Thus spake VDH

Civilization is fragile. It hinges on ensuring the stuff of life.

 To be able to eat, to move about, to have shelter, to be free from state or tribal coercion, to be secure abroad and safe at home—only that allows cultures to be freed from the daily drudgery of mere survival.

 Civilization alone permits humans to pursue sophisticated scientific research, the arts, and the finer aspects of culture.

 So, the great achievement of Western civilization—consensual government, individual freedom, rationalism in partnership with religious belief, free market economics, and constant self-critique and audit—was to liberate people from daily worry over state violence, random crime, famine, and an often unforgiving nature.

 But so often the resulting leisure and affluence instead deluded arrogant Western societies into thinking that modern man no longer needed to worry about the fruits of civilization he took to be his elemental birthright.

 As a result, the once-prosperous Greek city-state, Roman Empire, Renaissance republics, and European democracies of the 1930s imploded—as civilization went headlong in reverse.

 We in the modern Western world are now facing just such a crisis.

 We talk grandly about the globalized Great Reset. We blindly accept the faddish Green New Deal. We virtue signal about defunding the police. We merely shrug at open borders. And we brag about banning fertilizers and pesticides, outlawing the internal combustion engine, and discounting Armageddon in the nuclear age—as if on autopilot we have already reached utopia.

 But meanwhile, Westerners are systematically destroying the very elements of our civilization that permitted such fantasies in the first place.

 Take fuel. Europeans arrogantly lectured the world that they no longer need traditional fuels. So they shut down nuclear power plants. They stopped drilling for oil and gas. And they banned coal.

 What followed was a dystopian nightmare. Europeans will burn dirty wood this winter as their civilization reverts from postmodern abundance to premodern survival.

 The Biden administration ossified oil fields. It canceled new federal oil and gas leases. It stopped pipeline construction and hectored investors to shun fossil fuels.

 When scarcity naturally followed, fuel prices soared.

 The middle class has now mortgaged its upward mobility to ensure that they might afford gasoline, heating oil, and skyrocketing electricity.

 The duty of the Pentagon is to keep America safe by deterring enemies, reassuring allies, and winning over neutrals.

 It’s not to hector soldiers based on their race. It’s not to indoctrinate recruits in the woke agenda. It’s not to become a partisan political force.

 The result of those suicidal Pentagon detours is the fiasco in Afghanistan, the aggression of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the new bellicosity of China, and the loud threats of rogue regimes such as Iran.

 At home, the Biden administration inexplicably destroyed the southern border, as if civilized nations of the past never needed such boundaries.

 Utter chaos followed. Three million migrants have poured into the United States. While some cross over clandestinely, others clear border stations without an adequate audit, and largely without skills, high school diplomas, or capital.

 The streets of our cities are anarchical—and by intent.

 Defunding the police, emptying the jails, and destroying the criminal justice system unleashed a wave of criminals. It’s now open season on the weak and innocent.

 America is racing backward into the 19th-century Wild West. Predators maim, kill, and rob with impunity. Felons correctly conclude that bankrupt postmodern “critical legal theory” will ensure them exemption from punishment.

 Few Americans know anything about agriculture, except to expect limitless supplies of inexpensive, safe, and nutritious food at their beck and call.

 But that entitlement for 330 million hungry mouths requires massive water projects and new dams and reservoirs. Farmers rely on steady supplies of fertilizer, fuels, and chemicals. Take away that support—as green nihilists are attempting—and millions will soon go hungry, as they have since the dawn of civilization.

 Perhaps nearly a million homeless now live on the streets of America. Our major cities have turned medieval with their open sewers, garbage-strewn sidewalks, and violent vagrants.

 So, we are in a great experiment in which regressive progressivism discounts all the institutions and the methodologies of the past that have guaranteed a safe, affluent, well-fed, and sheltered America.

 Instead, we arrogantly are reverting to a new feudalism as the wealthy elite—terrified of what they have wrought—selfishly retreat to their private keeps.

