Today’s blacklisted American: Professor defends free speech, is canceled by MIT and attacked by students, yet fights back and wins
No free speech allowed at MIT.
Today’s blacklist story illustrates how it is possible to win the battle against the petty leftist tyrants who now dominate our culture and are trying to silence free speech and destroy anyone who disagrees with them.
Dorian Abbot is an associate professor of planetary geology at the University of Chicago. Beginning in 2020 he began as a side activity posting videos advocating free speech in academia while condemning the growing oppressive movement to blackball anyone who says the “wrong” thing.
For the next year he found himself under increasing pressure from the leftist mob both at his school and outside it. His videos were taken down repeatedly by Google’s YouTube. A group of graduate students from his school wrote a letter denouncing him and demanding the school exempt all students from attending his classes while limiting his abilities to teach to a point where it was impossible. Later, in response to an op-ed Abbot co-wrote for Newsweek condemning the race-based identify politics that now dominate academia, a leftist Twitter mob came after him, demanding he be removed from all venues.
Fortunately, his superiors at the University of Chicago supported him, and refused to bow to these repressive demands. However, when Abbot was scheduled to give a lecture at MIT on his actual field of study, planetary science, “a new Twitter mob, composed of a group of MIT students, postdocs, and recent alumni, demanded that Abbot to be uninvited.”
MIT bowed to the pressure, and blackballed Abbot.
Normally in today’s culture of oppression and silencing this story would end here, with Abbott silenced at MIT and his job at the University of Chicago threatened.
Instead, academia did something it has not been willing to do much in recent years, defend freedom and Abbot’s right to speak. The James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions in the Department of Politics at Princeton University immediately contacted Abbot and offered to broadcast his lecture on Zoom, on the very day MIT had scheduled it. That lecture is available here if you wish to watch.
More important, at MIT there has been a growing backlash against the university for its cowardice and willingness to bow to thugs. Two alumni wrote an op-ed condemning MIT in exceedingly blunt language, not just for its cancellation of Abbot but for its overall allegiance to variations of Marxist Critical Race Theory. In their op-ed they announced they were withdrawing their financial support and added:
Pointing out MIT’s lapses and withdrawing our financial support of the offending institution is insufficient. We would like to suggest a way for MIT to return to our good graces and hope it will consider adopting the following principles of fairness.
First, facts are not racist, and stating facts is not racism. Second, a person’s ethnicity or skin color does not define him or her as a racist, oppressor, or victim. Third, intellectual ability and achievement are the principal requirements for admission as a student or faculty member to any university. Fourth, diversity of opinions is desired and supported. Fifth, a just, democratic society requires equal opportunity, equal justice, and equal responsibility; it does not require equal outcomes. And finally, adherence to the statements above must not be sacrificed for political, social, or public relations considerations.
These truths used to be self-evident; now they are apparently controversial. MIT and other universities must make a choice: Will they redeem themselves by standing for merit and truth, or will they forfeit the support of countless alumni and donors by surrendering to wokeness?
Nor were these two alumni alone. A group of 73 MIT faculty members followed with their own letter, demanding that the administration to once again support free speech without qualifications.
The faculty suggest[ed] the adoption of the Chicago Statement, which states, in part: “[T]he University is committed to free and open inquiry in all matters, it guarantees all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn,” and that “it is not the proper role of the University to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.”
Soon thereafter came the formation of the MIT Free Speech Alliance, aimed at forcing these changes at MIT.
It remains unclear whether this pushback for freedom at MIT will have any positive results. Nonetheless, it shows us our proper course for the future. Freedom is under attack at all levels in America today. Standing by and making believe it isn’t happening, or that it doesn’t involve you so you can ignore it, is no longer acceptable. Americans must now stand up loudly to defend those who are being attacked, and aggressively work to end this oppressive leftist movement’s effort to shut down open debate.
