I was thinking as I was watching it about other sci-fi series, writings, movies that have caught the attention of the greater public. I came to the conclusion that, while addressing fears and hopes for mankind, they present us with the flaws in our current society. I know many women for whom "The Handmaid's Tale" has been resonating in this current iteration of what passes for a debate on women's rights. Anyway, as I was watching the Smoking Man take another drag on yet another cigarette while watching Scully be spirited away and giving a command to yet another nameless lackey, I realized that the fear chord is struck. Deep down inside we all know that our government is perfectly capable of pushing along some heartless, soulless sociopath can act in this manner if handed the authority and that there are enough lackeys out there who can be counted on to never utter a protest over the most repugnant of behavior.

Not so far fetched, I think, to deconstruct our society and project into the future. I don't worry about aliens coming as much as I am concerned about the rot at the core in what we have now.

The Right just want to be on the winning side and will do anything to get there. However, while it is a near impossible task to convince people that subliminal persuasion works, this scenario isn't too far off from our society today.