The Man Behind the Brazilian Conservative Victory

Olavo was active long before Bolsonaro came to prominence.

He is what you might call a Practical Philosopher - he is less concerned about Ideas, than about Power (and, who holds it). The linked video is subtitled, and has some important points to make.

Another video you'll want to watch:

I was reading this article on American Thinker about George Soros, and how he is planning to get his foundation money into action in the next round of his fight against America and Freedom.

And, I suddenly had a thought:

Is there any reason that an IRS Tax-Exempt Foundation cannot be taxed by states/localities?

By that, I mean, any money coming to another organization operating in that area will have any income from that NGO taxed at a punishing rate? That would, of course, include any money coming from any organization whose funds can be traced back to that Soros Foundation.

Essentially, make any 'non-profit' PROVE that the origin of their money is not tainted by a political agenda. They can still operate, but it will cost them - severely. Perhaps in double or triple taxes on that part of their income.

Same with Act Blue and all those other political activist organizations masquerading as benevolent foundations.

You actually don't have to win the fight. Just tie them up in knots, forcing them to provide reams of information (that, of course, you use to ask even more pointed questions), draw out the process, and stall them as long as possible. Start this in states that have governors sympathetic to your politics.

Other tactics:

• Any organization/group that wants to influence local politics has to be a LOCAL group. If most of the money (or even above a certain percentage) comes from outside, they have to have a disclaimer on any advertising attesting that they are financed by outsiders (of specified size, words, and time spent on-screen).
• All organizations promoting a candidate/cause will have a QR code attached. Link will lead to a state-based organization that fact-checks, and provides details on the people/causes behind the support. Can link to Discover the Networks or other site.
• A lot of teachers assign students to donate time - for class credit - to political organizations. How about working to set up groups that distribute Fact Checks on candidate's known Leftist associates, previous work, shady sources of money, sweetheart deals, and such? They could work those, instead. Same with the various Leftist initiatives. Use the kids to investigate, explain it in simple terms, put it on social media, and get the word out.
• Most of the smaller cities haven't been infested by the Soros DAs. Use them to bring up opponents on charges. Use their arrest and mug shots in election ads. You won't have to invent this, the Left does MORE than enough to justify charges. If the candidate hasn't been caught at anything yet, arrest their close associates, and keep the pressure on. Return the same treatment that Trump's guys got.

It's Hard to Remain Optimistic These Days

I try. I regularly include some surfing of humor sites, always make the time to read and pass along the jokes from social media, and am generally the one to impute benevolent reasons for peoples' acting in terrible ways.

But, it's hard - and, getting harder.  This piece on The Great Liquidation is just one reason it's so difficult to remain optimistic. The rapid and determined destruction of America is taking place, and we are hard-put to stop the Destroyers. We may be wiped out, both monetarily and in resources, before the next election - and, by that, I'm referring to the November 2022 mid-terms.

Retirees will take it on the chin. Social Security will likely be gone for all but the lowest level recipients. Inflation, and the havoc it wreaks on fixed incomes, will take out those of us who denied themselves during their working years to save up some money for retirement. The combination of rising home prices, rising home borrowing costs, and fewer people who can afford to buy, means that, unless the retirees plan to live in their homes until they die, they are sitting on a pile of bricks that is an "asset" only in name.

Naturally, there will be 2-tiered medical care - good for the connected and government workers. Inaccessible and - if available - poor for the proles. Lots of good narcotics, of course. LAVISH suicide offerings for the ill. Actual treatment for most? Non-existent.

Seed-saving, and home gardens, are likely to be crimes, and punished severely. Frugal living, or sensible preparation for food or resource shortages, that is not government-approved, will be re-classified as a selfish act of hoarding.

Home-schooling, where not explicitly banned, will result in lowered food rations.

In other words, prepare to live in Commie Hell.

UPDATE: I saw a video about "tofu-dreg" - literally, the shoddily-built edifices/residences that use sub-standard materials, and appear not to be meant to be occupied, merely invested in, and sold to others for the same purpose of sheltering savings.