 But the rest who suffer the consequences of elite flirtations with nihilism can’t even afford food, shelter, and fuel. And they now feel unsafe, both as individuals and as Americans.

 As we suffer self-inflicted mass looting, random street violence, hyperinflation, a nonexistent border, unaffordable fuel, and a collapsing military, Americans will come to appreciate just how thin is the veneer of their civilization.

 When stripped away, we’re relearning that what lies just beneath is utterly terrifying.

 Victor Davis Hanson

Comments

[fish]

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.

H. L. Mencken

[Paul Emery]

George

It's amazing to me that you seem to idolize this guy who was one of the neo-cons responsible for the War in Iraq and our 20 year occupation of Afganistan. What is conservative about that?

And yes fish the German people knew what they wanted when the flocked to Hitler and look at what they got.

[Gregory]

punchy 212p

And what office did Hanson hold that enabled him as "one of the neo-cons responsible for the War in Iraq"? What did he write?

Be specific... Give us quotes.

I suspect you hold that view because he didn't join in the anti-Bush dog-piles you were jumping into.

[Paul Emery]

Already did that Gregory. Take the time and look it up

[Scott O]

Hey Paul. Here's a thought - why don't you read Hanson's words and offer a constructive criticism of them?
Y'know, like an adult would do.

[Gregory]

Punchy 348p

No, you do didn't.

[Paul Emery]

Already did that Scott. He offers only opinions and no facts. He is actually a good writer with nothing to say. Supporting the War in Iraq as he did speaks to his intelligence or lack of it.

Check this out Gregory from Ron Pauls publication from the Ron Paul Institute no less. You do claim to be a Libertarian right Gregory'

Victor Davis Hanson's Magical Mystery Tour
Written by Chris Rossini
Friday November 15, 2013

Victor Davis Hanson, the neocons' favorite historian, goes off on a wild ride that would surely make for good copy in government schoolbooks:

The United States has ridden — and tamed — the wild global tiger since the end of World War II. The frantic ride has been dangerous, to us, but a boon to humanity.

In other words, peace and trade were not chosen after World War II, but instead the U.S. decided to jump on a fictional “global tiger”. With a Federal Reserve ready to print up as much money as necessary, and a homeland unscathed from the ravages of the war, there was no way the power hungry in the U.S. could resist trying to conquer the world.

Hanson says that the U.S. “tamed” the tiger and that it’s been a blessing for humanity. I’m not sure of the exact figure, but the U.S. empire has killed millions of people throughout the many years. So, evidently Hanson means “a boon to humanity” minus those millions of individuals. Let’s not forget Madeleine Albright’s statement that 500,000 dead Iraqi children were “worth it”.

Here's a link to the whole article:

http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/neocon-watch/2013/november/15/victor-davis-hansons-magical-mystery-tour/

[Bill Tozer]

Punchy. You keep saying you already discredited VDH and by implication, you are not going to dig it up. Settled. You been saying that since the Rebane’s went to see their grandkids.

If you make the charge, it’s up to you to back it up. But rather than stooping to your level, I will refrain from saying something like, “Prove it or you are a liar, “ and suggest you look at the VHR article, The Thin Veneer and comment on that. 330 million Americans is a lot of mouths to feed, not to mention heat them in the winter and have us all secure in our neighborhoods.

Anything here you take exception to?:

“But the rest who suffer the consequences of elite flirtations with nihilism can’t even afford food, shelter, and fuel. And they now feel unsafe, both as individuals and as Americans.

As we suffer self-inflicted mass looting, random street violence, hyperinflation, a nonexistent border, unaffordable fuel, and a collapsing military, Americans will come to appreciate just how thin is the veneer of their civilization.

When stripped away, we’re relearning that what lies just beneath is utterly terrifying.”

