tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22170684700689622532023-11-15T23:27:29.750-08:00Worthless Blog of ProtoplasmUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-12740080057635180762021-07-21T12:49:00.001-07:002021-08-13T15:38:23.005-07:00Abolish the CDC — NOW!The tyrants running things in government may be big fat jerks, but at least they're not entirely stupid. They learned, over the past 18 months, that they can use unelected, unauthorized, unaccountable bureaucracies to wield undelegated power against the citizenry.<div><br /></div><div>Take the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — <i>please!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I prefer to call them the Centers for Dominance and Control of the Population. Why? Because for reasons unfathomable, everybody seems to line up and do as they say, blindly following orders and doing as they're told, in the face of abundant evidence that the orders promulgated are often some combination of illegal, immoral, and illogical. But evidence doesn't matter, because they've realized the scared little sheep will let them get away with murder as long as they call it a "public health crisis."</div><div><br /></div><div>Indeed, the CDC has risen to become a powerful influence in American life today, infringing on natural rights, guiding public discourse, producing a narrative to control thought, enacting Draconian rules, and engaging in policy areas completely unrelated to health, such as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0624-eviction-moratorium.html" target="_blank">telling landlords they cannot collect rent owed to them</a>. Seriously? Property rights, anyone?</div><div><br /></div><div>To justify this abusive overreach, <i>everything </i>is now about "public health." (That's how they get you.)</div><div><br /></div><div>A prime example? Now "racism" (such as it may be defined) is a "public health crisis." You heard that right. Words simply have no meaning anymore, so they can create any edicts they like, based on their own squirrelly definitions of language and reality. How does that look in practice? Check this out:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzU_4kxi9aoppzWAPJPlU47dTDkBWhYmSXxS-UtpKXrXEGIJy0h-AkN-P6g9DXrV2V6hPYMjWxxuyVM3vS-SkBgi8OgbQGCJf6uZ6a7YWJnKQ4780wefwmXgsFI1R2sacQ-mOwWvBf5FR4/s1200/SLC-racism-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="718" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzU_4kxi9aoppzWAPJPlU47dTDkBWhYmSXxS-UtpKXrXEGIJy0h-AkN-P6g9DXrV2V6hPYMjWxxuyVM3vS-SkBgi8OgbQGCJf6uZ6a7YWJnKQ4780wefwmXgsFI1R2sacQ-mOwWvBf5FR4/w119-h200/SLC-racism-1.jpg" width="119" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PCCpuMK1PpBFrgMp16xLngj59oXnS-qoa8SQXMGQO09HSHgVRA5PIf1RoxiyRAJK-FzuDNJfRLNx2Lx2EKNa-WenPuy0Ndfexk_Di0ELzVwYf6yC_hoxc1LD18gTocg5x6Vric37tNGk/s1200/SLC-racism-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PCCpuMK1PpBFrgMp16xLngj59oXnS-qoa8SQXMGQO09HSHgVRA5PIf1RoxiyRAJK-FzuDNJfRLNx2Lx2EKNa-WenPuy0Ndfexk_Di0ELzVwYf6yC_hoxc1LD18gTocg5x6Vric37tNGk/w120-h200/SLC-racism-2.jpg" width="120" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybqnXt30_etT-8u3cWR_Pp6ATF27bqBnt8nfroyuTSVItUIZ2PQALXi2sjwWt8VrCEH9wB_STK3cb-DoFMI9IK-T7frmoKZiEl_tsac5hMjq4ydnBbTvFogGJxet3VdCKQPRw4DZdWjka/s1200/SLC-racism-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="718" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybqnXt30_etT-8u3cWR_Pp6ATF27bqBnt8nfroyuTSVItUIZ2PQALXi2sjwWt8VrCEH9wB_STK3cb-DoFMI9IK-T7frmoKZiEl_tsac5hMjq4ydnBbTvFogGJxet3VdCKQPRw4DZdWjka/w119-h200/SLC-racism-3.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The mayor and city council of Salt Lake City just put out this tripe. Now YOU can be deemed a public health threat and have your civil liberties illegally curtailed as a result of motivations falsely ascribed to you. (This will result in violence, guaranteed. Whether it's violence in the form of citizens resisting the tyranny, or violence perpetrated by the government enforcing their tyranny against those deemed to be "public health threats"...there will be violence.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out the assumptions in this resolution (each listed as a "whereas" point). I was unaware that steaming piles of crap could be piled up quite that high. Also, I'm annoyed that these so-called leaders have the audacity to call me, my family, and my friends racists. If anybody, it's these race-obsessed powerlusters who are the racists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sixth "whereas" is particularly galling in its clear falsehood. It claims that the United States, the states themselves, and each city have been intentionally DESIGNED to be systematically racist. This is an attack on the founding principles of equality of opportunity and on every citizen in the country who does not fall into their definition of "the oppressed."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of equality of opportunity, as opposed to equality of outcomes, this document uses the insidious term "equity" or "inequity" no less than TEN times. Equity is the communist term for a central authority forcibly redistributing wealth or other resources. Don't get it mixed up with equal treatment. Equity strives to make things unfair in the name of fairness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This mayor and council members have taken it upon themselves, with no actual delegated authority, only the moral authority they presume to have over everyone, to designate us all as racists, and they intend to use that designation, along with the force of the CDC, to punish you for the wrongthink they ascribe to you based on your skin color.</div><br /><div>These people are out of control. Resist.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the first step is to abolish the CDC.</div><div><br /></div><div>[UPDATE:] Within a day of this ridiculous proclamation, I created a counter-resolution for other cities in Utah to sign. My group disseminated it to the mayors and city councils throughout the state. I have not yet heard whether any of them adopted the counter-resolution. Here it is:<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXLce2Dddjku7cQAAnBgM3SdxyaeS43VxMPGxcUjSKTWP0Ta3rnKRC0x84vqjgogU_MP4yAaueou49oDRxX0gWRQBO_p45yKT6kSYc2wkwT4rBzjJ4RshdNW8C2LjK1ctMkxPLF3O9Vsd/s2280/.....resolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXLce2Dddjku7cQAAnBgM3SdxyaeS43VxMPGxcUjSKTWP0Ta3rnKRC0x84vqjgogU_MP4yAaueou49oDRxX0gWRQBO_p45yKT6kSYc2wkwT4rBzjJ4RshdNW8C2LjK1ctMkxPLF3O9Vsd/w304-h640/.....resolution.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-72481236750692476812021-05-18T12:04:00.002-07:002021-05-21T12:37:43.529-07:00Governor Coxwomble's $pending $pree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfM_IhMvJXsUUlAdP6Dgif5qE8SKd3_x-SFOGo9nCe6vX2kGLpvAUG865ilduPGIYfmPoAjQ-KoM4SL6qtDpMTXftt0-JRGGw24AqxC-QgSTOIAiWAqceD8NCzpbimidbbJwLcZOoJoPRd/s620/........coxwomble.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfM_IhMvJXsUUlAdP6Dgif5qE8SKd3_x-SFOGo9nCe6vX2kGLpvAUG865ilduPGIYfmPoAjQ-KoM4SL6qtDpMTXftt0-JRGGw24AqxC-QgSTOIAiWAqceD8NCzpbimidbbJwLcZOoJoPRd/s320/........coxwomble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cox: Hmm...how should I spend all this FREE money?</span></i></div><div><br /></div>First, let's get that title out of the way. <br /><br />I've taken to calling Utah's executive "Coxwomble" because I recently came across the term "Cockwomble," which is a British word that means<br /><blockquote><i>"A person, usually male, prone to making outrageously stupid statements and/or inappropriate behavior while generally having a very high opinion of their own wisdom and importance." </i></blockquote>Seems appropriate.<br /><br />Now, let's talk about this special session of the Utah Legislature that he's called, that's convening tomorrow to take up a few issues. Will they focus mainly on protecting your rights against medical tyranny? Nope. Will they primarily be looking to protect your rights by establishing Second Amendment sanctuary status? Nope. Banning Marxist indoctrination in our public schools? Nah. Ol' Spencer's got some cash burning a hole in his pocket. Cox's main objective for this session is to take the filthy lucre he's accepted from the federal government and spend it like a drunken sailor. <div><br /></div><div>They call it "COVID-19 relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act," but we all know what it really is: a not-so cleverly hidden redistribution of wealth agenda. Those billions of dollars have to come from somewhere. <i>They come from you and me.</i> First, via regular ol' taxes, and second from the hidden taxation scheme called "printing more money." Every time the fed runs those printing presses, they're doing it upon your back and mine, because they're not creating wealth; they're dividing up the existing wealth among more worthless pieces of paper. And that means inflation, and that means your paycheck is worth less than it was — which is the same thing, in effect, as a tax increase. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>(Please note: I am not advocating the idea of a fixed pie of wealth. <a href="https://worthlessprotoplasm.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-fixed-pie-of-power.html" target="_blank">I've stated before</a> that that's a fallacy, because the total wealth of the nation increases as we are economically active in creating goods and services. But in the snapshot of time when the money is printed, there is only so much wealth at that moment that the currency is supposed to represent, which is why that "new" money is instantly devalued — it doesn't represent anything of actual value.)</i><div><br /></div><div><div>So...Cox is taking your money and mine — money with federal strings attached, making us more and more beholden to Washington DC and their agenda — and he's got big plans for it, oh yes, oh yes. <i>*governor rubs hands gleefully*</i></div><div><br />According to <a href="https://www.ksl.com/article/50167992/utah-legislature-might-ban-school-mask-requirements-in-special-session" target="_blank">KSL</a>: <br /><blockquote>The biggest item on lawmakers' [special session] agenda will be tackling budget changes and how they plan to spend over $1.6 billion in the latest round of federal COVID-19 relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. The Executive Appropriations Committee on Monday endorsed a plan to only initially spend about $574 million of those funds."</blockquote></div><div>Oh, how wonderfully <i>restrained </i>of them to not spend it all in one place! They'll start by only nuzzling into that trough to the tune of about one-third of all that lovely gift money from rich Uncle Joe. Now, they could go all "stimulus" style and give every man, woman and child in the state about five hundred bucks. But you know they know far better how to spend your money than you do!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, they're dividing the $1.6 billion into "buckets." Senate President Stuart Adams said that putting it in buckets helps them "make a better decision as to whether that's an appropriate spot to spend state money." Just in case your Newspeak translation app is not updated, "state money" means "YOUR money." (Creating buckets, of course, also hides the wealth transfer that's happening.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the proposed buckets:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>$720 million for infrastructure and unemployment solvency</li><li>$115 million for ongoing response to the pandemic</li><li>$65 million in grants to businesses impacted by the pandemic</li><li>$280 million for water infrastructure</li><li>$175 million for broadband internet expansion</li><li>$80 million for education</li><li>$110 million for emergency preparedness</li><li>$35 million to address backlogged courts</li><li>$70 million for housing and homeless</li></ul></div><div>Let's examine that sweet sweet wish list, shall we?</div><div><br /></div><div>* * * * * * * * * * * *</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>$720 million for infrastructure and unemployment solvency</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">As you have learned from the fake president, "infrastructure" is Newspeak for "whatever the heck I want." So, of course it's the biggest chunk. As for unemployment solvency, this is a classic case of government using OUR money to fix the problems that THEY created. We wouldn't have unemployment issues in Utah if the government had not put so many people out of work through their Draconian and unnecessary "pandemic" response.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>$115 million for ongoing response to the pandemic</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">What the heck does that even MEAN? Are they planning to pour more gasoline on the fire they started? More cowbell? Ongoing meddling and ongoing rights violations? A big "no thank you" to that!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />$65 million in grants to businesses impacted by the pandemic</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">How gracious. What they really mean is businesses impacted by the government response. Once again, fixing problems of their own creation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />$280 million for water infrastructure</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's that magic word, again! Infrastructure this, infrastructure that. Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, citizen. They've got it all under control. I mean, it's <i>infrastructure </i>for crying out loud! Who could be against that?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />$175 million for broadband internet expansion</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Seems like this is something that should be left to the private sector. Oh, I get it! They're going to pay the private sector to do internet stuff. So, another case of <a href="https://worthlessprotoplasm.blogspot.com/2021/03/correctly-identifying-power-structure.html" target="_blank">gov(pub) and gov(priv)</a> working together for the greater good with no possible negative side effects or unintended consequences. Because, you know, every time the government gets involved with stuff, it just gets cheaper, more efficient, and higher quality!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />$80 million for education</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay. How much of my money will be going toward school choice? How much toward Marxist indoctrination? How much toward administrator salaries? Can you break that down for me a bit?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />$110 million for emergency preparedness</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like, toilet paper? Or more opportunities for the executive to usurp power? Please explain.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />$35 million to address backlogged courts</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Are they going to hire 200 more judges? If not, where is all that dough going?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b><i>$70 million for housing and homeless</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like, building houses for the homeless? What? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* * * * * * * * * * * *</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It must be great to have a nice bunch of money to spend, with no regard for the sacred nature of those funds. Every dollar the government calls "state money" represents the lives of the citizens, because the money they take from us is derived from us spending our time and effort — our lives — earning it. Yes, the government needs money to function. We agree to provide funding via our tax dollars...that's how society works. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But we the people have only authorized government to do a very specific, <i>extremely </i>limited list of enumerated functions. It's not some free-for-all where they just confiscate money and then do what they think is best. I don't care what they think is best. Elected officials should bend over backwards to stay constrained to the tiny box in which we've allowed them to exist. Every time they step outside that box, with illegal rules and restrictions on the people, and with profligate spending on non-essential, extra-constitutional endeavors, they are stepping on us. They are stealing from us. They are betraying their oath of office.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And we are watching.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">God is watching.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There will be a reckoning.</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-80019625567745639782021-05-08T12:40:00.003-07:002021-05-08T12:40:37.152-07:00Using the Tools at Our Disposal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIbnzTWeYpy1PuWlyJJqfxYuikk2xtzNGnB4w6F1y7Xg6qrP7Z-AORln-gU_esWDmpa-x8faL5lDT4_6TtkfJQ0onHBsqGQo6DzZPQ37pe-sm8Fwa3-SoxTVGJhyphenhyphenNatDYptg3hbzAcUtH/s474/....diy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIbnzTWeYpy1PuWlyJJqfxYuikk2xtzNGnB4w6F1y7Xg6qrP7Z-AORln-gU_esWDmpa-x8faL5lDT4_6TtkfJQ0onHBsqGQo6DzZPQ37pe-sm8Fwa3-SoxTVGJhyphenhyphenNatDYptg3hbzAcUtH/s320/....diy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>I've heard it said that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. <div><br /></div><div>Given the thick morass of rules and laws, the long gaps between elections and legislative activities in our state, and the unwillingness of many of those we've elected to act on some critical issues that need immediate addressing — even via special sessions — I looked into what we can do at a more grass roots level within the existing legal framework in Utah. I found this, from <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Utah_2020_ballot_measures" target="_blank">Ballotpedia</a>:<br /><blockquote>"Utah allows citizen initiatives in the form of initiated state statutes and veto referendums. In Utah, initiated state statutes can be either directly or indirectly initiated. Signature requirements for directly-initiated statutes and referendum petitions are determined by calculating 8 percent of active voters in the state as of January 1 of the year following the last regular general election. For indirectly initiated statute petitions, proponents must gather signatures equal to 4 percent of active voters—a requirement of 57,935 for the 2020 ballot—to get the initiative before state legislators. A second, equal round of signatures is required if the legislature does not approve the initiative. The deadline to submit the first round of signatures for an indirect initiated state statute targeting the 2020 election ballot was November 15, 2019."</blockquote><div>As far as how many <i>John Hancocks</i> we need, the signature requirement numbers can be found <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Signature_requirements_for_ballot_measures_in_Utah" target="_blank">here</a>. Looks like we'd need about 140,000.<br /><br />Bottom line: I think we need to take this into our own hands more directly by utilizing the referendum mechanisms in our state. We can work to gather sufficient signatures to get propositions directly onto the ballot in November (though, unfortunately, we've missed the deadline for this upcoming fall election...and time is really of the essence as the oppression worsens day by day).<br /><br />What propositions should we look at first? I recommend ballot initiatives for the following, as a minimum:<br /><blockquote>1) Creation of <b>recall</b> mechanisms for all state and federal offices in the state;<br /><br />2) A way to <b>remove unelected bureaucrats</b> when they abuse positions of authority (such as health department directors)...public hearings over violations would be required as part of due process;<br /><br />3) <b>Medical freedom:</b> banning government AND private businesses from requiring masks, shots, tracking, testing, etc. for adults and children in Utah;<br /><br />4) A broader <b>educational control</b> initiative than merely "banning CRT," which is just one of the many fiery darts coming our way through the Marxist-inspired education system. We need something that gives parents a greater say in education...perhaps a restructuring of school boards statewide so they cannot make decisions without ratification from a group of parent representatives;<br /><br />5) <b>Disengagement from the feds:</b> a ban on taking additional federal funds; or at least a cap, by category, on what's allowed;<br /><br />6) <b>Sanctuary state:</b> refusal to enforce any and all federal laws that violate natural rights vis a vis the federal and state constitution; <br /><br />7) <b>Public lands:</b> direct the attorney general to initiate a lawsuit against the federal government for breach of contract (the federal government promised to relinquish or compensate us for our lands upon statehood...the promise remains broken over a century later, impacting our financial independence).</blockquote>These 7 propositions belong on the ballot as soon as possible, so we can take Utah back from the corrupt statists before it's too late. These items all help us work to equalize power, per my <a href="https://worthlessprotoplasm.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-fixed-pie-of-power.html" target="_blank">theory of the fixed pie of power</a>. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Do you think you can find just 1 out of 12 of the people you know to sign a petition, so we can at least have a chance to vote on these important issues?</b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-55315302243325357892021-04-28T23:49:00.003-07:002021-04-30T07:45:54.326-07:00What Did That Traitorous Plume-Plucked Scullion Say?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI74rngHxBr_VNE4Hjuq1XMu96HIVBua7U09LH31rkIFrRBjx_0v9hyphenhyphenwhOSuz6mKA1m9jMksf3zISX7Igf3pJdvaCNQu0Fw17SCKqjHdS4_vvbzJ3aWWV3020Q73m6o-Qcmawiph90yx1/s474/......biden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI74rngHxBr_VNE4Hjuq1XMu96HIVBua7U09LH31rkIFrRBjx_0v9hyphenhyphenwhOSuz6mKA1m9jMksf3zISX7Igf3pJdvaCNQu0Fw17SCKqjHdS4_vvbzJ3aWWV3020Q73m6o-Qcmawiph90yx1/s320/......biden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Missed the Constitution by <i>that </i>much.</span></div><p></p><p>The man who claims to be in charge made a speech today to some people. Much like his anemic installation ceremony, a mere 200 people could stomach being in his presence today. Sure, much like the January 20th non-event, they claimed it was something to do with the flu. Whatevs.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>[Note: The image I chose for this post represents the fact that I appreciate the nostalgia of remembering him as the prevaricating weasel he was four decades ago instead of the prevaricating weasel he is today. Somehow, since he had told fewer whoppers in total back then, he's ever-so-slightly less disgusting. Comb-over notwithstanding. It also is a helpful reminder of just how long this twerp and twerps like him have been destroying our country.]</i></p></blockquote>I can't stand to listen to this creep, so I read the speech, and here are some thoughts on some of the bloviations and lies spewed from this crackpot dictator.<br /><blockquote>"Tonight, I come to talk about crisis — and opportunity. About rebuilding our nation — and revitalizing our democracy."</blockquote><div>BZZZZZT! Wrong. We have a constitutional democratic republic. But they always get that one wrong, so, let's move on.<br /><blockquote>"The worst pandemic in a century." </blockquote></div><div>You'd sure like us to believe that propaganda, wouldn't you? Since, you know, it's critical to your power-lusting schemes.</div><div></div><blockquote><div>"The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression."</div><div></div></blockquote><div>Yes. Caused by you and people like you. Caused DIRECTLY by the government, and nothing else. Pathetic.</div><div><blockquote>"The worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War."</blockquote>If you're talking about the theft of the election by you and your cadre, then absolutely yes. If you're referring to the protest of January 6th, you are out of your freaking mind and a lousy, lousy propagandist chump.</div><blockquote>"America is on the move again. Turning peril into possibility. Crisis into opportunity. Setback into strength."</blockquote><div>America was "on the move" with the rip-roaringist economy in living memory before you came in and smashed it all to hell. The only "possibility" and "opportunity" here is for you and your multi-trillion dollar unconstitutional unwanted nonsense proposals to drag us down into utter economic destruction. There is no "strength" in that; only weakness and ultimately, despair.<br /><blockquote>"America is rising anew. Choosing hope over fear. Truth over lies. Light over darkness."</blockquote></div><div>Rising? We're sinking under the anchor of debt you're saddling us (and our children's children's children) with. Hope over fear? Are you completely insane? All you do is sell fear porn, every day. COVID this, COVID that. Truth over lies? Excuse me while I clean up my vomit. You people are the ultimate liars. You people are the ultimate darkness. I'm so nauseated.</div><blockquote>"After 100 Days of rescue and renewal, America is...[l]eading the world again."</blockquote>Rescue and renewal? Gee, thanks for rescuing us from a great economy and <i>actual </i>global leadership. You're a laughingstock. How's that "world leadership" working out for you along our southern border, Joey? How are things going with our ally Israel? With the Iranians?<br /><blockquote>"...thanks to the extraordinary leadership [sic] of Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer [utterly reprehensible nutjobs] – and with the overwhelming support of the American people – Democrats, Independents, and Republicans – we did act."</blockquote><div>Overwhelming support of the American people? Have you been sniffing Hunter's drugs? You are possibly the most unsupported so-called president in history. You had to steal the election, and tens of thousands of dedicated patriots have been working hard every day for more than 100 days to get this heinous wrong righted. If anyone supports you, it's because you've successfully snowed them. As for Republican support...sorry, but no-spine Romney does not count.</div><div><blockquote>"So get vaccinated now."</blockquote></div><div>No thanks. Don't tell me what to do, slimeball. I'll tell you where you can stick your jab.</div><blockquote>"Parents are seeing smiles on their kids’ faces as they go back to school."</blockquote><div>I'm going to have to call bullcrap on that. Since your asinine rules require kids to be masked, NOBODY is seeing any smiles on any kids' faces. Instead, the children are being abused by your government, and committing suicide in record numbers. That's blood on <i>your </i>hands, you craven milk-livered turd.</div><blockquote>"There’s still more work to do to beat this virus. We can’t let our guard down now."</blockquote><div>Oh, shut up. The stench of your propaganda turns my stomach. And it is getting so, SO old.</div><blockquote>"...we are sending $1,400 rescue checks to 85% of all American households."