There appears not to be any way to move money out of China. From the comments in the topmost link:

The CCP seems intent on accelerating the crisis. When Chinese officials are busted for corruption, they show pictures of their apartments stacked with literally tons of currency and stacks of bullion. You have to wonder what they planned to do with it. They couldn’t flee the country without chartering an air freighter and it’s probably hard, even in China, to spend a pallet of cash without exciting comment. The economy doesn’t even work well enough to allow decent money laundering.

 In America, less of a problem (Although, the issue of not having ways for people to save/invest against inflation IS a problem. Most people are distrustful of the stock market - for good reason. Income housing USED to be a way to invest for the future. No longer - the "rent moratoriums" have KILLED that).

Buy a relatively small place with some land, pay it off, and hunker down might be the wave of the future.

As I've Said, the Federal Government Should Follow the Same Strategy...

...When they get back in power.

First.

Before all of the other things they've been salivating to do.

Relocate those offices of agencies/departments to inland places, and make relocation MANDATORY.

Give NO hint that this is punitive. Insist, both publicly and privately, that this is:

1. To reduce expenses administratively, thereby saving money in the agency's budget.
2. To reduce traffic congestion, thereby saving our environment.
3. To bring needed services to the hinterland, moving their administration closer to their clients.
4. To jump-start economies in depressed areas.

Now, to make sure that this all happens quickly, use RENTED/LEASED facilities in the new locations. This will give a BIG boost to the economy, and make the change happen quicker. Resist ALL efforts to slow down the process, answering "Don't you understand just how VITAL your agency is? Do you want to further ruin the environment? Do you not understand how important it is to be closer to the stakeholders?" to any objectors.

Point out the disparate impact on the average citizen, having to travel to distant places to talk to an administrator. Remind them that MANY private companies are re-locating to lower cost of living states.

Of course, PRIVATELY (don't even breathe a word to the spousal unit), you realize that many of the minions will not move to the new location, which will cut out the middle management faction that is so loyal to the Dems/Left. The lowest level of the staff may, in fact, move. Most of them are not truly on board with the Woke shit. Triage the staff:

• Should move - they have demonstrated an actual work ethic (not just B$ yearly evaluations, based on their alignment with Woke). Offer them some incentive to move, perhaps some assistance with finding jobs for the spouse (the cities/counties/states may come up with some extra money, for those who are identified as "essential").
• CAN move - you have not identified them as actively hostile to the new administration, and they seem to be doing an adequate job. If they're willing to handle the hassle, OK. Perhaps offer them a tax break - if they sell their house, they can avoid the tax penalty on any profits for not immediately replacing it with another. You don't want them to dig in roots in the new place; they should rent for a while, to see if they like it.
• Will not be offered the opportunity to move - their job will be eliminated through "administrative re-organization". Bribe them with some cash to accept without a fight.

Trump was truly the man needed for 2016. He shook things up, and returned a lot of the EOs to null and void.

In 2024, we need a PRACTICED administrator, who has a clear vision of just how to dismantle the government's apparatus, and the ability to identify those who will help him do that. 

Trump's weakest characteristic was his hiring. Now, he was handicapped by cautious people not eager to put themselves in the crosshairs of the Left, turning him down.

However, he was also hampered by deliberate sabotage from career "intelligence" moles who fed him misinformation, "vetted" disguised comrades, and made every attempt to hide their evil works.

Wartime Teen Recruits

This is an incredible story about the teens that were trained in firearms, underground work, spying, and wireless communications - radio operations.

That last part is quite interesting to me. People forget just how important radio communications is in an unstable country. It allows communication with the world outside, can be mobile, and can be operated by someone who is not suitable for regular combat duties.

I had a grandmother and aunt who regularly reported for monitoring activities by the shores of Lake Erie. No, the Nazis/Japanese couldn't directly attack in force at that point, but they COULD sent supplies to local spies, monitor movement of Merchant Marine traffic, and gather information about activities in armed forces stationed along the North Coast (both Coast Guard, near Cleveland, and Navy, at the Great Lakes training camp near Chicago).

