“What we have here, is a failure to communicate.”  That is one of the most famous movie lines of all time. It could be altered to sum up the average person’s view of government; “What we have here is a failure to listen to your citizens.”  We seem to have a growing belief that government, at many levels, goes about its business without caring about the people it is there to serve, without learning from their failed policies. Government (and in this specific instance, the Federal government) seems to go on its merry way, instituting policies that fail time far more than they are successful; ignoring basic rules of economics and human nature, is wasteful and those who are entrusted with the wealth of the land are incompetent and corrupt while being without fear of retribution. I must admit that the government is excellent at merchandising, a prime being the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act which has little to do with reducing inflation and much to do with vast sums of borrowed money given to a select few political favored industries which have yet to live up to even minimally acceptable standards.

We live in a time where politicians can lie and change the standards by which they are judged. The traditional definition of when a recession starts is thrown out, or the border is secure even through we can see that millions have entered our country illegally. Too many politicians seem to believe in telling the big lie; tell it often enough and it will become the truth.

We have a trust deficit because politicians have become so arrogant in their distain to the average person. Perhaps they believe that because they are re-elected so many times, despite their policy failures, the average person really must be stupid. What other explanation can there be for their hold on office? But the average person is beginning to awaken; it has happened before in our nation, when the lies, corruption and cronyism became so blatant that the people literally did “throw the bums out.”  Are we approaching that time? When our politicians and their families make millions working with a foreign power determined to replace us, when our leaders institute economic policies which destroy the opportunity for a better life, we need to see a day of reckoning.

The attached article provides examples of how government speak is wearing thin as reality hits more citizens. It is time for the “protected” class to feel some of the pain their inflict on the “unprotected” citizens. The actions of busing a few thousand illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities is having an effect (although I would prefer, they be bussed to certain parts of Delaware and around the neighborhoods of those pols who distain border walls). Americans are losing confidence in the ruling class; all they want is to be told the truth and to have accountability. If that is too difficult for today’s political leadership, then they deserve to reap what they sow.

https://nypost.com/2022/07/28/team-biden-denies-were-in-a-recession-americans-dont-trust-government/

“Ladies and Gentlemen (whoops, cannot use those terms any longer), excuse me. Attention all passengers. As you can see for our scheduled flight this morning, we are providing you with the choice of two airplanes. The plane on the left is being piloted by Captain Richards. He was trained to fly by the U.S. Air Force and was a pilot for twenty years before joining us. He is however, as you can see, quite White and is an example of White privilege. The second plane is piloted by Captain Andrews who has a few years of flying and was hired to help us fulfill our goal of greater diversity. In addition to being a minority, he is also gay. We ask you to pick the plane of your choice for this flight. Thank you.”

In the U.K., the goal is to have forty percent of air force pilots be women by 2030. That means that the entry for white males has been stopped. The officer in charge of recruitment, a woman, has resigned over the new directive as she was under the impression that her job was to find the best pilots, regardless of sex, race, etc. How amusing.

Does those two scenarios sound crazy? One is factual (the second) the other is, well, you will not necessarily get the “best” pilot, but you will not know it. Do you believe that certain professions, such as doctors, attorneys, airline mechanics and yes, pilots should be filled with the “best” possible individuals? In all likelihood, you do, especially when your life and safety depend on individuals such as these. The problem, however, is the definition of “best.”

For Southwest airlines, it seems that the “best” candidates cannot be judged by traditional methods, but rather by some more rather “progressive” standards. But I am sure you do not mind as the most important thought in your mind when you fly, is, “I certainly hope the pilot was hired on good, sound, Woke principles.”  Oh, and if the flight attendant is not providing the service you expected, at least they were deemed sufficient based on the new, improved standards.

