More Interesting Items 1

This item deals with two peas in a pod - fascism and communism.  Quote: "People often argue over whether Hitler and Mussolini were “right wing” or “left wing.” More to the point is that both men's ideologies had roots in the Progressive movement of the turn of the 20th century.  The Progressive movement was closely tied to the philosophy of Pragmatism: the belief that thought is a tool for action and change. In contrast to the ancient and medieval philosophers, for whom philosophy was the contemplation of reality, the Progressives were animated by the desire to mold reality and to harness knowledge for social betterment. Many in the vanguard of progressive thought initially were enamored of Mussolini and even Hitler, considering their dictatorships a useful “social experiment.”  H.G. Wells, the popular science fiction writer, was one. In a number of speeches and books he praised the militaristic social mobilization in the new fascist regimes: an entire society moving as a single unit under the rule of a Nietzschean superman.

Complete state control of all aspects of life was seen as highly pragmatic and scientific by many. Nationalism and militarism – elements commonly associated with the Right – were actually key components of the Progressive Era, flourishing in particular under President Woodrow Wilson, as Goldberg documents."    https://fee.org/articles/fascism-and-communism-were-two-peas-in-a-pod/

This item deals with the incessant infusion of Marxism into our society.   https://www.theburningplatform.com/2017/04/30/the-brilliance-of-jonathan-bowden/

This item deals with the deceptive consequences of the lures of socialist stateism. Quote: "I am tempted to say that statism is sort of like a cult.  Proponents of socialism and other big-government ideologies have a dogmatic zeal that blinds them to reality.  For instance, no nation has ever become rich with big government. But that doesn’t stop leftists from advocating in favor of higher taxes and more coercive redistribution.  They are equally capable of rationalizing that economic misery in places such as Greece and Venezuela has nothing to do with bad policy, and you can even find a few zealots willing to defend basket cases such as Cuba and North Korea."  And, "Incidentally, this analysis not only applies to socialism, as technically defined, but it also applies to redistributionism. Which is definitely more benign, but nonetheless produces bad results.  The bottom line is that statism is a recipe for stagnation and free markets are a route to prosperity."    https://fee.org/articles/your-socialism-is-bad-and-you-should-feel-bad/?

Charles Murray has authored a number of excellent books and articles that lay out facts and refute false narratives.  This article reviews another such publication. Quote: "Our kids are no longer taught about patriotism, morality, honor or self-reliance. They’re not taught economics. They’re not taught about the Constitution. The boys aren’t taught to be men and the girls aren’t taught to be women. In fact, if you find kids who know anything about these subjects, it is almost certainly because their parents bent over backwards to jam that knowledge into their heads.  Our society used to inculcate these values in schools, church and via our entertainment. It was a different and, in many ways, better world. Liberals try to portray everything that happened in America’s past as evil and backward, but when you look at statistics like these from Charles Murray’s outstanding book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010, try and tell me that this country hasn’t gone downhill in the values we’re teaching our kids."    https://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2017/04/23/how-liberals-are-poisoning-the-minds-of-young-americans-n2316700?

Allen West has his head on straight.  People need to listen to what he has to say. Quote: "If Democrats and radical leftists continue their “fascist” onslaught against conservatives, the party will face perpetual electoral jeopardy, West predicted. “They will never be in a position of power,” West said. “They will never win the White House, and they will continue to lose seats in state legislatures, governors’ mansions, and the House and the Senate.” As WND reported, hundreds of students also rioted at Middlebury College in Vermont in early March, preventing a respected libertarian scholar from finishing his speech and leaving one female professor in a neck brace. Charles Murray was invited by the American Enterprise Institute Club on campus to discuss his book “Coming Apart,” which chronicles the struggles facing the white working class in the United States. However, a mob first protested and later assaulted both Murray and Professor Allison Stanger."    http://www.wnd.com/2017/04/allen-west-student-mobs-killing-speech-acting-like-terrorists/ 

Former President Obama and his administration's lack of openness and frequent deceptions suggest that honesty was not a strong point.  His spying antics are now well documented and include anyone or any organization he considered an enemy.  You will be surprised to learn the scope of his spying operation..  http://www.wnd.com/2017/04/the-big-amazing-list-of-people-obama-spied-on/   Much of this stuff seems to nudge illegality.  Corruption plagued his entire tenure in office.  This next item expands the matter and brings in Hillary.  Things are not looking good for a whole host of corrupt Democrats both in and out of office.  I suspect some Republicans will also be caught in the whole web of deceit.  And, you will see why as you read this article why CIA Director under Obama should never have held any important position in our government.     http://www.wnd.com/2017/04/obama-entangled-in-brand-new-political-espionage-scandal/     

This is an interesting bit of history reaching back to the early stages of the Obama administration.  In Harry Reid President had a loyal and ruthless supporter as senate leader for getting his agenda through, especially Obamacare.    https://spectator.org/dirty-harry-reids-role-in-obamagate/?    When the Senate was taken over by the Republicans, Obama's agenda successes began to hit road bumps but Harry still wielded control over Senate Democrats, and many cowering Republicans.  

This is an intriguing NYT item.  This whole matter is getting more and more curious. Quote: "The point about President Obama blows a big hole in the entire “Obama spied on Trump” narrative people are using to lend weight to President Trump’s absurd Twitter accusation from March about Obama “tapping” his phones in Trump Tower. Remember, President Obama didn’t confirm Russian involvement in the election through hacking of the DNC until December 2016. If the supposed intent of the Obama administration was to harm the incoming Trump administration through the use of the intelligence community, wouldn’t it have been far more damaging to disclose the Russian influence before the election?  If anything, Hillary’s people are going to be furious President Obama didn’t “meddle” with a bullhorn to help her campaign. In fact, President Obama stopped Comey from acknowledging the investigation into Russian influence was taking place."    http://www.redstate.com/jaycaruso/2017/04/23/ny-times-story-on-comey-contains-critical-nugget-about-trump-russia/?

This is an interesting charge by a group of psychiatrists.  I wonder where they were during Obama's eight long years?     http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4433844/Donald-Trump-mental-illness-psychiatrists-warn.html

Good news on the illegal immigration front.    http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/illegal-immigrants-US-census/2017/04/25/id/786376/?

Speaking of Obama.  This reflects poorly on his years as president.  Here's why.  Quote: "Nominal US household wealth is at an all-time high. But my friend Marc Faber (publisher of the Gloom Boom & Doom Report) says that's mostly an illusion.  Below, Marc looks at the relationship between asset prices and US household wealth, and the effect of that relationship on the economy.  It seems the wealth of the top 0.1% has vastly improved in recent decades (and the top 10% haven’t done at all badly). But “the median household’s or asset owner’s wealth has declined by close to 40% in real terms (adjusted by the CPI) from its peak in 2007.”   http://www.newsmax.com/Finance/JohnMauldin/Marc-Faber-Median-Household/2017/04/21/id/785659/?