Nudge - The Idea That Human Beings Need to Be Treated Like Irrational Animals

I read Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness.

I actually BOUGHT it (which is generally against my principle to never give a Leftist One Thin Dime). But, I wanted to be able to understand one of the foundational books underlying the Leftist Viewpoint, so I decided the exception was warranted.

It was amazing, to me, to see the contempt and disdain for the average person so openly stated. The Leftist Elite really do think that The Normals make their life choices through mindless, irrational whim - aided by the equally worthless opinions of Other Deplorables.

Many of today's modern programs aimed at corralling those NLDs are a direct outcome of that kind of thinking. The Left deliberately uses FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) tactics to create conditions that will allow The Left to force people into a pathway contrary to their best long-term interests.

I was reminded of that book when reading this post in American Thinker. Keep that all in mind when trying to plan your children's educational future (or, your own). That trade school/vocational pathway may prove to be a better choice. Less money spent, greater opportunities for employment (including self-employment).

And, a whole lot of reduction in indoctrination.

Either I'm Gonna Give Up Reading The News, or I'm Gonna Start Drinking - a LOT!

This is just a long trip through Bizarro-Land.

• A white woman in a gorilla mask throws an egg at Larry Newsom. Naturally, the Left cannot be bothered to even NOTICE the racism of this, let alone protest. 
• "It's obvious as heck that hurling eggs at California's first black gubernatorial candidate while wearing a gorilla mask is racist as it gets. After all, there are all kinds of masks out there and this white woman selected the black gorilla mask as her "statement" about Elder, knowing that she'd get her picture with herself in it in the news from this attack."
• I dunno what the CPS cops are like in YOUR neck of the woods, but if I lost even ONE kid, they'd toss my butt in jail. Not these clowns, though. Perhaps the worst part is that they appear to be turned over to human traffickers. 
• The Mask Mandates continue, and WILL continue until that pesky strain of Rebellion-1776 is defeated! God forbid that the Mask Nannies detect any hint of resistance to their authority!
• America is sharply divided into two groups:
• Those that are pathologically afraid to stand in opposition to the dictates of the majority. When large numbers of people immigrated from Europe, many of them were former serfs or otherwise cowed peoples. They brought with them the idea that conformity was the only safe response to state demands. Many who have come here since, were less motivated by the desire to "live free", then the perception that this was a safe place to run to. America is not now, nor has ever been, a safe space. Our heritage is that of a frontier society, in which citizens take risks, and sometimes, those risks pan out, and sometimes, they don't. It's the price you pay for freedom.
• The other group is that one that values freedom, personal responsibility, and is resistant to authority. They are the hillbillies, rednecks, wildcatters, independent truckers, entrepreneurs, and other assorted non-conformists. They often do poorly in school, not because of stupidity, but because the petty tyrants that flourish there are abhorrent to them. They seldom rise far in the ranks of corporations, military, or other hierarchal organizations. 

And, for those concerned about their church caving to government pressure to permit COVID shots, here's a link to a church that opposes the practice - AND has a handy online form to fill out for membership.

Don't forget to send in the money for that membership, too.

Write Their Names Down - and Strike a Line Through Them

Paraphrase from The Quiet Man (starts at 4:28):

From the Daily Caller:

Here Are The 19 Republicans Who Voted In Favor Of The Infrastructure Legislation:

• Roy Blunt of Missouri
• Richard Burr of North Carolina
• Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
• Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia
• Susan Collins of Maine
• Kevin Cramer of North Dakota
• Mike Crapo of Idaho
• Deb Fischer of Nebraska
• Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
• Chuck Grassley of Iowa
• John Hoeven of North Dakota
• Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
• Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
• Rob Portman of Ohio
• Jim Risch of Idaho
• Mitt Romney of Utah
• Dan Sullivan of Alaska
• Thom Tillis of North Carolina
• Roger Wicker of Mississippi

Worthless pieces of Sh!t! I've bolded those who I'm near enough to be able to send money/support to their opponents.

