On April 3 of this year, I posted an article from the Claremont Review of Books regarding the political atmosphere in India.  This quarter, Claremont provides us with an excellent article which asks if France is governable.  Lead by President Emmanuel Macron, a man who admires General Charles de Gaulle and imagines that the “Jupiterian” powers within the French Constitution allows him to lead France in directions which are clearly not supported by the majority of Franch citizens.  Although he has won two national elections, both through run offs, his base popularity during the elections stayed at about twenty-five percent and his current popularity rating is at about the same level.

France and Macron face numerous challenges, the most recent and visible being the French retirement system.  Fourteen percent of the GDP of France is dedicated to the pension system and while the high national debt (112%) and high deficits (5%) are within the range of the United States, the French currency is the Euro and France is under pressure to live within the restrictions of the EU regarding debt.  This at a time when there are calls for higher military spending as the French have allowed their military to decline since the Cold War.  Additionally, the basis for the French economy is being tortured by the rise in the cost of living as “producers” exit the cities for less expensive housing in the surrounding areas, only to find that whatever savings may be found are whittled away the high fuel costs. Increasingly, those left in the cities are those unable to escape, such as the lower working class and those who live on the hand outs of the State.  The time of the “yellow jackets” may arise again as Macron has lost the support of the major unions and farmers. 

Unfortunately, the greatest danger to France is not covered in detail in the article; Muslim immigration, the strain they put on the welfare system and their inability to assimilate (we suggest going to the Gatestone Institute and checking their article entitled, “France: Submission to Islamist Quickly Gaining Ground”).  Approximately ten percent of the Franch population is Muslim with hundreds of thousands arriving both legally and illegally each year.  There are over 750 “no go zones” in France and major steps are taken in the public sector not to “upset” the Muslim minority (one example being that the Holocaust is not taught in French schools).  This is a long-term problem which has no easy answer, but the strain on the French economy, security and growth is huge.

As stable and beautiful a nation may appear, this article shows that it is impossible for any nation or set of politicians to sit back and wile away the hours.  Challenges only seem to multiply and more than ever there is a real need for real “leaders” to accept the challenges they face.  The challenge for the average person is trying to find those politicians who can tackle the problems not only of today, but of the future while refusing to buckle to the often-outlandish cries of those who fail to understand the realities of the world.  

Governments around the world have already spent more than two trillion ($2,000,000,000,000) on projects to go “green”.  Despite this vast sum, the percentage of energy produced which is “green” has not increased as a percentage of total energy used around the world.  Why is that?

One reason is that the people of developing countries, for some strange reason, want to live a better, easier, and longer life.  They want substantial housing, a better diet, warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.  As a result of these strange desires, they are using more energy and they want the energy to be efficient and cheap.  How selfish of them!  For some reason they are more concerned about improving their standard of living than worrying if the Earths temperature will go up one degree in fifty years. The fact is that the demand for energy is growing faster than the “green” movement can produce; the technology simply is too inefficient.

Another reason why “green” energy has not replaced fossil fuels is that “green” is neither inexpensive nor efficient.  Germany for example which has made a major commitment to going “green” has seem their carbon footprint increase due to the unreliability of “green” energy.  Who would have thought that solar panels do not work well in parts of a country where many of the days are overcast. Image that!

Despite the high cost and inefficiency of going “green”, there are those who still believe.  After all, they believe in science and if you disagree with them, you don’t believe in science. True or not, one thing the environmentalists do not understand or believe in is the basic rules of supply and demand.  They resist the fact that to go “green”, they will have to scar the Earth’s surface with thousands of mines to reach the minerals (also known as rocks) which are needed to build all the windmills and solar panels that are currently being resisted by communities around the world.

The video linked below explains the massive projects and huge amounts of money which need to be allocated to moving “green” energy forward.  At the current time, not one new mine is on the drawing boards in the United States (there was one in Minnesota but by Executive Order, President Biden shut it down).  Due to environmental regulations (which of course cannot be eased) and lawsuits, it takes ten years from the start to production of a mine.  As a result, the United States is putting its energy future in the capable and loving hands of Communist China (remember what happened to Germany when they did the same with Russia?).

