Progressive Perspectives – 17sep18

George Rebane

George Boardman, our favorite Union columnist, writes in the 17sep18 edition (here) of the newspaper and shares another important worldview held by the country’s progressives.  He starts with an expected dunning of our Republican congressmen Doug LaMalfa and Tom McClintock who refused to attend a candidate’s forum held by the League of Women Voters.  For years now the LWV has morphed itself from an assiduously non-partisan voter information organization into an active arm of the country’s progressive movement under Democratic Party leadership.  Such ‘candidates’ forums’ have turned out to be nothing but leftwing propaganda events showcasing hit jobs on their opposition candidates and issues.  Why attend such an event on purpose?

What Mr Boardman misreports is that Congressman LaMalfa “boycotts” Nevada County.  That simply is not true given his considerable attendance record supporting Republican sponsored events at which all county residents are welcomed to attend, hear his report, and question their representative.

But the real worldview, that comes out in the column, is how progressives view taxation as a zero-sum game.  It’s hard to tell whether or not they are really naïve enough to believe that if one government jurisdiction (say, the county) levies taxes of a given amount/rate, then another government jurisdiction (say, the state) will somehow be inhibited from also getting their pound of flesh from the taxpayer.  He makes that point viz the history of Prop13, claiming that since that proposition limited the local jurisdictions’ ability to arbitrarily continue raising property taxes, it then fell to the state to take up the taxation slack.  Mr Boardman’s point being that had Prop13 not placed such inhibitions on local taxation, then the state would have demurred and diminished its rapacity for continuing to raise taxes.  It would be interesting to discover how many of our left-leaning citizens join Mr Boardman in his embrace of such a charming fable.

Another progressive perspective, contributed by a Mr William Larsen, is the more familiar one advocating open borders and a ‘y’all come, regardless …’ immigration policy.  In his 17sep18 Union column Mr Larsen interprets this century-plus message on the Statue of Liberty as our mandated perennial and correct policy toward all who have let their homelands become what in today’s vernacular would qualify as 'shithole countries'.  Anything else, he informs us, would be considered an utterly racist national response that favors the white skins of Europe over the black and brown skins from the south.  The deeper understanding of this perspective is that America is immune to becoming a shithole country no matter how many people we permit/invite in from countries that have already suffered that fate at their hands and the hands of their fellow citizens and cultural cohorts.

Mr Larsen also shares with us an unfortunate incident he suffered when returning from a local political demonstration with a sign he displayed.  Apparently some aggrieved worthy on the right thought he was an illegal alien, one of those who today unabashedly join such left-sponsored demonstrations, and told him to “Take your sign and go home!”  Understandably Mr Larsen, who is a veteran, was a bit miffed and replied, “I am home.  I am a veteran.”  But then, awash in guilt and self-opprobrium, he goes on a soul-searching pilgrimage, “reflecting on that short interchange, I couldn't help noticing how I had ranked myself as having some special status because I'm a vet. My comment made it seem that being a veteran gives one an enhanced claim to call this country "home," and I was embarrassed at my arrogant assumption of privilege.”  Here Mr Larsen communicates the clear message that America should be home to its veterans, those who have manned the ramparts of their homeland, and equally home to the illegal alien who by hook or by crook has managed get across our border and into some privileged sanctuary status among us.

Comments

[Tricky McClean]

Bare link, which is food for thought:
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/indian-immigrants-united-states

[L]

Interesting link, TM. What's not to like about these folks? They assimilate well, learn better English quickly (it is the official language of India, chosen for its unifying potential). Only one problem- they're racially white people, so better not let them in. L

[Tricky McClean]

An excellent point L. So we can probably dispense with racial categorization altogether in the next decade or two, yes? It seems to an irrelevant designation, orange skin notwithstanding.
“‘There are people getting screwed in our country every single second, minute, hour of the day. And if by our work, we can decrease that number, we’ll make a difference; we’ll be doing our jobs. And if I didn’t have the kind of background that I had—with a single mother who was just so focused on what she needed to do—I would not be sitting here today,’ Hirono said”
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/09/18/brett-kavanaugh-sexual-assault-allegations-senate-hearings-mazie-hirono-interview-220064

[Don Bessee]

Cant pass a math test but hey, SJW -

https://freebeacon.com/issues/feds-spend-1009762-training-social-justice-math-teachers/

;-)

["M"]

,,, For years now the LWV has morphed itself from an assiduously non-partisan voter information organization into an active arm of the country’s progressive movement under Democratic Party leadership.,,,

Spoken like a partisan who is slipping further and further toward the Alt- Right chasm.

["M"]

,,,It’s hard to tell whether or not they are really naïve enough to believe that if one government jurisdiction (say, the county) levies taxes of a given amount/rate, then another government jurisdiction (say, the state) will somehow be inhibited from also getting their pound of flesh from the taxpayer.,,,

Somebody needs to explain this to trumpski regarding tariffs.

[George Rebane]

M 820am - Totally understandable response from one who is only exposed to the progressive media.
https://pjmedia.com/jchristianadams/2012/5/16/league-of-women-voters-arent-nonpartisan/

[fish]

Posted by: "M" | 18 September 2018 at 08:23 AM

Somebody needs to explain this to trumpski regarding tariffs.

Excellent point dugsKKKi.....I see you, in a freshly starched pair of Depends™.....in the Oval Office telling Trump how the real "Play" is pirating action movies made primarily for the Chinese market down at the Del Oro theater. Just forget all this tariff nonsense!