Let us hope that the formula, diversity+equity=lower standards does not apply the next time your fly.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/woke-airline-policies-threaten-safety-workers-say_4652851.html

This is a re-read for me and although it was published in 2010, during the tenure of China’s previous leader, it is a book that is more important than ever. Why? Because Xi Jinping has successfully set himself up, for the first time since the death of Mao, as the equal in thought and leadership to Mao.

As with all leaders of China who serve two five-year terms, the second term, unlike a re-elected President in the United States, is not seen as a lame duck, but is entering a time of greater power. The ability during the first five-year term to place hand chosen personnel in key positions of authority (and limited power) is a tactic harkening back to the earlies days of Communism, and is in fact, practiced in business, the academic world, etc. But unlike the other disciplines, in China key policies can be implemented due to the centralized power in the hands of a leader like Xi Jinping. And, by aligning himself with the image of Mao, after purging numerous centers of power (the leadership of Shanghai, numerous military officers, and financial leaders,), he has consolidated his power and authority at a key time.

There is no doubt that China has become a major regional power (militarily and economically) and a major economic power on a worldwide basis. And, as with other powers, there is a time of ascent which provides that power with a unique ability to re-write its place in the world. China has a world view that is based on its long history, it views of its inherent cultural superiority and its desire to right old wrongs from the days of the colonial empires. To fulfill its destiny, other nations in the Pacific area will need to acknowledge China’s superiority and brought to heed one way of the other.

What is plainly pointed out in this excellent book, is that the driving force behind the rise of China is the Communist Party. The centralized control of the party allows it to direct resources and unity of command to sectors which further advantage the main goals of the Party. At the same time, as with all other totalitarian (and Communist China is a totalitarian regime) examples, there is tremendous competition for primacy in the various sectors. This struggle which leads to strong leaders also means that periodic purges must be held when the local factions become too strong or corrupt. These purges allow the Party to show that it is looking out for the average man and allows wrongs to be put upon not the Party, but errant bureaucrats.

One key feature of the Party is that it is above the government, above industry, above the masses. From this height, the Party extends its reach into every key industry, becoming in fact, owners of the industries. When we see security concerns about telecommunications deal with a major Chinese supplier or wonder if the chips which are produced in China and are in our most advanced fighters will function at capacity, it is because the companies themselves are owned and are extensions of the Chinese Communist Party. The control of “key” industries means that all top management serves at the whim of the Party and thus all good things flow from the Party. The Party is willing to allow much of the consumer segment of the economy function in an open manner (unlike the old Soviet system), but the “key” industries are tightly controlled and direct by the Party.

I would recommend this slim book to anyone who is interested in beginning to understand how a modern totalitarian system can operate. The Party has been able to walk the fine line of providing an increasingly better standard of living for hundreds of millions while maintaining its primary place in society. The question remains however, if as with all totalitarian systems, if they can control their natural inclination to find both internal and external enemies on which to focus to divert popular discontent. The purge of “corrupt” officials is one example of how the Party can focus and direct attention. But the attempt by Xi Jinping to equate himself with Mao points to a much more dangerous and challenging future course.

One of the most hotly contested rules of the Covid lockdown was the various mask mandates. Wearing a mask was a mark of subservience to the unscientific political whims of elected officials who suddenly seemed to believe that they had secret knowledge of Covid. The rules and exemptions were often silly and illogical, such as being allowed to not wear a mask when dining out, but if you went to the washroom, you needed to wear the mask while in transit. Or, if on an airplane, keep the mask on during flight service but you could quickly slip it down while taking a sip of your beverage. Somehow Covid would be too slow to attack you or slip past your uncovered mouth during those couple of seconds. It always struck me as odd that healthcare workers often had to wear hazmat suits while treating patients, but we could all help stop Covid by wearing a cheap piece of cloth for days on end.

Finally, we are seeing some studies which show that wearing masks may be a wonderful way to be virtue signaling, but aside from puffing up one’s ego, it does little if anything to successfully fight off Covid.

