The Bouncer at the Tavern door is a gentle fellow. Firm though. Muscle and guile.
Oi !
Hanging around doorways ensuring peaceful behaviour, trying to do a little good in the world, is an honourable way to pass the time. As it seems was found by a small group of chums one day, so I am told. In the good old USA.
Makes our 'soft drink in the Stables', while mulling over one's sins, look positively civilised. Be careful you do not slip on horse dung out there.
I know for whom I am going to send when my chap is on leave. Pax.
We have had the decorators in. Not that one can do a lot with premises that are very old and subject to 'Heritage', not to mention having so many unique and beautiful features. But my friend James showed this Knackered Old Knight how he could hang pictures along the walls. Some are quite 'cool'. One is me is of my younger days. But none are a pain in the arse. Hahaha
This one not on the wall, thank goodness. Even my Bouncer does not go this far !
Enjoy browsing. Just scroll down and find them amongst the rubrics. They may get shifted around, replaced or featured from time to time. I may even start a 'Gallery, especially if people are kind enough to send some pictures to me. Pax.
I cannot say for m'self that the Pope is never fair game for criticism. Let's face it, in 2000 years there have been a few shall we say 'difficult' Popes who met considerable opposition. Some of that 'difficult' was spot-on and a result of reading the celestial Riot Act (...with the powers invested in me by... - insert King, President or Deity here -.... I order you to Cease and Desist....) to very nasty folk. But some was quite justified as the Popes in the frame were less holy than one would expect or want. Some managed to get themselves involved directly and indirectly in matters of managing the World in a way which was not quite what Christ had in mind. The jury of history is out on the present Pope well before all the evidence is in. He has only been in the job for a short time, watched from the sidelines by an unusually retiring and retired Pope who is seen by many as being the better man of God, and yet he has put his foot into many a worldly puddle already.
But I hold, as most Good Catholics do (not that I claim to be a Good one, m'self, what with my track record of sins and long-term, really quite painful punishments), that the Pope is right and infallible on matters of Theological Truth, and all other opinions he might have are down to him in the Italian-Argentinian square and not Him in Heaven. Nevertheless what the man says has moment down here amongst the great mass of the unwashed feet. The present Pope Francis is seen as too frank for many people's liking, on too many worldly matters, especially contentious ones which some see coming directly from Satan's little helpers, the Gaia crowd. Jo Nova had a few things to say today in the Oz Room, mainly about what Americans think. Hmmmm.
Pope’s popularity fall 17%
— preaching the climate change religion not so popular?
Pope Francis put out his pro-climate encyclical eight weeks ago, getting mass media attention, but the latest Gallop poll shows the people were not so enthused:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis’ favorability rating in the U.S. has returned to where it was when he was elected pope. It is now at 59%, down from 76% in early 2014. The pontiff’s rating is similar to the 58% he received from Americans in April 2013, soon after he was elected pope.
Is this about “climate change” — the encyclical has 245 paragraphs, 16 mentions of “climate”, 7 mentions of “carbon”, and more than 100 mentions of the “environment”.
Moreso it reported around the globe as a “coup” on the climate issue by groups who normally think the Pope is wrong, silly and anachronistic.
Furthermore, the biggest change has come among Catholics, Protestants, and especially conservatives. But he’s less popular among liberals too.
The drop in the pope’s favorable rating is driven by a decline among Catholics and political conservatives, two groups that have been ardent supporters of the modern papacy.
Seventy-one percent of Catholics say they have a favorable image of Francis, down from 89% last year.
h/t to Heartland who deserve some credit here, having sent a team to the Vatican to draw attention to this issue.
The poll was a random survey of 1,009 people in the US. The margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The question: “Please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Pope Francis — or if you have never heard of him”.
Did everyone miss the papal decree against Carbon trading?
During the orgy of papal-enthusiasm I noted that few people mentioned that the Pope was against carbon trading. Not the preferred prophesy?
The same Encyclical also mentioned many an issue that those same liberals (that is socialists, atheists, feminists, many Protestants and other assorted Godless useful idiots of the Prince of Lies) would take to the street protests about.
The list of Sins that they embrace got a fine drubbing, but heck, they are always very selective in their praise anyhow. So what did he say that gets the Faithful upset?
