Friday, June 5, 2015

Progressives: The Target is Never What it Seems

I don't pay attention to "reality" TV or, really, to much of the trash that passes for "pop" culture, a misnomer, of course, since most of it is not truly "popular" culture, as in coming from the people. It is trash for popular consumption thrown out of the windows of the megabillion-dollar elitist media-news-entertainment industry. It rains down on all of us every day and on just about every human endeavor.

We have, of course, the transgender news wherein D-list celebrity and former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner has himself chemically and surgically altered to become Caitlyn Jenner. The media is all buzz about his/her great courage in "coming out" to the "fact" that he is really a she (never mind DNA). Didn't the Kinks sing something along these lines many years ago? Of course, when the Kinks sang about sexual misidentification it was all in fun, "Well I'm not the world's most masculine man/But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man/And so is Lola."

Now, of course and alas, we must take it all so seriously, and see the freakish as the norm. I like the touch thrown in whereby Jenner claims to be a Republican . . . right. It is all so fake and so powerful. And therein lies the core of today's cri de coeur.

I have written  (here and here) how progressives are masters at distorting words and redefining them so that they no longer are even close to their original meanings. "Liberal" and "gay," of course, are probably the most such distorted words. Words are the ammunition of discussion and debate, and if one side is allowed to select the ammunition, well, the ensuing discussions and debates are to be expectedly one-sided.

Just as the bullets are altered so we also find repeatedly that the announced target of progressive wrath is not the ultimate target.  The target is altered. The simplest example of this is the battle over requiring identification at the voting booth. We heard all sorts of lachrymose tales of how such a requirement suppressed black votes. It seems, in progressive world, that black Americans are simple poor rural folk who live tens if not hundreds of miles from any place where they might get an id card of any sort. They, in addition, are just too stupid to get these cards. Requiring id, therefore, means not letting black people vote!

This, of course, is utter rubbish; the real purpose behind doing away with voter id requirements comes across our southern border every day. It is to allow aliens to vote. These aliens will be made wards of the state and of the progressive controlled electoral machines. As blacks decline in demographic importance as voters, they must be replaced. What better than millions of bitterly poor people from Mexico and Central America? These people will not only clog the voter rolls, but keep progressive social workers employed, progressive community organizers active, and fill the schools with students--benefitting the progressive education industry which will demand ever increasing amounts of money to handle the poor poor folks.

We see a classic example of how this works in what at first blush would seem an unlikely locale: Nevada where a Republican governor successfully pushed a massive tax increase through a conservative legislature.  What was the reason for this sudden need for huge amounts of money? Let's turn to the Mainstream Media for an explanation,
Nevada's Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, secured an unlikely victory when the conservative state Legislature approved a huge tax increase at his urging as part of a plan to boost education spending. 
The $1.1 billion package raises taxes on businesses and cigarettes, and it makes permanent a $500 million bundle of temporary payroll and sales taxes. <...> 
The tax increase will allow Sandoval to pump millions of dollars into programs for poor students and children learning English. The state has lagged behind others for years in education rankings and on school funding, but it has consistently rejected efforts to raise revenue.
Ah, yes, that sudden need to deal with poor children who cannot speak English. Wonder how that happened? Lots of new money for the teachers and their education industry.

Climate change? Another bogus target. The progressives don't care about climate change. Since the science behind it has been shown repeatedly to be nonexistent, we see fewer and fewer references to that "science." The strategy is simply to skip the boring science stuff, and just keep saying that climate change exists and we must deal with it. It's a new version of the old Soviet tactic of starting off the presentation of a lie with the phrase, "As is well known . . . " The real target is control over the economy and our lives by the progressive bureaucracy and elite. Sorry polar bears, the progs don't really love you. 

The progs also throw out nonsense about citizenship, about how we need to make a pathway for aliens to become Americans. We need (break out the violins) to reward all those brave undocumented aliens who have fought in  our military . . . ignoring, of course, that as the law now stands they are not in the military. The real goal, however, is to make American citizenship meaningless. Aliens, well the right ones, will vote; get tax "refunds" without paying taxes; collect welfare; and get in-state tuition at the local progressive-run university or community college.  

We see attacks on long-established institutions, small and big. The Boy Scouts must accept gays and transgender individuals; Christian bakers must make cakes for gay weddings; hurtful words and thoughts are banned in university in the interest of "critical thinking." We must not identify Islam as a threat because that is hurtful. Gay marriage? How many of the roughly one percent of gay Americans are ever going to marry? Doesn't matter. Destroying the institution of marriage is the real goal; next it will be allowing polygamy and who knows what else. How many transgender people are going to serve in the military? Doesn't matter. Keep the military occupied with progressive counselors and reworking its structures to allow for it. 

The idea is to create turmoil, chaos; keep society and its institutions reeling from one punch to the next. The only solution to this turmoil? Why, naturally, more progressive government and regulation.

