What do you call a country where 70% of prison inmates are from one group, where there are two hundred rapes a day mostly committed by that same group, where 25% of the population one group rejects the national name, and where there are over seven hundred “no-go zones”? You call it France.

France is disappearing; a nation which has given the world so much beauty in literature, music, architecture, food, and more is slipping away. France is not alone in the challenge it faces as the same problems faced by Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and others. Yet somehow it is sadder because of the hundreds of years France stood for all that was good about European culture.

The greater question is why is it being allowed to happen? Where is the political leadership that can stop the deadly challenge of France? Are we to believe that French politicians for example, wish to see all that is good in France to disappear? Are French political leaders afraid of a minority which often seems to wish to march bravely back into the seventh century and who insist on the fruits of those they despise but reject the cost? Where is the modern day De Gaulle, Clemenceau, or Richelieu?

And what about the average French citizen? Are they so cowed, so weak, so blind that they do not see and do not care about the threat to their way of life? How can they continue to elect politicians who seem to care more about maintaining their lavish perks of power rather than face the very existential threat that grows stronger with every day? Where is the pride of the average citizen?

There are options and solutions to answer the threat but where is the will? Can France and Europe be saved? Or is it too late?

France’s Skyrocketing Threat :: Gatestone Institute

I have always been conflicted about intellectuals. On the one hand, it must be a wonderful thing to be recognized as an expert in one’s particular field of intellectual excellence. On the other hand, I recognized that many intellectuals have an overwhelming sense of superiority not only about their field, but a strange sense of self-righteousness about areas far removed from their particular discipline. Many have a belief that they understand so much more than the average person and that the world would be so much better if only they were allowed to direct the fortunes of humanity. All too often, when they have exercised power or influence outside of their specific field, the results have been disastrous. Seldom have they ever admitted their failures (the one exception I can think of is Robert McNamara’s written regrets of his decisions in the Viet Nam war) and in fact, their opinions are still sought and carry weight.

The attached link is an interview with Thomas Sowell, himself an intellectual, as he discusses the rise of intellectuals and their influence in our Republic. They can shape public opinion and policy but as he says, they never have to pay a price for their actions. Mr. Sowell is the type of intellectual who exemplifies what is the best of that title. I hope you enjoy the interview.

You may have to copy the link and put it in your search bar.

Thomas Sowell on the second edition of Intellectuals and Society (youtube.com)

Niall Ferguson is a noted historian and social commentator. In this interview, he discusses and compares the modern-day university with the German universities of the late Weimar Republic and how German universities acted as a recruiting ground for Hitler and the Nazis. He points out that just as the German universities of that time stifled free speech and drove out those who dared to question the direction of the universities, so too today many universities have become merely reflecting pools for those who espouse antisemitism and strict adherence to DEI which is the exact opposite of individual freedom and opportunity.

In the university world today, Jews who were once at the top of the academic food-chain in Germany are now, along with whites and Asians, at the bottom and viewed as the oppressors in much of the West. Antisemitism has a long history of being used by the Left such as when the Soviet Union used it to win over various Arab states.

In the end, unlike many talking heads, Ferguson offers solutions to undo the damage done by the Left at universities; these include but are not limited to excluding government participation in the administration, funding, rules for scholarship and the mountain of reports demanded by the government in return for funding. Money always comes with strings and there is no indication that those strings have done anything except hinder independent thought at the university level.

It is a pleasure to hear such clarity of thought on the subject and a welcome change from the bloviating that we hear every day on the various “news” outlets.

“The Treason of the Intellectuals,” with Niall Ferguson | Uncommon Knowledge (youtube.com)

I post this as I have seen very little coverage on this story, and it could be political dynamite. 

Although “Public” is a pay to read site, it is worth it to check on it’s home page from time to time as a check on other sources. And no, I do not receive any renumeration from “Public.” 

U.S. Government Is Hiding Documents That Incriminate Intelligence Community For Illegal Spying And Election Interference, Say Sources (substack.com)

It is reported that Mae West once said, “the difference between free love and paid sex is that free love is more expensive.”  A wise woman.

In the attached video, Jordan Peterson speaks extemporaneously about what he calls, “the unbelievable technological triumph of birth control.”  We are still trying to make some sense of fallout of that triumph with some of the most conservative options being offered by the radical left.

As he speaks, you realize that the adage, “what is the next question” is again proven to be of value, but he follows his thoughts to their logical ends.

