The Silent Majority Is Woke

 

Today I was skimming Twitter and I came across this story about Lauren Southern’s (whom I had never heard of before) parents being kicked off AirBnB for … being her parents. AirBnB had kicked her out back in 2018 or 2019, but her parents had booked a romantic getaway only to have it canceled because … well, I guess because they raised a terrible person by AirBnB’s measure.

Part of this is likely because of their attempt to stay on top of their ESG rating, so Wall Street doesn’t downcheck them.

To learn a bit more about her, I watched a video of hers on YouTube.

Her premise is that we are in the stage of wokeism where the average person goes along to get along, yes, but that even the true believers aren’t really believers anymore. They just adhere to the forms, which includes voting for Democrats because everyone around them is telling them that conservatives are evil.

I think she may have a point, but I disagree that the true believers don’t believe anymore. I think they still do, but there is almost a level of comedy that we see similar to what Solzhenitsyn wrote about in The Gulag Archipelago. Where the process is absurd, but everyone still follows it because deviation is death. When I was looking for Soviet jokes for my post on the subject, I came across this one.

A member of the party was stopped by the Cheka on the streets of Moscow. The agent said to him “Comrade, I see by your pin that you are a committed Communist. I assume you read Lenin and his writings on what a true Soviet man should be?”

“Of course I do. Vladimir Illyich is wise and we should follow his teachings.”

The Chekist then said “Well comrade, I see you are smoking, but Comrade Lenin has said that smoking is bad for the Soviet man.  What do you say to that?”

The man quickly replied, “Then I shall immediately stop smoking!” He put out his cigarette and threw the pack away.

The Chekist then said ,”Good, comrade, good! But I see that bag you are carrying. It is clearly Vodka, is it not?”

“Yes,” the man replied.

“Well, Comrade Lenin just this week said that drinking is detrimental to the Soviet man, what do you think of that?”

The man immediately threw his bottle in the trash and said, “If Comrade Lenin said that drinking is bad, then I shall immediately stop drinking.”

“Good, Comrade, good!” said the Chekist, “but, I see you have a sandwich there. Is that meat I see in it?”

“Yes,” said the man warily.

“Comrade Lenin just today said that eating meat every meal is wasteful and good Soviet men should only eat meat once a day at dinner. What do you think of that?”

The man reluctantly deposited his sandwich in the trash and said, “If Comrade Lenin says it, it must be true and I will refrain from eating meat except at dinner.”

“Excellent, Comrade, excellent. You are a true Soviet man. Are you willing to lay down your life for the Soviet Union?”

The man looked at the Chekist and said “Of course! This life isn’t worth living.”

The wokeists own the media, and the own the government, and they own the education system. Not to mention the media, and Big Tech, and soon every corporation in the Chinese model. The price of disobedience is to be cut off from everything, yet no one seems to care. Certainly not McConnell, McCarthy, and McDaniel, who frittered away a chance at winning Congress. With friends like these…who needs enemies (and we have plenty of those)? Is there a silent majority, or a better question, do the “independents” really care about elections, or are they cowed either by the woke mob, or the realization that the GOP isn’t going to naturally do much different if they gain power?

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  1. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Samuel Block (View Comment):

    A European friend made a comment that’s stuck with me. “The problem in America is not the fringe people. It’s the ordinary people.”

    I definitely don’t think the Silent Majority is woke; but regardless of which way their lateral pelvic tilt takes them, one hopes they discover their spines.

    That’s a good point.  Fringe people have always been with us, but today serious people think the fringe people must be taken seriously.

    • #31
  2. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Stina (View Comment):

    Zafar (View Comment):

    Lauren Southern’s parents removed from BnB! Next cancelling: Uber Eats. Let Laura Loomer be their inspiration.

    (Seriously that’s crazy. Her parents have suffered enough. Why is BnB adding to their pain?)

    Talk to me about being refused service at ONE specialty cake shop.

    Or how a pizza shop said no to a hypothetical catering of a gay wedding (as if a gay couple would have pizza catered to their wedding????)

    I had not thought of the double standard aspect of this but that is one important take on this phenomenon.

    The Left can force the Right to do whatever it claims it needs to have done.

    Meanwhile we are not allowed to discuss our preferences for candidates in upcoming elections. And now we must worry that our adult offspring might have upset someone at BNB, Uber or a hundred other places.

