"We have nothing to fear but those who live in fear." – BH, RR reader and contributor
George Rebane
[This is the addended transcript of my regular KVMR commentary broadcast on 13 October 2020.]
Our Left has been telling Republicans for years that Democrats are the party of intellectuals and the highly educated. Republicans are viewed by the Left as mostly Bible-thumpin’and gun totin’ knuckle-draggers, categorized simply as those ‘irredeemable deplorables’ on our political landscape. Among the many deficits allegedly shared by those on the Right is their disdain for science, which the Democratic Party claims is the guiding star for their public policies and gives imprimatur to the pronouncements of their elites.
The strongest substance for that belief is the oft-cited ratio of white college graduates who claim party affiliation. The Atlantic sits solidly on the throne of leftwing wisdom and light, from whence it advises us that ‘America Is Divided by Education’, and asserts that “the gulf between the party identification of white voters with college degrees and those without is growing rapidly. Trump is widening it.” Actually, there is no evidence for that, and the National Center for Educational Statistics has shown a growing fraction of those of all races and ethnicities who obtain bachelor’s or higher degrees (here).
What really is more than puzzling is the lack of published numbers on party totals of those who have a 4-year college degree or higher. It is well known that Democrats enjoy higher percentages of black and Hispanic members, but we don’t know how many of these with college degrees make up or contribute to each party’s cohort of the well-educated (more here ) . The best we can tell from Pew Research is that “about a third (34%) of those with a college degree or more education identify as Democrats, compared with 24% who identify as Republicans.” Note that this doesn’t answer what fraction of Democrats v Republicans have a college degree or more. (more here and here)
So, let’s attempt to leapfrog this gap in our knowledge and find out how the parties react to the most up-to-date science regarding Covid-19. The World Health Organization has recently concluded that lockdowns as a pandemic response don’t work, and instead do great damage to the poorest segments of the world’s population. This conclusion was amplified by last week’s publication of the Greater Barrington Declaration drafted by health scientists from Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford, and co-signed by thousands of professionals from all walks. Its authors cite extensive clinical evidence to confirm the WHO conclusion, and strongly recommend that all nations immediately stand down from their ineffective and insane lockdown policies. Even more strongly, they conclude that the additional deaths and morbidities, on top of the economic disasters caused by such policies, actually constitute “crimes against humanity” of the kind last litigated in Nuremberg in 1946. (more here and here)
For reasons we don’t have time for here, the leftwing news outlets have covered none of this. And apparently the country’s declared Democrats don’t look much beyond what they are told on MSNBC, CNN, et al. So, when Gallup assembled a recent panel for a survey on how men and women of both parties view and respond to Covid-19, they discovered and published some interesting results which reflect on the educational levels as characterized by Democrats. (see Addendum)
Gallup asked the panel questions about ‘concern over catching the virus’, ‘concern about exposure at work’, ‘avoiding going to public places’, and so on. They concluded by asking who would be ‘ready to return to normal activities right now’. Overwhelmingly, the results indicated that Democrats were significantly more fearful of the pandemic than Republicans, and women of both parties were more hesitant than men to interpret the science news that went counter to that released within the Democrat narrative about proper responses that recommend ongoing lockdowns, widespread social distancing, and perpetual wearing of masks. Given the widely published mortality statistics, the presented results do not bode well for the party that claims to be more educated and attuned to the findings and contentions of science.
These conclusions explain why people in liberal states like California continue to be both docile and sanguine about their states’ ongoing draconian Covid-19 response policies - policies no longer supported by scientific consensus or internationally reputable scientists and clinicians. It is clear that America’s public policy responses to this pandemic have been completely co-opted to serve greater political agendas in this election year.
My name is Rebane, and I also expand on this and related themes on Rebane’s Ruminations where the addended transcript of this commentary is posted with additional data and relevant links, and where such issues are debated extensively. However, my views are not necessarily shared by KVMR. Thank you for listening.
[Addendum] Here is the table of compiled results by Gallup showing how respondents felt about loosening up on Covid-19 response policy protocols.
The Queen of the DAMNED is really losing it.
Wolfy? A Repub apologist? WOW!! He really got her P.O.ed
https://dailycaller.com/2020/10/13/pelosi-cnn-apologists-republicans-interview-wolf-blitzer/#disqus_thread
"Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi slammed CNN and anchor Wolf Blitzer in an interview Tuesday when he pressed her on passing a coronavirus stimulus package.