Yep, when the thin blue line which keeps society from descending into violent chaos.
Is breeched, people start having food insecurity, see their 401ks decimated, are struggling to keep warm and keeping their vehicles going…..well, Punchy, that ain’t progress, that is going backwards before the Revolution and back to the rather barbaric and meager existence of the Dark Ages. That is not progressive, that is turning the page back before we could have the luxury of enjoying wine and song. Can’t achieve utopia with open borders. New Zealand will tax animal husbandry farts beginning in 2025. Kill the farmer and worry about food later.

Oh yeah. Add this to the list spending….

https://republicans-budget.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/the-Cost-of-One-party-Democrat-Rule.pdf

The just gave Ben Bernanke a Nobel for a 1983 paper he wrote. A proper headline is, “Arsonist given Nobel for FireFighting.

[Paul Emery]

Already backed it up Bill, several moths ago. Go back and find it Libertarians know he's a phoney but of course you are not a Libertarian. Gregory claims he is but he's really a Trumper in Libertarian clothes.

And once again Bill how about the 7 Trillion debt Trump ran up in only 4 years. Who's going to pay that off? It's the Republicans not the Democrats that crash the economy. Look at the mess Roosevelt inherited and Obama as well. Then we have Biden with the trashed economy that Trump left after he was booted and became the biggest political loser since the 1800's. Those observations are facts Bill not the dribble that VDH feeds you,

[Don Bessee]

A great big one-handed clap for the ponytail of ignorance's comic stylings! LOL

;-)

[Scott O]

Paul 9:05 - "Already did that Scott."
Actually, Paul - you did not. You offered not one single comment on what Hanson wrote in the above post.
You just quote others who don't like him, including comments about other people that have nothing to do with anything that Hanson has said or written.

[Gregory]

Gregory has been registered and voting Libertarian for over 40 years, and he even was a significant donor to the Ron Paul campaign in '88. My wife and son (in utero) even met Paul at Timothy Leary's house.

What Gregory hasn't done is ever registered GOP or ever voted for Trump. Punchy is a liar, but what else is new.

Responsible:

Definition of responsible

1a : liable to be called on to answer
b(1) : liable to be called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent a committee responsible for the job
(2) : being the cause or explanation mechanical defects were responsible for the accident
c : liable to legal review or in case of fault to penalties
2a : able to answer for one's conduct and obligations : trustworthy
b : able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3 : marked by or involving responsibility or accountability responsible financial policies
4 : politically answerable especially : required to submit to the electorate if defeated by the legislature —used especially of the British cabinet

The barely literate Punch just reaches for words that sound right to him.

[Bill Tozer]

“Already backed it up Bill, several moths ago. Go back and find it.”

The burden is on you, Punch. I am interested in what you wrote. Don’t recall you backing it up several moths ago or even several years ago. Maybe you forgot to hit ‘Post’. I have done that a couple times myself.

You sound like the sock puppet Dixon who criticized the small town where VDH lives, yet failed to critique anything he wrote.

Moving on. PS: I knew you could not resist the spending figures, lol.

Whatever you say, Psul Emeryville, what ever you say.

[Bill Tozer]

America's Suicidal Energy Policy Has Very Real Costs

https://jewishworldreview.com/1022/shapiro101222.php3

[Paul Emery]

Speaking of providing verification for statements VDH offers none in the scribbles George has chosen to include in his post. When he says something like
"The streets of our cities are anarchical—and by intent." he offers absolutely no evidence to back his contention. All it is is bullshit.

[George Rebane]

PaulE 911am - Perhaps foreign to you, but this is an op-ed commentary by VDH, not a scholarly article. VDH lists a compendium of 'propositions' well-known to his readers which have been confirmed countless times by institutional data metrics. E.g. we see fresh videos nightly on FN, but not on the lamestream, of anarchical behaviors on our city streets. And they are indeed intended by the woke progressives in that it is a matter of record of the support denied our police and the Left's emplacement of prosecutors who 1) don't prosecute, and 2) release dangerous felons onto our streets.

