No, Mizz Berlinski is a woman with a first class mind. Those, whether male or female, are rare enough to need no other description. Ma'am, you have been sore missed.
It appears you have forgotten our need to neutralize the main stream media.
I have a Mexican-American friend. Today I asked a leading question to get her started on the subject of her feelings about Obama's win. Let me add that she is intelligent and open minded. As she expounded on her attitudes it is obvious that she takes for granted a lot of stuff we wouldn't agree to for an instant. We lost the war of information. Her sources of information were Univision (Is that the Spanish American language broadcaster?) and to a lesser extent the MSM. To which I reply -- the progressives began their indoctronation program in 1919. Why wouldn't she agree with them?
Wouldn't it be wonderful if our Rep leaders and columnist recognized an incremental victory when it dropped in our laps. We are in the cat-bird seat.
Obama's big victory promises that he will loot the millionaires: that he will continue to pass out free ice cream.
We can't place our faith in a man that promises to steal on our behalf. Half of our people understand this. The other half will understand it when they get sick of ice cream and see meat & potatoes nowhere in sight.
Furthermore, who are these millionaires. Half are the Wall Street cronies who got Bail Out money. Obama won't steal from them. The others began hiding their money back in the Clinton administration.
No, our economic outlook under Obama co-ruling with a Republican dominated Congress is bleak. Even though most or a majority of the Reps are progressives echo-ing "me-too" to the Dem demands for more Free Ice-cream; enough will get done to slow the harm Obama can do.
We can exert a major influence on the future. Even better, we have the power to accumulate more power -- Lets go to work.
The writer Robert Heinlein and his wife are said to have been co-workers on VJ day. They shared their first kiss without destroying their friendly relationship. Three years later they married and remained so for 40 years. Just think what they would have missed except for some unexpected smooching.
I notice the writer equated capitalism and facism. Modern facism was founded by Mussolini. Mussolini was a member of the Italian Communist Party until breaking with them on a matter of election tactics. The proper equation is facism and communism. The communist propagandists unceasingly try to equate facism and capitalism. We should never allow them to get away with that false charge. It is our duty to the principles of clear thinking to call the communists on that misrepresentation at every opportunity.
I can't be sure what you are attempting to say. But, if you are saying that progressivism is and always was a phony theory designed only for the self aggrandisement of the academicians and plutocrats that advocated it then I agree with you.
If you are saying SS was incapable of working then I disagree. It could have worked had it not been primarily designed to garner votes and secondarily as a vehicle to plunder the working class.
However I would be a lot happier had you paid some attention to the fact that SS is not constitutional and that our legislators ran away from their oath to defend the Constittution in order to pass SS. As such SS is just one in a long line of actions wherein the progressives subverted our Constitution and their swore duty to defend that sacred document.
Oh, yes; as someone suggested we may need to re-elect Mr. Simpson but only because the alternative may be far worse. It won't be because he himself is any bargain.
Back in the 60s or early 70s someone noticed the vast difference between the US and Mexico. They asked, "Why the big difference?"
After due consideration the answer was put forward, "Mexico has too many lawyers and not enough engineers." Think about it. That answer is profound.
Look at the vast progress the US made annually before the progressives came to power, then look at where we are after a little more than a hundred years of progressivism. Compare the annual rate of growth in the national GDP for the two periods. If we have 4% growth we crow it from the roof tops.
In fact there has been great growth brought about by our engineers and scientists but our politicians are an impediment.
In fact today the engineers and scientists mostly know we are on the verge of a new Renaissance and great abundance. The politicians see us as hopeless and deeply in need of their leadership. We do need them -- to get out of the way of the engineers, scientists and businessmen.
We may well have to sacrifice to save SS. But we do not need Mr. Simpson and the present crop of progressive politician's leadership.
In the 1st place not one of us joined SS voluntarily. We were forced into it under penalty of law.
In the 2nd place I've calculated my rate of return on ss and it is not equal to what I can make commercially even if I collect every penny promised.
In the 3rd place we are coming up short because the plan was poorly conceived and then raided by Mr. Simpson and his collegues for money they could steal by the back door. It is not because the donors were greedy.
Frankly I don't care what Mr. Simpson's opinion is. He and his fellow congress criters got us in this mess and then object when their feet are held to the fire. Mr. Simpson is not the cure, he and all the others are the disease.
