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The Focus of Rage
President Donald J. Trump has posted to X his own mugshot with the admonition to never surrender.
There is a deep current of unsettlement in the country — more so than in 2015. Things are worse, much worse.
National debt is unimaginable even though modern monetary theorists remain unworried as they believe each successive generation can mortgage the future of the next into infinity. But debt equals inflation. Inflation immiserates anyone incapable of producing income to keep up. Immiserated people are poor consumers, and so immiseration affects demand, which might dampen prices but for the disappearance of some number of suppliers when demand dries up. The disappearance is masked, thus favored by central planners, by mega suppliers — Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Target — who do not disappear like the small Main Street family business.
The destruction of small family businesses means you have to drive greater distances to buy from the mega suppliers. At least you had to, but we are being conditioned to stay at home and have things delivered to us. This offsets the pain at the pump if you aren’t driving the added distance, having elected not to move to the mega hives that central planners want for cities. This delivery revolution is just in time to service those fleeing cities due to crime and chaos.
Another delivery revolution is the internet-facilitated distributed workforce. We learned during the plandemic that it was possible to pretend we were working remotely. Of course, productivity took a hit, but what could you expect during an “emergency”? Customer service degraded, but we were being conditioned to that already by a shift in generations of workers from those that we encouraged to take the extra mile for the customer to those who were taught that they “didn’t have to sit there and listen to criticism.” Heard the “whatever, Boomer” insult lately?
The healthcare revolution Obama promised is now in full force. Doctors don’t have patients, health systems do. And, with some noticeable exceptions, care delivery is homogenized and impersonal. The good news is that the co-pays are low or nonexistent, the bad news is that treatment costs are driven as low as possible with few outlets for complaint, few options for alternatives unless you have a “boutique” physician available in your area. And even then, the health system may not exchange information with your “boutique” physician thus degrading his/her care for you or putting additional burdens on you to get the information your physician needs.
“You get what you pay for” is a lesson every generation has to learn. But as the collectivization mentality spreads through our education system, the successive generations are conditioned to unquestioningly accept and not know how poorly they are being served by the central planners. If you don’t know how low expectations can be driven through central planning and how incomprehensible a normal American life in the 20th Century can be, read Yoenmi Park’s book, While Time Remains: A North Korean Defector’s Search for Freedom in America.
The open borders have brought millions into the country since January 2021. Poorly vetted, insanely subsidized, this new migration adds to the immiseration of the people. This immiseration is in two dimensions — public assistance at the state and federal level and lower wages for low or unskilled labor. Even if you discount any claims at all associated with gang movements, drugs, Chinese agents, or human trafficking, even American-loving migrants are a drain on the country and its citizens. Remittances represent an outflow of capital to countries of origin as opposed to spending within the US. All things being equal in a couple of generations this migration might be a great source of productive wealth in this country, but only if the borders are sealed. Otherwise the continued flow will simply continue to the immiseration until an equilibrium exists between all immiserated peoples of the world.
Of course, that assumes that we are not all caught up in a nuclear holocaust. For most of my life I discounted the nuclear clock with its “90 seconds to midnight” alarmism. I assumed rational actors and mutually assured destruction would keep the nuclear risk in check. Yes, you had North Korea and the fear of a Black Swan EMP launch to bring America to its knees. But President Trump seemed to keep North Korea in check, and the Israelis seemed to have the Iranian mullahs nuclear capability in check. But neither of these things seem operative at the moment. And we seem to be “tickling the dragon” with Vladimir Putin and the Russians in Ukraine.
All of these things, and others that I have not mentioned, generate a sense of unease at a minimum and an alarm for some number of our 350 million US residents. As things ramp up, like the overpressure developed in the infinitesimal short periods of a hydrogen bomb ignition, that releases enormous destructive energy. Focused energy to a single point. In sociological terms, a point of rage.
President Trump is our point of rage for all the various points on the political spectrum. As Peter Turchin predicted in his book End Times, someone was going to be that point when popular immiseration and elite overproduction are in high gear. President Trump was self-selected in 2015, but he is the persistent, always and forever target of the UniParty and Deep State and will be so until he is destroyed or triumphant. The mask is off for everyone to see. The great sorting is underway. It didn’t have to be this way but the Critical Theorists’ vision is becoming true: you are either oppressor or oppressed.