</blockquote><div>Read that as: "We're suffocating you and your progeny in unsustainable debt by forcing you to take a loan that you'll need to pay back to the tune of about 400%, continuing to cause inflation (which is the same as instituting an across-the-board pay-cut that disproportionately harms the poor), all to try to make ourselves look good by "fixing" a problem of our own creation. You're welcome."</div><blockquote>"[We're] providing loans to keep small businesses open and their employees on the job."<div></div></blockquote><div>The small businesses are only hurting because of what GOVERNMENT did to them, boosting their big business cronies while crushing the small businesses as part of the COVID hoax. Shame on you.</div><blockquote>"We’re in a competition with China..."</blockquote><div>Ha! Yeah, you're not really competing with the CCP that helped put you in office.</div><div><div><blockquote>"We have to build back better."</blockquote></div><div>Ah, that's the <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/05/31/delingpole-build-back-better-the-latest-code-phrase-for-green-global-tyranny/" target="_blank">globalist marketing phrase</a> we've <a href="https://thenewamerican.com/build-back-better-biden-rips-off-orwellian-un-slogan/" target="_blank">read about</a>. Nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>After rattling off a list of various innovations, he said:</div><blockquote>"These are the investments...that only government can make."</blockquote></div><div>Really? Hmm. Interesting take, there, Joe. Seems pretty easy to falsify this declaration that human progress is only possible via our government overlords. Just ask Elon Musk.<br /><blockquote>"Today, up to 10 million homes and more than 400,000 schools and child care centers have pipes with lead in them, including for drinking water. A clear and present danger to our children’s health."</blockquote></div><div>Leave that to the states, you idiot. Why not address the REAL clear and present dangers to our children's health? I'm talking about the harms of forcing masks onto their faces, and the dangers to children that increased from predators facilitated by government responses to COVID, not to mention your crisis at the border. Yeah, let's not mention that.</div><blockquote>"The American Jobs Plan creates jobs...And I am asking the Vice President to help lead this effort."</blockquote><div>Huh. How did that "asking the vice president to help lead this effort" work out for you with the border crisis? Oh? She was a no-show? I see. Well, maybe this challenge will be more palatable for her.</div><blockquote>"For me, when I think about climate change, I think jobs."</blockquote><div>Yeah, me too. I think of all the jobs you're going to destroy with your little "climate change" game. </div><blockquote>"There’s no reason the blades for wind turbines can’t be built in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing. No reason why American workers can’t lead the world in the production of electric vehicles and batteries."</blockquote><div>Sure...and there's no reason why the steel used to make the <strike>bird executioners</strike> fan blades and the materials used in the batteries can't <i>magically </i>become environmentally-friendly resources, right?</div><blockquote>"Now – I know some of you at home are wondering..."</blockquote><div>Wait...he actually thinks anyone at home is watching this crap?</div><blockquote>"By the way – let’s also pass the $15 minimum wage. No one should work 40 hours a week and still live below the poverty line."</blockquote><div>No, stupid, let's not dictate the price of commodities like labor. Let's not insert government into the right of free association and the liberty to have mutually agreed-upon transactions by private citizens. Let's not price all the teens and minorities and less-trained people out of a job. Yes, there absolutely <i>are</i> people who should work 40 hours a week (if they choose) and still live below your mythical "poverty line." They're called teenagers. They're called part-timers. They're called free American citizens. Leave us all alone with your job-killing, price-increasing foolish unconstitutional meddling.</div><blockquote>"And we need to ensure greater equity and opportunity for women. Let’s get the Paycheck Fairness Act to my desk for equal pay. It’s long past time."</blockquote><div>Dude, it's long past time you stopped peddling in myths. The "wage gap" is a long con. You're not fooling us anymore. Just stop.</div><blockquote>"Decades ago we used to invest 2% of our GDP on research and development. Today, we spend less than 1%. China and other countries are closing in fast."</blockquote><div>Yeah, your bed-buddies are closing in fast because they steal our IP, and you let them. Why don't you stand up to the communists? Oh yeah...because you are one, and they own you.</div><blockquote>"Doing nothing is not an option."</blockquote><div>Oh, please. Please...PLEASE! I would give up a toe if you people would just. Do. NOTHING. For like, five to ten years. Just do nothing. Please.</div><blockquote>"First, access to a good education."</blockquote><div>C'mon, man! If you cared about that, you'd abolish the abysmal money-pit failure called the Department of Education, and you'd fully support school choice. But you don't. Because you are anti-education. You are only pro-indoctrination, which is why you only support the programs you support. One of the major planks of the Marxist manifesto, after all, right?</div><blockquote>"And then we add two years of free community college."</blockquote><div>Free? FREE? You keep using that word. I am absolutely <i>certain </i>it does not mean what you think it means (or what you think the rubes who listen to you think it means).<br /><blockquote>"The American Rescue Plan lowered health care premiums for 9 million Americans who buy their coverage under the Affordable Care Act."</blockquote></div><div>I didn't fact-check this, but if the ACA lowered healthcare costs this year, that will be a first for the ACA after more than a decade of screwing everybody. Expanding ObamaCare, one the worst and most unpopular laws in American history, can only be bad for America.</div><blockquote>"The Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for millions of Americans – protecting people with pre-existing conditions, protecting women’s health."</blockquote><div>Of course, by "lifeline" he means "death sentence," given the true meaning of his horrid euphemism "women's health" (in case your Newspeak app is not updated, "women's health" means "baby murder").</div><blockquote>"Health care should be a right, not a privilege in America."</blockquote><div>No, you commie. Healthcare is not a right. Taking other people's labor and stuff is not a right.</div><blockquote>"It’s time for corporate America and the wealthiest 1% of Americans to pay their fair share. Just pay their fair share."</blockquote><div>Fair share. You keep using that word... you know the rest. Some facts:</div><div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>In 2017, the top 50 percent of all taxpayers paid 97 percent of all individual income taxes, while the bottom 50 percent paid the remaining 3 percent.</li><li>The top 1 percent paid a greater share of individual income taxes (38.5 percent) than the bottom 90 percent combined (29.9 percent).</li></ul></div><div>Our tax structure is so "progressive" it's about to tip and fall over, you mewling beef-witted gudgeon. Here's just how steep that curve already is:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaAncHWEUiSE-afoSrdKt1kls8Lf0Giyr77lIjobUoSu6ESINNxkP7ErZsZWi5Bc74WgkIhFSwl_nJEhC0XPVg5JaKyDHwj6rN47e8_dKIGzRmg3s7n-GaSA6oxgRSfq6B1Xdh8_CKSRo//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1328" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaAncHWEUiSE-afoSrdKt1kls8Lf0Giyr77lIjobUoSu6ESINNxkP7ErZsZWi5Bc74WgkIhFSwl_nJEhC0XPVg5JaKyDHwj6rN47e8_dKIGzRmg3s7n-GaSA6oxgRSfq6B1Xdh8_CKSRo/w448-h294/image.png" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But you want to squeeze even harder on the people who are building businesses, creating jobs, innovating. What was the name of the last business you ran, Joe? <i>*crickets*</i> No, I said RAN, not profited from. Big difference, Big Guy.</div><blockquote>"We’re going to reform corporate taxes so they pay their fair share."</blockquote></div><div>No you're not. Only a complete nincompoop believes that corporations pay taxes. They build your tax hikes into their overhead like any smart person would do, and that's passed onto the consumer as price inflation. Thanks.</div><blockquote>"We take the top tax bracket...up to 39.6%."</blockquote></div><div>Ever heard of the Laffer curve? Do you really think that's going to pay for your spending spree? You do realize that even a single one of your trillion dollar shopping lists is the equivalent of spending a million bucks a day for 2,750 years? But yeah, let's make ThE eViL wEaLtHy pay for your communist dreams! That'll work!</div><blockquote>"We’re going to get rid of the loopholes that allow Americans who make more than $1 million a year pay a lower rate on their capital gains than working Americans pay on their work. This will only affect three tenths of 1% of all Americans."</blockquote><div>That happens to be a million families you're targeting, there. Math is not hard. Meanwhile, it's extremely insulting to insinuate that those people aren't working for their income. You shameless clay-brained clotpole.</div><blockquote>"What I’ve proposed is fair. It’s fiscally responsible."</blockquote><div>Wait, what is? The ever-increasingly unfair super-progressive tax structure is fair? (See above chart.) Or is the trillions upon trillions of dollars of completely unsustainable and unconstitutional debt "fiscally responsible"? You use words, and by doing so abuse the language and assault the listener, you perfidious beetle-headed varlet.</div><blockquote>"When you hear someone say that they don’t want to raise taxes on the wealthiest 1% and on corporate America – ask them: whose taxes are you going to raise instead, and whose are you going to cut?"</blockquote><div>False choice, fool. How about you just <a href="https://worthlessprotoplasm.blogspot.com/2015/03/cut-it-outnow.html" target="_blank">stop the spending</a>? That's the answer. It would be so easy. But not for a communist.</div><blockquote>"Look at the big tax cut in 2017. It was supposed to pay for itself and generate vast economic growth. Instead it added $2 trillion to the deficit. It was a huge windfall for corporate America and those at the very top."</blockquote><div>Bullpoop. That tax cut benefitted nearly every American, including my middle class family, and made our economy SOAR like a rocket. And you want to take that away? Just stop it, you tongueless fool-born carbuncle.</div><blockquote>"According to one study, CEOs make 320 times what their average workers make."</blockquote><div>Other than the covetous, who cares? Income inequality is a totally meaningless metric. It's all a distraction from <a href="https://worthlessprotoplasm.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-fixed-pie-of-power.html" target="_blank">the inequality that <i>really </i>matters</a>.</div><blockquote>"20 million Americans lost their jobs in the pandemic – working- and middle-class Americans."</blockquote><div>Thanks to government. No other cause. When are we going to hold you people responsible?<br /><blockquote>"No responsible American president can remain silent when basic human rights are violated."</blockquote>Apparently, Joe just said he is irresponsible. Because remaining silent when basic human rights are violated is precisely what he has done by calling the Uyghur genocide nothing but "different cultural norms" and giving the communists a pass. Despicable. And so brazen to say this now. What a clownwad.</div><blockquote>"I responded in a direct and proportionate way to Russia’s interference in our elections..."</blockquote><div>...by making sure all the right people got paid off, including his son. He still owes the CCP, though.</div><blockquote>"Al Qaeda and ISIS are in Yemen, Syria, Somalia, and other places in Africa and the Middle East and beyond."</blockquote><div>So, that would be why you, on day one in office, reversed President Trump's wise travel ban on people from terrorism-sponsoring countries like those you just listed? Makes sense.</div><blockquote>"And, we won’t ignore what our own intelligence agencies have determined – the most lethal terrorist threat to the homeland today is from white supremacist terrorism."</blockquote><div>Oh puh-LEEZE. You and your completely politicized and corrupt intelligence agencies couldn't come up with a more believable boogeyman? Really? Astounding. I mean, you have BLM and Antifa literally setting cities on fire for a year, and you're gonna go with "white supremacist terrorism"? Just wow. </div><blockquote>"It’s estimated that more than 50 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner – every month in America."</blockquote><div>This is precisely why more women need to be armed, and able to arm themselves according to the Second Amendment, with no infringement whatsoever — no background checks, no waiting periods, not permitting. All women and men have a God-given and constitutionally-protected right to defend themselves with zero impediments from the government.</div><blockquote>"And I need not tell anyone this, but gun violence is an epidemic in America."</blockquote><div>You need not tell us because your propaganda arm (the media) reinforces that message every day. Besides, the true epidemic is fatherless families, not pieces of hardware. Regardless, it's a good thing there are over two million defensive gun uses each year in the United States. Infringing on the natural rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves will only make things worse.</div><blockquote>"In the week between those mass shootings, more than 250 other Americans were shot dead. 250 shot dead."</blockquote><div>Please tell us, Joe, how many of those were black-on-black violence perpetrated in cities with the strictest "gun control" laws? How many were in states with the most defensive freedom?</div><blockquote>"...a ban on assault weapons..."</blockquote><div>Please define "assault weapon." I'll wait. Is it anything like an assault hammer? Assault fists? Assault poison? Assault cheese sandwiches? Assault laws? Assault politicians? Perhaps you should just ban assault and call it good. Covers all the bases. What's that? Assault is already illegal? I see. So...you have some other agenda.</div><blockquote>"Anyone from a criminal to a terrorist could buy this [gun] kit and, in as little as 30 minutes, put together a lethal weapon. But not anymore."</blockquote><div>Or a hobbyist, or a patriot who knows tyrants like you are the enemy, or perhaps a woman who wants to protect herself and can't wait longer than 30 minutes for your stupid background checks and waiting periods. But not anymore. You abominable tallow-faced ratsbane.</div><blockquote>"We also have to get at the root of the problem of why people are fleeing to our southern border from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador. The violence. The corruption. The gangs. The political instability. Hunger. Hurricanes. Earthquakes."</blockquote><div>Well, that's WEIRD! So, none of those things existed until you were installed? Because, there was no border crisis under President Trump. I guess hurricanes and earthquakes just magically kicked in when you ascended to the throne. Hmm. Maybe God doesn't like you much.</div><blockquote>"...beset by man-made and natural made violence..."</blockquote><div>Please define "natural made violence." No, really, I'm just super-curious what the heck you are talking about, geezer.</div><blockquote>"Immigrants have done so much for America during the pandemic..."</blockquote><div>You mean like flooding across the border carrying diseases? Yeah, that has been a real hoot.</div><blockquote>"And if we are to truly restore the soul of America – we need to protect the sacred right to vote."</blockquote><div>Okay, here's where I have to say I am kind of amazed. Amazed that he was not simply struck down by lightning right then and there, to be nothing more than a little smoking pile of ashes. Amazing.</div><blockquote>"More people voted in the last presidential election than ever before in our history..."</blockquote><div>Yeah, because many of them were dead, or non-existent, or felons, or underage, or voted late, or were not living in the precinct, or were duplicates, or were trucked in from other states, or were cats, or... </div><div><br /></div><div>And most of the votes that were legit went to...<i>drumroll please</i>...President Trump, the legitimate president.</div><blockquote>"Congress should pass H.R. 1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and send them to my desk right away. The country supports it."</blockquote><div><div><div>No, we do not. H.R. 1 is the end of our republic. REPUBLIC (in case you didn't hear me). The end. It is a complete usurpation. Communism. Stuff it, you goatish doghearted pignut.</div><blockquote>"As we gather here tonight, the images of a violent mob assaulting this Capitol—desecrating our democracy—remain vivid in our minds. Lives were put at risk. Lives were lost."</blockquote></div><div>They were trying to get you people who were ACTUALLY desecrating the democratic process of our republic to DO THE RIGHT THING and not certify the utterly fraudulent election. So, you kind of have it backwards. As for lives lost...yes, an unarmed white woman, Ashli Babbit (say her name), was shot dead by an unnamed Capitol officer who will not even be CHARGED for her murder. Where is the justice? Oh, and your cronies in the corporate media made up complete lies about the officer who died later from a stroke, claiming it had anything to do with the protesters. Will you call out the irresponsible media? Of course not...they're your propaganda arm.</div><blockquote>"The insurrection was an existential crisis—a test of whether our democracy could survive. It did."</blockquote></div><div>Complete Orwellian horsepucky. It was NOT an insurrection. It was NOT an existential crisis. And no, our republic did NOT survive, because you got away with the theft of the election on that fateful day, you degenerate spur-galled lewdster. The only thing that survived was your treasonous treachery.</div><blockquote>"Can our democracy overcome the lies, anger, hate and fears that have pulled us apart?"</blockquote><div>You tell me, since you're the liar; you're the one spreading hate and fear. You're the one so dedicated to pulling us apart.</div><div><br /></div><div>Resident Xi Bidet wrapped it all up with the usual bombast and platitude-fest that's to be expected, but every word rung insipidly hollow.</div><div><br /></div><div>This man is a dark, wicked, professional liar, and a communist through and through. I look forward to the justice that is to come.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div><br /></div><div><i>My thanks to the assistance of the <a href="http://www.literarygenius.info/a2-shakespeare-insult-generator.htm" target="_blank">Shakespearean Insults Generator</a> tonight. I may have overused it a tad, but if anyone is worthy, it's this disgusting usurper in the Oval Office who is defiling my beloved country and shackling everyone I care about.<br /></i><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-7489644488627923272021-04-16T12:29:00.003-07:002021-04-16T12:29:57.047-07:00Third Week<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho15sF9E6If6ROqUOZTI8K0OlLiuDZ75zEUipl8s8FpoKq3gohpsSnYpUBIH3W9o7Qu_E6hIY5VrFcuphWZ1paSplZ5VkoEaHlSKF1EeUUKtjcInDu_BZtzCfccbOKA-rNanhXBjVlt4gn/s700/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho15sF9E6If6ROqUOZTI8K0OlLiuDZ75zEUipl8s8FpoKq3gohpsSnYpUBIH3W9o7Qu_E6hIY5VrFcuphWZ1paSplZ5VkoEaHlSKF1EeUUKtjcInDu_BZtzCfccbOKA-rNanhXBjVlt4gn/s320/download.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>That's when we turned the corner. That, as far as I can assess, is the point at which we crossed that threshold. </p><p>The point of no return.</p><p>A little over a year ago (can you believe it?), when we got to the end of week three of "two weeks to flatten the curve," and there was <i>not </i>an immediate and massive resistance to continuing on with that nonsense...that was truly the beginning of the end.</p><p>That's when it became clear that enough people were asleep...sheep ripe for the slaughter...for various reasons. Many were simply too busy trying to survive and live life to actually do the deep investigation and research required. After all, so many people were already starting to suffer from the economic impacts of the government's actions. Many didn't do that digging, even though they may have felt some uneasiness deep down...a niggling feeling that something was amiss. Others felt nothing and didn't care. They were on autopilot and ready to do whatever they were told without a hint of questioning. Others were riddled with fear, swallowing every lie, consuming every bit of fear-porn, ironically happy to withdraw from the messy responsibilities of freedom and into the warm, comforting cocoon of "safety" provided by obedience to an all-knowing, all-caring government.</p><p>Regardless, the vast majority of people simply went along with it all, for whatever reason, valid or otherwise.</p><p>And by the time some of them started to wake up, or started to realize the true cost of their choices...it was too late. For those of us who were suspicious from nearly the beginning, but went along with the first two or three weeks out of a sense of good citizenship and lack of solid data...we've been carrying that burden of enlightenment for a <i>long </i>time now. And it's exhausting.</p><p>Third week. </p><p>That's the time I'll forever look back on as the end of the era of freedom. Sure, there were many, many variables. Many complex conditions, from several years of corrupted, fraudulent elections, to a gradual consolidation of power and influence into <a href="https://worthlessprotoplasm.blogspot.com/2021/03/correctly-identifying-power-structure.html" target="_blank">gov(priv) and gov(pub)</a>, to a general lulling of the populace by increasingly amoral entertainment and idol worship as a replacement for true learning and engagement. </p><p>Those were the carrying forth of the coffin, and the collecting of the nails. At week three, however, is when they placed the lid atop the box, and started pounding in the nails with stealth and alacrity.</p><p>Now, the only sounds emanating from the coffin are the snores of the unconscious masses, interrupted only by the muffled cries of the discontented, whose eyes are open wide, and adjusted to the dark, but constrained from any action beyond some futile jostling that sometimes annoys the snoozers.</p><p>Hmm. That was dark. Well, happy Friday, folks.</p><p>______________________________________</p><p>P.S. For some of the best commentary on the world these days, I highly recommend <a href="https://awakenwithjp.com/" target="_blank">JP Sears' video series</a>. His use of satire is surely the only reason the corporate censors haven't completely squashed him yet. He speaks truth. Support him.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-62341454888063457972021-04-10T16:43:00.002-07:002021-04-16T12:37:34.492-07:00Taking on the School<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnhu044wD7prlVVvPJdAk59ZjoStUrVEUWMn_OEdUO8uWQzgO6OzIfDQQkPxzr8KLDLGuA7YeLQXhF511YBcWvYQLApeagNtqSqiWPALHIQfZWgyhPmryr0OINKRn01DSUnQ9tIwyrXDK/s1280/.....seemysmile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnhu044wD7prlVVvPJdAk59ZjoStUrVEUWMn_OEdUO8uWQzgO6OzIfDQQkPxzr8KLDLGuA7YeLQXhF511YBcWvYQLApeagNtqSqiWPALHIQfZWgyhPmryr0OINKRn01DSUnQ9tIwyrXDK/s320/.....seemysmile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>My son's school, Syracuse High School, sent out an email yesterday making sure we are all aware that they are continuing their awful masking policy, despite the state lifting their (illegal) mandate for adults.</p><p>Here's what they wrote:</p><p></p><blockquote>Subject: Mask Mandate Update<br /><br />Hello parents, <br /><br />We want to thank you for assisting us in successfully and safely opening and keeping our school open this school year. In some parts of the country, schools are just opening now. In Davis School District, schools opened in the fall, and that occurred because of your cooperation. <br /><br />Even before schools opened, the district, last July, established a “Davis Learns Together” Plan in which it outlined an operational protocol that it has continued to follow. That protocol is “The Big Five” — involving practicing hygiene etiquette, staying home when sick, wearing face coverings, physical distancing when possible, and cleaning and disinfecting. <br /><br />During the many months that have passed, the district has continued to follow the expertise and guidance provided by the State of Utah, Utah Department of Health and the Davis County Health Department. It has also adhered to State Public Health Orders (SPHO), including SPHO 2021-2 which involved an updated School Face Mask Order. <br /><br />That order, effective Jan. 21, 2021, stated “Each individual on school property or on a school bus shall wear a face mask … ,” except under circumstances when someone has received a face mask exception. That order remains in effect through June 15, 2021. SPHO 2021-2 is not affected by HB 294, which goes into effect on April 10.<br /><br />In accordance with the above-referenced health order, our school will continue to operate as it has since the fall. If a student isn’t wearing a mask and does not have a face mask exception, he or she will not be able to remain at school.<br /><br />The adherence students have shown to the face mask protocol has been great, and we appreciate everything you’ve done to continue to support us.<br /><br />We know our school will continue to be a healthy and safe place, and, as we continue to work together, we will be able to end the school year as successfully as we started it.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Jed Johansen<br />Principal</blockquote>And here's what I wrote back, to the principal and his three assistant principals:<p></p><p></p><blockquote>Subject: the continued mask requirement is UNACCEPTABLE<br /><br />Hello Principal Johansen & additional administrators copied on this email,<br /><br />As a parent of a Syracuse High School student, I am writing to express my complete dissatisfaction with your choice to continue forcing the children to wear masks.<br /><br />I've done my medical and legal research. I understand the science, and I know the law. This is unacceptable. My son will be among many on Monday in Utah who come to school and show their beautiful faces as part of the SeeMySmile protest organized by the concerned citizens of this state. It is important that our children learn how to stand up for their rights against terrible, unscientific, tyrannical, unconstitutional decisions from people to whom we've delegated authority and given our trust, and who have violated that sacred duty to protect the children.<br /><br />I hope you see a sea of yellow shirts on Monday. But even if you don't, you have an obligation to every single student — even if it's just my son — to do the right thing instead of letting fear drive your decisions. My son will be standing up for what's right. You could learn a lot from him.