Re-reading Barbara Tuchman’s The March of Folly from Troy to Vietnam (originally published in 1984) and reviewing the foolish foreign policy decisions around the world since then, seems to give proof to the statement by John Adams that government, “is little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.”  Policy makers seem to delight in flying in the face of common sense, logic, and facts in pursuit of their policies. A wiser man than most, Jordan Peterson once said that when he makes a major decision, he does not look at the best possible outcome, but the downside cost if he is wrong. Too bad that statement is not hammered onto the desktop of every government policy wonk as a warning against their hopes and dreams.

In her book, Tuchman studies the times, forces and choices made by the Greeks who were given a horse, the Renaissance Popes, the British lost of the colonies and American leaders regarding our experience in Viet Nam. Of course, trying to separate fact from fable in the story of Troy is the most difficult, in part because the very ideas that a hollow wooden horse filled with one’s enemies willingly being brought into the city of Troy defies logic. Yet Tuchman does an excellent job of examining the tales from several sides and trying to understand how the leaders of Troy ignored legends, omens, and warnings. The result is well known and should serve as a warning against acting on the basis on ego and hubris.

As much of the world is finding out, “green” energy is expensive. Electricity rates in Germany are 3-4 times higher than in the U.S., in California they are 2-3 times higher than in the rest of the U.S., the list goes on and on. Added to this is the fact that it is unreliable and even if all noble targets were reached, the world would still get 75% of it’s energy from fossil fuels.

But the numbers are even worse than we think, for the rates do not include the subsidies which we all pay for delivery for unreliable service. In 2017, the Department of Energy found that subsidies to the “green” sector were running ten times higher than to fossil fuels. This does not include the problem yet unsolved, of disposal of wind turbine blades (mostly buried in some remote location), recycling of solar panels and batteries which have outlived their efficiency, etc.

The promise of efficient, clean, and dependable “green” energy is a myth. The cost of “green” energy has not gone down, the cost of electric autos continues to climb, and we face the fact that lower- and middle-income families are subsidizing electric cars for the wealthier; this is a transfer of wealth from the poorest to the richest. Robin Hood in reverse.

The article below has the nerve to include all the costs involved in going “green.”  The energy czar still flies on his private jet, not one auto in the President’s garage has gone electric but you are paying more for the privilege of going to work, buying food, and simply trying to make a better life. How long will this be allowed to go on?

In his excellent novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, the author, Amor Towles writes about early Soviet equalitarianism. The main character (the Gentleman) having placed his luncheon meal of a fennel and orange salad, followed by osso buco, ordered a bottle of San Lorenzo Barolo, 1912. The waiter asked if it was a red wine and the Gentleman, a bit taken aback for he was in a fine hotel restaurant, confirmed it with good grace.

Before the wine arrived, the Gentleman had an opportunity to speak to the manager who explained that the waiter was brought on as an employee “because he knew someone.”  Then the manager asked his guest to follow him to the wine cellar, which was one of the best in Moscow with over ten thousand cases of wine. To the dismay of the Gentleman, he found the labels had been soaked off every bottle, so there were only white wines and red wines. The explanation was that under the new Soviet system, it was unfair for one wine to cost more than another, hence the stripping of the labels. Now, all wines were equal.

I mention this tale as it leads quite well into the column by Heather Mac Donald on the great levelling in our medical schools. Under the cover of battling racism and providing equity, many schools are dropping grades based on levels of knowledge and replacing them with the simple pass/fail system. This is because the universities are demanding medical students be actively involved in the battle against racism based on the goal of wanting to, “prioritize an integrate the voices and ideas of people and communities experiencing great injustice and historically excluded, exploited and deprived of needed resources such as people of color, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ, and those in rural and urban communities.”  These concepts are pushed so hard, that the medical students do not have sufficient time to study medicine. Hence, the dumbing down of a profession. Are Maoist self-critical confessions next?

