Equity Makes America Worse. Equity is Akin to Communism, or Socialism.

In 1964 LBJ passed the Civil Rights Act. There were few safety net expenditures at that time. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as race in hiring, promoting, and firing.  The program was intended to help many minorities improve their lot in life by opening more doors for jobs. Note, a requirement for literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting was also eliminated. Adjusted for inflation $25 to $30 trillion has been spent on the safety net, called the war on poverty.  But statistics suggest all the tax dollars spent have not really helped, as more have become dependent upon the government for help.  When enough funding is provided a large number of the otherwise poor population is lifted out of statistical poverty.  The government numbers then look better, as if poverty is on the decline.  

In ‘equity’ the Democrats seek to continue to increase the size of the ‘safety net,’ appealing to those on the dole to vote them into power so they can do just that.  It involves transferring wealth.  Many of the poor in America enjoy good food, have housing, large screen televisions, cell phones and service, the internet, have computers, and buy video games.  Many are more than capable of working, but they choose not to.  They are not as poor as they would be without the Federal Government.  Try to cut their ‘entitlements’ and a large voting bloc becomes the resistance. Obama added to this resistance with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).  And if you recall Democrats cared less about reading the bill, knowing what it would do for their base.  But is poverty in America on a decline, or actually being masked by liberal government continuing to spend on social insurance entitlement programs. 

What can lift people out of the basement of a productive society? Education. Work. Family. Incentives.  Ownership.  I also believe that faith is important as well. The most impoverished today are single-parent families, especially in black and hispanic communities. And those not working are also among the most impoverished. Since the advent of civil rights legislation it has been all about the money transfer, not the true needs.  Do the Democrats want Americans to be poorer and more dependent upon government, which the Alinsky Rules for Radicals would suggest? 

When Kamala Harris campaigned to be the nominee for President in 2020 she commented that, “Equitable treatment means we all end up in the same place.”  This is not a direct quote, but the essence of her thinking.  She is not alone with this ideological position, but it is clearly erroneous in terms of human behavior and desires.  This idea has become more of a penchant by Democrats, socialist in their orientation, for ‘equity’ throughout society.  Equity calls for equal outcomes, equal treatment, without any regard for achievement.  Equity engendered a redefinition of ‘diversity’ to be that of characteristics and not thinking or ability.  ‘Equity’ simply means there are persons than do more while others do less to obtain the same results. Within society there are marginalized groups as well as elevated, or over-achievers, who with the framework of the progressive Democrat political directives should share equally.  It is obvious what this suggests; those that have succeeded must provide for those that have not.  It also means lower quality standards and productivity. 

My question is this.  “Where is the incentive to do well?” 

As an aside.  Charity has a place and can help lift persons out of poverty.  The government disdains religious charities claiming they are in the business of conversion.  Charity, however, provides the opportunity for the caring and the wealthy to give voluntarily.  When government chooses to become the charity it is not as efficient as the non-profit or the religious, due principally to bureaucratic administrative expenses. 

Autocratic societies do not want their populace educated, as the educated would be a threat.  Autocratic societies do not like religion, as the autocrats want to be the gods and have none other higher than them.  In Islamic societies the rules are made by men, not women, and not God, as their Scripture (the Quran) demonstrates. In Christian societies God is a threat to leadership, providing common sense laws of ethics and morality that may not be to the liking of those in government. And elite political leadership dislike thinking of themselves as sinners, preferring their own truth and actions as self-righteous.

In America Democrats prefer society be less educated, poor, family minimized, and less godly, all to the benefit of creating a base of voters that will grant them power.  Biden spoke recently saying, “There is no such thing as someone else’s children.  Our nation’s children are all our children.” This mirrored the words of a noted education figure, and suggests parent’s are not the one’s to raise their kids well, but government.  

For power and control the elite liberal politicians will return entitlements. The numbers prove it. ‘Equity’ is a ruse, more harmful than productive to those that want to have purpose and make something of themselves.  Our nations’ current welfare system dis-incentivizes more than encourages.  It divides more than unifies.  Even ‘racism’ is a political tool.  If never discussed or publicized by the main stream media it would not exist.  In an exchange with Mike Wallace, Morgan Freeman, responding to his question, “How are we going to get rid of racism?”, said succinctly, “Stop talking about it.”

Welfare discourages work.  Welfare, as ‘equity,’ encourages dependency, and indolence, as well as divisiveness when entitlements are viewed more as a right (health care, guaranteed income) and opponents resist granting more. To those that work for a living, achieve financial independence, dependency and increasing dependency, as well as ‘equity,’ is not fair. 

Our civil rights and welfare programs are not effective.  The people on poverty have not been lowered, disguised maybe, but not lowered. We need to re-examine our welfare programs, as well as the liberal mindset, which has occupied our education system as a plague on our children, impacting their intelligence, their patriotism and love of God and Country.  As in welfare when experiences occur early in life the outcomes can effect the adult too.  Too many of our educated adults have become ‘woke’ and lack the common sense, the acumen, and the wisdom needed to grasp proper ethical and moral behavior.  They actually need God and family more than our Federal Government. Biblical values far exceed in providing guidance to live a worthy life; and from a book of few pages when compared to the vast stores of legislation and laws composed by America’s political minds and legislatures.  Family, unified and loving, is the foundation for individuals upon which learning is properly directed, skills taught, and work ethics established. 

