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Monday, January 10. 2022

"Retiring Early" Is The New American Dream: Why This Is A Problem

" I believe many people fail to recognize how intertwined is the lust for power and the enabling forces of stupidity. "

Movie: The Edge of Appeasement

Penn’s Transgender Swimmer Loses to Yale’s Transgender Swimmer in Women’s 100 Meter Race

Dumb and Dumber (Nos. 22 & 23) - Watching the Education Apocalypse in Slow Motion

As Even the Leftwing Media and Political Figures Demand that Teachers Go Back to Work, Teachers Say F*** You -- It's Summer Vacation For Us, Forever

Kotkin: Is this the end of progressive America? Multiple fronts of resistance are taking shape

Media Now Described by Matt Taibbi: “Our target reader now is a rage addict”

" Reveling in the anniversary of the Capitol riot, Democrats and the media dubiously brand it a right-wing “insurrection”—while ignoring the urban anarchy that began in May 2020."

There’s A Reason No One Likes Kamala Harris

CDC Director Sheepishly Admits Justice Sotomayor Issued COVID Misinformation On Hospitalized Kids

Making Manhattan a crook’s paradise

Adams caves, won't oppose bill to let non-citizens vote in NYC elections after 30 days' residence

California Is Not an Island, So its New Economic Laws Could Backfire

American Slavery in the Global Context

Re Afghanistan, a book: Crisis of Command

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 07:30 | Comments (38) | Trackbacks (0)

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IF the Republicans are able to control the house and senate after the elections they need to end OSHA. Investigate and totally restaff the FBI and CIA. They should ban the practice of non-judicial levying of fines. If a government agency wants to fine you they must charge you with a crime, win in a court of law and then they can fine you.

#1 Anon on 2022-01-10 10:03 (Reply)

All that would put a cork in a whole lot of what's wrong with our central government, and nudge it toward becoming a federal government once again.

#1.1 BillH on 2022-01-10 10:46 (Reply)

Anon: IF the Republicans are able to control the house and senate after the elections they need to end OSHA. Investigate and totally restaff the FBI and CIA. They should ban the practice of non-judicial levying of fines.

QUOTE:

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.” — G. K. Chesterton

#1.2 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 11:17 (Reply)

Ahhh!! But I do see the use of OSHA and the FBI and other federal alphabet agencies. Their power can be used surreptitiously or openly to advance the Fascist/communist goals of the left. And therein lies the problem. It's not that OSHA is bad. It is that OSHA's power can be misused and we see that clear as day. We have seen the FBI misuse their power in incredibly anti-constitutional, anti-law ways for years now. They have devolved into an American Mafia.

We were warned about the Patriot act and the FISA court and I admit I wasn't buying all that conspiracy crap... And here we are conspiracy after conspiracy exposed and literally nothing being done to rein in these rogue government organizations. If the Republicans gain power they need to eliminate the deep state.

#1.2.1 Anon on 2022-01-10 12:21 (Reply)

Never forget no matter what anyone says it was the government that stole your freedom, destroyed your businesses, and ruined your children’s future.

NOT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE !

#1.2.1.1 Zachinoff on 2022-01-10 12:44 (Reply)

Anon: But I do see the use of OSHA and the FBI and other federal alphabet agencies. Their power can be used surreptitiously or openly to advance the Fascist/communist goals of the left.

You have not met Chesterton's conservative criteria, as that is not the purpose of those organizations.

Anon: It is that OSHA's power can be misused

Any power can be abused. That's why there are checks and balances.

Anon: We have seen the FBI misuse their power in incredibly anti-constitutional, anti-law ways for years now.

Sometimes, perhaps. But the conservative solution isn't to burn it to the ground.

Most of what you call abuse is just the normal and imperfect workings of government. We asked this of you elsewhere: Are all mandates tyrannical? Does making someone stop when the light is red constitute tyranny? After all, the freedom to come and go would seemingly be an inherent right.

#1.2.1.2 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 12:51 (Reply)

the purpose of those organizations...They were created by politicians and are enforced by government employees, the administrative state. The purpose of government is to ALWAYS expand government and government power...that WAS the purpose of those organizations. They are staffed with rule creating authoritarians and it matters not if they are communists or fascists. It is their nature to expand their power and control over others and of course their own renumeration. It is these very people that "reformed" the Constitution by declaring it a "living, breathing document" with no limit to its power and control.

#1.2.1.2.1 indyjonesouthere on 2022-01-10 13:41 (Reply)

indyjonesouthere: They were created by politicians and are enforced by government employees, the administrative state. The purpose of government is to ALWAYS expand government and government power...that WAS the purpose of those organizations.