One does not need to know much to know the liberals/progressives/democrats are full of wind. For the over 110 years from our founding until the first progressive president, Teddy Roosevelt, the classical liberals dominated the American scene. During the 19th century it has been estimated that our GDP grew at an annual rate of 26%. Since Teddy Roosevelt became the 1st progressive president has also been a little over 110 years. Compare the classical liberal performance to the progressive party's performance -- just look at the mess we are in. Frankly, I glory in their calling me an outlier. I bask in the knowledge that they can find no comparison between their party and ours. Who needs success like theirs? Who needs their advice on anything -- even how to conduct a one car funeral procession. When thinking of their performance inept is the only word that will describe them.
In any case, thank goodness that St L took the last of our three game series. Actually I became a Cardinal fan in 1945 at age 9-1/2. This last series merely illustrates a long held contention of mine. Take the Cubs lightly until you really need to win -- then beware. They will do it to you. Seriously, at those moments there is no one I fear more.
It is not that I don't think Claire has "gotten it." She has. Nor is it that I feel the least bit patronizing. But having taken the Hillsdale College Constritution Course I realize the depth of progressive depravity in a way I never understood before and can't resist saying so.
Claire indicated she is taking the course. I also recommend it to anyone that hasn't taken it -- don't walk, run, please.
BTW, I have read Claire as well as David her father. Normally, I would be all over their list of publications and soaking it all in. However right for the moment there are other publications of more immediate interest to me. Her and David have impressed me enough to stop me from simply reading and to begin following the Trivium methods of summarizing everything I read, ala Thomas Jefferson. I'm covering less ground but enjoying it more.
If you add to your knowledge by reading Ron Pestrito's American Progressivism (progressivism in the progressive's own words) and even better by also taking Hillsdale College's Constittution course on line you may finally grasp the complete lunacy of liberalism. Progressivism came into America from, chiefly, Germany through our colleges. By taking over the school system they have trained everyone to believe progressivism/liberalism is rational. It isn't.
Ma'am I have complete respect for the intellectuality of you and your father David but this scam has even exceeded your powers of analysis. GRIN
Claire, There is a gentleman named Peter Diamandis who arranged for the money contained in the "X Prize." That is the prize won by the team that launched "Space Ship One" into near space -- as I recall that is 50 miles in altitude. PD co-authored a book named Abundance laying out the case that another renaissance is coming at us like the headlight on a freight train.
I completely accept that you are seeing and hearing the signs of low motivation that you mention. PD gives a pretty good account of the other evidence.
I think you asked which side will prevail. Please understand that we are discussing a societal movement involving North America, Europe (western & eastern) Australia and New Zealand. The phase change moves with almost glacial slowness so we will not know for awhile.
As far as we know China, India, Africa and South Ameerica are not part of the malaise.
Claire, to paraphrase Paul Harvey, the old time radio commentator, there is more to the story. If you read Carroll Quigley, who did seminal work on the life cycle of civilizations, we are part of Western Civilization. WC is one of 19 civilizations that he identified and studied. We are the only civilization that has gone through more than one cycle. In fact we are just ending a cycle. At this time we are in a period of confusion where some want to "eat the seedcorn" and quit the cycle while others are gearing up for another go around. You and others are entirely correct in seeing a dying civilization yet you have missed or undervalued the evidence that others are being reborn. Which side will win? That seems to be the question on everyone's mind. Me? I suspect re-birthers will prevail. Further, I suspect that our problems are entirely political in the larger sense. Notice that during the 20th Century we made great scientific, technical and economic progress while our politicians led us from the extreme growth of the 19th Century to the mess we are in today.
I like your list excepting I would totally eliminate the income tax. It only goes to pay for the transfer payments -- the last time I looked. I would add a sixth of five items. Eliminate public schooling. I would have public schooling but as with the Articles of Confederation and the transition to the Constitution it is time to start completely over. That also goes for the teachers colleges by whatever name. Our present system was designed to train citizens to be employees and soldiers -- that is counter survival in our Republican system. We need a school system that educates citizens to be independent, not one dedicated to dumbing them down.
Re: Planet Claire
No, Mizz Berlinski is a woman with a first class mind. Those, whether male or female, are rare enough to need no other description. Ma'am, you have been sore missed.