In America my understanding has always been that ‘equality’ is a starting point.  Just as on a race track, for a human or a thoroughbred, before the gun is fired everyone is at the same point.  But at the end, when the tape is crossed there are winners, laggards and those that finish last.  The Democrats want the roses given to the winner to then be shared, with all participants getting equal treatment.  First, second, third place does not really matter.  And if it did then any claim to victory would be suppressed as not to traumatize those that were not competitive.  Training, practice, and increased knowhow would be unnecessary. 

Traces of such distributive malice are exhibited in Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, DEI programs (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), and ESG valuations (for Environment, Social, Governance).   It is the participation trophy that matters to liberals. Unfortunately there will always be those that have the ideas, are self-motivated, regardless of character (gender, race, sexual orientation), and can execute to achieve their dreams or their goals.  

The Treasury Department has a 25 member Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, formed to boost its ‘equity efforts.’ 

Are Democrats attempting to reduce society to naught but underachievers, creating a dependent society which relies fully upon the government for any benefits to include income, healthcare, and living standards?  If so my note of caution to those so politically inclined - you will soon run out of money.  Just look to California.

A Biden administration rule is set to take effect soon that will create mortgage ‘equity’ having good credit borrowers pay a higher interest rate than poor credit borrowers. Thus forcing people with good credit to subsidize high-risk mortgages. 

Many Democrats say the future of their Party may reside in California, in the suit worn by the current Governor, Gavin Newsom.  A man with good looks does not mean a person of integrity or capable of running the Federal Government.  He was the mayor of San Francisco, a city which today few visit and when they do they return with regrets.  That City has fallen from grace as a tourist mecca.  It’s streets are filthy, drugs are rampant, people are leaving for safer localities, businesses are subject to unchecked criminals, sidewalks have become homesteads for addicts and the homeless, and residents fear for their safety.  As governor of the State the whole of California is becoming more like San Francisco, just consider LA.  Newsom is not a leader that governs, but a politician that promises and cannot deliver.  The elected politicians, and yes, they were elected by voters, pass legislation that favors the marginalized, as if that is a good deed, but to the detriment of the productive elements of society.  And the State’s debt is massive, with spending out of control.  In California the poor are becoming poorer, a component of the plan of the Rules for Radicals, while programs to help the poor are but window dressing for the elitist Democrat office holders. The producers are looking for the exit.  Like Portland, Oregon where cartoons portray the City as bankrupt with closures and ‘going out of business’ signs for the whole of a once beautiful city.

Voters are lacking information, less discerning, losing interest, subjected from youth to liberal ideology paving the way for ‘wokism,’ pummeled by main stream media ideologues if they even read or watch news, and non-objective. They lack the ability to filter facts from lies and fiction. And they elect the likes of Newsom and Biden. 

Legislation was passed in 2022, to be implemented by 2025, requiring CA utilities (SoCal Edison, PG&E, San Diego G&E) to establish flat-rate monthly utility bills according to income, $15 for low-income households to $85 for households reporting more that $180K, and so on, for the same service. If usage is less that forecast reductions to the monthly requirements are possible.  This is wealth transference, in ‘equity’, and more marxist/socialist than democratic. 

Democrats vocalize a great deal about “breaking the chains of poverty” and pass laws appealing to those they consider oppressed, racially and otherwise. But in reality what are they doing, as today in the name of the Green New Deal, or Electric Vehicles, or curbs on fossil fuel exploration, Biden hampering America’s oil independence, a focus on eliminating gas-stoves, discontinuing the sale of inexpensive light bulbs, and defunding the police, they are making the poor, poorer, increasing the percentage of poverty.  Excess spending during Covid and, after that crisis passed (including all the created elements), essentially paying people not to work, has been inflationary, negatively impacting the entire economy here and worldwide. And paying to not work is a disincentive creating a large dependency class of citizens, dependent upon their parents and the government.  Who benefits?  Neither the parent nor the dependent benefits. 

If I told you over 60 million people were in poverty in 2021, would you believe me?  That compares to the 1964 figure of 36 million.  It is difficult to determine the actual number, but in all likelihood it is higher, as government reporting can be confusing. However, with government supplements (safety net money paid to the poor) that number, officially, is reduced to about 26 million.  The supplements are a significant cost to those that actually pay taxes. Of the 322 million total US population, about 34 million were lifted out of poverty (taken off the official government count) using tax dollars. For food stamps alone (SNAP and WIC) $187.5 billion was spent in 2021.

The politicians are the beneficiaries.  They have more power and can continue to increase the size of government by forming departments, agencies and ad hoc committees, with Czars, to help the needy.  By helping the needy, and increasing the numerical base of those in need, they help themselves.  They want the votes and will find a way to pay for them using tax-payor money.  Even Biden thinks Federal Revenues belong to the government and not to the People.  But it is our money, at least money earned by the productive percentage of society.  But as the productive part shrinks and the non-productive side increases, dependency increases, and a vote for the government as provider increases.  Democrats, socialists, Marxists, and Communists become the victors.  The elite among them retain control.  The poor never really get what they were promised. All of society becomes the losers. Equity prevails. Dependency increases.

Eliminating those under 18 years of age from the poverty numbers, that leaves 50 million registered (potentially) voters receiving supplements from the government, or dependent upon government entitlements (‘safety net’). 65% of the total eligible-to-vote population (256 million) was registered in 2020, or 168.1 million.  if that same percentage applies (65%), the number on welfare that are registered is estimated at 32.5 million. That pool of voters depends on the government for cash for food stamps, energy assistance, workman’s compensation, unemployment insurance, housing, social security supplements, child tax-credits, unearned income tax credits, and more, to include social security for those eligible.  To a Democrat this pool is their base, those to whom they appeal for voters. They would prefer it continues to grow. And tax-payers are being asked yearly to help the poor more.  

