Yaqeen Blog

In 2026, many Americans feel like they are living through a non-stop nightmare. After a year of intense political heat, people are exhausted, scared, and looking for someone to tell them it’s going to be okay. But Shahid Bolsen—a leading voice for the "Middle Nation" movement—says it’s time to stop looking for comfort and start looking at reality. In his recent talks, he argues that what we are seeing isn't a "glitch" in America. It’s how the machine was designed to work.

The Hard Reset: It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature

For many middle-class and working-class Americans, the current "chaos" feels new. But Bolsen points out that the violence and control we see now—like ICE raids, mass deportations, and camps—are things the U.S. government has been doing for a long time. The only difference is that for decades, this violence was "exported" to other countries. Now, it’s just coming home.

• The Aesthetic Trap: We often think things are "worse" now because the current leaders are loud and aggressive. Bolsen argues that previous leaders did the same things, they just did them with a smile and better "aesthetics."

• Normal Operations: When you see the system acting harshly, you aren't watching a "broken" democracy. You are watching a system protect its own power.

Why Conventional "Fixes" Don't Work

Most people think the answer is to "vote harder" or hold a peaceful march. Bolsen calls these "protests-as-ritual." They make us feel better, but they don't actually touch the people in charge.

1. Elections: In 2026, many realize that switching leaders doesn't change the underlying "Owners and Controllers" of the economy. Whether the president is loud or quiet, the big corporations and banks still set the rules for your rent, your groceries, and your debt.

2. Ritual Protest: Walking in a circle with a sign is often "allowed" because it doesn't stop the gears of the system from turning. True power only listens when you stop being a "good customer" or a "quiet worker."

The Solution: Ideological Reorientation

Bolsen’s message to the common American is simple but difficult: Stop waiting for a hero. You don't need a new leader; you need to change the way you think about your life and your neighbors.

• Abandon the Myths: Stop believing that the system is going to "save" you. It is designed to use you.

• Build Alternatives: Instead of relying on big banks and giant retail chains, start building "Self-Sufficient" communities. This means local food networks, community support groups, and looking out for each other so you don't have to rely on a system that doesn't care if you freeze or starve.  

• Refuse to be an Instrument: The system only works because we agree to play our parts as passive consumers. When we stop buying into the "lifestyle" we can't afford and start focusing on real moral values, the system loses its grip.

Final Analysis: The Essence of the Message

The "American Dream" was a projection on a jail cell wall. Now that the wall is cracking, you can finally see the daylight. Shahid Bolsen isn't offering a "partisan" therapy session; he is offering a survival guide for a world where the old empires are fading.

The Core Takeaway:

Don't panic because things are changing. Prepare because the "American condition" is being treated at the level of conscience. If your resistance stops the moment it gets "inconvenient," you aren't resisting—you're just complaining.

In early 2026, the discussion around China’s Social Credit System (SCS) has evolved from a futuristic dystopia into a "diagnostic" for global governance. While Western media often portrays it as a singular, Orwellian "score" that controls every breath, the reality is a fragmented but high-powered network of administrative blacklists and commercial incentives designed to enforce "trustworthiness."

For the Western observer, the SCS is not just a foreign curiosity; it is a Real Power blueprint that is already beginning to seep into the foundations of global security and finance.

1. The Mechanics: How the System Actually Works

Contrary to the "Standard Script" that every Chinese citizen has one score, the system operates through two main channels:

• The Administrative Blacklist: The "Discredited Persons" list targets those who defy court orders (like unpaid debts). Being on this list is a "Life Glitch"—you are barred from high-speed trains, luxury hotels, and even private schools for your children.

• Commercial Scoring: Apps like Sesame Credit (linked to Alipay) use "Managed Choice" to reward good behavior—like prompt bill payments or buying "positive" goods—with perks like deposit-free car rentals or faster visa processing.