So, when President George Washington, under legislation passed by Congress, set up a regulatory office to distribute benefits to disabled veterans, the very purpose was to create an authoritarian state. Never knew that Washington and the First Congress were a bunch of fascists.
https://va-handbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/september-1789.jpg

#1.2.1.2.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 13:48 (Reply)

Was that authority used granted to the Federal government through the Constitution or was that authority granted by the "living breathing" Constitution. The defense of the country was a Federal responsibility and prescribed by the Constitution. Do remember that only those responsibilities of the government specifically prescribed by the Constitution were legal. Those not prescribed by the Constitution were left to be legislated by the states. That mean that OSHA, along with a host of other departments , exceed the powers granted to the Federal government.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1 indyjonesouthere on 2022-01-10 16:30 (Reply)

indyjonesouthere: Was that authority used granted to the Federal government through the Constitution or was that authority granted by the "living breathing" Constitution.

The law was enacted in 1789. Look at the statute: "such regulations as the President of the United States may direct." From that, Washington appointed an agent for each of the states, and then delegated the administration of the whole matter to Alexander Hamilton. That's the administrative state right there.

indyjonesouthere: That mean that OSHA, along with a host of other departments , exceed the powers granted to the Federal government.

The power of the federal government to regulate the workplace has been repeatedly upheld by the courts under the Commerce Clause. You don't want it to be so, but it is so.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 16:41 (Reply)

The administrative state was created by Woodrow Wilson...along with the Federal Reserve. And very specific law was created to protect the permanent administrative state. The "living breathing" Constitution made it possible for the authoritarian court to mandate whatever they wished. Abortion, quotas, etc., and now, beginning with Harry Reid on the approval of judges, we find the diminishing authority of politicians that is promoting panic in the admin state and the deep state. The SCOTUS is moving away from "living, breathing" and questioning unbridled power that authoritarian politicians are used to. So sad for them.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1 indyjonesouthere on 2022-01-10 17:31 (Reply)

indyjonesouthere: The administrative state was created by Woodrow Wilson

Wilson perhaps might be said to have expanded the administrative state, or you might say that Wilson created the modern administrative state. Before then, Lincoln vastly expanded federal power, setting the foundation of the modern administrative state.

In any case, Washington created an administrative system based on a single sentence in a congressional statute granting him regulatory power. Per your own claim above, that makes Washington a fascist.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 17:49 (Reply)

National defense and foreign relations are within the realm of the Federal government as the Constitution states. There was no usurpation of power that belonged to the States or the people.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 indyjonesouthere on 2022-01-10 19:36 (Reply)

indyjonesouthere: National defense and foreign relations are within the realm of the Federal government as the Constitution states.

But your claim was "The purpose of government is to ALWAYS expand government and government power." that would apply to government agencies concerned with foreign relations, and especially with those concerned with national defense. Nor would your claim draw a distinction between federal and state government.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-11 09:00 (Reply)

We'll point out, also, that the decades after Wilson was a period of rapid economic growth and a time of cultural explosion, so much so that it is considered the American century.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.2 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 18:00 (Reply)

The American century was marked by Europe destroying itself in two world wars along with Russia and China destroying themselves with Communism and wars while the US suffered little property or business damage. I would hardly lay that success at the feet of the admin state...geography was our salvation.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 indyjonesouthere on 2022-01-10 19:30 (Reply)

indyjonesouthere: The American century was marked by Europe destroying itself in two world wars along with Russia and China destroying themselves with Communism and wars while the US suffered little property or business damage.

The American century has seen a vast expansion of U.S. wealth, technology, and culture.

#1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-11 09:06 (Reply)

Z: Any power can be abused. That's why there are checks and balances.

And what are the checks and balances for OSHA?

For that matter, where is the justification for the power that OSHA has? It isn't workplace safety.

#1.2.1.2.2 mudbug on 2022-01-10 15:02 (Reply)

mudbug: And what are the checks and balances for OSHA?

Judicial review is part of the statute: 29 U.S. Code § 660.

mudbug: For that matter, where is the justification for the power that OSHA has?

The power of the government to regulate workplace conditions, including health and safety, stems primarily from the Commerce Clause as upheld in United States v. Darby and other Supreme Court rulings.

#1.2.1.2.2.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 16:08 (Reply)

Here we agree. The (current) justification of OSHA is the exercise of governmental power and has nothing to do with occupational health or safety as its name would imply.

#1.2.1.2.2.1.1 mudbug on 2022-01-10 16:23 (Reply)

mudbug: The (current) justification of OSHA is the exercise of governmental power and has nothing to do with occupational health or safety as its name would imply.