In the interview, Blitzer pressed Pelosi on why she would not accept the $1.8 trillion dollar deal the White House and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had proposed. She responded by saying it is still not enough money. Blitzer then went on to read a tweet from Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna which urged Pelosi to take the deal from the White House.
“I don’t know why you’re always an apologist and many of your colleagues are apologists for the Republican position … Ro Khanna, that’s nice. That isn’t what we’re going to do,” Pelosi said to Blitzer in response."
That's more money than she helped piss away with TARP.
This is easy.. Thou shalt not make ANY deal with Trump.
America be damned.
Posted by: Walt | 13 October 2020 at 04:37 PM
One thing I like about these kinds of reports...
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2019/2019038.pdf
is that a person could have written it and not even measured people in real life. You'll always see the same range of numbers with the same actors. Innate? Cultural? It doesn't really matter.
The tricky thing going forward will be finding ways to keep people busy, assuming we don't collapse in a BLM or immigration triggered civilization collapse. I'd say that nearly all people need work to keep out of mischief and generally it needs to be coerced somehow.
In terms of political parties, you never see a simple number showing something like average educational level attained. People tend to pour through the numbers and cherry pick something with the desired result (More Democrats have PhDs in sociology! ¡Qué milagro!).
Looking here on George's blog, you can count on nearly all of Team Red having STEM resumes or skilled trades while Team Blue consists of folks who scammed their ways through life or were school teachers (a form of tarted-up 'academic'). Given the ever-decreasing amount of useful work done locally, it might not be a good sampling of the population at large.
Posted by: scenes | 14 October 2020 at 08:00 AM
A little off-topic:
"Nearly 29,000 Allegheny County (where Pittsburgh PA is) voters have received the wrong ballot because of a programming and printing error by the company hired to print and mail the county’s ballots, officials said Wednesday.
Voters who received the wrong ballot will be sent a new ballot, Voye said. Those ballots will be delivered to the post office Thursday, and most should be delivered by next week.
I apologize for it and commit to you that I will do everything in my power to ensure that we are not plagued by any other such issues."
Allegheny Co. is a strongly Dem county. So we've gone from 9 ballots dumped into a creek, to 28,879 free-range ballots, looking for a home. It's under control though.
Posted by: The Estonian Fox | 14 October 2020 at 12:16 PM
EFox 1216pm - Not to worry, that's what mail-elections are for, for the government to work out the kinks before it starts administering nationalized healthcare. And as you say, everything will be under control (besides, what're you bitching about? it'll all be free).
Posted by: George Rebane | 14 October 2020 at 01:51 PM
So George what you are saying is the purpose of mail-election elections is "to work out the kinks before it starts administering nationalized healthcare."
Who made that decision and how is it administered and who does the admnistration?
Posted by: paul emery | 14 October 2020 at 04:58 PM
PaulE 458pm - Paul, I'm just trying to be helpful and come up with a plausible reason for having a mail-in election with millions of unsolicited ballots mailed to people, and then overwhelming the USPS with their returns. Maybe I'm wrong, and all the Dems wanted was an opportunity for people of all kinds to just stuff their ballots in the mail, and then use the subsequent delays in obtaining results for their own political purposes. I don't really know, but my explanation is as plausible as any other for launching the mail-in voting campaign since the Covid reasons no longer hold water, and previous absentee and walk-in voting systems have worked for generations. Why fix it if it ain't broke? What do you think?
Posted by: George Rebane | 14 October 2020 at 05:18 PM
George.
Can you explain why Covid reasons no longer hold water. For a senior citizen, someone with disabilities or someone with physical problems that make them susceptible to the virus mail in options are very helpful and if lines are huge they may not have the stamina to wait hours in lines . Since our own FBI director says there is no evidence of mass problems with illegal mail ins what is the problem? Mass fraud is difficult since a posted, signed and dated ballot is required and the signatures must match up with the signature on the voter registration before the votes are valid.
How exactly would mass fraud work without HUGE stolen databases of signatures on voter registration forms.
Yes, the post office may be slow but so what if it takes a week or so as long as the votes are postmarked by and including the day of the election.
Can you help me out with providing some information about that.
Posted by: paul emery | 14 October 2020 at 05:54 PM
PaulE 554pm - had you read my above commentary, and the many which have preceded it, you would know.
