For a long time, my daughter and I lived in my brother’s living room.
No privacy. No bedroom door. Just a couch, some blankets, and the constant pressure of figuring out how the hell I was gonna get us out of that situation. And for a while, I thought it was just me. Like I was the only one messing up in life. Everyone else, according to Instagram and Facebook, had the house, the vacations, the careers, the gym routines.
I didn’t realize until the pandemic that this is actually most people’s situation. Not always couch surfing, but struggling. Hiding it. Living check to check, hoping no emergency hits. We’re all trying to hold it together while pretending we’re thriving.
And that’s by design.
Because when people feel alone, ashamed, or like they’re the only ones who haven’t “made it,” they’re easier to control. They won’t ask bigger questions about why things are the way they are. They’ll blame themselves. Or their neighbor. Or the wrong people entirely.
That brings me to this post. I want to share a few traps I’ve seen firsthand—things I personally have either fallen into or consciously decided to step away from—because I realized they’re not accidents. They’re tools. Tools used by the elite to keep regular folks like us divided, distracted, and down.
1. Identity Politics & Manufactured Outrage
You ever notice how every election cycle, it’s the same formula?
“THEY are coming to take your guns!”
“THEY want to turn your kids gay!”
“THEY want to erase your heritage!”
“THEY hate America!”
Meanwhile, your rent just went up again. Groceries cost 40% more. Your kid’s school lost funding. And your job is demanding more for less.
It’s intentional. They’d rather have us fighting each other than paying attention to how badly we’re getting screwed.
When we fight each other, they win.
2. Religion That Pacifies Instead of Empowers
Let me be clear—I’m not anti-faith. If you pray, meditate, or believe in a higher power, more power to you.
But there’s a reason liquor stores and churches pop up like weeds in poor neighborhoods.
Not yoga studios. Not community centers. Not credit unions.
Churches. Big ones. Fancy ones. Some of them worth millions.
But look around—how’s the neighborhood doing?
A lot of religion, especially in this country, teaches people to wait for salvation instead of demanding justice.
It tells us: “Don’t worry about this life, the next one will be better.”
“Don’t rise up—pray on it.”
“Turn the other cheek.”
“God will provide.”
Meanwhile, that same preacher’s driving a Benz, and your fridge is empty.
Faith should lift you up, not lull you into inaction. If your religion doesn’t challenge the system that keeps people poor, it’s working for the system.
3. Alcohol & Escapism
I’ve cut back a lot on drinking. And I’ll be honest—I feel better than I have in years.
Clearer mind. More energy. Better sleep. My blood pressure dropped. My libido came back stronger than ever. I’m sharper.
And here’s the thing: you’ll find liquor stores every two blocks in struggling areas. But try finding a fresh produce market or a decent clinic? Good luck.
Alcohol keeps people tired, sluggish, and broke. It’s one of the cheapest, most legal ways to sedate a population that’s angry and hurting.
I’m not saying never enjoy a drink. But understand why it’s so heavily pushed in poor communities. They want you numb. Not thinking. Not questioning. Not fighting back.
4. No Education on Power or Policy
Most people don’t know how local politics even work. They might vote for president, but ask them who’s on their city council? Who manages the water, schools, police budget?
No clue. And it’s not their fault—civics isn’t even taught in most schools anymore.
They want us in the dark. They want us to think it’s all too complicated. That it’s all rigged so we might as well check out.
But knowledge is power. The elites love when we stay ignorant—because then they get to run the table without resistance.
Every single dollar spent, every decision made, every law passed—it’s all done by people who rely on us not paying attention.
5. Fast Food, Bad Food, & No Healthcare
You ever see a Whole Foods in the hood?
Didn’t think so.
But you’ll find three McDonald’s, two Taco Bells, and a gas station that sells hot dogs under a heat lamp.
The food is cheap, fast, and it destroys your body over time. But when you feel like shit, what do you do?
You drink. You smoke. You don’t move your body. You stay exhausted.
Then your blood pressure goes up. Your energy drops. You feel hopeless.
And even if you wanted to get healthy, you can’t afford the doctor. Or the gym. Or the medicine.
It’s a vicious cycle.
And it’s not a coincidence.
Sick, tired people don’t march. They don’t organize. They don’t rise up.
They just survive.
6. Confusion Around Healthcare Programs
Here’s something that blew my mind: many people don’t realize that Medicaid goes by different names in each state. In California, it’s called Medi-Cal. So when politicians talk about cutting Medicaid, folks here might not realize it affects Medi-Cal—the program that provides health coverage to over one-third of Californians, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Recently, the Republican-led House passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which includes significant cuts to Medicaid. This bill could strip healthcare from millions, including up to 3.4 million Californians, and impose stricter work requirements and eligibility checks.
What’s ironic is that some people support these cuts, not realizing they’re targeting programs they rely on. It reminds me of when folks said they liked the Affordable Care Act (ACA) but hated “Obamacare,” not knowing they’re the same thing. This confusion is no accident—it’s a tactic to keep us misinformed and divided.
What Can We Do?
Look—I’m not some guru on a mountain. I’m not saying I’ve cracked the code or I’ve got it all figured out. I’m still fighting. Still hustling. Still learning.
But what I’ve come to realize is that the more I step away from the traps—social media lies, processed food, numbing myself, believing the hype—the more I see things clearly.
I see how they want us divided by race, gender, flags, pronouns, and party lines.
I see how they use culture wars to distract from class wars.
I see how the “American Dream” was marketed like a product, but sold with fine print.
And I see how powerful we really are when we stop fighting each other, and start fighting for each other.
Final Thought:
“Once we see the traps, we can avoid them. And once enough of us wake up? Game over for them.”
This isn’t about violence. That’s exactly what the powerful want. They want chaos so they can justify cracking down harder.
But we don’t need to throw bricks. We just need to open our eyes.
Start small. Read. Learn. Talk to your neighbors. Eat better. Ask questions. Show up to school board meetings. Support your local worker’s union. Teach your kids how money and laws really work.
Because once we see the traps, we can avoid them.
And once enough of us wake up?
Game over for them.
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