I only found out when we were watching a movie about WWII Japanese planes, and someone referred to a plane as a 'Zero'. My grandmother glanced at the plane, and said, "No, that's not a Zero, that's a -" and identified the plane (I don't remember which type it was).

I asked how she knew, and she explained that she, and her daughter were trained as plane spotters, and had their assigned evenings to report to the roof of the Lakewood pool, right on the lake, with binoculars for a shift of observation and reporting. They kept a log of planes within their sight (those heading to local airports), and noted the type, time of first sight, and direction.

So, when working out schedules for watch duties, don't neglect the use of the young, old, or physically handicapped. And, give them training on use of non-cell phone means of wireless communications - both amateur radio - UHF and VHF - and the GMRS systems.

Countdown to Davos 2022

With all the important items on my personal agenda, I've not been paying attention to the upcoming Davos Conference - January 17 - 21. Here's the link.

Take a look at the aims of the various facets of the Agenda. Basically, the Davos Agenda mindset is: Shut up peasants, and follow the "nice suggestions" of your betters. And, do it quickly. We really don't want to have to force you.

But, we will.

"The Great Reset" - What is it?

It's the title of a new book, and is getting quite a lot of discussion online. Glenn Beck wrote it, so you know the Really Important and Knowledgeable People will HATE it.

It's not cheap - $14.99 for the Kindle version. There are other books on the same subject - both pro-Reset, and not.

If you aren't interested in spending that much on a single book, you might want to delve into some online resources - search saved here. For such a controversial - and heavily polarized - topic, I think it's important to get your information from a VARIETY of sources. Start with the official website of the World Economic Forum, that sponsored the conference - nothing like going to the horse's mouth, is there?

From there, check out some sources that suggest that the rosy future of the Resetters MIGHT not be quite as argued. Then, hop around and look at other links.

In other words, rather than take ANYONE'S word for it, check it out yourself.

“Where Did You Read That?”

That’s something I’m always being asked. I used to think it was a way of arguing about my conclusions, without going to the trouble of actually listening and coming up with a response. 

After some time hearing that, again and again, I realized that many people have NO idea of where to find credible information that is not Leftist-approved.

So, in that spirit, here’s a short list:

According to Hoyt - an eclectic group of writers and bloggers, leaning Libertarian/All shades of Conservative, but generally hostile/suspicious to organized parties.

Ace of Spades - this has it all. A round-up of the latest news, a strong tech news section, art, pets, guns, and cooking.

Bookwormroom - Miscellaneous, mostly politics and culture. Posts memes periodically.

Cold Fury - the owner of this site has been sidelined by his medical issues. He will be heading to rehab to learn how to function after his operations. His co-bloggers have been keeping the lights on.

Front Page Magazine - no, I don't always agree with them, but they have a clear sense of who the players are behind Progressive politicians pulling the strong (check out their Discover the Networks section - you won't believe how often the same names keep popping up). Good pamphlets, too, many of them downloadable for free.

The Gateway Pundit - mostly covers the news no one else will. Does a lot of their own investigation on politics.

Maggie's Farm Blog - it's hard to describe. It's an eclectic mix of viewpoints on a variety of subjects. Some of the blogger specialize, other just post what interests them at the time.

Reason - a Libertarian blog. Generally reliable about taking the position "Just Leave Us the Hell Alone".

The New Neo - her recent post on Ray Epps was terrific.

Victory Girls Blog - the women's point of view on news, politics, and culture.

VoxDay - a contrarian, an individualist, a comic book publisher, runs Infogalactic (a competitor to WikiPedia), and Social Galactic, a not-free social media site. As VoxDay puts it, if you're not paying for the service, YOU are the product. I skim his site, as some of his rants are not that interesting. But, he does get stories that will later be on the news.

Wilder, Wealthy, Wise - the funny take on life today, along with some graphs, economics, analysis, and predictions.

1/13/2022 - Just read that Colin Flaherty, the writer whose specialty was finding stories of people who'd been target for assault or worse, because of their race. More on Colin here. Only 66 years old, not COVID, but cancer.