The Fabian’s

The Fabian’s

After world war one, the time of Winston Churchill and Great Britain, there was a group of individuals, mostly men, that spoke about progressive ideas that would create equity. It was the Labour Party, evolved from the late 1800‘s  Fabian society. One of its leaders was George Bernard Shaw, noted for his writing skills and ability to influence with his talent for words. It was the time too when Karl Marx communist manifesto was being touted.  It was not the first time Socialism was addressed, but it was now being presented in a thriving capitalistic society, and embraced by political factions. So the Fabians are not a family, that is of parents and children, mother, father, but more of a family that is oriented towards more governmental oversight; the head of household is politically progressive. It would recognize that not everyone’s parents are equal in their ability to educate, cultivate, develop their children and a society, or government, takes on the role of overseer. Similarly in the workplace there were concerns about the equality of opportunity, which on the surface seems a rational approach, but is impossible to achieve. From the book Churchill’s Trial, authored by Larry P Arnn,  “most socialists believe a socialist state would be ethical, that is, right, and good, because it would make a way for all to live equally well, and it would suppress or overcome the selfishness in man.“ (pg. 133). It should be noted that the Fabian’s were predominantly atheists, as today are the majority of socialist and progressives.

Winston Churchill is the most prominent individual to speak out against Socialism since its inception and increasing presence in bureaucracy during his extensive political career.  He felt strongly that individualism was essential to the character of a human being, and that socialist exercises inherently reduce freedom of expression, ideas, and opportunity, while at the same time mitigating individual freedom. He felt strongly that even a poor man was stronger when his individual freedoms were maintained, his manhood enhanced. To cite Churchill, “the inherent place of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent virtue of Socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”  During World War II he may have been the closest in understanding Nazism and Russia’s communism. He saw elements of Socialism close up. And he provided a warning that as Socialism progresses in a society, there arises the need, by the socialists, of what amounts to a police state. And he also said that Socialism “leads inevitably to communism” and the “sacrifice of personal individual liberties.“ (from an election address February 15, 1950). Churchill felt also that the best citizens of the society were independent people. Those more dependent on society were neither effective in advancing the nations in which they lived nor objective and fair to all people. Socialism limits objectivity.  

Excepted from the Churchill Trials book. Churchill expressed a critical concern for Socialism’s need for control of the population (from a speech June 4, 1945, during an election campaign):

“I declare to you, from the bottom of my heart, that no socialist system can be established without a political police. Many of those who are advocating Socialism or voting socialist today will be horrified at this idea. That is because they are shortsighted, that is because they do not see where their theories are leading them. No socialist government conducting the entire life and industry of the country could afford to allow free, sharp, or violently-worded expressions of public discontent. They would have to fall back on some form of Gestapo, no doubt very humanely directed in the first instance.”

When I first read this quote, I thought of the Biden administration‘s efforts, using the DOJ and the FBI to suppress information on the Hunter Biden exposé, the ‘laptop,’ and the use of Twitter (and other social media), silencing voices, users, even those individuals that opposed candidates for political office that were not Democrats, or spoke out against the current administration or praised the opposition, such as Trump.

When you take a deeper dive into this whole idea of Socialism, its impact on freedoms that we love in America, there has clearly been an ongoing effort to orient Americans towards more progressive ideas and methodology. Since the establishment of the Department of Labor in the early 1900s we have seen evidence of support for Institutions that mitigate individualism in favor of more collective groups. I find labor unions, particularly oppressive towards productivity and open mindedness. Indeed, unions were intended to protect workers from greedy capitalists, and that point was made, however, they have evolved into a more protective class that is heavily liberal in their thinking and political orientation. They have become a favorite group for leftists who see them as a voting bloc and therefore support their growth. This is true today in Michigan where the current governor wants to overturn legislation that supports “right to work“ favoring all employees required to join Unions.  During the Covid spell teachers unions went out of their way to protect teachers, neglecting the students whose job it is for them to educate. The quality of education in our nation, especially at the public school level has declined dramatically. Recent statistics noted that America ranks first in the world in spending per capita to teach a child, but ranks 26th or 27th in outcomes. My argument is that the cost of education and the quality of education in public schools is a result of teachers Unions and the focus they have protecting teachers regardless of their effectiveness. This union needs to be mindful that without students they have no purpose. Tenure is not helpful. Rewarding merit would be.  Incentives aide productivity while entitlements lessen results.  Parents need a greater say in who teaches, who continues to teach, how and what they teach, not the union nor the government. 

And where we are today as a nation in our teaching of children, from elementary school, through college, began well before Covid. 

The progressives have been very effective at introducing a means of indoctrinating children with their ideology, favoring a managerial collective, against family, against God, and against individualism. And what is suppressed is freedom.  The term ‘progressive’ is misappropriated as it is not progress at all if you want your freedom, your personal thoughts and individualism maintained to the highest degree. Once the children are indoctrinated, they become teachers themselves, they become leaders in business, they bring their thinking to the political theater, and they become the journalists, or what seems to be more ‘opinionistas’ in media today. What is referred to as the main stream media is now a cabal of newspapers, cable television, public television, and social media (Facebook, instagram, tik-toc, et al) that says the same thing, or ignores the same issues. They do not have the whole audience, readers and viewers, hearing the whole story, but those stories that they want to tell in the fashion they prefer their stories, their views, be heard. And their reporting is oriented more towards the progressive, or the entitled class, the more dependent elements of society, by their definition. Media outlets that speak with a different viewpoint, or share truths that conflict with the progressive perceived ideology, become targets for ridicule and at times removal. For the socialist, the progressive, this main stream media has become their police force. 

