Power Structures and Existential Threats

and you think about the moments where systems were set up that created

power structures that didn't exist before, they were all predicated on the simple

notion that there's an existential threat.

You will all die. A deity, a god,

some powerful system will come in and destroy you.

Some weapon.

Right.

And because I can protect you, you must follow me.

You must do what I say. And it is the common system of

human power and control structure to tell a narrative of

existential threat and leverage that narrative into

your solution being the path to protection and safety.

And that is what sells votes, but it is also what created all these early

structures where early religious institutions ran all the countries,

told all the people what to do, were the power and command centers of the

world, and in many parts of the world still are.

And when you talk about, "Oh, well, if you don't listen to me,

God will damn you,

God will shame you, God will destroy you, or some deity will come down and get

you," this is the same psychological concept,

which is that there is a story being told

that you will all die.

There's a 10% chance you will all die.

Standing at the pulpit, banging hard, "And if you don't let me control it,

if you don't give me the power and the authority to control it,

you will all die.

Give me that power."