From a government report, “A strong safety net, in combination with … social investments, is needed to alleviate material deprivation, to ensure that vulnerable individuals can attain economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their children, and to pave the way for even more progress for the nation over the next 50 years.” * Yet progress is suspect. 

From the Economic Policy Institute [A liberal (some say, ‘left-wing’) think tank supported by George Soros and economist Robert Reich, in a Working Economics Blog (Sept. 13, 2022)], When ‘racism’ is suggested as a bias, a barrier, to expanding social insurance programs, the Institute says “research shows… Americans consistently overestimate the share of Black people (and other minorities) supported by government programs, leading white Americans in particular to oppose many forms of social insurance.” Such BS is a constant mantra of the left.  Their response claims resistance to further spending, more increases to the safety net, becomes a matter of “choosing austerity over effective poverty reduction.”  What is forgotten is that non-cash programs are needed and would be most effective. Yet such programs do not fit with the objectives of the elitist power hungry liberal political cabal.

Consider this. In the 1960’s 87% of black families were two parent household.  Today that number is 25%.  In the 60’s 40% of blacks had their own businesses, and today that is less than 7%. Working helps, and those not working are among the poorest. In the last 35 years those considered poor yet ‘not working’ had increased from 27.4% (1985) to 33.7% in 2014 and higher today. The Civil rights Movement had an impact on the godly too. In 2020 church membership was 47%, down more than 20% from 2000. In the 40s it was over 70%. In 1960 nationwide church membership was 63.3% (having actually grown from 57% in 1950). Education levels have increased as a percentage of those graduating high school and colleges, yet poverty is increasing too. However the quality of education has declined, as standards for testing and graduation requirements have been lowered. Why is that?  “Poverty, especially when deep or experienced early in life, is associated with poorer cognitive development, school readiness, academic achievement, educational attainment and future employment outcomes….”(pg. 38) *  So even the government suggests education is essential, yet the liberals are constantly trying to change the landscape of education by not heralding those that excel or reward and incentivize achievement; this being done in the name of ‘equity.’ 

The decline in the level of knowledge, reading and writing, in education today is reflected in modifications being made to grading systems.  Colleges are making it a choice for applicants to take entrance exams (ACT or SAT), thus acceptance will be on characteristics, not ability (government defined diversity). What that does for the quality of graduates and how businesses then select future employees is a concern. The same is taking place in medicine, MCAT’s are not required for medical schools. You may never know whether a future doctor is fully prepared or qualified, but he will have a degree. Make sure a physician you rely upon today is younger than you so as to not out live them.  

Our systems of education are morphing into equity based outcomes. This will diminish quality and make, as Kamala desires, future stars shine less brightly.  The brightest will be dimmed to that of the lowest standard. 

While the goal of safety net programs is to provide citizens with a minimum standard of living until they can earn their financial independence, it is seemingly oriented primarily towards wealth transfer and not actually helping lift all boats, or equipping people with the education, self-esteem and incentives needed to achieve, be motivated, and earn their financial independence. What the government is failing to do is “to teach a man to fish.”  

The government has a liberal bent even when conservatives are at the helm, due to an entrenched government service worker base, difficult to cull, and focused on maintaining their departments and budgets.  That makes it difficult to change the mindset of those that actually write the Bills.   

What the liberal regime has been doing historically is helping the impoverished endure being poor.  Only the self-motivated have a chance, yet systematically liberals are even trying by their rhetoric and actions, the main stream media at fault as well, to constrain the self-motivated.  

Beware the extent to which the pendulum swings in the direction of a majority dependent society who will always vote for their welfare, not their purpose.  Why work?  Why worry? 

by

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

And for more on the safety net ($1.215 trillion spent in 2022) visit FederalSafetyNet.com.

* Quote from: Poverty in the United States: 50-Year Trends and Safety Net Impacts, March 2016, by By Ajay Chaudry, Christopher Wimer, Suzanne Macartney, Lauren Frohlich, Colin Campbell, Kendall Swenson, Don Oellerich, and Susan Hauan in the Office of Human Services Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

The Woke Puppet in Charge

                                    The Woke Puppet

Oh to be Trans and living under the umbrella of Democrats and Joe Biden. It is a covering of many colors, but each color is separate, divided and not unified.  The greens are green, yellows, yellow, blues, blue, and blacks, black. It looks  nice, but does it protect us all from what is raining from above, from the tower of power that the Biden/Harris Administration represent.  

Our government has become a political power and not balanced in representing the whole of America.  The government is unwieldy and not able to perform efficiently, or objectively.  As a ship at sea it is top heavy with elitists and should be struggling to stay properly afloat except for the ballast.  The ballast of the ship of state is made up of a majority liberal employees, difficult to dislodge as long as they show up daily. They are Tik Tok Woke jokers, yes, far too many.  They serve in valuable as well as questionable ways.  Many are engaged to insure the engine of government operates regardless of those at the top.  Checks are written, 1041’s reviewed, the work of Congress advanced, legislation drafted, and reports are read.  But there are many engaged, some saying too many, in departments created over history, timely at the time, but not needed today.  The process within to disband the detritus of past and current political pet projects and desires is non-existent or embroiled in controversy.  Regulations protect government employees from being let go without cause, even if that cause is their service is no longer required or needed. 