A powerful wholly indoctrinated ‘humanely directed’ system was built patiently overtime to become a cudgel against capitalism, family, and God, enabling socialism to creep deep into our American way of life. In Government also the employee base is largely well indoctrinated clones of progressive ideology, an ideology many do not fully understand. Raised by society persons have been weakened, even broken, to include family relationships. Proof is in the number of fatherless homes and the decline in marriages for the purpose of having family and raising children.

But I will always claim children of a strong family, mothers and fathers that love, that care, that educate, that guide, will be successful.  Faith is important too in forming capable individuals.  They will embrace their individualism. They will understand diversity is not color, but ideas and talents and skills and thoughts to be shared, discussed, and debated and that racism is a myth.

The liberal sphere of influence continues to fight the ideal of family and religion, because they perceive inequity results. Meaning there will be individuals that will excel more than others. Socialism wants everything the same, all bulbs to burn at the same brightness, even if that is dull. 

Racism is a tool to create division, as is climate control, and the abuse of science. Of greater concern is ignoring scientific evidence for political purposes. Such division is obviously destructive to a cohesive sovereign society of shared voices and values. Within the boundaries of a successful country protections are needed to insure a person’s safety, opportunity, freedom, and individualism. If within those boundaries internal factions reorient the purpose, taking advantage of a base created for power, for profit, and for control, hiding behind a screen of verbal claims of progress and inclusivity, the majority looses their voice and their vote, the only means of change they have.  Then the Fabian’s are winning. A surreptitious police state less obvious than that of China, Iran, Russia, even when Hitler was in power, has taken hold. That is dangerous.  Opposing voices will not surface, or if they do they will be shot, figuratively or actually. There will be misery.

America needs to change. Elon Musk has opened the eyes of many. The overwhelming surge of illegal immigrants is finally coming into view. There are even some in the main stream media that are finally speaking out. Are we seeing a change. Will the progressive minority in control continue to suppress, or the silent majority finally rise up and find a way to restore America’s strength, individualism, complete freedom, and open mindedness. Will the debate have two sides that will listen and maybe even change their view at times. Will our education system have parents fighting back to ensure children are educated as a parent would want them taught, not as a progressive society that would say no homework because of advantages to children with parents at home to help them, or having all students receive the grade of A because of the embarrassment to failing students. The socialist/progressive/liberal protects  those less engaged or even less interested, say it, ‘lazy.’  Using entitlements they are even rewarded, paid and need not work as hard as others. 

We need to stop the efforts in dumbing down Americans. We can be as smart or smarter than other nations as we have historically been. To do so we must be the best at educating, the most creative, productive and efficient in manufacturing. Not the most diverse, the most environmentally conscious, or the most socially conscious as a primary objective. ESG measures cannot be the prime focus of any business if it wants to be the most competitive. We need to provide the incentives to be better. I believe in a meritocracy, in work, in education, and in life.  Will there be change? Can there be change? We can only pray? But we can embrace the work ethic, not discredit those who try, who strive. 

Success will always come to those that get off the dependency train, do not seek handouts, do not blame some manufactured ‘system’ for their plight, but raise above and seek and find the best in themselves. That is how the majority, I truly believe, thinks. And for those that are poor, handicapped, and in need, the good will find a way to care for them. Church life is a heart beating for those seeking to help others and to be helped, for the privileged and the underprivileged. The progressives do not like church or what it represents as they are embarrassed by the truth, how churches help others efficiently and effectively. A dollar helping the needy from a church is a dollar, while a welfare dollar has a bureaucracy cost to it that inflates the cost of a dollar to the needy to a figure far greater. They do not understand volunteering as a person of faith, as a child of God. Why not? What is wrong with that? Is it too much competition? I do not believe we are a nation with 72 different sexes, or that men can have babies, even a person born a man or woman can ever fully be the opposite, no matter what a doctor can achieve. But you can be an individual, accepted as you want to be, just not deny reality or truth. 

If, as the progressive, we cater to the C student, the underachiever, or the marginal factions, the only result can be lower standards, less quality, imperfections, bad medicine, a weaker military, less innovation, and less progress.  In his anti-Socialism stance Churchill said, “it would be highly infertile, and the mass of the people would be much worse off under an all-embracing bureaucracy.“ Progress is a myth under socialism or progressivism. Why, because  the pace of an advancing society, the speed at improving the lives of all Americans, all people’s, must necessarily be at the pace or speed of the slowest and the weakest among us. 

American cannot be a Fabian Society. It is heading that way, but the pendulum will return and that which made America the most successful in history, an example to all other nations, a beacon to follow, an exemplar, will return. We did not achieve our world position as a socialist nation. There has never been a successful socialist nation. Try to name one. Find one in history. There are those that have profited handsomely as a leader in such societies, but never the people. They have lived in the doldrums. 

Keep America’s lights as bright as possible. The corruption needed for the liberals, the progressives, to continue will not be tolerated. If it is we become more like Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, and other’s that went from Fabian to socialism to communism thinking it the perfect utopia to what they are in fact, dictatorships and police states. 