<br /><br />With great indignation,<br />—Michael D. Britton</blockquote><p>Maybe I shouldn't write and send emails when I'm angry, but then maybe they shouldn't send out such bullcrap emails. I mean, if it were <i>my</i> job to take care of 2,286 students, I'd darn well be doing my homework and learning the truth about these policies, rather than just rubber-stamping the health department's awful decisions. </p>So, today we attended the <a href="https://seemysmile.org/" target="_blank">SeeMySmile</a> rally outside the Davis School District offices in Farmington (photo above). It was a great event, and good to once again see some of the good, normal, freedom-loving, constitution-defending, America-supporting folks I met recently at another meeting of these like-minded concerned citizen activists.<p></p><p>I'm proud of my son for being willing to take a stand on Monday, even though he will be in the minority and will suffer consequences (being sent home). It's these brave kids who can't be steamrolled by "authority" who will one day lead the charge in defending us against communism. I hope they cause a major disruption at schools across the state, so these weak administrators will wake up and stop living in fear and ignorance <a href="https://collateralglobal.org/" target="_blank">at the expense of our kids' well-being</a>.</p><p>_______________________________________________</p><p>[UPDATE:] The day after my email, I wrote another, apologizing for my tone, but not for my stance. I felt bad about being so contentious. Yes, their email was infuriating, but I prefer to take a higher road.</p><p>Anyway...on Monday, my boy went to school with his yellow SeeMySmile shirt and button, and no mask. I got a call from Principal Johansen. He said, "Guess who is the only student at school today without a mask?" He was very conciliatory. He took no offense at my emails. He said he actually agreed, and wished we could ditch the masks right now, but his hands were tied. He let me know he was going to have to send Seth home.<br /><br />So, my boy was the ONLY one out of 2,286 students at the school who stood up for freedom that day. On one hand, it's disappointing. On the other hand, I never thought I'd be proud to have my son sent home by the principal for defying the rules — but the world is upside down, and this kid's a rock star.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwd3J0u1GH3D-QKZULdHflTDHba1DINdRST-EdndbMhC-0p1BiRz4MUxC35Ke09lrJHiC3YRNNZKEmux7nw7zA9_jJe7F9JMVmgGLhYN8B086KqOi9mYCRxK2bW-_qXzyr64ZnwzoleZYq/s800/.....seesethsmile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwd3J0u1GH3D-QKZULdHflTDHba1DINdRST-EdndbMhC-0p1BiRz4MUxC35Ke09lrJHiC3YRNNZKEmux7nw7zA9_jJe7F9JMVmgGLhYN8B086KqOi9mYCRxK2bW-_qXzyr64ZnwzoleZYq/s320/.....seesethsmile.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-33839771955960434682021-04-10T16:27:00.001-07:002021-04-10T16:27:40.729-07:00Root Causes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB686IHjcWWnRq23lgNnl8tKg-tWFFsaPaQdiFLHS-HCfKZGZj3HxwNbBlQSB1WB3yoPfCPlQsw3GI9aIEpWfVbSTWYlwQSyddrNnICkp9NR8EJ2nEAzNJT5IPf59vEx7WO4UZ849v2Pe/s474/...root.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB686IHjcWWnRq23lgNnl8tKg-tWFFsaPaQdiFLHS-HCfKZGZj3HxwNbBlQSB1WB3yoPfCPlQsw3GI9aIEpWfVbSTWYlwQSyddrNnICkp9NR8EJ2nEAzNJT5IPf59vEx7WO4UZ849v2Pe/s320/...root.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>What's <i>with </i>these people, anyway? This Squatter Administration seems totally inept, but surely no one could actually be <i>that </i>inept. Seems to me like they're trying to instigate a revolt. Which means they must feel like they could prevail in such a situation, which is worrying in itself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, it can be hard to pin down the motivations of these people. </div><div><br /></div>Some have downright evil intentions and know exactly what they're doing: they're power addicts and all they care about is accruing and retaining power. I'm sure most of those lie to themselves to self-justify: "I'm doing this for the best interests of everybody!" — but I'm sure there are some of those rationalizers who recognize deep down that it's not true. But they don't care, because they've developed a deep hatred for those who they consider to be incorrigible <i>wrongthinkers. </i>They really can't stand them, and the opposition they represent, so they would happily see them exterminated. Sounds crazy and far-fetched, but it's a part of our recent world history, after all.<br /><br />Then there are all those we term "useful idiots" — the ones who have swallowed the lies and rubbed their tummies with a sigh of "Mmm, that tastes GOOD!" These people are true believers in the whole narrative, and are being used to advance the agenda. <br /><br />We need to remember that these people, like the Salt Lake City mayor who is extending the mask mandate in SLC despite the state lifting their own (illegal) mandate, actually believe they're doing the right thing and helping people. They are utterly, completely, and horribly wrong...but they are convinced they are righteous, and that those of us who are awake all lack compassion and decency and are "science deniers(TM)." These people live in an alternate reality, and the only way we're going to solve this without (eventual) bloodshed is to wake them up — educate them — somehow wrestle them away from their illusions and delusions. <div><br /></div><div>I struggle with how that is to be accomplished, because some people refuse to be enlightened or change their minds. When confronted with facts, they dig in their heels and double down on the lies they believe. It's truly an existential crisis, because we can fight, and we may sometimes win, but as long as they live in their fantasy land, we will always be enemies.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking not of the useful idiots, but of the tyrants in charge...when they utter an obvious lie, I hear people on my side say, "They must think we're stupid." Well, I don't think they think we're dumb. Thinking that they think we're dumb shifts them along the motivation spectrum from malicious to ignorant, and I don't believe they could possibly be that ignorant. They are malicious. They know that we know that they know that we know...and in their position of what they consider unassailable power, they're boldly mocking us with impunity. It's part of the humiliation tactic described by <b>Theodore Dalrymple</b> in a quote that I've sadly had to share dozens of times over the past year:<br /><blockquote>"In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, not to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is in some small way to become evil oneself. One's standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control."</blockquote></div><div>All this is making the division very clear: either you're a person whose first instinct is to force people to do things ("for their own good" or "in the best interests of the collective") or your first instinct is to leave people alone and respect agency. Fear versus love.</div><div><br /></div><div>But we can't keep treating symptoms. We need to address the underlying reason people are anti-agency.</div><div><br /></div><div>And ultimately, I think it comes down to <a href="https://worthlessprotoplasm.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-big-picture-politics-religion-part-2.html" target="_blank">who you follow</a>.<br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-51159023566418234762021-04-07T13:42:00.003-07:002021-04-07T13:42:44.272-07:00Jim Crovid<div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf2IJzzrNxX5oQzwkj98vqhkXIktk1KVVtM6r-njqOuUmXcCba9TR5RwF_cuNAWqNfIxdfutxDuTSYLYmFpUEU6NijzvZAAXgTx1pN5BhldPA9rRzOyTfgBeuUlfC1pvi63CtUG52KujZ/s1024/......jim-crovid.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf2IJzzrNxX5oQzwkj98vqhkXIktk1KVVtM6r-njqOuUmXcCba9TR5RwF_cuNAWqNfIxdfutxDuTSYLYmFpUEU6NijzvZAAXgTx1pN5BhldPA9rRzOyTfgBeuUlfC1pvi63CtUG52KujZ/s320/......jim-crovid.jpg" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just change the labels to "vaxxed/masked" and "unvaxxed/unmasked."</span></i></div></i></div><div><br />New York and California are implementing "health passports," and the fake administration in the White House is toying with the idea of doing the same thing nationally. Sure, Psaki said they're not, but then said they're looking at having an "interagency" process that "will be driven by the private sector." Here's the Newspeak translation for you: "interagency" means "unaccountable bureaucrats" and "driven be the private sector" means "getting our corporate cronies to do the dirty work we'd get in trouble for." It's all filthy skullduggery.<br /><br />Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Utah now looking to issue app-based driver's licenses</a>. Just think how very convenient <i>that </i>will be for integrating <i>all </i>your social credit scoring, such as vax status, party affiliation, known accomplices... Not only would it be subject to hacking, and not only would it be subject to system failure, but it would also be subject to manipulation <i>by the issuing entity</i>. Like we're supposed to trust the state at this point! Think how easy it would be for the state to push out an update that makes you <i>persona non grata </i>because you've failed to comply in some way, or demonstrated some sort of <i>wrongthink</i>. Simple control. <div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, we're slipping quickly down that slope to a cross between the segregated South and Orwell's 1984. Why do I say that?<br /><br />Think about it: If we're required to prove our vax status to participate in society, it will create a caste system no different from Jim Crow. In fact, we should call all these laws and regulations <b>Jim Crovid</b> laws. It's imperative that we start presenting this struggle as a civil rights issue, and I think "Jim Crovid" can help with that messaging.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can easily see a black market quickly emerging to combat the commie social credit system. Americans are still innovative and resourceful, and there are still plenty who are not ready or willing to be owned. But help will have to come from everyday citizens, not the very government functionaries who have allowed this situation to come to pass.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm involved with some citizens' activist groups around here, and the fact that we can hardly get <i>any </i>people with power, from the local dog catcher up to the hallowed halls of DC to do <i>jack </i>about anything regarding protection of our most basic civil rights...it's not just discouraging or shocking...it's educational. It tells us that there's a deep-rooted cancer infesting the entire nation, from head to toe, coast to coast, invasive and putrefying. It informs us that although only about 0.00006% of Americans (perhaps about 25,000) have any kind of meaningful power either delegated to them by the rest of us, or usurped via economic position, there are probably only a few hundred reliable ones with any power in the whole country. Probably a lot less than that. The numbers are staggering when considered that way.<br /><br />Most people, sadly, are lulled away into carnal security...asleep. They just want stuff...entertainment...WiFi..."safety"...and to not be bothered with the work required to maintain our rights. We've entrusted people to protect our rights, but they are <i>not </i>doing it (see yesterday's post for examples).</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, we're headed into the world of Jim Crovid. What will <i>you</i> do to stop this?<br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-57831559659690630072021-04-06T20:47:00.000-07:002021-04-06T20:47:13.803-07:00Who's Looking Out For You?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJTuC3eqMRzzyrINdW-KrwGLNuSanRQFnrnIKZ5V3FgR7T5suwjGRBcQ33KD67iHhL2JThijAkUjsuX7wpAZ9a_-drFhh7zj8v2Hqbs1ujlniLXfv0HIT1e5vvUMZcEvT2zQDmejyAfpe/s480/....reality.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJTuC3eqMRzzyrINdW-KrwGLNuSanRQFnrnIKZ5V3FgR7T5suwjGRBcQ33KD67iHhL2JThijAkUjsuX7wpAZ9a_-drFhh7zj8v2Hqbs1ujlniLXfv0HIT1e5vvUMZcEvT2zQDmejyAfpe/s320/....reality.jpg" /></a></div><br />I'm really starting to dislike talking to those who purport to serve us in government.<div><br /><div>The other day, as part of a group of people independently emailing our "leaders," I sent the following email:<br /><blockquote>Attorney General, Sean D. Reyes,<br /><br />As you know, the Office of the Attorney General is responsible for protecting consumer rights for all people in the state of Utah. It is your duty to use the powers and authority that the citizens of Utah have delegated to you to discover and abolish all unconstitutional and discriminatory practices of privately and publicly owned establishments within our state. For example, it is illegal under federal and state law to:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Discriminate against an employee in employment decisions such as hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, training, or assigning an individual based on his or her medical condition</li><li>Discriminate against an individual regarding his or her ability to access recreational facilities, parks, commercial establishments, or educational institutions, based on his or her medical condition</li><li>Discriminate against an individual regarding freedom of association, engaging in transactions, socializing, etc., based on his or her medical condition.</li></ul>You’ve likely heard the news reports that those occupying the highest office in the land are looking at implementing “health passports” or similar “social credit” systems that will require citizens to meet criteria such as receiving the COVID mRNA injection if they wish to participate in society and enjoy their Constitutional rights. Those rights are guaranteed, not conditioned upon compliance with this government’s latest whims, and it’s the job of people who hold key offices like yours to defend our freedom from these tyrannies.<br /><br />There are many Utahns who cannot receive this injection because of deeply-held religious beliefs, personal beliefs, and/or health reasons, and therefore they will be limited in working, shopping, education, socializing and in general excluded from enjoying their natural rights. Article I, section 1 of the Utah Constitution makes clear: “All persons have the inherent and inalienable right to enjoy and defend their lives and liberties; to acquire, possess and protect property; to worship according to the dictates of their consciences; to assemble peaceably, protest against wrongs, and petition for redress of grievances; to communicate freely their thoughts and opinions, being responsible for the abuse of that right.” There is no fine print that says, “unless they choose to forego an mRNA injection.”<br /><br />Those entrusted with protecting our rights in the state of Utah must ensure that all business conducted within the state’s jurisdiction will never impose unconstitutional restrictions such as those being proposed by the federal government.<br /><br />This is not a request; you are under sworn obligation to enforce our state and federal laws against discrimination due to medical conditions. The constitution of the United States is not to be suspended because monopolies and huge corporations seek to force American citizens to forfeit their personal rights over their medical choices, conditions and needs. It is imperative that you communicate to all businesses operating within the state of Utah that such discriminatory actions will not be permitted, and that they will face severe legal consequences for discriminatory behavior.<br /><br />I, and thousands of other Utah voters, await your response on this matter.<br /><br />Michael D. Britton<br /><br />Resident of the State of Utah<br /><i>(CC: all state legislators)</i></blockquote><i></i><br />I got a response from one of the legislators, Curt Bramble. He's a Republican state senator from Provo who's been in office for twenty years. He simply said:<br /><blockquote>Please let me know the source of this form letter<br />Thanks </blockquote>So, I responded:<br /><blockquote>Hello!<br /><br />I'm a member of a group of concerned citizens in North Davis County who are working to address some of the dire circumstances we're finding ourselves in here in Utah. The group provided a draft of the letter from another group called TS+Utah. I took that letter and significantly re-wrote it for my own use. I shared my version back to my group, and some of them may have used that in their own emails (I don't know if they did). The group coordinated to send the message yesterday; I sent mine later than the rest. They told me that the TS group composed their version of the letter after hearing the White House Press Secretary discussing vaccine mandates in a March 29 press briefing. This is the transcript that caused concern:<br /><blockquote>"QUESTION: And then finally, on the vaccine, Andy Slavitt talked about the idea of a “vaccine passport” in the COVID briefing this morning. He said it’s primarily going to be spearheaded by the private sector. But what’s the President’s position on whether, once the vaccine is more readily available, businesses should be able to tell employees who don’t want to get the vaccine for whatever reason that they can’t come back into the workplace, or that airlines could reject people from getting on the plane if they have decided not to get a vaccine?<br /> <br />MS. PSAKI: Well, we’re going to provide guidance, just as we have, through the CDC. There’s currently an interagency process that is looking at many of the questions around vaccine verification. And that issue will touch many agencies as verification is an issue that will potentially touch many sectors of society, as you have certainly alluded to. That’s guidance we’ll provide. We expect — as Andy Slavitt, I think, alluded to — that a determination or development of a vaccine passport, or whatever you want to call it, will be driven by the private sector. Ours will more be focused on guidelines that can be used as a basis. And there are a couple key principles that we are working from. One is that there will be no centralized, universal federal vaccinations database and no federal mandate requiring everyone to obtain a single vaccination credential. Second, we want to encourage an open marketplace with a variety of private sector companies and nonprofit coalitions developing solutions. And third, we want to drive the market toward meeting public interest goals. So we’ll leverage our resources to ensure that all vaccination credential systems meet key standards, whether that’s universal accessibility, affordability, availability — both digitally and on paper. But those are our standards. It’s currently going through an interagency process. We’ll make some recommendations, and then we believe it will be driven by the private sector.<br /> <br />QUESTION: And when do you anticipate those guidelines will come out?<br /> <br />MS. PSAKI: I don’t have a timeline to provide you at this point, but it’s obviously something we’re working through. And we want to provide that clarity to the public."</blockquote>We want to make sure our rights in Utah are not in any way abrogated by these plans to co-opt private businesses in what is clearly an illegal/unconstitutional action by the federal government.<br /><br />Thanks for your response.</blockquote>And Curt replied:<br /><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Michael<br />I agree that we should not have a vaccination mandate nor should we use COVID to institute a requirement for “travel papers”. However, when I receive a number of very similar email messages it raises the question of who is behind these messages. This does not mean I disagree, but context and agenda of various groups helps inform the recipient of the message.<br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts.<br />Curt</blockquote><br />Agreement! Thinking that maybe I might make some headway here, I wrote back. Now, I'm not one to let someone say, "Yes, I agree...yes, I care...yes, you're right...yes, something should be done, and I'm in a position to do something, but I'm going to just blow hot air around." So I asked him what he's going to do about it:<br /><blockquote>I totally understand. Thank you. Given your agreement with the thrust of the message that's being shared by quite a few concerned people, what is your next step for helping make sure your rights and mine are protected? I'm worried that there's a lot of hand-wringing among our representatives, but not much in terms of strong, unequivocal, decisive action. That's not targeted at you; please don't take it the wrong way. It's just that this last legislative session was very disappointing for so many citizens. Thanks again for responding...that's huge.</blockquote>Then he let loose with a pretty passive-aggressive rant:<br /><blockquote>Michael<br /><br />All of the “hand wringing” you refer to appears to be universal, even among “conservatives” and “constitutionalists”. That’s not targeted at you, please don’t take it the wrong way. It’s just that many in your camp are demanding that the legislature fix what is being broken at that federal level. Utah does not have a vaccination mandate, nor will we adopt one. But it’s highly likely that we will not MANDATE policies for businesses, either. For example, should an employer be forced to employ individuals that refuse to wear masks? Or refuse to be vaccinated? Or refuse to comply with other “place of employment” standards or requirements? Should the employer be forced to pay unemployment benefits for an individual that refused to be vaccinated or wear a mask? These are likely inflammatory questions that many in your camp balk at while DEMANDING that their own freedoms be protected while DEMANDING that the freedom of others be infringed by government. Both employers and employees have rights, customers have rights, as d the businesses they patronize. It’s a question of whose rights are defended and whose rights are being trampled.<br /><br />Your group DEMANDS individual freedom – no one should be required to wear a mask or be vaccinated and that the individual’s decision should not be a factor in how others make their individual decisions for their businesses of whether to allow admittance to the business, sell a seat on a plane, etc. It seems to me that the demand for freedom MUST be balanced between competing rights – employer/employee, business/customer, etc. It’s just that many that demand freedom ignore the concept that other also have freedoms that are being ignored and that’s very disappointing for many citizens. Exercising your right of choice means that you incur the consequences of that choice.</blockquote>I wrote him right back:<br /><blockquote>You sound upset. Using lots of ALL CAPS and "scare quotes" just kind of comes off as hostile and combative, when I'm just trying to have a conversation with someone who's sworn to abide by the Constitution and serve the people. I really didn't mean to trigger you into a defensive position. It seems we should be working together, here.<br /><br />You make it sound like the issue of "whose rights trump whose rights" is so complex and impossible to balance, but the law (Title 29 protections, for example) makes it very clear. So, I'll ask again: What is your plan to address the violations of the law below (<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2018-title29/pdf/USCODE-2018-title29-chap16-subchapV-sec794.pdf">citation for the law</a>), as pertaining to the current conditions? This isn't that hard. It just takes the will and courage to do what's right.<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It is unlawful to discriminate against an employee in employment decisions such as hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, training, or assigning an individual based on his or her medical condition</li><li>It is unlawful to discriminate against an individual regarding his or her ability to access recreational facilities, parks, commercial establishments, or educational institutions, based on his or her medical condition</li><li>It is unlawful to discriminate against an individual regarding freedom of association, engaging in transactions, socializing, etc., based on his or her medical condition.</li></ul></blockquote>His entire response?<br /><blockquote>Lighten up - caps ate also used for emphasis. </blockquote>That's a direct quote, and it's his whole response. It was also his last response.<div><br /></div><div>As you can imagine, I'm unimpressed. And it doesn't explain his "scare quotes" or answer my direct question. He doesn't seem equipped to engage in a reasonable discussion.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I'm done with him.<br /><br />I mean, what part of the proper role of government does this guy not understand? People are not permitted to just abrogate other peoples' natural rights simply because they don't <i>like </i>them having those rights. That's the whole point of government: to protect us against that.<br /><br />It's the <i>bare minimum</i> we expect from government, and quite frankly, <i>all</i> I want from government.<br /><br />I didn't know anything about this particular "public servant" prior to this exchange, but I'll just add him to the "needs replacing" list (which is sadly <i>very </i>long). He's made it clear we're on our own.<br /><br />A final thought on this exchange:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9s7QxueUJZZGZa_V6wt4v4vnd0uW3udPFydePaL72F_mY6edXBn5X2Galz0ARcD5BCL2aipHCful5bazl8gJwnfwTNpVRKtmBXX2GV1CaSSYzVcubox8e13WP_83aBlAH1wVoBf7x-0j/s547/photo_2021-04-01_16-34-55.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9s7QxueUJZZGZa_V6wt4v4vnd0uW3udPFydePaL72F_mY6edXBn5X2Galz0ARcD5BCL2aipHCful5bazl8gJwnfwTNpVRKtmBXX2GV1CaSSYzVcubox8e13WP_83aBlAH1wVoBf7x-0j/s320/photo_2021-04-01_16-34-55.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Bramble used the loaded language of the COVID-cult: "refuse" to wear a mask, "refuse" to vaccinate. As pointed out in the meme above, "refuse" is their way of painting us as intransigent, selfish, unreasonable people.</div><div><br /></div><div>The truth is, we object to being experimented upon. We're non-participants. We're free citizens exercising our natural rights to not comply. There are many better ways to say it..."refusal" is loaded, and a dead giveaway of his position as one of the COVID-cultists. Words matter, and I'm always examining their impact.<br /><br />So, I guess I'll "lighten up" when he starts doing his job. His whole attitude was very "YOU people!"...how <i>dare </i>I ask him a legit question. Or be concerned at all. We serfs should shut up and do as we're told, and let the two-decade "leaders" do all the thinking.<br /><br />Who, I ask, is looking out for us?<br /><br />It's clearly got to be <i>us</i>.</div><div><br /><br /></div></div><div>[UPDATE:] Later, I heard back from one of the other legislators, Gay Lynn Bennion, a first-term Democrat who serves the Cottonwood and ski resorts area. She said:</div><blockquote>Dear Michael,<br /><br />Thank you for your email. I appreciate hearing your concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. <br /><br />There is no requirement for individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It is up to each Utahn to decide if they would like to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. During the 2021 Legislative Session, <a href="https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0308.html">H.B. 308 COVID-19 Vaccine Amendments</a> was passed which prohibits a governmental entity from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine under certain circumstances. If you have questions regarding federal vaccine policy, I encourage you to contact the Utah Congressional Delegation.