The evils of modern “health care” again demonstrated

Courtesy of a wide variety of politicians, bureaucrats, Regressives, and just plain crazy and sociopathic people? The more we read about things like this, the more evil it seems.

The entire socio-political mania about transgenderism and transitioning people – particularly children and teens – into their supposed “mental gender” is really a very recent phenomenon. Pretty much just in the 21st Century, in fact. Yes, there had been rare cases of people attempting surgical or chemical changes in sex in a human. Just as cross-dressing has been around since Roman times and before. But always seen as a severe mental aberration and something to be more pitied than feared. Just as there have always been a few poor individuals who were born severely disabled – including hermaphrodites and cojoined twins and the like.

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The stupidity of Woke culture – and companies

A recent news story tells of a Marine ordered off her Delta airline flight because she was wearing the teeshirt below – which a “flight attendant” (a steward, not a stewardess) said was “threatening.”

We are told, he said, ‘I don’t care about your service, and I don’t care about her service. The only way you’re going to get back on the plane is if you take it off right now.'”

Now, this lady Jarhead was more polite than many Marines I know – and modest. She didn’t just pull the shirt off there in the aircraft cabin and sit down in her seat in her bra. She instead left the aircraft and found and pulled on a sweatshirt to cover the teeshirt. And got back on. But it caused her to miss her connecting flight and therefore messed up her trip to visit her sister (another Marine).

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A little discussion of election politics in South Dakota

South Dakota, with the usual 2 senators and just 800,000 people (therefore just a single US Representative) is small potatoes as residential elections go. But still, these things add up. Especially with all the mud-slinging about the Electoral College, and the various candidates for the new Massa.

Every State is unique – many have very strange quirks that influence their local politics and the impact they have on regional and federal politics. South Dakota is no different. Understanding this can help in encouraging and educating people to reject the power of mandatory human governments and how it makes life miserable for most people – if not virtually all of us.

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Voting in just 15 days? Or sooner?

More and more libertarians – anarchists especially – are swearing off voting for Lent. Well, actually, for more than just Lent. As the screams (printed, electronic, radio, television, posters, yard signs, billboards, etc.) get louder and louder, it is easy to see why.

Consider a few cartoons and images, and stop and think about them:

Unless it is an issue, maybe.

“I’m glad my grandma got to die in Chicago so she can still vote!”

And just think – YOU get to choose which politicians get first dibs at the trough!

The kind of ballot that really counts. Regardless of when it’s cast!

Republicans do it too.

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We usually don’t wait until early in the morning…

… to get the trash out to the curb, do we? If you can and want to vote, do it before the last day (Tuesday 5 November 2024).

Thanks to the Day-by-Day folks from a way back when, but still worth thinking about in 2024. While DbyD is pushing for Orange Man (The Donald), this isn’t for anyone, but against the thugs we keep in power year after year, including those put into office (or retained there) in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

A few thoughts on the 2024 election, 16 days before the official finale (but if you think everything will be settled on 5 November, please think again!):

Does voting encourage them? That is an argument and an interesting question. Voting against them and the ballot issues they put up for the electorate to vote on is very much a discouragement, in the eyes of many.

Does voting legitimize the system? It can so explain why you are (or are not) voting! And why you are voting the way you are, if you choose to vote.

Does voting somehow morally commit you to supporting the outcome of the vote? Absolutely not: it is often a matter of self-defense.

Done right, even candidates with absolutely no chance to win an election can use the election and the campaign as an opportunity to educate. If you have someone who has already wasted their money in running a campaign, take advantage of these last few days to educate people.

Not even the smallest soda machine or most pitiful store offers only two flavors and brands of soda (or beer): so why do we have a system that trains people to think there are only two choices when it comes to electing a Massa or a “representative” of our State or our district?

Does voting do any good? When it comes to electing “leaders” and “representatives,” it is hard to argue that it does. When it comes to ballot issues (both initiatives and referendums), yes, it can do good. Even if that good consists in just rejecting ideas and laws that are really very much against liberty. Just remember, all the candidates on the ballot are statists to some degree, and enemies of liberty in at least some parts of life.

Oh, and one last thought: are you prepared for what may happen this year on and after Election Day? Things ready to go deal with really bad – or somewhat good happenings?

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Who/what is behind the Trump assassination attempts?

The FedGov has warned Iran against attempting to assassinate The Donald, as reported in the Washington Examiner recently. This is supposedly in retribution for Trump ordering (or allowing) the killing of a Persian Revolutionary Guard general while in office. The tale has been going around for several weeks now: NPR and the Politico even claim that Iran has a “hit list” of former Trump aides. House Speaker Johnson says that would be an act of war.