If Americans fail to do this, the future will be quite grim for everyone. Our society will be taken over by a close-minded, hateful collection of bullies, and life will become a living hell for all.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
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No free speech allowed at MIT.
Today’s blacklist story illustrates how it is possible to win the battle against the petty leftist tyrants who now dominate our culture and are trying to silence free speech and destroy anyone who disagrees with them.
Dorian Abbot is an associate professor of planetary geology at the University of Chicago. Beginning in 2020 he began as a side activity posting videos advocating free speech in academia while condemning the growing oppressive movement to blackball anyone who says the “wrong” thing.
For the next year he found himself under increasing pressure from the leftist mob both at his school and outside it. His videos were taken down repeatedly by Google’s YouTube. A group of graduate students from his school wrote a letter denouncing him and demanding the school exempt all students from attending his classes while limiting his abilities to teach to a point where it was impossible. Later, in response to an op-ed Abbot co-wrote for Newsweek condemning the race-based identify politics that now dominate academia, a leftist Twitter mob came after him, demanding he be removed from all venues.
Fortunately, his superiors at the University of Chicago supported him, and refused to bow to these repressive demands. However, when Abbot was scheduled to give a lecture at MIT on his actual field of study, planetary science, “a new Twitter mob, composed of a group of MIT students, postdocs, and recent alumni, demanded that Abbot to be uninvited.”
MIT bowed to the pressure, and blackballed Abbot.
Normally in today’s culture of oppression and silencing this story would end here, with Abbott silenced at MIT and his job at the University of Chicago threatened.
Instead, academia did something it has not been willing to do much in recent years, defend freedom and Abbot’s right to speak. The James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions in the Department of Politics at Princeton University immediately contacted Abbot and offered to broadcast his lecture on Zoom, on the very day MIT had scheduled it. That lecture is available here if you wish to watch.
More important, at MIT there has been a growing backlash against the university for its cowardice and willingness to bow to thugs. Two alumni wrote an op-ed condemning MIT in exceedingly blunt language, not just for its cancellation of Abbot but for its overall allegiance to variations of Marxist Critical Race Theory. In their op-ed they announced they were withdrawing their financial support and added:
Pointing out MIT’s lapses and withdrawing our financial support of the offending institution is insufficient. We would like to suggest a way for MIT to return to our good graces and hope it will consider adopting the following principles of fairness.
First, facts are not racist, and stating facts is not racism. Second, a person’s ethnicity or skin color does not define him or her as a racist, oppressor, or victim. Third, intellectual ability and achievement are the principal requirements for admission as a student or faculty member to any university. Fourth, diversity of opinions is desired and supported. Fifth, a just, democratic society requires equal opportunity, equal justice, and equal responsibility; it does not require equal outcomes. And finally, adherence to the statements above must not be sacrificed for political, social, or public relations considerations.
These truths used to be self-evident; now they are apparently controversial. MIT and other universities must make a choice: Will they redeem themselves by standing for merit and truth, or will they forfeit the support of countless alumni and donors by surrendering to wokeness?
Nor were these two alumni alone. A group of 73 MIT faculty members followed with their own letter, demanding that the administration to once again support free speech without qualifications.
The faculty suggest[ed] the adoption of the Chicago Statement, which states, in part: “[T]he University is committed to free and open inquiry in all matters, it guarantees all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn,” and that “it is not the proper role of the University to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.”
Soon thereafter came the formation of the MIT Free Speech Alliance, aimed at forcing these changes at MIT.
It remains unclear whether this pushback for freedom at MIT will have any positive results. Nonetheless, it shows us our proper course for the future. Freedom is under attack at all levels in America today. Standing by and making believe it isn’t happening, or that it doesn’t involve you so you can ignore it, is no longer acceptable. Americans must now stand up loudly to defend those who are being attacked, and aggressively work to end this oppressive leftist movement’s effort to shut down open debate.
If Americans fail to do this, the future will be quite grim for everyone. Our society will be taken over by a close-minded, hateful collection of bullies, and life will become a living hell for all.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Good to see push-back. However, when the trend for universities is the left and a tendency to hire only leftists, even MIT will not last in excellence.