In America we have failed States, California the leading example. Let this not lead to a failed nation with a family clan the only financial beneficiary. All Americans benefit most in what may be an imperfect system called ‘capitalism,’ but it works best for freedom loving independent minded objective people. 

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

Note: The Fabian Society is a British socialist organisation whose purpose is to advance the principles of social democracy and democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist effort in democracies, rather than by revolutionaryoverthrow

More Wokeness - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) - Caveat Emptor - Defend Our Freedom

 

More Wokeness - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) - Caveat Emptor - Defend Our Freedom

If you were required as an educator to sign a pledge to apply in all your teaching and programs the liberal points of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” how would that make you feel. My reaction was, ‘Is this the USA?’ It is a stepping stone to liberal woke totalitarianism. Do you agree? Would you sign? Would you sign if it meant losing your job if you did not? Or might you consider this too kafkaesque? 

We are allowing our Nation to be compromised by the woke leftists. From global warming, to climate change, to fossil fuel frenzied fanatics, to stimulus & entitlements more socialistic and inflationary in nature, to a disdain for capitalism, pronoun insanity, a disturbing resistance to freedom, especially freedom of speech, a dislike of family, God and patriotism, and constant expressions of hatred for America’s history, progress, and greatness, we are allowing our Nation to become weak, soft, overly comfortable, too materialistic, and spiritually depleted. 

The majority are not woke, but the joke is on them, because the majority is allowing it to happen. The liberal leftest termites are eating away at the foundations of our Nation, from the basements of our education system, to our capital, our churches and our neighborhoods. To curb and eventually change this trend, even reverse it, the majority, the non-woke, need to become more aware, awake, alive and active in saying ‘no.’ It is the voting public that has enabled this to happen. If you do not love America, then leave it. But where would you go? If you love America then follow the facts, seek the truth, know the lies, the propaganda, recognize the deceit and defend our freedom. Vote into office experienced, strong, capable, intelligent, proven leaders. 

If we have to defend our freedom from an invading species, would you or your children enlist, fight, or sacrifice to protect our Constitution, our culture, our way of life? Or would the invaders be allowed to have their way with us to preserve the peace, and your security.  Many nations allowed the loudest voices, the dictators, the elite to take control of their countries just to live under a totalitarian regime. Others ignored what was taking place, as when Stalin was killing 40,000 each month to eliminate those that objected to his ideology and command. Even America ignored, or were ignorant of the truth. The propaganda from the Soviet politburo was accepted. America wanted to be left at peace while many nations after WWII fell to the dictates of socialist ideologies that always benefitted the elite, those closest and in line with the administrations, and never the citizens, the quiet and the suppressed and oppressed populations, the enablers. Once firm in our resolve to see a world, many nations, free of tyranny, we slowly lost our willingness to deal with it all. It was noticeable.

Even when residents of controlling regimes wanted to leave emigration was denied, with death as punishment for those that resisted or tried to leave. Why leave a superior Nation, unless it was not; which a socialist, communist nation, has never been. Oddly history proves that socialist nations rely only on natural resources that God blessed their lands. Never productive nations, as they relied on goods and services provided by the industrious, the prosperous, the capitalistic countries.  Russia entered space with equipment and technology sourced elsewhere.  And all too often the communist, socialist, totalitarian regimes, turned to the more successful freer nations when there was famine or a disaster. They did not even have the ability, the agricultural skills, to feed their own. America was always there to provide aide. Should we have? All too often there was no gratitude for the bailout, we were still the American Imperialists, the Nation to be hated, the failing capitalist entity, the example of a failure, so promoted, that suggested a socialistic way, ideology, was best. Best for whom, yes, the elite. 

America continues to lose its position in the world. We are too ready to supply our enemies with materials and technology.  That works to our detriment.  Why do it?  It’s the money. We seem prepared at any moment to provide aide to failing socialist regimes, for the good of their people, so it is said, while in reality enriching the elite few. The elite then lie to us, and their people, and we blindly believe we are doing a world of good. Are we? Why do we have such a great sense of guilt. 

We have nothing to be guilty about; in just a short period from our inception as a Nation, a capitalistic work ethic and model, God fearing too, not a monarchy nor socialist totalitarian regime, a republic, we became after WWII, in less than 200 years from inception, the clear leader of the world, the free world and otherwise. But the growing woke within our culture and our institutions have created a distorted view of reality impacting both external affairs and internal affairs. 

Externally, we need to curtail our dealings and dependency on totalitarian regimes, as China, also our trade with Russia and others.  We need to restore our prominence in the world and protect our technological advances. We need to manufacture more of our critical supply needs, to include pharmaceuticals in the US. We need to be careful about educating our enemies and providing inroads into our cherished science and industrial advances. We need to avoid catering to the woke leftists and their penchant to weaken America internally and promoting globalist ideals. Support for democracies and free nations is worthy. For communist, socialist, dictatorial regimes whose historical proven tendency is to degrade America and capitalism, and educate their populations that we are evil imperialists intent on taking them over, trade and aide with them only hurts us.