[Robert Cross]

Your statements are totally understandable George, from someone who only is exposed to right wing media outlets.

"PJ Media is a popular conservative news and opinion website that garners 13 million+ page views per month. PJ Media uses moderately loaded emotional language in their articles that favor the right...they usually use right leaning media sources. In general, almost all stories reviewed favored the right and denigrated the left through wording and story selection."-- Media Bias/Fact check

[fish]

Posted by: Robert Cross | 18 September 2018 at 11:04 AM

Spoken like a 500 lb. Former Union Editor who desperately wants to remain a "gatekeeper"!

[Todd Juvinall]

Always interesting to hear the far left extremists who only read and watch far left media telling anyone on the right what they only read or watch. What a hoot. BoobieC is a Nation and MSNBC exclusive yet denies it.

[Account Deleted]

Crossed-up Bobby at 11:04 - Nothing that you nor M nor your 'fact check' provided one word of rebuttal to GR's point about the LofWVs.
Par for the course, I'd say.
In conversations with women who've been around politics for a while, most all of them concur that group is hewing more to the left both in membership and policies.

[George Rebane]

RobertC 1104pm - Mr Cross, your reading skills are again on display. RR has a twelve year record of the broad spectrum media inputs about which I write and cite. The comments that you and yours present here clearly indicate the narrow focus of your inputs, because all of you ascribe to me the origination of ideas and attitudes most of which are widely known to at least half of America. Sir, you have neither evidence to support your remark nor a leg to stand on.

[Paul Emery]

George

Can you point me to some Conservative print media-newspapers that matches your criteria for acceptable real, not fake, news.

[L]

Paul, as you express a desire to broaden your perspective, I suggest you begin with National Review Online for some of the best writers out there. In particular, you should read Andrew McCarthy for a legal understanding of what's currently transpiring in DC. You're welcome. L

[Paul Emery]

Thanks L I do read the National Review from time to time, he started it I understand. I used to watch William Buckley on Firing Line for years. There's a great one with him going toe to toe with Noam Chomsky.

Here's a link for a teaser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYlMEVTa-PI

[Paul Emery]

Meant to say William Buckley started it I understand .

[Paul Emery]

Any daily print newspapers you recommend?

[George Rebane]

PaulE, daily conservative newspapers? New York Post, Chicago Tribune, and WSJ come to mind.

[Paul Emery]

Thanks George

Don't hear much about the Tribune these days.

[Don Bessee]

A peek at the vast left wing conspiracy -

https://dailycaller.com/2018/09/18/soros-kavanaugh-protesters/

;-)

[Account Deleted]

Paul - start reading Taki's Magazine. All the different authors. It will set your hair on fire, but you probably won't be able to refute a single line. And you will get an education in 'diversity'. De Groot is one of the best out there right now. No - I don't agree with everything there, but it's intelligently written and collectively, most of the premises have proven true over time.
DK has devolved into a fake 'progressive' rag full of F-bombs and nonsense backed up with absolutely no facts. They strut around all lefty-like, but always in the end it's vote for the Dems.
Slate occasionally will let slip a good article. Huff-Po seems to be another Dem party mouthpiece.
Reason and Zero Hedge have good stuff most of the time although they exhibit the typical libertarian blind spot of thinking that most all govts are the same. Hint: they're not.

[George Rebane]

DonB 413pm - The payoffs to protesters are a witnessed fact. I wonder why there is no outrage from the Left, or is that just their SOP?

[Don Bessee]

Dr. R @ 541 Soros SOP for sure! ;-)

[Bill Tozer]

This is an older article (6/18/18) but it reeks with the Dems’ lust for taxes. They just can’t wait to raise taxes. They live for raising taxes. They hunger and thirst for raising taxes.if the Dems take control, kiss all the good economic news good-bye. Kiss it all good-bye.

“November 2018 was supposed to be the election that finally delivered the super-majorities Oregon Democrats have long lusted after. After this week, that's going to be much more difficult.

The Oregon Constitution requires approval by three-fifths of each legislative chamber to pass new taxes, which Democrats would like the tools to do. In each chamber, they are one vote shy of a three-fifths advantage—the so-called super-majority (Democrats control the House 35-25 and the Senate 17-13). With Democratic anger at Republican President Donald Trump boiling over, this fall appeared to present the Democrats with their best chance in many years to take full control.”

https://www.wweek.com/news/2018/06/27/oregons-democratic-legislative-candidates-keep-dropping-out-imperiling-november-pickups-and-the-dream-of-a-super-majority/

It was a bad week for the Oregon Democrats.

[Bonnie McGuire]

TM 12:04 Regarding Indian immigrants...
Dinesh D'Souza came to America as a student from India, and eventually became a legal citizen. He is exceptionally intelligent and talented. I notice the internet is really hammering him lately calling him extreme right which is a lie. He's intelligent and logical like most moderate people who are observing about everything in life. Labels are ignorant and distracting for those who don't pay attention. The tactic reminds me of what those in power did to Jesus Christ and all good people throughout history who were a threat to them.
This speech by Dinesh D'Souza is really interesting. I think it took place around August 2 when his movie "Death of a Nation" was released a few months after President Trump pardoned him for the jail sentence he got for an illegal donation We are watching the parallel treatment of Lincoln and Trump. Actually anyone who doesn't go along with what the gang tells them to do.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F-pZFlg6DZU