How Bad is the Government Grab on our Assets?

This bad.  Found on Cold Fury.

Sunday Ramblings

Today's post covers a wide range of topics:

Oil, the Election, and the Economy

The always-great Chicago Bois has a LONG post dealing with - among other things - oil, and how the Fracking Revolution will ALSO change our politics.

President Ronald Reagan colluded with the Saudis to collapse the Soviet Union through low oil prices. This extended fracking technique means, given the political will, the USA doesn’t need the Saudis to do the same to Russia, Iran, Venezuela… and the Saudis!

(Long term, the Saudis need $100/barrel oil to support their current population.)

One of my email contacts made this Schadenfreude-rich statement: “Prince Mohammad bin Salman is reported to have placed a great emphasis on Saudi domestic non-oil economic development last fall, after having been appointed as the country’s Gorbachev earlier in the year. “


POLITICAL ECONOMY AFTER BIG OIL
The domestic and geopolitical implications of an energy-independent USA are huge and profound. Since I’ve already touched on the foreign policy implications, I’ll start here with the domestic implications for “Big Green”, AKA the environmental movement.

LOTS more at the link - it draws together the interlocking interests of Mideast Oil, the Environmental Movement, and Kleptocrats in government - ours and others, and WHY Fracking is so hated by all of them.

Keep in mind the consequences of the next election - I think Trump is vulgar, a braggart, and given to bombastic pronouncements.

HOWEVER, he will likely NOT hold up the Fracking/LNG (Liquid Natural gas) permits to soothe the Environment Control Freaks.

And, that ALONE is worth voting for him.

PS - read the comments in the post, as well - very perceptive, for the most part.

Interested in Politics?

Here is an analysis that will interest you.

I am recommending this video to EVERYONE.

Based on reading her blog, I'm going to recommend this book - Elizabeth Scalia is a gem.

BTW, although I do love me my Kindle, and it's GREAT for trips, I'm going to suggest buying this in hard copy - it makes it easier to pass along.

The Whole Trans-Thing

Why might opposing the Trans-Rights (Really, Trans-Bullying) thing be Anti-Woman?

That All For Today - I'm going to church, and, then, to spend some time with my husband.

Site Update

I was fooling around with the theme today - I had been unhappy with it for some time.  I think I've got a basic set up that I can live with for a while.

Site Update

Update on Site

At Last!

First, a little Etta James!

And, now - the moment I've been waiting for!

The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would make it easier to fire employees at the Veterans Affairs Department.

Despite a veto threat from the White House and widespread opposition from federal employee advocates, lawmakers approved in a 256-170 vote the 2015 VA Accountability Act, which would give the VA secretary much more flexibility to demote and fire corrupt or poor-performing employees, not just top officials.

The bill essentially would expand to the entire VA workforce the authority of the 2014 Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which made it easier to get rid of senior executives engaged in wrongdoing at the department.

But WAIT!  That's not ALL!

Something I've LONG said should be done:

The chairman of the top House investigative panel introduced a measure Wednesday to censure IRS Commissioner John Koskinen -- and remove him from office without a pension -- in the latest bid by Republicans to pressure him into being more cooperative in their probe of the 2013 IRS targeting scandal.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, head of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is seeking Koskinen’s resignation or removal for what he calls an alleged “pattern of conduct inconsistent with the trust and confidence placed in him as an officer of the United States.”

If censured, Koskinen, who became commissioner in 2013, would also forfeit his government pension and other federal benefits.

'Bout time the FedElite started learnin' that THEY work for US!

Or should.

Stay Off Facebook Day

In my previous post, I mentioned that a one-day boycott of Facebook might be useful to prod them into realizing the numbers of people that they are dismissing through their biased pushing of Leftist News.

I decided to start the action myself.  Therefore, No FB is a word doc.  Feel free to copy, turn into a picture format, whatever.

 

 

And, So It Begins

Actually, it started a long time ago, with the fringe monthlies that didn't kowtow to the Established Thinking.  There have always been those, largely mimeographed sheets of paper staples together, circulated by the convicted.

Don't know what a mimeograph is?  Ask your granny - maybe your great-grandpappy.

Or, just Google it.

The Samizdats did it, even earlier, with their revolutionary documents re-typed, from one to another.  Think of the work it would take to reproduce a book by re-typing it, or copying the book into longhand.

I teach American kids for whom cut-and-paste is too much work.

The trend accelerated with the introduction of fax machines.  What, they're lame technology?  Tell that to the Chinese youth that spearheaded the Tiananmen Square revolution.  They did that armed largely with fax machines to spread the word.

Oh, sorry, you probably CAN'T tell them - they are dead, in prison, or cowed into submission.  A few are still under house arrest or living abroad.

Fast-forward to recent times.

Today's kids use their cell phones to organize their social and political activity.  There is a downside to their method.  It is ephermal - lasting but a short time, and with no quick way to archive the conversation.

However, the videos/Vimeo/Snapchat means they most like to use have been mastered, and used to spread the memes of the Left.

Where does this leave blogs?

You are unlikely to make a financial killing with political blogs.  Sorry, that's just the way it is.  If money is your prime motivator, get a sales job.

The real effect of the political/cultural blogs is to Spread the Learning.  To provoke thought, to educate younger people about historical events that they have MIS-learned, and to build coalitions.

Alternative Ways to Spread the Learning:

• Pass on videos - on Facebook, on Google+, on your and others' blogs.  They should be SHORT, memorable, and educate the viewer.  Think of Andrew Klavan, Bill Whittle, and other Conservatives who currently dominate the media.  You could try producing your own, if you are inclined.  If so, send me a message, and I'll respond.


• Circulate static media - someecards, LiberalLogic101, photos with captions, etc.  To the above places to circulate, try SnapChat - the under 21 crowd ALL use it.  Your objective is simply to provide an alternative voice/meme for people to pass on.  Remember, the goal is to Spread the Learning.


• Read HARD copies of political/cultural books, and pass them on to your friends/library/school.  By doing so, you will maximize the effect of your buying dollar.


• Continue to educate yourself.  Read, discuss, take notes.  Try meeting with others in a book club, if you can.  If that's not possible, try the Ace of Spades online book club.  It's primarily for fiction, but you can also look around to find a like-minded group of readers for political/cultural discussions.  Try Joining Conservative Mentors, or another group - they exist in a wide range of philosophies.  I've also joined the Bible-a-Thon, which is set up to complete reading the entire Old and New Testament in a year.


• Right now, Facebook is experiencing a pushback from those on the Right who are concerned about its evident Leftist bias.  But, let's get real - Conservatives skew older, and FB serves to keep up with the kids and grandkids.  There have been rumblings about an alternative FB, but I haven't seen it happening yet.  There are some things we could try:
  
  
  
  • Migrate to Google+
  
  
  • Try to set up a No Facebook Day - pick a date at least 2 months in the future, and publicize it via - I love this - Facebook.  For 24 hours, set your picture to the logo, and refuse to use FB.
  