The American internal order of things now needs a correction. Not just DEI, we have CRT, 1619, even ESG, and more. Our media is incompetent. Journalists seek headlines for their bias, lies, deceptions and their own perceived outcomes, using word salads and erroneous descriptions, leftest models of propagandizing to allow for men to be pregnant, sexes to be other than God proclaimed, criminals to be victims, children to be sexually altered, and abundant clean fossil fuel to be replaced with EV models and alternative energy sources all of which rely on fossil fuel for their creation. AND when they fail, used for the sake of clean air, energy, and water, we allow EV, solar and wind detritus to come to our disposal sites, their lifespan over, and pollute all they are portrayed to keep sanitary. History is under attack. History is invaluable to our understanding of the good, the bad, the progress, the failures and successes of our Nation. We need to remember. We are not perfect, but compared to the rest, we are what God would prefer. We are just not what the woke leftest have been indoctrinated, trained and brainwashed to believe. 

The ‘woke’ are privileged and laden with a perceived guilt engendered by the errors of their fathers (or as they might prefer their ‘birthing parentage’), taught and tested to proclaim as truth for their class grade liberal doctrine, racial fissures, and a need to cleanse by distortion our heritage. 

Somehow Americans that do not accept the Big Lies, which I sense is the majority, need to act. But have we become comatose, drugged by the repetition of falsehoods perpetuated by the left. I believe most Americans do not read the news, follow the news or care about the news. But they do hear or are impacted by the noise. The left knows it can only succeed by being the loudest, noisiest, in the room, bullying, lying, deceiving, working in unison with their cadre of well trained seals from schools, universities, courtrooms, political party pundits, the media, Congress and today the White House.  They can be blatant in their denial as the Press Secretary recently was bold faced when saying the Wall in AZ was not being completed under the Biden Administration, when indeed it is. A political move in an attempt to salvage a Democrat held senate seat, coupled with an inability to admit the fact.  Or that we do not have an immigration problem. Or we are not in a recession. Or the problem is with guns and not the criminals.  There are a multitude of Pinocchios in Washington DC and in the Party machinery.  Those not compromised by the falsehoods need to speak out, like the parents in VA, be vigilant, resist the intolerance and the rebukes they receive and allow their freedom to prevail, the truth to be heard and known. 

There is a battleground from coast to coast in the USA and freedom must be defended. It is the woke against the God fearing, America loving, family oriented, working class, independent, voter. Who is winning, and who will be victorious?  The majorly can no longer be passive; we are not doomed. yet 

America needs to be firm, to find its strengths, not rely nor vote into office feeble leaders. We are currently experiencing what can result. These are perilous times. Let not our younger generation get carried away by vacuous, unworthy ideas. Do not defer to the opinions of children when you know better, by education and experience. We have access to every form of data, let’s not ignore it, or be too lazy to uncover the facts, or we deceive ourselves. Pick your leaders wisely. Government is big, some say too big (with which I agree), unwieldy and probably impossible for any person to properly govern. Thus we need to find the brightest, most moral, most experienced in the duties of the office, one who has successfully governed, employed others, been a decision maker of consequence, has spiritual fortitude, loves America and our freedom, our Constitution also, and has the character of a statesmen appealing to the majority. That is what is needed to confront the political as well as the spiritual and moral crisis we face today. 

God Bless America. Awake America. Fight for Family. Expose the Lies.  Live the Truth. Do not be Passive. 

by 

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

(August 2022)

Asleep to Reality

 Asleep to Reality

Where is this world, our Nation, headed?  Many questions and concerns arise constantly about the path our Nation is taking?  Is our education system guiding our children in the right direction?  What is the correct direction?  Are parents, fathers and mothers, providing the oversight and guidance their children need?  Are the responsibilities of parents being shirked, or forgotten?  Who is in charge?

Our culture is under the influence of progressive political forces which have created chaos and confusion.  The effort has been to undermine essential foundations that are faith and family.  Preference is towards individual success and rights that remove the spiritual from the equation, yes God, and insert material objectives, or self, as the critical determinant. It has been referred to as “God in the mirror.” Progress has been wrapped in a mythical burrito containing elements that exclude God as an ingredient.  The end product lacks what is needed to make it a proper dish, as without God, making it tasteless and un-satisfying.  Purpose is questioned ad nauseam.  

Part of he battle field is between the role of man, and woman, not an amalgam of the two, with diffused characteristics that deny God’s creation.  There is no cloud nor need for deception, redefining the sexes, or forming new sexual classes, except by those that are themselves confused, improperly educated, ignorant or closeted from reality, lack logic, and deny truth.  Clearly a lie is not truth.  But in today’s world many lies are being gathered into a collection, the ‘Big Lie”, making an ideological palette that lacks essence.  A reference may be the ‘illusion of truth,’ as “repetition makes a fact seem more true, regardless of whether it is or not. Understanding this effect can help you avoid falling for propaganda,” says psychologist Tom Stafford.

Progressive beliefs, politically progressive formulated ideals, when studied, lack the most strident principles of validity.  An ideology of man’s creation is formed and used to indoctrinate youth to become adherents, lacking objective alternatives to consider, and as they mature to become advocates and spokespersons; the scales covering their eyes prevent a true picture of reality.  Most often removed from their learning curve is God, the Bible and family.  But also, what is denied or ignored, is the truth.  