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />Rep. Bennion</blockquote>This was a much more professional and decent response. Maybe I was going to get somewhere after all! So, I wrote back:</div><blockquote>Hi Rep. Bennion,<br /><br />Thank you so much for your response to my email. I was aware of, and appreciate that the State of Utah will not be mandating vaccines. That's a win. But my concern is with regard to businesses requiring proof of vaccination for employment or for access. As noted in my original email, medical <b>discrimination <i>by businesses</i> is a violation of state and federal law</b>, and it's the job of state government to ensure our rights are not violated — not only by government, but by private entities. The law is clear, so I'm just wondering if you can please let me know what your plan is to make sure our rights are protected under the law. Does that make sense?<br /><br />Thanks again,<br />Michael</blockquote>Aaaaaaaaand that was the last I ever heard. I'll ask once again: Who is looking out for you?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-53025337876268132862021-03-29T09:22:00.001-07:002021-03-29T09:22:29.420-07:00The Civil Rights Battle of Our Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSQP8yxZZHxBePk79cCiz4wi09IumAwPl4lEHkihI_S9FiFzVyjmgGo9YtNx4DjdY4AvbUYpCNL0buSsLsDW_grgX6ZlaeDkXMq-zID92jC4KZh4oDm3EIPtwuGllfLK3_5nFLylnALEj/s1280/....1overcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSQP8yxZZHxBePk79cCiz4wi09IumAwPl4lEHkihI_S9FiFzVyjmgGo9YtNx4DjdY4AvbUYpCNL0buSsLsDW_grgX6ZlaeDkXMq-zID92jC4KZh4oDm3EIPtwuGllfLK3_5nFLylnALEj/s320/....1overcome.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>The issues around the CCP virus and the government's response are <b>civil rights issues</b>. </p><p>Masking, physical distancing, business closures, medical testing, limits on gatherings — requiring obedience to a long list of questionable requirements and discriminating against those who have the temerity to object to any of it represents a clear violation of our natural civil rights. Yet we fail to properly identify it as such, and that makes it very hard to make any headway toward a just resolution.</p><p>During the racial civil rights battles just a few years before I was born, leaders of the movement recognized that there were two paths to justice: the political path (trying to influence legislators to do the right thing) and the resistance path (peaceful refusal to obey unjust laws — what's known as civil disobedience). As the former path becomes more and more impassible and implausible, one must naturally gravitate to the latter path, out of a logical desperation.</p><p>The Utah legislature's 2021 session showed us that the former path — a political solution — is not likely. The next session is in February 2022. We can't wait that long, and it will be the same ineffective legislators, anyway. We can hope to replace them in November 2022 and then get a better legislative session in 2023...but that is far too long to wait. We can hope to trigger the mechanisms for a special session in 2021, but once again, we'll have the same lawmakers in power — not a promising situation.</p><p>That leaves the latter path: civil disobedience. This path is fraught with varying degrees of risk. On one end of the spectrum, the risk is virtually nil. At the other end, you could face serious consequences, including incarceration, fines, loss of your job, and further restrictions on your freedom to participate in society. At the most extreme end, you could wind up dead.</p><p>Ignoring some rules bears very little potential downside. For example, I have hosted gatherings in my home, or attended such gatherings, that violated the Draconian rule against having more than ten people get together. This is not a rule that is being enforced in my county, and even if it were, there is very little chance of getting in trouble for breaking that rule. </p><p>Likewise, I go about my daily business, visiting stores and restaurants, without wearing a face diaper. I show off my smile, behave like a normal human being, and am kindly treated like a normal human being. Of course, I am always under some degree of stress, constantly mentally armed with responses, should I be confronted. Thankfully, despite that anxiety, those confrontations don't happen, and the worst case scenario is I'd have to leave that place. Pretty much a no-risk endeavor, other than the personal cost of always feeling like I'm going to get into an argument, which is not a healthy or free way to live.</p><p>But then there are civilly disobedient actions that are higher risk. If my son were to choose to violate his school's ridiculous mask rules, he would get sent home. He'd miss school, and that would harm him. If I tried to get away with showing my face in a hospital or a plane, I would be denied important services. </p><p>Moreover, if I decided to no longer use my hard-earned resources to fund this illegal puppet government that usurped their power and are no longer operating with the consent of the governed — that is, if I chose to stop paying my taxes — I'd be audited, fined, possibly incarcerated, and certainly have my wages garnished. Hitting them in the pocket book is a great way to learn how vicious their response can be. </p><p>As the CCP virus restrictions get more severe ("health passports" and other social credit schemes), and as we're faced with a choice to comply or resist, that dichotomy could eventually lead to a situation where people are engaged in hot conflict. Violence. It's scary to think about.</p><p>But as we consider the means available to us for fighting the civil rights battle of our time, we need to ask ourselves where we draw our lines, which low-risk courses of action can result in some wins, and which high-risk actions will result in that boot stamping on our face repeatedly. And then ask ourselves if liberty is worth it.</p><p>I believe it is. We just need to be prudent as we weigh our options, because too much resistance can result in a lot of pain and no actual ground gained, and not enough resistance can lead to a place of tyranny from which it will be impossible to recover. Doing nothing means slipping down that slope to dystopia. Doing too much will get you squashed like a bug. A measured response is required.</p><p>So...what's your next move? Shall we overcome? If so, how?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-55044287340148340332021-03-28T19:01:00.005-07:002021-03-28T19:01:50.968-07:00To Obey, or Not to Obey — That is the Question<br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhNL-scXKGk7GRDiWmfQqrlyJosRnkxpoppz8rZG-Llp4hPAS46O977BtTeyVd589nPcAOHbf8MTbJqReLl_CNCrGUvHbiQldN9vpYABlyzwyBNU-C1HQcxfJBC7UEBaYEeiklY1MHDRj/s1280/.....obey-fear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhNL-scXKGk7GRDiWmfQqrlyJosRnkxpoppz8rZG-Llp4hPAS46O977BtTeyVd589nPcAOHbf8MTbJqReLl_CNCrGUvHbiQldN9vpYABlyzwyBNU-C1HQcxfJBC7UEBaYEeiklY1MHDRj/s320/.....obey-fear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Americans' respect for the law has always been viewed as a virtue. Rightly so; without it, we'd have chaos.<br /><br />We also support a time-honored tradition of civil disobedience when the laws are unjust...for example, Rosa Parks defying the racist rules and laws of segregation.<br /><br />Many of our lawmakers are now either corrupt, misguided, or apathetic. Many of their rules, regulations, and laws are harming Americans.<br /><br />It's time we stopped living in fear. It's time we stopped obeying. It's time for widespread civil disobedience.<br /><br />No...not riots, not looting, not vandalizing, not hurting people, not mayhem, not fires, not breaking windows, not damaging property, not stealing, not harming our brothers and sisters.<br /><br />Just simple <b>refusal to submit</b>. The passive resistance of living your life the way you did a year ago. Willfully returning to normal. Dialing back the clock to January 2020. The consequences of doing so could <i>never </i>be as bad as continuing down the current path.<br /><br />You have a choice to make.<br /><br />Resist now, while you still can.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-67761180058458407852021-03-28T18:21:00.001-07:002021-03-28T18:22:35.132-07:00Will They Come For You?<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU5Yw6bcAoejilb3kz7XXQmX5-ZQ8M4XiYyWE9jHg4pIGGgLgsrqqFgLhXRgS20aUpI8XZ-gibENw0pOpoZi9YAnAHd8sKScla3PG8FAL-lrKEVl8GELF3jF29XEDJ0ZouI6oyyx54Tm2/s320/....1skull.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Not an x-ray of Nicolas)</span></i></div><br />One time when my grandfather Michael and his brother were teenagers, they were at their father's school. Their dad, Nicolas Pavlovich Pokrovsky, was headmaster there. This was in Tula, during or shortly after the civil war known as The Russian Revolution.<br /><br />Seeking to destroy any of the <i>intelligentisia </i>who did not support the new communist regime, assassins were on the hunt for dissenters like my great-grandfather. The boys overheard the assassins say that they "had killed the old man." They thought their dad was dead.<br /><br />It turns out, they had killed the wrong man.<br /><br />Some time later, my grandfather's family fled Russia to China. Even years later, the Russian communists were still sending out assassins, seeking to kill the <i>intelligentsia </i>— even those no longer residing within their borders. One day, Nicolas was walking down the street in Harbin (or perhaps Shanghai), when he was shot in the head by these assassins. Assuming their work to be done, the killers fled.<br /><br />However, Nicolas was still alive!<br /><br />He had a bullet lodged in his skull just behind his ear. The doctors said it would be too dangerous to remove it, so he spent the remainder of his days with a communist's bullet in his head. Nicolas died in Shanghai in 1946, shortly before his children and their children (my mom) fled the dangerous conflict of the Chinese Civil War. They escaped to the Philippines, stateless refugees living in a tent village with 3,000 other Russians. But that's a story for another time.<br /><br />The moral of this true story? Totalitarians simply do not tolerate the existence of dissent. Any opposing thought <i>must </i>be wiped from existence. There is no fleeing; they will hunt you down and put a bullet in your head. The only remedy is to never let them take control to begin with. <br /><br />Are we too late? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-84475184701575141972021-03-26T19:57:00.004-07:002021-03-27T13:21:18.926-07:00The Fixed-Pie of Power<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGvzqLL6cHZvonbrDuooz3I17rIckGPfjNX2X1ZunS-9dZki4k8F-4a9_PmHKt4DHcGDNnciTQHNYtqjcr0GsTa72pqfXQzfASfwinQJREgjpmQiWu3Dg8-C9vw0GjJvtudsrU-Xaa3bt/s460/....pie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGvzqLL6cHZvonbrDuooz3I17rIckGPfjNX2X1ZunS-9dZki4k8F-4a9_PmHKt4DHcGDNnciTQHNYtqjcr0GsTa72pqfXQzfASfwinQJREgjpmQiWu3Dg8-C9vw0GjJvtudsrU-Xaa3bt/s320/....pie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Here's where the collectivists have it wrong:<br /><br />It's pretty commonly understood that they believe, or at least act as if they believe, in a <b>fixed-pie of wealth</b>. In fact, the total available wealth is not capped when an economy is allowed to flourish freely; indeed, wealth begets wealth and the rising tide lifts most boats. The history of the free(ish) market attests to this, as today's poorest Americans live demonstrably better than the royalty or yore.<br /><br />Where collectivists make their most dire mistake, however, is by <i>not </i>believing in a <b>fixed-pie of power</b>. They mistakenly believe that when you concentrate power in the hands of a few elite central-planners, that everyone else will be empowered (no doubt by the grand results of the powerful elites' expert vision, magnanimous decisions, and beneficent power-wielding).<br /><br />This is, of course, utterly wrong. There is only so much power to go around, and when power shifts to elected politicians, unelected bureaucrats, and unfathomably-wealthy corporate magnates, the power of the individual is unavoidably diminished. Like a parasite sucking your lifeblood, they can only thrive as you become weaker.<br /><br />It makes sense: every act of the more-powerful naturally reduces the liberty of the less-powerful. The only exception would be if those in power served by only acting in ways that protected natural rights for all — but that, of course, is a fantasy.<br /><br />So, while the collectivists keep pushing for <b>equal distribution of wealth</b> — a conclusion which is at least internally-consistent with their false belief in a fixed-pie of wealth, lovers of liberty should always be pushing for a more <b>equal distribution of power </b>among every citizen.<br /><br />The best way to achieve that, of course, is to strip the federal government of all extra-constitutional powers, and re-empower smaller jurisdictions (states). In the same vein, states must also be defanged in favor of stronger county leadership, and likewise, counties should defer to municipalities. The towns, in turn, answer to families and individuals. The smaller you get, the more power should be distributed at the expense of the larger entities, until there is as broad a leveling of the power structure as is reasonable.<br /><br />(Imagine the natural, just effect that would have on wealth equity.)<br /><br />The thing that really gets me, though, is how the collectivists flip the narrative by promising "power to the people," but only delivering power to themselves. They promise equality while hiding the fine print that their brand of equality comes at the cost of nobody excelling, and nobody being empowered but themselves.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-57427266464833574182021-03-26T18:00:00.002-07:002021-03-27T13:19:53.495-07:00Supplanting Religion with the Doctrine of State<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbVi2OqDwLLZUAVC5brzhnt_J4UYzuF8lRoXo7TNifgyJZnZqiWMEuyqPNv1xW8-Jk-ZkYi8r1Z3JbKZESmTJZ3reVUiX9Pc3PawAULoPR1TN2WTr2xuQtFog_ZmP10hh_Vf9iWxuYh4x/s320/...coex.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbVi2OqDwLLZUAVC5brzhnt_J4UYzuF8lRoXo7TNifgyJZnZqiWMEuyqPNv1xW8-Jk-ZkYi8r1Z3JbKZESmTJZ3reVUiX9Pc3PawAULoPR1TN2WTr2xuQtFog_ZmP10hh_Vf9iWxuYh4x/s0/...coex.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />The end goal for Democrats/leftists is socialism, and the end goal of socialism is communism. The basic tenets of communism are antithetical to the basic tenets of many religions (such as Judeo-Christian religions, and others). That's why one of the first things commies do when they take power is eradicate faith.<br /><br />Communism is a religion of zealots with a convert-or-die philosophy. Its central-planner clergy know what's best for you, and will compel you accordingly. Its primary ethos is force; it's objective is not the exaltation of the individual through <i>voluntary </i>subjugation of the individual's <i>evil </i>will, but the exaltation of the state through <i>involuntary </i>subjugation of the individual's <i>good </i>will.<br /><br />It counterfeits the love of charity and supplants it with the degradation of theft. It erases the spiritual and places the material as supreme. It diminishes the favored conditions of freedom of the soul because all that matters is the continuation of the power of the all-knowing, all-powerful oppressors.<br /><br />Dissenters are punished and figuratively burned at the stake of personal destruction. Vast organizations embark on crusading conquests to stamp out heresy anywhere it can be found. Examples are made of particularly wayward individuals. Facts are irrelevant to the true believer.<br /><br />It's the ultimate secular religion, and it's terrifying, because they have no moral code that prevents them from harming others, as long as they believe the harm is somehow in the others' best interest or the best interest of the collective (as they see it).<br /><br />It is a great irony that some who support this vile inversion of true religion drive around with Biden bumper stickers on their Prius alongside stickers that read "coexist," made up of religious symbols. Communism has no intention of coexisting with anything that is not communism. Your non-communist existence must be extinguished...the sooner the better.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-29382932496402462622021-03-26T17:00:00.004-07:002021-03-31T12:43:44.287-07:00Correctly Identifying the Power Structure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5FmWaAQU3M-1-Wa9CjkBApNNkqPpXLupG_wFkD8fy2bVQiE4V_WV0LuK0wfuccBWeukWebcE_3VcJinEWfOI7joej1IiqFrP5w_9bsviSSgyWhj2dLR5DUbpsymgJC6hIIfEGKtoXDDo/s350/...fatcat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5FmWaAQU3M-1-Wa9CjkBApNNkqPpXLupG_wFkD8fy2bVQiE4V_WV0LuK0wfuccBWeukWebcE_3VcJinEWfOI7joej1IiqFrP5w_9bsviSSgyWhj2dLR5DUbpsymgJC6hIIfEGKtoXDDo/s320/...fatcat.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />We need to stop thinking in terms of government and private companies. That distinction is long gone. What we have now is a hybrid oligarchy comprised of two main parts: gov(pub) and gov(priv).<br /><br />The "public" aspect of government (gov(pub)) is ostensibly the product of a "consent of the governed" paradigm (though in practice is nothing of the sort) that feigns accountability to the people while pretending to be constrained by our founding principles and the law of the land. They create the laws, reserve the right to use force, control the money supply, and retain power even if unpopular.<br /><br />The "private" aspect of government (gov(priv)) consists of several multi-billion dollar corporations and their billionaire leaders, which ostensibly are constrained by laws and regulations, but thanks to their financial relationship and ideological kinship with gov(pub), those rules really only serve to wipe out the commonfolk competition. Meanwhile, gov(priv) can act with impunity in areas where gov(pub) is clearly prohibited (such as censorship). They control essential societal resources and maintain their position even if unpopular.<br /><br />Gov(pub) and gov(priv) are two sides of a single, powerlusting coin. Gov(priv) can't make laws with which to control their foes, so they have gov(pub) do that for them. Gov(pub) can't deplatform and cancel dissent to control their foes, so they have gov(priv) do that for them.<br /><br />This alliance, consisting of fewer than maybe 10,000-15,000 individuals, strives for complete control over the lives of 330 million...if not the entire world. And while ownership of the narrative and the means of information transmission is critical to their success, there's nothing more important to them than disarming all their opposition...because in the end, there will be too many people who refuse to comply and will require force.<br /><br />Know who's coming for you, understand why...and be ready.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-19755771708764206852021-03-25T16:30:00.027-07:002021-03-27T13:18:13.303-07:00Governor: Stop Abusing Utah's Children<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlH4GRAM_up7X_MFrsuamzj_lYaaO-9Xd-Gaz8QIvbWIPAlxOqRfb0co5C2VNBkm0lkXcpPAte9yab5WIakrdLpuO2OenKKO5L1aCc6o1LJNSGtdUgDM-EkqNOo3HsoH2Ue2jEOP8vjiJ/s1080/......sad-mask.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlH4GRAM_up7X_MFrsuamzj_lYaaO-9Xd-Gaz8QIvbWIPAlxOqRfb0co5C2VNBkm0lkXcpPAte9yab5WIakrdLpuO2OenKKO5L1aCc6o1LJNSGtdUgDM-EkqNOo3HsoH2Ue2jEOP8vjiJ/w400-h400/......sad-mask.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Utah's HB294 may be hailed by some (mostly the self-congratulatory lawmakers themselves) as a success, but the bill was a boondoggle that failed to do what liberty demanded: <b>immediately lift any and all COVID-related restrictions</b> statewide, and issue an apology to all Utah citizens. More than 99.999% of Utahns have not died from the CCP flu. Yet still we live under this ongoing tyranny amid manufactured fear. <br /><br />One the most conspicuous and disastrous <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">failures of this bill</a> is that even after the illegal mask mandates are lifted on April 10, health departments will still be allowed to require kids to wear masks in school.<br /><br />That's right. No relief for our precious young ones.<br /><br />Never mind the psychological and emotional damage. Never mind the physical health problems. Never mind the psychosocial harm. And never mind that kids were never even at risk from COVID. Nope...just keep on hurting the kids, for no good reason.<br /><br />It's a tragedy, and there <i>will </i>be a reckoning.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-74870862067994527682021-03-12T21:30:00.042-08:002021-03-28T18:37:46.848-07:00If You Do As He Says, Creepy Joe Might Let You Have a BBQ<div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonDpdLnVvRGRN5ahwEoQOPBXFWegSL-QrPX5nKlvplOB8ERxvJeHb7knirQ6eLxZ7T5YXaF4nj_oIqtJaGwThIlxgA2J1qp5GdscW_awO5xUk46ExAn2QaAkg-RVvNF7PcaW5fMhUCDN5/w400-h315/.....biden.jpg" /></div><br />While I couldn't stomach to watch Resident Xi Biden deliver his address, I angrily read it. Lie after lie after lie. Sickening misdirection. Wicked false blame-casting. Fearmongering. Threats. Blindingly obvious fake facts. Pure evil. Repeated claims of the importance of truth, while lyin</div>g to our faces! Seriously...does anyone buy this crap? Are there people applauding this charlatan? Such a steaming pile.<br /><blockquote><i>"We will issue further guidance on what you can and cannot do."</i></blockquote>No. I do not require your permission to exercise my natural rights. Go soak your head.<br /><i><blockquote>"[If you do what I say and get a jab] there's a good chance you, your families and friends will be [allowed] to get together in your backyard or your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day. That doesn’t mean large events with lots of people together, but it does mean small groups will be [allowed] to get together."</blockquote></i>Uh...we'll do as we please with or without your say-so, Joe. Go fly a kite, creep.<br /><br />Here's another real zinger:<br /><i><blockquote>"We need to...put trust and faith in our government to fulfill its most important function, which is protecting the American people, no function more important."</blockquote></i>This is the heart of the whole sickening deception, isn't it? Don't put your faith in God; put your faith in government. It's "most important function" is to protect you; not to protect <b>your rights</b>. Live in fear, and we'll take care of you. All it will cost is your freedom, your sanity, your family, your well-being, your livelihood, your life, your soul.<br /><br />And what will it take to regain our freedom? Well, he tells us, doesn't he:<br /><i><blockquote>"The <b>only </b>way to get our lives back, to get our economy back on track is to beat the virus."</blockquote></i>So, the granting of our freedom is CONDITIONAL upon the government "beating" a disease? With false data, and constantly moving goalposts? So, in other words: "WE WILL NEVER, EVER GIVE YOU YOUR FREEDOM BACK."<br /><br />We. Must. Take it.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-54105425046534557872021-03-12T18:48:00.015-08:002021-03-27T14:04:40.158-07:00This is what terrible leadership looks like<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h1pUbm4WPVhn-sUivHmqksIb5m9v49J5y1kVwQ1nwqhiyfWOM4UM1NPixQ2r9Kf_NtRonbTEJGoAMfrreLcE5anBfRshfESX63bhj-svS6mj48Q2qlefXKLW2lB-tCeD9rxUltZeA0X4/s640/.....cox.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h1pUbm4WPVhn-sUivHmqksIb5m9v49J5y1kVwQ1nwqhiyfWOM4UM1NPixQ2r9Kf_NtRonbTEJGoAMfrreLcE5anBfRshfESX63bhj-svS6mj48Q2qlefXKLW2lB-tCeD9rxUltZeA0X4/w400-h200/.....cox.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><br />Last June, our tyrant lieutenant governor (who was at that time campaigning to be the next governor), condescendingly swore at his constituents.<br /><br />"WEAR A DAMN MASK!" <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">he bellowed on Twitter</a>. Amazingly, the sheep of Utah still voted for this fool (unless of course they didn't...it's unclear just who has been benefitting from the undeniable election fraud, though it's not unrealistic to guess that maybe the same guy who brought in the Dominion contract to Utah <i>may</i> have enjoyed an upside). Either way...now he's governor.<br /><br />No, Governor, I will not wear a "damn mask." I haven't for many months, and for many reasons. Not the least of which is that <i>masks don't work</i>. Listen to the results of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai's <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">study</a>, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in December 2020. Additional evidence against cloth facemasks — easy to find, I might add — is overwhelming. <br /><br />Do your homework.<br /><br />It's incumbent upon you, as a so-called leader entrusted with a lot of power, to wield that power intelligently and thoughtfully, considering all relevant data, and then always erring on the side of liberty. That's your job. Not browbeating the people you're supposed to be serving.<br /><br />Instead, you keep denying the science, and stoking the fears, and exercising inappropriate power. Even now, you maintain this charade, telling people that once your illegal mandates are lifted next month, they should still keep wearing masks, and not "be a jerk" about it. <br /><br />"If you don’t care about other people," you said March 11, "then don’t go to places where other people are." <br /><br />What a tyrannical bit of rhetoric.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you don't care about natural rights and reasonable freedom, Governor Cox, then resign your office, jerk.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgayhAFZVW0o6iFdqC3j41-6UpqVVdr7tGcU2jPn32HwRgZgXpsaWPhsLSvHX7CdARpFTjhM-ONdqv1QCii2oTaSlWDiXadsoY2LfoeB71GwCZwq403SHCZ3HMhZcI4sO3St2JYsAn_qR/s320/...cox2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cox is the sheep on the right of this image.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Remember:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZAScZ1QJIJN_4PfgaAkC011dGcMg4GFcoy0nE81dbluA8ZUcYr9QAOK-KiCqlhNeC8bd8xPb0XMFoOdtWQHlkp0pn8bBtHd_gG72siF-kdyIZd9oPbPhPGIV5ML0jdqtBjq373LZXxEF/s320/...cox3.jpg" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-65492219093006578862020-11-09T20:09:00.030-08:002021-03-26T19:13:26.828-07:00Imagine a Sickness So Dangerous You Have to Force People to Be Scared of It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0L9_w5ePG-2KNQzatzngSVU_LZ57Kd3KIwMe7FFfBdVRbbKHHUR8yBO-3jpC6cMcwHs5GiAkHk66oMvtsRbcgAAmOkZVE6Xisuzso1bxTeBF1zExOoUBxZsHIgceS3Cs6u1VB3qjP69Pr/s526/.....70743667_10162462232130472_7214516923713716224_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0L9_w5ePG-2KNQzatzngSVU_LZ57Kd3KIwMe7FFfBdVRbbKHHUR8yBO-3jpC6cMcwHs5GiAkHk66oMvtsRbcgAAmOkZVE6Xisuzso1bxTeBF1zExOoUBxZsHIgceS3Cs6u1VB3qjP69Pr/s320/.....70743667_10162462232130472_7214516923713716224_n.jpg" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wise words.