A problem, seems to me, is the ideals of liberalism have percolated to the top - a socialistic orientation, disdain for capitalism, an aggressive plan to save a planet dying tomorrow (using fear tactics), and collecting every minority character into their camp. The act as morality police.  Influencers of the woke variety claiming freedom of speech and democracy, yet hypocrites by their intolerance, are granted leeway by the media. The top law enforcer (AG Garland) now prevails over a system protective of democrats (certainly the President and his son Hunter), while trampling on the freedoms of parents, conservatives, church goers and Republicans, and making criminals victims. 

States have their own legislatures and departments that can be good and can be bad.  Decision making at the State level focuses on matters important to local citizens. State residents may differ State to State in their orientation.  That is why today there are maps showing red and blue States, those conservative, fiscally responsible in nature contrasted to a liberal, socialist orientation.  But the power at the Federal level can work in diabolic ways to alter the voice of the State to acquiesce to that of the power of the Administration. Recent concerns about Trans athletes, not woman becoming male-like, but men becoming woman-like, has arisen in the area of sports.  Trans-womanlike-males competing alongside women have shown a competitive advantage in a number of venues.  Many States declared this wrong and enacted legislation banning Trannies. Along came Biden, responding to the pressure from his internal influencers. 

The IRS collects taxes from all Americans.  The obligations flow into a single pot, the Federal Treasury, and is meted out to pay bills.   Not all funds pay for Federal obligations, as there is an allocation process to each State.  It is not equal to that received, as there is a disproportional payout, richer States receiving less than paid in and poorer States receiving more than paid in.  There are payments made to colleges and universities, to cities and other local governments, for roads and bridges, various infrastructure needs, maintenance of airports and post offices and more.  But the caveat emptor is this.  There are strings attached.  They are tied to the puppeteers at the helm of the ship of state.  If a State heads in a direction that is not to the liking of the national power corps, as by saying ‘no’ to trans, the string can be pulled.  The string is attached to cash, State money mind you, but the Federal’s have control.  They can say there will be no cash unless….. as in “unless you allow trans to compete there will be no cash for education in your State.”  Unless a company does not hire persons of characteristics as defined, say blacks or female or LGBTQ, Union, or whatever, a business will not be eligible for lucrative government contracts.  The characteristics are the essence, not the abilities or the thoughts and ideas of those to be employed.  The umbrella cannot be a blend, but segregated, allocations by decree, enforced by the influencers pressuring the leadership to use their strings.

I stand with Riley Gaines. 

Riley, an accomplished swimmer, was recently defeated by a trans swimmer. She lost to a biological male in a female only competition.  I am not in the arena that would allow men, in any form or creation, to compete in women’s sports.  Have a separate trans category if they must. Just imagine college trans teams, but consider how many trans women would compete, that is, just trans men would face off. This is the hypocrisy of it all. 

Riley has spoken out over this injustice. Her voice is being heard, but her campaign is not easy. Recently she was confronted, attacked in fact, by trannies. For her safety she was sequestered by security for hours until the melee abated. [Read article: https://nypost.com/2023/04/09/riley-gaines-slams-sf-state-for-praising-peaceful-protest-where-she-claims-she-was-assaulted/ ]. Yet the perpetrators were never charged for the disturbance or harm they caused. The liberals were protected, making Riley the criminal, not the victim, for taking a stand. 

A bit of irony, or hypocrisy.  Megan Rapinoe, retired soccer star, spoke out at the White House (4/13) in favor of trans in women’s sports. This is the elite model speaking.  She made her fame and money and now can take what she sees as a moral high road. She catered to the bias of the audience invited.  Being LGBT herself (the ‘L’), I question her support for trans-inclusion if she was still competing. My thought is she would resist or not in fact be as honored, successful or wealthy as a female, having been replaced by a George who became a Ginny and out-scored her on every soccer pitch they would have played on. She’d then be more logical in her commentary, and more like Riley. 

And to exemplify elitist, think EVs.  Not a member of the Biden family drives an EV.  Elitist narcissist Geraldo Rivera favors EVs for all as he speaks about buying an EV Bentley.  They live above the clouds, as  morality examples, yet forget those that really matter. Most people neither desire an EV nor can afford an EV.  

Let men be men, women, women. If they want to transition elsewhere then deal with the reality. I am in the biology means something group. There are many States there too. But the long arm of an inefficient, possibly effeminate, Administration, certainly compromised by the ‘woke,’ is at work using their power of the purse, not even their own money, to impose a liberal will on those that disagree. Democrat’s democracy is not the same as that of the fathers of our Nation. At one time the intent of States having Rights, States Rights, meant something. The Feds clearly feel differently. They want but one idea for America. The diversity of 50 ideas, one per State, does not fit the intolerant posture of the heavily left Democrats. The trend is currently ‘woke.’  And Biden has become there Woke puppet in charge. 

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

Out of Many, One

 Out of Many, One.

Daily we are confronted with a culture astir. Do we as Americans know who we are. Some say ‘yes’, some ‘no’, some ‘I don’t know.’  With the glaring lights from the ‘woke’ torch, a look into the burning fire is a definition that is counter to what made America great.  The concern is that fire can actually incinerate the dream. 

History places on the world map nations that have features aligned with singular elements, such as ethnicity, religion, and race.  There are predominantly Muslim cultures, Christian areas, there is Japan and China whose heritage frames their identity, Israel grew out of a desire for a Jewish homeland, Europe was white, Catholic and Christian, and Africa was home of the negro. America was an unknown.  After it’s discovery a novel government was formed, not to cater to one, but to many. Call it a ‘melting pot.’ Call it a ‘mosaic.’ But it was never to be a singular culture, race or religion, ethnicity or gender driven country. So, what then?

