The American Delusion

Item #: SCP-4776

Object Class: Keter

Threat Level: Orange

Special Containment Procedures: Due to the level of infection of the public on a global scale, and the depth of infection on a national scale within the United States, SCP-4776 is effectively impossible to contain traditionally. Active containment of SCP-4776 is to be established through manipulation of American politicians and the American public towards encouraging international cooperation, trade, and globalism. In the event that these measures are deemed insufficient over a long enough period of time, the release of subtle memetic agents to condition the public towards internationalism is to be considered.

All notable individuals in the American political scene and news media (among those considered SCP-4776-1) displaying signs of SCP-4776 infection are to be monitored for sudden increases in its effects beyond the accepted baseline and for an increased influence among the public (risking an increased infection rate). In the event of a severe increase in SCP-4776's effects in a notable SCP-4776-1 instance, steps are to be taken immediately to discredit or defame the SCP-4776-1 instance until their influence is acceptable reduced.

Description: SCP-4776 is a memetic phenomenon currently believed to be present in at least 95% of the American public and 30% of the worldwide population outside of the United States. Its primary effects have historically been documented as viewing democracy¹ favorably, basing one's ethos upon the concept of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", and in approximately 50% of cases (dependent on external factors such as interaction with other SCP-4776 carriers) an approximately favorable view of equality. In the other 50%, a negative view of equality is induced or amplified by the presence of SCP-4776. Other values, morals, and political views are influenced unpredictably by SCP-4776.

SCP-4776's effects are known to change and mutate over time, shaping the values and desires of both the American public and the political class. It is unknown if these changes are originally created by instances of SCP-4776-1 and then distributed or if they are naturally occurring within SCP-4776 itself and then affect carriers. Throughout most of its existence, SCP-4776 has been referenced as "Manifest Destiny" or "The American Dream", including to the world population outside of the United States. At present one strain of SCP-4776 that affects approximately 20% of the United States population and a similar strain infecting uncertain percentages of the populations of European countries promotes intense nationalism as a necessary requisite for fulfillment of personal dreams, up to and including support for actions that ultimately hinder or completely prevent realization of personal dreams.

Footnotes

1. Democracy in this case is dependent on the democratic norms of the United States of the America at the time, with unpredictable variations towards a more inclusive form than is accepted in a given era.