</span></i></div></i><p><b></b></p><blockquote><b>"The welfare of the people…has always been the alibi of tyrants…giving the servants of tyranny a good conscience." --Albert Camus (1913-1960)</b></blockquote><p></p><p>Last night, Governor Gary Herbert once again issued executive orders to extend the state of emergency in Utah. He has done this multiple times this year. I'm no lawyer, but I can read...and this executive order seems to be a violation of <a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53/Chapter2a/53-2a-S206.html" target="_blank">State Code 53-2a-206 (3)</a>; to wit: </p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>"A state of emergency may not continue for longer than 30 days unless extended by joint resolution of the Legislature..." </i></blockquote><p></p><p>The governor clearly has no authority to do this, as the Legislature has already (in August) rejected his previous extension, though he went ahead with it anyway, and now has done this.</p><p>The governor's <a href="https://coronavirus.utah.gov/blog/" target="_blank"><b>illegal order</b></a> includes a statewide mask mandate and a violation of the freedom of association (limiting private gatherings to ten people and not allowing people of multiple households to mix). He'll punish you for exercising your rights by assigning a<b> $10,000 fine </b>for non-compliance. </p><p>As I've stated before elsewhere, these illegal edicts are clear violations of our natural rights, and are also a poor approach to dealing with the Wuhan Flu (that's one name for it; others call it COVID-19, but I'm just so tired of hearing that name). He claims "we cannot afford to debate this issue any longer." Sorry, governor, but no. We will not sit down, shut up, and do what we're told. He also said, "Individual freedom is certainly important, and it is our rule of law that protects that freedom." Then why don't you <i>follow the law</i> and protect our individual freedom, Governor? You are not empowered or authorized to act unilaterally on this. With only <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/utah/" target="_blank"><b>0.00019% of Utahans</b></a> killed from the Wuhan Flu, this Draconian action must NOT be allowed to stand. (For you math folks, that means 99.99981% of Utahans have not died of this disease.)</p><p>There is ample scientific evidence that <a href="https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/cloth-masks-are-useless-against-covid-19" target="_blank"><b>cloth face masks are useless</b></a> (if not worse than useless) in preventing viral spread. There is additional science that indicates we'll all be better off if we let the Wuhan Flu spread through the community among the relatively healthy population, to produce herd immunity. Yes, if the vulnerable (the elderly, immunocompromised, those with severe chronic illness) wish to isolate themselves, that's their business (just as it always has been in any flu season). But this government response is unconscionable, considering <a href="https://collateralglobal.org/" target="_blank"><b>how much damage it is doing</b></a>. It's time to back off!</p><p>I can only assume the governor is trying to do what's right. <i>But he is wrong.</i> And not only is his approach wrong, but he's <i>abusing his power </i>in his pursuit of a wrong approach. The 5th and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution prohibit governments <i>at all levels</i> from depriving individuals of any constitutionally-protected liberty without due process of law. In the current environment, government executives such as Mr. Herbert have been issuing orders that deprive citizens of their constitutionally-protected liberties without due process, and without any public input or debate among legislative representatives. </p><p><a href="https://www.wtae.com/article/judge-rules-pennsylvania-gov-tom-wolf-shutdown-orders-unconstitutional/34013103" target="_blank"><b>In his September ruling</b></a> to roll back gubernatorial overreach in Pennsylvania, Judge William Stickman IV stated, </p><p></p><blockquote>"Even in an emergency, the authority of government is not unfettered."</blockquote><p></p><p>He's right. No one should comply with these illegal mandates. Please know your rights...and if you care about them, fight for them.</p><p>How do you do that? The most effective way we can resist is to work with our local leaders to help them understand how and why it is critical to protect their local constituents from this abuse from the state. That means talking to our representatives in the state legislature, our county commissioners, county sheriff, and city leaders. In my experience, they are good people, and they will listen. They serve us and love our community. Don't be afraid to talk to them about what troubles you. And don't let fear be the governing philosophy. </p><p>My first line of defense was to speak with my state house rep, Karianne Lisonbee (District 14). She is always accessible and helpful, and is a reliable champion of liberty. I'm pleased to have helped re-elect her last week. Rep. Lisonbee has expressed some similar concerns to mine, and has indicated she is far from alone in the Utah Legislature with regard to the governor's handling of this issue. </p><p>My next step was to contact our Davis County Sheriff, Kelly V. Sparks. I expressed my concerns to the sheriff as follows:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Dear Sheriff Sparks, </p><p>I'm writing to find out what the Davis County Sheriff's position is on the enforcement of the governor's illegal COVID mandates. Does our Sheriff answer to the Constitution and the people, or to the governor? What can citizens expect regarding protection of our civil liberties? Is Davis County to be a sanctuary of freedom or another place under the thumb of the governor's oppression? The governor's rules prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people. This is a violation of the 1st, 5th, and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution. (First for right of assembly and freedom of association, Fifth and Fourteenth for due process.) I'm not a lawyer, but I understand my rights. I realize this may seem like a strange question, but I think it's important, and I hope your office chooses to make a public statement regarding your stance and intentions regarding loyalty to upholding the highest law of the land (and the state), or your willingness to support these unjust executive actions that are contrary to the will of the people as represented by the legislature. Thank you for your time, Sheriff Sparks.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>The sheriff responded with some good news:</p><p></p><blockquote>Good morning...Thank you for your email. There will not be active enforcement of either the mask requirement or restrictions on the size of gatherings. We recognize this virus has caused a tremendous upheaval in our social interactions, economic growth, and emotional wellbeing. For the health of the entire community, we appeal to everyone to be reasonable and responsible in their interactions to help slow the spread of this virus. It is our fundamental duty to serve the community and improve the quality of life for everyone in Davis County. We respect the rights of our citizens and we hope the residents of Davis County will join us in achieving our mission. — Kelly V. Sparks, Sheriff</blockquote><p></p><p>So, there will be no enforcement of the governor's illegal edicts. You need not fear reprisal. I'm talking to you, Davis County businesses. You can relax. Our sheriff respects all of our rights! If people feel it's reasonable to wear masks, stand on floor stickers, and adhere to other rules, they're free to do so. If people don't believe that's reasonable, they're free to NOT do so while still participating in normal everyday life in Davis County. Let's get back to freedom and sanity now.</p><p>It's worth noting how welcome our input is. The sheriff's admin followed up with, "Thank you for your active participation in the community!"</p><p>The next step was to contact our county commissioners. I wrote the following (fairly long) note to them via email:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Dear County Commissioners,</p><p>I write to implore you to immediately lift any and all COVID-19 related restrictions from individual citizens and businesses within Davis County.</p><p>I strongly urge you to refuse to comply with Governor Herbert's illegal mandates. His executive overreach can only be ended by our own willingness to push back in smaller jurisdictions. His decisions violate the Constitution, run contrary to the will of the people as expressed by our representatives in the state legislature, and are not based in sound science or rationality. His continued bullying of the state in contravention of our system of checks and balances is unconscionable and must be remedied by swift and legal reprisal. </p><p>Please, please don't let fear drive your decisions any longer. The data (let alone the law) does not support these lockdowns and mask mandates. </p><p>In Davis County, we have over 355,000 residents, and according to the Davis County Health Department, only 40 total deaths for the year attributed to the virus. That's only about one in nine thousand people! The government response has been drastically out of proportion to any supposed danger, and continues to cause a host of negative repercussions that far outweigh any possible good, including job loss and underemployment, families losing their businesses, unwarranted fear, anxiety, depression, suicide, social maldevelopment in children, disruptions to education and worship and weddings and funerals, and untreated non-COVID health conditions. The facts are readily available to anyone willing to set aside their fear, dig a little beyond the news soundbites, and recognize the big picture. </p><p>The erosion of natural rights over the past few months has been a shocking result of the relentless narrative of fear. The fear is the result of people who don't understand science being bamboozled into believing that: A) healthy people should be tested, B) PCR tests that run 40 cycles deep can return reliable results without an abundance of false positives, C) positive results with mostly asymptomatic or mildly-symptomatic cases carry any significant meaning, D) quarantining the healthy makes any sense, E) the demographic actually in the workforce (let alone in school) is at any significant risk, and F) the 2020 Gompertz curve is anything but normal (when carryover from the soft 2019 season is taken into account). </p><p>In the face of this misinformation campaign, and armed with facts, you have a duty, a sacred trust, as elected officials, to draw the line and protect your constituents from this truly disturbing march toward totalitarianism and a relinquishing of our God-given liberty. </p><p>If you believe this sounds overwrought, I recommend you check out what's already happening in Victoria, Australia; Ireland; England; Canada; or even closer to home in California. And now here in Utah. (Be sure to dig into the actual numbers in those other locations before dismissing their actions as reasonable. You'll be surprised.)</p><p>Businesses should not be extorted into compliance by their local or state governments, whose only legitimate function is to protect rights. Citizens should not, in turn, be forced to conform by businesses who are scared of being shut down. Even if you believe the inflated data regarding the severity of the virus, there is ample scientific evidence that masking is not only unhelpful, but causes other physical and mental health problems. Look to Sweden for evidence of how refusing to lockdown works. Look to South Dakota for a principled approach. People everywhere are waking up to the reality that this pandemic is scarcely worse than a typical flu season, yet the government is destroying lives over it. </p><p>Once again, I ask you to please end this now, via the following meaningful steps:</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p>1) Refuse to comply with the governor's mandates. Send him written notice that Davis County is a sanctuary county that will not be held captive by the Governor's Office. </p></blockquote><blockquote><p>2) Take no actions to enforce physical distancing or mask wearing. Allow all businesses of all types to open with zero restrictions. </p></blockquote><blockquote><p>3) Broadly and repeatedly communicate to the residents and businesses of Davis County that all restrictions are ended and full freedom is reinstated. </p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p>Be courageous. Do the right thing. Don't let fear control you. Understand the data. Respect your constituents. Be remembered as heroes, rather than cogs in the great wheel of collectivist hegemony. </p><p>Thank you. In anticipation of your appropriate, immediate, and righteous action in this crucial matter...</p></blockquote><p></p><p>I was then treated to a pleasant exchange with commission chair Lorene Kamalu, that went as follows:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Dear Michael,</p><p>Thank you for writing in. Sorry it's taken me a while to respond. Busy busy times.</p><p>There are a wide range of opinions and even some scientists weighing in differently on masks. Here in Davis County, our Health Department Director is an epidemiologist, trained in the study of disease. We have followed his specific guidance as the county's public health officer. He/We are striving to be data driven for our OWN population, as you have suggested. We are quite proud of NEVER having listed essential and non-essential businesses and only having 1 month of closure for the salons and the entertainment gathering businesses in April. Some businesses had already closed themselves, as a number of businesses chose to do.</p><p>We have encouraged businesses to follow the guidelines and stay open! 75% of Davis people surveyed have complied with guidelines with no enforcement. That was BEFORE the recent surge; it may be even higher compliance now.</p><p>However, the spike that started early September and continues is something that is nearly reaching the capacity of Davis County Health Department to keep up with investigation and contact tracing. Also, at least one large hospital system is very concerned about the drain on healthcare staffing in an early stage of surge capacity.</p><p>We'll see how this continues to go. We have had quite a lot of success in our county and we give our citizens and businesses a lot of credit. Yes we are spiking, but we are also living our lives and everything is open. It is quite a small needle to thread, but the pandemic won't last forever and we expect the first vaccines available by the end of the year and that it will roll out in this order through Spring if things continue to move along with the science and government function:</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p>-Healthcare workers</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>-Longterm care patients</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>-General population</p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p>Very best wishes,</p><p>Lorene Kamalu</p></blockquote><p></p><p></p><blockquote>P.S. Feel free to follow Davis County Health Department specifically at: https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/health/covid-19/dashboard </blockquote><p></p><p>I responded:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Hello Commissioner, </p><p>Thank you for your response. I appreciate that you're very busy, and it's great that you have taken the time to correspond with me on this important issue.</p><p>I'd like to dig a little deeper into the topic...not as some sort of debate, but merely as constituent feedback and out of genuine concern for our county. I'll directly address a few of your remarks, below:</p><p></p><blockquote><i>There are a wide range of opinions and even some scientists weighing in differently on masks.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>This is absolutely true...there is indeed a great deal of varying data on masks. This is precisely why we should err on the side of caution, which means not recommending a course of action that is not scientifically proven, at the expense of the damage done by masking which has been scientifically proven. This is not a tin-foil hat position; the evidence is abundant, and it's really worth reading outside of the common narrative to gain a better understanding. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>For example, <a href="https://www.aier.org/article/the-year-of-disguises/" target="_blank"><b>this article</b></a> at the American Institute for Economic Research, in which an experienced organic chemistry professional explains the relationship between the viral molecule itself and cloth face coverings. It's a bit sciencey, but it's worth the read.</li><li>Meanwhile, you've probably seen the <a href="https://gbdeclaration.org/" target="_blank"><b>Great Barrington Declaration</b></a>, in which nearly 50,000 medical experts and over 600,000 concerned citizens (myself included) have signed their name in an effort to bring some sanity back to the government response to the virus; including rejecting masking, isolation, and other harmful measures.</li><li>Further, the site <a href="https://collateralglobal.org/" target="_blank"><b>Collateral Global</b></a> aggregates dozens of studies documenting the awful negative impacts of the government response, including physical health studies (such as delayed cancer detection), mental health studies (increases in addictions and eating disorders), and social health studies (domestic violence, poverty, reduced student engagement, and more). It's a pretty comprehensive and eye-opening site. </li></ul><p></p><p>I understand that there's a tendency to view opinions that are contrary to the prevailing paradigm as "kooky" or "conspiracy theories," but it's dangerous to dismiss this information and forego any kind of robust discussion among all affected stakeholders (the citizens). Saying "opinions vary" and then saying, "but we're going to just do it this way" is not fair to anyone, and is the kind of thinking that led to the unsinkable Titanic winding up at the bottom of the ocean.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>Here in Davis County, our Health Department Director is an epidemiologist, trained in the study of disease. </i></blockquote><p></p><p>Thank you, I am aware of Mr. Hatch's background and in no way mean to disparage him or his experience. But in the end, it's just one man's opinion. Same can be said of me, of course, and I'm hardly qualified to dispute an epidemiologist. But my peers in the community know that I'm a fairly smart fellow, and actively strive to learn through research. With so much on the line, it's hard to put all of our futures in the hands of a single expert, and as you said, expert opinions contradict each other on these issues. Meanwhile, we consider the pros and cons, each day that we put a young child in a mask, we're harming her psychologically (fear/isolation/impaired social cues), and perhaps physically (bacterial accrual and reduced oxygen). And children are not even at risk, nor are they spreaders — making their masking all the more inhumane. Yes, I know there are varying opinions on that, too, but there is strong enough dissent that adopting policy based on one side of the issue seems problematic at best.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>We have encouraged businesses to follow the guidelines and stay open! 75% of Davis people surveyed have complied with guidelines with no enforcement. </i></blockquote><p></p><p>Of course businesses should remain open, but not under the requirement that they submit to the government guidelines. Voluntarily doing something when you have a metaphorical gun to your head is not really voluntary. The subtle threat of enforcement is enforcement itself. These businesses need to be clearly told that they are 100% free to follow the guidelines or not follow the guidelines — it's up to them, because the science is not settled.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>That was BEFORE the recent surge; it may be even higher compliance now.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>The "surge" is a big issue. A rise in positive test results is a very poor source of direction for policy. There are several reasons for this. First, never before have we tested healthy people. It's not a scientific practice; it's a fear-based practice. Second, the tests are very inaccurate due to the PCR cycle depth being greater than 35, which finds fragments of dead virus (including non-COVID fragments) and mis-identifies them as infectious. Third, many confirmed cases are simply not very severe. In a lot of ways, this pandemic is similar to the annual flu pandemic (even with a similar Gompertz curve) — except in the way we are responding to it (including the misguided furlough of healthcare professionals last spring). </p><p>People complying with ineffective and/or unnecessary mitigation efforts simply because higher positive test results are being reported is not proof that the policies are good, or that the population is responsible and obedient. It's evidence only that people are easily scared and largely either don't understand the science or are too busy to really dig into it. They trust our public officials to do that "thinking" for them, and I don't blame them in the least.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>...we expect the first vaccines available by the end of the year...</i></blockquote><p></p><p>Unfortunately, too many seem to be hinging all their hopes on a vaccine, but we've had a flu vaccine that with 75 years of development has only managed to provide a less-than-50% aggregate efficacy rate each year. Some years have worse efficacy rates than others. Many people do not trust a vaccine that has been so rushed, and it's simply not reasonable to believe that a vaccine is just going to make the virus go away. The truth is, it will be with us forever, just like the flu, and there will always be casualties among the most vulnerable population (elderly people, people with severe comorbidities). What we need to do is learn to live with it, not stop and alter our lives so that we can pretend to be living, but really only be surviving.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>Feel free to follow Davis County Health Department specifically at: https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/health/covid-19/dashboard </i></blockquote><p></p><p>Yes, thank you, I've been following the data there for months now. I have a serious request regarding the data provided there. What is shown is, frankly, pretty dumbed-down, and is lacking extremely important data that gives meaning and value and context to the data that is presented. Specifically, we need to see the following essential data reported:</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p>1) FP (false positive) rate</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>2) FN (false negative) rate</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>3) Percentage of tests performed on healthy (i.e., asymptomatic) individuals</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>4) Death rate (by population and by case - CFR and IFR)</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>5) Case severity:</p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p> a) Viral load</p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p> b) How many positives have no symptoms? </p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p> c) How many are just mildly sick with sniffles and low-grade fever? </p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p> d) How many were sick a week ago but all better now? </p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p> e) How many are in the hospital? </p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p> f) How many died? -- I know there's a death total, but we need a graph against time for that one. </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote><p>6) How many are being treated with HCQ? What is the recovery rate by treatment type?</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>7) How many already have T-cell cross-immunity (current research study estimates are about 80% — that means that 4 out of 5 previously-unexposed people are already immune to COVID because our T-cells mistake it for the common cold due to its similarity at the cell level).</p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p>The big numbers and graphs are ultimately meaningless and do nothing but stoke fear if we don't get regularly-reported answers to the above. Without that, we're just operating on fear.</p><p>Again, thank you so much for your time and patience. I'm obviously passionate about this. I care because I see a very worrisome trend over the past few months, where good citizens are relinquishing their rights and freedoms out of fear, and liberty does not simply "come back on its own" once it's gone. We have to actively protect it. Freedom should always be the default. There's no asterisk in the Constitution that says, "all bets are off is there's a virus," and for good reason. It's so sad to see what's happening to people emotionally because of this. By "this," I do not mean "the virus," with its 99.75% recovery rate, I mean "this" the government response.</p><p>I hope my concerns are taken in the right spirit. My views are shared by a LOT of my friends, neighbors, work associates, and community allies. I don't presume to speak for any of them, but I can tell you I am not alone in feeling this way.</p><p>Thank you for your continued service to our wonderful county.</p><p>Best,</p><p>—Michael</p></blockquote><p></p><p>The commissioner responded again:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Thanks, Michael — So you advocate no masks and no precautions? The authority for public health is in the state constitution; I'm sure you know. We have had meetings with all the hospital CEOs in Davis and Weber from the beginning; they all agree with Davis and Weber health officers and the local policy thus far. The Davis Board of Health has professionals from several disciplines; they all agree with Brian's direction throughout pandemic. FYI, I appreciate your thoughtful sharing. I know there is a wide range of perspective regarding policy and response.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Aaaaaand I responded back:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Yes, I advocate for no mask mandates and no mandated physical distancing. That doesn't mean I think people should behave irresponsibly; rather, we should behave with the same prudence we do at any other time: not coughing or sneezing directly in other people's faces, washing our hands when we get home, not licking shopping carts...the usual rational behaviors. ;)</p><p>Individuals are free to take precautions they feel are necessary for their own comfort and safety. If vulnerable people (elderly, immunocompromised, severely/chronically ill) wish to wear a mask (an effective one designed as a barrier to viral-sized matter, not a cloth placebo) then they are free to do so. I mean, they can wear the cloth placebos if they want, too, but that does more harm than good. They may also decide to isolate themselves of their own accord. That's what normal people normally do when they're sick (or vulnerable), and they do it without being told or forced. Healthy people (which is most of us) should be out and about living our lives, interacting, smiling at one another, conducting business, and doing so with the confidence that most of us are immune (80%+), and if we're not, practically ALL of us who do get sick will be just fine (99.75%+). The data confirms it, even if the propaganda drives a different narrative. </p><p>I have keyword-searched the entire <a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Constitution.html" target="_blank"><b>Utah state constitution</b></a> and do not see any references to public health or the authority to implement these mandates. A direct citation would be very helpful.