190. Here too, it should always be kept in mind that “environmental protection cannot be assured solely on the basis of financial calculations of costs and benefits. The environment is one of those goods that cannot be adequately safeguarded or promoted by market forces”.[134] Once more, we need to reject a magical conception of the market, which would suggest that problems can be solved simply by an increase in the profits of companies or individuals. Is it realistic to hope that those who are obsessed with maximizing profits will stop to reflect on the environmental damage which they will leave behind for future generations? Where profits alone count, there can be no thinking about the rhythms of nature, its phases of decay and regeneration, or the complexity of ecosystems which may be gravely upset by human intervention. Moreover, biodiversity is considered at most a deposit of economic resources available for exploitation, with no serious thought for the real value of things, their significance for persons and cultures, or the concerns and needs of the poor.
The Pope was not able to explain why “market forces” were not the answer.
He didn’t mention that sometimes free market forces work just fine with environmental problems, but they don’t when it’s a ubiquitous molecule central to life on Earth.
In this case a free market is an impossible fantasy because most players can’t play — they are dogs, cats, yeast or the Pacific Ocean. Also it isn’t a real free market, because no one is “free” not to buy and governments control both supply and demand.
Anyhow…
Nice one Jo. Have a drink. One can also add that we do not have a 'free market' or the 'Capitalism' that so many on the left have lifted onto the altar for sacrifice. The offering has been burned to a crisp a long time back by regulation and government manipulation. Crony capitalism is as fine a target for criticism as the Pope is, but let us get our terms and concepts clear before we light the fires. Take aim properly. Talking of taking aim..... The Pope has also recently mentioned guns as being nasty things on his 'sinful' list. Hmmmmmm
It may well be the case that some weapon manufacturers are not even slightly Christian, but even the Apostles wore side-arms. They were swords in those days rather than more complex weapons. These modern swords can be found in such places as the hands and armories of the Papal Guard.
"Is that a persuasive argument you have there
or are you happy to see me"
By golly. Where did that Cardinal find such a persuasive argument?
Ah, yes. Some care is needed with loaded words. Pax.
After I was given a blast the other day from a trolly-girl intent on seeing the dark side of anything I or my customers say, my friend The Southern Gal invited another southern gal in to sing me a ditty. I have to say I am a man's man as a matter of profession. Knights are like that. But any decent Knight is also a ladies' man and I love the fair sex. Odd, that description, doncha think? 'Fair' is such a rarity when they have their danders up. But when the fluffy skirt is on and the sun is shining, they are such a delight. Little girls especially.
What dad is not captivated by his little girl. What little boy is not just amazed by them. Many retain that girlness. That innocence. Thank goodness. There are plenty enough who do not and wreak havoc where harmony ought to reign. Here are a few for your delight.
They don't stay little delights for long, so make the best of it while you can. They turn into different sorts of delights.
And before any troll decides I am being sexist showing them showing themselves as though all they are are decorative, girls do get about and do things. My good friend James likes to see pretty girls on bikes. And so do I.
I guess that is enough for now. Listen to the song again. Drink your fill of delight. Pax.
Some might wonder why a Tavern so welcoming would have a Bouncer. Well, I welcome all who are passing by on the road from Hilary's Village. Even some who are on their way to it are welcome as long as they do not pee on the carpet. Perhaps by mixing with the other customers thay might see some light and imbibe some good Grace. But there are always some who just insist on trying to ruin the decor. Here is an example from just today: A 'fan' of my Tavern writes:
“You are a misogynist of the first order.
Mostly, you write trash, and are a real woman hater. No wonder you have the reputation”
I guess I am doing something right. I instructed the Bouncer to let it through, as an object lesson. I replied: “I am pretty sure what the lovely Mandy Rice Davies (*)would say about your comment, anonymouse one. What I say though is that getting women to kill their own babies is the real 'War on Women' and the real Misogyny. I defend both women and children, and yes, men too. I stand for life. That means too that I call out the bad people, both men and women. I suppose you skipped over the introduction to the post (to which the comment was left) which was quite clear about the bad men in our history. Just what part of 'Love the Sinner: Hate the Sin' do you not understand?