Good news! As I’ve predicted for several years, the pendulum is finally swinging back. It was always going to, but it’s taken a little longer than I expected.
Let’s get back to some sort of normality where your definition of “left’ can have some sort of relation to mine.
Freedom of speech is a human right, I have always said so. I reserve the right to disagree, argue my corner, and indeed offend anyone. ( Within reason of course… Never shout “fire” in a theatre ), and I respect anyone’s right to disagree, argue or offend me. If I have no argument, I either concide or walk away.
I am so very, very tired of the constant reference to these bigoted idiots as being “the left”. They have absolutely nothing to do with left wing politics. And the use of the term paints those of us with a more socially INCLUSIVE leaning with the same brush.
I have had so many lectures on this forum about how wrong I am, how blind I am, how the form of governance I advocate is doomed for failure ( it ok, I have heard it all before, and don’t need telling again, or PLEASE , no YouTube links to propaganda I will never watch!) . 99% of the posters here ( and our host ) consider me somehow deluded and basically wrong.
I feel exactly the same way about 99% of the posters here, ( and our host). ( But I don’t post YouTube videos that I know you will never watch :-)
The big however is, I have massive respect for this forum because of it’s independence, and lack of censorship. Dissenting opinions, while not generally welcome… (TBH!) are absolutely allowed. And Bob has a valuable point when he recommends getting off the YouTubes and facebags and such. This blog cannot be censored. And that is valuable.
I know I am urinating into an oncoming wind when I try and reason with you guys… You are all right wing, and I am pretty much a lone (my) left wing voice. But you need it. It’s important to not live in a total echo chamber. I feel that also, which is why I read and comment here.
I’ve babbled a bit here, but I feel it needs to be said, even this pinko commie socialist is pleased the loony left are getting comeback, and hopefully there will soon come a time when “right” and “left” can perhaps see eye to eye and discuss politics like grown-up adults without being frightened of the rabid facists that stole the name of what I truly believe in.
I wanted to see that lecture he gave, but had to miss it due to work responsibilities. Is the talk archived anywhere?
Nevermind – I just need to skim slower: In your article already. Thanks.
Lee Stevenson,
This is in response to your “babblings,” as you call it. There is an old story in the Bible which spells out the difference between the old Left and the old (and present) Right. I will recall it here. After Jesus had risen from the dead, and some followers of Jesus had been to see the empty tomb, these followers (mostly women) went to Jesus’ 12 apostles, who were hiding in fear of authorities in a room. They reported to the apostles what they had seen: Jesus was risen from the dead, as he said! Immediately, John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, took off running to the tomb. He KNEW what he would see would be true! Much behind John, Peter left for the tomb, also, plodding along at a much slower pace. Of course, John reached the tomb first, and verified what the women had told him, that the body of Jesus was not there. While John was standing there, Peter came along, eventually, and also verified what they were told. In this story, John represents the old Left. Quick to act, bolting ahead to do good for others, to try to ease the pain of the poor, moving quickly to enact policies which they KNOW will work. The weakness of the Left? Sometimes, not enough thought is put into things, and the first try might fail. (You see, John COULD have been arrested by soldiers at the tomb for stealing a dead body, or desecrating a tomb, etc., after running right into the arms of authorities.) Peter represents the old (and present) Right. Slow to move, eventually getting around to help others, taking too much time to think about things; not enough action. Peter, though, would have noticed any soldiers at the tomb (if they had been there) while he was still far off, and could have avoided being seen by them.
My point is that both the Left and the Right need each other. The Right needs the speed and heart and tenacity of the Left. On the other hand, the Left needs the thoughtfulness of the Right, the careful consideration, the avoidance of mistakes. When they work together, Left and Right are INCREDIBLE. They accomplish great things together, when respecting each other’s strengths, while trying to avoid the weaknesses of each. We don’t have this right now. The new Left charges forward into Communism, happy to abolish the Constitution and Bill of Rights, while the new Right does NOTHING., frozen in its plodding ways. Will the old Left return? Will Left and Right work together to set this country right again? We can do INCREDIBLE things…………together.