This can be shown for every one of VDH's propositions. You of the Left don't dare acknowledge any of it - "the border is secure" - because that would guarantee that the independents would then skewer you in the voting booth. That's why all you have left to broadcast is a bucket of lies about abortion viz democracy, and endless repetitions of the endemic Trump Derangement Syndrome suffered by your kind.

[Gregory]

Punchy 911a

What sense of "responsible" were you intending when you claimed VDH was "one of the neo-cons responsible for the War in Iraq"?

[Paul Emery]

So George, we agree that this is an op-ed commentary therefore does not have to be verified by facts. That's all I intended to say and you have said it for me more efficiently. Thanks

[Scott O]

Paul - it is certainly not "all BS".
Recently in Washington State, a violent, mentally ill man was freed with apparently no supervision and allowed to keep his firearm (known to the authorities) and allowed to wander off to Idaho where he murdered a married couple who ran a hotel in New Meadows. He was supposed to be incarcerated but a lefty judge freed him from jail because a room in the looney bin wasn't available fast enough. Boo and hoo. He was an obvious threat to the public, but the criminal's rights seem these days to outweigh the public's right to be protected by the govt.
Meanwhile the FBI continues armed raids on totally non-violent citizens' homes even in cases where the subject of the raid volunteers to surrender to authorities if only they were asked.
But you lefties know nothing of any of this because you are blind to the realities of life in this country.

[Scott O]

Paul - "...therefore does not have to be verified by facts."
Facts you would refuse to acknowledge, Paul.
What would be the point?
Could you offer any 'facts' to deny what Hanson has written?
Have fun in dreamland.

[psfish]

Posted by: psul Emery | 12 October 2022 at 10:33 AM

So George, we agree that this is an op-ed commentary therefore does not have to be verified by facts. That's all I intended to say and you have said it for me more efficiently. Thanks

A more convincing display of Gregory's contention: "Punchy punches" could not be asked for.

[George Rebane]

PaulE 1033am - No one thinks that all you meant to say in your 911am was that op-ed commentaries do not have to be verified by facts. Your meaning was clear - the VDH commentary was free of facts, containing only rightwing falsifications.

[Gregory]

Punchy 911a

What sense of "responsible" were you intending when you claimed VDH was "one of the neo-cons responsible for the War in Iraq"?

[Paul Emery]

It's well documented if you bother to look Gregory. I already did that and posed it months ago.

[Paul Emery]

Here's an example George,

"The streets of our cities are anarchical—and by intent"

Who precisely intended for the streets to be "anarchical" which by the way they are not. What is the proof of that false assumption?

[Scott O]

Paul 7:02 - "Who precisely intended for the streets to be "anarchical..."
Uh, Paul - ever hear of this guy named Soros?
Nah, didn't think so.
further:
From the left wing Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/12/hunger-food-insecurity-midterms-humiliating-us-voters
"‘It’s humiliating’: US voters struggle with hunger ahead of midterms"
Paul claims it's all BS.

[Scott O]

"It's well documented if you bother to look Gregory."
Yeah Greg.
VDH ordered the war personally. It's well documented.
The fact that you (or anyone else) can't find that online is because you just haven't bothered to look.

[psfish]

Posted by: psul Emery | 12 October 2022 at 07:02 PM

Who precisely intended for the streets to be "anarchical" which by the way they are not.

I’ve often wondered how psul gets his daily RDA of human fecal material from the clean streets of your faire burgh.

[Scott O]

psfish 8:09 - Paul gets gets his lowdown on the mean streets of big city USA from some stoner that lives in the bushes below the Miner's Foundry.
Paul considers himself quite the expert on urban life these days having made sure he never goes near any the places he proclaims to be nirvana.
Ask Paul how many people have been thrown in front of on-coming subway trains.
He'll tell you it's all BS.

[Paul Emery]

So Scott what evidence do you have that Soros ordered the streets to be "anarchical..." and what is hiw motive for doing so?