For those that have read Solzhenitzen (Aleksadr Solzhenitzen 1918-2008) the question that arises, ‘would he be incarcerated in America today by the Progressive idealists, as he was in Communist Russia for his criticism of the Communist State?’  He wrote and spoke out against political repression and the anti-religious campaign by the Russian totalitarian regime for ignoring facts that are truth and propagating lies.  His inherent emphasis was ‘God is in charge’ not the idealists. 

In his book, Warning to the West, Mr. Solzhenitsyn alerts American and British audiences that “totalitarianism is coming.” As the author posits, the grand irony is that greater government control seduces the masses into thinking that “the State will save us” when in reality, it is the beast that will devour them. The hope is that the burden of slavish materialism can be shaken off by giving free reign to the spiritual life inherent to all human beings.  Solzhenitzen is described on one of his many book covers as “an intransigent opponent of ideological tyranny and moral relativism, and a thinker and moral witness who is acutely sensitive to the great drama of good and evil that takes place within every human soul.”

There may be far too many of us, not just Americans, but throughout the world, that have allowed these progressive idealists, a minority of the total populations, to become too loud and too much in charge.  Is it because we are lazy, or do not believe such views and lies can be adopted as the norm?  Or are we too busy with our own ‘self’? We need to look around us and become more pro-active in insuring the truth prevails and God’s basics be understood.  Parents are speaking out, yet the family structure continues to diminish.  However, know this, where there is family and a belief in our Creator, there will be success, a sense of belonging and purpose.  

Money is being used by wealthy progressive idealists to support media outlets, content providers, candidates and office holders to promote their lies.  Effective propagandizing, politicizing, false criticisims, overwhelming the airwaves, TV and movie screens, and curriculums (from grade school through university) to install their platform as the only program for people to follow, to adhere to, is rampant. It is difficult to fully comprehend their agenda. It seems clear totalitarian regimes blinded to the light of truth are sought. 

The root cause behind the rise of totalitarianism is godlessness

The fault lies with the silent majority.  We need to be heard, not just at the ballot box, but as encouragers, believers, and spokespersons for the truth.  It is not a theocracy we seek, but an informed citizenry aware of biblical values, values that with an open mind cannot be refuted, regardless of a Judeo-Christian belief system.  Thomas Jefferson was not a believer in the Christian triune God as much as he was the ethical and moral foundations inherent in the bible, undeniable truths. He believed in one God and was guided and enlightened by biblical principles.  His thoughts as to separation of church and state applied to government not becoming a theocracy.  Preventing voices speaking the truth, expressing their Godly opinions, praying and reading from the bible on public, government owned, property was never considered. 

We are in a deep sleep and need to become aware and awake. Civilization, a big concept indeed, is said to end when there is a universal moral decline. Is that what we are experiencing?  The alarm is ringing.  We need to hear it and get to work on restoring our Nation and the World to truth and the freedom to speak the truth. Yes, asleep to reality will lead to only more chaos and emptiness among all people.  We can no longer be passive.  The hand of truth must be seen and apply itself with firmness.  We all need to be saying, ‘Not one more step in the wrong direction!’ Pick your leaders and the examples you follow carefully, be informed, and properly vet them.  Examine their moral character and their ideological rhetoric. Are they rational, logical?  What you believe matters. Not what they tell you to believe.  And never discount the power of the Word. 

After all God is in charge. There is nothing wrong or to be embarrassed about going to church.  There you can be in the company of seekers and kingdom builders, and learn with an open mind. We are responsible for the truth; humans are graced by God to insure the freedom of everyone to comprehend the truth.  Let not your heart be deceived. 

by

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger. 

ESG - A ‘WokeJoke’ or What?

 

ESG - A ‘WokeJoke’ or What?

The stock market and the Bond Market, the world of money management and investing has been invaded by the Woke Folk.  Individuals invest, directly or indirectly, via pension funds or mutual funds, and seek companies or bond offerings of quality enterprises who can earn money and when it comes to bonds, those that have the expectation of paying off the debt.  Quality companies are growth or dividend paying and can be attractive.  The strength of their balance sheet is important.  Demand for products and services propels businesses to succeed.  And when they borrow, the ability to repay is important.  When we lend we want to be paid back.  Historically interest rates for borrowers reflected their ability to repay.  Rating agencies, such as Standard and Poors, rate bonds for quality, a scale that reflects highest to lower expectations of continuous repayment of obligations.  AAA is the highest.

"For years now, the cult of ESG economic activists has been working overtime to infuse unwanted, woke ideology into the American economic system because they know their social policies wouldn’t pass the sniff test from voters," Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said on July 27, 2022. "It’s anti-American, anti-freedom, a deliberate attempt to subvert our democracy and not in the best interest of Florida businesses (ant business), retirees, or investors."

The Woke crowd, a minority in my opinion, has been able to introduce, with adoption by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and Standard and Poors, an additional standard.  Thus ESG. This rating is based on qualitative factors, not quantitative. An issuer’s ESG rating is determined by researching and documenting answers to a number of qualitative questions (or inputs) for each of the three pillars (E, S and G). There are hundreds of potential inputs, some subjective, some objective and some simply estimated. 

