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Thursday, June 22. 2023

Adam Smith at 300: The Gospel of Mutual Service. A 1926 lecture captures timeless truths about the Scottish thinker.

True Love Breaks a Marriage

Going to college still looks to most Americans as a better choice than going to war or a life of dissolution, but recent evidence suggests that students completing high school are beginning to rethink the idea that college is necessarily the best path.

NYT: Lab-grown chicken

Thrown to the Wolves - A physician reveals the nightmare of transgender ideology in a major children’s hospital.

In the US: “In the eyes of the state, parents who reject gender ideology are abusers of children.”

Sanity Across the Pond - In the U.K., government officials finally discuss openly the problems with gender ideology.

Update on the War on Poverty

Dems hold their ears as Durham exposes FBI’s partisan corruption

RFK, Jr. makes a climate speech in Vermont

LA Times says RFK Jr is a threat to democracy

Muslim-American scholar defends marriage to 9-year-old girls

It's a different culture

China Is Ready for a World of Disorder. America Is Not

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 08:30 | Comments (32) | Trackback (1)

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Tracked: Jun 22, 15:47

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Thank you for the Adam Smith lecture. Many excellent things there to be reminded, things that are being forgotten now.

#1 grant1863 on 2023-06-22 10:05 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Adam Smith may fairly claim to be the father, not of economics generally—that would be absurd

That's easily fixed. Adam Smith is the founder of modern economics and the well-spring from which many other theories of economics flow.

#1.1 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 10:46 (Reply)

'LA Times says RFK Jr is a threat to democracy'

Then he must be doing something right.

#2 Maniac on 2023-06-22 10:25 (Reply)

"China Is Ready for a World of Disorder America Is Not"

This is by intent. Billionaires and elite activists are working to destroy America. Some for personal gain; moving production to China made them billionaires. Some for more nefarious reasons. We the people need to identify those politicians and groups who are actively facilitating this and remove them from office and positions of power. It may be too late as it is. The war drums and saber rattling is getting louder. Remember this; unlike past wars the forces arrayed against us don't want to conduct the next war in Europe or Asia they want to conduct it in North America. This is going to be ugly.

#3 OneGuy on 2023-06-22 10:55 (Reply)

OneGuy: Billionaires and elite activists are working to destroy America.

Personal gain primarily. People have found ways to consolidate economic power. Only government can rein in excessive monopolistic practices.

Regardless, the world is rapidly changing. Given that people should have an equal right to decide their futures, a world where the U.S. with 4% of the world's population should control the international system is ending.

The U.S. has always found its power by painting a liberal vision of the future based on prosperity and freedom. U.S. leadership meant that the U.S. could marshal support from allies and friends in the international community, a vast and effective force multiplier. But chanting "We're #1! We're #1!" isn't leadership or a workable policy.

As its relative share of the world's economic and military power inevitably declines, America needs to continue to develop strong relationships with other countries and strengthen its economic position. America can remain first among equals, but only if it gracefully accepts a future where other countries have more of a say.

#3.1 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 11:36 (Reply)

ChatGPT...

#3.1.1 Zachinoff on 2023-06-22 12:31 (Reply)

Zack, I've told you before that China is dying. The fact that alleged cognitive "elites" publish articles denying that (and how quickly you repeat them) tells us a lot about either how stupid they are or how biased ya"ll are, or maybe both. They have an export based economy, their exports are in decline and globalism is going away. They're dependent upon imports for energy and food. They're the most rapidly aging country in the world with one of or the lowest fertility rates.
In contrast, the USA has the best demography in the developed world and almost all of the developing world. Our two most important trading partners are their two neighbors. Mexico has the best demographics in the developing world, making it our ideal partner The US is capable of producing far more food than it needs, is the worlds largest fossil fuel producer, and has the best "green" energy profile of any country in the world. We are practically untouchable in terms of conventional military attacks and impossible to invade.
The delta between the US and the rest of the world is growing, not declining. Thirty years from now, we'll probably have twice as high a percentage of the world's wealth as we do today.
And I know that makes you really unhappy.

#3.1.2 James on 2023-06-22 17:45 (Reply)

James: China is dying.

China is no more dying than the United States is dying. China will continue as an economic powerhouse. China is probably nearing the limits of its current growth cycle though, due to demographic problems, and the sclerotic nature of their political system.

James: In contrast, the USA has the best demography in the developed world and almost all of the developing world.

That, and a highly educated and motivated workforce with a tradition of entrepreneurship. America is well positioned to compete in the global economy. Political dysfunction remains a concern, however.

James: The delta between the US and the rest of the world is growing, not declining.

While there have been ups and downs, the United States’ share of global GDP has declined from 40% in 1960 to about 25% today. Nor is China the only emerging nation. The middle class in India is larger than the entire population of the United States. There’s a kid in India with access to the same internet everyone else has, who wants your job. That doesn’t mean Americans can’t compete. It just means the pool of talent is much larger then ever before, and they’ll have to work at it.

