Liberty Relearned

From Ep 25: What is the matter with these people? Our pets are now a target of the Left's eco-fascism.  What kind of demented, dystopic world do these people live in?  An article in the Blaze gives the response of some same people to the idea that pets are part of the climate change problem, as an article in CNN states.

This attack on our pets is part of a larger strategy.  In the West, pets are considered part of the family.  Marxism and its collectivist derivatives have targeted the West and the family for destruction.   Families and Western thought, born of the Judeo-Christian tradition, stand in the way of the Left's totalitarian designs.

For people who love their pets, even liberals who don't own a gun, don't have kids, don't own a car, or don't understand money, their pets might be where they finally draw the line.  The love of pets is one of the last commonalities between the Left and the Right in this world.  You can mess with someone's gun, their car or their money, but don't mess with their pets.  CNN may be barking up the wrong tree when it comes to downsizing Fido or Kitty.

What kind of person is so caught up in the climate-change alarmism that they'd suggest pets are part of the problem?  Perhaps someone caught up in mass-formation psychosis.  More on that subject later... (Stay tuned.)

Until next time,

Stay healthy, happy, and free!

What is the matter with these people? Our pets are now a target of the Left's eco-fascism.  What kind of demented, dystopic world do these people live in?  An article in the Blaze gives the response of some same people to the idea that pets are part of the climate change problem, as an article in CNN states.

This attack on our pets is part of a larger strategy.  In the West, pets are considered part of the family.  Marxism and its collectivist derivatives have targeted the West and the family for destruction.   Families and Western thought, born of the Judeo-Christian tradition, stand in the way of the Left's totalitarian designs.

For people who love their pets, even liberals who don't own a gun, don't have kids, don't own a car, or don't understand money, their pets might be where they finally draw the line.  The love of pets is one of the last commonalities between the Left and the Right in this world.  You can mess with someone's gun, their car or their money, but don't mess with their pets.  CNN may be barking up the wrong tree when it comes to downsizing Fido or Kitty.

What kind of person is so caught up in the climate-change alarmism that they'd suggest pets are part of the problem?  Perhaps someone caught up in mass-formation psychosis.  More on that subject later... (Stay tuned.)

Until next time,

Stay healthy, happy, and free!

From Ep24:  There are at least three false beliefs that virulent anti-Trumpers hold in common. Though none of the claims stand up to close scrutiny, and several are demonstrably false, no amount of debunking, no direct proof, no evidence will dissuade those suffering from TDS, (Trump Derangement Syndrome) from their insistence that Trump is Hitler reborn and all who follow him are Nazis. First, is the hoax perpetrated by Hillary, her campaign and the FBI that Vladimir Putin had dirt on Trump, and that he and many of his inner circle were puppets of the Kremlin. Second, is the misconception that Trump said that the white supremacists at Charlottesville, SC were “fine people.” Third is the belief that the riot at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, was an insurrection planned and orchestrated by Donald Trump himself. These claims persist long after they've been debunked. The feeling of moral superiority by those who continue to hold onto these falsehoods must be so high, that no amount of factual data, or evidence to the contrary, can shake them loose from those who cling to them. These fallacies are a problem, not just because they involve deception, but they also induce bigotry and sometimes even violence against “MAGA Republicans” and others who espouse conservative values.

Much has been said and written in an effort to debunk the persistent myths, fallacies, and libels against former President Trump. Many who continue to cling to such false beliefs have closed themselves off to any counter arguments, or proof that might challenge them. Why then re-address the falsehoods here? Because they persist, and they are dangerous. They are dangerous in the immediate sense that people have been attacked and even killed for supporting Trump and conservative causes such as right to life that are closely associated with either Trump or Republicans. After the President concluded his speech at the Republican Convention in 2020, attendees were harassed and assaulted upon leaving the venue. Members of his cabinet have suffered similar harassment. President Biden gave a speech in Philadelphia almost entirely devoted to accusing “MAGA Republicans” of being enemies of democracy. Not long after, a North Dakota teen was murdered, run down by a man who thought the kid was part of a Republican extremist group. According to the Associated Press: “The driver, Shannon Brandt, told a 911 dispatcher that he struck Cayler Ellingson early Sunday in McHenry because the teenager was threatening him, and that the teen was part of a 'Republican extremist group,' according to a probable cause affidavit.” Did Brandt think he was defending democracy?

