Written by Matthew Hayward The political landscape is often rife with hyperbole and sensationalism, but the recent uproar over "Project 2025" takes it to a new level. The political left has unleashed a torrent of hysteria, painting the project with apocalyptic tones and dire warnings. This reaction, however, reveals more about their own strategies and insecurities than the project itself. Earlier today, Trump’s campaign cheered the news of internal turmoil within the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Despite the left’s attempts to link Trump with this initiative, the former President has consistently denied any association. This move was highlighted by the departure of Project 2025 Director Paul Dans, announced by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. Roberts emphasized that Dans’s departure was in line with the project’s timeline and not a result of external pressure. FOX45 News reported the Trump campaign’s enthusiastic response, highlighting their clear disassoc...

By Matthew Hayward The pervasive influence of propaganda and manipulation is undeniable for all who have the eyes to see. Those who do not actively engage in political discourse but still vote are often the most susceptible to these influences. These individuals, whom I refer to as Non-Player Characters* (NPCs), are often highly educated yet fail to recognize the propaganda and slick salesmanship embedded in news stories. This dynamic raises important questions about the true nature of our Republic and the illusion of moderation. The NPC Phenomenon NPCs represent a segment of the population that passively consumes information without critical engagement. They are often well-educated, possessing degrees and accolades. Yet, these educated masses of NPCs are susceptible to propaganda because our education system does not equip us with the critical thinking skills to discern truth from manipulation. Instead, they become adept at absorbing and regurgitating information presented by authorit...

 Ah, the three-arrow anti-fascist flag. How original. How brave. How utterly, mind-numbingly redundant. Congratulations on taking a stand against fascism - welcome to the club, population: everyone with a sliver of sense. Really, we should give out medals, or perhaps participation trophies, to recognize such a daring stance. I mean, it's not every day someone comes out against a universally despised ideology that's been out of fashion for about three-quarters of a century. But wait, there's more! Not content with simply opposing fascism, these flag-flyers have to go one step further. They're not just anti-fascist; they're anti-fascist with a flair for drama and a desperate need for a political hobbyhorse. So, they wave their flags, equating their neighbors and the local PTA with the specter of 20th-century dictators. It's like saying you're against human trafficking by putting a 'Kidnappers Suck' bumper sticker on your car. Yes, we know. Everyone agr...

By Matthew Hayward Ever wondered about the sudden explosion of a specific social issue in the media? Why does it feel like some topics suddenly take center stage and dominate the headlines? We're living in a world where information is as abundant as air. Social media, news outlets, and the like keep us plugged into endless narratives. However, amidst all this information, certain narratives, especially those related to social issues, can be twisted and turned to serve some not-so-noble purposes. It's like watching a magic trick unfold. But instead of a rabbit being pulled out of a hat, it's public opinion that's being magically swayed, fear that's being conjured, and division among people that's being created out of thin air. The purpose? It usually boils down to gaining power, control, and influence. Imagine someone subtly tweaking the narrative around a specific issue, amplifying some parts while muting others, just to tip the scale of public opinion in their ...

By Matthew Hayward  Disclaimer: This blog is dystopian fiction based on my interpretation of listening to current radio and news media. Triumph in the East: The Eastern Phoenix Rises Against the Iron Bear. Good citizens of Oceania, rejoice in the news of our Eastern Phoenix allies' valiant efforts against the Eurasian invaders! The Iron Bear is being smashed, its ferocious claws blunted by the indomitable spirit of the freedom-loving people of the Eastern Phoenix. As the sun rose this morning, our reporters on the ground could hardly contain their joy as they relayed the news of yet another glorious victory by the Eastern Phoenix. The determined forces of the Eastern Phoenix, backed by the unwavering support of Oceania, have dealt a crushing blow to the Russian war machine, liberating the city of Kharkiv from the grip of the Eurasian oppressors. Our brave comrades in the Eastern Phoenix have demonstrated their tactical prowess on the battlefield and their unyielding commitment to t...