I hope you enjoy this timely and timeless video.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire was referred to as the “Sick Man of Europe.”  Bankrupt, corrupt, it had lost several wars and pieces of its empire were being lost to former conquered people, rebels, and foreign powers. Czarist Russia believed that it is long goal of control of Istanbul and the thereby a free access to the Mediterranean was finally within it is grasp. Although the future looked dim, a brief flame of renewal was offered by the Young Turk movement which sought to change the course of the empire before it was too late. Although the Young Turks were successful in some respects, their brutality in Armenia and the decision to join Germany in the First World War sealed the fate of the Ottoman Empire.

Is there today another “Sick Man of Europe”? A nation which is plagued by an invasion of immigrants who do not share the same values as their guest country and who are creating a crime wave not experienced since the 1920’s? A nation with the highest energy costs in Europe and whose industries seem to be in decline. A nation which was once seen as the banker of Europe but now suffers from inflation and decreasing productivity? A nation whose military is underfunded and incapable of defending itself.

Is that nation Germany?

In the article by Christopher Caldwell, he reviews how the war in Ukraine, terrorism,  immigration and an out of touch “green policy” has put strains on Germany which were unimaged just a few short years ago. The open-door immigration policy of Angela Merkel has distorted the German state so that nearly 30% (24 million) of those who live in Germany are of “migrant background”. This has slowed the coming together of the Western and the Eastern Germans as the crime and welfare in the West makes for an excellent recruiting ground in Eastern German for a strong right of center political party.

Adding to the nation’s woes is a “green policy” which has increased the cost of energy and the literal waste of billions of Euros on solar energy in a nation where the average number of sunny days is only one hundred, forty-six days a year. With the cost of energy so high, German manufacturing is at a cost disadvantage with no relief in sight.

Will there be a German version of the “Young Turks” and if so, what exact form would such a movement take? Would the millions of migrants be a target of such a movement? Would such a movement occur only in Germany, or could it spread across Europe? As with so many European problems, the United States is often seen as having a significant role to play in Europe, but that faith in the United States is under sever strain as the Europeans see the “civilizational benefits” of the United States becoming less and less attractive.

Although not offering a solution, the article will help you understand some of the strains which test both Germany and all, especially, Western Europe.

https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/germany-growing-desperate/

The immigration bill is dead. Whose fault is that? We are told even by the conservative editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal that it was a good bill, worthy of support. If the bill was so good, surely it should have found widespread support, yet even the President did not use a full court press to force passage. How strange.

Yet, the real question should be, why the sudden urge to create and pass such a bill? For three years we have been told that the border was closed and that we had operational control of the border. Why the sudden need for a bill that did not address any of the major concerns regarding illegal immigration? Did the bill limit the number of immigrants? No. Did it give more power to the immigration service to battle the cartels who are making more money from transporting the illegals than they do from drugs? No. Does it disincentivize the illegals from crashing our borders by not allowing them to work? No, in fact it provides work permits to any illegal who makes it across the border.

Could it be that the bill was a bit of political theater given that this is an election year? Heaven forbids, how could anyone be so suspicious! But, since those Republicans decided to oppose the bill, the President does have a new set of talking points with which to throw at the Republicans.

The link below will take you to an article that provides, in one location, the numbers behind the true disaster which the past three years of open borders have inflicted on our nation. But the pain is just beginning for no one speaks of the 100,000 unaccompanied children that have crossed who have disappeared. How many of them will be victims of sex trafficking? What will be the cost to U.S. citizens in the decades to come as they see their tax dollars diverted from social services, schools, police protection, etc. and use to house, feed, education and provide free medical care to millions of illegals?

The wounds caused by the open border policies of this administration will fester for decades , but have no doubt, there will be political forces which will profit from the open border policy; they will profit, and the average U.S. citizen will pay on ongoing price.

The linked article is sobering.

An Immigration Crisis Beyond Imagining – Imprimis (hillsdale.edu)

Despite the best efforts of the far Left (and their allies, the regular Democratic party,) I still believe that I won the lottery in life when I was born in the United States. I went back to “the old country” and after that visit, I was even more thankful for the bravery and sacrifices of my grandparents for immigrating to the United States. Without their bravery, I could picture myself growing up in a Communist nation with little freedom and little opportunity.