A more long-term hazard is that people, having been fed a steady diet of anti-Trump rhetoric, have been whipped up into such a Trump-hating frenzy, that they will ignore the more glaring assaults on America's freedom. America stands at a crossroads. It would not be overselling it to say that the constitutional republic that the Founding Fathers meant America to be is at risk. The Biden regime is pursuing its political and ideological opponents with a zeal seldom seen in this country. The Democrats seem to be bent on the same sort of eco-fascist policies that have destroyed other countries or taken their freedom. Other countries in the Anglosphere, namely Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have shown an alarming propensity to go authoritarian to the point that they barely qualify as free countries anymore. Even if the Republicans take back Congress, that can stop further damage, but not reverse it. An electorate suffering from TDS, blind to their own prejudices is liable to vote away our freedom just to spite one man they have convinced themselves is an enemy of democracy and vote in the exact sort of fascism they claim to be against.

There are at least three false beliefs that virulent anti-Trumpers hold in common. Though none of the claims stand up to close scrutiny, and several are demonstrably false, no amount of debunking, no direct proof, no evidence will dissuade those suffering from TDS, (Trump Derangement Syndrome) from their insistence that Trump is Hitler reborn and all who follow him are Nazis. First, is the hoax perpetrated by Hillary, her campaign and the FBI that Vladimir Putin had dirt on Trump, and that he and many of his inner circle were puppets of the Kremlin. Second, is the misconception that Trump said that the white supremacists at Charlottesville, SC were “fine people.” Third is the belief that the riot at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, was an insurrection planned and orchestrated by Donald Trump himself. These claims persist long after they've been debunked. The feeling of moral superiority by those who continue to hold onto these falsehoods must be so high, that no amount of factual data, or evidence to the contrary, can shake them loose from those who cling to them. These fallacies are a problem, not just because they involve deception, but they also induce bigotry and sometimes even violence against “MAGA Republicans” and others who espouse conservative values.

Much has been said and written in an effort to debunk the persistent myths, fallacies, and libels against former President Trump. Many who continue to cling to such false beliefs have closed themselves off to any counter arguments, or proof that might challenge them. Why then re-address the falsehoods here? Because they persist, and they are dangerous. They are dangerous in the immediate sense that people have been attacked and even killed for supporting Trump and conservative causes such as right to life that are closely associated with either Trump or Republicans. After the President concluded his speech at the Republican Convention in 2020, attendees were harassed and assaulted upon leaving the venue. Members of his cabinet have suffered similar harassment. President Biden gave a speech in Philadelphia almost entirely devoted to accusing “MAGA Republicans” of being enemies of democracy. Not long after, a North Dakota teen was murdered, run down by a man who thought the kid was part of a Republican extremist group. According to the Associated Press: “The driver, Shannon Brandt, told a 911 dispatcher that he struck Cayler Ellingson early Sunday in McHenry because the teenager was threatening him, and that the teen was part of a 'Republican extremist group,' according to a probable cause affidavit.” Did Brandt think he was defending democracy?

A more long-term hazard is that people, having been fed a steady diet of anti-Trump rhetoric, have been whipped up into such a Trump-hating frenzy, that they will ignore the more glaring assaults on America's freedom. America stands at a crossroads. It would not be overselling it to say that the constitutional republic that the Founding Fathers meant America to be is at risk. The Biden regime is pursuing its political and ideological opponents with a zeal seldom seen in this country. The Democrats seem to be bent on the same sort of eco-fascist policies that have destroyed other countries or taken their freedom. Other countries in the Anglosphere, namely Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have shown an alarming propensity to go authoritarian to the point that they barely qualify as free countries anymore. Even if the Republicans take back Congress, that can stop further damage, but not reverse it. An electorate suffering from TDS, blind to their own prejudices is liable to vote away our freedom just to spite one man they have convinced themselves is an enemy of democracy and vote in the exact sort of fascism they claim to be against.