What is ESG?  E is for Environmental issues. S is for Social issues.  And G is for Governance issues.  This is where the Woke Folk are let loose to not only introduce and suggest factors to be considered, but also to influence investment management groups. The focus appears to favor environmentalists, diverse staffing and hiring practices, to include race, sex and sexual orientation, pay structures and work environments.  The more diverse receive higher ratings.  Those who provide more benefits to their employees receive higher ratings. The lower the carbon footprint, the higher the rating.  High CEO pay may cause downgrades.  You can start to paint your own picture.  A company with high demand for its products with attractive profit margins is important, but now can, having a lower ESG rating, find fewer buyers, a lower price-earnings ratio, and higher rates on its debt securities. If deserving of a high standard on the ESG scale the capital markets are more attractive. 

The term ESG was popularly used first in a 2004 report titled “Who Cares Wins.”  There is an ESG Institute.  They define ESG - Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is an approach to evaluating the extent to which a corporation works on behalf of social goals that go beyond the role of a corporation to maximize profits on behalf of the corporation's shareholders. Typically, the social goals advocated within an ESG perspective include working to achieve a certain set of environmental goals, as well as a set of goals having to do with supporting certain social movements, and a third set of goals having to do with whether the corporation is governed in a way that is consistent with the goals of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) movement. (Yes, there is such a movement.)

Joel Makeower, Chariman and co-founder of the Greenbiz Group, said this, “ESG ratings are first and foremost an independent opinion about the environmental, social and governance risks facing a company and its shareholders, not the risks to people and the planet. And the ratings can also have value as an information resource for capital.”  

There is a S&P 500 ESG Index.   Tesla was recently removed from the index; its ESG rating considered too poor.  This arose from multiple deaths involving Tesla cars, racial discrimination concerns and questionable working conditions at manufacturing facilities.  Tesla makes an environmentally favorable electric vehicle, but arbitrary concerns bounced them from the S&P ESG deck. In reaction, Musk tweeted that the move came, “Despite Tesla doing more for the environment than any company ever!” He also called ESG investing a “scam.”  Oddly enough many energy, fossil fuel companies, are still rated favorably by ESG rating agencies. 

The intent of credit ratings are to value those who access the capital markets.  S&P explains that ratings are “an independent opinion of your organization's overall creditworthiness and financial strength.” So what value is added or subtracted when ESG is considered?  Is this an attempt at valuing a real world impact being made by businesses, even when it impacts their bottom line?  Are the financial rewards/costs to be ignored?  The bottom line - it is about what businesses are doing about the environment and their communities.  Are they good citizens, good managers, good employers, good to their people, et al and this now requires a rating.

Aniket Shah, managing director and global head of ESG at the investment banking firm Jefferies Group, said. "What ESG has done, and done it more well than poorly, is that it has socialized and educated the financial and business worlds on a bunch of topics that they weren't knowledgeable about before. And maybe it's because I am a part-time academic that I think that education is really powerful.”  ‘Socialized and educated,’ part one, and a ‘bunch of topics,’ part two. ESG is making companies aware and investors of their role as a responsible provider, not just to the markets they serve, but to our water, our air, our dignity and our world. Does that need to be rated?

You be the judge, is that enough to justify businesses having large ESG departments engaged year around to complete and comply with the paperwork needed to provide those that rate the data requested/needed to provide their ESG quotient?

Right now the balance is more to the ‘woke’ left than wholly practical.  Being a good citizen is just part of business and in my view does not need a cast of employees to find data, provide data, analyze data, more qualitative than quantitative, that can result in an evaluation by either a conservative or a liberal analytical team to yield a rating that can effect the cost of doing business and investors willingness to invest.  Beware protestors too can be alerted of those for whom ‘cancel culture’ applies if the ESG rating is low. 

After the Minnesota and Portland protests/riots many gave to BLM, including Bank of America, which did not make me happy, which many have called ‘white guilt.’  Did this help their ESG ratings? And now, looking at the real picture, are they more fools for being scammed?  Much of the justification for the evidence, the data, that comprises the ESG rating is to make companies, the executives, appear more accepting, more embracing of a racial mix, intersectional hiring, and provide evidence of a work environment, product standards, and how they handle their waste materials as being responsible and compliant.  A good company does all this without the need for ESG.  In hiring best practices suggest employing those that meet the needs for the job at hand, creating a meritocracy, and not hiring to comply with standards. Look what that has done for our Federal Government.

This is just another way businesses and agencies are burdened with superfluous staff and costs than only aide in further inflation and the cost of goods and services to consumers. It is a WokeJoke. 

Thoughts.

by

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

 

Politics Out - Sensibility In

 Politics Out - Sensibility In

We are alive today and living in a Nation mired in the mud of politics.  To free us to enable everyone to move on, to be civil, and to think independently there must be a solution.  Americans are in the majority on so many issues, such as border control, common sense energy policies, abortion/pro-life, election integrity, free speech, respect for others opinions (especially in areas of religion, marriage and gender identity), love of Country, free enterprise, a government engaged in excess and inefficient spending, parental rights in establishing education standards and curricula for their children, and voter IDs. There is more to be sure, and concerns over inflation and the cause have become a focal point of many discussions.  The American majority is neither a Republican nor Democrat majority; it is a societal, cultural and environmental majority,