The cradle of America can be pictured as many ships crossing the Atlantic, carrying people of all colors and stripes, with various religious beliefs, and political views, that reflected support or distain for the governments under which they were ruled.  They were uncertain as to what they were to face, but they were looking for an opportunity to be free from the restraints of oppression, religious differences, or indifferences, and autocracies. They sought an opportunity not available in their homeland. They may have come from a caste system. And some were taken from their homeland and brought to America as slaves. As a whole these people were diverse in their characteristics, but also intellectually diverse. The founding fathers took this mix of ideas and ideals, and made every effort to allow them to flourish within the framework of the canvas that was being painted to make a new nation. The founders were not in favor of slavery, but understood that time would be needed to eradicate it. 

To properly develop as a nation those that debated, discussed, wrote, re-wrote, and finally agreed on our Constitution saw fit to respect individualism and freedom. Democracy was in session.  Also capitalism became the pathway for anyone to achieve their dreams. It was recognized that hard work would be required. Forests were cleared, fields were plowed, houses built, cities created, businesses formed, trade begun, wheat and tobacco grown, battles were fought, and prosperity evolved. And those that achieved success where not of one color or one mind. And not everyone was successful.  Those that controlled this new nation were the majority.

America was built by individuals which as a group allowed the voices of the most, a plurality, to control by vote.  It was where private persons became the owners of industry, large and small businesses; they became the traders, and focused on profit.   The objective of a business was to make the best product, be most competitive, become a success and flourish.  The objective was not racial equality, the climate, or gender; that was left to the government.  Government was to have society as a whole in mind when enacting legislation to insure safe neighborhoods, justice, our nation’s sovereignty, clean water, healthy air, and equality.  It was not about equity.  It was not about stereotypes. It was about ideas, diversity of thought and individual attributes; how persons hired could best support the growth of the enterprise. There were shareholders wanting to invest in thriving corporations, not stakeholders wanting different characters from sectors of society, emphasizing sex, race, and ethnicity. Equal opportunity is the starting point, the outcomes seldom equal. Corporations were not to do the job of government, but to obey its laws. 

A quote applicable to this discussion. “The goal of feminism isn’t actually to put more women on corporate boards. That’s just a tactic. The real goal is to live in a world where men and women regard one another with genuinely held mutual respect as co-equals. The same goes for racial equality and the regard that people of different races ought to have for one another.” (Woke, Inc., Ramaswamy, Vivek. Woke, Inc. (p. 306). Center Street. Kindle Edition.)

At its heart America was united, yet today the ‘woke’ have created division, out of ignorance and laziness in properly defining ‘diversity.’ Diversity in its truest sense is that of thought.  When seeking a viable enterprise, for-profit or non-profit, ‘diversity’ is finding and melding ideas from the best minds, ignoring characteristics of birth.  True diversity is blind to religion, ethnicity, color and gender.  

E Pluribus Unum - Out of Many, One.  

We need to restore and some need to relearn what made America the best nation in the world in which to live today.  To some these are crass words;  capitalism, freedom, individualism, and democracy.  We need to incentivize people to better themselves and work with others, not create a dependent society expecting others to provide what many prefer be given. We need forums where opinions are heard, debate can occur and open-minds prevail. Protests should proceed without violence, consumers make their own decisions, companies concentrate on their products not our morality, and being white, straight and male should not be a sin. We are currently headed in the wrong direction. Let not a separate political bias continue to divide and cause us to awake from the American Dream.  

By Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

China’s World Approach

From the Economist, 3/24/2023, The World According to XI, “He (Xi) believes in the inexorable decline of the American-led world order, with its professed concern for rules and human rights. He aims to twist it into a more transactional system of deals between great powers.”  Speaking of “peaceful co-existence and win-win co-operation” the discussion then should focus on China’s objectives and if they can be trusted. 

A key to China’s approach, “On March 15th Mr Xi unveiled the “Global Civilization Initiative”, which argues that countries should ‘refrain from imposing their own values or models on others and from stoking ideological confrontation.’” What this says is, in contrast to America’s usual tactic to democratize those it aides, is a live-and-let-live approach, or govern as you wish. The objective appears to be to help emerging countries improve their infrastructure and economies. In doing so they become more prosperous, their people more active as consumers, and they buy from China. China’s wares are less expensive than Made-in-America, so China becomes the preferred supplier. Dictators can continue to dictate and not feel threatened or subject to ridicule or sanctions because of human rights concerns, or violations according to Uncle Sam. Imposing restrictions on Saudi Arabia due to the Jamal Khashoggi murder was a morality, human rights concern of ours, but not of the Arabs. China came into the picture and negotiated peace between the Sunni Saudi’s and the Shia Iranians, to the potential detriment of the Abraham Accords Trump advanced between the Arabs and the Israeli’s.  

This fits the argument respecting a country’s “own values and models,” avoiding at the same time any “ideological confrontation.”  Is that something we ever tried?  Will this style to helping other global entities create better trading partners and less conflict? As for Russia, XI clearly has the upper hand in a relationship between the two. Putin is an evil deceitful selfish bully and cannot be trusted, but Russia needs China. Size alone gives China the edge; 1.44 billion, vs. 144 million or 10:1. China can buy Russia’s oil, which it needs, supply weapons, and tell Putin, to a great extent what to do. When it comes to Ukraine, we need to wait and see. XI may well say to Putin, “stop this war,” offer reconstruction aide to Zelenskyy and a settlement in a fashion favorable to Ukraine, and find a new alliance. The outcome may not please Putin, but help him save face, and save Russia. 