Equal Treatment Under the Law

From 10/9/22 episode:  Are pro-lifers being singled out for prosecution?  Eleven pro-life activists have been arrested for allegedly preventing people from entering an abortion clinic. Another pro-life activist, Paul Vaughn* was arrested by the FBI for violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).  He reportedly pushed a pro-abortion activist in response that person menacing his kid at an otherwise peaceful protest.  meanwhile, no arrests are known to have been made in connection with a series of attacks on Pro-life pregnancy centers, churches, and other concerns by pro-abortion terrorists. According to an article by Mary Margaret Olohan in the Daily Signal, these charges against pro-lifers are part of a disturbing pattern of unequal treatment of pro-lifers vs. pro-choice activists.

According to the article: “At least 83 Catholic churches and 73 pregnancy resource centers or pro-life organizations have been attacked since the draft opinion was leaked in May.

Some of these pro-life centers and organizations told The Daily Signal that they have not heard anything from federal authorities—though the FBI said it is investigating 'a series of attacks and threats targeting pregnancy resource centers, faith-based organizations, and reproductive health clinics across the country, as well as to judicial buildings, including the U.S. Supreme Court.”

These events represent a greater pattern of the DOJ seeming to pursue people alleged to have committed crimes on the right with much more vigor and intensity than they do people on the left. Hillary Clinton was accused of having classified documents in an unclassified environment and was not charged. President Trump was accused of the basically the same thing, and the left is screaming for him to be charged. Substantial evidence exists suggesting Hunter Biden has committed numerous felonies, and as yet has not been charged. (Charges may be pending).  In some cases, President Biden has been tied his son's alleged illegal activities and those of his various businesses.  President was impeached twice on spurious charges, President Biden has yet to be impeached, much less charged with arguably more serious crimes of influence peddling and opening the office up to blackmail by foreign entities.  Everyone is entitled to equal justice under the law.    Evidence so far suggests that the Democrats and their allies in the deep state pursue conservatives accused of crimes with much more vigor than they do left-wingers.

*Editor's Note:  The Signal article quoted has the father charged with a FACE violation as Mark Houck, another article seemingly describing the same incident gives the name as Paul Vaughn.

Until next time,

Stay healthy, happy, and free!

Equal Treatment Under the Law

Are pro-lifers being singled out for prosecution?  Eleven pro-life activists have been arrested for allegedly preventing people from entering an abortion clinic.   Another pro-life activist, Paul Vaughn* was arrested by the FBI for violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).  He reportedly pushed a pro-abortion activist in response that person menacing his kid at an otherwise peaceful protest.  meanwhile, no arrests are known to have been made in connection with a series of attacks on Pro-life pregnancy centers, churches, and other concerns by pro-abortion terrorists. According to an article by Mary Margaret Olohan in the Daily Signal, these charges against pro-lifers are part of a disturbing pattern of unequal treatment of pro-lifers vs. pro-choice activists.

According to the article: “At least 83 Catholic churches and 73 pregnancy resource centers or pro-life organizations have been attacked since the draft opinion was leaked in May.

Some of these pro-life centers and organizations told The Daily Signal that they have not heard anything from federal authorities—though the FBI said it is investigating 'a series of attacks and threats targeting pregnancy resource centers, faith-based organizations, and reproductive health clinics across the country, as well as to judicial buildings, including the U.S. Supreme Court.”

These events represent a greater pattern of the DOJ seeming to pursue people alleged to have committed crimes on the right with much more vigor and intensity than they do people on the left. Hillary Clinton was accused of having classified documents in an unclassified environment and was not charged. President Trump was accused of the basically the same thing, and the left is screaming for him to be charged. Substantial evidence exists suggesting Hunter Biden has committed numerous felonies, and as yet has not been charged. (Charges may be pending).  In some cases, President Biden has been tied his son's alleged illegal activities and those of his various businesses.  President was impeached twice on spurious charges, President Biden has yet to be impeached, much less charged with arguably more serious crimes of influence peddling and opening the office up to blackmail by foreign entities.  Everyone is entitled to equal justice under the law.    Evidence so far suggests that the Democrats and their allies in the deep state pursue conservatives accused of crimes with much more vigor than they do left-wingers.