    • #32
  3. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    Bryan, the vast majority of Americans are just not that interested in all things political. If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t. Even the parents of the girl that AirBnB banned are not “locked out of life”. They have tons of other options for lodging i would expect. Yes corporate wokeness is a bad thing but its an extreme leap to say that means 10s of millions of people wont be able to engage in banking. Defcon 12 rhetoric is scary and all but it’s not reality that we are going to become a country of Gulatgs or go back to 1860 America.

    In Canada, they weaponized banking against the protestors. Credit Card Companies are now tracking ammo and gun sales. The Government conspires with big tech to suppress free speech. Wrong think is being punished in front of us, daily. At some point, since there is no outcry, they will cross the wrong line. Maybe it will be going door to door to collect guns. Maybe something else. 

    Cancel Culture is a dress rehearsal for genocide. That is how I see it. You can bury your head in the sand and go “tisk tisk” all you want, like how Henry does when people complain. That is your right. I am not engaging in “rhetoric” I am stating what I fear will happen. My goal is not to change any minds. Clearly, I will never change yours.

    • #33
  4. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    W Bob (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    It sounds like you think the anti-woke side will start the civil war. Problem is, in a military engagement, typically each side has a specific goal. Drive out invaders, destroy the enemy, regain or keep land etc. But in the current scenario, what will the anti-woke side be fighting for? What will be the military objective? To make leftists stop being axxholes? Or do you envision something more like terrorism?

    Their goal will be to drive people engaged in wrongthink out of daily life. Make is so hard to be those people that  more and more given and, like already has happened to the silent majority, and go along with the lies. 

    • #34
  5. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Concretevol (View Comment):
    If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t.

    I not sure I understand what point you are trying to put across here. I think we all know that most Americans are not on Twitter and probably don’t pay much attention to what goes on there, at least in any organized way.  

    But it appears that the FBI had partnered with Twitter Executives with regard to a number of issues of really significant importance affecting the medical community during the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election with regard to Hunter Biden’s laptop. We don’t know the extent of these effects but they were surely not trivial since they extend over numerous information platforms beyond Twitter.

    • #35
  6. David C. Broussard Coolidge
    David C. Broussard
    @Dbroussa

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    David C. Broussard: The price of disobedience is to be cut off from everything, yet no one seems to care. Certainly not McConnell, McCarthy, and McDaniel, who frittered away a chance at winning Congress.

    Really good post. This part seems to be thrown in however just as an agenda item. (slam R’s I don’t like, check). The evidence seems pretty clear that the problem were the candidates, not the leadership. Remember the the primary voters nominated, for instance, a carpetbagger “celebrity” who couldn’t beat an obviously impaired stroke victim and various other weak or somewhat loony candidates.

    The overall point of “woke” ideology’s successful move for the college campus to corporate life is a good one. It makes DeSantis’s fight against woke education in Florida really interesting to follow. Hopefully other states follow Florida’s example of pushing back on this.

    The question is…who in our government does care about how easily people will be cut out of life by a combination of ESG requirements and governmental regulations (similar to the actions to marginalize certain industries).  The answer is…not the left (they are the ones pushing these policies), and apparently not the leadership of the GOP who could have put forth an actual agenda this past midterm and run elections the same way the Dems did. So, absent anyone in the government even trying to slow these things down, and most of the bureaucracy and Dems promoting it, what will the breaking point be?  Will there be one?  Bryan expects a Civil War, I think that is the best option we have in front of us. It would mean that enough people in the US actually cared about liberty and freedom. The worse outcome is that this level of tyranny will just be accepted and we will have fascism with a Smiley face (a la Jonah’s excellent book).  The GOP is feckless and would happily embrace authoritarianism that puts them in power. Not all, but certainly the leadership who cares much more about power than anything their voters want. What is truly sad is that a Civil War is our best option. 

    • #36
  7. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):
    If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t.

    I not sure I understand what point you are trying to put across here. I think we all know that most Americans are not on Twitter and probably don’t pay much attention to what goes on there, at least in any organized way.

    But it appears that the FBI had partnered with Twitter Executives with regard to a number of issues of really significant importance affecting the medical community during the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election with regard to Hunter Biden’s laptop. We don’t know the extent of these effects but they were surely not trivial since they extend over numerous information platforms beyond Twitter.

    Sorry i wasn’t clear there.  My point was that most people are (thankfully) not hyper politically involved like the people on Twitter, or Ricochet for that matter, and there is no way they are going to end up in a shooting war over this crap.  of course now that I think about it neither will twitter users or Ricochet posters.  Writing angry posts or tweets does not a soldier make.  

    • #37
  8. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    David C. Broussard (View Comment):
    The GOP is feckless and would happily embrace authoritarianism that puts them in power.