We are almost innured to the daily atrocities inflicted upon our world by the wicked. Mostly, one has to acknowledge, by men. At least publicly. Women are still seen as all sweetness and light. Throughout history it has been men, in the main, who have been talked about and condemned for their inhumanity to their fellows. We do not even like to talk about wicked women, let alone punish them to the same degree as men. In previous discussion in the Tavern, customers have mentioned women guards in Nazi Concentration camps and slowly our media is starting to grasp the fact that the best hunting - ground for child sexual abuse is the Education System where predominantly female teachers seduce, molest and rape boys. But we still refuse to even think of it as being as wide-spread as it actually is. We think about and hear about -almost daily - the atrocities of Islam and its shock-troops, ISIS. We think our civil world is being attacked from 'outside'. It is, but the Real Attack is from inside. Now we have another example of the empathetic, nurturing sex going about her work in another Female Dominated Industry. And it has horrified. Not that anyone is going to jail this excuse for a human being. Oh dearie me no. And not that anyone is going to seriously examine the Industry or back off one inch from their demand that "a woman has the 'Right' to do whatever she damned well pleases". Even when that is killing. We should care about and condemn ISIS or 'random' terrorists killing ten here, twenty there. Men, again, being wicked. But frankly they have an awful looooong way to go to get to 100,000 murdered every year in Oz or 1.2 MILLION murdered every year in America. Perhaps it is because they haven't got the taxpayer grants that the abortionists have. We deal with women while we wear soft, smooth, beautifully stitched kid gloves. With decorative motifs. But what do you do when confronted with a female Dr Mengele? What do you say to those who might, at a push, say 'Tut Tut' but go right on supporting what she and her army of 'nice ladies' do every day. The Pro-Abortion massed ranks. We must NOT be silent or be silenced.
Let us look at the shocking exposure of the past few days. Think for yourself what you might say to the lady Dr, so expensively trained and highly paid from your taxes. And after, read how you can confidently confront that army of 'ordinary' supporter-troops. And while you are at it, Australians might think about the
$30 million of Taxpayers' Cash given by Julia Gillard to that woman's organisation - Planned Parenthood.
Here is the shocking exposure: Be warned. It is horrific in its Banality.
Fr Frank dropped in to really hammer home the message. He has been fighting this Evil for longer and better than I have.
At some point the average Joe and Josephine is going to have to take sides. Not just in the overall good vs evil bizzo but in its particulars.
The abortion evil is something that anyone can understand, even if they have contemplated all the rationales. Many will have to come to the same conclusions that Planned Parenthood has. That is to say to hell with the pretences and excuses, the mendacities and cant, the manipulation and the downright lies,
the abortionists’ job is the murder of human babies They WANT to kill babies.
and making as much profit – over and above all the tax grants which already run into hundreds of millions – as we can from the beastial, wicked, inhuman selling of ‘parts’ so that ‘researchers’ can steal ‘stem cells’ and cosmetic firms can make shit to put on Katy Perry’s face.
Those tax grants amount to Half a BILLION dollars a year
I stand outside an abortion mill every damned week. Alone. Occasionally someone can stand with me for a few minutes, but most will not. They are scared. They are scared here in sleepy little Hobart of being fined $9750 and spending a year in jail. Occasionally I am spat upon, shouted at, villified and the cops are called. Just for me saying a silent Rosary. Meanwhile across the road a baby is being murdered. The Brave Few must gather together.
The Tavern Keeper's Weekly Vigil. With the others this time :)
My friend Graham chalks up $,x000’s on airfares attending court here for his ‘crime’ of holding up a sign pointing to the UN Human Rights Declaration.
The world is turning from merely mad to Bad.
The efforts made by courageous people in America making secret recordings of those filthy bastards selling baby organs is to be commended. But where are all the other, ordinary people? You do not need to answer that. They are SUPPORTING ‘women’s right to choose’. That means supporting the murder of babies. I am grateful for Joe Carter's timely advice. He dropped by for a pint and an opportunity to speak to folk in the Tavern. I can take lessons too, so I listened.
“You never let a serious crisis go to waste,” said Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel. “And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”
The recent “fetal parts” video provides an excellent example of Emanuel’s point. The public’s reaction to the video is a “crisis” for Planned Parenthood and the pro-choice cause. But it provides an opportunity for pro-lifers to do things we could not do before. One thing it helps us to do is to have an honest discussion about the act of abortion.