There use to be a good argument for getting a younger doctor as they could be more open to new medicines, procedures, and technology. Those days may be behind us. More and more it appears that diversity+equity=lowering standards.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/woke-medical-organizations-are-hazardous-to-your-health-equity-scientific-progress-social-justice-medical-organizations-11659707075?page=1

In his novel, 1984, George Orwell was writing not a piece of fiction, but a representation of what he had seen and experienced while he was involved in the Spanish Civil War. Throughout his book are various phrases which are part of a new language created by the totalitarian leaders of the society. Just as we have experienced a national candidate who could label millions of her fellow citizens “deplorables” and note that they are burdened by a myriad of sins (all described as “phobias”), we now have politicians who tell us that spending billions of dollars will incur no cost and that we are in transistion without ever saying what we are in transistion too. It is that type of thinking which makes Orwell’s novel so timeless as we move forward “progressively”, sure in our rightheous and purity.

The actual definition of Crimestop is “the faculty of stopping short, as thought by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of misunderstanding the simplest arguments…and of being bored and repelled by any train of though which is capable of leading in a heretical direction. Crimestop, in short, means protective stupidity.”

Crimestop provides a wonderfully safe blanket of neutralized thought. It allows one to cancel out all those pesky doubts and questions when supported policies and programs fail time after time, or when the actual cost of an idea becomes reality. How comforting is Crimestop! Only the young and immature need pictures of puppies and plush toys, the skilled believer has Crimestop.

One of the drawbacks of the old affirmative action programs was the realization that any individual of a minority who completed a university degree program or was hired for a position would always be viewed as less than qualified; in effect, there was a fear that those individuals only attained that degree or position because they were the beneficiary of affirmative action. It did not matter if they received top grades, they were the beneficiary of “that’ program. It did not matter if they were a good lawyer or doctor, they only got their position because of “that” program. I personally know of individuals who had to face that type of behind the back comments and it took years of solid, proven achievements before those comments finally died. Affirmative action was a program that created a mindset of suspicion; if your new doctor is a minority, are they competent or did they just get by thanks to affirmative action?

Once again, we find official programs being enforced that will again cause each of us to worry about the competency of our doctors, dentists, etc. In the article linked below, there is a war on excellence based on the religion of “wokeness.”  The Association of American Medical Colleges, representing over 170 US and Canadian medical schools has developed and implemented new requirements based on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Following up on his excellent book, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, the author tells the story of the small, outgunned and out fought U.S. Asiatic Fleet and its near suicidal battles during the early days of the Second World War. The Houston, a proud cruiser which was favored by F.D.R., went into battle handicapped by a lack of air cover, poor co-ordination by its British and Dutch allies and a freak bomb hit which eliminated its main firepower by 33%.

In a series of running battles, the Houston was sunk but the ordeal for the crew (only about three hundred out of 1300 survived the sea battle) was just beginning as they became prisoners of the victorious Japanese. Unchecked by Geneva Convention and used to physical punishment by their superiors, the Japanese and then Korean guards were vicious in their treatment of the survivors. Gradually the survivors were shipped to various parts of the conquered territory by the Japanese; the mines of Japan, the jungles of Indochina and worse of all, for construction along the proposed railroad through Burma. The movie, Bridge over the River Kwai paints an idealized, sanitized vision of the reality the men faced. The concept of building a railroad across hundreds of thick jungles where every rail, every tie, every bit of food had to be manhandled while the Allied prisoners were physically abused by the guards. It is estimated that over 100,000 locals who were forced to work on the construction project died from diseases, snakes, beatings, etc. The Americans which suffering terrible losses took basic precautions to fight back against the diseases; each man dipped his cup in boiling water to sterilize it and if a single fly landed on their meager rations, they threw the precious food away and went hungry rather than chance catching one of the diseases.

The book is well written and pays tribute to men who were presumed lost while their valiant stand and fight was lost in the size and scope of the war in the Pacific.  By keeping their discipline and working together, they survived, and this book pays their brave but forgotten fight an honor that they never really received.