Lee, you’re European, Swedish, iirc. “Left” and “Right” do not mean the same thing there that they do here. The American Left has been socialist and statist for over a century – see FDR and the arguments with the Supreme Court (a bit less than a century old, but a movement doesn’t start from the presidency). They’ve always been about control, see the Temperance movement, the Progressive movement, the support for that “peculiar institution” (aka slavery). The list goes on.
They _used to be_ big fans of PART of the 1st Amendment: Free speech. They’ve never cared much for the religious freedom part – other than to push religion out of the public square (see “control” above). They’ve never supported the 2nd – can’t have guns in the hands of uppity black folks, you know. The list goes on.
Words also change over time. There used to be some separation between the American Left and the Progressives. There no longer is. It doesn’t matter if YOU like it or agree with the definition. It is simply a fact.
This is not even close to being a step in the correct direction for the Left. This is a – very welcome – step toward opposing the Left.
Markedup2:
Rare, I am in Near 100% agreement!
I have battled the Left ‘American Marxists’ since the Sixties..
President Woodrow Wilson was the first major contribution invasion of American government with the contagion.
Although Teddy Roosevelt was the first infection of of the Body Politic..
It’s good to see, finally, some pushback against leftist attempted tyranny. I attended MIT briefly years ago for a science journalism fellowship, and even then there were signs of growing leftist oppression of intellectual freedom and free expression — two aspects of campus life that should be inviolate everywhere. I found those tendencies elsewhere as well among scientific organizations, including one that became my employer.
Meanwhile, Bob, I’ve been meaning to comment you for your excellent reporting and commentaries on this topic. You’ve been doing all of us a great service. Likewise with your coverage of the COVID public-policy travesty.
Thank you. Keep up the good work!
Rats! I meant to write “commend” you for your excellent reporting.
The equivalent of good carpentry: measure twice, cut once. Here, it’s: read it twice, then post.
Its all related:
I just had a conversation with a customer, Vasile, from Ukraine.
He asked for a discount. I said, sorry no discounts, prices will only be going up from here on.
Thank you very much, he said. I said, your welcome.
Then he went into, thanks to Joe Biden!
He told me he was just at a large grocery store shopping with his wife and some of the shelves were empty, just like Ukraine.
Then he told me a bit of his story;
There were always empty shelves in Ukraine. He and his wife waited on the list many years to come to America (LEGALLY), and life was good for the first twenty years.
And then his wife observed: Vasile, what we ran away from in Ukraine and in the Soviet Union is now here in America! He and his wife are not happy, they know the difference. And what they see concerns them very much.
A side note: They had a little girl who grew up and now is a doctor.
Its coming.
Lee Stevenson,
You have brought up the subject nearly every time you post on the subject of political nature. You tell Zimmerman that you are thankful for not being censored, then you judge the website readers as right wing conservative which you oppose and you don’t want to be lectured about it or be told that you’re wrong… This is a “space” website with many well rounded interests in technical, exploring, with data and expertise along with critical thinking not found on many websites.
It also does not ignore the political upheaval in which we are all experiencing. United States has become far more socialistic than Sweden. (It’s not unlawful to cry fire in a crowded theater, when there is an actual fire… Then you are classified as a hero!)
You’re right to free speech is the same right as an infant has to cry when it’s hungry… Unless you pay “advertising cost”, you have no right to be “heard”. Just as the mother will close the nursery door on the same screaming baby until it falls asleep.
We have a phrase in the United States which describes someone that insists on being recognized and their points validated with no opposing viewpoint allowed, ignored or even heard. It’s called being “closed minded”.