#3.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 20:42 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Dems hold their ears as Durham exposes FBI’s partisan corruption

Durham falsely stated that:

The meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and Natalia Veselnitskaya did not include a discussion of Hillary Clinton at a meeting where Donald Trump Jr. jumped at the chance to get dirt on Clinton from the Russians.
There was no evidence of contacts between Trump officials and Russian agents, including between Trump's unpaid campaign advisor providing internal polling documents to a Russian agent knowing that Russia was attempting to interfere in the election.

Durham apparently forgot:

Trump tried to conceal from the public a real-estate deal he was seeking in Moscow.
The Russians released stolen information through cutouts.
The Russians were engaged in a social-media campaign and the release of stolen documents to help Trump and sow confusion in the U.S. election.

QUOTE:

Durham: “Rather, what is required is accountability, both in terms of the standards through which our law enforcement personnel hold themselves and in the consequences they face for violation of laws and policies of relevance.”

And yet, Durham had full authority to bring those consequences but never did.

QUOTE:

The FBI failed to corroborate any of the scandalous allegations from the Steele Dossier but nonetheless carried on its Russia collusion probe for months nonetheless.

The investigation wasn't predicated on the Steele Dossier, but reports that a foreign policy advisor to Trump was told that Russia had thousands of hacked emails politically damaging to Trump's election opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Durham granted that "Our report should not be read to suggest in any way that Russian election interference was not a significant threat. It was." Given that, an investigation was obviously warranted. Durham concluded that it should have been a preliminary investigation, not a full investigation. And that's the long and short of a four year investigation.

#4 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 11:15 (Reply)

More ChatGPT with typical Quibble-DickZ deflection thrown in.

#4.1 Zachinoff on 2023-06-22 12:38 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Nothing — and I repeat, nothing — that the FBI did was designed to show that Donald J. Trump was a Russian asset. That wasn’t the purpose of the entire charade. How do I know this is true? Because they told us so. The very people who cooked this up, and the ones who ran this entire operation: Strzok, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe, Clinesmith, Steele, the DNC, Perkins Coie. It was never their purpose to prove Russian collusion, and in fact, from the very beginning, they knew that no such thing actually existed. They knew that the entire Russian collusion narrative was fabricated by the Clinton campaign to deflect attention from her mishandling of classified materials and destruction of official emails. They didn’t need to prove Russian collusion. They just had to keep the investigation alive.

https://redstate.com/smoosieq/2023/06/22/the-nation-cant-stand-john-durhams-response-to-harriet-hagemans-one-and-only-question-portends-a-chilling-truth-n765229

#4.2 Zachinoff on 2023-06-22 12:49 (Reply)

Now we know the bot was getting the narrative from the borg yesterday.

#4.3 indyjonesouthere on 2023-06-22 13:13 (Reply)

This is glorious. "We don't know."

QUOTE:

Gaetz: That’s not true, Mr. Durham, that is not true, because I am holding the document that authorizes your activity, and it specifically says: the investigation of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller…And so, like, whether it’s the Mueller team, Mifsud…how about Azra Turk? Azra Turk — what’s Azra Turk’s real name? Do you know that?

Durham: I’m not gonna be disclosing the names of FBI personnel that —

Gaetz: Oh, so the FBI sends somebody to go honeypot George Papadopoulos — who gave the order to do that?

Durham: I think that’s beyond the scope of what’s in the report.

Gaetz: It’s literally the scope of what you’re charging order is! Who put it in motion? We get after it was put in motion, the FBI did a bunch of wrong and corrupt things. Totally understand — we’re trying to deal with that. But when you are part of the cover-up, Mr. Durham, then it makes our job harder.

Durham: Yeah, well, if that’s your thought, I mean, there’s no way of dissuading you from that. I can tell you that it’s offensive, and that the people who worked on this investigation, and spent their lives trying to protect people in this country and pursue, within the law, what it is that we are authorized to do —

Gaetz: You tried two cases, lost both of them, and then the one guilty plea you got, Clinesmith? Clinesmith is back to practicing law in Washington DC today.

Durham: That’s beyond my control.

Gaetz: Right, but the fact that you allowed that plea to occur, right? And then the punishment was insufficient. The fact that you didn’t charge Andrew McCabe, you didn’t convict the lyin’ Democrats or the lyin’ Russians, you didn’t investigate Mifsud or the Mueller probe, even though, as we sit here today in black letter, that was your charge — have you ever heard of the Washington Generals?

(You have to read the whole thing.)

https://redstate.com/smoosieq/2023/06/21/video-matt-gaetz-rips-into-john-durham-you-wont-tell-us-who-gave-the-orders-because-youre-protecting-those-people-n764973

#4.4 Zachinoff on 2023-06-22 13:19 (Reply)

Well, at least one good thing came out of this.