Unfortunately, this crisis will go to waste if we are not able to engage in conversations that advance the cause of life with those who disagree with us. If we come across as obnoxious or partisan or strident then even those on the pro-choice side who are disturbed by the video will dismiss our concerns. However, there are a few things we can do that can help us to engage more productively.
The following are a few rhetorical suggestions for how to engage in a discussion about the video and the issues it raises. While you may not agree with all of my recommendations, I hope that by reflecting on them you’ll come up with your own strategy for having effective conversations with your pro-choice friends.
And acknowledge that too. Many 'pro-choice' people are your friends. They are otherwise nice people. No-one is 100% wicked. (hopefully not anyone you know anyway). Many have been morally blinded by the society around them. Treat them in the Augustinian way. Love the Sinner: Hate the Sin. Here's your chance to develop the skill.
Focus on one area of concern — Though certain abortion clinics may be engaged in an illegal form of fetal organ selling, what is described in the video islikely to be broadly legal. One of the concerns of the pro-life movement is to make it completely illegal to sell the parts of aborted children. That is certainly an issue that we want to advance through the legislative process. When talking to our pro-choice friends, though, we mainly want to use the organ-selling as the point of entry to engage in a broader discussion of the morality of second- and third- trimester abortions. Try to avoid getting bogged down in a political discussion about whether the parts selling should be illegal and focus instead on the morality of the act and how it relates to abortion in general.
Ask probing questions — One of the most effective tools for pro-life apologetics is the probing question. Asking probing questions gives you the ability to advance the conversation without being combative or strident. On this issue, many people already have an instinctual understanding of the ethical problem and how it conflicts with their own values and morality. By the use of questions you can often get them to uncover the reality of the issue. Here is an example of a series of questions you could ask:
“What would you call the product of an abortion? What is it that is extracted?”
If they give a reply such as a “clump of cells” you can follow-up with. . .
“But if it’s merely a clump of cells, how do they extract ‘hearts’ and ‘livers’? They are hearts and livers and other organs, aren’t they?”
Once they concede that point, ask them “What type of organs are they? Would you say that they are human organ?”
At this point your interlocutor is likely to see where this is headed and confirm that they are human organs, but that the fetus is not a person. A good follow-up is to inquire, “What other type of non-human persons are there?
This method doesn’t always work, of course. But it can be highly effective when dealing with people who want to grapple honestly with the issue.
Avoid euphemisms, but don’t get bogged down in a language debate — The abortion debate is flush with euphemisms that attempt to either frame the issue politically (pro-choice, pro-life) or obscure what is going on during the procedure (dilation and extraction, product of conception, etc.). Whenever possible, try to avoid letting people use such euphemisms in the discussion. Ask them if they’ll agree to use non-loaded, non-euphemistic terms to avoid misunderstandings.
Your conversation partner will most likely balk, though, at the use of some terms they consider to be euphemistic. For example, you will want to refer to the unborn in the womb as a “baby” while they may prefer the more technical sounding “fetus.” Politely point out that fetus is merely the Latin term for “bringing forth offspring” and that while you are using different terms they mean the same thing. Say that you agree it’s fine to use baby/fetus interchangeably as long as they agree to refer to the body parts as human parts (e.g., the human limbs, human livers, human hearts). By reinforcing the use of the term “human” it helps to maintain the moral horror of abortion.
Ultimately, though, don’t let a debate about the language prevent you from moving on to an actual discussion of the issue itself.
Don’t change the narrative — Soon after the video started gaining attention, many concerned pro-lifers started to question why the national media was not covering the story.
This has been a perennial criticism those of us in the pro-life movement have had about media coverage, and it was natural that it would be raised again after this incident. However, I think this is a tactical mistake.
When we change the focus from the “selling of fetal body parts” to “the media is failing to cover a story about the selling of fetal body parts” we subtly shift the issue from a broadly shared moral concern to a politically charged debate about media bias.