    Of course a lot of them would.  That’s Trumps primary appeal.  

    • #38
  9. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    Zafar (View Comment):

    Lauren Southern’s parents removed from BnB! Next cancelling: Uber Eats. Let Laura Loomer be their inspiration.

    (Seriously that’s crazy. Her parents have suffered enough. Why is BnB adding to their pain?)

    Talk to me about being refused service at ONE specialty cake shop.

    Or how a pizza shop said no to a hypothetical catering of a gay wedding (as if a gay couple would have pizza catered to their wedding????)

    I had not thought of the double standard aspect of this but that is one important take on this phenomenon.

    The Left can force the Right to do whatever it claims it needs to have done.

    Meanwhile we are not allowed to discuss our preferences for candidates in upcoming elections. And now we must worry that our adult offspring might have upset someone at BNB, Uber or a hundred other places.

    You’re the gays of today.  Welcome!!!

    • #39
  10. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    David C. Broussard (View Comment):
    What is truly sad is that a Civil War is our best option. 

    Sorry that sentence is complete nonsense.   Maybe check out the Bosnian war sometime……or even the American Civil war.  Horrific events and it’s insane to even suppose that is any kind of option

    • #40
  11. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    Bryan, the vast majority of Americans are just not that interested in all things political. If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t. Even the parents of the girl that AirBnB banned are not “locked out of life”. They have tons of other options for lodging i would expect. Yes corporate wokeness is a bad thing but its an extreme leap to say that means 10s of millions of people wont be able to engage in banking. Defcon 12 rhetoric is scary and all but it’s not reality that we are going to become a country of Gulatgs or go back to 1860 America.

    In Canada, they weaponized banking against the protestors. Credit Card Companies are now tracking ammo and gun sales. The Government conspires with big tech to suppress free speech. Wrong think is being punished in front of us, daily. At some point, since there is no outcry, they will cross the wrong line. Maybe it will be going door to door to collect guns. Maybe something else.

    Cancel Culture is a dress rehearsal for genocide. That is how I see it. You can bury your head in the sand and go “tisk tisk” all you want, like how Henry does when people complain. That is your right. I am not engaging in “rhetoric” I am stating what I fear will happen. My goal is not to change any minds. Clearly, I will never change yours.

    There is “no outcry”???   Thats crazy man, there has been tons of outcry and pushback.  I just mentioned whats going on in Florida.  How about the govorners election in Virginia?  Many states are passing laws to regulate or ban  things like CRT and the like.   Its not burying my head in the sand to object to overwrought hysterics like Cancel culture is a rehearsel for genocide.   Banning someone from a social media site is not practicing to murder them. 

    I swear I don’t know how some of you are able to get up in the morning and face the hellscape you imagine you live in. 

    • #41
  12. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    David C. Broussard (View Comment):
    What is truly sad is that a Civil War is our best option.

    Sorry that sentence is complete nonsense. Maybe check out the Bosnian war sometime……or even the American Civil war. Horrific events and it’s insane to even suppose that is any kind of option

    And where are the battle lines going to be drawn?  Even states as conservative as Tennessee have big cities that are dominated by Democrats.  Is there going to be a new nation whose map looks like a piece of Swiss Cheese, because the founding fathers don’t want territory with loads of enemy sympathizers?  We’re going to have to find a way to live together.

    • #42
  13. David C. Broussard Coolidge
    David C. Broussard
    @Dbroussa

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    W Bob (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    It sounds like you think the anti-woke side will start the civil war. Problem is, in a military engagement, typically each side has a specific goal. Drive out invaders, destroy the enemy, regain or keep land etc. But in the current scenario, what will the anti-woke side be fighting for? What will be the military objective? To make leftists stop being axxholes? Or do you envision something more like terrorism?

    Their goal will be to drive people engaged in wrongthink out of daily life. Make is so hard to be those people that more and more given and, like already has happened to the silent majority, and go along with the lies.

    Their real goal is to increase the tension in very small amounts sonthat the people being affected appear to be fringers (like the unconstitutional bump stocks ban, or the new bracelet reclassification) and thus its not a big deal to make them seem outlandish and weird (like Romney in 12). Bit by bit, they infringe on liberty hoping that if anyone does drop gloves and fight that it’s seen as just some whacko (this is why the J6 riot HAD to be insurrection and has to be stomped on with little media coverage). At some point, they will come for you, but suddenly you will be that fringe whacko that everyone will think is better off behind bars. 