This excellent short video should make you wonder who is running this “green” agenda and what do they have against progress.  Do we really need or want to march boldly backwards into the fourteenth century?

https://www.prageru.com/video/how-much-energy-will-the-world-need

What exactly is the purpose of a university?  Over a thousand years, it has changed in many ways.  At one time, universities were places where religious individuals were educated.  Over time, the curriculum expanded to bring in more secular topics. Each topic, however, was based on certain time-tested precepts and had a rigorous set of standards.  Knowledge of Latin and ancient Greek was often required as the writings of the ancients were thought to provide a basis for both morality and discipline of thought.

Fast forward to today, where the very concepts of merit, objectivity and discipline seem to have gone by the wayside.  Instead, we often find that greater “truths” are being offered based on a view of the world that provides no concrete base of values.  Moral relativism is being offered which if followed to its logical conclusion, creates a system which only provides a shelter for those who are not capable of living a disciplined, logic world.  That is because moral relativism always offers an excuse for one’s failures and shortcomings.  The individual is always a victim.  Ultimately there cannot be any good or bad, for everyone ultimately becomes a victim, of race, sex, economics, height, weight, intelligence, self-discipline, and so forth.  The list is endless.

The attached article about a modern-day university, sponsored by tax-payer dollars (so far taxpayers have not been labeled a victim group) should make us all try to image living in a world filled with endless victims and excuses.  That would be a very scary brave new world indeed.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/the-university-of-houstons-radical-dei-bureaucracy

It must be disheartening to realize that even one’s virtue signaling was a cruel joke.  Wearing a mask did not have a positive impact during the time of Covid, wearing a mask could actually be bad for your health.  Oh, the agony of it all!  All that time in one’s car all alone, looking out on those fools who did not wear a mask, believing that one was making the world a bit safer.  All that righteous anger, the stern looks, and verbal abuse heaped on those mere mortals who did not adhere to those who “followed science”.  It was all theater, it meant nothing.  And then the indignity of finding out that one was taking an action that could have a negative impact on one’s health!  Say it isn’t so!

It does make one remember some of those silly folk sayings, doesn’t it?  Such as:

• If all your friends jumped off a roof, would you do it?
• Believe nothing you hear, half of what you see and only one fourth of what you know to be true.
• He who follows the crowd has many companions.
• Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.
• If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.

The article linked below offers what could be, a very common-sense medical discovery.  Yet somehow this possibility was overlooked even though there are studies reflecting these conclusions going back over a decade.  And it does not address the question of hygiene from the repeated wearing of the same mask over a period of days or longer. 

Finally, one more saying:  man is the only animal that can be skinned more than once.  Next time, perhaps we all need to be a bit more skeptical of what the herd says, believes and does.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/the-harm-caused-by-masks

It is amazing how many of those who claim to “follow science” only look as far as the tip of their nose. I believe it is because sometimes they do not have the expertise or worldly experience to consider all the factors which may impact their own personal or messianic agenda.  At other times, it is because they do not wish to be disturbed by some inconvenient facts, such as cost, contributing factors, outside influences which might upset their wonderful vision, etc.  Sometimes, it is just plain ignorance and laziness that allows them to disregard important realities which would upset or even destroy their vision.

The attached article begins to bring up numerous factors which will impact the vision of EVs.  One of the most obvious questions is whether EVs are as “green” as proclaimed and why is it that certain key factors are ignored by their loudest cheerleaders?  Ignorance, laziness or just an age-old human desire to believe in something that is promised as a quick and easy “fix”?  Unfortunately, history has shown us that the “quicker and easier” the fix, the more costly it is in the long run.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/electric-vehicles-and-carbon-emissions

I have often said that there is a formula to many government actions;

1. Pass a law/regulation, etc. with (we hope) the best of intentions.  These new laws/regulations are designed to meet some real or imagined need, desire, request either made by some special interest group or political goal.  Seldom are they passed at the request of the average citizen who is too busy trying to exist and move ahead with their lives.
2. The new program is instituted and funded and of course, new government employees improve the original idea which was found to be of such great importance to society.
3. Typically, the new governmental department or agency finds that the original goal is much more complex than expected and so studies must be made, which of course, demands time and money.  Or it is found that the new regulations as laid out by the new department do not really address or solve the original goal, but the agency does find other areas where it can “help” the average citizen.
4. With a new purpose or idea, the agency goes back to its source of funds (typically the Congress, State Assembly, City Council, etc.) and asks for additional funds to correct the problems caused by its own actions and to expand the scope of its work.

In other words, a problem is found, a solution is provided, it is found that the solution only made the problem worse and to correct the problem it has created, more money must be spent to correct its own bad actions.

