Alternate theory: the shepherds know the sheep don't need shepherds, but are afraid of losing their power so they convince the sheep they do need the shepherds.
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The world is.... fucked up. No matter what side of the political spectrum you're on, no matter if you're liberal or conservative or socialist or communist or whatever, no matter what side you butter your bread on, no matter any of that unimportant shite; because at the end of the day they're all just labels.
Now here comes the actual data behind said theories. Remember, I say data: not information. Data is the clay; information are the bricks moulded from said clay. The clay, which lays naked and unfiltered before being cast into brick.
Humans have become weak. And this has been done so on purpose; be it by aliens or the shepherds. The best example I can give is ye olde Catholic Church (well, most if not all all religions really could be substituted in here). Go back a couple of centuries ago, when the church was at its peak in terms of power; it forbade questioning. Anything not within its righteous book was forbidden. And this book itself was not to be questioned. This book... which was written not by any gods or prophets, but by man (as in mankind - I'm not spouting misandry here). To quote the 'Da Vinci Code' movie; "he who holds the keys to heaven, controls the world". In other words, if you want to control the sheep; you control the rules of how to enter the afterlife. And of course, people were scared to question things for fear of not being granted access to the afterlife.
Moving on in times.... religion has less of an influence nowadays. Well, certainly Catholicism anyway, perhaps even the entirety of Christianity as a whole; but Judaism and Islam seem to be carrying on just fine. Not wanting to relinquish their power, the aliens or shepherds, devise new ways in order to retain their thrones. Now that their centuries old method of 'holding the keys to heaven' is becoming less effective, they strategise a new area of assault; the human mind. Make people weaker mentally, soften them up so that they are easier to manipulate. Like ore. You heat the ore into a liquid state, then pour it into a predefined mould, for a precise tool once cooled.
Mental health. This has fast become one of their moulds. Now, I've made it no secret that I have had afflictions of the mind. And for a time, a bloody long time (years upon years), I too thought I was reliant on the services of professionals and their devices (medication). but no matter what plagues your mind.... you are in control. You're at the helm. It may not feel like it, but you are. Because it's all a choice. Now, some afflictions are easier to overcome than others. It's all subjective: hell is subjective. What works for one may not work for another. Apples and oranges. Similar, but truly cannot be compared. And in part you've been tricked: all this talk about mental health services and medication. You've been told you require all these things to get better, but you don't. The power is and always has been in your hands. They just tell you that you're powerless. When in fact, they are the powerless ones. They need and want you on your knees. So they convince you that they AND ONLY THEY, can help you on your feet.
COVID. A global population of 8 billion people. Of this, not even 10% have been afflicted with COVID. Of this, not even 1% have succumbed to COVID. A population of 8 billion. A total death count of not even 8 million. A million seconds, is 11 days. A billion seconds, is 31 years. Another one of their moulds.....
Aliens. Shepherds. Their goals are the same: control. Control of you, so that they control the world. Weaken the mind of the masses, so they are easier to manipulate. They don't like being questioned. They don't like being debated. They don't like when those try and counter their schemes. Or dare question their laws. Convince the masses that you need them; when in reality, they need you.
No matter your gender, no matter your skin colour, no matter where you hail from, no matter your beliefs, no matter any of that. These are all but labels, labels that they convince you to fight over; we are but tools in their eyes. Break free of their moulds. Trust your gut. Question everything. Take nothing on face value alone. No-one nor nothing in this world should be immune from being questioned. Evolution is an ongoing process. So too is society. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. Do not willingly be caged. You either live on your knees, or die on your feet. It's your call.
Now, I address you directly. Ye aliens and shepherds. I do not fear you. I do not welcome you. And I will... come for you. For I stand for freedom, and will do all I can to uphold it.