Energy is an essential in everything we enjoy.  It is what is needed to produce electricity needed to grow and process the food we eat, the items we buy and enjoy, from clothing to handbags to cell phones and the internet, in addition to fuel for cars and travel, heating and air conditioning. Environmentalists are hell bent to transition from fossil fuels to solar and wind and other alternatives, as well as to have electric vehicles become the dominant passenger form of transport. That is all well and good.  Consider the following.  To make wind turbines and solar panels requires fossil fuel. To make electric cars requires fossil fuel.  To produce the majority of electricity to power our nation requires fossil fuel.  When you limit its supply without a sufficient volume of the alternative inflation results. Environmentalists overlook the fact America’s fossil fuel extraction practices are the least polluting in the world, our refineries disburse very little carbon, to include industrial and utility plants using coal, and yet when these resources cannot meet the demand, instead of looking here, the Biden Administration looked elsewhere; Saudi Arabia and Venezuela for more fossil fuel.  Why?  Similarly with pipelines, for environmental reasons and to limit the use of oil and natural gas, pipeline construction was halted, yet the resources still arrive if not otherwise shutdown.  They arrive by rail, or truck, consuming fuel while their emissions are polluting at the same time.  This form of delivery also increases the cost of energy, along with more harm to the environment, demonstrating also the hypocrisy in the current thinking at the Federal level.   

We were energy independent, and politics entered the picture.  A collective body of practical minds could have worked together to transition to less fossil fuel and more electric vehicles, more solar and wind, in a way that did not have a critical impact on the economy, by insuring there was always enough of the clean fossil fuel to meet the demands as the alternatives  became more available.  

Free enterprise is to be contrasted with socialism.  There are many facets to be reviewed on each topic.  Free enterprise as defined is “an economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control.”  Defining Socialism we have, “a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.”  In America the free enterprise system has made our Nation what it is today, a leader in the free world. But when ‘state control’ or that of the Federal Government weighs in, and politics rises to the surface, the independent nature of the free enterprise system is often attacked.  

The alternative is not socialism per se, but a form of largesse by the Government that exceeds common sense, a burden on the tax-payor, to distribute wealth for political gains. Regulation to control and dictate to businesses, making it more difficult for new entities to form and compete, even to drill or lend money, burdens economic growth and opportunity to the determent of community.  Government wants to control, to regulate, to dictate practices, not always with best practices considered, but for political reasons.   A free enterprise system does not suggest a dependent society, dependent that is on government for their sinecure, but one incentivized to work, be productive and be more than competitive with other nations.  A socialized system wants citizens more reliant on the government, and the government bigger with more bureaucrats employed and engaged to oversee and judge their needs.  

Free enterprise seeks an efficient government, standing aside (less regulation) to allow business to succeed.  The role for government is to insure the playing field remains fair, more as an umpire.  But with politics government can dictate wages, or mandate union employees, or enforce hiring practices, and even limit production of goods, resources and agriculture products.  When done for political reasons, favoring one political party over another, and not for common sense, rational and reasonable reasons, the social contract becomes politicized.  Subsidies by the government of various businesses, farmers, even car manufacturers, et al ,is intended to aide what the government in power wants people to use or buy.  It is an attempt to alter human nature and habits in favor of what the government prefers its citizens accept.  

We are a Nation of immigrants and immigration has been important to us since our founding as a Nation.  Between the Federalists and the Republicans of the era’s of Adams and Jefferson, and after, immigrants were aliens and until residency was established they could not become citizens.  At one time the Naturalization Act required 14 years of residency and today it is 5, which occurred in 1798, and until 1952 remained.  There are requirements to immigrate, such as extraordinary abilities, critical skills, even informants from other Nations, financial status, and more, with annual limits (675,000 permanent Visas).  The limits exclude U.S. citizens' spouses (once immigrants), parents, and children under the age of 21.  Today politics has made our borders more porous as established laws are ignored. A common question is to members of the legislatures, ‘Why, when there are laws in place, written and passed by the legislature, can they be so easily ignored or dismissed when it suits the objective of a Party in power.”  And is this habit peculiar to one Party more than another?  

Details of other areas where politics has become a cry to ignore the Constitution or change established laws, regulations and practices, would make this article far too long. The fever pitch, heated rhetoric and emotional toll on citizens whose mindset has been trained to lean only one way, as defined by being ‘woke,’ is disturbing.  Research on the source of this lack of independent thinking, rational thought, respect, and common sense finds its roots in our education system today, in the media, many pundits being graduates of a liberal education having a political purpose, and progressives who champion extreme causes with little regard for opposing ideas or ideals. There is sufficient evidence to support this conclusion in not just Education, but in large Corporations (the Disney controversy over gender neutral verbiage requirements), in Entertainment (a disproportionate racial allocation of actors in advertisements and movies), and in race relations in general (the reality of the progress minorities have enjoyed in America since founding and continuing too often ignored).   This did to occur overnight, and has been slowly put into place in our schools, colleges and universities for decades.  But now parents are beginning to realize the impact.  They are seeing their rights trampled upon and their children subjected to views they do not regard as proper.  Changes to history by the 1619 Project effort and to attitudes regarding faith, family and persons under the guise of Critical Race Theory can be found in math texts, english reading, literature requirements and testing demanding politicized results.  Truth is being subjected to lies taught and recorded often enough to be considered a new truth.  Yet it is not the truth. The Millenials are awake and want to see changes.  America is being a-‘woke’-ened!