*Editor's Note:  The Signal article quoted has the father charged with a FACE violation as Mark Houck, another article seemingly describing the same incident gives the name as Paul Vaughn.

Until next time,

Stay healthy, happy, and free!

Orwell got a lot of things right, like the surveillance state and doublethink. How close was his vision of the geopolitical landscape in 1984 to real life?

"The splitting-up of the world into three great superstates was an event which could be and indeed was foreseen before the middle of the twentieth century. With the absorption of Europe by Russia and the British Empire by the United States, two of the three existing powers, Eurasia and Oceania, were already effectively in being. The third, Eastasia, only emerged as a distinct unit after another decade of confused fighting. The frontiers between the three superstates are in some places arbitrary, and in others they fluctuate according to the fortunes of war, but in general they follow geographical lines." -- George Orwell, 1984

Orwell predicted a world with three superstates in a continual state of conflict.  Is that not pretty much what we have now? 

The Left and the mainstream media are desperate for you to believe that Italian Prime Minister-elect Giorgia Meloni is a fascist.  She personifies a growing group of populists who reject woke ideology and globalism.  An article in the Christian Post by Ryan Foley explains both what is being said about her, and what Ms. Meloni says about herself and her party.  Here a couple of excerpts that explain why the Left need you to believe she is a fascist...

"The politician's supporters see her as committed to upholding the values of God, family and country as European leaders increasingly embrace cosmopolitan and secular values of supranational organizations like the European Union as opposed to individual nation-states.

However, mainstream media outlets have tied Meloni and her party to fascism.

As conservative political commentator Ann Coulter pointed out, a New York Times article used the word 'fascist' or 'fascism' 28 times when discussing the possibility of a Meloni victory."

Further down, the article continues:  "Meloni has elaborated on her philosophy in multiple speeches over the past few years--

In a speech at the World Congress of Families in 2019, she asked, 'Why is the family an enemy? Why is the family so frightening?  There is a single answer to all these questions' she suggested. 'Because it defines us. Because it is our identity. Because everything that defines us is now an enemy for those who would like us to no longer have an identity and to simply be perfect consumer slaves.'

Meloni lamented what she viewed as attacks on 'national identity,' 'religious identity,' 'gender identity' and "'family identity.' She expressed concern that 'I can't define myself as Italian, Christian, woman, mother' but instead must define herself as 'citizen x, gender x, parent 1, parent 2. I must be a number. Because when I am only a number, when I no longer have an identity or roots, then I will be the perfect slave at the mercy of financial speculators,' she added.

Meloni stated that her opposition to serving as 'the perfect slave at the mercy of financial speculators' is why 'we inspire so much fear.'

Meloni vowed to 'defend the value of the human being,' stressing that 'each of us has a unique genetic code that is unrepeatable."

You're meant to fear black shirts kicking down doors and beating people who go against the regime, but what the Left really seems to fear is that she'll be successful in delaying or halting their Great Reset plans.  More than jackbooted thugs, the Left fears Meloni's ability to stifle their agenda to establish a global, collectivist oligarchy.

The Left and the mainstream media are desperate for you to believe that Italian Prime Minister-elect Giorgia Meloni is a fascist.  She personifies a growing group of populists who reject woke ideology and globalism.  An article in the Christian Post by Ryan Foley explains both what is being said about her, and what Ms. Meloni says about herself and her party.  Here a couple of excerpts that explain why the Left need you to believe she is a fascist...

"The politician's supporters see her as committed to upholding the values of God, family and country as European leaders increasingly embrace cosmopolitan and secular values of supranational organizations like the European Union as opposed to individual nation-states.

However, mainstream media outlets have tied Meloni and her party to fascism.

As conservative political commentator Ann Coulter pointed out, a New York Times article used the word 'fascist' or 'fascism' 28 times when discussing the possibility of a Meloni victory."

