Back to the Blog List

Working on new edition of Releasing the Bonds/ lobbying - 07/31/2011 - by Steve Hassan

It’s been an incredibly busy period, with lots of interesting client work, and work with a number of ex-members regarding their former groups and their efforts to expose them. I am also actively working on an update to Releasing the Bonds, which will be made available in e-book versions and print on demand. I hope this updated version (I wrote the hardback in 1999) will really be helpful. If you have any specific or general feedback to improve the new edition, please let me know.

***

In my opinion, the recent debt crisis for the American economy (and other government’s around the world) is creating more anxiety and fear. I fear it is making people even more vulnerable to being influenced by confident, smooth talking demagogues of all stripes: religious as well as political. When fear is heightened, it is very difficult for the brain to think critically and analytically. It seems that more and more people are being influenced by truly weird and unfounded conspiracy theories.

I am personally disgusted that politicians are damaging the American dollar and our entire economy by trying to push an agenda that is undermining faith in our country. I have been told to stay away from politics sentiments, but it seems to me that the debt crisis can only be solved by a combination of raising taxes (yes, on the people who are most able to pay them), closing corporate tax loopholes, and cutting back on our spending- especially spending which is “pork” but which is not punishing the poor and those least able to live with basic decency.

It really appears to me that the entire political system is broken and that lobbying by the wealthiest corporations (including cults- yes, Scientology and the Moonies, this means you!) is not serving the needs of the American people on all levels. It is amazing to me that there have been hundreds of articles written on lobbying by big Pharma or Oil or Healthcare, but almost nothing about major cult groups influencing our politicians. Do you have firsthand knowledge about your former group (or any cult group) influencing politicians? Legislation?

Know of any new outstanding resources you would like to let people know about? Email me, but please don’t take it personally if you don’t hear back from me for a few days. At this point, I am doing computer/ email several hours a day.
Steve