Growing up in a family environment with strong parents, believers and achievers, is a blessing for those so fortunate.  They learn from their parents, grandparents and siblings.  But for the working class, those not home everyday, for everyone, the school system is to teach them the basics, reading, writing and math, and not the political favorite topics.  Just the facts.  But the fact is that today it is not just the facts being delivered.  It is almost universal in America that our school children are subject to the views of their teachers and professors, their political preferences laid out and to be a component of indoctrination into a less free, more subjective, and a ‘woke’ nature.  The liberal wants have been infused in texts on almost all subjects. Teachers and professors are not the voice of the majority of Americans.  They are a minority, but their politics has become far too similar, and they teach the majority of children.  We have let the brainwashing begin, but now must cleanse the system of this bias in education, business, corporate cultures, the media and entertainment.  How?  By insisting these dominant platforms of learning and working become de-politicized, or politically free.  

Insist teachers, professors, teach and keep their opinions to themselves. Have curriculums without politics.  Where you work should focus on the job or duties to be performed, without any requirement to give a portion of your paycheck to a political Party or show Party loyalty to progress.  Freedom to work as you prefer, in a Union or not. It is a right to work, not a requirement to only work as a member of a union. That is political. We need less cancel culture and more open minds. We need the freedom to listen to opposing views and audience participation without fisticuffs or protests by the close minded. We need places for our children to be fun and happy, not efforts to subject their minds to controversial viewpoints or bias. Banks and large enterprises should avoid spending their money, our money, on political action entities, such as Black Lives Matter, or Planned Parenthood, even proclaiming a work place where travel to have an abortion will be paid, or taking sides in any political issue.  

Many businesses today want to seem ‘woke.’ or socially responsible, but doing so can be accomplished leaving politics to the Politicians. Focus on the task at hand, not a compliant human resources department burdened to meek socially minority ‘woke’ demands, as if that will make a business better.  That should be the goal anyway. Leave opinion, and personal politics to the individual, to the voter, to the politicians themselves.  Equip the individual with the facts, not corrupted by opinions, other than those of the politicians themselves.  

We need an environment that insures all of us are independent thinkers.  Most people know well politicians wear their prejudices on their banners, express them in their speeches, they attack their opponents, they alter the truth, they lie and they blame others. Leave those habits to the politicians, and let the truth be heard by our educators and business leaders. Teach every citizen to be honest, respectful and truthful. They will then be able to discern, understand and make sensible judgments, especially when they vote.  Today too many do not think for themselves, they react and often do so without knowing the full extent of an issue. We have been made aware of the many times politicians seek passage of new laws based on emotion, and not the content of the bills themselves.  It is the issue they want passed, not the law; that will be left to others to work out, staff members, interns, and recent college graduates with the prejudices the legislatures prefer already instilled in their nature.  An example is the SCOTUS expected decision on Roe v. Wade.  It does not eliminate abortions.  It takes such decision out of the Federal Government and leaves each State to decide. There was even an attempt, thankfully failed, that sought to Federalize abortions even before the actual decision of the Court was released. 

Is it the millennials that are making waves, working and paying taxes, having children, that see what is happening?  They want change and are wiling to speak up.  They may be the silent majority that now talks, along with the generation X’s as they evolve. Individuals are a powerful collective.  Keeping them at bay is the objective of the politician.  Freeing them should be the objective of our education system. But if the education system continues to be structured and taught by disciples of a progressive minority, and not the national majority, then we may be doomed.  The family, the parent, the achiever, the entrepreneur, and the religious will be reduced to units seditious to those in power.  We may see the rise of the Federalist wanting a modern Sedition Act, a Disinformation Bureau, that can judge truth and speech, and suppress that which they, those politicians, deem unworthy or personally offensive.  I made a note recently from an article, “truth hardly reigns supreme in our political discourse.  It’s full of half-truths, non sequiturs, spin, even outright lies. There is an entire industry within politics dedicated to propagating this - they’re called the communication teams, and they work for our elected lawmakers.”  Are members of these teams to be trusted in monitoring truth?  Can they be responsible content monitors, neutral in any way? I say no. What is a valid comment, or not,  in their view is culturally, economically and socially biased for sure. 

In the investment world there are rating agencies, such as Standard & Poors (S&P). Politics in ratings that influence buyers is wrong, but indeed there is a movement afoot. Adding ESG (environmental, social, and governance) to rating of State’s bonds, even businesses. This is a skewed number with no reflection on the ability of a borrower to repay debts. It relates to hiring practices (race and sex), air quality (carbon emission practices or laws), and liberal or conservative views in government. This is a clear example of the ‘woke’ going too far, influencing or distorting investors awareness of the true quality of their investment or borrower. Attempts to pressure pension funds, et al, to only invest where ESG is high.  But ESG has nada to do with a borrowers ability to pay.  That is the point.  Politics in this area is senseless.  What it is, a form of cancel culture that will raise the cost of borrowing, doing business, for those not sufficient ‘woke,’ that is with low ESG. 

Rid politics from our everyday life-learning venues.  Leave it to the town square, the soap box orator, the TV politicians to spew their diatribe, their distortions, their lies, and equip yourself, insure your children are equally equipped, to think for yourself, be objective, and respectful.  The world will be a better place, and we will all feel better about our Constitution, the First Amendment, the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly it guarantees. Let not the lectern be a bully pulpit for harmful ideas.  Take the politics out of our institutions and return sensibilities and common sense. Turn the mud-pit of politics into a garden free of distortions effecting our growth and prosperity.

by

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger