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

A few months ago, the U.S. military had a recruiting campaign called “The Calling.”  At the time, there were numerous comparisons between that “woke” campaign and typical Russian recruiting commercials. One was an idealized cartoon full of politically correct images while the other was a dark, at times brutal look at what exists at the core of the military. There is no indication if “The Calling” was a successful campaign, but it was a taste of things to come.

Women’s place in the military has been and is a thorny issue. It is the case that there are many skills and responsibilities that woman can fulfill while in service, but the sharp end of the bayonet is one area that raises numerous questions and difficulties. Physically speaking, are women up to the most brutal aspects of military service? We see in the civilian area where biological males who fail in competition against other biological males set new records when they become transgenders and compete against the best of biological females. Is the same true in the military?

The linked article looks at a real-world example and should be a warning to those who create and direct policy for the military. We tend to think of the responsibility of the military in terms of force, but it also has a responsibility to act in a manner to minimize the danger, when possible, to its own members. Soldiers are expensive and any action which can put them at risk involves clear thinking. Simply put, does the ideal of wokeness strengthen the chances of survival for those directly involved, or is it another danger factor which must be realized and countered.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2022/02/14/airman-eliminated-after-third-womens-skeleton-heat-at-beijing-olympics/

Once known as the land of opportunity, the United States is facing challenges which are undermine the very ideals that made the U.S. the hope of the world. The concentration of wealth among the elite of the U.S., an elite unlike previous national elites is a danger to the ideal of America. That concentration is a danger because the new elite are not in the mold of Carnegie, Ford, Deere, Kaiser, etc., who were citizens of the nation more than anything else. Does anyone believe that men like Bezos, Zuckerberg, Gates, Ellison, etc. have the best interests of the U.S. as a key consideration of their ventures?

The link to the article below captures part of Victor Davis Hanson’s book, The Dying Citizen in that it points out the shrinking ability of the middle class to compete against the financial and technological power of the new elites. Gone are the days of the mid- to late twentieth century with its social mobility and the ability of the common man to have a real say in local and national politics. The technology oligarchs have managed to concentrate unchecked power in their hands as they routinely censor those who dare to question their holy grail. Unbelievable wealth, centralized control of technology, the financial strength of unions and fearful politicians make the average voter of less and less consequence.

https://www.firstthings.com/article/2022/01/our-neo-feudal-future

It may have seemed since 9/11 that the radical form of Islam was on a victorious march against all that the West has and does stand for in the world. Yet, as the linked article shows, in those countries where radical Islam has seized power, they have a wonderful record of failure. Blinded by ideology which has an answer for every problem and situation, they have managed time after time to fail.

This is a lengthy article, but if you make it to the end, you may just feel a bit more optimistic.  The only downside is that millions of citizens of the nations seized by radical Muslims must learn such a tough lesson the hard way. Too bad they cannot just read about the failures elsewhere and skip the experience

https://quillette.com/2022/01/21/in-the-muslim-world-islamism-is-going-out-of-vogue/

The link below will take you to an article that points out the pros and cons, the errors, and positives of both sides in the environmental question. Fanatics on either side only hurt their own cause and are a major source of confusion and misinformation which can lead to greater than necessary expenses and be counterproductive.

People are beginning to see and question the cost of ill-prepared actions in facing questions on the environment. Rational individuals realize that moving boldly into the fourteenth century by pushing wind power will never be able to replace petroleum in powering airplanes, ships, trucks, cars, etc. They are also able to see the failure of solar in northern climates and the huge cost of going against nature, as in Germany and other nations which are not blessed with enough clear and sunny days. At the same time, there are technologies, mostly in the infant stage which can help to ease the dependence on fossil fuels, but development will take years and a huge investment.

Recently, the boogieman of nuclear power has begun to be faced by a few countries who simply are more inclined to face reality in this area than others. For a balanced and informative discussion of options for the future in facing whatever climate change we face, click on the link below.

https://quillette.com/2022/01/27/why-environmentalists-pose-a-bigger-obstacle-to-effective-climate-policy-than-denialists/

Years ago, when learning how Hitler, Lenin, etc., seized power, it was easy to see the path and to identify the players who were so dangerous. In the excellent article by Larry Arnn, the President of Hillsdale College, we see another path taken by those who can destroy our liberties with (giving them the benefit of the doubt) the best of intentions. Do they fully realize the cost of their actions? Certainly, there seems to be no cost to them personally for the damage they cause, but then, it was all with the best of intentions.

After reading the article, you may believe it is the writing of a paranoia, yet it comes together oh so smoothly. A short cut here, a “necessary” action there and soon you have an entirely new set of rules by which your life is governed. If you disagree with the new rules, to whom do you turn? Who will hear your views? Your local representative? They are the ones who have helped to create the “solutions” by relying on the “experts,” so who are you to complain?

The greatest injustices in human history have been committed by those who act “with the best of intentions.”  Think back; has any dictator or tyrant ever announced his deadly policies in terms other than solving injustices?