Do you suppose that the idea that Iran is behind the Trump attacks ( these attempted assassinations) is a red herring?

Now, we are not saying that Iran would not love to see him dead. Certainly, it would be no surprise that the insane, fanatic Ayatollahs and their minions are not trying to do so: for many reasons.

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Threats to religion and religious liberty in the States

We are often told that religious liberty is alive and well, in most of the “civilized” world. Especially here in the States. Is it? Some folks don’t think so.

Here in the States, the Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCB) recently published a list of five items that they view as the greatest threats in 2024 to religion and religious liberty. Not just for Catholics or all Christians, but other religions as well. First published in January, they have followed up in some. Various media have reported it, often twisting the facts and leaving out some of their points. (The bishops specifically called out both Judaism and Islam.)

It is an interesting list, and not just because of who published it. (More below on that, as part of a disclaimer. You can read their whole report here.)

It may be of interest that neither Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, nor Joe Biden are on the list. But then, bishops are supposed to be kind to others (and one another).

Here is the list:

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Hurricanes – who pays?

More and more in 2024, we are hearing cries of “punish them” directed at oil companies, coal companies (and electric utilities), and any other organization that might generate carbon dioxide and release it into the atmosphere.

The latest reason (a repeat favorite, in fact) is “exceptional damage” from hurricanes: most recently Helene and Milton. Similar claims were made after Katrina (2005) and Marie (2017).

A Newsweek editorial just called for “Big Oil” to pay for the damages of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

On one hand, can we blame someone for that idea? Since the FedGov does not appear to want to – or be able to – pay for help to the victims?

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No quarter

The Deguello – the bugle call of No Quarter – may be ringing around the world today.

If you know your Texas history, then you know that “El Degüello” was the last bugle call the defenders of the Alamo heard before they were slaughtered by the Mexican army. To hear the tune bugled is to know that the army playing it means to wreak havoc: to kill without mercy. To punish those who dare to stand up against them and the tyrant(s) they serve.

According to an online history source I consulted, “El Degüello is a bugle call of Moorish origin notable for its use as a march by Mexican Army buglers during the 1836 Siege and Battle of the Alamo. ‘Degüello’ is the first-person singular present tense of ‘degollar,’ a verb that means ‘to cut the throat.’ More figuratively, it means ‘give no quarter.’ It signifies the act of beheading or throat-cutting, and in Spanish history, it became associated with the battle music, which, in different versions, meant complete destruction of the enemy without mercy.”

I’ve heard “El Degüello” many times. It is a bright, lilting brass piece that caused Davy Crockett to say to Col. William Travis, “Kinda pretty,” in the 2004 film, “The Alamo.”

It is pretty.

And it is chilling.

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Thugocracy?

This was just posted this weekend (Saturday, 12 OCT 2024) by a trusted correspondent.

Given other reports, this may be true. If readers have any more info, please share it:

The ‘net is filled with ideas of exactly why FEMA and the FedGov are seemingly playing games with the people of the Carolinas, Tennessee, and those on the Gulf Coast. Who is right? Playing politics to keep Trump out and Harris moving into the White House? Punishment for failure to kowtow properly to DC? Getting rid of the deplorables? Just sheer incompetence?

The reasons may be many, and we will almost certainly never know all (or any) of he real reasons.

But we can still learn many lessons from what we are seeing. Government is not the solution to life’s problems. Including natural and manmade disasters. In fact, governments almost always make things worse. The governments’ actions over 150 years have set up conditions to be truly horrific for natural events like Helene and Milton.

But we did it to ourselves, for far too many people have put their faith into governments and the laws and rules and aid in time of distress. Faith that has been betrayed time and time again.

In the past, governments accepted – even encouraged – people and private, voluntary organizations to help out in responding to and recovering from natural disasters. Today, on the surface, they still do: look up information on “Community Emergency Response Teams” (CERT), and all the glowing information about “voluntary organizations” found on FEMA and State websites. But that is now being revealed as eyewash. Government agencies (not just FEMA) do everything they can to keep volunteers and their aid out – and failing that, seek to micromanage their activities. They demand permits and plans and even things like background checks and safety inspections. These all can be justified in the bureaucratic (and often public) mind, but they are tools of control and oppression.

Why? The long-term game, no matter what the reasons, is to expand control over every aspect of life. (Yes, that is totalitarianism, we know.) And that means destroying the ability of people: individuals, families, businesses, communities; to resist. And make everyone more and more dependent on government control.

Does it seem to be working? Tell us your thoughts.

Again, please share anything you can about these ongoing efforts.

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