Their migration to the U.S. was not easy and like most immigrants, they decided to live in an ethnic neighborhood (south side of Chicago), near steady work (steel mills). I remember one of my grandmothers talking about how she thought Chicago was so backward; the sidewalks were wood (unlike Warsaw which used concrete) and the bathroom was in the back yard (unlike Warsaw which had indoor plumbing). They worked hard, saved, invested their money and their children spoke perfect English and could and did go to college. The great American dream fulfilled.

A friend of mine came over to the U.S. much later and he still talks about how the immigration process was so strict. You could only come over if you had the promise (in writing) of a job and a sponsor. You had to register where you lived, and he had an immigration officer visit him to make sure he was working and at that address! He received no welfare of any type because if he did, back he would go to “the old country.”  He married, opened a business and his four children are all strong Americans.

How times have changed! You can easily read of cities and states where non-citizens, including illegal and legal immigrants, foreign students and diplomats can vote in local elections, get driver’s licenses, etc. (Washington D.C., Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont, etc.)  The state of California just announced that despite its deficit of nearly seventy-billion dollars ($70,000,000,000), it will provide free health care to all illegals in the state. Where will the state find the money? Take a guess; the citizen who pays the legal taxes due. Of course, illegals already receive a free education and yes, many receive welfare.

At the same time, citizens need to pay for their health care, pay their state and Federal taxes, are required to show identification when boarding an airplane (unlike illegals), can lose their car if they are guilty of drunk driving (unlike illegals in California), etc. Something is very wrong with this picture! The backbone of any successful society in the West is a strong middle-class and yet it seems our governments at various levels are doing all they can to denigrate and destroy that group.

It may be a good time to ask, why is American citizenship being so degraded by many of our political leaders? What exactly is the upside for our nation of allowing five, or eight or ten million illegals into our nation? Most do not speak English, most have no real job skills; yet we give them free food, shelter, clothing, work permits, cell phones, etc. Millions of people around the world would love to become U.S. citizens, so it is not out of fear that no one would show up if we enforced our own laws. What is the purpose of ignoring all the laws, rules and guidelines that are there for our nation’s benefit? Immigration is designed to benefit the receiving nation; that is the first priority. We can have the pick of the best and brightest, the ones who would be thrilled to be U.S. citizens, but instead we let in millions of unknowns and who picks up the bill? Have you watched the news in the last three years? Those who pick up the bill see their neighborhoods overrun, their children’s schools being turned into migrant camps and the crime rate spiraling out of control. Who pays? It is the millions of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who play by the rules, pay their taxes, and expect a minimum amount respect from our elected officials. Apparently, that is asking too much.

The recent court decision against former President Trump re: E. Jean Carroll points out some disturbing actions in terms of altering basic Constitutional protections, political manipulation of the justice system regarding elections and the politization of said system.

The attached article by Victor Davis Hanson should open the eyes of many readers. As you read it, you should picture yourself in former President Trumps position. It does not matter if you hate him or love him; would you want to be treated in such a manner?

Please copy the link below and post it on your header.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/83-million-just-beginning-donald-trump-soldier-on

There are those out there who bemoan the decreased readership of newspapers. They may wonder why, but one glaring reason is that if you have read one of the major metro newspapers, you have read them all about politics, international relations, Congress, or any other topic of national interest. Why? Because a dull gray cloak of uniformity has engulfed the traditional press as monolithic cadres of new “journalists” are spewed forth by monolithic university professors. It is no secret that well over 95% of university professors favor the party of the left and contribute to it in every election cycle. So too, the students they teach learn to either toe and accept the party line or they will face a very lonely future.

The results of that gray cloak of uniformity can be seen in the report from the Columbia School of Journalism’s scathing report on the actions of the New York Times reporting of the Russian collusion story. Sloppy reporting, lack of fact checking, partisan prejudices, favoritism, and the desire to snuggle up to politized governmental agencies led to inaccurate reporting and a national herd mentality of other major city journals.

The link below will provide you with a brief but biting overview of the failings of the New York Times. Despite the sloppy reporting, the paper was able to capture another Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the Russia election hoax. Having no shame, the Times has kept the prize but then what did one expect of the paper which accepted the Pulitzer as they helped to cover up the slaughter of six million Ukrainians thanks to their star reporter, Walter Duranty?

Newspapers should begin to do a bit of self-examination and realize that with all the competition in the real world, they need to offer a better-quality product rather than being a publishing mattress for the political forces they favor.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2023/02/06/columbia_journalism_review_russiagate_post-mortem_is_a_good_start_148821.html