When I was about 15 years old, I was arguing with the bosses kid, to which he finished the argument by stating “everyone has the right to their opinion, no matter how wrong they are” and then he walked away… just as I am doing to you.
It’s refreshing to know that the Massachusetts Institute of technology has not become the Institute of technocracy were social order determines the science by political expediency rather than the stems. After all, what science division would hire a student from MIT that can’t do the science that is snowflake woke and has a reputation for making trouble?
Here’s an example what one anonymous person of unknown color can do by writing on the wall in a Porta potty.
1,300 Facebook construction workers work at the site that was shut down for days.
https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/racial-slur-found-at-facebook-construction-site-in-eagle-mountain/
As a sidenote, google just purchased property next-door to build themselves a new data center… only a few miles from the newest largest data repository for the mega data collected on everyone by US Government spy center.
Just a coincidence.
Cotour:
What are you selling?
FREEDOM!
@Max, I’m not entirely sure what your point is here…
I know this is a Space website…. I come for the space stuff, and occasionally stick around for the politics.
Your comment “United States has become far more socialistic than Sweden.” Betrays that you have very little knowledge of socialism or Sweden. No offence intended. Your democratic party is way further to the right than most of Sweden’s mainstream left leaning parties. ( We are lucky enough over here to not have a 2 party system. Government is generally formed by coalition, which can be problematic, but in my opinion, less so than a choice between only 2 contenders, if my party of choice gets a say in government, that is better than me having to vote democrat because I’m not republican)
We are both lucky to live in societies where free speech is a right…. And I fully support the right of anyone ( and lets be honest here, 99% of posters here disagree with me ) to disagree with me, as I said in my post above, I hope, and believe the pendulum is swinging back, and those that close down argument by being “offended” will be judged by history as wrong.
In my opinion, Facebook, YouTube and most other content hosts are corrupted, they have no integrity or interest in anything other than financial gain. Bob certainly has the right model for honest and truthful discussion here, and it will only get worse in the years to come.
Your “left” would probably try to close this forum down because of “hate speech” or whatever.
This member of the real “left” ( which to me means higher tax, a trustworthy government to spend those taxes for the greater good of everyone… Transparent government so we can see and judge how the tax dollars are spent) loves the freedom, and rules that Bob has here…. Don’t swear and don’t be abusive.
Not bad rules for life really… Whatever your politics.
@Cotour
FREEDOM
Im now free for the weekend, I have my ( now teenage kids. Don’t time fly! ) This weekend… We might go swimming in a heated pool … They might go to hang out with friends… Regardless there will be food on the table,
And I might make a fool of myself playing some form of computer game…. And we might pull out a book and have a read together… Who knows …
As far as I can tell, the only freedoms you have that I do not are the rights to carry deadly weapons and not pay taxes….
As I’ve said many times before….
And lets keep it like that.
Enjoy your weekend with your kids.
Lee–
ref:
“We are both lucky to live in societies where free speech is a right.”
question:
I was not aware the Swedish Constitution guaranteed free-speech, can you point me to the relevant section?
Ours is short & sweet:
Amendment I:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Ref:
“…..the rights to carry deadly weapons and not pay taxes….”
Lee– ‘come on man,’ — all weapons are deadly, by definition.
You may not like it but depending on what State one is in, one has the perfect right to carry a firearm in the open. (One does not however, have the right to brandish or threaten anyone with said firearm. Or conceal it upon their person unless they have a permit to do so.)
“God Created Men and Samuel Colt Made Them Equal!”
As for taxes—
“The tax-collector always shows up at harvest time, but he’s never around at planting time.”
“Dutch Libertarian Party leader Toine Manders explains to socialist why taxation is theft”
(2017)https://youtu.be/h0-cgs51zEA
4:31
@wayne….
Here we have the the essential difference between the US and Sweden, ( and many other countries ). I do not know which bit of Swedish legislation covers freedom of speech, although I’m sure it’s in there somewhere.
The reason I don’t know it, is because I don’t need to. I have freedom of speech.