    Or, we have a Civil War because I don’t see the left stopping anytime soon. 

    • #43
  14. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    David C. Broussard (View Comment):
    What is truly sad is that a Civil War is our best option.

    Sorry that sentence is complete nonsense. Maybe check out the Bosnian war sometime……or even the American Civil war. Horrific events and it’s insane to even suppose that is any kind of option

    And where are the battle lines going to be drawn? Even states as conservative as Tennessee have big cities that are dominated by Democrats. Is there going to be a new nation whose map looks like a piece of Swiss Cheese, because the founding fathers don’t want territory with loads of enemy sympathizers? We’re going to have to find a way to live together.

    Thus sectarian.

    • #44
  15. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    Bryan, the vast majority of Americans are just not that interested in all things political. If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t. Even the parents of the girl that AirBnB banned are not “locked out of life”. They have tons of other options for lodging i would expect. Yes corporate wokeness is a bad thing but its an extreme leap to say that means 10s of millions of people wont be able to engage in banking. Defcon 12 rhetoric is scary and all but it’s not reality that we are going to become a country of Gulatgs or go back to 1860 America.

    In Canada, they weaponized banking against the protestors. Credit Card Companies are now tracking ammo and gun sales. The Government conspires with big tech to suppress free speech. Wrong think is being punished in front of us, daily. At some point, since there is no outcry, they will cross the wrong line. Maybe it will be going door to door to collect guns. Maybe something else.

    Cancel Culture is a dress rehearsal for genocide. That is how I see it. You can bury your head in the sand and go “tisk tisk” all you want, like how Henry does when people complain. That is your right. I am not engaging in “rhetoric” I am stating what I fear will happen. My goal is not to change any minds. Clearly, I will never change yours.

    There is “no outcry”??? Thats crazy man, there has been tons of outcry and pushback. I just mentioned whats going on in Florida. How about the govorners election in Virginia? Many states are passing laws to regulate or ban things like CRT and the like. Its not burying my head in the sand to object to overwrought hysterics like Cancel culture is a rehearsel for genocide. Banning someone from a social media site is not practicing to murder them.

    I swear I don’t know how some of you are able to get up in the morning and face the hellscape you imagine you live in.

    Strawman much?

    As is typical of almost all my interactions with you, you both use straw men and misrepresentation.  

    It is sad and discouraging.  I don’t treat you that way.

    • #45
  16. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    Bryan, the vast majority of Americans are just not that interested in all things political. If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t. Even the parents of the girl that AirBnB banned are not “locked out of life”. They have tons of other options for lodging i would expect. Yes corporate wokeness is a bad thing but its an extreme leap to say that means 10s of millions of people wont be able to engage in banking. Defcon 12 rhetoric is scary and all but it’s not reality that we are going to become a country of Gulatgs or go back to 1860 America.

    In Canada, they weaponized banking against the protestors. Credit Card Companies are now tracking ammo and gun sales. The Government conspires with big tech to suppress free speech. Wrong think is being punished in front of us, daily. At some point, since there is no outcry, they will cross the wrong line. Maybe it will be going door to door to collect guns. Maybe something else.

    Cancel Culture is a dress rehearsal for genocide. That is how I see it. You can bury your head in the sand and go “tisk tisk” all you want, like how Henry does when people complain. That is your right. I am not engaging in “rhetoric” I am stating what I fear will happen. My goal is not to change any minds. Clearly, I will never change yours.

    There is “no outcry”??? Thats crazy man, there has been tons of outcry and pushback. I just mentioned whats going on in Florida. How about the govorners election in Virginia? Many states are passing laws to regulate or ban things like CRT and the like. Its not burying my head in the sand to object to overwrought hysterics like Cancel culture is a rehearsel for genocide. Banning someone from a social media site is not practicing to murder them.

    I swear I don’t know how some of you are able to get up in the morning and face the hellscape you imagine you live in.

    Strawman much?

    As is typical of almost all my interactions with you, you both use straw men and misrepresentation.

    It is sad and discouraging. I don’t treat you that way.

    Examples of what you say doesn’t exist is not a straw man.  You literally said cancel culture is rehearsal for genocide.  What the heck did I misrepresent?   I did not use a strawman argument and I quoted you.   My point is you see something legitimately  objectionable and immediately go to the worst possible outcome as a near certainty. 

    • #46
  17. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    Bryan, the vast majority of Americans are just not that interested in all things political. If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t. Even the parents of the girl that AirBnB banned are not “locked out of life”. They have tons of other options for lodging i would expect. Yes corporate wokeness is a bad thing but its an extreme leap to say that means 10s of millions of people wont be able to engage in banking. Defcon 12 rhetoric is scary and all but it’s not reality that we are going to become a country of Gulatgs or go back to 1860 America.

    In Canada, they weaponized banking against the protestors. Credit Card Companies are now tracking ammo and gun sales. The Government conspires with big tech to suppress free speech. Wrong think is being punished in front of us, daily. At some point, since there is no outcry, they will cross the wrong line. Maybe it will be going door to door to collect guns. Maybe something else.

    Cancel Culture is a dress rehearsal for genocide. That is how I see it. You can bury your head in the sand and go “tisk tisk” all you want, like how Henry does when people complain. That is your right. I am not engaging in “rhetoric” I am stating what I fear will happen. My goal is not to change any minds. Clearly, I will never change yours.

    There is “no outcry”??? Thats crazy man, there has been tons of outcry and pushback. I just mentioned whats going on in Florida. How about the govorners election in Virginia? Many states are passing laws to regulate or ban things like CRT and the like. Its not burying my head in the sand to object to overwrought hysterics like Cancel culture is a rehearsel for genocide. Banning someone from a social media site is not practicing to murder them.

    I swear I don’t know how some of you are able to get up in the morning and face the hellscape you imagine you live in.

    Strawman much?

    As is typical of almost all my interactions with you, you both use straw men and misrepresentation.

    It is sad and discouraging. I don’t treat you that way.

    Examples of what you say doesn’t exist is not a straw man. You literally said cancel culture is rehearsal for genocide. What the heck did I misrepresent? I did not use a strawman argument and I quoted you. My point is you see something legitimately objectionable and immediately go to the worst possible outcome as a near certainty.

    Something about waking up in a hellscape.

     

    • #47
  18. David C. Broussard Coolidge
    David C. Broussard
    @Dbroussa

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    David C. Broussard (View Comment):
    What is truly sad is that a Civil War is our best option.

    Sorry that sentence is complete nonsense. Maybe check out the Bosnian war sometime……or even the American Civil war. Horrific events and it’s insane to even suppose that is any kind of option

    And where are the battle lines going to be drawn? Even states as conservative as Tennessee have big cities that are dominated by Democrats. Is there going to be a new nation whose map looks like a piece of Swiss Cheese, because the founding fathers don’t want territory with loads of enemy sympathizers? We’re going to have to find a way to live together.

    Most Civil Wars don’t result in splits in a nation, they are about who gets to run a country. The two English Civil Wars (War of the Roses and the English Civil War) were both about who would control England not how it would be divided up. The US Civil War was more of a failed war of independence in that aspect than a civil war. 

    Finding a way to live together could happen, but it requires the current left to become willing to not impose their way on everyone else. Since that isn’t likely conflict will happen, or they will whittle away at any freedoms until there isn’t anything else to take. 

    • #48
  19. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    Bryan, the vast majority of Americans are just not that interested in all things political. If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t. Even the parents of the girl that AirBnB banned are not “locked out of life”. They have tons of other options for lodging i would expect. Yes corporate wokeness is a bad thing but its an extreme leap to say that means 10s of millions of people wont be able to engage in banking. Defcon 12 rhetoric is scary and all but it’s not reality that we are going to become a country of Gulatgs or go back to 1860 America.

    In Canada, they weaponized banking against the protestors. Credit Card Companies are now tracking ammo and gun sales. The Government conspires with big tech to suppress free speech. Wrong think is being punished in front of us, daily. At some point, since there is no outcry, they will cross the wrong line. Maybe it will be going door to door to collect guns. Maybe something else.

    Cancel Culture is a dress rehearsal for genocide. That is how I see it. You can bury your head in the sand and go “tisk tisk” all you want, like how Henry does when people complain. That is your right. I am not engaging in “rhetoric” I am stating what I fear will happen. My goal is not to change any minds. Clearly, I will never change yours.

    There is “no outcry”??? Thats crazy man, there has been tons of outcry and pushback. I just mentioned whats going on in Florida. How about the govorners election in Virginia? Many states are passing laws to regulate or ban things like CRT and the like. Its not burying my head in the sand to object to overwrought hysterics like Cancel culture is a rehearsel for genocide. Banning someone from a social media site is not practicing to murder them.

    I swear I don’t know how some of you are able to get up in the morning and face the hellscape you imagine you live in.

    Strawman much?

    As is typical of almost all my interactions with you, you both use straw men and misrepresentation.

    It is sad and discouraging. I don’t treat you that way.

    Examples of what you say doesn’t exist is not a straw man. You literally said cancel culture is rehearsal for genocide. What the heck did I misrepresent? I did not use a strawman argument and I quoted you. My point is you see something legitimately objectionable and immediately go to the worst possible outcome as a near certainty.

    Something about waking up in a hellscape.

     

    Cool pick out one thing and ignore the rest.  Still not a straw man dude.  It is the impression you and others give when uou say we are steps away from genocide or that everyone is going to be rounded up in covid camps etc…..  Super super negative and pessimistic.  

    • #49
  20. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is why I think we are headed to a shoot out. Sectarian Civil war is coming.

    No its not

    I wish I thought you were right. I’d rather it not happen.

    But when tens of millions of people are locked out of daily life, unable to engage in even banking, there will be little left for them to do.

     

    Bryan, the vast majority of Americans are just not that interested in all things political. If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t. Even the parents of the girl that AirBnB banned are not “locked out of life”. They have tons of other options for lodging i would expect. Yes corporate wokeness is a bad thing but its an extreme leap to say that means 10s of millions of people wont be able to engage in banking. Defcon 12 rhetoric is scary and all but it’s not reality that we are going to become a country of Gulatgs or go back to 1860 America.

    In Canada, they weaponized banking against the protestors. Credit Card Companies are now tracking ammo and gun sales. The Government conspires with big tech to suppress free speech. Wrong think is being punished in front of us, daily. At some point, since there is no outcry, they will cross the wrong line. Maybe it will be going door to door to collect guns. Maybe something else.

    Cancel Culture is a dress rehearsal for genocide. That is how I see it. You can bury your head in the sand and go “tisk tisk” all you want, like how Henry does when people complain. That is your right. I am not engaging in “rhetoric” I am stating what I fear will happen. My goal is not to change any minds. Clearly, I will never change yours.

    There is “no outcry”??? Thats crazy man, there has been tons of outcry and pushback. I just mentioned whats going on in Florida. How about the govorners election in Virginia? Many states are passing laws to regulate or ban things like CRT and the like. Its not burying my head in the sand to object to overwrought hysterics like Cancel culture is a rehearsel for genocide. Banning someone from a social media site is not practicing to murder them.

    I swear I don’t know how some of you are able to get up in the morning and face the hellscape you imagine you live in.

    Strawman much?

    As is typical of almost all my interactions with you, you both use straw men and misrepresentation.

    It is sad and discouraging. I don’t treat you that way.

    Examples of what you say doesn’t exist is not a straw man. You literally said cancel culture is rehearsal for genocide. What the heck did I misrepresent? I did not use a strawman argument and I quoted you. My point is you see something legitimately objectionable and immediately go to the worst possible outcome as a near certainty.

    Something about waking up in a hellscape.

     

    Cool pick out one thing and ignore the rest. Still not a straw man dude. It is the impression you and others give when uou say we are steps away from genocide or that everyone is going to be rounded up in covid camps etc….. Super super negative and pessimistic.

    I see it as Realistic, but I don’t deride your vision of things. 

    • #50
  21. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    But I am the nutty one

    https://amgreatness.com/2023/02/09/righteous-tyrants/

     

    • #51
  22. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    David C. Broussard: “Comrade Lenin just today said that eating meat every meal is wasteful and good Soviet men should only beat meat once a day at dinner. What do you think of that?”

    That’s a very unfortunate typo that you should probably correct…

    No, I’ll see that comments are closed on this post before anyone gets to correct an unseemly typo.  But I’m not bitter about it or anything.

    • #52
  23. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    Chris O (View Comment):
    What if, instead, they had results? Good gravy, that’s something approaching “successes.”

    I think the GOP has figured out it’s more profitable to be controlled opposition; to fundraise off how bad Democrats are while doing nothing substantive to oppose them.

    They just re-elected a five time loser as their chairperson.

    I’m converting to the opinion that nothing that has anything to do with legislation bettering the country has anything to do with legislators.  Being a legislator is like entering La Cosa Nostra.  Is there any other profession in which relatively average and unimpressive people can become very wealthy in ten years with no responsibility to produce or achieve anything?

    • #53
  24. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Zafar (View Comment):

    Lauren Southern’s parents removed from BnB! Next cancelling: Uber Eats. Let Laura Loomer be their inspiration.

    (Seriously that’s crazy. Her parents have suffered enough. Why is BnB adding to their pain?)

    What do you mean they’ve suffered enough?

    • #54
  25. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):
    If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t.

    I not sure I understand what point you are trying to put across here. I think we all know that most Americans are not on Twitter and probably don’t pay much attention to what goes on there, at least in any organized way.

    But it appears that the FBI had partnered with Twitter Executives with regard to a number of issues of really significant importance affecting the medical community during the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election with regard to Hunter Biden’s laptop. We don’t know the extent of these effects but they were surely not trivial since they extend over numerous information platforms beyond Twitter.

    Sorry i wasn’t clear there. My point was that most people are (thankfully) not hyper politically involved like the people on Twitter, or Ricochet for that matter, and there is no way they are going to end up in a shooting war over this crap. of course now that I think about it neither will twitter users or Ricochet posters. Writing angry posts or tweets does not a soldier make.

    But look what happens with social credit scores.  People may not be interested in the government, but the government is very interested in you.

    • #55
  26. Gazpacho Grande' Coolidge
    Gazpacho Grande'
    @ChrisCampion

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Gazpacho Grande’ (View Comment):

    Sandy (View Comment):

    People use the Independent label for many reasons, including a dislike of what seems to be required of membership in any party (see, for instance, the Soviet joke in the OP). No doubt some do it just because they don’t want to be identified with a particular party, e.g., Republicans-at-heart in a blue area, Democrats-at-heart in a red area. There is a difference in this matter between the parties, however. I suspect that whatever an apparently die-hard Republican Ricochet member calls himself publicly, he most likely considers himself in fact to be an independent–or he would like to be an independent if he could ever find a Democrat to vote for. This is probably not true, however, of Democrats, who appear to cling to their party no matter what, and have an outstanding capacity to ignore its failings.

    This is spot-on, and gently stated.

    No, I will never vote for any Democrat. I adhere to the Mike Rosen Principle: majorities matter. It’s not what any one member of the Democrat party stands for — it’s what the majority believes and does. The Democrats are the Party of Death and Destruction.

    Now, if by “Independent” you mean free-thinker (or just “thinker” — or even just “free”), then I believe it is descriptive of most die-hard Republican Ricochet members. I am often astonished by how shallow the thinking is on the Left. Lefties rarely seem to ask themselves, “and then what?” Or, if they do, the answer is, “Utopia!!” Meaning exactly nowhere.

    Didn’t say you were, nor did I try to imply this was a good idea – nothing pisses me off more than some flaccid excuse about voting conscience or that Republican is bad, so that makes this Democrat the right choice in any part of a ballot.

    Things are bad enough.  Bleeding votes off from an already weak situation to the other side is unconscionable.  

    • #56
  27. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):
    If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t.

    I not sure I understand what point you are trying to put across here. I think we all know that most Americans are not on Twitter and probably don’t pay much attention to what goes on there, at least in any organized way.

    But it appears that the FBI had partnered with Twitter Executives with regard to a number of issues of really significant importance affecting the medical community during the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election with regard to Hunter Biden’s laptop. We don’t know the extent of these effects but they were surely not trivial since they extend over numerous information platforms beyond Twitter.

    Sorry i wasn’t clear there. My point was that most people are (thankfully) not hyper politically involved like the people on Twitter, or Ricochet for that matter, and there is no way they are going to end up in a shooting war over this crap. of course now that I think about it neither will twitter users or Ricochet posters. Writing angry posts or tweets does not a soldier make.

    But look what happens with social credit scores. People may not be interested in the government, but the government is very interested in you.

    It’s not just the government, though. Just because my neighbors aren’t that politically interested does not mean my medical doctor isn’t. It’s where the politically invested exist and their level of control, in government AND critical businesses/institutions that is of concern to those whose views are significantly different from the culture.

    One of the reasons I stopped posting on facebook was because there were women whose husbands were losing their jobs because of what the women said on social media. That was 8 years ago! It is so much worse now AND the culture is far more differentiated from my values, views and thinking than it was then.

    • #57
  28. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Stina (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):
    If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t.

    I not sure I understand what point you are trying to put across here. I think we all know that most Americans are not on Twitter and probably don’t pay much attention to what goes on there, at least in any organized way.

    But it appears that the FBI had partnered with Twitter Executives with regard to a number of issues of really significant importance affecting the medical community during the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election with regard to Hunter Biden’s laptop. We don’t know the extent of these effects but they were surely not trivial since they extend over numerous information platforms beyond Twitter.

    Sorry i wasn’t clear there. My point was that most people are (thankfully) not hyper politically involved like the people on Twitter, or Ricochet for that matter, and there is no way they are going to end up in a shooting war over this crap. of course now that I think about it neither will twitter users or Ricochet posters. Writing angry posts or tweets does not a soldier make.