There are solutions, but they require brave individuals who will stand for their traditional values and guidelines, as two examples are noted in the article. Those who have taken brave stands are not “experts,” but as Winston Churchill once said, they know that “what hurts is a safer guide (in their lives) than any vigorous direction of a specialized character.”

https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Imprimis_Nov_11-21_8pgWEB.pdf

Sometime in our history, Congress decided to hand the reins of power to the bureaucracy, also known as the administrative state. Now Congress did not take a cut in pay when they did this; no, they continue to make a nice salary, have excellent benefits and a great retirement program. By allowing the bureaucrats to develop an administrative state, they have managed to avoid most of the heavy work of the laws they do pass. It is relatively easy to pass a law, but the demanding work is creating the rules and regulations which enforce the laws, and the bureaucracy has been given what seems to be a free hand in creating rules that can go far beyond the intention and meaning of the laws.

The recent EPA mileage standards are a prime example of how bureaucrats can change society without ever having to face the public and how our representative’s pawn off details which could endanger their time in power if their names were on the regulations.

The link below will direct you to an article that shows exactly how unelected bureaucrats can dictate rules which impact the auto industry which is over 3% of our economy, the cost of energy, increase taxes and override the capitalist system transforming our nation into a society run by central planning. The serious facts and questions raised in the article are not answered by anyone at the EPA; there is no public debate, no discussion of scientific opinions, only the rule of government agencies. We are in danger of being ruled not by laws created by our elected representatives, but rather by ideologues and a faceless administrative state.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-epas-mileage-standards-are-a-stealth-electric-vehicle-mandate-auto-industry-cars-regulation-11640726730?page=1

Recently, the Vice President of the U.S. said that if the voting rights bill stalled in Congress does not pass, the U.S. will be “off the map as a role model” for elections; it is too bad she is so uneducated regarding who is setting the map for more secure and accurate elections. The bill as written, may very well be un-Constitutional as it seems to circumvent Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution. The idea that the U.S. is a role model for elections is open to debate however, as the link to the article by John R. Lott, Jr. points out.

Of forty-seven countries in Europe, forty-six of them require a government issued ID to vote. During the last major election in India, over six hundred million Indian citizens voted, each with a government issued ID, while Mexico has not only a government issued ID but also biometrics for elections (with the result that more people are voting due to greater confidence in election honesty). Yet somehow, one party in the U.S. opposes a government issued ID as it will place too much of a burden on some individuals; perhaps that party is correct, there is systemic racism in the U.S., but it is practiced by the party which claims to be in the forefront of stopping it.

The need for election reform goes beyond voter ID however, for the European models also have procedures designed to ensure the integrity of elections. The fact that most Federal and many state elections since 2000 have been challenged (mostly by the party which opposes voter ID), should indicate that reforms are needed, but reforms which are designed to provide greater confidence in the electoral process.

How is it that the nation which held the line and won the Cold War just thirty-two years ago, stands challenged by China, Russia, and Tehran? How did we go from being what some called, a hyper-power to a power that left Afghanistan in a humiliating manner? How is it that our allies have fallen from our side and have sold their collective security for a supply of heating fuel after realizing that the great Green Dream is nothing more than a mirage?

While we debate CRT and look the other way at broken educational and judicial systems in our largest cities, our foes surge ahead, planning new geographical conquests and our economic demise. Our political leaderships response to international threats are proposals for more domestic debt aimed not at our revitalization, but at previously unknown definitions of infrastructure.  At the same time, our military spending is increased at about twenty percent of actual inflation. Linked to a new definition of “its free,” we seem to have lost our ability to deal with the real world and act in an adult manner regarding our finances.

The linked article by noted British author and historian, Andrew Roberts ends by asking if we as a nation can regain our moral health, marital vigor and turn aside from the acceptance of eclipse. I fear that with our current national leadership, the answer is not what we would wish.

https://quillette.com/2021/12/04/the-decline-of-american-empire-a-kubler-ross-cycle-analysis/

It is no secret that good business practices are not exactly the strong point of government; what is a rounding error to the government, due to their handling trillions of dollars every year, is a staggering amount to the average person on the street.

A professor of criminal justice, Kim Rich, at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills was tasked with training faculty during the covid transition to online classes. According to Rich, many colleges use a software called Canvas to run their programs. The students sign in and need to perform certain tasks to received credit for the courses. So far, so good.

As she proceeded, Rich came to realize that one individual was doing the class work of four students. The real students simple sign up for the courses, get financial aid and then pay another individual, not necessarily a student, to complete the class assignments. In one course, eleven of her suspected students were all anthropology majors (that is called beating the odds).

The article linked below tell the whole story of widespread fraud in the student aid system. Fake students can apply for and received financial aid from numerous sources (Federal, State, private, etc.) and seem to operate with immunity. Meanwhile, legitimate students and their parents go into debt that they may never be able to repay.

Does anyone think that these felons will ever be brought to justice?