</p><p>Meanwhile, it behooves us to look at the big picture and ask questions: How does the COVID rate compare to the flu rate (are flu cases being counted as COVID)? Are healthcare facilities financially incentivized to report COVID cases? What are the costs to businesses, families, students, children's mental health — costs directly attributable to the response, rather than the virus? The governor has extended the state of emergency multiple times, against the will of the legislature (and thus against the will of the people they represent) — so, what are the actual limits to government power? What is the responsibility of smaller jurisdictions (counties, cities) to safeguard their citizens' rights against an overreaching governor?</p><p>Indeed, I am not an epidemiologist nor a public health specialist. I've done a million times more research on this than I would have ever dreamed — this is not a "hobby" I had ever hoped to take up. :) I know that there is much — MUCH — that I do not know or do not understand. I'm just a concerned citizen who has a 15-year-old son whose anxiety and depression has been extremely exacerbated by this — not by the virus, which has had literally zero impact on his life, but by the out-of-proportion response which has disrupted his education, isolated him from his friends, forced him to wear a suffocating mask all day on the days when he is in school, canceled many planned events, and generally pushed him to the very brink of the unthinkable. I fear for him and all the kids like him, and I fear for our freedom, which, as I said, must be vigilantly guarded because freedom lost does not easily return like magic as soon as everyone gets a vaccine jab.</p><p>Thank you again...it is comforting to know that our leaders (you) are listening and responding to our concerns.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Lorene got right back to me:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title26/26.html </p><p>Yes, this virus and response is incredibly stressful for ALL, in myriad ways. Nearly all the people we hear from want the County Health to do MORE than we have done. And some ask for enforcement, which is not something any law enforcement agencies in the county have wanted to do when we have compliance and choice going so well in Davis County overall.</p><p>My heart goes out to your son and family.</p><p>Many who don't like the guidelines are arranging their lives so they don't have to wear the masks. However, that is not the case with schools. DSD is not a county department, I'm sure you know. They are in a very difficult situation.</p><p>I have also noticed that the quantity of info from all around the world has increased lots of people's anxiety, so THAT is why, from the very beginning, I have encouraged all Davis Co citizens and businesses to follow our own department and data. It is perhaps "dumbed down" for a reason, but know that our policy committee has met from the beginning to weigh the County's policy, plus the Board of Health through all of this, plus the hospital and other healthcare systems. Every Monday the Brian the health officer has an online meeting together with every city mayor and manager, and I have NEVER seen such a big, consistent attendance over a long period of time for anything in my life. They are there with questions and comments and there are even a couple challenges to policy from time to time. Then when the data moves, they no longer challenge. Brian's expertise has been lauded in the entire state. I don't think anyone has communicated, supported, helped navigate quite as well as he has, and thank goodness he is not extreme in his recommendations. He is a practical man and regularly recognizes the efforts and sacrifices of people and businesses getting through this together.</p><p>I'm glad there is an online option for school: I've heard a lot of the pros and cons to every scenario. If folks don't want to wear masks, there are many options to conduct their lives in a way they don't need to. I hear from folks who have major health problems in their family and they have been staying at home and struggle, struggle, struggle with that. The downside is as you know -- a feeling and perception of isolation taking a toll on mental health.</p><p>I studied policy and I see it in action. There is often a tradeoff or policy dilemma. Even if the government did nothing -- there would be some businesses shutting down and some people suffering from anxiety and stress. Maybe many. The pandemic is hard, no matter what.</p><p>I do have a lot of other meetings so I'll leave you with this for now -- but you can make an appointment with me at the number below to meet in person if you wish.</p><p>Very best wishes,</p><p>Lorene</p><p>P.S. I just read this... gives good evidence of how Brian works in a helpful, practical way to all in County: </p><p>https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/fox-13-investigates-which-davis-county-businesses-are-fighting-covid-19-outbreaks </p></blockquote><p></p><p>Back to me:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Thank you again for continuing the conversation. </p><p>The article you linked actually highlights the problem I've been indicating: publicizing "case counts" with no context (e.g., case severity) unnecessarily feeds fear, and that leads to harsher controls on people's lives, and people are more willing to comply because they're scared. Can you imagine what life would have been like in past years if we reported, by company(!) how many people got the flu, each day, and each week, each month? Why would we ever do such a thing? There's a fine line between being informative and inciting panic. When the COVID survival rate is greater than 99.75%, there is no good reason to be stirring up fear with this kind of reporting. As we move toward greater community immunity, high "case counts" for a generally mild (but yes, sometimes deadly) illness are not even a bad thing, as long as the most vulnerable self-isolate or take other precautions. Our children, especially, need to be building their immune systems, not degrading them.</p><p>I appreciate the link to Utah Code; you had mentioned public health being in the Constitution, so that's where I was looking. Utah Code is indeed the law, even though it must be informed by and comport with the state's constitution. Where it does not, it requires remedy by the legislature and/or the courts — and that's a whole other ball of wax! :)</p><p>With regard to "dumbed-down" data, I might was well cite Utah Code 26-1-30 (8):</p><p></p><blockquote>"...[the department shall] collect, prepare, publish, and disseminate information to inform the public concerning the health and wellness of the population, specific hazards, and risks that may affect the health and wellness of the population and specific activities which may promote and protect the health and wellness of the population;"</blockquote><p></p><p>I imagine this section of the code is what directs county health departments to do the same, in service of the state-level department...and that's why Davis Co. publishes the data it does. While the data I requested in my previous email seems to me like a fair minimum threshold for meeting the above requirement, the very least that should be made publicly available is the FP and FN figures. Publishing positive case numbers without the false positive rate has real costs to individuals and society (that's <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30453-7/fulltext" target="_blank"><b>according to epidemiologists</b></a>, not me). Even <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dls/locs/2020/report-false-negatives-and-false-positives-from-covid-19-testing.html" target="_blank"><b>the CDC recommends</b></a> reporting the FP and FN as a best practice. Publishing positive case numbers without mentioning that most people are just fine (asymptomatic or very mild symptoms) is <i>misleading</i>.</p><p>As the CFO of Bailey's Moving and Storage stated in the article you shared, <i><b>"Most people didn't have any symptoms at all, or very very minor symptoms."</b></i> This is true across the board, and it should be the HEADLINE, not a quote buried in the story behind scary "case number" statistics that most people don't even understand. The fault for this lies with the news reporters...unfortunately, "nothing to worry about" doesn't draw clicks. I'm not blaming Brian, here, I'm just pointing out that it can be easy to unintentionally create a panic where one is not warranted.</p><p>While I have strong opinions on this stuff, I want you to know that I absolutely do not ascribe bad intentions to anybody involved (okay, maybe the news folks, but I feel entitled to criticize them because back in the 1990s, I was one of them). I know we're all just doing our best. I'm just hoping to make our best even better. :)</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Lorene's last note to me in response was:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Good points. Gosh, yes, State Code, not Constitution. I can share your input with with Brian regarding other data made publicly available. The media is not always our friend. Controversy and finger pointing are focuses.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Then I had to add:</p><p></p><blockquote>Just wanted to correct myself...the CDC link I provided was regarding reporting false positives/false negatives to the FDA and the test manufacturer, not to the public. So, the link doesn't support my point, but my point is still valid for other reasons. :)</blockquote><p></p><p>I then asked permission to share our exchange, since it was a private conversation. I wanted to share this because I want my friends here to understand that our leaders are accessible and that we can have productive communication and be active participants in our community.</p><p>Now, all those communications happened prior to last night's latest crack down from the governor. As I've stated elsewhere, a responsible governor who valued liberty over fear and power would actually make the effort to understand the testing data, and require that every so-called positive case transparently disclose PCR cycle thresholds, specifically to determine the actual viral load and whether or not those "cases" are truly infectious. Instead, we get more fearmongering in the form of "Amber Alert" style push notifications with dumbed-down scare tactics and tyrannical edicts that our county sheriff knows better than to enforce. Governor Herbert should be held accountable via whatever legal means are appropriate (impeachment? prosecution?), and governor-elect Cox should not be taking his place.</p><p>Folks, it is critical that we make sure our local leaders are our <i>allies</i>, and that they will stand up and protect our rights. I really fear that this is a bad slippery slope from which there will be a very hard-fought recovery, if there is one (see the opening image). </p><p>Last night, Govnernor Herbert proclaimed that this latest rights infringement will last "only two weeks." Does anyone else remember "two weeks to flatten the curve" back in early March? There is no excuse for letting fear ruin our lives. We must wake up. We must <i>stand </i>up. How long is it going to take to flatten the fear curve? To flatten the tyranny curve? </p><p></p><blockquote>"[O]ur rights come from God, but the care of those rights is up to us. This divine origin is important, because if rights become simply what the majority of people want, then they are nothing more than a power play or mere opinion. But time, wisdom and practice show that they are grounded much more deeply." -- Elder Ulisses Soares 10/28/2020</blockquote><p></p><p>Get that? Only WE can care for our rights. </p><p>WE must resist.</p><p>Maybe you don't feel this has gone too far. Maybe you're okay with this slippery slope into tyranny. But, as I asked before on social media: What are your specific plans for pushing back on government overreach when they finally DO cross YOUR personal "bridge too far"? Will you wait until it's too late? Or will you start NOW to work with your local leaders to save us from a fate far worse than the 99.75% survivable Wuhan Flu that 80% of us can't even get?</p><p>Asking for our children.</p><p style="text-align: center;">____________________________________</p><p><b>Additional resources, below:</b></p><p>Some very basic and <a href="https://swprs.org/facts-about-covid-19/" target="_blank"><b>IMPORTANT facts</b></a> about the Wuhan Flu (with linked citations). </p><p>"Many powerful institutions have too much political capital invested in the mask narrative at this point, so the dogma is perpetuated." Despite the science that proves masks don't help. <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2020/10/29/these-12-graphs-show-mask-mandates-do-nothing-to-stop-covid/" target="_blank"><b>This is worth the read</b></a>, folks. </p><p>Lockdowns are <b><a href="https://www.justfacts.com/news_covid-19_anxiety_lockdowns_life_destroyed_saved?" target="_blank">7 to 90 TIMES more deadly</a></b> than the Wuhan Flu. </p><p><b><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-020-00808-x" target="_blank">81% of people</a></b> who have *never* been exposed to the Wuhan Flu ALREADY have immunity. It's called cross-reactivity, and it happens because your body has produced T-cells that work against SARS-CoV-2 because it's so similar to the common cold, which you've already had. EIGHTY-ONE PERCENT! Most people are not even going to get it. Sadly, most people also don't "get it." </p><p>Want to understand false positive rates? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch7wze46md0&fbclid=IwAR2zlQ7IwsoFpYhEkXhAb0iBB-6nDxTuMnAKhUB6Ke8zO-4XgvzWyFEex3k " target="_blank"><b>Watch this</b></a>.</p><p>From September 4: According to CDC data, if you exclude trauma & poisoning as "comorbidities" (because including trauma & poisoning as comorbidities is asinine), there have only been 1,411 under-35-year-old deaths from the Wuhan Flu <i>nationwide</i>. In 2018, we lost 14,628 under-35s to suicide. Studies published in Psychiatry Research and World Psychiatry project 2,470 ADDITIONAL under-35 suicides this year as a direct result of the RESPONSE to the Wuhan Flu (primarily the government imposition of mass unemployment, but also forced isolation). That's nearly <i>double </i>the deaths attributed to the Wuhan Flu.</p><p>Absolutely worth watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPPRwEW-5-g&fbclid=IwAR2twfelKkG-jX5SLqt34FLbnqhSAP-x8tXtX5eUS98zucqvT7anGN1o41A" target="_blank"><b>this 10:42 video from July</b></a> for some straightforward common sense and facts. Dr. Atlas has since been named to the White House COVID-19 Task Force (thank goodness!).</p><p>Historian Tara Ross has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TaraRoss.1787/posts/2762242347210687" target="_blank"><b>a nice summary</b></a> of the importance of proper governance regarding the Wuhan Flu. </p><p><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8537489/PETER-HITCHENS-Face-masks-turn-voiceless-submissives.html " target="_blank"><b>Another perspective</b></a> (this one from England) on the mask issue. </p><p>A <a href="https://thecritic.co.uk/face-masks-make-you-stupid/?fbclid=IwAR1H-3_ivxPtL2lKeyJ_OdHC-Cn-lo4eAC369-_Ajtmis4ITgO3CXd0-A3E" target="_blank"><b>well-researched take</b></a> on masking and psychology.</p><p>If you have 20 minutes today...please watch <a href="https://youtu.be/mcm8Sc8f66o" target="_blank"><b>this common sense, data-driven presentation</b></a>. Life is too important to let fear and disinformation force you to abandon it for mere survival. This guy has been consistently saying these things for months now, and the facts keep supporting him more and more. Really, if you don't have time to explore all the other useful links above, just watch this video.</p><p>[UPDATE 1:] More data...<a href="https://www.thepragmatist.co/post/more-than-50-of-u-s-states-never-exceeded-2017-2018-weekly-flu-deaths-state-by-state-analysis" target="_blank"><b>25% more people have died due to COVID responses, than have died from COVID itself in Utah</b></a>.</p><p>[UPDATE 2:] More data...<a href="https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1327740997078380544.html" target="_blank"><b>Utah hospital utilization is currently at 56.3%, which is DOWN 2.6% from previous years</b></a> (you know, years in which there wasn't a "pandemic"). The state is deceiving you.</p><p>[UPDATE 3:] <b><a href="https://wmbriggs.com/post/33726/" target="_blank">Another good source of information</a></b> (news items, data charts, commentary).</p><p>[UPDATE 4:] <b><a href="https://alt-market.us/covid-mutation-stories-show-that-the-lockdowns-are-designed-to-last-forever/" target="_blank">This article</a></b> about the so-called "mutated strain" and how it relates to lockdowns, is critical reading. [SUB-UPDATE: The link became broken some time in the past several weeks, and many links to the same article hosted elsewhere are broken, but I found another version with the authorship altered and fixed the link.]</p><p>[UPDATE 5:] We are living in an outdoor insane asylum...suffering mass <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/covid-19-americans-are-in-delusional-psychosis-and-policing-each-other-psychiatrist-warns" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>delusional psychosis</b></span></a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYjUiPgIbqm5hc6V8w_REiDtM9a-ky-dXQ4Wrn2itGF5EuG2sWG79oTSCM_rWoADX0kYCAfIsyFQ6aOAaF3c55KxnjnWN8KD3TSgUImr_e9rsN3r9c97FLxUuTf60dazg9X2b51WJboJH/s526/....122082224_10164523483085472_806901401300954966_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYjUiPgIbqm5hc6V8w_REiDtM9a-ky-dXQ4Wrn2itGF5EuG2sWG79oTSCM_rWoADX0kYCAfIsyFQ6aOAaF3c55KxnjnWN8KD3TSgUImr_e9rsN3r9c97FLxUuTf60dazg9X2b51WJboJH/s320/....122082224_10164523483085472_806901401300954966_o.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-19629880355652660402020-07-06T16:32:00.000-07:002020-11-09T18:33:38.475-08:00If I Were a Cunning Collectivist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZEU39VSv3u6bjhPjzaZGOqiMDLEBKpFAr39L9z3eF8aHDOxtw2I1upTAAWWZWxcSxOc8TDhxnq1vr5n1n3EtbM0fUJ9zstk7-t3EVksSJgeCAeToD-VNWPei-hKnOFAabMpV5-7ZOzTY/s626/....young-woman-wearing-blue-polo-shirt-protective-medical-mask-pointing-finger-camera-with-serious-face-standing-light-grey-background_141793-11251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZEU39VSv3u6bjhPjzaZGOqiMDLEBKpFAr39L9z3eF8aHDOxtw2I1upTAAWWZWxcSxOc8TDhxnq1vr5n1n3EtbM0fUJ9zstk7-t3EVksSJgeCAeToD-VNWPei-hKnOFAabMpV5-7ZOzTY/s320/....young-woman-wearing-blue-polo-shirt-protective-medical-mask-pointing-finger-camera-with-serious-face-standing-light-grey-background_141793-11251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Be a good little sheep, and wear your muzzle!"</span></i></div></i><div><br /></div>Collectivists hate individual freedom. Despite their propaganda, they despise personal liberty. At their core, they are solely about accruing power by denying souls their agency. Or, at least, inhibiting their agency as much as possible, through any means necessary.<br />
<br />
The most powerful weapon in the collectivist's arsenal is deception. By lying about your choices, the collectivist can easily limit your agency.<br />
<br />
If I were a cunning collectivist, I would use deception to make you believe you had only two choices:<div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div>Either you're a selfish person who doesn't care about the well-being of others; OR</div><div>You're a compassionate patriot who is willing to make some small sacrifices for the good of the collective.</div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the false choice presented today by the "true believer" types who give you the stink-eye for not wearing a mask.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's an evil false dichotomy, and I hope we can all be wise enough to not fall for it. The reality is that there are many reasons for not complying with the face-diaper rules, ranging from solidly-scientific (the harmful health effects) to the mental health problems caused, to basic common sense, to the simple issue of freedom. </div><div><br /></div><div>Resist.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-56054256000163324992017-06-28T15:16:00.002-07:002017-06-28T15:16:53.765-07:00I Don’t Know How to Explain to You That You’re Completely Misguided<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BWLbpHsT-jo_o0awsRNpFiq3VCC28sFjZdJVmze0G_kMNVW6BJEG1VW5s9hYdpaDhrpPSO4I_XORUpjvmgYz-6MS9JOecLBZSnn2LelkAzka6Fv8yjehqMXXXgL1x16MqG7kDw7-p1Sy/s1600/reality-check.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BWLbpHsT-jo_o0awsRNpFiq3VCC28sFjZdJVmze0G_kMNVW6BJEG1VW5s9hYdpaDhrpPSO4I_XORUpjvmgYz-6MS9JOecLBZSnn2LelkAzka6Fv8yjehqMXXXgL1x16MqG7kDw7-p1Sy/s200/reality-check.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Kayla Chadwick, a contributor over at the Huffington Post,
has written what may be <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/i-dont-know-how-to-explain-to-you-that-you-should_us_59519811e4b0f078efd98440?section=queer-voices&utm_campaign=hp_fb_pages&utm_source=qv_fb&utm_medium=facebook&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000050">the
worst op-ed I have ever seen</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know, I know. Fisking a HuffPo article is like peeling off
one’s skin with a tuning fork, but less fun. Still, this one really deserves a
fisking. I just can’t let this sit out there, unopposed, infecting people’s
minds. A glance at the comments section for the article indicates it’s managed
to strike that sweet spot of the HuffPo audience that’s truly, utterly,
whole-heartedly deceived into a worldview that smugly denies all truth and
reality. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The overall message? Lack of compassion = selfishness = evil
= anyone opposed to letting the government run everything. Get that? You’re
evil.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The article is titled, “I Don’t Know How To Explain To You
That You Should Care About Other People,” and the only valid line in the whole
article is the subtitle: “Our disagreement is not merely political, but a
fundamental divide on what it means to live in a society.” Yep, that’s actually
true. You nailed it, there, Kayla. But the rest of the article is 600 words of
sheer, unabashed, close-minded, myopic, arrogant LUNACY…and here’s why:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start with her opening remark, which, cleverly, is
also her title: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>I don’t know how to explain to someone why they should care about other
people.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This, of course, is immediately insulting, as it presupposes that her opposition (you know, the EEEEEEVIL conservatives) are heartless, selfish, nasty barely-human individuals who DO NOT CARE(!) about other people. Think about that for a moment. I mean, why should she even bother to argue at all, when her opponent is purely evil?<br />
<br />
The problem is that her entire argument is based on either
willful ignorance or a bald-faced lie. Never mind that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/giving-back-_n_3781505.html">9
of the top 10 states for charitable giving vote Republican</a>, as reported by
(who?) the Huffington Post in 2013. (I’m sure conservatives donate because they’re
religious rubes, not because they actually CARE about people, right, Kayla?)
The same article shows Republicans giving money to charity at a rate of 54-45
over Democrats, and volunteering time for a cause 33-24 over Democrats. But,
who cares about facts, when you have FEEEEEELINGS?<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s move on, now, to her first bit of specific moral
preening:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Personally, I’m happy to pay <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2015/Q3/study-raising-wages-to-15-an-hour-for-limited-service-restaurant-employees-would-raise-prices-4.3-percent.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">an extra 4.3 percent for my fast food burger if it means the person
making it for me can afford to feed their own family</span></a>. If you aren’t
willing to fork over an extra 17 cents for a Big Mac, you’re a fundamentally
different person than I am.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem;">
I’m willing to pay whatever the fair market value of a burger is, with
fluctuations for quality, of course. I’m not willing to pay what some
government bureaucrat dictates I pay because of some warped sense of “social
justice” or “collective compassion” or “forced charity” or other redistributive
nonsense that ignores the real economic world. Forget the fact that entry-level
fast food jobs are just that: entry level. They’re designed for young,
first-time workers to learn how to function in the real world. They’re there as
a part-time supplement. They were never intended as a way to “feed a family,”
and, indeed, <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/09/08/who-makes-minimum-wage/">the
statistics indicate</a> that most minimum wage earners are kids and
part-timers. Moreover, the misguided push to raise the minimum wage only <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/449025/seattle-minimum-wage-hike-hurts-low-wage-workers-study-obvious-economic-result-left">hurts
those workers</a> in the long run, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160115031608/http:/www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010301619.html">just
as ANY minimum wage law does</a>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, Kayla, I’m a fundamentally different person than you
are, because as much as I like feelings, I find that facts are a better way to
define policy. Since I actually <i>do</i>
care about the poor, minorities, and teenagers, I oppose government meddling in
voluntary private transactions such as wage levels. As is usually the case, the
only law that applies is the law of unintended consequences, and such meddling invariably
results in harm to the very people these do-gooders are trying to help. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She goes on:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>I’m perfectly content to pay taxes that go toward public schools, even
though I’m childless and intend to stay that way, because all children deserve
a quality, free education. If this seems unfair or unreasonable to you, we are
never going to see eye to eye.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First off: thank you. Thank you for not procreating. As for
taxes going toward public schools and “quality, free” education…it’s true, we’ll
never see eye to eye on that one, because, once again: <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2015/05/08/more-spending-doesnt-lead-to-improved-student-learning/#22e2434d5135">facts</a>.