Yes, we should be concerned about how the media covers such issues. But we can save those criticisms for later, after the core narrative of the story has already been deeply embedded into the American (and Australian) psyche. Fortunately, we no longer need the media to get the story out. We have the tools (e.g., social media, blogs) to inform our neighbors about the atrocity. By sticking to the primary narrative, we can make sure the story is presented accurately and without the filter of the national media.
Remember always that the Media is a leftist beast of burden. It is on the side of the abortionists.
Ask yourself why this week's expose was not conducted by any of the dozens of media TV stations, Newspaper, NGOs, Governments, etc.
Tim Graham asked this too. Where have the Media been all this time?
In recent weeks, the allegedly disinterested media have been a perpetual disavowal machine for Donald Trump, working hard to force businesses to dump him. They have spent hours promoting the disavowal of the Confederate flag in every venue. But they have barely touched this story.They have not, and will not make an effort to force Democrats or other businesses to disavow any connection with Planned Parenthood and its grisly business practices. It’s long past time any taxpaying pro-life -- and now, pro-choice -- American should have to give a bloody red cent to these monsters.
Once again, a courageous group of pro-life activists has produced a damning sting video of Planned Parenthood, and this one has exposed the most outrageous behavior yet. This isn’t the abortion conglomerate protecting pimps or statutory rapists as they seek abortions. This is the selling of the organs of babies after they’ve been killed.
The video will chill you to the bone. It cannot be described as anything but what it is: evil.
Tim had more to say. Go see. Follow the link. But, back to Joe Carter......... He still had lots to say too.
Concede trivial aspects of the story — Just as you don’t want to derail the debate by changing the narrative, you don’t want to get bogged down on matters that are not pertinent to the pro-life points you want to make. A prime example is the claim about whether the video engages in deceptive editing. Even if you don’t agree, you can concede that it may very well be deceptive and ask that the focus stay on the words spoken by the representative from Planned Parenthood. You can even refer to the full transcript to avoid the video altogether.
Don’t expect too much, and don’t overreach — If the discussion goes well you may be able to get an agreement that since the selling of human body parts is gruesome and should be illegal, then the action that entails butchering a living human body to obtain those parts is also gruesome and should also be illegal. If your conversation partner, who was previously committed to accepting all abortion, agrees with this conclusion, they may be willing to concede that second and third trimester abortions should be illegal.
At this point, you will be tempted to press the pro-life logic to gain even greater concessions. If killing a child at 18 weeks is wrong, why should it be allowed at 8 weeks? Shouldn't all abortion be illegal? Your thinking is correct—but it requires a level of rationality that most people tend to avoid. While some people’s minds can be changed in one discussion, most people need to be moved in increments toward a full pro-life perspective.
Give them to time to let the implications of their newly adopted position sink in and grow roots. By trying to press them to adopt the complete logic of the pro-life cause at one time they may shut down completely.
Know when to stop — When you get a significant concession, use it as a firm stopping point. The only people who want to keep arguing are typically those whose minds are least likely to be changed. Show a genuine appreciation for their concession and reinforce it by thanking them for having a discussion in which a level of agreement could be found. If the experience was both productive and affirming, they will be more likely in the future to engage with you in similar moral discussions.
I always know when to stop. The Blue Uniform and the gun on the hip are usually clear signals.
You may not talk your friend out of their pro-choice convictions. But if enough of us have these conversations, we may just be able to move our neighbors in a pro-life direction.
All good stuff to think about over a Tankard of fine drink. Drink up. And Pray. Pray that Grace strikes at the heart of that Sad, MAD, BAD lady Doctor of Death & Profit. Pax
"Get a room", they shout. No, not for that ! Although I have no objection to 'that'. Its a phrase usually told to canoodling couples causing embarassment to nearby people. But of course there are other meanings. When you travel, an Hotel or guest house is the usual requirement. We have rooms in the Tavern for travellers. But by crikey some establishments charge an arm and a leg. Flunkies and cooks cost a lot and hotels outdo one another in 'services' to attract customers. All very expensive to provide and make a profit from the mark-up. But apart from camping, what other option do you have. Well there are other options of course, especially in this modern 'order-by-smart-phone' age. Abigail Hall was telling would-be travellers about one in the US Room. And I know of it of course. Used it m'self, in fact.