    But look what happens with social credit scores. People may not be interested in the government, but the government is very interested in you.

    It’s not just the government, though. Just because my neighbors aren’t that politically interested does not mean my medical doctor isn’t. It’s where the politically invested exist and their level of control, in government AND critical businesses/institutions that is of concern to those whose views are significantly different from the culture.

    One of the reasons I stopped posting on facebook was because there were women whose husbands were losing their jobs because of what the women said on social media. That was 8 years ago! It is so much worse now AND the culture is far more differentiated from my values, views and thinking than it was then.

    But nothing 5o see here. We are just upset over nothing. Spreading negativity,  don’t you knwo?

    • #58
  29. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):
    If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t.

    I not sure I understand what point you are trying to put across here. I think we all know that most Americans are not on Twitter and probably don’t pay much attention to what goes on there, at least in any organized way.

    But it appears that the FBI had partnered with Twitter Executives with regard to a number of issues of really significant importance affecting the medical community during the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election with regard to Hunter Biden’s laptop. We don’t know the extent of these effects but they were surely not trivial since they extend over numerous information platforms beyond Twitter.

    Sorry i wasn’t clear there. My point was that most people are (thankfully) not hyper politically involved like the people on Twitter, or Ricochet for that matter, and there is no way they are going to end up in a shooting war over this crap. of course now that I think about it neither will twitter users or Ricochet posters. Writing angry posts or tweets does not a soldier make.

    But look what happens with social credit scores. People may not be interested in the government, but the government is very interested in you.

    It’s not just the government, though. Just because my neighbors aren’t that politically interested does not mean my medical doctor isn’t. It’s where the politically invested exist and their level of control, in government AND critical businesses/institutions that is of concern to those whose views are significantly different from the culture.

    One of the reasons I stopped posting on facebook was because there were women whose husbands were losing their jobs because of what the women said on social media. That was 8 years ago! It is so much worse now AND the culture is far more differentiated from my values, views and thinking than it was then.

    But nothing 5o see here. We are just upset over nothing. Spreading negativity, don’t you knwo?

    I get the feeling he is happy and comfortable with no threats.

    Currently, I can relate. However, after the COVID vaccine and mask mandates and school closures and now with the difficulty in keeping good books in my children’s hands without and modern junk wormed in, I can’t take anything for granted.

    So I look comfortable, but being on top of the culture for my kids’ sake is exhausting. And it makes being a Christian parent harder.

    • #59
  30. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Stina (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Concretevol (View Comment):
    If Twitter was an actual representation of the population there might be a risk of some sort of fighting but thankfully it isn’t.

    I not sure I understand what point you are trying to put across here. I think we all know that most Americans are not on Twitter and probably don’t pay much attention to what goes on there, at least in any organized way.

    But it appears that the FBI had partnered with Twitter Executives with regard to a number of issues of really significant importance affecting the medical community during the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election with regard to Hunter Biden’s laptop. We don’t know the extent of these effects but they were surely not trivial since they extend over numerous information platforms beyond Twitter.

    Sorry i wasn’t clear there. My point was that most people are (thankfully) not hyper politically involved like the people on Twitter, or Ricochet for that matter, and there is no way they are going to end up in a shooting war over this crap. of course now that I think about it neither will twitter users or Ricochet posters. Writing angry posts or tweets does not a soldier make.

    But look what happens with social credit scores. People may not be interested in the government, but the government is very interested in you.

    It’s not just the government, though. Just because my neighbors aren’t that politically interested does not mean my medical doctor isn’t. It’s where the politically invested exist and their level of control, in government AND critical businesses/institutions that is of concern to those whose views are significantly different from the culture.

    One of the reasons I stopped posting on facebook was because there were women whose husbands were losing their jobs because of what the women said on social media. That was 8 years ago! It is so much worse now AND the culture is far more differentiated from my values, views and thinking than it was then.

    But nothing 5o see here. We are just upset over nothing. Spreading negativity, don’t you knwo?

    I get the feeling he is happy and comfortable with no threats.

    Currently, I can relate. However, after the COVID vaccine and mask mandates and school closures and now with the difficulty in keeping good books in my children’s hands without and modern junk wormed in, I can’t take anything for granted.

    So I look comfortable, but being on top of the culture for my kids’ sake is exhausting. And it makes being a Christian parent harder.

    Maybe my issue is, I see the damage done, daily, in the people I serve. 

    • #60
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