  
  • If successful, try setting one day a week - Sunday would be appropriate - to NOT use FB.  Again, make your reason clear with a picture logo, and a statement about your decision.
  
  
  
  

Feel free to add any further idea to this list.

Random Catholic Thoughts

I'm living in SC, surrounded by "Bible Christians" and an ever-increasing number of pagans - those who were never baptized nor exposed to Christian ideas.

As a Catholic, I do spend some time explaining that:

• Yes, Catholics ARE Christians


• No, we don't "worship" Mary - we do hold her under higher regard than most people, as befits her life on Earth


• No, we don't blindly follow whatever the Pope and the priests tell us to do - I imagine that Fr. Fabio and Fr. Paul in my church would laugh hysterically at that concept


• We do believe in knowing Jesus Christ - and God and the Holy Spirit - on a personal basis, but we haven't said the MAGIC words that allow Fundamentalists to accept that


• We DO read the Bible - not only the many, including me, that are currently on a journey through the entire Bible, but also - because in a 3-year cycle, we hear during Mass just about the entire Bible (well, except for the litany of the Begats)


• Yes, we are forgiven through the sacrament of Reconciliation - No, it doesn't mean that we can SAY we're sorry and go right out and do it again - we actually have to BE sorry, and work to stop doing the same sins over and over again

There are other misunderstandings, but those are the major ones.

Lent is one of those misunderstood concepts - Mark Shea does a good job of explaining it.

Explaining Catholicism to Protestants.

The BIG secret of Christians.

Saturday Randomness

I was reading Fred on Everything (he is interesting - an ex-cop with a jaundiced view of some of them, an expatriate living in Mexico, who contradicts many of the stereotypes about Mexicans, etc.), and he posted on a hot topic - police presence in Black neighborhoods.  His take is - refreshing.

Another column of his that is worth reading is his analysis of how America is already in the dumps - BEFORE Trump.  We've already been taken over by special interests, and no longer live in a democracy (or republic).

If, like me, you want to return to a time of more freedom, pre-Federal-government-runs-everything, we might want to start planning how to take the Feds down - NOT with warfare, but with resistance, tactical refusal to give them our money, and state-by-state resistance.  I'm NOT talking revolution - that's a dead idea.  Instead, let's work incrementally, to chip away at Leftist strongholds.

Some starting points:

• Stop sending them money.  Find work that can be done under-the-table.  No taxes, no Social Security.  That last part would be difficult, but COULD be made up by the local authorities, who could collect at that level what is needed by people with no other resources.  The fact is, most people have other resources (and, when they don't have to pay Federal taxes, they have more).  Stick your extra money under the mattress - you don't want to leave it in banks, where it is vulnerable to being confiscated.


• Refuse to give ONE penny to any college for worthless degrees.  Tell your kids - "I'll pay for you to get a trade".  That's likely to be the best thing you'll ever do for that kid - it's a way of earning a living that is less likely to be outsourced.


• Maine is one of the states that reduced its welfare rolls by insisting on able-bodied people actually looking for work, enrolling in job programs, or working at part-time unpaid activities.  Surprise, surprise, as Gomer Pyle would say - almost all said, "Not worth it", and dropped off the rolls.  Other states could do this.


• Return the Federal lands to the people.  In several states, this could be a new Settlement Rush.  If there are FEMA-type trailers stored in the state, let them be re-purposed (NO complaints about their condition - the receivers fix them up themselves, and Caveat Emptor).


• Take back the schools - clear out much of the administration, turn them over to local organizations, who are responsible for finding the funding.  Except in the poorest sections of town, schools should be fully funded by the LOCAL neighborhood.  Yes, I'm talking breaking up the big city schools.  With the administration gone, costs should drop, while STILL allowing the teachers to get paid reasonably.  Replace the assistant principals with recently retired military - the AP's are mostly used for muscle to control the students, so let's get in people who know how to keep people in line.  Actually TEACH reading - anyone who cannot read at grade level should spend 1/2 their day in disciplined phonics-based reading programs - reading content-rich practical text, or NON-dystopian literature.  Anyone who cannot do math at grade level should be spending the class time on old-fashioned programs, like Saxon Math.  What little time remains should be spend on civics education that actually teaches about the Constitution and other foundational documents and principles, and practical science.

This is a link to a VERY pessimistic column.  I'm not so sure they are right - while the young seem to embrace the Socialist Revolution, at this point, it's theoretical, and their "enlightened" attitudes don't cost them.  Once the impact of the price exacted comes home, I doubt they will continue their "yeah, let's spread money around" thinking.

One MAJOR reason that the country has changed is that there are a whole lot of women who are supported by government, whether directly, with welfare or government employment, or indirectly, in nonprofits and niches like Human Resources, which are required to be so bloated because of governmental regulations.  Take away the regs, and many women in these staff positions will find themselves on the street.  At that point, they MAY come to their senses.  Either way, citizens will no longer be funding their hectoring.

I'm thinking divide & conquer:

• Use legal means to reduce government.  Fewer regulations, liberation of federal lands (with encouragement to settle on them, we might reduce the numbers in the cities), reduction of administrative bloat in government.


• Write GOOD curriculum for all ages, to explain what good government looks like, and what limitations on the federal government already exist.  Offer it, free, to schools, along with e-books telling stories that reinforce those ideas.

Lastly, here is a link to someone who, like me, supported Cruz.  Now, she has to decide which candidate will do the LEAST damage to the USA.

I've been getting rosy economic stories from Liberal/Progressive friends.  Apparently, thinking that Obama's disastrous economic policies have created a hollowed-out economy is blatant racism.

Mea culpa.

Of course, there is this, and this.  BTW, that last stat?  Straight from the Labor Dept.



 

Apparently, no matter how you massage numbers, the damned things just keep adding up to the same conclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday Randomness

I'm watching To Catch a Smuggler - it's absolutely fascinating.  There are many connections to chemistry, that I can bring back into the classroom.

I'm going to use the series next year to introduce How to Apply the Scientific Method.

Later in the evening:  I watched the Jazz Concert at the White House - quite enjoyable, nice way to spend the evening.

The weather is VERY wet.  Fortunately, we needed the rain.  There is some flash floods in the area.

The weather screwed up the DISH.  So, we've been watching standard network television.  We got a small receiver some time ago, that is about the size and shape of an iPad.  We pick up quite a few channels in HD.

Ignoring the REAL History

I've noticed this for some time.  Leftists impose a distorted view of Western history, that - er - "whitewashes" the evil that non-White people did to the White people they conquered.

Leftists will insist that Andalusian Spain was a Heaven on Earth - filled with Islamic scholarship, equality between all religions, and a Paradise for women.

Don't believe it.  The Muslims imposed their rule by force, and did NOT treat the Christians kindly.  Read the full Front Page Magazine story, and pass it on.