Nearly two trillion dollars of Americans’ hard-earned money has been thrown at “free”
public education since the creation of the federal Department of Education,
with <a href="https://www.cato.org/publications/congressional-testimony/impact-federal-involvement-americas-classrooms">virtually
zero measurable improvement</a> in education outcomes. So, the answer, of
course, is more cowbell, right? No. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, the best thing we can do for children in America is
to completely dismantle the federal behemoth. Trying to fix public education is
like trying to climb a ladder that’s leaning on the wrong wall, anyway. “Free
public education” is an indoctrination tool for Marxists (it’s right <a href="https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch02.htm">there
in chapter two of the manifesto</a>). Because I do in fact care about children,
I do indeed believe that taking people’s money to feed a feckless, evil, tool
is unreasonable. Far better to voluntarily put our money toward education that
can <a href="http://www.heritage.org/education/report/new-research-shows-additional-benefits-school-choice">show
truly positive results</a> by allowing people’s money to follow their children
to the best education the market can provide. As with everything, the most
expensive, corrupt, wasteful, inefficient and ineffective way to get anything
done is via a government mandate.<br />
<br />
Eschewing the government monopoly and
offering choice in education is morally right; so, no, we’ll never see eye to
eye, Kayla.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here comes perhaps her biggest whopper:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>If I have to pay a little more with each paycheck to ensure my fellow
Americans can access health care? SIGN ME UP. Poverty should not be a death
sentence in the richest country in the world. If you’re okay with thousands of
people dying of treatable diseases just so the wealthiest among us can hoard
still more wealth, there is a divide between our worldviews that can never be
bridged.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quite a lot of steaming manure to parse, there. First, government-run
healthcare schemes don’t involve “a little more with each paycheck,” because
they are fund-sucking monsters that always have huge impacts on the income of
everyday Americans. Guess what, Kayla? You are more than welcome to donate your
own morally-superior money to any public or private program you think is
effective. But, as previously noted, government is the most corrupt, least
efficient way to “invest” in helping others, so forcing others to follow your
folly would be indecent. Further, such programs are not merely about taking
peoples’ money —they’re about reducing peoples’ options, disrupting the free
market, stifling innovation, reducing quality, and decreasing access as
supplies are subverted. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t litigate the plethora of reasons why government-run
healthcare is an abomination — the evidence is abundant and the arguments are
numerous. But I will address the foolish hyperbole above. First, nobody dies in
the street because they can’t afford health care. It’s a myth. A <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa044464">study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine</a> shows that the care patients receive is not
affected by whether they are insured or uninsured or by the type of insurance
they have. So, knock it off. “Thousands of people” are not dying so that the
wealthy can “hoard still more wealth.” It’s simply poppycock. Never mind the
fact that those EEEEVIL <a href="http://www.ntu.org/foundation/page/who-pays-income-taxes">wealthy people disproportionately
pay the lion’s share of taxes in the U.S.</a> Again, those pesky facts!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just imagine the horror! Imagine if we have to go back to
stepping over all the dead people in the streets like we did in 2008!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, there is a divide between our worldviews that can never
be bridged, at least not as long as you’re willing to believe statist
propaganda, Kayla.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>I don’t know how to convince someone how to experience the basic human
emotion of empathy. <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good, because you don’t have to. Your ideological opponents
don’t need such lessons from the likes of you, since you really don’t
understand empathy yourself. What you believe in is forcing your ideas on
everyone else, without regard for their rights to their own property, with not
a care for their liberty, without the least concern for their
self-determination. None of those things — the most fundamental freedoms and
characteristics of being a human individual — factor into your steamroller
attempts to make the world fit your perverse conception of “fair.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>I cannot have one more conversation with someone who is content to see
millions of people suffer needlessly in exchange for a tax cut that
statistically they’ll never see (do you make anywhere close to the median
American salary? Less? <a href="http://time.com/money/4710863/trumpcare-gop-health-tax-cut-rich/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">Congrats, this tax break is not for you</span></a>).<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, please don’t have one more conversation. We don’t need
any more nonsensical conversations. Again, you build quite a straw man, there.
As it turns out, there really are no cigar-smoking, diamond-nose-ring-wearing,
moustache-twirling fat cats sitting around contentedly as “millions of people
suffer needlessly” in the absence of government-run healthcare. They don’t
exist. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for tax breaks, and whether or not I personally see them…any
and all tax cuts are good. All of them. Every single one. Each one represents a
restoration of liberty. It lets people keep what’s theirs. And that benefits
all of society. The idea that I should only favor a tax cut if it directly
affects my paycheck is selfish and unseemly. You should be ashamed of yourself,
Kayla.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem; margin-left: .5in;">
<b>I cannot have
political debates with these people. Our disagreement is not merely political,
but a fundamental divide on what it means to live in a society, how to be a
good person, and why any of that matters.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem;">
This is the part where I agree. We definitely shouldn’t bother to
argue about this, because you’ve got everything completely backward, and are
unwilling to even entertain another point of view. In reality, good people don’t
take each other’s stuff by force. They leave each other alone. They voluntarily
help each other. They respect free agency. They trust in the kindness and
goodness of private people over faceless, unaccountable bureaucracies. Good
people believe in human individuals, not the inhuman leviathan.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>There are all kinds of practical, self-serving reasons to raise the
minimum wage (<a data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{"p":{"lnid":"fairly compensated workers typically do better work","mpid":3,"plid":"https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/opinion/paul-krugman-power-and-paychecks.html?_r=0"}}" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/opinion/paul-krugman-power-and-paychecks.html?_r=0" style="box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">fairly
compensated workers typically do better work</span></a>), fund public schools
(everyone’s safer when the general public can read and use critical thinking),
and make sure every American can access health care (outbreaks of preventable
diseases being generally undesirable).<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nope, nope, and…nope. I’ve already addressed the folly of
minimum wage, the utter waste of public schools, and the downright tyranny of
socialized medicine (though I chose not to delve into the latter here, because
it’s a huge topic and the evidence against government-run healthcare is so
readily available). The “critical thinking” bit in there is particularly ironic,
given the way public schools teach, and the societal results that speak for
themselves...not to mention the fact that experts agree that <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/critical-thinking-best-taught-outside-classroom/">critical
thinking and public schools don’t mix</a>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>But if making sure your fellow citizens can afford to eat, get an
education, and go to the doctor isn’t enough of a reason to fund those things,
I have nothing left to say to you.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an egalitarian society where rights and responsibilities
are respected, people don’t force other people to pay for stuff. That doesn’t
mean we don’t want that stuff. It’s really very, very simple. Kayla, you fall
into the massive collectivist fallacy that’s brilliantly debunked here by
Frederic Bastiat:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“Socialism… confuses
the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time
we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we
object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state education. Then the
socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state
religion. Then the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to
a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality. And so
on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of not wanting
persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise grain.”<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>I can’t debate someone into caring about what happens to their fellow
human beings. The fact that such detached cruelty is so normalized in a certain
party’s political discourse is at once infuriating and terrifying.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having debated with pro-abortion people, I actually agree
with this.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>The “I’ve got mine, so screw you,” attitude has been oozing from the
American right wing for decades, but this gleeful exuberance in pushing
legislation that will immediately hurt the most vulnerable among us is chilling.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m guessing Kayla lives in such a bubble that she doesn’t
actually have any “right-wing” friends. I mean, how could she? They’re evil!
Never mind that her opposition is actually <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21kristof.html">quite generous,
according to the New York Times.</a> Chilling, indeed.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Perhaps it was always like this. I’m (relatively) young, so maybe I’m
just waking up to this unimaginable callousness. Maybe the emergence of social
media has just made this heinous tendency more visible; seeing hundreds of
accounts spring to the defense of policies that will almost certainly make
their lives more difficult is incredible to behold.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem;">
<br />
Unimaginable callousness! The sky is falling! Everyone who disagrees
that government should run everything is <i>mean!</i>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Has it not occurred to you that those who defend policies
that you believe will “make their lives more difficult” are actually behaving
on principle? Unselfish principles that you cannot, in your cloistered youth,
fathom? Can you not even entertain the idea that maybe — just maybe — they
realize that your preferred policies are worse for everyone? No…of course not.
They’re just evil <i>and</i> stupid, right?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>I don’t know if [sic] what’s changed ― or indeed, if anything has ― and
I don’t have any easy answers. But I do know I’m done trying to convince these
hordes of selfish, cruel people to look beyond themselves.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hordes of selfish, cruel people.” Your fellow Americans who
value liberty, who recognize the illegitimacy and unconstitutionality of the
government tyranny you support, who happen to believe in the fundamental goodness
of people, who understand how markets work…they’re just selfish, cruel people,
and you and your irritating hyperbole are just enlightening us all as to the
clear divide between the good and the evil, right? Hint: I don’t think it’s working.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem; margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Futility can’t be
good for my blood pressure, and the way things are going, I won’t have health
insurance for long.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What might be good for your health is a little honest
introspection. A little humility. A little giving others the benefit of the
doubt. A little open-mindedness. A little — dare I say — critical thinking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look, if you really do have such a big heart, Kayla, why not
go help people, instead of writing a bunch of brainless propaganda at the
HuffPo? Volunteerism and charity are also good for your health.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, to be fair, I can understand why you have such muddled
thinking. Using your God-given intellect is hard when you’re too busy thinking
yourself morally superior because that’s what you’ve been told to believe. It
tends to cloud judgment and make you impervious to reason.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The real tragedy here is two-fold. First, whether Kayla’s
article is widely read or not, this ridiculous screed and ones similar to it
are being taken seriously by a huge swath of people —yes, some of them are even
your friends and neighbors. To quote the president: “Sad!”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second issue is this: there is no way to get through to
these people once they’ve positioned themselves as “the good” and everyone else
as “the evil.” By assuming their own conclusion, they shut down debate and feel
entitled to ignore facts and reason. Opposing points are not valid —not because
they are in disagreement with their worldview, but on the simple basis that
those points come from the “other side” and are therefore evil and not worthy
of honest consideration.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the truly scary thing about this is not that we have no
hope of appealing to these people’s better natures, but that they’ve consciously
decided that they’re the only people <i>with</i>
a better nature, and that kind of dehumanizing thinking is what leads, inevitably,
to reeducation camps and gulags and concentration camps and mass graves. Just
ask history.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through articles like this, and, more importantly, through
the expertly-woven narratives that permeate and saturate our popular culture’s
entertainment (you know, where people like Kayla’s worldview are formed,
nurtured, fed, and solidified over the decades), you have been deemed not just wrong,
but <i>evil</i>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watch your backs, folks.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-36510033965605285162016-06-09T14:29:00.000-07:002016-06-10T11:36:48.841-07:00One hour of being stonewalled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj547AiE9FlhyphenhyphenLe3dRzJP4ZNyznqh3ZSBAmOH2qMDH_IryxDk8zC7KnhML0GGMH-qnoqRH0dNapbmpKHYY4m9MF9d9dEx_dcMlcrck7EpOaPBJDV1RUJzaEqz_5ON5PDWkXcdyT6y_jTlqE/s1600/.bang-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj547AiE9FlhyphenhyphenLe3dRzJP4ZNyznqh3ZSBAmOH2qMDH_IryxDk8zC7KnhML0GGMH-qnoqRH0dNapbmpKHYY4m9MF9d9dEx_dcMlcrck7EpOaPBJDV1RUJzaEqz_5ON5PDWkXcdyT6y_jTlqE/s320/.bang-head.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>This is what passes for customer "service" at CenturyLink: </b><br />
<br />
You are chatting with MARCOS A..<br />
<br />
How may I help you today?<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:46:55<br />
<br />
Thank you for choosing CenturyLink! My name is Marcos, how can I help you?<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:46:55<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:47:19</b><br />
<b>Hi, my bill is supposed to be $34.95 but it is $38.94. I need that corrected, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:47:58<br />
I will be more than glad to assist you. Can you provide me your full service address as well as your account number?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:48:48</b><br />
<b>[INFORMATION PROVIDED]</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:51:51<br />
Thank you for the information<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:52:42<br />
Just to verify that I am speaking with a responsible party on this account, please provide the last four digits of the account holder's SSN.<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:52:57</b><br />
<b>[INFORMATION PROVIDED]</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:53:00<br />
Thank you for the information<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:53:50<br />
may I know do you usually do long distance calls<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:54:15</b><br />
<b>Irrelevant. Please focus on my problem.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:54:25<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:54:37<br />
I do show on my system that your bill is ok<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:54:48<br />
This is your billing cycle<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:55:00</b><br />
<b>"ok" how? It is $3.99 too much.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:56:53<br />
Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:56:58<br />
you have 40M internet speed $34.95 + internet cost recovery $3.99 (The Internet Cost Recovery Fee (ICRF) is a new monthly recurring charge which is applied to all consumer and business HSI lines in service. The charge will apply to all types of HSI) $3.99 = $38.94<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:57:07</b><br />
<b>ok</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:57:37</b><br />
<b>Hold on a moment please </b><i>[I went and looked up information in this fee.]</i><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:57:37<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 13:58:37</b><br />
<b>Yeah, I refuse to pay that fee. I did not agree to it. Please remove it.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 13:58:55<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:00:28</b><br />
<b>I understand that "This fee helps defray costs associated with building and maintaining CenturyLink's High-Speed Internet broadband network, as well as the costs of expanding network capacity to support the continued increase in customers' average broadband consumption." But...that's what the rest of my bill is for. This is just another sneaky way to raise my rates. I object vociferously to being dealt with in this fashion. Please escalate to someone who can take care of this.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:01:02<br />
Allow me a moment please<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:01:42</b><br />
<b>ok</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:02:03<br />
Thank you<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:02:17<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:02:30<br />
But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:02:33<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:02:47</b><br />
<b>What is not available?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:02:51</b><br />
<b>Escalation?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:03:01<br />
You have to pay that on your billing cycle<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:03:06<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:03:43</b><br />
<b>Really? I don't think so. If I have to pay the $3.99 fee, then I need the rest of bill lowered by $3.99.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:04:09</b><br />
<b>I insist on escalating to a supervisor, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:04:06<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:04:22<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:04:32<br />
But at this moment they are not available<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:04:34<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:04:53</b><br />
<b>Yes. I need a supervisor.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:04:57<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:05:03<br />
but they are not available<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:05:03<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:05:29</b><br />
<b>Why are they not available?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:05:37<br />
They are busy right now<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:05:50</b><br />
<b>Okay, I can wait.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:05:43<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:05:44<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:05:58<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:05:59<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:06:07</b><br />
<b>Yes, put me in the queue for a supervisor. I will wait.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:06:11<br />
I do understand<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:06:12<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:06:30</b><br />
<b>Yes, put me in the queue for a supervisor. I will wait.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:06:45<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences this is not possible right now<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:06:47<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:07:11</b><br />
<b>Are you seriously denying a customer the opportunity to escalate? Really?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:07:38<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:08:01<br />
But this is your billing cycle<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:08:11<br />
You have to pay this<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:08:16<br />
I do apologize for that<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:09:11</b><br />
<b>I'm sure there is someone there who can reduce my bill by $3.99 to accommodate your shady business practice of adding a $3.99 fee.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:09:33<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences but this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:09:37<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:10:38</b><br />
<b>On March 9, 2016, Marvin in the Loyalty department assured me that my rate would be $34.95/mo for 24 months. He gave me his word. Surely you don't want to make a liar out of Marvin. Surely a man's word means something to you?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:10:54<br />
I do understand<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:11:06</b><br />
<b>I insist on communicating with a supervisor to resolve this.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:11:16<br />
but this recovery is on your bill you will have to pay this I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:11:16<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:12:10</b><br />
<b>Yes. You can credit my bill with $3.99 x 24 months = $95.76. That way, you guys aren't a bunch of stinking liars.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:12:23<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:12:31<br />
I would appreciate it if you did not use inappropriate language. If you continue to do so, this chat session will end.<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:13:21</b><br />
<b>Sorry. I meant to say "malodorous speakers of untruths."</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:13:36<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:13:52</b><br />
<b>Yes, I need my problem resolved.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:14:01</b><br />
<b>I can do this all day. Please escalate me now.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:14:38<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:14:38<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:15:04</b><br />
<b>There is no such thing in customer support as a rep who is not empowered to escalate to a supervisor. Please escalate me immediately.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:15:26<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:15:30<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:15:43</b><br />
<b>Look, Marcos, I'm not trying to make your life hard. I just want to be treated like the paying customer I am.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:15:53</b><br />
<b>Escalate me, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:16:11<br />
I do understand<br />
<br />
Michael Britton: at 14:16:50<br />
I don't think you do understand.<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:16:43<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences but at this moment is not possible to give you this credit<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:16:43<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:16:55</b><br />
<b>Anything "else"? You haven't helped me at all, yet!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:17:01</b><br />
<b>Escalate me, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:17:44<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:17:58</b><br />
<b>Uh huh.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:18:23</b><br />
<b>I saw that macro the first 30 times.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:18:32</b><br />
<b>Escalate me, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:19:31<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:19:46</b><br />
<b>Funny, Marcos.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:19:40<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:19:49</b><br />
<b>Escalate me, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:19:55<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:20:05</b><br />
<b>Escalate me, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:20:43<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:20:56</b><br />
<b>Escalate me, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:21:13<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:21:14<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:21:22</b><br />
<b>Put me in the supervisor queue; I will wait.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:21:24<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:21:24<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:21:38</b><br />
<b>Escalate me, please.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:21:41<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:21:42<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:22:36</b><br />
<b>This is the last ninety-five bucks that you crooks are going to steal from my family! I will post this chat transcript on social media to help expose the corruption of CenturyLink. This is the most appalling customer service ever.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:23:04<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:23:26</b><br />
<b>Where are you located, Marcos?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:24:14<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available give information<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:24:21<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:24:39</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:24:43<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:24:43<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:25:00</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:25:05<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:25:05<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:25:15</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:25:23<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:25:24<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:25:36</b><br />
<b>When will a supervisor be available?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:25:41<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:25:41<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:26:11</b><br />
<b>WHEN will a supervisor be available? Simple question.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:26:14<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:26:19<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:26:29</b><br />
<b>Got that. So, when?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:26:30<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:26:30<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:26:43</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:26:42<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:26:43<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:27:18</b><br />
<b>Don't you even have a desire to help me?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:27:27</b><br />
<b>Do you just not care?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:27:36</b><br />
<b>Are you a human?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:27:42</b><br />
<b>Or a robot?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:27:45<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:27:45<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:28:04</b><br />
<b>Ha! Robot!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:28:07</b><br />
<b>Knew it.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:28:11<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:28:21</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:28:28<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:28:30<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:28:40</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:28:46<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:28:47<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:29:35</b><br />
<b>Yes, you can help me to figure out the best way to make sure CenturyLink regrets this.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:31:06</b><br />
<b>You know, just yesterday I was talking with some guys at work about how some companies are so big that they truly do not care about customer satisfaction. Here's a perfect example.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:31:18<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:31:19<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:32:12</b><br />
<b>Now it's clear that you're just multi-tasking. Hitting macros. Not even reading my responses...a multi-tasking robot...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:32:18</b><br />
<b>How pathetic.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:32:44</b><br />
<b>Well, at least you guys can continue to abuse your customers with impunity.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:32:42<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:33:02</b><br />
<b>Right.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:33:03<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:33:13<br />
MIchael do you need something else?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:33:27</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:33:36<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:33:36<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:33:48</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:34:28<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences But this is not available at the moment<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:34:31<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:35:21</b><br />
<b>Yes. Say something to prove you are not a robot.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:35:49<br />
Yes I am a human<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:35:52<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:36:15</b><br />
<b>Sorry I accused you of being a robot.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:36:25<br />
hahahahahaha<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:36:36</b><br />
<b>From one human to another...will you please help me?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:36:32<br />
That is ok<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:36:50<br />
I do apologize for this inconveniences Michael<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:36:59<br />
But this is not possible right now<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:37:17</b><br />
<b>When might it be possible?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:37:16<br />