[Bill Tozer]

Oh silly Scott.
anarchical? Ever heard of CHOP CITY in Seattle? Portland, Ore? Folks in NYC who took the subway for years now refuse to do so because of random acts of violence? DC? Chicago? New Orleans? When the top Sheriff in LA County tells the good citizens and visitors do not wear watches or jewelry for their own safety on the street, what does that tell ya? Minneapolis? Violent criminals released from jail on no bail to prey on citizens again and again, with some being arrested 30, 30, 40 times? When flash mobs run into retail outlets and pluck the shelves clean in 2022 without any repercussions from sea to shining sea and not because of George Floyd, when it’s not chaos, it’s anarchy on the streets. The cops don’t own the streets, criminals do.

It’s an epidemic. It may happen in Red States, but only in the Blue Cities. How many thousands have left CA because of unsafe neighborhoods?

Why to the national surveys list the economy-inflation first on voters minds and crime second, ahead of things like abortion and climate change?? Last poll I read had 15% of folks survey put Global Warning as a top concern and abortion down the list. It’s the economy and crime as the one-two punch. Heck, the border ranks higher than abortion nationally. It’s lawlessness. It’s calling 2nd degree murder and assaulting a cop as ‘non violent’ crimes.

[psfish]

Posted by: psul Emery | 12 October 2022 at 08:27 PM

So Scott what evidence do you have that Soros ordered the streets to be "anarchical..." and what is hiw motive for doing so?

So Scott psul what evidence do you have that Soros Victor Davis Hanson ordered the streets to be "anarchical..." war in Iraq and what is hiw motive for doing so?

Yeah….what is hiw motivation?

[Bill Tozer]

Lol.

The Left’s Funny New Lie: It’s The ‘Red States’ With More Crime!

https://thefederalist.com/2022/10/12/the-lefts-funny-new-lie-its-the-red-states-with-more-crime/

[Paul Emery]

fish

Already covered it. Look it up.

Cracks me up. All of a sudden you're against the war in Iraq

[Scott O]

"So Scott what evidence do you have that Soros ordered the streets to be "anarchical..." and what is hiw motive for doing so?"

Just a few - I can list a crap-load more.
Funny how when I ask you to back up your bull shit you change the subject or disappear.

https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Our-World-Soross-campaign-of-global-chaos-464770

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/08/26/soross_campaign_of_global_chaos_131622.html#!

https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/george-soros-agent-of-chaos/

https://www.opindia.com/2021/05/russian-security-council-chief-george-soros-creating-unrest-in-usa-other-nations/

https://nypost.com/2021/12/16/how-george-soros-funded-progressive-das-behind-us-crime-surge/

https://www.foxnews.com/media/soros-funded-prosecutors-lawlessness-welcomed-leaders-tyranny-chaos-mccloskey

https://www.spreaker.com/user/sackheadsradio/replay-beth-grossman-talks-how-george-so

https://www.amazon.com/Soros-Quantum-Chaos-Wayne-Madsen/dp/1329706714

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/09/22/tucker-carlson-explains-how-george-soros-has-sown-chaos-into-american-cities-975793/

https://thenewamerican.com/george-soros-war-on-america-time-to-prosecute-the-billionaire/

https://thenewamerican.com/soros-exposed-orchestrating-ferguson-chaos/

https://nypost.com/2022/08/01/george-soros-vows-to-keep-backing-woke-das-despite-urban-crime-spikes/

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jan/24/george-soros-das-billionaires-cash-helped-elect-tw/

https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/op-ed-soros-backed-das-are-destroying-cities-making-america-less-safe/

[Scott O]

George - could you check the junk pile?

[psfish]

Posted by: psul Emery | 12 October 2022 at 09:38 PM

Cracks me up. All of a sudden you're against the war in Iraq

Cracks me up too!

I was always against the shenanigans in Iraq….perhaps the only thing you and I have ever agreed upon. Of course you’ve forgotten…..because….senile.

Toodles!