Does XI want Russia to become part of China, for their resources, to include oil and more importantly, uranium, as it wants Taiwan for its historical significance and the sovereignty of China, as well as computer chips? Not Russia, as China can buy the resources needed, but Taiwan yes, as a promise to the CCP and the restoration of China as a whole; as XI did with Hong Kong. 

Universal human rights is not an objective for Xi.  It is more about economic development and not freedom. The Economist article makes clear, China “does not believe in democracy, human rights or constraining great powers.”

The Chinese balloon over America that was shot down disturbed XI and he appears to have altered any attempt to soften ties with the USA by hand holding in public with Putin. It is what seems to me a poor excuse, and begs the question about ‘trust.’ We know we cannot trust Putin, and I wonder too whether XI can actually trust or rely on Putin. The diabolical element herein is if China wants Russia to remain engaged with the Ukraine, keeping America involved, weakening our resolve or ability to assist in Taiwan’s defense. Thus enabling China to recover territory it claims is theirs alone.  

The globe is made up of many territories, sovereignties, interests, ideologies, selfish leaders, war-mongers and religious factions. There is a lack of objectivity Nation to Nation as it is too common in practice for peace to be wholly achieved for any length of time. The world is as a snow globe with the falling flakes world leaders, ever changing and melting away.  Two world leaders, America and China, co-dependent for goods, services, productivity and new ideas, to be at loggerheads seems more personal than practical. If China is taking a live-and-let-live approach, why at the same time does it appear, the perspective of our administration, to want to dominate the world. Does China no longer need America?

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

What is - Artificial Intelligence - AI -ChatGPT

Artificial Intelligence - AI -ChatGPT

All the talk today is this AI machine/computer that can research and write.   This commentary is influenced by recent conversations and a WSJ article, “ChatGPT Heralds an Intellectual Revolution,” by Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Daniel Huttenlocher (2/27/2023). Quotes are from the referenced article. 

This AI device is a massive information gathering tool, able to write and share the collected information in sentences and paragraphs humans can read.  Understanding is another issue. Over the past many generations written books, articles, encyclopedias, all manner of information and data has been digitized and stored, made accessible via the internet and various search engines. With enough computer power and speedy access to the worldwide web a question asked can be researched, information compared, ingested and digested, and an answer provided in nano-specs. The generated piece can appear as a written work, albeit not by a human.  Consider it a super-text-generator, not just words completing a sentence you may write, or suggested words that may follow what you are writing. It composes complete sentences and paragraphs. Accuracy of the material may be questioned, should be questioned, not necessarily of the collected data, but by any reliance that the source material itself is real, and factual. The fallacy becomes that of GIGO - garbage in - garbage out.

ChatGPT - The GPT = Generative Pre-training Transformer.  Yes, the machine is in training. And it is chatty.

This AI technology can converse, as it were, with humans, as long as questions are asked. Humans ask, the machine in split seconds researches, reviews and answers. It is as SIRI answering by not just sending you to a website.  From the printing press making human written records or thought available to multitudes, such as the Bible in 1453, this digitized powerful computer search engine and answer/words generator makes almost everything ever recorded, in word or possibly speech, available to the ChatGPT user. All human knowledge is conceivably at your fingertips; billions of items accessed and distilled faster than human consciousness could do it, even a collection of human conscious minds. It is fascinating that the text generated is literate - at least to those that can read.  How the machine learns is a conundrum.  But can it think?  Can it reason?

“Inherently, highly complex, AI furthers human knowledge, but not human understanding.”  The human is still needed, as human reasoning need apply. 

“Generative AI is … poised to generate a new form of consciousness, as yet, however, the opportunity exists in colors for which we have no spectrum and in directions for which we have no compass.”

ChatGPT incorporates data generation along with language models, but the information generated provides no sources, such as authors, speakers, or the written work from which it was obtained.  It can plagiarize or rewrite.  There is a lack of citations.  It can only provide responses based on available data, although vast, upon which it has been “trained.” There are no personal experiences or awareness - it can make probability judgments, but not forecast or predict the future. It is not a thinker.  It is not sentient; it is not alive; it does not have feelings.  You can always pull the plug.  The question that will always exist - what is the truth? Along with what is our purpose and why are we here?  It is the essential ontological question,  ‘What is?’ that AI cannot answer. 

Humans must always remain confident that they are rational beings and can think and have the ability to challenge the output of these AI Machina. Be careful of what you ask the machine. “Trust in AI requires multiple levels of reliability in the accuracy and safety of the machine, alignment of AI aims with human goals and in the accountability of the humans who govern the machine.”  We must ask about how our world was created, is it the Machina that has the answer.  What indeed is The Wonder of Terra (a book by Thomas W. Balderston), as in the Big Bang? 

These machines will get better and better and provide information we can review and use, but will it be believable in every case.  It is a new reality? Will it alter our reality? We may be helped in getting from A to B much faster, but then the next steps will still, will always, remain with us, we the people.  We will always be confronted with who is the Alpha, the Omega, and many will never know, or refuse to know, even accept if they do, who that is.  Certainly it is not a machine.  It takes faith to fully comprehend.  

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

Preserving the Rights of Citizens

Preserving the Rights of Citizens

Progress and Science

As an American we often ignore the world as a whole, but it should be considered.  For centuries the world moved forward at a slow pace. From Roman times, certainly prior, until the twentieth century wars were fought mostly with muscle, not machines.  The material elements of combat were limited to hand held devices or implements man manhandled to deliver their impact, such as the cannon.  But science has enabled man to create powerful weapons that have a force far greater than entire armies of past centuries could unleash at an instant.  The delivery of such devices uses transports that have man far from the site of the calamities. No longer hand-to-hand.  Not just in the area of battle, but in the whole of our lives science has led to the concept of warp speed in innovations that have enhanced the lives for all of mankind. More of the 7 billion plus residents of earth enjoy better, improved lives, living longer, than ever before. It is as a train continuing to gather speed, without any thought of slowing down.  In fact to slow the speed would probably have catastrophic consequences. 