PRO-Western Civ

Isn't it funny that such a statement makes me stand out?  I'll make it more pointed:

I am devoutly, unashamedly in favor of teaching ALL students who are on track to be high school graduates, the Foundations of Civilization, from the perspective of Western History.

This DOESN'T mean that students shouldn't learn about other cultures, just that we shouldn't glamorize them at the expense of their own culture:

• Learn about Japan, including its history of rule by military, its current political and economic structure, and, by the way, Japan's complete exclusion of other races/ethnic groups from full participation in that culture.  They are quite racist, as well.


• China - its colonization of other countries, including the country of Tibet.  Its shaky economic structure, its refusal to allow Free Speech, Freedom of Religion, and its use of political prisoners as slave labor.


• France - its interlocking elitist governance, its abandonment of elderly people to die, its colonizing past (which, when they left Vietnam, did nothing to restore the country and led the condemnation against America for stepping into the breach), and it willingness to cooperate with vile dictators, while villifying Israel.

I could go on and on.  We need leaders whose first impulse is not to apologize for our country, our culture, and our history.  We need students to learn about the GOOD our country, and the whole of Western peoples have done.  We need proud defenders of democracy, freedom, and Western culture.

Read more here.

LOST Again

UPDATE:  Almost forgot to credit Bastion of Liberty, who first alerted me to this.

The Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST, for short) never did get ratified, despite SERIOUS efforts by the various Progressive/Liberal/Leftist/Socialist/Etc. groups.  What is LOST?  (Admittedly, the source at the link REALLY doesn't like the treaty, but it is a fair summary of it, and its potential consequences).

The Law of the Sea Treaty calls for technology transfers and wealth transfers from developed to undeveloped nations.  It also requires parties to the treaty to adopt regulations and laws to control pollution of the marine environment.  Such provisions were among the reasons President Ronald Reagan rejected the treaty in 1982.  As Edwin Meese, U.S. Attorney General under President Reagan, explained, "...it was out of step with the concepts of economic liberty and free enterprise that Ronald Reagan was to inspire throughout the world."

In additional to the economic provisions, the treaty also establishes specific jurisdictional limits on the ocean area that countries may claim, including a 12-mile territorial sea limit and a 200-mile exclusive economic zone limit.

Well, the LOST-pushers - um, LOST.  But, like any good vampire, the backers don't give up - they rise from their coffins, and again attack!

This time, they're using the high-minded Protection of the Environment angle.  (Link is to the UN resolution).

an international legally binding instrument under theUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea1 on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The parts about resource-sharing (i.e., those that DIDN'T spend a dime obtaining those resources still have a claim to the $$$$$), technology-sharing (oh, how WELL other countries share with us; unfortunately, much of our "sharing" is involuntary).

But, will it pass?

Not to worry, as the British used to say!  The Obama administration won't let pesky things like Separation of Powers stop them from implementing their Very Good Ideas (VGIs).  For example:

The Administration has already anted up domestically on some of the big-ticket possibilities under discussion, with, among other things, its huge expansion by executive order in September 2014 of the Remote Pacific Islands National Marine Monument in the central Pacific Ocean into a half-million-square-mile oceans preserve.

U.S. environmental groups are lobbying now for additional marine monument areas off the coast of New England, site of some of the U.S.’s most important Atlantic fisheries.

Such preserves—known as marine protected areas or MPAs, in Law of the Sea jargon—are a major focus of attention for the U.S.-based Pew Charitable Trusts, which has been lobbying governments around the world for years to create them.

In other words - you silly states and commonwealths, you think you control the areas given to you?  Na-nah.  Big Daddy Fed is in charge of it ALL.

Practical Considerations, Not Hate

It's a practical issue. When I was working as a bartender, if a man had tried to enter the female bathroom, I was on firm grounds to eject him, and had the ability to call the police to remove him, with the practical side-effect of NOT having to have evidence that he had caused trouble. His male genitalia was evidence enough that he was in the wrong.
Without that power, you have to wait until AFTER he has caused harm. There was a book written about the West Side Rapist and one of the most interesting points is that the guy had been picked by the police several times, for "Peeping Tom" behavior - looking in windows at women.
Harmless, right?
Wrong.
James Neff explains this activity as "pre-rape behavior" - the scouting around due to the perp's preferring to ascertain whether the intended victim is sufficiently isolated.
THAT'S what the law is meant to deter.

NOT a female-appearing person entering the ladies room, doing his business, and leaving.  Not a female?  If you can pass successfully, who cares?

Not someone who has gone "the Full Monty", and no longer has male parts.

But, the physically-male person that hangs around, looks for victims, and takes advantage of the isolation.

And, without a firm line drawn between men - those with "outies", and women - those with innies, those opposing the law will unwittingly facilitate rape.

Elitist Snobbery - And What It Means for America

America, we are told by Progressives, is FILLED with those icky people who are not comfortable with those that differ from them ethnically, culturally, or religiously.

Progressives, on the other hand, PRIDE themselves on their carefree ability to associate with - well, just about ANYONE (because they are so cosmopolitan and worldly).

This is shown by their patting themselves on the back for having a passport, and using it, preferably in out-of-the-way places.  They sneer at those who travel by group; it shows their discomfort with cultures and places that are not familiar.

There is one ethnic group, and culture, that the Elites are afraid of, suspicious of, and nearly totally ignorant of - the White American.

Oh, the Elites will tell you exactly what the White American believes, thinks, does, and IS.  They KNOW.  Without any attempt to actually spend any time with "Those People".

Such ignorance, combined with disdain, is what Elites accuse "Those People" of (Yes, I do know that I am ending my sentences with a preposition.  That's what we Ohioans do.  Get over it.).

Muffin top on White Americans?  Evidence of their inability to control their appetites.

Muffin top on an Elite?  A relaxed attitude towards media-imposed conventions.

Drug use in White Americans?  Evidence of their laziness, criminal tendencies, and poor self-control.

Drug use in Black Americans?  Evidence of the oppression of them by White Americans.

Drug use in Elites?  Oh, come on!  EVERYBODY does it - totally unimportant.

Removing White American children from public schools, due to concerns about academic quality and poor cultural influences?  Evidence of Racism, a whole lot of -Phobias, and anti-intellectualism.

Removing Elite children from public schools, due to concerns about academic quality and poor cultural influences?  Just protecting their own - Totally justified (after all, the Clintons and Obamas did it).

White American not making the grade in school?  They're just stupid - probably a result of all that inbreeding.

Black American not making the grade in school?  Oppression by White Americans.

Elite not making the grade in school?  Child is (pick one or more): Learning Disabled, Autistic, Brilliant, but not understood by those mediocre teachers, Learns by a Different Modality (and, the teacher BETTER completely accommodate that difference - or ELSE).

Whatever the problem, Elites are excused from responsibility - unlike White Americans.

 

 

A New Term for an Old Concept

Anarcho-Tyranny

I was introduced to this idea by Francis Porretto of Bastion of Liberty (and Outlaw Bloggers).

It perfectly explains why the government is so obsessed with micro-managing the Libertarian impulses of the American people, but refuses to deal with ACTUAL crimes.

In short,

Sam Francis's most enduring, as well as trenchant, political insight may have been his perception of what he caustically described as "the unique achievement of the political genius of the modern era." Francis dubbed this "anarcho-tyranny"-"a kind of Hegelian synthesis of two opposites," he explained, in which the failure of the state to enforce protective law is coupled with the enforcement of oppressive law by the state to tyrannical ends. Under anarcho-tyranny, the underclass-rampaging blacks, illegal aliens invading from south of the border-is by and large tolerated or ignored in its behavior, while the law-abiding middle classes and that part of the upper class that is not directly incorporated into the ruling elite is criminalized through unfair taxation, social engineering, anti-gun legislation, "hate crime" statutes, and other forms of legislative and judicial harassment. Anarcho-tyranny is the strategy by which a dictatorially-minded ruling class exploits the lower orders for the purpose of grinding the middling majority between upper and nether millstones.

Bold text defined by me.

This is one concept that Conservatives and Libertarians need to become familiar with.  We also need to develop strategies to deal with it.

Why You Should Work to Reduce Your Debt- NOW!

My husband and I have been working to reduce our debt-load.  Our hope/plan (we PLAN to do it, but Life may intervene) is to enter our retirement years with only a manageable house payment as debt.  To do that, we are in the process of setting up a payment schedule that targets debts, avoids incurring further debt, and uses assets/income with that plan in mind at all times.

In short, it won't happen because we HOPE it MIGHT.

What Education Has Become

I'm a teacher. The "Progressive/Social Justice" model was just beginning when I was certified.  I gotta be honest, at that time, I was all in on that approach.

Fast Forward 30 years:

Now, the SJW (Social Justice Warrior) model is the ONLY one. Those not toeing the line have been tossed out/retired/hounded by the RE-gressive Mob. As a result, the ONLY teaching model the younger teachers have been exposed to is SJW.

What has happened to education?

It's NOT a pretty sight.

The Story of Purim, and the Meaning For Us Today

I knew the story of Purim, of how Esther saved the Jewish people.  But, I've never heard it from this perspective, and realized its application to our lives today.

I do understand those who wish wars to end, for there to be peace.  Who doesn't want young men, just past childhood, to be kept safe?  Who would willingly send them to war?

We don't, and for that reason, we seldom fight offensive wars.  Mostly, Americans just want to be able to live in peace.

Others in the world don't want that goal.  They dream of capturing/re-capturing terrority, thereby enriching their society, and gaining prestige in the international arena.

They may be part of nations; they might be relatively small cells of slightly larger tribes/coalitions/ethnic groups.  But, collectively, they seek to gain through force - and a LOT of deaths.  They have large numbers of unemployed, idle young men, who they will use, like a natural resource, to achieve their bloody ends.

We might want peace.

But, those that are willing to throw their young into targeted terrorism do not.  The only way they can achieve their goals is to use those men to kill other men.  So, they destroy their own, in the hope that we will weary of the butchery.

The fight will only be over if we give up.  Otherwise, we have to continue until they give up - and that point will be a long time and a lot of deaths away.

Sobbing for Celebrities

I'm always puzzled by the extended outpouring of "grief" that emits from fans when their Idol has succumbed to death, untimely or not.

I mean, I want to give them a shake, loudly imploring, "Get a LIFE!".  I don't, instead ensuring my continued friendly relations by saying, "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that", with that upturned eyebrows feign of sorrow and concern.

The celebrities that have generated the most waterworks:

• Michael Jackson - 50 year old - even I had to experience a momentary pause, thinking it was a shame that he died so young.  Then, I thought about his victims over the years, and that feeling passed.


• Judy Garland - 47 - addictions.


• Kurt Cobain - 27 - I was too old to even know his music.  He seemed to celebrate suicide and chemical addiction.


• Jimi Hendrix - 27 - again, an addict, fairly predictable that he would die young.


• Janis Joplin - 27 - see above.


• Marilyn Monroe - 36 - again, the addiction problems seem to be a theme here.


• Princess Diana - 36 - Car accidents can affect any age group, but excessive speed seems to have been a factor.  Apparently, she was trying to escape the press that she so cultivated in her short life.

For most of the above, the chemical dependencies were probably the major factor in their untimely deaths.  Which shows that FEELING like you're invincible is not the same as BEING invincible.  I'm NOT saying that drug addiction makes you worthy of death, but that there are consequences for abuse.

The celebrities deaths that were - more or less - to be expected at their age.

• David Bowie - 69


• Maurice White - Earth, Wind, and Fire - 74


• Abe Vigoda - 94


• Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams show) - 74


• Alan Rickman - 69


• Leonard Nimoy - 83


• Joan Rivers - 81 (You shouldn't TELL her age!)


• Lauren Bacall - 89

I don't think that it's the celebrity that the public is mourning - it's the realization that an integral part of their youth is gone.  For many, if not most, music evokes the emotions.  It's not the music or the celebrity that they miss, but the way the music made them feel - young, hopeful, and alive.

So, what does all this mean?  Beats me.  I do note that the celebrities that are having problems with their everyday lives are the most loudly mourned.  This might be aligned with their appeal to Drama Queens.

How People Choose Their Leaders

Actually, it's a LOT like they choose their bands, shoes, cars, and spouses.

Emotion.

In all of the above, they like how their choice makes them FEEL.

I was having a discussion with a friend who is passionate about rock bands.  I said, "My husband likes his 1950's singers for the same reason you like your bands."

He started to argue with me, pointing out all of the reasons why HIS bands ruled - the lyrics, the instrumental virtuosity, the unforgettable music.

Nope, I said.  You chose them for the same reason.

They make you FEEL like you were young again.  They remind you of how it was to be young, at the peak of your physical powers, and attractive to potential partners.

You love the FEELING, not the music.

Many people pick their shoes the same.  I've long been puzzled by the many celebrity women, who, judging from the deformations of their feet, will wear tremendously uncomfortable shoes, that cause their foot and toe structure to undergo permanent damage.

When you ask them why they wear those shoes, they exclaim that the shoes are SO comfortable.

Their own body tells the lie.

So, why do they choose those shoes?

Because when they wear them, they FEEL glamorous, sexy, stylish.

It's about the FEELINGS.

That's a major reason why Ted Cruz - some say the MOST qualified person in the presidential race - cannot gain traction.

True, he is also handicapped by a (until recently) crowded field.  But, that doesn't tell the entire story.  He is appealing to our reason, our logic - but, that's NOT how most people make their choice.

Cruz is not gifted with the ability to touch people's emotions.  I'm not sure that it's a teachable skill - it my be one of those things you either have, or have not.

______________________________________________________

I think I figured out WHY Rubio was so slow to quit the race.  He had to realize that the numbers were not his friend.  So, it makes sense that winning was not, after the first few primaries/caucuses, his motivation.

I think he stayed in deliberately to tank Cruz's chances.  I think his ego was involved.

Why Cruz?

Because only Cruz could block him from being the FIRST Hispanic President.

And, therefore, being in the history books for all time.

Anyone else wouldn't keep him from realizing his dream.  Only Ted stood in the way.

Where Are The Feminists on E-Mail Scandal?

If I read ONE more time about how Hillary - a woman only a few brief years older that I am - is just an out-of-touch-with-technology WOMAN, I'm gonna hurl.

For crying out loud, I'M a woman, and I not only use that technology, I read about it, am aware of security needs, and know that she was:

1. Either so clueless that she is thereby declaring herself incompetent for the job she's seeking, or


2. Lying her overstuffed a$$ off

I tend to believe (2), but - as it happens - there is no absolute need to consider (1) ALSO an option, simultaneously.

Her serial lying is a problem, but not for the reason you'd think.

She's REALLY bad at it.

Today's national leaders have to be GOOD liars.  Her husband was the Gold Standard in this aspect.

The ignorance thing is a concern.  If she genuinely is that clueless, it's hardly a Feminist Triumph to make such a Dingbat the next President.

I see no need for that level of what Steve Allen called "Dumbth".  Yes, I realize that she didn't major in computers in college.  Neither did I.

But - despite having gone to a local college, not a prestigious Ivy like Hill - I realized that a working knowledge of such an integral part of our economy was essential to understand its future.

So, I took the time to learn about technology.  It paid off, big time, over the last 28 years.  I'm too old to be considered a "Digital Native", but, over time, I acquired an understanding that allows me to participate in this Brave New World.  Hillary could have done the same - but didn't bother.

She now presents herself as a ditzy WOMAN, who just "cain't figger out them fancy new-fangled thingies".

She is a profound embarrassment to all American women.

Home Sick, Waiting for Meds to Kick In

So, I'm catching up on the news - both on the computer, and with some "news" show in the background.

Congress has shown a spine - a little late, but nonetheless, welcome.  They have passed a resolution applying the term "genocide" to the systematic elimination of Christians in the Middle East.

Is there anyone who has a single doubt that Obama will fail to act?  Oh, he'll mouth some mealy-mouthed words, probably blaming Christians for the Crusades (Hey, O-man, at SOME point, a defensive action - which the Crusades largely were - should stopped being used to justify present-day slaughter, rape, enslavement, and torture).

The "Trial of the Century" is being exploited for ratings on TV, with a heavily-slanted, pro-defense series.  The Goldmans were just on to register their strong opposition to the fictionalizing of the story.  People magazine did a nice piece about Ron Goldman, who they called "the forgotten victim".

I've been reading about money - in the form of laws, regulations, and fiscal policy.  One of those posts that might be of value to you is about the Puerto Rican default, and how this sets a precedent that could, eventually, bring down our money system.

Bonds are special - those that lend money to corporations or governments expect less that they might get from stock purchases.  In return, they have a solid claim on the assets of in the event of a default - they are FIRST in line for what money remains.  Unsecured debtors have to take what is left over.

The Obama administration plans to throw that out of the window.  It's similar to what they did to the auto industry secured debtors - they arbitrarily moved them from first paid back, to the end of the line, instead, and illegally, moving the unions - UNsecured debtors - to the front.

Big surprise, that Leftists will shaft investors in favors of their political cronies.

Read more about the Obama administration is planning on doing the same for Puerto Rico's investors, in favor of pensions for government employees.

Lots more to write about, but no time at present.

There Is A Difference Between A Demagogue And A Populist

However, I do think The Donald falls closer to a demagogue.

That doesn't mean that his supporters aren't Populists. In fact, I think MOST of them are.

It all comes down to refusing to believe that your political opponents are DEMONS.  If, instead, they are people, who disagree with you for reasons NOT related to their EVIL, then you can "agree to disagree", and co-exist.

If, on the other hand, they are ONLY motivated by RACISM, BIGOTRY, and HATRED, then you shouldn't co-exist.  You must annihilate them.  Which, unfortunately, too many people are willing to do.

The real question is:  are Americans willing to talk to each other, rather than scream at each other?  Will each side look at the FACTS, rather than revert to talking points.  I'm talking about looking at what has actually happened, not what you are told by politicians.

Fact:  Obamacare is a failure.  The only way it sorta-works is by blatantly ignoring the law, and making up regulations that ignore the law.  The link is Forbes Magazine - you may not like them, but they are a reputable mainstream media site.

Fact:  Illegal immigration primarily benefits the moneyed classes.  It has led to unprecedented levels of unemployment in the Black community.  The COST of illegal immigration hurts community hospitals and schools, and average working people, while the BENEFIT is to the employers - both corporate and individual - that preferentially hire them.

Fact:  Fraud in government programs is HUGE.  It needs to be stopped, before it bankrupts us.
Fact:  Too many schools, from k-12 to college, are under the control of Leftists.  They deliberately indoctrinate students, give them credit for providing unpaid help to Leftist causes, and use THUG tactics to shut down dissent.  They are creating a legion of Credentialed Brownshirts.

Fact:  The current "Rape Crisis" is WAY overblown.  Men have had their RIGHTS to due process, legal representation, and assumption of innocence taken away.

If you want to DISCUSS this, I will listen to your FACTS.  I will not listen to exaggerated talking points.

Do You Want a Dynamic Society or a Static One?

Which would be one that would lead to the kind of economic growth that is associated with human betterment?

I'm guessing that most of us would want one that has jobs, homes, and material needs for our children and grandchildren, as well as for anyone that wants to put forth the effort to improve themself.  And, yes, there are those that don't want to put out that effort - well, they might LIKE their life to be better, but they are not willing to make the personal changes - getting up early in the morning, humbling themselves to improve their reading or math skills, showing up on time for class, avoiding chemical/alcohol use when they are looking for work.

Dynamic societies are the ones that have that potential for improving our lives.  Read (or watch) what Virginia Postrel has to say about that.

Are You Also Getting Depressed About This Election?

I haven't felt this hopeless since 1980.  At that time, I was planning to vote for Anderson (boy, that was a wasted vote), thereby giving the election to Reagan.

When Reagan was elected, I thought the world had ended - Obviously, Reagan would unleash war that would destroy civilization as we know it.

That not only didn't happen, but during those Reagan/Bush I years, I was able to return to school, become a teacher, buy our first house, and begin to get some stability in our lives.

We've had some ups and down since then, but the general trend has been upward.

However, during those same years, the culture has continued its already-evident slide into coarseness, filth, and vulgarity. Music videos morphed from interesting and fun (Thriller) to sleazy and degrading to women.  That may be just what happens on the road with the band, but I didn't want to see it, and the shows that continued the slide:

• Dallas


• Melbourne Place


• 90210


• "Real" Housewives of -----------


• The Bachelor and all of its imitators

I could go on and on, but I think most people know the downward slide.  While SOME effort was initially made to mask the cursing and vulgarity, now most shows don't even bother to "Bleep" it.

Each day brings a greater escalation of violence in the political arena.  Donald vocally eggs on a "pushy" supporter, and the next speech brings in protesters eager to mix it up.  What's next - death?

Cleveland is my home town.  I would hate for it to be known for unbridled violence, but with Bill Ayers (leader with the Weathermen in the 60's) promising to show up, it could get nasty. 

I'll post more later 0 right now I'm working in getting of a cold.

Beautiful, But - The PRICE!

The gowns are lovely (although that dress that Shasha is wearing is a LITTLE too mature for a 14-year old).

But - almost $20,000 for a dress for a TEEN?  When the economy is tanking fast?

NOT good political thinking.

Unless you're Marie Antoinette.

Something to Think About - A LONG March for Conservatives

Bookworm's Link - you need to read it.

In some respects, our current situation with the nomination is our own fault - for too long, Conservatives have been narrowly focused on POLITICAL solutions:

• Passing legislation to stop Obamacare, keep the status quo regarding man-woman marriage, stop abortion clinics from exploiting women, etc.


• Suing in courts to enforce Constitutionally-guaranteed rights


• Electing reliably Conservative politicians

After all that effort, we find ourselves watching a NON-Conservative wanna-be candidate taking over "our" party, and being unable to stop that juggernaut, despite the Republican party having a RICH trove of potential candidates standing by.  One by one, they have been savaged in the media, until, we are down to 2 top choices - either Trump, or a man that - although I support him - is not exactly Mr. Charismatic.

Folks, we need to focus more of our attention on the CULTURAL hegemony.

What is "hegemony"?

Progressive/Liberals/Leftists have imposed THEIR Cultural Hegemony on the rest of us - the majority - to the extent that it can be worth your life, your livelihood, and your reputation to challenge that Belief System.  From Wikipedia:

In Marxist philosophy, the term cultural hegemony describes the domination of a culturally diverse society by the ruling class, who manipulate the culture of that society — the beliefs, explanations,perceptions, values, and mores — so that their ruling-class worldview becomes the worldview that is imposed and accepted as the cultural norm; as the universally valid dominant ideologythat justifies the social, political, and economic status quo as natural, inevitable, perpetual and beneficial for everyone, rather than as artificial social constructs that benefit only the ruling class.

As Saul Alinsky said, "Make them live up to their rules."  Make the Progressive Rulers live up to their cultural norms - force them to accept alternative viewpoints by challenging them in their own words.

 

Too Busy, Too Hard to Post

I haven't had a lot of extra time lately - grading, exercising, working on catching up on housework and financial papers - and, on top of that, actually teaching full-time.

Work is SUCH a hindrance to blogging regularly.  In part, this is because I can't access many sites at work, even on my lunch break.  Also, our network is locked to prevent us from using our own wifi devices - my iPad, alas, will not connect.  Right now, I've got at least 2 posts I haven't had time to upload from that iPad.

I truly can't complain.  My work is mostly congenial.  I'm blessed to be able to afford a gym, and Gold's hours are more convenient than the Y's were.  I'm privileged to have a house, however messy.

Last weekend, we attended a baby shower for my son and his girlfriend (I know, I'm not thrilled about their situation, but - not going to cut them off, either).  The trip took about 18 hours, more or less, with stops.  So, we started the week more than a little tired and achy.

I'm just not that into the election right now - can't influence the vote, don't want to waste time speculating about the outcome.  It's time to rest up, clear up the rest of my life, and trust to God.

Sunday Leisure to Worry

This is my last day of the weekend, during which I usually prepare for my next week's classes.

Today, I've been looking at the news and analysis of that news, and it's not a calming scenario.

We have a "Progressive" administration that believes in re-writing history (shades of 1984 and NewSpeak!).

Central Command has been under investigation by the Pentagon's inspector general since last year when scores of CentCom intelligence analysts complained to the watchdog that their findings were being selectively edited to paint a far rosier picture in 2014 and 2015 about the U.S. campaign against the Islamic State than the facts warranted.

The New York Times reported in November that military officials alleged that important e-mails and files that should have been turned over to the inspector general had instead been deleted. But that report also said the Pentagon's inspector general could not verify the files had been deleted. At the time, Nunes himself queried the inspector general about these deletions.

Well, at least the "Progressives" are getting good information about the Energy Crisis!, and can make their plans, sure that the mass transit they are committing the American Taxpayer to pay for will, at least SAVE us money.

Eh, not so much.  In fact, not at all.

Why you should stop bargaining with your principles - if you just read ONE thing this month, read this.

Ben Carson - a Virtual ATM for his money people.

Speaking of scams...

Oh, I'm SURE that NONE of that money that was released will go to fund terror operations!

Sanders' money problems - of course, he will NOT face charges about his violations, unlike D'Souza.

The Chilling Possibilities

Please read this article about SEME - Search Engine Manipulation Effect.  It might be the thing that 'flips' the election.

On My Last Nerve

I'm pretty well worn out today, by a combination of things:

• House(s) issues - they seem to drag on forever, and, just when you think it's over, another problem pops up.


• Money issues - my husband and I disagree on spending.  He has declared, for the last 5 years, that THIS SUMMER, we will take a cruise.  Each time I hear that, I say, "as long as we don't put it on a credit card", which is the match lighting for a good fight.  I think we have WAY too much stuff; he thinks of shopping as a recreational activity.


• I've been trying to work out on a regular basis - life keeps handing me a curve ball.  Sometimes, I have gotten injured; other times, I'm so overloaded with meetings and grading, I just don't have the energy.  I'm still stuck at the same weight I have been for 3 years.


• Politics - I never thought I'd say this, but I'm sick of it - BOTH Democratic and Republican.  Trump is on a roll, in great part to the ego problems of people who wouldn't get out of the race until the last 2 weeks.  Neither Cruz nor Rubio will budge (although I think they should meet, and show their hole cards - what do they have on the other, that would make their loss in November a virtual certainty.  I'm personally guessing that Rubio has a woman problem - no evidence, but that's my gut feeling.  For that reason alone, I think he should gracefully bow out, and support Cruz.)  At this point, I just think whoever drops out should cede their support to the other, and beat Trump.  The more the public learns about him, the less they like him.


• Whoever wins the election, I'm going to be working to:
  
  
  
  • Get out of debt
  
  
  • Diversify my assets
  
  
  • Stockpile a WTSHTF go-box
  
  
  • Get the rest of my life in order
  
  
  
  

Folks, this disruptive time is NOT just about your personal survival - it's about the survival of our civilization.  Pray for America, but also work for its survival.

Yes, I DO Remember Those Days

...and, I am NOT happy to be repeating that time period.

Keep this in mind as you think about your vote in the primaries.  It's PAST time to indulge in the luxury of "sending a message" or voting for someone with no chance in H--L of getting the nomination.  Instead, pick one of the leaders (Trump - please, NO!, Cruz, or Rubio), and get on board with their campaign.  Donate money, time, and support any way you can.

I do understand that many see Trump as one who will voice their concerns without prettying it up.  I do see that appeal.

But, we cannot afford to send in someone so uncommitted to principles or truth. It's basically Cruz or Rubio.

Whichever of those two wins, I'll support - all the way.

Commenting on a Site that Won't Accept my Comments

Don't know why - may have to do with the web browser, or the network blocks.  Found the link on Instapundit.

Here's what I wanted to post:

I don't know a SINGLE Conservative/Libertarian who doesn't know QUITE a few Liberals - many of them make their presence known by delivering their opinions in the most insulting terms possible. If Conservatives fail to swallow the insult placidly, they are accused of "starting" a fight. If in the workplace, Liberals have NO hesitation in airing their most wacko thoughts, and asserting that anyone who disagrees with them is a (pick one or more) racist/fascist/women-hater/homophobe/etc.

And, if that doesn't shut up opposition, they'll start a campaign to get opponents fired.

So, no, I don't think that BOTH Conservatives and Liberals need to get a wider social circle. I think that Liberals need to start acting civilly about disagreement - it is NOT a hate crime, it simply means that your passionate defense of your views hasn't persuaded us that you are right.

The fury expressed by Conservatives is largely limited to foaming at the mouth when - FINALLY - we are in a place that it is safe to unload our frustration, and on commenting, where the bile really does spill, in many cases.

Who is the oppressed here? The person/persons that will scream over opposing viewpoints, or the ones that are so cowed, they only feel free to say what they think anonymously.

 

Valentine's Day Love

OK, I'm a total Squish about mushy stuff - so much so, that I seldom express my feelings in words.

But, THIS is an EPIC ODE TO LOVE!

Pride Goeth Before A Fall

This was a devastating loss for a relatively young, and sometimes over-boastful man.  He clearly showed his anguish, by the emotional displays (verge of tears, pounding the ground, slumped posture), and suffered the humiliation of having to eat his boastful words in public.

Truly, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Others have noted that Cam Newton was a Fall Waiting to Happen.

However, if he is guided by older and wiser mentors, this could be the opportunity for him to have, in the future, a career comeback.

Failure can be a harsh teacher.  The worst part of failure is that many do NOT learn from it - they blame others, brush off the lessons with a disrespectful "tchh" (that sound you make when you suck your tongue against the roof of your mouth), and fail to learn life's most important lessons.

In the aftermath of the Iowa caucuses, Trump is at the same waystation.

He COULD learn from his mistakes.

But, given his response so far, it's not looking likely.

It's the Culture, Stupid!

Frankly, I intensely dislike that phrase (It's the --------, Stupid!).  But, in this case, it does seem appropriate.

I'd been mulling over this concept today, even before reading a post on TakiMag about how culture shapes us.

It's not a new thought.  But, which culture?

Black culture - it has become so pervasive as to dominate our music, clothing, dance, and conversational styles.  And, they have managed to do this with only about 10-14% of the population.

Liberal/Progressive culture - they are the prevailing culture on college campuses, and their supporters have managed to flex their muscle in many arenas - often with mobs shouting down opposition, threats of violence/actual violence, and efforts to have their opponents fired from jobs - often successfully.

Traditional American culture - largely European-based values - Christian/Jewish, pro-capitalism, tolerant of different opinions, pro-women's rights, pro-democracy, somewhat xenophobic (at least, when the tide of immigration threatens to affect their ability to earn a living).

This is not a new 'thang'.  George Orwell had seen similar situations in his time:

In his 1945 essay Notes on Nationalism, Orwell explored the effect of tribal loyalty on our capacity for reasoned judgment. What interested him was not nationalism in its narrow, literal sense, but a broader, figurative definition encompassing a commitment to “such movements and tendencies as Communism, political Catholicism, Zionism, Antisemitism, Trotskyism, and Pacifism.” A weakness for nationalisms of this kind, Orwell argued, was a characteristic of what he called “the intelligentsia”.

Thanks in part to ever-more fractional media programming, we are becoming Balkanized in our cultural differences.  It would not be impossible that, within a few years, the different ethnic groups have nothing in common, and little understanding of each other's cultural underpinnings.

For example, just one small difference - White Euros of Anglo-Saxon background consider "cutting into a line" to be terribly rude, and evidence of an attitude of superiority.  In other words, if an ethnic is given access to a spot that he did not wait for, but was "jumped" ahead of others who DID wait, those Anglo-Saxons will be PISSED.  It will not be OK, but will be hotly resented.  The Anglos will respond as they usually do to enforce a cultural norm, with angry looks at the offenders.

The offenders, not understanding just how rigid a taboo they have broken, will see the angry looks, and think - White people really hate us - and for absolutely no reason.

Other cultural expectations that differ:

• How respectable women should dress


• How children should be disciplined


• How children should act in public


• The proper sound level for a party or social gathering


• How to worship; WHO to worship

I foresee major problems getting different groups to work and live together in the future.

QUICK ADD-ON - From the American Digest 

One Thing at a Time Act

Mia Love has introduced this, and I would like to see more bloggers get the word out.

H. R. 4335

To end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill by requiring that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one subject, and for other purposes.

Its current status:

01/06/2016 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Here's a link to their membership - look for names to urge to get this legislation OUT!  If you click on the link of their names it will take you to their page, where you can send a quick email.

 

Conservative Women's Magazines

It's an idea whose time has come.

Glenn Reynolds, of Instapundit, first suggested it, but the concept has been picked up by many, including Bookwormroom.

That idea?

That Conservatives should buy one or more women's magazines, and run right-leaning articles, in among the tips on weight loss, hair, etc.

I'm actually agnostic on whether they should buy an existing magazine.

• Pros
  
  
  
  • Ready-made structure
  
  
  • Existing audience
  
  
  • Can be implemented without huge expenditure - hey, the magazine field is under financial pressure, as is all the dead-tree media.
  
  
  
  


• Cons
  
  
  
  • More difficult to get existing staff to buy into the change - MANY are die-hard Leftists
  
  
  • A writers' boycott is a serious possibility - that could lead to advertiser flight
  
  
  • Uprooting the Leftist holdouts might be a long, draining process
  
  
  
  

Either way, I would be on board with this.

Most important part of this?

NOT making this a quasi-campaign vehicle.  The magazine would have to have independence from parties and pressure groups.