Further down, the article continues:  "Meloni has elaborated on her philosophy in multiple speeches over the past few years--

In a speech at the World Congress of Families in 2019, she asked, 'Why is the family an enemy? Why is the family so frightening?  There is a single answer to all these questions' she suggested. 'Because it defines us. Because it is our identity. Because everything that defines us is now an enemy for those who would like us to no longer have an identity and to simply be perfect consumer slaves.'

Meloni lamented what she viewed as attacks on 'national identity,' 'religious identity,' 'gender identity' and "'family identity.' She expressed concern that 'I can't define myself as Italian, Christian, woman, mother' but instead must define herself as 'citizen x, gender x, parent 1, parent 2. I must be a number. Because when I am only a number, when I no longer have an identity or roots, then I will be the perfect slave at the mercy of financial speculators,' she added.

Meloni stated that her opposition to serving as 'the perfect slave at the mercy of financial speculators' is why 'we inspire so much fear.'

Meloni vowed to 'defend the value of the human being,' stressing that 'each of us has a unique genetic code that is unrepeatable."

You're meant to fear black shirts kicking down doors and beating people who go against the regime, but what the Left really seems to fear is that she'll be successful in delaying or halting their Great Reset plans.  More than jackbooted thugs, the Left fears Meloni's ability to stifle their agenda to establish a global, collectivist oligarchy.  

Some of you may remember reading this piece from the Liberty Relearned blog a while back:  So, you want to compare Trump and his followers to Hitler and the Nazis?  That was mainly regarding a quote by Donny Deutsch (remember him?) comparing Trump supporters to Nazis because of his handling of the illegal immigrants.  “If you vote for Trump, then you, the voter, you, not Donald Trump, are standing at the border, like Nazis.”

Sadly, such reductio ad Hitlerum arguments still persist, especially coming from the Left, and continue to be aimed at Trump and his supporters.  This is an intellectually lazy argument. It often fails to establish any true parallel between either Trump's policies, or the beliefs of the rank-and-file Trump supporter and those common to the violent and authoritarian fascist regimes of the 20th century. They are filled with misrepresentations of the former President's words, and misconceptions about actual, historical fascism.

So, is Trump the next Hitler?  Are his followers Nazis?  Are MAGA Republicans fascists?

If Trump is a fascist, especially a Nazi, he's certainly a very poor one.  If his followers are fascists, they sure cling to a lot of non-fascists ideals.  One of the defining traits of Nazis was their violent antisemitism. Trump ended the Iran nuclear agreement, something that the Israelis celebrated, and their Prime Minister at the time called for in front of the UN.  This paved the way for one of Trump's in-laws, one of his Jewish in-laws to broker a peace deal between Israel and several neighboring Arab states.  He then moved the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. These are things that a true Nazi would have a hard time doing, and even a harder time selling to his supporters.

COVID offered the perfect chance for any world leader to go full authoritarian, if not full fascist like Trudeau in Canada. Fascism calls for a supremely strong central government. So, what did Trump do?  He let the counties federalist system work, and allowed the sates, not the central government to make the calls.  Some states did go the authoritarian route, those were almost entirely blue (Democrat) states.  A true fascist would mandate such things as inoculations and mask wearing.  Trump didn't but his successor did to the greatest extent he could.

Another central tenet of fascism is micromanagement in the affairs of business.  Fascism doesn't nationalize industries the way that typical socialism does, it merely asserts control over corporations, acting as a sort of chairman of the board on every board of directors in every corporation.  The illusion of private ownership remains under fascism, while effective control of companies goes to the state.  Everything inside the state, nothing outside the state, and nothing against the state.  One of the very first things Trump did upon taking office was to reduce the federal regulatory burden on companies, literally the antithesis of fascistic rule!

Those who use the reductio ad Hitlerum argument do a disservice to the memory of all who suffered under actual Nazi-ism.  They also look foolish to those who know history and especially those who've studied actual fascism. Sadly, many on the left in particular, in their arrogance, don't know enough to be embarrassed, even in the face of proof their assertions are logically and historically wrong.