Think on that for a second or two.
Regarding your God given right to carry arms ( or whatever it is ) , is, as I have stated here many times here, looked upon with amazement by pretty much the rest of the world.
It is a genuinely stupid law, ( or right, or whatever ) There is absolutely no argument that you can make that it in any way makes society safer. More guns on the street = more gun deaths. You only have to look up the statistics regarding gun related deaths in the US vs the rest of the free world to see this is true.
Our police carry guns, but if they have to use them it makes national news. It is that rare. I kinda like that.
Yet many people I know have gun licenses, small arms are not included, but hunting guns, and shotguns for sport are. The guns must be kept in approved, locked cabinets when not being used. And gun related deaths are very rare here.
I know it is too late over there to put the genie back in the lamp. Guns are ubiquitous in the US, and as I said, we over here just shake our heads.
Regarding taxation, we pay taxes all year round, and reap the benefits all year round. Here in Stockholm there is a massive infrastructure project going on at the moment. Literally thousands of new apartments being built to address a housing shortage, expansion of the tube system, expansion and reorganization of the road network. All for the benefit of the tax payers. Non of this will benefit me directly, but I am happy to pay my 30% income tax into a system that has never done me wrong. It will benefit my children, and my grandchildren in years far in the future.
I understand the American idea of people looking after yourself first, stand on your own two feet, etc, etc, but government and taxation are essential to keeping society rolling. It has to be transparent to avoid corruption. If you want to live in a society where you don’t have to break a spring driving over a hole in the road, then someone has to pay. ( We call it road tax here, it is payed by vehicle owners ).
We also have a thing called “healthcare for all” , if you are sick you can visit a doctor, you pay about $25 for your first visit, if you run up a bill of $200 it becomes free, the same applies to medication, we have a right to healthcare that won’t break your bank. Pay higher tax, and get life saving health care without having to sell your house.
And this all works. I have been accused of living in an unsustainable society many times here. By people who are so blind they cannot imagine any system other than there own.
There is no one more blind than those who refuse to see.
Lee: “And this all works”
Until it doesn’t for you. Because the decision-making technocrats (who can’t tell you apart from one ballot in a truckload of ballot boxes) decide that what you need is not in your, or in the public’s, interest to provide … or as cultural norms shift, provide YOU specifically … with.
And as I always ask, what is your work-around when that happens, when they take so much of your resources and/or limit your options in the process?
And what opportunities to make things better, for you and your neighbors, do you miss out on – perhaps without even knowing you are missing them as they pass – because you have ceded so much of your authority and resources to a relative few that only they get to do the thinking and act upon it in your society?
This isn’t about politics. This is about the easy road to dependence upon the elite few, versus sustaining resilience and fault-tolerance in a society by citizens who retain the responsibility, authority and resources to implement what works best for them … including helping their neighbors when they are in need.
@ Jester…. You are making the same ” hand waving”…. ” But what about if…” Argument that all you guys in the cult of ” The USA is the best … Blah blah” make.
I have a representative in government I voted for. I live under a system of government I agree with. It is VERY democratic, and transparent enough that I can rest easy there was nothing dodgy in the results of any election, at least since I moved here 20 years ago.
There is no one in the US that can make the same claim. You can fool yourself that you are free and live in the land of the free as much as you like. But the facts still remain. You have a stunted government.. ( only 2 choices… Really??), You are all in thrall to the words of your constitution, but millions in your country live under the poverty line. Yet you sleep easy every night whilst children go hungry.
I know I can never change any minds around here… Because USA… but as a compassionate man I feel it’s my duty to pop in from time to time and remind you guys that the USA is slightly broken, and it has nothing to do with socialist ideas, it has everything to do with the misguided idea that the USA is the only repository of ideals.
A good introspective look in the mirror would do wonders for your great country.
Lee–
REF: “I do not know which bit of Swedish legislation covers freedom of speech, although I’m sure it’s in there somewhere.”