By Matthew Hayward  In the digital age, the concept of warfare has evolved beyond traditional battlegrounds. Our minds have become the front lines, and the weapons deployed are information, disinformation, and manipulation. We are now in an era of 5th Generation Warfare (5GW) , where the battle isn't for land or resources but for thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. Coupled with this, we see the rise of what has been termed the "Imperial Administrative State" and the "Uniparty" - power is being consolidated within a small group of elites who are allegedly manipulating political, commercial, and social systems to advance their own agendas. This is often framed as " The Great Reset ." One of the tools in their arsenal is "Swarm Consensus," a form of decision-making in the digital sphere where a "swarm" of opinions converge to form a consensus. However, accountability often gets lost in this process and can be manipulated to shape publ...

 By Matthew Hayward In the world of tomorrow, the concept of gender was a distant memory. The government had long ago declared that gender was a social construct and that it was unfair to categorize individuals based on their biology. Society had evolved into a utopia where individuals were not judged based on their gender but on their merits. But this utopia had a dark side. The government had become the ultimate authority, controlling every aspect of people's lives. They enforced their laws through surveillance, censorship, and cancel culture. Citizens who failed to conform to the government's ideals were ostracized, their lives ruined by a single mistake. The younger generation, born into this world, had embraced the government's ideals with fervor. They quickly called out anyone who disobeyed the government's strict rules. Social media had become a battleground where people fought to prove their loyalty to the government. One day, a controversy erupted when a biolog...

By Matthew Hayward To paraphrase George Orwell, “All unionized teachers are equal; it’s just that some are more equal than others.” Once upon a time, teachers’ unions were established with the noble goal of protecting the rights of educators by advocating for higher pay and working conditions. The sales pitch also included heartfelt assurances that improved compensation for teachers would attract better-qualified candidates and produce better education outcomes. Over time, the unintended consequence for teachers is that, as the union grows, it becomes less transparent and less responsive to its members. Unions in general, and teachers’ unions in particular, eventually become more concerned with their own self-preservation and the accumulation of power than the well-being of their members, let alone satisfying students or their parents. And some teachers have become more equal than others. Union leaders often use their influence to protect the interests of veteran teachers who’ve been r...

By Matthew Hayward Most Americans suffer from a conditioned physiological state similar to those with Stockholm syndrome (“a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them.”). But in this case, the government is the perpetrator that is intermittently harassing, abusing its power, intimidating, threatening, stealing from people and sending children to foreign countries to kill and die for perverse incentives. We are bought off with social security, food stamps, Medicare and other forms of financial aid. A strong emotional bond builds, one of dependency, powerlessness and a lack of skills, abilities and the rights to succeed.    As the coming generations are facing the real possibility of debt slavery, those who are receiving subsidies of any form tend to feel entitled to what they are receiving, and why wouldn’t   they, after all, their freedoms are...

When will they awake? by Matthew Edward Hayward Posted by Matthew E Hayward on 06/19/09 Last updated 04/06/10 Is it all a bad dream? For some, ignorance is bliss, but for those who have a greater understanding, the direction in which we are headed is troublesome. From left to right, pundits feed us catchphrases and slogans, eliciting emotions and furthering our thought pattern associations. From subliminal messaging to outright propaganda, Americans have either become overestimated and apathetic as Naomi Klein's shock doctrine or partisan controlled automatons working to propagate the divide for corporate interests.  What I found shocking to learn is that often, the more educated one is, the more susceptible to propaganda they become. Contempt becomes a powerful defense to those who have invested vast amounts of emotion into their foundational beliefs. Pride as well as other mental defenses help us to maintain our comfort bubbles.  (see group think) What is tr...

By Matthew Hayward I just found this paper I wrote a couple of years ago for my Writing 101 class. Author Edward Hallowell observes a fast-paced and overstimulated society. The society that Mr. Hallowell discusses is the one in which we live. Though we agree that modern technology can be used for great things, we must recognize that it also negatively affects many people, allowing it to direct their lives rather than simply assist them. Modern life, as Hallowell writes about in Crazy Busy, details the effects of what I believe to be a larger problem. We need to be more aware of the trickledown effect of the controlled and manipulated evolution of the technology boom. While Hallowell does a terrific job categorizing things that take up time by explaining what we can do to fight back against the Gemmelsmerchs, (a word made up by Hallowell to describe "the ubiquitous force that distracts us from whatever we're doing") (57), he does not at any point in the book discus...