Get a room
(but only if it is government-approved)
In 2008 Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia were having difficulty paying the rent for their loft in San Francisco. A large conference was coming to town and the hotels were filled. Recognizing an opportunity to make ends meet, the pair converted their living room into a bed-and-breakfast, offering up to three guests an air mattress and morning meal in exchange for some cash.
"I remember seeing on their websites that all the hotels were sold out. So we got the idea, why don't we make our apartment into a little bed-and-breakfast?" Chesky said.
The pair made $1,000 that weekend -- and paid their rent.
AirBed & Breakfast,
or Airbnb,was born.
Along with a third cofounder, Nathan Blecharczyk, the company initially focused on large events in places where hotels were likely to be sold out. They wanted to provide a variety of lodging, booking anything "from a tent to a castle" at any price point.
The idea took off. Airbnb's online lodging platform has allowed people to make money renting their homes and other properties for various periods. According to the company's website, Airbnb has arranged for more than 25 million people to visit more than 34,000 cities in 190 countries. The site boasts over 1 million lodging options worldwide.
Despite this overwhelming success, Airbnb has met significant resistance. In Louisville, Kentucky, for example, property owners renting their homes through Airbnb recently received cease-and-desist orders from the local government claiming they were running illegal hotels. The city could fine the owners up to $500 per day if they don't stop renting their spaces.
I said I had used it m'self. In fact three times. It is an excellent service
The 'Hi IQ' club, Mensa, has a service - which is miles behind in comparison - called 'SIGHT' which enables members to arrange accomodation in other members' homes when travelling. This is not obstructed by any 'authorities' and there are no 'fees' charged (unless under the radar). I have several times suggested that Mensa uses AirBnB technology. Perhaps an 'arrangement'.
Why would the city of Louisville and others want to ban such a popular service?
Some claim it's an issue of safety both for guests and hosts, since Airbnb isn't regulated by the government as hotels are. But Airbnb strives to ensure safety for all concerned. The website requires guests and hosts to verify their identities by connecting their social networks and scanning their official IDs -- that's more than you get from the local motel operator.
Moreover, the system operates on a peer-to-peer review system. Guests and hosts review one another. But unlike with a hotel, for which anyone can submit a review, Airbnb renters and hosts can only review their experiences after a confirmed stay.
This provides future guests and hosts key information, enhancing their safety.
Before we assume that the government crackdown on Airbnb comes from genuine concern about safety, we should consider some other, less benevolent motives.
Tasmania had a few AirBnB properties some years ago. Odd, out of the way places. Now everyone and his dog offers rooms on the site service, much to the chagrin of some hoteliers. It is a tourist Island after all and very welcoming to visitors. Governments, frankly, are a nuicance.
First, many state and local governments have turned to hotel taxes to pad their budgets. Travelers can pay a tax up to 17 percent of the cost of their hotel room. Airbnb threatens this revenue stream, giving government officials an incentive to shut it down.
Second, and not surprisingly, many hotels staunchly oppose Airbnb. Since the company provides a competitive alternative, hotels have a strong interest in hampering its operation or blocking its growth.
The threat is significant. Last year The Economist magazine stated that Airbnb could reduce hotel revenues as much as 10 percent. Recognizing this threat, hotels are lobbying elected officials for policies to protect their interests.
In fact, the American Hotel & Lodging Association spent over $1 million in lobbying last year, including a variety of attempts to legally disrupt or dismantle Airbnb's business at state and local levels.
It is far easier in socialist-ethos states to do this. Ruin businesses. And in croney-capitalist ones too.
______________________________________________
A 'business' licence is like any other form of official theft.
You have a freedom which the Government takes off you.
The government then sells it back to you for a fee
and to anyone else who must pay them a licence fee.
It is robbery. __________________________________________
The 'safety' and 'regulation' issues are simply a front. The licence fee has no bearing on the cost of those.
The losers from banning or impeding Airbnb and other innovative services, such as ride-booking services Uber and Lyft, are consumers and producers. The 25 million transactions facilitated by Airbnb were undertaken because guests and hosts believed they would be better off.
Politicians deny individuals this choice not because it benefits those individuals, but because it benefits the politicians themselves.
Letting the market operate freely would make producers and consumers better off, but it would anger sources of political support and threaten government coffers.