The strategy is working . . . 

30 comments:

  1. If Sandoval wanted to keep Republicans reeling he is doing a good job of it. His staff clearly did a good job of lobbying for the Margins Tax, and it is still unclear what they offered Republican Assemblymen who had originally opposed the tax.

    Now Sandoval is term limited out as NV's governor. There is talk he will run for Harry Reid's seat, or possibly end up on the Republican presidential ballot in the number two position.

    He will not have an easy time with Republican voters in this state, though -- many feel betrayed by this largest tax increase NV has ever experienced. Especially less than a year after Sandoval gave Elon Musk a huge tax incentive to bring the Tesla battery plant to Reno.

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    1. I don't know much about Sandoval, but I do know that most politicians are lying slime. Sandoval seems to fit the bill. I will take your money and give it to the guys who can help me most. That is not "governing". That is bribery.

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  2. "It's a new version of the old Soviet tactic of starting off the presentation of a lie with the phrase, 'As is well known . . . '"

    Hillary does that a lot - "As you know..." She tries to get you shaking your head in the affirmative before you hear what she has to say. I didn't know it was an old Soviet tactic - but I'm not surprised.

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  3. I'm reading Fred Siegel's "Revolt Against the Masses" which explains a lot of "progressive" thought and action during the past century. Pretty interesting POV.

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  4. As you've noted... they've won this round. They've achieved what they believe their agenda is: to propagate progressivism by bringing in illegal immigrants and normalizing them with the expectation of repayment at the ballot box.

    That's done. I don't see that there's anything that can be done about it regardless of electoral or legislative victories. We're not going to strip citizenship from those granted it by the administration, regardless if it is reneging on our trust. All we can do is show those new folks why conservatism never really dies in the US, no matter how deep the lies and double speak of the left.
    There is nothing progressive about seeing poor people seize opportunities to better their material status. There's nothing progressive about working hard simply because it is good to work hard. I suggest letting whoever democrats think they've *won* have the opportunity to work hard. That will stave off another progressive swell, at least until their grandchildren grow up in material wealth and spiritual poverty... leading them back to progressivism. But that will be a while.

    - reader #1482

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  5. We are undergoing a moral transformation as thorough as Christianizing the Roman Empire. The new morality is quite clear now; it will be developed and expanded over the next century. Old believers will be destroyed.

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  6. http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-picture-if-worth-thousand-words.html

    And today being June 6th:

    http://jalopnik.com/these-artists-created-a-powerful-visualization-of-d-day-1709476861

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  7. Seems like a tragic answer, of the continuing series of off-putting and off-footing progressivism practices, is the new branch of economics after Keynes final failure, we can learn of freakenomics, at least for the networks, increasingly corrupt, about to debut on the little screen as the latest series of ABC Family? or something or other, discussed along with others to progress hence:

    http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/4/8731969/becoming-us-abc-family-transgender-reality-show

    Somehow, being older, reminds me of the special parts of carnies and circuses of the old days, which I avoided wholly, nor approved of even as a child, feeling strange about the whole affair of such shows. I didn't mind playing on occasion with spiders, and snakes, however.

    One can always count on the indefatigable, Fred on Everything, for a somewhat related monologue albeit in ways twisted, but what’s the difference in that from progressivism, being twisted, from goodness, God, Founders, and reality?

    http://www.fredoneverything.net/Scientism.shtml

    Sadly, these days more and more occurs reminding of the build ups of the Winds of War, of the ‘30s, although nowadays, evil intent kgb greedy and proud, Putin plays the role well of hitler, with the cast of uncounted billions of peoples all over thoughtlessly playing the roles of the multitudes of losers and suckers of the progressives (eternally stupid and G-dless always, socialists and commies), everywhere, and here in America. Again. Just like the thoughtless German citizens did back then along with too many others.

    One hell of a redo of history, shifted just a little.

    Microagression trigger warning—delicate minds won’t like any of this, I suspect. Neither does at least half the heart of America like the BS sick progressives happening all over these past 5 or more decades, and less and less likable.

    We are offended.

    Now oddly I still don’t feel better, having gotten that reality all off.
    Jack

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    1. http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/4/8731969/becoming-us-abc-family-transgender-reality-show

      We switched to basic cable quite a bit ago but I did happen to see a commercial for this program. It literally turned my stomach.
      What the hell has happened to Disney?
      50 years ago, after our baths, we would tune in to Tinkerbell and some heartwarming story. Our Mom gave us our dessert and we went to bed warm and happy.
      I feel terribly sorry for children that are forced to confront these issues.

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  8. "Now oddly I still don’t feel better ..."

    Maybe this'll help Jack. Probably not alot though.

    https://billsticker.wordpress.com/2015/05/21/trigger-warnings-and-microaggressions

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  9. Well, thank you too much, anon.. I do feel a bit clearer now, not well, mind you.