Science is the cause, indeed, and science can never be dismissed.  In fact it must be fully understood, discussed, taught, studied, transparent, and outcomes vetted to insure safety and efficacy.  To hide the truth, such as side effects, is to potentially derail the train or at least compromise confidence in advances ongoing.  Man has benefitted by the health we enjoy, the education we receive, the comforts at home, the tools that make our work easier and more productive, and increased leisure. Changes continue, quickly and at times hard to even comprehend. That which has brought us to the present will dimly reflect upon what will occur in the future.  The wheels of progress will spin at an ever increasing rate. 

Yet there are economies and governments that cannot keep up.  Can humans actually keep up?  Has man changed, the human spirit altered? What has science done for the human condition, the soul? Winston Churchill wrote, “Certain it is that while men are gathering knowledge and power with ever-increasing and measureless speed, their virtues and their wisdom have not shown any notable improvements as the centuries have rolled….The nature of man has remained hitherto practically unchanged.” (Fifty Years Hence, published in the Strand, 1931).

Governments/Beneficiaries

With all this progress there are countries whose leadership continuously seeks control over its citizens, giving them a taste of science’s good, while few enjoy the fully ripened fruit. And the sovereign, if an autocrat, enjoys the power possessed. 

Everyone benefits from scientific development - the developer, the manufacturer, and the people, but some more than others.  Certainly all people benefit by the improvements to lives made possible, from infrastructure, roads and utilities, convenience items, to foods, and certainly, TV.  Do all equally benefit from the creation of the new order of things?  Of course not.  Does the capitalist earn the most?  This debate is never ending.  Socialists are constantly standing behind the fence, lifted up by others and now looking over to collectively lay claim to the largesse, a need for transference of the wealth effect so all may enjoy equally.  If the socialist did not create the product should they in equity receive equal rewards?  

Governments labelled as or leaning progressive (Socialist) employ the approach that inequities in society from sources not of the government itself create unfairness.  It is only the government that can maintain the scale at its’ fulcrum, fully balanced.  The fallacy in all this is the government that controls is by far the greater beneficiary, in size, financially, its members personally, and does so with impunity.   It raises a defense for the minority as a tool to obtain support for its political desires, enjoining their support with entitlements, limited in scope, yet effective; while attacking the successful few that make science work for the whole.  They are referred to as privileged, even racist.  The successful are uniquely colored and classified as of a singular supreme nature, regardless of ethnicity or pigmentation. 

Science can be abused. If the crisis that is cured by science is held hostage to the science itself, for political gains, more government control, the reigning power structure wins.  As in war, nationalistic pride is promoted and employed as a tool to require citizens to be engaged for the nation, in work demanded by the government for their survival.  FDR used Executive Privilege and Emergency Powers to convert industry and jobs for the war effort.  In doing so the freedom American’s embraced were sacrificed for the war, the battle at hand.  After the war that was changed.  But consider this.  Since that time the Executive has used Emergency Powers in peacetime for crises of its own, as if in war, be it economic, or health related (Covid). In doing so freedoms were limited. Were our Constitutional freedoms ever fully restored after WWII?  

When science works against the power base and its political template, it can be suppressed.  Intelligent concerns from highly educated sources may be classified as ‘mis-information,’ to the detriment of citizens, their freedom and their well-being.  Truth is hidden. A headline from an article in Scientific American (March 29, 2021) read, “Rejection of mainstream science and medicine has become a key feature of the political right in the US and increasingly around the world.”  Controlling governments, with a tendency to be liberal, claim they are acting for the protection of everyone, their departments are not to be questioned when they tell the populace what they should be doing, even required.  The propaganda: it is resistance from conservative elements that question the veracity of the claims, that facts are concealed. But any who question the government’s proclamations are then put into the same pocket, even prevented from earning a living. The government knows how to blame, but also how to lie. We have all heard it, ‘Get the stab or lose your job, your commission, your pension.  Lying loudly, limiting freedom of speech, debate, argument, withholding evidence, controlling media (print, social and broadcast media), and dictating to its citizens enables the political party in power and its alliances to maintain their grip, being authoritarian, self-righteous, and to reign supreme.  This is the socialist model.  It entails meddling and intervention. The citizenry suffers. 

It seems reasonable to me that those that make science work for you and me deserve more.  After all they were either the creators, the developers, the manufacturers, the service agents or the enhancers.  They gave their time to learning, to thinking, to investing, often their own money (time and treasure), then teaching others, employing others, training, providing jobs and opportunities, and taking the risk. Those that fail receive very little.  But those that succeed receive much.  Should we be jealous? No, we should be thankful.

Equity

Therefore, I ask, is it the right of any citizen to demand equity under all circumstances, even when they benefit but do not create or produce?  What is the correct public policy? What are governments to do?  Are they to speak for the masses? Or are they to represent the individual? Does the government work for the people or the people for the government? America’s Constitution clearly has the government as representative of the people and thus working for We The People.  But today’s government is resisting that concept. In an article written in 1936 by Winston Churchill (Collier’s, What Good’s A Constitution), “Every self-respecting citizen in every country must be on his guard lest the rulers demand of him in time of peace sacrifices only tolerable in a period of war for national self-preservation.” How insightful!  A President’s intent when using Emergency Powers in time of peace should always be questioned; and in principal not permitted.  It brings to the surface the adage of never letting a good crisis go to waste.  Said crisis becomes a device to strengthen the Party in Power’s hand over its citizens.  