At some future time, all we are experiencing will be dismantled and replaced. We do not know the time and who, now, will be there when that future arrives. But destroying Trump is not the path to Nirvana. His destruction is the template for all that will follow. Resist now, or submit.
Published in General
My favorite fake felony Dem DA BS mug shot was Rick Perry’s.
Drew’s comment may come as close to what I was trying to figure out: do we have any kind of models that would help us through these times? We know that complying is a mistake, although some people will comply because they are afraid to do otherwise. Or worse yet, they don’t realize that current events are not just inconvenient, but they are destroying our way of life.And I fear that rage is inevitable, when people realize the degree to which they have been betrayed or manipulated. But is there any way to somehow use the rage productively without falling into complete anarchy?
It’s been depressing for the last year and a half to listen to all the Ukrainian-flag-in-bio types who drank heavily of the Russian Collusion Hoax to blather on about “Imagine the Ukraine situation if Trump was in office. The Putin toady would be giving Ukraine to Russia”. I don’t have to imagine it. We have four years of evidence. Putin didn’t go anywhere and only moved after he perceived weakness in American leadership. Trump’s energy policies made America strong and by extension weakened Russia. He warned Germany about where their reliance on Russian energy would lead them and they laughed at him.
Cynically – it seems all those “other” ways have been/are being tried. Historically, being nice and cooperative while objecting hasn’t worked. POWER has never willingly relinquished power.
I can only think of this model:
Productively arrange battalions of local militias who can quickly organize into a fighting force against the coming tyranny. They should be able to prepare for battle very quickly. We could call them “Minutemen.”
Yes.
When so called conservatives reject that the People do not have the right to alter or abolish the government, they show they are no better than the Tories, willing to let the British kill fellow Americans.
Question here: Is that the actual mug shot? If so, it doesn’t look like any mug shot I’ve seen before which have things like lines indicating height in the background.
I am having a hard time with this anymore. The Democrats rule the government. When they screwed up and let trump win in 2016 they lost their minds. We know now our government, are law is a joke. As honest as the mafia, maybe less so. Trump lost 2020 just like he or any GOP will lose 2024. All of this is government stealing money and playing bread and circuses. The worry now is if you back Trump, maybe even vote about him you may be jailed. Getting be time to leave social media and but your head down and be quiet.
I’ve seen a bunch of those mug shots from all the others they arrested, such as John Eastman for the sin of advising President Trump. They all look like that.
And yeah, it’s weird.
The Mafia had a sort of honor code.
I don’t think our government has any honor. Or any concept of it.
No question about it. That’s pretty much what all these arrests, in Georgia, in Michigan, (Arizona’s next) are all about. If you dared side with or vocally support Trump, you’re toast.
But what can we do? Pretend to go along with Democrats to save ourselves?
I’ve mentioned to several local businesses that if masks again are required I will not comply. Are they okay with that?
So far, all Yeses.
I was gonna like your comment, but I just can’t. It’s too depressing.
You’re depressed that the businesses are okay if I don’t comply?
Did you miss the CDC document that confirms that masks do not protect from infection or transmission?
Or the other CDC document that confirms that extended use of a mask is dangerous?
I’m going to guess that his depression might come from even needing to ask the question. You two are on the same side, I expect.
Interesting. I interpreted “Are they okay with that? So far, all Yeses,” to mean they were okay with losing your business since you wouldn’t be complying. They would not budge on the policy.
Communication is not simple. :) :)
Oh, I read it the other way – that these businesses would be OK with re-instituting mask mandates.
It’s the actual shot (the decorative parts were added by somebody to make it a horizontal image). The background was plain.
Here is an article at the time with the photo.
Wow. 8 likes for this one already.
If you’re not prepared to engage in treason and rebellion, then you’re the bad guy.
I do think that you’re right about this being our founding doctrine. It is contrary to Christian teaching, I think. Do you apply it to the Confederacy, too?
Why in Earth do you call yourself a patriot? Clearly that is as much a lie as Democratic Republic dictatorship.