If we choose to visit a city, we don't ask the government what we should see, where we should dine or how we should travel. Likewise, government has no business telling us where we should lay our heads at night.
Let's keep government out of the bedroom, even if we're renting it for only an evening.
I can thoroughly recommend the business. Take the Tavern Keeper's word. Or that of.....
Abigail R. Hall is a research fellow at Independent Institute in Oakland and an incoming assistant professor of economics at the University of Tampa.
My old bones have deep roots, as they constantly tell me as I creak my way to the Crypt and back up the stone stairway. Those roots go back at least a millenia and my memory is sharp. Mopping the floors take me back to my youthful first work. We didn't have the dole back then, nor a range of 'educational opportunities' to keep lads such as I off street corners. We had to work. But Nations become soft, exchanging initial opportunity for compassion and on to tyranny. I have watched nations come and go. I have seen them all founder or fall into old age and wither. Barely a Kingdom of my early years remain and at least one Great King has become a Tavern Keeper although many national leaders have milked their people as much as they could before escaping to sunnier climes, skin intact. Every nation has a destiny, and so today we see several nations rising and several falling. 'Twas ever thus. But every time it was a shock. The people had no idea what was happening. One day there was a mob in charge, the next day a new mob was in its place. Today though we have a ringside seat, or a seat above the furnace, watching a Great Nation sliding into ruin. I am not talking of Greece. Many in America are feelingthe heat from the friction on their pants as they slide down into the Pit. They have lied to the people and lied to themselves. Now some might say that an ancient English King turned Australian peasant has no business commenting on the demise of another nation, but hey, I stand, pull pints and listen. I hear Americans crying in the wilderness that had thought they had conquored. One such, Steve McCann, sat nursing his glass and talking to the fellows in the US Room. Listen in. Who am I to argue with him. Hahahaha Here, let me pull a pint for you.
America's Destiny in the Balance
In 1856 Harper's Magazine published a quote first attributed to Jose Correia de Serra, a Portuguese Abbot, scientist and close friend of Thomas Jefferson:
"It has been said that a `special Providence watches over children, drunkards and the United States'."
The presidency of Barack Obama is the latest example of the accuracy of this observation, since the American people have been granted a last chance, before it is too late, to reverse course as a window has been forced open for the citizenry to view what future will bring if the nation remains on its present course.
Beginning in the 1930's, under the aegis of Franklin Roosevelt, the nation began a drift to the left as a reaction to the Great Depression. However, those truly committed to socialist/Marxist philosophy and tactics remained in the shadows until the 1960's. The Viet Nam war protests unleashed far more than just a demand for an end to the war. Those that blamed America for all manner of alleged sins in the past and determined to transform the United States into a socialist/Marxist nirvana were able to step out from behind the shadows and enter the mainstream of national legitimacy.
This swarm of locusts soon enveloped the higher levels of academia spawning countless clones to further infiltrate all strata of society -- most notably the mainstream media, the entertainment complex and the ultimate target: the Democratic Party. These vital segments of the culture are now instruments of indoctrination, propaganda and political power.
The curriculum throughout all levels of schooling and the scripts of movies and television shows were gradually but inexorably altered to reflect the American left's mindset, not only about governing, but their determination to undermine basic societal moral and religious underpinning as a necessary step in assuring that an eventual ill-educated and dependent populace would look to a government controlled by a single political party as their savior and provider.
Over the past fifty years, as the foundation of the United States was being stealthily eroded, the vast majority of the American people slumbered content in unprecedented peace and prosperity. Regardless of who was in the White House or in control of Congress, no one has been able or willing, as by-product of this public apathy, to curtail the incessant spread of so-called Progressivism in the nation's institutions as well as the exponential growth of government with its tentacles increasingly intertwined in the day-to-day lives of all Americans.
Nonetheless in 2008 this was still a right of center country, as less than 20% of the populace identified themselves as liberal or in favor of an all-powerful central government and over 80% self identified as religious. It was clear that it would take at least 15 to 20 years of public and political indifference and another fully indoctrinated generation before the tenets of socialism/Marxism would completely envelop the nation and its social and political institutions, thus being impossible to ever reverse.
It was at this point that Barack Obama was thrust upon the scene.