In America sovereign power rests with the people, and is exercised through Congress, elected representatives. A President is not the Sovereign, as a King, as they are not autonomous, not dictators. There exist controls over their authority.  Yet there are those that would prefer that not be the case; those who use surreptitious means to enhance their power.

Government For The People

Government, in speaking for everyone, can provide an education, even subsidies to attend modern universities, they can tax and apply surplus wealth for the common good, and they can attempt to equalize the playing field for all.  One might argue that where the government aides in education, the educated should be in the sciences where the advances benefiting society as a whole are the greatest. Not in the political sciences.  Humanities, yes, as a groundwork to further education, but not in the area of unscientific controversial social issues.  History, when the truth is presented, will cast sufficient light on the success and failures of social programs, that if studied could mitigate the extent to which similar social programs are constantly brought to the surface anew.  But the playing field to be equal for all as a socialist government purports will never be equal.  As much as they try to diminish the ‘other’ factors, such as family, church, faith, mentors, and finance, those influencers will strive to make their children, their students, those applying themselves, and independent self-motivated persons, learn more, try harder, dress better, be more socially conscious, seek the best examples to emulate, to achieve, to score, and to succeed.    

Today’s Administration

From this current Administration, under Biden and the Democratic powers that appear to hold his strings, we have experienced economic wars and health wars of their creation, elements of reality to only them indeed. Attempts have been made to compel citizens to serve the State, never questioning any claims nor authority. More subjective than objective, facts have been disguised, discussion limited, and alternative information suppressed. It has allowed socialism to arise, as tattoos inked on the arms of its citizens, to be nationalistic, while citizen’s rights and freedoms have been curtailed.  Their success has been remarkable.  Will we now, or ever, experience a return to the sensibilities of a government for the people?  

Governments come and go, but our civil servants remain. Has our government become too big, filled with entrenched, protected liberals that bide their time, and bathe in their spoils.  Has an internal political permanent infrastructure evolved? Does this cadre of leftest socialistic ideology enjoy the times when Democrats are in control. When a Republican house is erected do they simply do the minimum awaiting a Democrat return. They are as termites, chewing at the foundation of our Constitutional structure.  Is the socialist mindset, and the entitlement dependent class, too buried in the halls of Washington to ever dig out.  This Administration enjoys power over the people.  This is not the America the Founders even intended.  And we are not at war. 

The only emergency is the need to return the power to the people and protect citizen’s rights.  This Administration is interfering with the rights of our citizens; as citizens we must interfere and alter the course America is now on.  As many cry out, it is the voting booth that is being abused.  That is where change takes place. We need identification (ID’s) for just about everything that is important - banking, driving, licenses, passports, flying, crossing borders (American’s anyway), seeing medical professionals, and more.  To vote is simple logic: You must be a US citizen to vote; a US citizen, to vote, must show proper ID of citizenship. It is one of our greatest Rights.  It is essential that privilege is secure. It’s your vote and not someone else voting in your place.  In person voting is the best practice.  As to mail-in ballots it should only be when specifically requested and for good reason (illness, handicap, out of the area when the polls are open).  However if ballot harvesting is permitted then Republicans need to do as good a job at it as the Democrats.  

Free Thinking, Freedom Loving

In socialism there is misery. People’s rights and freedoms are limited.  In capitalism there are blessings. People’s rights and freedoms are embraced. Neither are perfect, nor wholly equitable. Equal opportunity provides a starting point for all our children, yet equal opportunity does not mean equal outcomes. No government can be the equalizer.  Equal outcomes are impossible.  Incentives are needed to enable all those who strive to become as good as they can be.  A dependent society will be weak and disinterested; it will be indoctrinated to rely on government, and expect more.  As a result the dependents feel entitled and in turn embolden political factions prone to give as much of the ‘others’ success as possible in exchange for their increased numbers in government and at the helm.  

America’s Constitution is the finest document ever written to preserve the Rights of Citizens.  The progressives are not progressive, but regressive.  It took many millenniums for a gathering of men of various persuasions to finally collaborate and write our Constitution.  The Declaration of Independence voices the freedoms we must preserve.  There has never been a successful socialist country.  There are successful capitalistic countries.  For the people life is better when there is fiscal responsibility, small government, open pathways to opportunity, fewer impediments to innovation, basic education and not indoctrination, greater incentives to achieve, less regulation, faith and family embraced, secure borders, and when our homes and neighborhoods are safe.   The vision that is thus presented is an open blue sky, the warm sun on our shoulders, happy children playing in the streets, and an avenue with few obstacles towards our pursuit of happiness. Freedom is protected; rights preserved.

Science will continue at its exponential pace.  Science best advances under the free markets.  Government’s can intervene, show favorites, respond to their financial lifeblood, the lobbyists, only wanting what is best for the power base. Science has helped to streamline almost every discipline, except possibly that of government.  Government has become and elephant when a thoroughbred is required.  In crisis science can be abused, not just by governments, but greedy capitalists as well. There are imperfections.  Human nature has not advanced as much as technology, except to be considered more civilized when surrounded by the materials of science and tech.  But that is the pig lipstick case. 

Be guided by your parents and your mentors. Find examples to emulate. Live to be free. Learn, love, have babies, and be their guide.  Beware: the Government has a tendency to deceive, to lie, protecting its cronies, its base and its turf.  Protect your heritage as an American. 

 

by Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

1/2023

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