And you are raising the fraud question, not me. I'm just willing to bet the farm that the nationwide mail-ins will create massive confusion and bottlenecks - believing the matter to be settled in a week is the height of naivete. Can you provide info that none of that will happen given the daily new reports of problems with mail-in ballots?
Posted by: George Rebane | 14 October 2020 at 06:20 PM
Don't hold your breath, Paul. I'm sure Dr. Rebane has better things to do than respond to your nonsense. Taking a dump, for example.
You, transparently, already have chosen your version of answers and no one need play along.
Posted by: L | 14 October 2020 at 06:31 PM
So whose fault is it George that it takes over a week to deliver a simple letter? Don't we deserve better from our postal service?
Okay let's make it two weeks then to count the ballots postmarked in proper time. That's what it takes in California. Has been that way for years.
Posted by: paul emery | 14 October 2020 at 06:34 PM
Paul is hilarious - "So whose fault is it George that it takes over a week to deliver a simple letter?"
And Paul wants that same govt to administer his medical care.
Hey, Paul - why not just go down to the polls and friggin vote?
We've done it for centuries.
Too damn scared?
Too stoned?
Too lazy-assed?
Too frightened?
Thousands have died for your right to vote and you're too chicken shit to just show up and vote.
That tells us all we need to know about you.
Posted by: Scott O | 14 October 2020 at 07:47 PM
Since we have so many early voters, what happens to a person's vote, who voted on Oct 8 say, if he dies on Oct 10? And his signature is under review and dispute after the election? And he is not there to affirm that it indeed is his signature? Is that vote rendered void?
Seems ever more likely to happen with the early voting juggernaut.
Posted by: The Estonian Fox | 15 October 2020 at 04:12 AM
A tale of two COVID economies: Red state recovery, blue state recession
https://justthenews.com/nation/economy/tale-two-recoveries-red-states-outpacing-blue-states-economic-growth-driven
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 15 October 2020 at 07:04 AM
Paul Emery and His Many Question:
So whose fault is it George that it takes over a week to deliver a simple letter?
It usually doesn't. Perhaps it's Trump's fault? Is there such a thing as a 'complicated' letter? Why would this represent a huge problem anyway, most people get at least a piece of mail per day, it seems no worse than other mass mailings (better, there's fewer targets).
Don't we deserve better from our postal service?
Why? This (epidemic) is a unique circumstance.
If you can go to the grocery store in the last 6 months, you can go to the polls.
I would suggest coming up with voting systems that are (a)scalable and (b)auditable. Perhaps something involving Yubikeys, two factor ID, and the internet. Roll it out in one area and see if it survives contact with the enemy.
Here's the truth of the matter. Mass, ID'less mail-in voting favors Democrats in a close national race. There's more opportunities for chicanery and more opportunities for extracting votes from non-functional people. Republicans benefit from less cheating and certain barriers for voting by felons, street people, patients in comas whose hands can be guided to fill out a voting form. The rest of this argument is just empty details masking this fact.
Posted by: scenes | 15 October 2020 at 07:28 AM
scenes 728am - Amen, Mr scenes.
Posted by: George Rebane | 15 October 2020 at 09:45 AM
scenes, George
Can you describe how "chicanery and more opportunities for extracting votes from non-functional people" through mail-in voting would work to affect enough votes to make a change in the voting results using the current mail in voting verification procedures ? Inform me as what resources data and skills would be necessary to achieve those results. Trump is claiming mass voter fraud is likely and I'm curious as to how that can be achieved.
"At a Sept. 23 press briefing, the president said “we’re going to have to see what happens,” when he was asked if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power. “Get rid of the ballots,” he said, and there would be a “very peaceful … continuation” of power.
“The ballots are out of control,” he said of mail-in ballots. “You know it. And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than anybody else.” He doubled down the next day, saying mail-in ballots are “a whole big scam” when asked if he would only accept the election results if he wins.
“We want to make sure the election is honest, and I’m not sure that it can be,” he told reporters on Sept. 24. “I don’t know that it can be with this whole situation — unsolicited ballots. They’re unsolicited; millions being sent to everybody. And we’ll see.”
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/09/trumps-repeated-false-attacks-on-mail-in-ballots/
Posted by: paul emery | 15 October 2020 at 10:59 AM
PaulE 1059am - Don't know how it would "affect enough votes", but the ways in which mail-in votes can be screwed - purposely or through incompetence - are manifold and uncountable. I suppose we will be told about many of these ways after the election results are thrown into litigation. This is already going on, and we know from countless reports how few votes are required to swing a district or jurisdiction.