No nominee in the history of the United States was less qualified to be president,
as he had no accomplishments or executive experience except to be steeped in socialist/Marxist ideology and tactics. Nonetheless due to a extraordinary confluence of circumstances -- the self-inflicted and near universal unpopularity of George W. Bush, a catastrophic financial meltdown six weeks before the presidential election, uninspiring and feckless opposition in the primaries and the general election and, most importantly, the unique factor of skin color -- he was elected President.
With the ascendancy of Barack Obama to the White House the acolytes of the American Left, in their giddiness over the election of a fellow traveler, abandoned all pretext of moderation. Their adherence to the scorched earth tactics of Saul Alinski, open and unabashed advocacy of socialist/Marxist tenets, the depths to which they had infiltrated American society and the Democratic Party quickly began to come into focus.
After nearly six and half years of the Obama administration and the ongoing rampage of the Left, it is clear for all to see what future lies in store for the United States under the long term reign of this cabal:
The Supreme Court is one justice away from being dominated by politically motivated leftists, four of whom are already in place, bent on relegating the Constitution to the dustbin of history and replacing it with the Left's agenda.
In due course, freedom of speech, religion and the press will be what the central government and courts, controlled by one party,
allow it to be.
All macro-economic activity will be determined by Washington D.C., and in order to continue to operate major corporations, their managements will have to be subservient to the central government per the basic tenets of fascism. Small business formation will be severely curtailed as the federal regulatory state determines who and what business can be formed.
The power and independence of the individual states will be vastly eroded as the courts and the power of the purse emanating from Washington will force them into compliance with the whims of the Democratic Party.
It is time to fly the Flag, not burn it.
The Republican Party will cease to effectively exist except as a token opposition party, as fund raising laws, a media controlled by the government, regulations and court decisions will render it ineffective.
There will be a permanent massive underclass encompassing over 50% of the population as a result of central planning, massive open door immigration, the near non-existence of new business formation and the inability of the country to weather the next global financial crisis. They and the remnant of the middle class that remains will be increasingly dependent on government largess as the national debt approaches 200% of a declining Gross Domestic Product and the nation lives under a constant threat of hyper-inflation.
And the average American will have no idea why. Many, if not most, already have no idea where they have come from and fewer know where they are going. The 'Knowledge' of the average American is absolutely woeful. Even about themselves.
The United States will, in due course, become a hollow military power unable to play a role on the world stage as other government expenditures and a declining standard of living render defense spending moot. As a result the country will find itself under increasing level of domestic attacks by terrorists spawned in the Middle East and acting as agents of America's enemies. China will take over the status as the world's super power as the United States voluntarily casts itself into a subservient role.
Eventually this nation as we know it will cease to exist as a violent reaction to all the above will eventuate in a revolution and split the country into three or four independent nations.
Notwithstanding the above, a plurality of the American people have begun to wake up to this potential reality as revealed by the outcome of the 2014 mid-term elections wherein the Democratic Party suffered massive defeats at all levels of government. However, far too many are still living in their self-induced stupor unable or unwilling to understand where this nation is headed and why. Coupled with the urgency of the populace and the opposition party to vigorously push back against the onslaught of the American Left for the next 18 months the election of 2016 will be the most critical in the nation's history if the nation is to survive in peace and prosperity.
I am an immigrant to this country and a displaced survivor of a war that destroyed a continent. A war fomented by men, beginning the 1920's, who also adhered to the same basic tenets espoused by Barack Obama and his fellow travelers.
I have seen and experienced the end product of their narcissism and megalomania.
Me too bro. Steve managed to speak with nary a mention of Feminism, Islam, confederate flags, 'offense'-making-up, University 'safe Spaces wherin even the 1st Amendment is expelled, the splintering of 'christianity' into tinier and tinier shards, all reducing the effectiveness of the One Institution that could save the Nation.
The one Institution that has survived the chaos all around it for 2000 years.
But will American Hubris allow it to seek help? Is there any Nation that CAN help now? Previously there were always other nations. The Anglosphere had developed several fine places for freedom, democracy, Institutions of Law and Spirit. But all are infected with the same illness as America. When America goes down, will there be just flotsam, or lifeboats? How about the One Lifeboat that has ridden the waters all these years like an Ark. Pax
