Hot take, but CIA mind control programs are probably necessary. I’m not saying they’re ethical, or that I would want to involuntarily be a subject of one. But somebody’s got to know the limits of mind control, and it can’t just be a matter of public knowledge.
Imagine if the Russians or the Chinese got a head start on developing real Manchurian candidates. Or ESP, remote viewing, hypnotism, astrology. Somebody had to do the empirical research to find out whether these were real strategic advantages. But they can’t just publish it.
If it works, you have to develop a whole invisible science of how it works, and silence or absorb anyone who gets too close to the truth. Otherwise your enemies will develop the same power. If the Manhattan Project had turned out to be a dud, how would we look back on it?
If it doesn’t work… you have to subtly put it out there that you already know that it doesn’t work, because now that’s your strategic advantage. But leave the possibility open that it might work, in case any of your enemies can be fooled into spending money researching it.
Sure, we know that now, but somebody had to test it. What if LSD did give you superpowers? Suddenly all that blackmail money wasted.
Mind control is overrated. Would you trust someone with sensitive information and highly-critical tasks after destroying their executive functioning and sense of self? Too high risk, just blackmail them.
— KELSEY (@kelseytothe) June 7, 2022