There's a LOT of people in NC that are seriously ticked off at their representation in Washington. I wouldn't doubt that they will do their best to see them go down.

As for Lindsey, McConnell, and Portman, they probably won't be defeated, but they need to be primaried. And, their opposition needs to be vetted - don't need any more charismatic, personable guys with the morals of polecats.

I will be watching the news about those bolded folks. I will gladly spend some time learning more about them, and riding their a$$e$ hard. My goal is to make them terrified to stick their nose out of those ratholes that such vermin usually infest.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-anges

COVID has truly changed expected norms in the workplace. MOST businesses are hugely understaffed, which has reduced service to customers. Even if all remaining employees wanted to provide full service, it just is not possible for them to do so. So, Americans are becoming acclimated to levels of service that are more comparable to that which was provided in the Soviet Union. Pretty much non-existent. 

Now, that is less of a problem in the Midwest and the South - some of the friendliest places in the United States. But it is increasing the misery of the coastal areas considerably. And, it makes dealing with companies based in those locations a teeth-gritting experience. 

Coyote Blog, a site I'd never before visited, has that story from the perspective os a multi-state business that has had to make that shift in service expectations since COVID.

The Mistake of Making Decisions on Emotion

We all do it (well, maybe not Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates).

We've impulsively accepted a job, only to regret it within a short time. Many continue on, concerned about 'looking flighty', and suffering through a prolonged terrible experience.

Others, less concerned about what others might think, quickly quit and start looking for a new job (or, secure a job - any job - ASAP, then give notice).

Same with relationships. They are usually entered into with high emotion and expectations. They are often ended with equally high NEGATIVE emotion.

One of the better things churches do (not all of them, but many) is to sit the couple down, and ask some pointed questions designed to take the emotion out of the decision, and ask if this union makes logical sense:

• Does the couple agree on having children, if, when, and how many? How will they handle child care?
• Where will they ideally live? Is their income sufficient for that now? What plans do they have to change that?
• Is one of them in an unstable industry, or frequently required to move for job purposes? How will they handle that?
• What role do they envision the parents of the couple having? Where will they spend holidays; will that continue after having children?
• Questions about drinking, drug use, fidelity.
• Spending habits, and a statement of their debts and assets.

Couples who cannot answer these questions, may be advised to put off the wedding until they can.

And, yet, the world WANTS us to tap into the emotional side of our nature when making decisions:

• You DESERVE to buy this pricey car!
• Go ahead, have the expensive and calorie-laden chocolate!
• Showing models exercising on expensive equipment, and implying that you, too, will look like that after buying a Peloton.
• Vote for This Asshole Politician! If you don't, you hate Black People!
• If you don't wear this mask, you're a BAD person who WANTS to make people sick!
• Their politician hates: Women, Black People, kids, the poor, etc. Vote AGAINST him by casting your vote for this person that we promise, pinky swear, is the next thing to a saint.

And, on and on.

This post by John Wilder - Wilder, Wealthy, and Wise blog - has more on the emotional side of decision-making. Worth reading.

The Publication of Nazi Propaganda - Who is Responsible for it?

The FBI, it appears.

Hmmm. That FBI - is there ANYTHING they can't do?

Well, except for finding out who, in their ranks, is actively working against elected politicians, and using manufactured evidence to try to convict them of - something, anything.

And, more importantly, who gave these "rogue agents" the direction to pursue that illegal aim.

Well, That's ONE Way to Bury the Opposition!

Our world is now divided, not by North against South, or Right vs. Left, but by those who believe that killing an unarmed WHITE woman is perfectly justified, but killing an armed BLACK person is NEVER anything but murder.

In other words, officially, White Lives DON'T Matter.

Not to the government, not to the public, not to the media.

There is absolutely NO reason not to make the name of the shooter, AND the record of the police inquiry, public. Well, except for the fact that they want to bury this - and her - without inflaming the citizens of this country.