heard from the media.

I think they want me to believe that people shooting cars into space are going to save the environment.

That billionaires owning everything will be good for small businesses.

That voting for the slightly lesser evil is the highest good.

I think it wants me to believe we’re building back better by shipping weapons to Ukraine.

And that this is not a proxy war.

I think they want me to think that they would never lie to us

That they want what’s best for us

That the highest form of proof is the assertions of unnamed intelligence agents.

I think they want us to believe Madeline Albright is a good role model for young girls

At least the ones that weren’t killed by the sanctions she supported.

I really think the TV wants us to believe there was nothing weird about Jeffrey Epstein’s death

Or Hunter Biden’s appointment to a Ukrainian energy company.

I think they are trying to make us believe Joe Biden isn’t having age-related cognitive issues

And that there is some actual substance to Kamala Harris.

I think they want us to believe that AOC is going to raise a ruckus

And that her dress was empowering to the working class.

I think the media wants us to believe that sometimes you have to risk a nuclear war

And that not all Nazis are bad.

I’m starting to think the TV wants me to believe that every expression of dissent is Russian propaganda

I’m starting to feel the TV doesn’t want me to think that China will be their next target.

I’m starting to think the TV doesn’t want me to think at all.

I think it wants me to believe that we need to be told what to think.

That war is peace and truth is lies

When necessary.

I think the media wants me to laugh or be outraged when it tells me to.

I’m beginning to suspect they want me to buy stuff

That it’ll make me happy.

That happiness is found in a pill or a car payment.

That love cannot be expressed without a diamond

That my six-year-old needs a smart phone.

I think they want me to buy my water in single-use plastic containers.

I think they want me to think all that plastic just disappears.

I think they want us to think that Ellen DeGeneres can be George Bush’s buddy and ours, too.

I think the talking heads want us to believe they can work for billionaires and still be on our side.

I think they want us to believe without ever giving us the facts we need to make up our own minds.

I think I shall resist another day.