As a devotee of mail-in voting, how are you taking in these reports of errors and mistakes in accounting for mailed ballots?
Posted by: George Rebane | 15 October 2020 at 11:14 AM
I take them as typical tiny percentages of the millions of votes involved in a Presidential election. Even the FBI says it's no problem. Actually they are more concerned about the Russians interfering in the elections, something Trump snows little or no concern about. Direct quote from the FBI and other aligned agencies:
"Our agencies have been working in unprecedented ways to combat influence efforts and to support state and local officials in securing our elections, including efforts to harden election infrastructure against interference. Our goal is clear: ensure every vote is counted and counted correctly. At this time we have no indication of compromise of our nation’s election infrastructure that would prevent voting, change vote counts, or disrupt the ability to tally votes.
But Americans should be aware that foreign actors—and Russia in particular—continue to try to influence public sentiment and voter perceptions through actions intended to sow discord. They can do this by spreading false information about political processes and candidates, lying about their own interference activities, disseminating propaganda on social media, and through other tactics. The American public can mitigate these efforts by remaining informed, reporting suspicious activity, and being vigilant consumers of information, as discussed below.......
More in link below
https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/joint-statement-on-election-day-preparations
Posted by: paul emery | 15 October 2020 at 12:01 PM
PaulE 1201pm - Thanks for the reply Paul. If these are "typical tiny percentages", then they should evoke little interest in seeing if they impact the election. Do you think that on 4 November the then losing side will agree with your "typical tiny percentages" assessment?
Posted by: George Rebane | 15 October 2020 at 01:59 PM
It will all depend on the closeness of the election George. there is the reality of Florida 2000. It may be that we will have to wait till the final legitimate votes are delivered and counted and that may take a couple of weeks. that does not in any way imply that there was illegal activities just incompetence of our postal services and vote counting processes.
Then There was the experience of the infamous butterfly ballet in Florida that could manifest itself in another form if things are that close. Third party drainage will not likely be a factor as it was in Florida with Ralph Nader legitimately draining a disproportionate number of Gore votes from the Dems than Repubs that more than made up for the difference. It was a fair game deal though and Gore lost.
Posted by: paul emery | 15 October 2020 at 02:22 PM
Paul Emery: "Can you describe how "chicanery and more opportunities for extracting votes from non-functional people" through mail-in voting would work to affect enough votes to make a change in the voting results using the current mail in voting verification procedures ?"
Tell me what the 'current mail in voting verification procedures' are first.
Posted by: scenes | 15 October 2020 at 02:37 PM
"'current mail in voting verification procedures' are first."
It showed up at the election office? Good nuff for the Emery types, even if it was filled out in crayon.
Posted by: Walt | 15 October 2020 at 02:44 PM
PaulE 222pm - How does Hillary's advice for 'Democrats to never ever give in' fit into your scenarios?
Posted by: George Rebane | 15 October 2020 at 02:56 PM
George
I don't think she's important to the Biden Dems or anyone else for that matter. She is sooo 2016 and not at all relevant today. Obama on the other hand is. But it's not his style to make that kind of declaration.
Trump and his followers have a fixation on Hillary and have to be here in the present time to contend in this election. When Trump rants on about "Crooked Hillary" nobody really cares and it certainly does not garner him new supporters which he's going to need to pull off a win in Nov 3.
Posted by: Paul Emery | 15 October 2020 at 03:28 PM
Already did that several times scenes. Check my posts earlier today or last night. I'm not going to repeat them to cater to you. You either don't read or you have no memory.
Posted by: Paul Emery | 15 October 2020 at 03:31 PM
Looked at the WSJ/NBC poll today and it is too ridiculous. Weighted by 12 for the democrats and they expect us to believe it? This is why these "registered" voter polls are bogus.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 15 October 2020 at 03:37 PM
The Trump instant rallies sure are fun. Let's see how the head to head tonight goes. The dems are already crying and telling us that "of course Trump will win" What a hoot.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 15 October 2020 at 03:39 PM
They think they can not be enough partisanship -
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/liberal-group-calls-for-feinstein-to-stand-down-from-judiciary-committee-role-after-graham-hug
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 15 October 2020 at 03:50 PM
No Emery, You just what the Hillary evidence to just go away.
She set the whole impeachment crap in motion with fraudulent documents. Since you decided to become some fiscal watchdog on what got pissed away,, how much did the 3.6 year witch hunt cost us all because of her and the LIB flying monkeys?
