It was not that many years ago that our friends on the left were outraged and certain that the Russians had interfered in our national election, enough so that Donald Trump became President over the more highly qualified Hillary Clinton. Although they could not provide any proof, other than a “Russian” dossier bought and paid for by Hillary Clinton, they (along with Hillary) disputed his Presidency, claiming (again without any proof), that Donald Trump was in the pocket of Putin. Their moral outrage lasted the full four years of a stormy Presidency and nothing he could do regarding Russia could convince the moral arbitrators of the left that he was not guilty. Not when he hit the Russians with sanctions, not when he began to arm the Ukrainians, not when he gave the go ahead for U.S. troops to track down and kill Russian troops in Syria, etc.

The article linked below shows how the Russians at the direction of Putin have been funneling funds and other support to the advocates of the “green” agenda. Putin fully understands that getting the U.S. and other Western nations to move toward inefficient “green” energy and away from efficient fossil fuels will slow the growth of the West and allow Russia with its oil reserves to profit and provide the funds for his strategic vision. While the West is banning plastic straws, Putin works to gain control over much of the energy needs of Europe.

Is a call for election integrity really a disguise for voter suppression? Are American minorities less competent than six hundred million citizens of India who voted after showing government issued identifications? When South Carolina introduced the secret ballot, in 1950, the percentage of people who voted fell by twelve percent; was the secret ballot really voter suppression or did it simply stop voter fraud by eliminating voters getting paid for voting a certain way under the eyes of election judges.

We seem to have in the United States two streams of thought regarding voting; on one hand are those who believe that voting should be made as easy as possible while neglecting the possibility of fraud. On the other side is a party who wants to impose what they see as safeguards to eliminate voter fraud. Is there a middle way?

The article linked below examines some of these questions and puts our voting system in perspective to the Europeans, Mexico, and Canada. Are their cries of voter suppression in the dozens of nations which require voter id? If six hundred million citizens of India can vote and hear the results in a timely manner, what exactly is our problem? As usual, John Lott Jr., has authored an article that may make you a bit more skeptical when politicians make their usual defenses for their solutions.

The “Great Game” of the 19^th century is starting anew only instead of Britain and Tsarist Russia being the main players, we now see on one side Communist China and Putin’s Russia and on the other side, the United States and hopefully, most of the European states. I say hopefully because while the recent about turn by Germany regarding its military and Britain’s fledging steps towards fracking are encouraging, one must wonder if the Western European states will stay the course. And, what of the United States? The navel gazing centering on “white privilege” and the drive to the “green” agenda no matter the costs are hardly the policies on which survival against relentless and ruthless foes are successful.

The excellent article linked below lays out in realistic and stark terms fundamental issues and questions which we need to face if we hope to survive. It is said that liberty is always only one generation away from extinction and we may have already begun a journey down a dark path to that extinction. Let us hope that Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine will awaken in each of us, the realization that the world is a dangerous place and if we wish to continue our liberties and freedoms, we need to focus firstly on policies which strengthen our defenses.

https://quillette.com/2022/03/09/the-new-great-game/

The Soviet Union was well known for its efforts at disinformation and getting covertly involved in other nations political activities and elections. A prime example was during the Viet Nam war, when monies were funneled to various anti-war groups which helped to created pressure on the politicians to withdraw from that war. After the fall of the Soviet Union, most countries seemed to have let their guard down but, Russia kept up its efforts in that area.

Evidence is now coming out that Russia has been passing money to various environmental groups to support the groups efforts to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. Is Russia taking such action because its leaders believe in the “green” agenda? Hardly. Putin and his minions realize that the “green” agenda puts additional financial burdens on Western societies which in turn, slows their growth. Russia also realizes that movement away from efficient fossil fuel leads to a weaking of the national infrastructures due to the simple events such as a lack of wind or a cloudy day.

The article linked below is an excellent place to begin to realize that the old Soviet saying of “useful idiot” is still alive and well today. There remain those who have blinders on in their quest for what can be a positive goal, but hopefully they will begin to ask why some of the worse actors in the world also support their efforts.

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/596304-investigate-russias-covert-funding-of-us-anti-fossil-fuel-groups

Given the war in the Ukraine, I thought this might be a good time to repost this review which I originally posted in December 2019. Although as written it could be a history, it was written before so many events and was ignored by so many “leaders” in the West who were more concerned about their ideology or keeping their power. Why face reality when those who yell the loudest and demand the most of you are among the villians in this book. I guess that is the story of mankind; take the easy way and let someone else clean up the mess.

Mao Tse-tung once said that “political power comes from the barrel of a gun”, but Vladimir Putin could just as easily say that “political power comes from the end of a pipeline”.  This excellent book analyses how Putin uses his countries gas companies for both tactical and strategic means to his end; to regain the power, and perhaps the territory which was lost by the collapse of the Soviet Union.  How can he do this?  By providing the European nations the energy they need at a below market price and by letting them know that he holds the comfort and economies of many nations within the EU in the palm of his hand.

Of course, he could not pursue this course if it were not for the lack of political will on the part of numerous European leaders and their own ideology regarding energy in the 21^st century.  By pursuing “green energy”, being intimidated by the “green” movement (which is often subsidized by Russia to serve its own ends) and by insuring that the social safety net is kept in place. European leaders have mortgaged their energy futures to a nation which uses its energy reserves almost regardless of short term financial considerations all in the pursuit of increased European dependence on Russian energy.