This is being worked out by my local level of government, the City Council of Long Beach California.  The problem is that Measure MA was approved by the voters in 2016.  This allowed the legal sale of marijuana and the city put in place certain rules/regulations to monitor and capitalize on said sales.  The problem was that the rules/regulations were both complex and expensive for those who were going to be granted a license to sell the drug.  In fact, they were so complex and expensive that one of the goals of the original Measure was made worse; instead of eliminating the illegal sale of the drug, it has made the sale from illegal dealers larger. The illegal sale of the drug is estimated to be at least three times larger than the legal sales.  This means that the city is not receiving all the money from the legal sales of a drug which magically became legal and encouraged by the same government that had previously seen the drug as something illegal. When the expected tax revenue is not realized, you can count on the government to do something about it.

An ordinary person might believe that if the rules/regulations/taxes are too high to create a good business, the simple answer would be to re-examine the rules/regulations/taxes which are creating the problem.  One might even suggest letting individuals with real business experience do the work as at least they know how to live within a budget and actually create something that is viable and productive.  No, that would be far too simple and logical.

In its wisdom, the City Council has decided that the solution is to offer the now legal drug dealers a tax reduction if they can abide by additional rules which will increase their cost of doing business at a rate which is theoretically lower than the amount of tax reduction. Brilliant! Everyone in business knows that increased regulations, especially those which increase fixed costs, are the sure way to increased profits. Not to worry, as if the tax revenue to the city does not increase thanks to this solution, I am sure the City Council will have mor great ideas how to fix the problem.

And, just to show that they have their best thinking caps on, the City Council is putting its best Woke foot forward by ensuring that equity in drug dealerships will be reached.  You can apply if you are unemployed and are poor.  Of course, where you are going to get the capital for your business is not included in the new idea, nor is the question of what landlord will want to accept a drug dealer who most likely has no independent business experience and little money.  Unless of course, the new drug dealer has a secret partner who is funding the new business.  Sounds like a strategy for success to me.

When he became President Obama, he said that he wanted to fundamentally change the United States. His economic plan managed to increase the median family income by $3,200 over an eight-year period while at the same time increasing the number of people living in poverty by 787,000. When Joe Biden became president, he said that he saw it as an opportunity, “fundamentally transform the country.”  The result thus far has been that the average American family has lost between $5,600-$7,000 in income in only two years (Heritage.org 4/21/23).

Compare this to 2018, when under President Trump incomes went up $4,600; an increase in one year that was forty-five percent larger than during the eight years of the Obama administration. How was that possible?

Perhaps asking “how was that possible” is the wrong question. One might better ask, “what did Presidents’ Obama and Biden do to basically wreck a system designed and historically capable of incredible growth and wealth creation.”  Could it be that they did not understand the basic system of how the economy works? Could it be that were ignorant of past presidents who had led successful economies? Could it simply be that they believed they were smarter than anyone else? Somehow those who talk about being on the “right side of history” seem to ignore the lessons of history. Or, maybe it is just human nature; having winning such high office is like becoming a king, the new President has a burning desire to show his brilliance by doing something bold and daring.

We must ask ourselves if these two presidents actually believe that more government regulation, more government control, more deficit spending and now, inflation will lead to greater prosperity  Are we to believe that suddenly, a top-down centralized planned economy is going to be better for its citizens when there has never been a successful society based on those precepts?  Oh, I know, “it will be different this time.” 

The two articles linked below offer not only a history of recent results but also solutions to correct our current problems. Dare we hope that we have leaders who will own up to their mistakes?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-incomes-americans-kevin-mccarthy-new-york-stock-exchange-dc3bd179?page=1

Corruption and inefficiency in the spending of your money by all levels of government is nothing new. That corruption and inefficiency is one reason why the government is always seeking new revenue streams; they simply cannot account for the funds they spend.  And the more strings the government (and here I mean any level of government, but it is so blatant at the Federal level) attaches to the monies, the more the opportunity for greater graft and inefficiency. 

In response to the sudden concern about the state of dependence on foreign manufacturing of chips, the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act was passed which would help us decrease that dependence.  Yet buried withing the bill were requirements that billions of dollars (all of which are borrowed) be spent on day care centers for the employees, paid-leave allowances and “prevailing wages” during construction which very often actually slows the completion of Once On projects and leads to more inefficiencies.  If the manufacturing of chips is so important to national security, instead of “prevailing wages”, why not include a bonus if” the work is done ahead of schedule or heaven forbid, even on time?

