Sheep for the Shepard

Buy that new thing
because you really really want it.
Buy that new thing
because they tell you that you need it.
Buy that new thing
because everyone else already has it.
Buy that new thing
because in a couple of years it will be out of date
and you will need another new thing to replace it.

But maybe you should
look at that new thing to see what it does,
and wonder what the hell you would ever do with it.
Maybe you should imagine
all the factory workers in some distant country
assembling that new thing while making wages
that wouldn't buy you a cup of coffee at the local gas station.

Technological gadgets are the upper class poor version
of the liquor store for the lower class poor. "Have this new shiny thing,
it will make your lack of Health Care, Retirement, and Mortgage
seem less dismal."

"Take these pills, and when we decide you've had enough,
we will take them away
so you get a nice, new addiction to Heroin."
"You can sell your ass under the freeway overpass for
a few bucks so you can make another score."

"Have this new phone for a couple weeks worth of pay
so you can download porn because your wife isn't putting out
because she has an addiction to a pharmaceutical that should
never have made it to market in the first place, but we own your government,
and they will do whatever we tell them to keep the money rolling in."

"Forget about the homeless. They are weak and pointless. Never mind that
they have a mental illness and there is nowhere to put them. Listen to us
when we say they are lazy and dirty and only want your hard earned money
to buy more drugs, the very same drugs you are addicted to right now,
but they want that shit for free."

"Never mind the theft of Bankers, or the children killed by the Warmongers.
Don't fuss over the Environment. We will give you pretty junk to play with.
We will give you Racism, Gun Control, and Abortion to cleverly divert your
attention. Don't forget about Addiction. Never forget about Addiction. This is
the new frontier, and we own your ass."

"Now here's a mentally ill Politician to tell you all about what you need
in a way that best fits the insanity we're hoping to infect you with. Get off
your ass and go buy that new fucking phone like a good little slave. Go
ahead. What are you waiting for?"