Consider that the EU has reserves of shale oil and natural gas, but refuses to spend the monies to exploit them.  They would rather purchase the oil and natural gas from the Russians and the U.S. They don’t want to spend their money on their defenses and are more concerned with maintaining their social programs; in short, they are living at the sufferance of other powers.

For nearly twenty year, Kim Philby was the premier Soviet spy, rising through the ranks of the British Secret Service, acting as the head of Soviet counterintelligence for the British (he was charged to chase himself), and worked closely with both the CIA and the FBI (under Hoover).  This book starts out with an excellent introduction by Phillip Knightley who studied Philby for thirty years, and an exciting foreword by Graham Greene who not only knew Philby, but even visited him in Moscow after Philby fled the U.K.  From there however, the book fails to meet the promise.

Philby, in his position, was able to pass literally mountains of secrets to the Soviets and was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of anti-Soviet agents across Europe.  He was a true believer; he did not betray his country for money, but he did believe in the goal of Communism.  Even though he knew the true scope of Stalin’s crimes against his own people, he kept the faith based on a belief (as modern-day apologists proclaim) that it was not the “system”, but it was rather the wrong person at the top.  Yet he like today’s apologists never face the question of what kind of system is it that allows a murderer like Stalin to take control and exist for so long.

Needless to say, we are living in a dangerous world.  For a long time, many of our “allies” who have lived under our protection have felt free to go their own way, often mocking the U.S. and ignoring their treaty obligations.  Suddenly, though, reality has hit many of our “allies” and we are seeing them begin to once again arm against the slings and arrows of an outrageous world.  The nations who mocked our former Presidents’ demands that they live up to their treaty commitments are increasing their military budgets (for weapons and not, as previously, higher retirement pay) and joint consultations.  

Before we take a look at this further thought, I must say that in my humble opinion, this crisis with Putin and Russia will not go away soon.  There is no easy way out for Putin; if he crushes the Ukraine, there will be a difficult and bloody occupation which will impact the world economy for the foreseeable future.  If he is overthrown, which is a possibility, there will be a period of instability in Russia and the cost of rebuilding will be huge. This means that for the foreseeable future, the markets will be in turmoil. Depending on your risk tolerance, time frame, financial stability, etc., you should decide and watch your course of action.  

Some will flee the market and put their money in cash (and lose out due to inflation) or bonds (which will provide some protection).  Some will buy into the market in the belief that in the end, as in the past, the market will recover and move forward.  Some will put monies into annuities which, while illiquid, can provide downside protection.  Some will depend upon diversification, which is a combination of all the above.  In short, there is no one easy answer; as always, saving and investing depends upon your own personal paranoia.

WHAT WILL OTHER COUNTRIES DO?  Let us look at some of the players and see what their actions might be:

The concept of “broken windows” policing should apply on a national level; when we see politicians or bureaucrats ignoring the laws and traditions that have been the basis of our nation, we need to take corrective action. When our basic rights are abused, we need to act. When the very value of our citizenship is discounted, we need to respond. These are the premises and foundation of Victor Davis Hansons’ excellent new book, The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America.

I purchased the book because I have been increasingly concerned about the decreasing value of my personal citizenship. How is it that citizens can be mandated to limit travel, wear masks, show proof of vaccination while during the last year, two million individuals from over 150 countries have entered our nation illegally and be allowed to disappear into the vastness of our nation by the government officials who have sworn to uphold our laws? How is it that those who enter our nation illegally are not 100% assessed for Covid, quarantined, etc.? In a naked power grab, politicians in various cities decree non-citizens can vote in local elections thus decreasing the power of our citizenship. The supremacy of national laws? Worthless as hundreds of cities openly ignore Federal law, making tax paying citizens pay for the education, health care, etc., of those who decided that they and not we the citizens should decide our rules for living in our nation.

Given the situation in the Ukraine, I thought a brief reminder of the system that shaped Putin might be timely. Putin wishes to reconstitute the Soviet Union and those who would appease him and not treat him like the outlaw he is, need to be reminded of his system and those he admires.

I have no doubt that the title for the most biographies written about any politician would belong to Winston Churchill, but his life compared to Stalin’s was an open book.  For Stalin, the ideal time to write a biography with new information is past as his contemporizes die off and the archives are once again closed.  Montefiore was the right biographer at the right time at the right place.  He has written a biography that is well paced, filled with colorful antidotes and supported by excellent research. Considering his topic, the greatest mass murderer until Mao, this book brings home the ruthlessness of Stalin without exhausting the reader by an impression of overwhelming despair.

It seems that every cause de jour creates a life of its own.  It goes on forever, constantly demanding more action and attention, constantly finding new ways to justify its very existence.  Can anyone image any “cause” throwing up its collective hands and declaring that the cause they fought for has been conquered?  “Victory!  We can all go home; we have achieved our purpose!”

Of course not! Why? Too many people depend on the “cause” for their income, their lifestyle, their very purpose.  Where would they be without their “cause”?  They might have to go out and find a position where they might have actual accountability or proof of productivity. Or they could just go join another “cause” but who would want them as the recruit came from a cause that was settled and disappeared.  No, that employee might be a threat to the new groups job security.

The article with the link exposes some of the ways that the Woke movement is diligently working to ensure their own job security. It really is a brilliant concept; create a “cause” that can sit in judgment on the history, actions and thoughts of billions of people including into the future.  At the same time, instill in others a sense of being helpless before a great conspiracy that impacts every aspect of their lives!  A dream scenario for an enlightened elite who have found the Absolute Truth! 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-the-woke-indoctrination-machine-diversity-equity-inclusion-bipoc-schools-conference-11644613908?page=1