Is not a way to fix this<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:37:42<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences but that information is not available<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:38:55</b><br />
<b>No way to fix this, eh? This is just the way it is...I must accept it. I must roll over and be abused. Hmm. I will remember this when my contract is up, and you will lose a customer. Over $95. That is not a smart business move.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:39:20<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:39:35</b><br />
<b>But, you will retain millions of other customers who are equally abused, so I guess I don't matter.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:40:02</b><br />
<b>And that's exactly what I meant about companies getting so big that their customers don't matter. We matter in aggregate, but not individually.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:39:59<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:40:15<br />
I do understand<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:40:32</b><br />
<b>You're still going to lose me as a customer.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:40:43<br />
I do apologize for that inconveniences<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:41:03</b><br />
<b>Because I may not matter to you (CenturyLink collectively), but my own self-worth matters to me.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:41:17</b><br />
<b>Self-respect.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:41:19<br />
I do understand<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:41:23<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:42:07</b><br />
<b>Can you provide me the DIRECT phone number to the Loyalty department?</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:42:54<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences, but this is not possible right now<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:43:11</b><br />
<b>Ha ha! I should have guessed.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:43:32<br />
I do apologize for that <br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:43:43</b><br />
<b>Never mind, I found it in my notes from the other (many) times I have had to deal with you folks. It's 877-348-9004 in case you're wondering.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:43:36<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:44:11<br />
I do apologize for the inconveniences<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:44:16<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:44:49</b><br />
<b>Yes...enjoy a nice dinner after work today. Relax. Talk about this chat exchange with your wife or girlfriend. Appreciate your life.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:45:04</b><br />
<b>Be glad you are not a CenturyLink customer.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:45:31</b><br />
<b>Sorry for giving you such a hard time. I am not one to take no for an answer.</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:45:27<br />
Thank you Michael have a good night and take care you too take the life easy<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:45:36<br />
I do understand<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:45:45<br />
That is ok no problem<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:45:56<br />
I'm here for assist you on what I can<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:45:58<br />
Is there anything else that I can help you with today?<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:46:15</b><br />
<b>Yes. Escalate me.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:46:17</b><br />
<b>Just kidding.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Michael Britton: at 14:46:20</b><br />
<b>BYE</b><br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:46:28<br />
Hahahahaahahaha<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:46:34<br />
Good By Michael<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:46:38<br />
Bye*<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:46:42<br />
Have a nice day<br />
<br />
MARCOS A.: at 14:47:01<br />
Based on the chat transaction with me today, there will be a post chat survey. I hope you rate me a 10-10. Have I earned that score from you today?<br />
<br />
**************<br />
<br />
Survey: Please provide comments or suggestions regarding your experience.<br />
<b>Me: The chat agent was friendly and patient, but unable to help me at all. He refused to escalate me to someone who could help me. I spent an hour trying to get him to escalate me. You have lost my business forever, and I will be spreading the word.</b><br />
<div>
<br />
**************<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE:</b><br />
<br />
So, I complained on Twitter, and CenturyLinkHelp Team responded to me the next day. We engaged in a private message:<br />
<br />
<b>ME: On 3/9/16 Marvin in the Loyalty department promised me 24 months at $34.95/mo total. You've added $3.99 in bogus "ICRF." You need to reduce the rest of bill by $3.99 to offset this, or credit me $95.76 for the 24 months to offset it. Either way, you must keep your word. </b><br />
<br />
BRIAN: Your internet is $34.95 a month. The $3.99 is a Internet Cost Recovery Fee, you've been paying that for some time now. We can't remove that charge or credit the account.<br />
<br />
<b>ME: I was promised a total bill of $34.95, regardless of the sneaky fee you've added. This is shady business practices.</b><br />
<br />
BRIAN: Your monthly bill is $34.95 before taxes and surcharges.<br />
<br />
<b>ME: We seem to have differing definitions of the word "total." So, what is the limit to the quantity and value of bogus surcharges that you can unilaterally add to this agreed-upon "total" bill? </b><b>You don't think I'm going to miss a hundred bucks a year? Just because of the way you present it on the bill?</b><br />
<br />
BRIAN: Sorry, but we can't credit the account.<br />
<br />
<b>ME: Yeah, that's the same line I kept getting from your chat support guy. It's clear that CenturyLink is not interested in doing honest business or keeping individual customers satisfied. My request to be treated honestly is not unreasonable. I will not renew my contract when it comes due, and I will be sure to spread the word to my extensive personal and professional network. I will also file a formal complaint with the appropriate regulatory agencies. I know this isn't your fault, Brian, but if customers keep rolling over for this kind of abuse, it won't stop.</b><br />
<br />
BRIAN: If you need help with anything else please let me know.<br />
<br />
<b>ME: Nope. Decency and integrity was the only thing I was hoping for. Foolish, I know, but hey, I'm an optimist at heart.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>******************</b><br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE:</b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b>I started the FTC complaint process, but abandoned it. Instead, I studied the CenturyLink agreement. By using their services I automatically consented to the terms of the agreement. The agreement states that I have no recourse regarding their unilateral changes to the agreement (in this case, the addition of sneaky fees). My only legal recourse, therefore, is to cancel, pay a $200 early termination fee, and change providers. Next time, I will red-line any contract before "agreeing" to it.</b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-71118094496695066452016-02-29T07:45:00.001-08:002021-03-27T15:26:56.340-07:0032 Things I HateThere are those who would call someone like me, of my political opinions, a hater. <br /> Well, I admit it, I am a hater. <br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I hate tyranny. </li><li>I hate cruelty. </li><li>I hate disingenuous debate. </li><li>I hate Godlessness. </li><li>I hate lies. </li><li>I hate selfishness. </li><li>I hate entitlement mentality. </li><li>I hate abuse of power. </li><li>I hate the trampling of the Constitution. </li><li>I hate fascism. </li><li>I hate arrogant "leadership." </li><li>I hate the shutting down of reasoned debate by those who fear rational discourse because they know they can't win on the merits of their argument. </li><li>I hate the biased MSM news. </li><li>I hate the monopoly of influence held by the news-entertainment-media industrial complex. </li><li>I hate the power of money in politics. </li><li>I hate the lack of decency and morals among our elected representatives. </li><li>I hate revisionist history. </li><li>I hate Alynskyite tactics. </li><li>I hate moral relativism. </li><li>I hate distractions, misdirections, obfuscations, and outright deceptions utilized daily by those who seek to obtain and maintain power while brutally and mercilessly subduing all who may be perceived as standing in the way. </li><li>I hate being characterized as a bigot or a neanderthal because I hold to traditional morality. </li><li>I hate the fact that my government thinks I am too stupid and/or apathetic to see through their duplicity. </li><li>I hate the fact that too many of my fellow citizens *are* too apathetic. </li><li>I hate the fact that elections are decided by whoever can deceive and bribe the most voters. </li><li>I hate the continued victimization of people by those who claim to have their best interests at heart. </li><li>I hate the removal of personal agency disguised as do-gooderism. </li><li>I hate the Orwellian use of language in the public sphere. </li><li>I hate the confiscation of my property and the infringement of my rights that has become commonplace and standard policy. </li><li>I hate that evil is called good and good is called evil — with impunity. </li><li>I hate the fact that our liberties are ever-shrinking while the scope and reach of government is ever-expanding. </li><li>I hate the sense of foreboding and futility I feel whenever I contemplate the direction our nation and our world are heading. </li><li>I hate the fact that there is very little I can personally do to protect my children's future against the enemies of liberty. </li></ul> Yep...I am a hater. I do not apologize.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-16720327841950685722015-06-30T21:19:00.000-07:002015-06-30T21:32:26.502-07:005 Myths About the SCOTUS Marriage Decision<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_6YRH4bbrmefC3w0emjbPjcp9Lh0tCgszEC-A8R1C8eL2S7km4jMton-lekq4ItYXxybVUAsfN7jN0kBaGUT6wDc8G5dlsb93unr41aHzAQmY1xHGKtBEX44vA2GdSz00MAc21LIa1e9/s1600/wedding+cake_2+%2528crop%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_6YRH4bbrmefC3w0emjbPjcp9Lh0tCgszEC-A8R1C8eL2S7km4jMton-lekq4ItYXxybVUAsfN7jN0kBaGUT6wDc8G5dlsb93unr41aHzAQmY1xHGKtBEX44vA2GdSz00MAc21LIa1e9/s320/wedding+cake_2+%2528crop%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My concerns about <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf" target="_blank">the SCOTUS ruling in <i>Obergefell</i></a> fall into two separate categories that can be broadly described as political and religious. On one hand, I consider the impact on liberty in the United States from the perspective of the Constitution and the power of the judicial branch, on the other hand I have my moral and spiritual perspective as it pertains to my own faith. I believe reasonable, principled objections exist on both fronts, and although many others have opined on this subject already, I desire to add my own voice.<br />
<br />
I had an interesting exchange on Facebook with someone who supports the <i>Obergefell</i> decision, which requires the governments of all 50 states to legally recognize unions of same-sex couples as "marriages." What was interesting was that despite my providing ample examples of principled objections (all of which were from the legal perspective, not the religious), he was so ideologically blinded that he was literally incapable of seeing a perspective other than his own. You either agreed with him, or you were a hateful bigot. Period. I found it surprising because this man appears to be reasonably intelligent; apparently even smart people can have closed minds. The points below include some of the items I brought to his attention, but which were instantly dismissed like a kid with fingers in his ears going "la la la la."<br />
<br />
From the legal/political perspective, here are some of my principled objections to the SCOTUS ruling, provided as rebuttals to the myths being expounded by some of its supporters:<br />
<br />
<b>1. SCOTUS expanded freedom for everyone.</b> No, this decision has nothing to do with freedom. "Since well before 1787, liberty has been understood as freedom <i>from</i> government action, not entitlement <i>to</i> government benefits." (from Thomas' dissent, emphasis added) Claiming, as many do, that this decision <i>expands</i> freedom is a misapplication of the basic tenets of this representative republic.<br />
<br />
The High Court swiping power from the states injures democracy by improperly altering the checks and balances system that has served us well thus far. "The Constitution itself says nothing about marriage, and the Framers thereby entrusted the States with '[t]he whole subject of the domestic relations of husband and wife.'” (from Roberts' dissent) It is thus with the states, and the people, that the issue should have remained. Just because it went to the Supreme Court doesn't mean that gives the SCOTUS justices <i>carte blanche</i> to let their feelings rule the day rather than exercising proper judicial restraint.<br />
<br />
<b>2. SCOTUS lifted restrictions on marriage, weakening government power.</b> No, immediately prior to this decision, there was <i>no</i> restriction on who could get married (with the obvious exceptions of age of consent and incest). That's because prior to this decision, marriage was defined as the legal union of a man and a woman. SCOTUS redefined the word "marriage" and imposed that definition on the states -- something the Constitution does not empower SCOTUS to do. (A simple example should suffice to clarify: any homosexual man was always free to marry a woman, and any homosexual woman was always free to marry a man. There was no restriction on anyone entering into what a marriage <i>was</i>, by definition.)<br />
<br />
The decision clearly <i>expanded </i>government power. This idea that SCOTUS limited government power is manifestly absurd. As atheist blogger <a href="http://christophercantwell.com/2015/06/29/so-you-think-that-rainbow-makes-you-look-cool/" target="_blank">Christopher Cantwell</a> points out:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The court decided that the constitution, despite lacking any language saying so, promises everybody a “right” to a “license” to marry... Firstly, a “license” is an indicator that you do not have a “right” to do something. Licenses are a thing government issues, specifically to prevent someone from doing something, until they get government permission to so do. They are, by their very definition, a constriction on rights, a limiter of freedom. To license a thing is to outlaw it, and to then grant one permission to break that law. To say that you are fighting for gay “rights” by seeking to have licenses issued to them, is not just a complete failure to understand rights, it is a complete failure to understand rudimentary English.</blockquote>
<br />
It is tomfoolery to claim the creation of this new "right" is at all the expansion of an existing right. And if people want this new "right," the correct mechanism is through state legislatures in this representative republic as conceived in the Constitution, not via judicial fiat. As Roberts states in his dissent: "The Court’s accumulation of power does not occur in a vacuum. It comes at the expense of the people." Claiming that this decision curtails government power is risible. On the contrary, this decision is yet another step <i>away</i> from liberty, as it concentrates power in a few hands (SCOTUS), stealing it from the people, who had previously utilized their right to self-determination via democratic means and within the constraints of the Constitution.<br />
<br />
Justice Alito opens his dissent by stating that "The Constitution leaves [the question of defining marriage] to be decided by the people of each State." By ruling in this manner, it is clear that SCOTUS took power unto itself that was not rightfully the Court's to take. "In our system of government, ultimate sovereignty rests with the people, and the people have the right to control their own destiny," Alito said. Well, at least we <i>used</i> to have that right.<br />
<br />
"Today’s decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court. The [majority] opinion...robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the freedom to govern themselves." (from Scalia's dissent)<br />
<br />
This nation was founded on the principle of the government deriving its powers from the "consent of the governed" (see Declaration of Independence, 1776). We went to war with Great Britain over the idea of "taxation without representation." Now we have, as Scalia put it, "social transformation without representation," and it is a despicable turn of events that <i>no</i> American should be celebrating.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Now that SCOTUS has settled this once and for all, we can all just get along.</b> No, this will, without question, serve to be a pyrrhic victory. As Roberts notes: "However heartened the proponents of same-sex marriage might be on this day, it is worth acknowledging what they have lost, and lost forever: the opportunity to win the true acceptance that comes from persuading their fellow citizens of the justice of their cause." To wit, SCOTUS has proclaimed, "Because I said so!" and closed all debate, insulting and alienating the majority of the citizens plus 34 of the states, for no other reason than "they felt it best" -- with no actual Constitutional authority to do so. When the "rainbow high" wears off, things are going to be more contentious than ever. We have learned from past experience that if you cross the militant homosexual agenda, <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-issues-statement-on-proposition-8-protest" target="_blank">they will hurt you</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>4. The SCOTUS decision won't affect churches. </b>No, there are factions who will now see this as an opportunity to cause problems for churches and religious people; you can bet they will continue to push their agenda, not satisfied with what they have thus far obtained. "In our society, marriage is not simply a governmental institution; it is a religious institution as well. Today’s decision might change the former, but it cannot change the latter. It appears all but inevitable that the two will come into conflict, particularly as individuals and churches are confronted with demands to participate in and endorse civil marriages between same-sex couples." (from Thomas' dissent) Meanwhile, Alito warns, "[This] decision will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy." <i>Ya think?</i><br />
<br />
There will definitely be ramifications to this heavy-handed approach by SCOTUS. Roberts says, "Today’s decision...creates serious questions about religious liberty. Many good and decent people oppose same-sex marriage as a tenet of faith, and their freedom to exercise religion is—unlike the right imagined by the majority—actually spelled out in the Constitution. Amdt. 1." Even <i>amici</i> supporters of the decision warn that it will "have unavoidable and wide-ranging implications for religious liberty.”<br />
<br />
Alito sees a bleak future for anyone on the losing side of this decision: "I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes, but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools." Sadly, his vision of the future has already been proven to be true, just ask one of the cultural martyrs such as <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/04/mozilla-ceo-resignation-free-speech/7328759/" target="_blank">Brendan Eich</a>, who have paid dearly for their beliefs.<br />
<br />
This poorly-reasoned, emotion-based exercise of federal overreach by five unnaccountable, unelected black-robe wearers will only serve to create more major infringements on religious liberty. More acrimony is ahead. More lawsuits are coming. More persecution of conscience will abound. This is a mess, and it needn't have been handled this way -- in fact, the Constitution says it <i>shouldn't</i> have been.<br />
<br />
<b>5. The ends justify the means.</b> No, they don't. It amazes me that some people are so happy to cede inappropriate powers to each of the three branches of government, as long as they use that power to please them. They are too shortsighted to consider what will happen when parties not likeminded later fill those roles and wield that same inappropriate power. It's all fun and games until the anti-you takes the reins back. Why not just properly restrict the power to begin with?<br />
<br />
The central government usurping power from the states and the people violates the spirit and letter of Constitutional law, which, of necessity, endangers other liberties, including religious freedom. Thomas notes, "Had the majority allowed the definition of marriage to be left to the political process—as the Constitution requires—the People could have considered the religious liberty implications of deviating from the traditional definition as part of their deliberative process. Instead, the majority’s decision short-circuits that process, with potentially ruinous consequences for religious liberty."<br />
<br />
So, even <i>if</i> I were of a mind to approve of same-sex "marriage" (which I am not, for the principled religious reasons spelled out <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/top-church-leaders-counsel-members-after-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-decision" target="_blank">here</a>), I would wholly object to the philosophical gymnastics and Constitutional chicanery used to arrive at this decision. If I were, for example, a 19th century Latter-day Saint who supported plural marriage, and the SCOTUS made polygamy legal in all 50 states using similarly awful jurisprudence that resulted in an assault on the Constitution and a usurpation of state authority, I would be just as flabbergasted and defiant.<br />
<br />
Those who celebrate this decision are cheering their own eventual demise. The "gay marriage" movement has been used as a pawn in concentrating government power and setting terribly dangerous precedents regarding the manner in which SCOTUS power may be wielded. This should trouble everybody, including those benefitting from the decision. Surely supporters of the decision can see that the same tactics used to obtain a result that they *dislike* would have been just as unacceptable. What the High Court did was, as Alito stated, "far beyond the outer reaches of this Court’s authority."<br />
<br />
But who cares, as long as you got what you wanted, right? No need to look past the end of your own male enhancement to what may lay ahead now that this Pandora's Box has been opened. Alito puts it clearly: "Today’s decision will also have a fundamental effect on this Court and its ability to uphold the rule of law. If a bare majority of Justices can invent a new right and impose that right on the rest of the country, the only real limit on what future majorities will be able to do is their own sense of what those with political power and cultural influence are willing to tolerate. Even enthusiastic supporters of same-sex marriage should worry." Indeed, we should <i>all</i> be very worried.<br />
<br />
If you love our country, if you love liberty, and if you love the Constitution, this decision is chilling. As I have said elsewhere regarding tortured reasoning, the Constitution will say whatever you want it to say, if you waterboard it enough.<br />
<br />
So, in short: this decision was, plain and simple, a power grab by the centralized government. The supporters of this decision have it backwards, as usual, claiming it expanded freedom. But then, that is Satan's expertise -- flipping things 180-degrees from truth. (Yes, I mentioned Satan...no discussion of politics would be complete without a reference to ol' Lucifer, now would it?)<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay, that's a brief summary of my legal/political objections. Now onto the issues I have with the way this is being handled culturally.<br />
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First, suggesting this ruling was about "love" is specious. If government licensing of marriage was about love, then not even heterosexual couples, prior to the 20th century (when marriage license schemes first came into effect) were allowed to love each other. And what of all those heterosexual couples who choose to cohabitate? Are they not actually allowed to love each other until they have obtained permission from the state? Puh-leeze. Utter nonsense.<br />
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Meanwhile, shutting down any opposing views by claiming that you're a hater if you disagree is a tool of tyranny. I don't have to agree with you to love you. And sometimes disagreeing with someone is, in fact, the best way to show love.<br />
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Speaking of love, the people using the vapid <span style="color: blue;">#lovewins</span> hashtag are either full of malice or wildly lack self-awareness. That offensive, disingenuous tag implies there can be no principled objection to the SCOTUS ruling; it says that if you disagree, you are a hater and do not value love. It is as bigoted and closed-minded as can be. And it insultingly deflects from the real point of this issue, as if we're all stupid. I suggest a more accurate hashtag: <span style="color: blue;">#constitutionloses</span>.<br />
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If the decision's supporters really believed in "live and let live," and liberty, and government non-interference, they would reject this ruling and quit acting so self-righteous. Instead, they are already on the attack, using their silly arguments about "love" to try to shame all principled opposition into a corner labeled "hater." Yeah, <i>that's</i> super-tolerant of other peoples' beliefs...<br />
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As for my religious objections to the decision, it is all neatly summed up by <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/top-church-leaders-counsel-members-after-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-decision" target="_blank">this content from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>. It's worth reading the whole thing -- it will give you a clear understanding of where so many of us are coming from, and how we intend to deal with this situation. Suffice it to say, I stand with the Brethren.<br />
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As for the moral aspect of this newly created "right," it is a simple truth that homosexual behavior is a serious sin. Despite what SCOTUS has said, marriage is defined as the union of a man and a woman. Anything else is just an improper relationship masquerading as acceptable. I have had friends who were homosexual, and I thought they were very nice people and I got along with them very well. That doesn't mean I believed their behavior was correct, but I appreciate that we are all sons and daughters of God and we all have our failings and weaknesses. I love everybody. But I don't condone all behavior -- I would be a monster if I did. There are many laws that are not morally sound - such as the fact that abortion-on-demand is legal, and adultery is legal. But as Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, <b>"Man's laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral." </b><br />
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We should always -- <i>always </i>-- treat others with kindness and compassion, but we must also never, <i>ever </i>stop standing for truth and right.<br />
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Thankfully, I know that everything will work out right in the end. It's just going to be a very challenging ride until we get there.<br />
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*****<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(C) 2015 Michael D. Britton </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Feel free to use any of my arguments above as you engage with your friends. Just please provide attribution and links back to here if you quote me. Much appreciated!</span></i><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217068470068962253.post-69770855566958443242015-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:002015-05-12T10:53:41.207-07:003 Reasons Why You Should Talk About Your Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBbsXK0PL0x4C-TKLTYkRIEWF5XEPb6h7ec09eCLjKNYiXYkcPjjnIrfxvwzKqldmEmG4te1MWbS_kGGu4NQDDMCz5Y_CGHxBSFFLGoPOjLTurzyB46XjDxukhWKvylqG869Etm0hUMUM/s1600/rooftops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBbsXK0PL0x4C-TKLTYkRIEWF5XEPb6h7ec09eCLjKNYiXYkcPjjnIrfxvwzKqldmEmG4te1MWbS_kGGu4NQDDMCz5Y_CGHxBSFFLGoPOjLTurzyB46XjDxukhWKvylqG869Etm0hUMUM/s400/rooftops.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I just read an article at LinkedIn, and then perused the comments, where a self-described "Entrepreneur/Professional Speaker/People Mover/Branding/Marketing/Transformation Expert" (he must have a very large business card) provided a short list of steps to achieving major career goals. While some of his ideas seemed sound, I found myself vehemently disagreeing with his #2 item:<br />
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<i>"Tell no one your dreams and desires - they will only pull you back."</i><br />
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What? Are you kidding me? That is TERRIBLE advice. Not only does it represent a horribly cynical view of humanity, but it's a great way to shoot yourself in the foot before you even begin the race. (HINT: If you're really surrounded by the kind of people who will tear down your dreams, telling them about your dreams is NOT the problem.)<br />
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Here are three important reasons why you <i>should </i>share your dreams as often as possible:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Like speaking the name of Voldemort (or is that Beetlejuice?), <b>every time you verbalize your dreams, they become more real.</b> That is, speaking it aloud - to another human being - causes the dream to begin to coalesce, to gain a more concrete form, to develop a life of its own and get traction. If you don't believe in your dream and in yourself enough to share it with others, you probably won't succeed. Also, speaking of the dream keeps it at the front of your thoughts, not simmering somewhere on a forgotten backburner. Thoughts lead to words, words lead to actions. Don't short circuit that process by staying silent about the things that matter to you most -- things that should occupy a rightful place in your daily conversations.</li>
<li>Telling someone else (or lots of someone elses) about what you plan to do adds an important component of <b>accountability</b> to your dream. You may not actually say, "Now, I expect you to hold me to that!" - but when you tell people about what you are working toward, it is at least implied. When you come into contact again, you may hear, "How's that dream coming along?" or some other form of benevolent "checking up" on you - a follow up that is offered out of sincere interest, because people like to see their friends succeed - it's inspiring. And their interest can be a catalyst to keep you doing a little something every day toward your goals - a reminder of the track you should be on.</li>
<li>The more people you tell, the more likely you are to find someone who can actually <b>HELP</b>. It's a subtle form of networking. You may be able to do it alone, but if you can get assistance, all the better. Sharing your dream with others is a great way to build support - whether it be practical support or just moral support. </li>
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So, if I may be so bold: don't listen to that blah-blah-blah-transformation expert dude. Dream your dream and shout it from the freaking rooftops. Talk about it to every single person you meet. Talk about it every day, ad nauseum. Sell your idea to those who can hop on board and add value to your plan, or simply point out ways you can improve on your strategy. Get others to believe in you and your dream and you'll go much farther than you can on your own steam alone.<br />
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But don't fall into the trap of being just a dreamer and a big talker. Remember, that critical process is think-speak-<b><i>do</i></b>. Figure out what you want. Discuss it openly with others regularly. And take action each day - even if it's just a little step - toward that goal...and your dreams can come true.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0