The word "above" means having superior control, influence, or power.
In the behavioral sciences it is known that human behavior can determine, alter, and/or trump genetic activity (Ways of Grandparents).
In the context of political science, in this series Dredd Blog has posted information showing that forces outside of government can "determine, alter, and/or trump
Those with curious minds who research this issue have long known about epigovernment because it has been openly declared by those who have been, at one time or another, government officials, employees, and/or contractors:
THE conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society.(A Closer Look At MOMCOM's DNA - 4). That is a quote of Edward L. Bernays from his book entitled Propaganda, of whom it is said:
Today, few people outside the public relations profession recognize the name of Edward L. Bernays. As the year 2000 approaches, however, his name deserves to figure on historians' lists of the most influential figures of the 20th century.(The Matriarch of the Matrix - 3). What I want to focus on today is not the people involved in the Epigovernment, because they eventually die of old age, rather I want to focus on the
It is impossible to fundamentally grasp the social, political, economic and cultural developments of the past 100 years without some understanding of Bernays and his professional heirs in the public relations industry. PR is a 20th century phenomenon, and Bernays -- widely eulogized as the "father of public relations" at the time of his death in 1995 -- played a major role in defining the industry's philosophy and methods.
...
"Bernays' papers . . . provide illuminating and sometimes disturbing background on some of the most interesting episodes of twentieth-century history, from the way American tobacco tycoons made it socially acceptable for women to smoke to the way other titans of industry persuaded us to pave over our landscape and switch to beer as the 'beverage of moderation.' The companies involved aren't likely to release their records of those campaigns, assuming they still exist. But Bernays saved every scrap of paper he sent out or took in . . . In so doing, he let us see just how policies were made and how, in many cases, they were founded on deception."
In an industry that is notable for its mastery of evasions and euphemisms, Bernays stood out for his remarkable frankness. He was a propagandist and proud of it.
The graphic to the right shows what we generally consider to be "the government" of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Compare that to the graphic at the top of this post and you see that epigovernment supplants the U.S. Constitution, which we who took Civics 101 understand to be the supreme law of the land under our system of government by laws, not a system of government by individuals:
"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land ..."(U.S. Constitution, Article 6, Clause 2). The writings of Bernays, quoted up-thread in this post, reveal that a coup was at work long ago (e.g. Committee on Public Information, The Engineering of Consent, and Manufacturing Consent).
The aforesaid coup was/is obviously designed to overthrow the U.S. Constitution and replace it with an "unseen mechanism of society" which is "an invisible government ... the true ruling power of our country" by which "our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of" (ibid, quoting Bernays).
In the series A Tale of Coup Cities we explore, among other things, statements by officials who declare in public that a coup has taken place in America.
That coup is replacing or has replaced the freedoms and rights in our Constitution's Bill of Rights, and other constitutional norms (see e.g. ACLU vs. Clapper, Alexander, Hagel, Holder, and Mueller and American Feudalism - 3).
The next post in this series is here, the previous post in this series is here.
More about the Epigovernment:
Others are wondering about "the government" too:
ReplyDelete"For most of the world, a government shutdown is very bad news - the result of revolution, invasion or disaster. Even in the middle of its ongoing civil war, the Syrian government has continued to pay its bills and workers' wages." Link