So it must be your opinion Hillary can break the law and get away with it. Now don't forget her gross negligence with state secrets. Illegal server remind you?
Yaa... You give her a pass.
Great partisan justice.
Posted by: Walt | 15 October 2020 at 04:04 PM
Lets see when was the last time police unions went for a presidential candidate, oh Saint Ronnie -
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/defund-police-movement-drives-police-to-back-president-trump
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 15 October 2020 at 04:17 PM
The can not help but show their true colors -
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-martha-mc-sally-mark-kelly-campaign-spokesman-called-police-officers-worthless-pigs
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 15 October 2020 at 04:22 PM
Who do you think is feeling better about this? -
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/10/15/poll-joe-biden-donald-trump-dead-heat-pennsylvania/
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 15 October 2020 at 05:14 PM
“.....continue to try to influence public sentiment and voter perceptions through actions intended to sow discord. The Poppinjay can do this by spreading false information about political processes and candidates, lying about their own interference activities, disseminating propaganda on social media, and through other tactics.
The American public can mitigate these efforts by remaining informed, reporting suspicious activity, and being vigilant consumers of information, as discussed by watching those inflicted with TDS.”
Posted by: I know Joe Koyote | 15 October 2020 at 05:35 PM
So the biden wokesters said let us get back with ya after we win, in say 3 years negro. But you know you ain't black if you don't vote for me right cuz? LOL -
"Facts: I put out the CWBA. Both parties contacted me," Ice Cube tweeted Wednesday. "Dems said we’ll address the CWBA after the election. Trump campaign made some adjustments to their plan after talking to us about the CWBA."
The recording artist's remarks came a day after Trump advisor Katrina Pierson thanked him for his "willingness to step up and work with @realDonaldTrump Administration to help develop the #PlatinumPlan," adding, "Leaders gonna lead, haters gonna hate."
Pierson's tweet ignited criticism from many who felt betrayed by Ice Cube, who is known for fighting white supremacy through his music, including his 2018 track "Arrest the President," and of course, N.W.A.'s seminal "F— tha Police" protesting police brutality.
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/entertainment/facing-backlash-ice-cube-defends-190114697.html
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 15 October 2020 at 07:40 PM
Final Voter Registration numbers for Nevada County
Total 70,787
D's 27,986 or 35%
R's 23,498 or 33%
I's 17,550 or 24%
Maybe Paul Emery can tell us how those numbers and percentages makes NC a blue county. LOL!
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 16 October 2020 at 11:11 AM
Naa. No Partisan fears, Look who stacked the deck!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-town-hall-questioners-former-obama-speechwriter-wife-pennsylvania-democrat
"One of the questioners at the ABC-hosted event was Nathan Osburn, a former speechwriter for the Obama White House. Osburn specifically worked for the Office of Public Affairs at the Commerce Department under the Obama-Biden administration and at the Small Business Administration. "
"Another questioner at the town hall was Mieke Haeck, who ABC presented as a physical therapist from State College, Pa.
Haeck is also the wife of Ezra Nanes, a high-profile Democrat in Pennsylvania who in 2018 ran a campaign challenging Republican state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman. Nanes is currently an at-large member of the Centre County Democratic Committee. Centre County is the county in which State College resides. "
Posted by: Walt | 16 October 2020 at 11:33 AM
Just look at recent elections Todd. Dems won most all of the state and fed races in Nevada County.
For example NC voted for Hillary by 5 over Trump in'16 Also Newsom and Denny in '18, Why do you think that is Todd?
Posted by: paul emery | 16 October 2020 at 12:01 PM
punchy
"Dems won most all of the state and fed races in Nevada County"
"most all"... means it's competitive, yes?
'frisco is Blue and any R on the ballot is only there from subborness. Nirvana County is purple. Sorry punchy, you need to convince more of the people you don't like to move. Or move yourself to 'frisco where the tap water is clean (stolen from Hetch Hetchy) and there's needles and crap on the sidewalks.
Posted by: Gregory | 16 October 2020 at 01:01 PM
Would you look at that -
Florida Republicans have cut the voter registration gap with Democrats to a historic low, giving the GOP a boost during early voting.
Politico reported Thursday night that the difference in registration numbers for voters in the battleground state is the lowest in at least three decades.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/florida-gop-close-voter-registration-gap-with-democrats-to-historic-low
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 16 October 2020 at 01:22 PM