OSHA is an exercise of government power and was enacted "To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women." And that is what it still does. Here's a few recent enforcement actions:
https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/enforcement/

#1.2.1.2.2.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 16:33 (Reply)

Since its inception, OSHA has not increased the rate of decline in workplace deaths. Most of the money spent by the treasury and the regulatory costs borne by businesses - at greater detriment of small businesses - has been a huge waste, to speak only of the monetary losses.

#1.2.1.2.2.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2022-01-10 17:35 (Reply)

mudbug: Since its inception, OSHA has not increased the rate of decline in workplace deaths.

The trend before OSHA is drawn from multiple inconsistent sources, so you can't make a direct comparison. However, since OSHA, the data is much more reliable, and the rate of workplace deaths has declined.

#1.2.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 17:57 (Reply)

Deaths are deaths.

#1.2.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2022-01-10 18:13 (Reply)

mudbug: Deaths are deaths.

That's right, so a decline in workplace deaths is something to be celebrated.

#1.2.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-11 09:07 (Reply)

" I believe many people fail to recognize how intertwined is the lust for power and the enabling forces of stupidity. "

Zachriel could not be reached for comment.

#2 DrTorch (Link) on 2022-01-10 10:20 (Reply)

QUOTE:

"Think how effin stupid the average person is! Then realize that half of them are even stupider than that!!" — George Carlin

#2.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-10 11:20 (Reply)

Wow! That showed him. Great response. I’m blown away. And you even had the proper citation! Would be even better with a link to the video.

#2.1.1 B. Hammer on 2022-01-10 12:02 (Reply)

I am reminded of that every time you post.

#2.1.2 mudbug on 2022-01-10 14:59 (Reply)

California's bacon law. I typically fail to understand why stores or others affected by these bizarre laws simply don't take the obvious actions but instead try to comply. In this instance simply stop selling bacon and all pork products. Give them what they want good and hard.

This is like the famous prop 65 where everything has a warning that it could cause cancer.

#3 OneGuy on 2022-01-10 10:30 (Reply)

Were the poobahs in Sacramento to learn that Ralph's, say, has stopped stocking pork products, expect tax auditors, health inspectors, licensure officials, etc to swarm Ralph's like army ants. I recall the dry-cured salami spasm, q. v.

#3.1 Ted on 2022-01-10 13:11 (Reply)

Massachusetts has a similar bacon law and postponed it at the last minute.

Turns out Mass. voters don't want to deprive themselves to protest confinement agriculture.

I expect California will do the same, but if not, "Let them eat bugs!"

#4 feeblemind on 2022-01-10 12:35 (Reply)

Thought I was reading the Babylon Bee and then realized it's the real world. If we take up a collection can we get Z to go away? What's his/her/preferred pronoun's price? Not sure we can top Hilary/Chairman Xi's $ but we can try. But that would mean he/she/preferred is honest which is probably not the case.

#4.1 grant1863 on 2022-01-10 18:42 (Reply)

In re: Swimming Individual Henig [N. b. avoidance of "gendering"] This instance will be used to argue that having XYs swim against XXs does no harm to XXs. The old man says, "Mark my words (wheeze)"

#5 Ted on 2022-01-10 13:00 (Reply)

"The end of progressive America"? That's nothing but hubris.

No, there is no "end" of "progressive America". The desire to take other people's stuff, and the desire for lenient law for one's own and draconian law for the Other, will always exist. In the future, it might take some other form and be embodied by yet some other political group, but it ain't ever going away.

As it stands right now, it's important that the link between urbanization and coercive-collectivism (currently taking the form of leftism) gets severed.

#6 Dave on 2022-01-10 17:17 (Reply)

LINKS..It would be very useful if you made a notation on your links that they are behind a paywall..thanks

#7 Michael on 2022-01-11 07:51 (Reply)

At a congressional hearing a legal representative of the FBI was asked if they or their employees had any part in the Jan 6th "insurrection". They took the 5th. Taking the 5th is legal and non-incriminating for a citizen but you don't expect a government agency to take the 5th rather than testify to congress. But never the less it certainly appears obvious that indeed the FBI actively instigated (as in "false flag') the Jan 6th "insurrection.

#8 Anon on 2022-01-12 21:16 (Reply)

Anon: At a congressional hearing a legal representative of the FBI was asked if they or their employees had any part in the Jan 6th "insurrection". They took the 5th.

Not familiar with this. Can you provide a source?

#8.1 Zachriel on 2022-01-13 08:05 (Reply)

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Monday, January 10. 2022

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