Conservative Fiction

What I've been saying for YEARS about the culture being the important thing to change, not the politicians, is bearing fruit in the form on an explosion of fiction that takes the Conservative or Libertarian point of view.  Here are some examples:

Fiction

What I Saw at the Coup.

Alas, Brave New Babylon

The Alienork Way - VERY powerful, very prescient.

Liberty Island (serialized novels and short stories)

NOT Fiction

When the Music Stops

A Potpourri of Random Links

I started to post on Facebook about one of these links, then realized that I had a LOT of other links that I wanted to spotlight.  So, in no particular order:

• From Maggie's Farm, the question of Why People Loath the Successful.  Here is a post on a similar theme, about Bernie Sanders and his supporters frothing hatred of the rich.


• Why Freidrichs v. California Teachers Association may be a game-changer in education.  It could not only change individual schools, but also the power of the teachers unions to influence politics.


• Wouldn't we all like to have EVERYTHING we wish for?  Maybe not.


• These go together - One, Two, Three, and Four.  They are all about having the things you want out of life, and understanding the price.


• After reading this, I will never see or read Age of Innocence in the same light.  BTW, one of the few movies that lives up to the book.


• Want to read the summary of the Left's Endgame?  Here it is.

 

Where Does Your Personal Space Begin?

That is, from the outside, where does your sense of personal boundaries begin?  For many people, it is at least in the immediate perimeter around their person - their body.  As long as you can keep your personal space from being violated, you are secure.  With family, that is generally at the level of the body exterior.  With less close relatives/friends, that may include an invisible, but real zone around your body.  Inside that zone, only invited people may enter.  Hence, the personal outrage of the children who find that "Great-Aunt Whoever" ignores that zone, and insists on hugging and kissing.  Their outrage is that she ignored the boundary, on the pretense that she is a close relative.

But, that personal zone is NOT the ideal, when it comes to strangers - those who have not established trust with you.  For them, they need to stand further away - the less trusted, the further away they need to be for you to feel safe.  The size of the zone varies among cultures - Mediterrean cultures generally have smaller zones.  In Muslim cultures, the interrelatedness of the kinship group (coursing marriage being common in such cultures), means that they are more comfortable with a smaller personal zone.

How does that relate to the Migrant Crisis of Europe?

But consider personal safety. I have good locks on the doors of my house, so I don’t need to lock the doors of my individual rooms, the way I would have if I couldn’t secure my front door, or if members of my family found it fashionable to invite drifters in to spend the night with us.

If I lived in a gated community, I wouldn’t need to lock my front door at all, but I don’t, so I do.

In other words, I can have liberty of movement at some geographic scales, as long as I have security at some other level.

Merkel is trying to shrink the personal zone to a space that the Native Germans are NOT comfortable with.  She did this unilaterally, based on her political philosophy.  She triggered the "unsafe" feeling in the Germans, and they are pushing back.

This is beside the fact that the New Europeans are, in too many cases, acting boorishly and with complete disregard for the cultural and social norms of their host countries.  Some of the migrants expect that an unaccompanied woman, as well as one with a Euro man, has no expectation of boundaries.  They feel justified in ignoring ANY boundary, including the exterior of that woman's body.  It is such an expectation that permits them to touch, grab, and rape with no expectation that there will be consequences.

Conventional Wisdom

One major aspect that is wrong with American Life is that minority viewpoints use our basic desire to compromise as a way of "pushing the camel's nose into the tent".  What is that?  Here is one example of the story:

One day an Arab and his camel were crossing the desert. Night came and the temperature became colder. The Arab put up his tent and tied the camel to it. The Arab went to sleep.

The temperature became slightly colder and the camel asked the Arab if he (camel) could just put his nose in the tent to warm up. The Arab agreed that the camel could just put his nose in, because the tent was small and there was no room for 2. So the camel's nose became warm and after a while the temperature went down even more.

The camel asked the Arab again, if he (camel) could just put his fore legs in because they were very cold. The Arab reluctantly agreed that the camel could only put his fore legs in and no more. So the camel moved in his fore legs and they became warm. After sometime the camel asked the Arab again that he had to put in his hind legs or else he won't be able to make the journey the next morning with frozen legs. So the Arab agreed and once the camel moved his hind legs in, there was no more room in the tent for the Arab and the Arab was kicked out.

The concept of conventional wisdom is always defeated by an entity determined to get its way, first asking for a "harmless" concession of a tired opponent, then, incrementally, continuing to push to achieve its long-term goal.  Just keep that in mind next time you're asked to make ONE TINY compromise.

Hold firm.

In other news:

P. J. O'Rourke has gone out of his mind.

He is foaming at the mouth about Ted Cruz.  Yes, TED - Blanking - CRUZ.  According to P. J., having Cruz as the Republican candidate would be THE Ultimate Worst Thing (I assume that he is patenting the phrase).

Why?

Because Ted is not fervently in favor of SSM (Same Sex Marriage) and legalized marijuana.

Really.

That's it?  One of the most qualified Republicans - one that ACTUALLY held the line when the Dems tried to push their agenda on the Senate - and the problem he has with Ted is that he thinks we ought to not upset a socially-recognized marriage tradition that has lasted for all of recorded history.  Oh, and, that, absent GOOD - not anecdotal - scientific evidence that pot is worth legalizing, we shouldn't change its status.

Really.

Now, many disagree about the SSM thing.  I do understand that.  From my perspective, I'd rather the government get the Blank out of the marriage endorsement altogether, and just institute Civil Unions.  Those who WANT to get married, can - assuming that they can find a minister, Internet-ordained person, Cultic Leader, or other person that can persuade a religious/spiritual/frankly-nutty-offbeat-organization to handle the ceremony.

No - absolutely NO - pressure on churches/temples/mosques to marry people against their principles.

Got few problems with that.

Oh, and, if someone has a preferred title - Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., Supreme Leader, whatever - let's accept that addressing them by that title is optional, not mandatory.  Most people will go along.  Some will have objections.

Let's just decide that "Citizen" is the acceptable alternative for those with philosophical objections.  As in, Citizen Cruz.  Citizen Clinton (either).  And, Citizen O'Rourke.

And, the pot thing?

Listen, I've taught for many years.  Before that, I often encountered people under the influence of Wacky Weed.  Including one of my roommates, and her friends.

I can assure you, with absolute confidence, NOT ONE of those so impaired was in any way smarter, more rational, or having razor-sharp reflexes.

In fact, there was little to distinguish them from someone born Lazy, Mentally Slow-Processing, and, to be honest, Dumb as Dirt.

NOT what I want to see as the norm for American Citizens.  Nor, for that matter, those under the age of 18.

Oh, but, legalization will only affect those OVER 18.

Right.

Sure.

Of course, the fact that buying or using pot by a minor will be against the law will TOTALLY stop them from doing it.

Just like the fact that it's illegal now stops them.

/sarc