The attached article gives but a taste of how large government which spends huge sums cannot account for much of the work and cannot keep track of the costs.  Any corporation or family unit that operated on the same basis would very quickly be in deep financial quicksand, but when all you need to do is authorize a new fee, or charge, or tax, why bother with accountability? 

Once upon a time in this country, prior to World War I, there were news reporters and writers who were known as “muckrakers”; they investigated and wrote about the corruption and criminality of numerous politicians and their allies.  Those brave individuals are long gone but the next time your government, at any level, has a hearing on some new fee/tax/surcharge/etc. don’t be afraid to ask what steps that agency is going to take to make sure that the precious monies you earn are not squandered. Remember, it is your money; the government does not generate wealth; the only wealth producers are “we the people” through our work, innovations, businesses, etc.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/the-more-some-states-spend-the-worse-things-seem-to-get

The twentieth century was not especially wonderful for Italy.  In World War I, although on the victorious side, the cost in manpower was terrible and most of the fighting took place on some of the most inhospitable land on the planet.  That generation was scared and almost immediately fell under the influence of Mussolini, a charismatic, blustering and to be honest, not a very bright individual.  Following his dreams of glory, all of Italy became a vicious battle ground and the nation, ill-prepared for war, was bombed and shelled into submission.  As if those experiences were not enough, Italy suffered bouts of Red terrorism, economic stagnation, and political instability.  The United States on the other hand had a pretty good twentieth-century. Victorious in two World Wars, the victor of the Cold War and huge economic growth, the nation became a super-power.  While the twenty-first century has not been all that great, the nation is still the magnet to hundreds of millions of people around the world who still believe that we are the land of opportunity.

How is it then that we see mobs in the United States, attempting to destroy statues of imperfect men who did great deeds, improved the health of millions of people or who fought for their noble and not so noble ideas but with an honest belief?  We do not see this type of activity in France were Napoleon who was responsible for the deaths of a million of his countrymen and who knows how many of other nations is still honored. Do the French tear down the beautiful palaces created by their despotic kings?  How about the British who first outlawed the slave trade?  Should statues of great explorers be torn down because they dared to believe that their values and system could help people in other lands? 

Why do we suffer they type of self-flagellation?  Who are these self-centered, intolerant racists that create such havoc in their attempt to show us how they have found the Truth?  How can they even dare to make suggestions about how things could be better when they are so woefully ignorant of what truly came before them. 

Which brings us to the article linked below.  Today, one can run across houses, commercial buildings, stadiums, statues and more that were built to glorify the Fascist regime of Mussolini.  They are literally everywhere, and no one defaces them or attempts to tear them down.  Why?  Perhaps it is the realization that those times were three generations ago and that Italy is a different country.  Perhaps it is because people understand that they can learn from history and that to discard it is another step toward totalitarianism.  The line from 1984 that “he who controls the present, controls the past and he who controls the past controls the future”. Perhaps we need to force feed some history to those silly children who believe they have found the “Truth” and that it will be different this time.  If we do not and they continue their ignorant ways, we should not be at all surprised at the result.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/italys-non-cancel-culture

Just as the pandemic revealed to millions of parents the hidden agenda that was being inflicted on their children, so too the purchase of Twitter by Elon Musk was one of the most important actions in the past several years.  With the purchase, the citadel of the Left was pierced, and the many secrets contained within its walls revealed.

To say that the secrets were important is a huge understatement for the terrible alliance between the police powers of our nation and social media stood for all to see. A police agency, the F.B.I, known to have openly interfered with the last two Presidential elections, was exposed along with the Deep State bureaucracy of demanding censorship of political and medical opinions which they believed to be dangerous. Demands for censorship poured into the Twitter headquarter from FBI offices across the country, demanding that opinions by American citizens be silenced.

This was possible because, as the linked article points out, “…the administrative state has metastasized into a destructive deep state that threatens to bring about the collapse of America’s constitutional system within our lifetimes.  The unchecked, to this day, power of that deep state in alliance with national police power has gone from being a post 9/11 war on terror to a war on opinions which are contrary to those in political and bureaucratic power.

Years ago, even before being sworn into office, candidate Obama swore to fundamentally transform the United States.  It sounded like just another campaign slogan, but we are seeing just how much the nation has been changed, not by Congress, but by bureaucratic directives and overreaching of police powers.  The adage that the larger the government, the smaller the citizen is being played out before our very eyes and it appears that no one is acting to reverse the capture of power by individuals and groups with little if any accountability.