Jerry, you don’t believe in liberty or freedom. You believe slavery is compatible with Christianity. You don’t think people should vote unless they are married with children.
In short, I find you to be as malevolent as any leftist. Your stated wants is to reduce the rights of others. Anyone who wants to reduce the rights of others is the enemy of freedom and free peoples.
Anyone who repudiates the Founders is unAmerican.
So Lincoln, who repudiated the Founders by refusing to concede the independence of the Confederacy, was unAmerican. Is that right?
You do mischaracterize some of my positions, but whatever. You are correct that I concluded, based on the clear teaching of Scripture, that slavery is not a sin in either the Old or New Testament.
(I like the part about my not believing in liberty or freedom. Do I also not believe in frijoles or beans?)
I do think that the Declaration of Independence contains some dangerous and incomplete rhetoric, which was, thankfully, not taken very seriously by the Founders as a practical matter. They were in a tough position, trying to justify a rebellion without much basis for it.
Now you are the one who seems to be supporting rebellion against the very government established by our Founders, and accusing me of being unAmerican for questioning your position.
I also find it interesting that you seem unable to view things from the perspective of the other side. This strikes me as strange, for a professional counselor. The specific example is your identification of people opposed to the American rebellion as “Tories” who were “willing to let the British kill fellow Americans.” From the Tory point of view, everyone involved was British, and the duly established government was fighting rebels.
Horseshoe Theory in action.
The U.S. Government is unAmerican, Jerry.
Cute but no cigar.
No I don’t. You are OK with slavery.
YYou are wrong. You have a right to be so.
I am supporting changing government.
Tories were traitors to the new state.
Heh.
You are supporting changing government BY VIOLENT REVOLUTION, Bryan. That’s the issue here. That’s what you’re supporting, open rebellion and treason against our country.
And you question my patriotism.
I find this very disturbing. I suppose that the victors write the history, so if the rebels win, then those supporting the former lawful government become “traitors.” Your words, Bryan. According to you, it’s treason not to take up arms against the government, if the rebels win.
So in your world view, actual, open treason against the Constitution becomes not just permissible, but mandatory. It’s maintaining allegiance to the Constitution that would make one a traitor.
I hope that you’re seeing the problem with the doctrine stated in our Declaration.
In my case, I actually am sworn, as an officer of the Court, to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. So I’m not going to casually advocate rebellion.
On a final issue, you remain incorrect about my position on slavery. I do not consider slavery immoral, as the Bible does not identify it as a sin. I do not advocate the return of slavery, for practical reasons. I stated this in my post on the issue.
I am an adherent.
Anyone who wants the iron fist of government to enforce their preferences is a fellow traveler.
One more point, Bryan. I ran out of space before. I want to focus on this part:
It’s not cute, and you have no answer here. That’s a problem. Your ideas don’t hold up, and are contradicted by actions of Lincoln himself.
So you make a snide remark, instead of thinking about it.
It’s a difficult problem. We have a country founded in a revolution that was, from a Christian standpoint, unjustified. But it happened, and we have to live with the consequences. I don’t have a problem with this, as I don’t feel the need to re-litigate the past. There was a rebellion, and the King ultimately recognized the independence of the United States, so the country was established. It then adopted a new government under the Constitution, with a more complete statement of the purpose of that government.
Which is not just, as I think Jonah Goldberg once said, “frickin’ Liberty.” Liberty was one of six values listed in the Constitution:
I did a lengthy prior post on this one, too, here, about 3 1/2 years ago, in which I extracted 11 principles from the Constitution and Declaration. Liberty was one of them, but only one of 11.
I guess that I should circle back to your initial point in #21 above, your statement that I “don’t believe in liberty or freedom.” I do, and I think that they are one and the same — thus the frijoles and beans wisecrack — but I don’t just believe in liberty as the sole value.
I think that it is quite misguided to elevate liberty to the supreme value, and this was not the approach taken by our Founders.
There is more to these questions than the Schoolhouse Rock version, as entertaining as they were.
Nope. The U.S. Government is already committing treason against the Constitution.
We must find a way to return to Constitutional Order, and that might require, in the words of the founders, “to abolish [the current government], and to institute new Government.”
They didn’t call themselves the Sons of Liberty for nothin’.