Pencil Neck was censured by the House.

QUOTE:

The successfully passed resolution to censure Schiff "for misleading the American public and for conduct unbecoming of an elected Member of the House of Representatives," required the California Democrat to "forthwith present himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure" and "the public reading of this resolution by the Speaker."

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/spencerbrown/2023/06/21/schiff-censure-vote-round-two-n2624692

#4.5 Zachinoff on 2023-06-22 13:33 (Reply)

A shame that it didn't come with the original 16 million fine. It would have been, at least, a partial payment for anti-Trump advertising on the MSM.

#4.5.1 indyjonesouthere on 2023-06-22 14:20 (Reply)

The war on poverty was a thinly disguised vote buying scheme. That is the entire purpose of welfare and all federal and state efforts to help poor people. Almost everything they do is counter productive and that too is by intent, if you are buying votes you don't want those voters to succeed to the point where you can no longer buy them.

A real war on poverty would begin around age 5 or 6 and continue until graduation from high school. We would assure that every child learned to read and write and do simple math and learned life skills that would lead to employment. We would address alcoholism and drug addiction in a way that actually helped people with these problems. We would end welfare and replace it with workfare. That would be the only moral and just approach to helping the poor. Paying them to sit around with no future is a sick and immoral thing to do to anyone.

#5 JustMe on 2023-06-22 11:16 (Reply)

JustMe: The war on poverty was a thinly disguised vote buying scheme.

Most "welfare" is for children and health care.

#5.1 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 11:41 (Reply)

And the coverup continues. Dress up their crime with nice sounding phrases. We see that in the bill to fight inflation and the demands of those who only want to prevent climate change. After all it would have been incredibly stupid for the Dems to label it the "destroy the black community act so that they are dependent on Democrats and will vote for Democrats forever" ACT! So call it the "war on poverty". There! Doesn't that sound all warm and fuzzy?

What's next? Forgive student debt???

#5.1.1 JustMe on 2023-06-22 12:25 (Reply)

Most of it is earmarked as such, but it's a little difficult to reconcile those theories when you're in line at the supermarket behind an EBT - customer, and you realize that the vast majority of their buying is from 2 principal groups: Junk food of all sorts, and premium meats, and by that, I mean steaks not chicken and hamburger.

The whole program needs a serious renovation. Not as a shaming or deprivation exercise, but as a program that incentivizes home cooking and sound nutrition - on a budget. Adult Skilz.

#5.1.2 Aggie on 2023-06-22 12:40 (Reply)

Aggie: Most of it is earmarked as such, but it's a little difficult to reconcile those theories when you're in line at the supermarket behind an EBT

Food assistance runs about $147 billion, while Medicaid is about $756 billon. Food assistance isn't negligible, but it is not nearly the largest item in the "welfare" budget.

Aggie: The whole program needs a serious renovation.

Sure, why not. But keep in mind that many poor families are working single parent households. Cooking is not always practical. But good habits are important, such as making cooking fun-time with the kids. Learning how to read a recipe helps. But kids usually have to eat before their parent may get off work. At that point, it's helping with homework and time on the sofa.

#5.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 12:59 (Reply)

That's an impressive listing of pure canards. I said nothing about Medicaid, but here you are - Squirrel! - I note also that quite a bit of fraud is being prosecuted with Medicade, now that you bring it up, a lot of it associated with the COVID Gold Rush, and states have been left to weed out the squatters.

So.... your argument is, it's easy to cook steak, but hard to cook hamburger? And I reading that correctly? Did I say anything about working families, single parent households, people that are worthy of the program? No. No, I don't want to starve the children. My direct experience has included people that are gaming the system, and with enough frequency to suspect that the program is being poorly managed, with the added suspicion that the quality of management is the intended result, for political reasons. See the Tyler Cowan story above regarding the War on Poverty.

#5.1.2.1.1 Aggie on 2023-06-22 14:30 (Reply)

Aggie: I said nothing about Medicaid

Sorry. We thought you were addressing food stamps as part of the discussion on "welfare and all federal and state efforts to help poor people," which usually includes Medicaid. You were appparently making a more narrow point.

Aggie: Junk food of all sorts, and premium meats, and by that, I mean steaks not chicken and hamburger.

Studies have shown that people on food stamps buy much the same foods as people not on food stamps. See Foods Typically Purchased by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 2016.

#5.1.2.1.2 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 15:42 (Reply)

Regardless of what the welfare is for it is in fact a system where money and resources are taken from people who earn it and given to another who didn't earn it. Those who receive it are incentivized to maximize their income and the only way they can do that is through political means - i.e. vote for those who increase the wealth transfer. Why wouldn't they?

There is a racial component that President Johnson understood very well: "I'll have them niggers voting Democratic for two hundred years."