    Kind of served the place as would a fine double single malt, served neat, and twice, as maybe a Sheep Dip, The Glenlivet, or perhaps an alternate, a fine Martel Cognac, or a fine Sobieski Vodka, similarly so served, of appropriate vintage. I tend to reject gin, as too progressive, eastern seaboard type, don't you know, seems like I've seen too many socialists drinking it.

    I had meant to add a bit after the warning, about the little delicates really not wanting to see what the results of the end game of the progressives is, fear, terror, starvation, tens or so millions dead ultimately, as always. Kind of like an alternate dinosaur reality show, run very amuck. In case they thought that was to indelicate.

    Looks like a worthy site, to add to my ridiculously large collection.

    Ever, Jack

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    1. Glenfiddich Jack. Neat. Perhaps straight from the bottle (in case - depends on your environs).

      Hope you're well. If not - drain half the bottle - from a sitting position I'd recommend.

      Thanks for the gem.

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    2. Clink, or clank, to ya Anon, depending on glasses or bottles, for the toast for the tip.........

      Delete
  10. Than there is this of course, which makes me feel more better:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozfaLzjjZyE

    Another gem from Pat
    and Jack

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    1. watched... one quibble... I do not think universities are from where the leaders of tomorrow will come. That used to be the case, but today the resources for self-education are out there... and the leaders of tomorrow are probably going to be too smart to deal with the parochial needs of the university system.

      That's both a threat and a promise.

      - reader #1482

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  11. And if you really want to laugh at true black (am I now supposed to say sorry Africa?) humor, see my kind of doctor, not my kind of money, and nearly fall over on the payoff paragraph at the end, this is your Huckleberry: http://www.patcondell.net/about-me/a-smooth-operation/
    It'll make you all feel better,

    Ever Jack, on patrol

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  12. On the other hand, males should also find this of interest, thinking of that fine drink, hmmm, a bit progressive, but allowances are made, sometimes for special things....

    A second bottle is definitely a fun idea
    Below the fold...
    Continue reading "A second bottle is definitely a fun idea"
    http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/archives/26381-A-second-bottle-is-definitely-a-fun-idea.html
    Posted by The News Junkie in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation

    Well, tally ho, and enjoy the vintage, err, Jack

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  13. Does "Caitlyn" have to give back the medals won by "Bruce?" It was in Men's competition after all.

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  14. Why not just do away with the separate men and women categories? Let all atheletes compete together. Then we'll see how many women win gold medals, eh?

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    1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Olympic_medalists_in_athletics_%28women%29

      (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_East_Germany)

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    2. If Jenner is representative, women will win all the medals.

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  15. Polls show Americans are moving left on social issues and, as a result, are more willing to describe themselves as liberal: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/07/liberals-make-big-comeback-in-2015-poll-analysis-finds/

    Maybe this is an irreversible trend - no doubt liberals want to believe it is - but history has a way of reversing course and it's not that surprising since today's Republican leaders aren't much different than Democrats when it comes to social issues. I would like to see a new era of GOP leaders articulating why Judeo-Christian values are better than secular - libertarian values. Maybe Obama, the media and schools have successfully transformed America but we may still see the trend in these polls reverse, if we try.

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    1. After a While, people get enough and will want to rinse themselves off. Push them hard. Trip every "trigger" you can find. The Prog's pea size brains will explode easily. They will act out in rage. These people never look good on camera.

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    2. They were allowed to take over schools, so no surprise. It's the fruits of subversion and not unguided or random drift.

      Delete
  16. An article by Stella Morabito worth reading:
    http://thefederalist.com/2015/06/08/how-to-escape-the-age-of-mass-delusion/?utm_source=The+Federalist+List&utm_campaign=3dd5dc18a1-RSS_The_Federalist_Daily_Updates_w_Transom&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cfcb868ceb-3dd5dc18a1-83785717

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  17. Dip,

    Not sure if you have seen this, but it is very incisive:
    The following has been attributed to Lewis Napper, a Jackson, Mississippi computer programmer. He didn’t expect his essay — a tart 10-point list of “rights” Americans don’t have — to become an Internet legend.

    ‘We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.’

    ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth.. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

    ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone — not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of dummies, and probably always will be.

    ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

    ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

    ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care.

    ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you get the blue juice.

    ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure..

    ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

    ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

    ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you came from, English is our language. Learn it!

    Lastly ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, sorry if you are uncomfortable with it.

    If you agree, share this with a friend. No, you don’t have to, and nothing tragic will befall you if you don’t. I just think it’s about time common sense is allowed to flourish. Sensible people of the United States must speak out because if you do not, who will?

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  19. It's a crazy world. And not good crazy. Psycho, red headed, been cheated on and out for revenge ex-girlfriend crazy. Thank God for the tranquility of this blog.

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  20. Leftists lie. As often as they feel necessary. With the help of the media, which are their propaganda organs, they will capture whatever label makes them seem innocuous and friendly.

    They are a pox on the Republic.

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