[fish]

Oh yes…..there’s so much more….!

EVERYTHING IS GOING SWIMMINGLY: In Pennsylvania, fear and uncertainty are on the ballot. “Elizalde, a city teacher, has not heard from the mayor or the school district since her son was shot and killed on Sept. 29. The man identified as a person of interest in the case, 16-year-old Dayron Burney-Thorn, had three priors, including resisting arrest and possessing a gun illegally.”

Why are Democrat-run cities such cesspits of crime and violence and death?

This would really be so much more fun if psul wasn’t……well you know.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/in-pennsylvania-fear-and-uncertainty-are-on-the-ballot

[Paul Emery]

fish

Perhaps you have forgotten the posts I made documenting Victor Davis Hansons record and history as a neocon. I'm surprised you support him since you opposed the war. I guess you're like Gregory, a former Libertarian that has gone adrift of their principals.

[psfish]

Posted by: psul Emery | 13 October 2022 at 08:27 AM

Since most of what you spout is complete nonsense you're probably right.....I have forgotten. But the post I made remains...

So Scott what evidence do you have that Soros ordered the streets to be "anarchical..." and what is hiw motive for doing so?

So Scott psul what evidence do you have that Soros Victor Davis Hanson ordered the streets to be "anarchical..." war in Iraq and what is hiw motive for doing so?

Sure Hanson writes and speaks on matters foreign policy related and he may be as you say a "neocon".......but even someone like yourself has to acknowledge that the contribution of a progressive scumbag like Soros who provides financial support to the campaigns of do nothing District Attorneys who refuse to prosecute criminals is every bit as contributory to the "anarchical streets" as you claim Hanson was to the war. You really need to overcome this "Protective Stupidity" as Orwell coined it if you want to be taken seriously.

“Crimestop means the faculty of stopping short, as though by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of misunderstanding the simplest arguments if they are inimical to Ingsoc Progressivism (fish), and of being bored or repelled by any train of thought which is capable of leading in a heretical direction. Crimestop, in short, means protective stupidity.”

[Gregory]

Punch, you've not documented any responsibility for foreign policy exercised by VDH; you did post a link to one decade old opinion piece by someone who dislikes VDH published by a Ron Paul house organ.

And the word you were searching for and missed completely is "principle", not principal.

[Paul Emery]

Thanks for the spelling correction Gregory. My question to you is how can a Libertarian such as you support VDH who was a big supporter of the war in Iraq that your leader Ron Paul rigorously opposed? The war was never supported by the Libertarians.

[Paul Emery]

Here's part of an essay by Ron Paul to remind you of the true values of Libertarians which you seem to have abandoned.

"We must remember initiating force to impose our will on others negates all the goodness for which we
profess to stand. We cannot be fighting to secure our freedom if we impose laws like the Patriot Act and a
national ID card on the American people.
Unfortunately, we have lost faith and confidence in the system of government with which we have been
blessed. Today too many Americans support, at least in the early stages, the use of force to spread our
message of hope and freedom. They too often are confused by the rhetoric that our armies are needed to
spread American goodness. Using force injudiciously, instead of spreading the worthy message of American
freedom through peaceful means, antagonizes our enemies, alienates our allies, and threatens personal
liberties here at home while burdening our economy.
If confidence can be restored in our American traditions of peace and trade, our influence throughout the
world would be enhanced just as it was once we rejected the military approach in Vietnam.
This change in policy can come easily once the people of this country decide that there is a better way to
conduct ourselves throughout the world. Whenever the people turn against war as a tool to promote certain
beliefs, the war ceases. That’s what we need today. Then we can get down to the business of setting an
example of how peace and freedom brings prosperity in an atmosphere that allows for excellence and virtue
to thrive.
A powerful bureaucratic military state negates all efforts to preserve these conditions that have served
America so well up until recent times. That is not what the American dream is all about. Without a change
in attitude, the American dream dies: a simple change that restates the principles of liberty enshrined in our
Constitution will serve us well in solving all the problems we face. The American people are up to the task; I
hope Congress is as well."