#5.1.3 mudbug on 2023-06-22 13:13 (Reply)

mudbug: Regardless of what the welfare is for it is in fact a system where money and resources are taken from people who earn it and given to another who didn't earn it.

All taxes redistribute money. When they built highways through an established Black neighborhoods, it disrupted the communities and moved business to more favored groups. Why? The "race neutral" reason is because people in traditionally Black neighborhoods tended to have lower socioeconomic status and less political influence.

mudbug: Those who receive it are incentivized to maximize their income and the only way they can do that is through political means - i.e. vote for those who increase the wealth transfer. Why wouldn't they?

The largest segment is Medicaid. What would you suggest? Turn old people out of nursing homes? Cut off cancer treatment for poor children?

mudbug: There is a racial component that President Johnson understood very well: "I'll have them niggers voting Democratic for two hundred years."

That quote is not well substantiated, but even then, it concerns the Civil Rights Act, not welfare.

#5.1.3.1 Zachriel on 2023-06-22 14:05 (Reply)

More ChatGPT opinion.

#5.1.3.1.1 Zachinoff on 2023-06-22 14:31 (Reply)

Actually, no, far to much of the money goes to the "experts" and social workers who are are "handling" the issue. Many years ago, met a woman who was on welfare because the sudden death of her husband left her and her children destitute. She brought them up well, and it was her boast that they never went hungry nor wore patched clothes. My thought, back in the the day, was they should have hired a few fewer "social work" graduates from university and more like this woman to teach practical skills in living to those who had fallen on hard times. I stand by my beliefs from then.

#5.1.4 Frances on 2023-06-23 01:06 (Reply)

Z: Most "welfare" is for children and health care.

Frances: Actually, no, far to much of the money goes to the "experts" and social workers who are are "handling" the issue.

Medicaid (by far the largest means-tested program), 5%
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), 5%
Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), 2%
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (SCHIP), 9%
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), 10%

#5.1.4.1 Zachriel on 2023-06-23 07:41 (Reply)

Re: True Love Breaks a Marriage

If it feels good, do it! The only person that matters is yourself. So what if your children never look at you the same way again, after dumping their father for a foreign lover. Do it for yourself. You’re a 30 year old Muslim that lusts after a 9 year old, go for it bro, it’s your culture. It must be okay. You’ll do great harm to the 9 year old, so what, it doesn’t matter. Did it feel good? It’s all about you.

Are you a medical doctor looking to make good coin? Take advantage of the psychological mess that sits in your office explaining to you how she thinks her daughter should be a boy. Let’s make that happen. It’s all about your bank account. Besides, it’s a different culture now. Who cares about the kid. She’s young, and look how enthusiastic she is about the whole thing. Kids know what they want, and need. They’ve had nine whole years to collect wisdom. Besides, zhe will get over it. Maybe with a gun to the head, or a jump off a high bridge. That’s just the modern culture. It’s all about me.

#6 B. Hammer on 2023-06-22 12:05 (Reply)

Great stuff. Truth. Thank you.

#6.1 DeGaulle on 2023-06-22 14:16 (Reply)

Dem attorney generals write Target CEO letter over pulling ‘Pride’ gear

QUOTE:

Target stores did indeed outright remove some of the LGBT-themed items. The rest of the items were relocated to the back of their stores.

Responding to this development, 15 Democrat attorneys general led by New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to Cornell on June 7th demanding he “reverse your recent decision to remove products celebrating Pride Month from the shelves of certain Target stores.”

Is this the future, Dems telling businesses what products they must stock?

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/06/22/dem-attorney-generals-write-target-ceo-letter-over-pulling-pride-gear-1370789/?utm_campaign=bizpac&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_source=Get%20Response&utm_term=EMAIL

#7 feeblemind on 2023-06-22 12:30 (Reply)

I loves me some thinking but sometimes it just won't shut off!
Nature walk usually solves it.
The CPUSA (D) will not rest until it is one party rule uber alles and Washington General kayfabe kabuki jobbers the Grand Old Politburo find these terms acceptable.
Be of good cheer, power and control freaks end up controlling a block in Berlin down in a dank fetid bunker as the berserk artillery barrage and 24-7 bombing continue.
Foreign Affairs? Isn't that CFR, better pay attention to that one just like the Corbett Report that predicted the disaster that would be the Brandon Regime.
The war on poverty started under comrade commissar LBJ (CPUSA) and how is that working out.
America, so awesome even the poverty stricken have a big screen and a sail foam with some McHealthcarez.

#8 Big Willy Wonka Style on 2023-06-22 13:43 (Reply)

Re "It's a different culture": Yes, it's a barbaric culture that has no place in the civilized world.

#9 Hairless Joe on 2023-06-23 08:49 (Reply)

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Thursday, June 22. 2023

Thursday morning links