2. The Western Replication: Will It Happen Here?

Many argue that a unified state-run score could never happen in the West. However, in 2026, we are seeing "Social Credit by Stealth" through private and financial sectors:

• ESG and Corporate Scoring: The "Standard Script" for global corporations now revolves around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores. Companies with low scores are effectively "blacklisted" from capital markets, mirroring China’s corporate SCS.

• The Reputation Economy: From Uber driver ratings to Airbnb guest reviews, Westerners already live in a decentralized social credit system. The "Real Power" shift occurs when these private scores begin to merge with public services or banking.

• Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs): As the U.S. and EU pilot CBDCs in 2026, the possibility of "Programmable Money" arises. This would allow governments to restrict purchases (e.g., limiting gas or meat consumption) based on a citizen's "Social Score" or carbon footprint, creating a "Managed Escalation" of state control.

3. Effects on Privacy and Security

The global adoption of social scoring represents the final "Vibe Shift" away from 20th-century privacy.

• The Death of Anonymity: In 2026, AI-driven facial recognition and data-linking have made it nearly impossible to remain "Invisible" to the system. Security is gained at the cost of total transparency.

• Predictive Repression: Governments can use these scores as a "Diagnostic" to identify and neutralize dissenters before they ever step into the street. By simply lowering a score, the state can "cancel" an individual's ability to travel or work without ever making an arrest.

• The Security Trade-off: Proponents argue this creates a "Pro-Social" environment with less fraud and higher public order. However, critics view it as a "Subhuman" reduction of a person to a single, fluctuating number.

The Verdict: The "Main Character" of Global Governance

In 2026, China's Social Credit System has become the "Main Character" in the debate over the future of the state. Whether it is called "Social Credit" in Beijing or "Risk Assessment" in Washington, the destination is the same: Algorithmic Governance. The "Moral Theater" of the West may claim to value privacy, but the "Real Power" trend is moving toward a world where your access to society depends entirely on your digital footprint.

In George Carlin’s 1999 special You Are All Diseased, he delivers a legendary rant about the "Illusion of Safety." Carlin uses his trademark "Real Power" as a writer to show that most of the things we do to stay safe are actually just "Moral Theater"—actions that make us feel better but don't actually protect us.

Here is the simple breakdown of his message:

1. The Germ Theory: Our Weak Immune Systems

Carlin begins by attacking our obsession with cleanliness. He notices that everyone is suddenly terrified of germs, constantly using hand sanitizer and overcooking their food.

• The "Standard Script" of Cleanliness: He argues that by living in a completely sterile world, we are actually making our bodies weaker. He says our immune systems are like a "biological military" that needs practice to stay strong.

• The Hudson River Story: He shares a famous (and gross) story about how he and his friends used to swim in the raw sewage of the Hudson River as kids. His "Diagnostic" is simple: because they were exposed to so much "junk," they developed incredibly strong immune systems that never got sick.

2. Airport Security: Security Theater

Recorded two years before 9/11, Carlin’s take on airport security was incredibly ahead of its time. He calls it "The Illusion of Safety."

• Pointless Rules: He mocks the questions security guards ask, like "Did you pack your own bags?" He argues that a real terrorist isn't going to say "Yes" to that.

• The Loss of Liberty: Carlin explains that we are willing to trade our real freedom for a "feeling" of being safe. He views this as a "Managed Choice" by the government to keep people submissive and easy to control.

3. The Obsession with Safety Labels

Carlin ridicules how we need warning labels for everything. He mentions how people are now afraid of the sun, their food, and even their own shadows.

• "Minor Risks": He points out that while the media makes us panic about tiny risks like food poisoning, we ignore the "Real Power" problems in society.

• The Verdict on Fear: He believes that "Fear" is the main product being sold to the public. If you are scared, you are easier to sell things to and easier to govern.

The Essence: Life is Not Safe

The main takeaway of the skit is that life is inherently risky, and trying to eliminate every possible danger is a "Subhuman" way to live. Carlin’s message is that we should stop being afraid, embrace a little dirt, and stop letting the government and media use fear to take away our common sense. He wants us to see through the "Invisible Empire" of rules and realize that a little danger is what makes us human.