The entire essay is here:

https://reason.com/2012/06/19/ron-paul-this-is-why-we-fight/

[psfish]

Posted by: psul Emery | 13 October 2022 at 11:47 AM

Here's part of an essay by Ron Paul to remind you of the true values of Libertarians which you seem to have abandoned.

The libertarianism that Dr. Paul espoused is dead....dead, dead, dead......as dead as your pecker psul!

An admirable philosophy but wholly unworkable in modern America or anywhere else! Used to think the Swiss might have managed it and while they're (were) close....they've caught Europes disease. Only a matter of time for them now!

Ron Paul's libertarianism requires a self sufficient, reasonably self disciplined and intelligent populace. Conditions no longer found in modern Americans in numbers sufficient to ever make it workable.

Somewhat surprised that you posted it. It's not a political philosophy in which you would ever have any interest. You can smoke all the weed you want under an otherwise vaguely authoritarian democratic regime. Nor would you ever have voted for Paul.....not nearly government cheese under a Ron Paul administration!

[Gregory]

Punchy, the word was spelled just fine; you chose the wrong word.

What in the piece by VDH that GR quoted is contrary to Libertarians, libertarians or Ron Paul who once was a Libertarian. Here's the first few sentences:

"To be able to eat, to move about, to have shelter, to be free from state or tribal coercion, to be secure abroad and safe at home—only that allows cultures to be freed from the daily drudgery of mere survival.

Civilization alone permits humans to pursue sophisticated scientific research, the arts, and the finer aspects of culture.

So, the great achievement of Western civilization—consensual government, individual freedom, rationalism in partnership with religious belief, free market economics, and constant self-critique and audit—was to liberate people from daily worry over state violence, random crime, famine, and an often unforgiving nature."

I dare you to put on your thinking cap for once and quote a sentence from the snippet I've replicated that Ron or Rand Paul would object to. What you're doing is refusing to even read VDH because in your circles, he's been cancelled for years.

[Gregory]

psfish 121p

I think you are looking through a cartoon lens into Ron Paul's mind, and into the minds of libertarian Libertarians everywhere.

Imagine a Libertarian Border Colliedog in Congress... would it be a snarling beastie tearing into authoritarian statists? No, it would be nudging the Congresscritters, running interference and herding them towards solutions that gave the greatest freedoms to the greatest number.

If the Democrats went back to being a sane party, I'd rejoin them as being libertarian enough, but it would be insane to hold my breath while waiting. Perhaps the GOP will beat them to the punch.

[Paul Emery]

How about the war in Iraq Gregory? Did you support that effort? Ron Paul Didn't

[Gregory]

Punchy, define "support".

My views on the wars in the middle east fit into the mainstream at Reason, and Ron Paul hasn't gotten my vote since 1988.

[Bill Tozer]

lets get started

https://fb.watch/g8j2vi7YRg/

[Bill Tozer]

“Any group whose past has not provided them with as many heroes, cultural contributions, or other glories as some other group’s past now has a grievance against those who write history. Apparently a past to your liking has become an entitlement.”—Sowell Man

[Bill Tozet]

Finally. Immigration "crisis' is now a Dem crisis. Hooray. Red letter day.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-city-homeless-shelter-population-hits-record-numbers-following-influx-of-migrants?

[Bill Tozer]

re: VDH thoughts above in post.

“was to liberate people from daily worry over state violence, random crime, famine, and an often unforgiving nature.”

State violence? Just headline scroll through ‘Just the News’ and keep strolling and strolling to the bottom and the apparent face of ‘state violence’ becomes clear. Action, reaction.
https://justthenews.com/
————-
Random Crime? It’s the randomness of violent crime, be it car jacking or pushing people standing six back on the platform onto onto the subway tracks, to some dude pulling out a knife in Vegas….it’s so random. And usually come from behind you so you never know what hit ya. Random. Police got ambushed in Connecticut on a bogus 9/11 call and the murderers had set the trap. 2 officers killed, one in bad shape…what a way to start the day. The randomness of it all. Makes one uneasy. Stealing our peace of mind. Unsafe. Societal breakdown.
————-
My, I hear Herbert Spencer calling. Tossing Punchy a bone.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
--HERBERT SPENCER
——————-
Speaking of the Iraq Wars and the Middle East, I got bad news. Few days ago. Brings me no joy. A group of Iranian Guard went up through Iraq and parts of Syria and slaughtered a bunch of Kurds. That darn war intervention has a lot of aftermath. Gotta hand it to Punchy for not voting for Obama the second time. Syria.

“But who is going to defend the Kurds?”, asked a Green Libertarian once upon a time.

[Bill Tozer]

Cause and effect. Crime, what crime? What’s VDH taking about? It’s just his opinion, no facts blah, blah, blah. D

‘Wawa Weighs Leaving Philadelphia After Mob Ransacked Store In Viral Incident’

https://www.dailywire.com/news/wawa-weighs-leaving-philadelphia-after-mob-ransacked-store-in-viral-incident

UPDATE

Wawa Closes Two Stores In Philadelphia Due To Crime. The Mayor Says It’s ‘Not A Bad Omen At All.’

“Wawa, which has locations in multiple states along the East Coast, announced on Thursday that the company would close two locations in Center City, the main business district in Philadelphia and home to City Hall. Both stores had been contracting private security services due to an increase in thefts.
“Despite reducing hours and investing in additional operational measures, continued safety and security challenges and business factors have made it increasingly difficult to remain open in these two locations,” Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce said in a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer. She added that the “difficult decision” occurred after careful deliberation and efforts to overcome “external operating challenges.””

https://www.dailywire.com/news/wawa-closes-two-stores-in-philadelphia-due-to-crime-the-mayor-says-its-not-a-bad-omen-at-all

[Don Bessee]

the dick stolen valor blumenthal is running out of steam -

Connecticut Democrats like Blumenthal are being dragged down by President Joe Biden’s disastrous economic agenda, according to Dancey.

“Inflation and general pessimism about the state of the economy creates some real headwinds for Democrats, and that extends into a state like Connecticut,” Dancey said.

The poll found that Biden’s approval rating among Connecticut voters sits at just 43 percent, with 53 percent disapproving of Biden’s job performance.

Economic issues are at the top of Connecticut voters’ minds, with 24 percent of likely voters identifying inflation as the most important issue in determining their choice for the state’s governor. Jobs and the economy were the second most important issue, with 14 percent of respondents saying that is the most important issue.

It took until mid-October, but finally a public survey reflects the reality of this race: Leora Levy is in a margin-of-error, neck-and-neck race with Dick Blumenthal, a career politician with a thirty-seven-year head start. Dick Blumenthal is under 50 percent despite spending more than $5.3 million dollars on advertising since the middle of June.

Wesleyan University professor Logan Dancey was surprised at Levy’s performance in the latest poll, saying he “would’ve expected a bigger lead for Blumenthal.”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/10/15/poll-sen-blumenthal-under-50-percent-nearly-tied-with-republican-leora-levy/

;-)

[Don Bessee]

Just keep handing him pudding cups and ice cream cones and then creepy grampa joe will spew whatever lie his 'physician' wife tells him. Perhaps he is reflecting the condition of the biden crime family? -

Biden blasted for telling reporter the economy is 'strong as hell' while eating ice cream in Portland
The comment came a day after Biden was criticized for telling a teen girl in Irvine, California not to date until she's 30

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-tells-reporter-economy-strong-hell-while-eating-ice-cream-portland

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/10/15/joe-biden-grabs-young-girls-shoulders-tells-her-no-serious-guys-until-youre-30/

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

‘The Tentacles of the Social Media Octopus’

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/16/the-tentacles-of-the-social-media-octopus/