Again, our 1st Amendment is short, sweet, and to the point. “It’s in there, and I know where it is….”
REF: “Regarding your God given right to carry arms ( or whatever it is ) ”
Don’t put words in my mouth, you’re jumping to conclusions. That would be the 2nd Amendment:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Working Class Hero
https://youtu.be/iMewtlmkV6c?t=124
“And you think you’re so clever and classless and free,
But you’re still {Brandon} peasants, as far as I can see….”
And regarding “opportunity to better yourself”… Have a quick search for start ups in Sweden. We punch WAY overweight for a country of some 11 million people. Ever heard of Spotify? Minecraft?
The government gives a great amount of help to business… That is exactly why we pay taxes. To make the place I live in a pleasure to live in, a land of opportunity, where everyone has a chance to better themselves, education for all, healthcare for all, clean and safe streets for all,.a good life for all.
And yet I am constantly berated for being some kind of fool for my approval of the way my country of choice is managed.
Open your eyes, my USA’n friends….. Can you even consider for a moment or 2 that your system might not be the best in the world? Your healthcare, and the poverty in your first world country would be a laughing stock around the rest of the world, if it wasn’t so tragic. But believe me, it is noted and discussed.
I know most of you would rather stick needles in your eye than admit the US system is broken and wrong. But it is. As the late great Leonard Cohen said ” it’s coming to America first, the home of the best and the worst”
Judge yourself before you judge me.
Lee-
It might be fortunate that you’re actually a citizen of Britain, you have somewhere to escape.
A case study in a country that is obliterating itself…..
The Islamic State of Sweden
Paul Joseph Watson (2018)
https://youtu.be/iERLyAxddVE
9:43
Guns N’ Roses-
“Don’t {Expletive} Me” (1991)
https://youtu.be/lVA3Q4APHFA
5:18
“I know you don’t wanna hear me cryin’
And I know you don’t wanna hear me deny.
That your satisfaction lies in your illusion,
But your delusions are yours, and not mine….”
“Lee– ‘come on man,’ — all weapons are deadly, by definition.”
Funny story: I carry a pocket knife and I use it every single day, 5 times a day. It is small, with a 2.75″ blade, perfectly legal, a nice Benchmade. Several years ago when I first got it I was speaking with an older friend on the street and for some reason which I can not remember I had occasion to show him said knife.
https://www.harrysarmysurplus.net/assets/images/benchmade/698_2.jpg
He was a steam powered old timer, a dock builder who I had worked for when I was 16 or so. A man of substance, not for one second would you consider him a non Conservative, looked like, Randolf Scott.
So I take the knife out and hand it to him, and I expected that he would appreciate it it is very nicely made, not un-expensive. But as he is examining it he unhesitatingly says: Thats a weapon! (Which really surprised me)
And being a dock builder he always wore Dickies overalls, and he of course always had a pen, a couple of sharpened pencil’s and a small note pad in the breast pocket.
And so I unhesitating say to him: Really? What if I took one of those sharp pencils out of your pocket and killed you with it right here on the street. Which one, the pencil or the knife is the weapon now?
The point as it were was made.
What exactly is a “Weapon”?
@ Wayne
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
No offence my friend… ( I actually think we would have a nice evening over a beer or two and civil conversation )
I really think a well regulated militia might have been a good idea a few centuries ago, but perhaps not such a good idea these days…. You guys have even militarised your police… In case of a well organised militia?
And sorry to put words in your mouth, I was only commenting on what ever crazy reason you guys convince yourself it’s ok to carry deadly weapons around. The rest of the free world thinks it’s probably not ok. Indeed, the rest of the free world thinks that it’s a very bad idea. The statistics prove the rest of the free world to be correct.
You live in thrall of a document written centuries ago, it had some good ideas, but the world has changed ( in case you haven’t noticed ) . The Taliban live under the doctrine of a document written long, long ago. That was probably relevent at the time, but today?
The US is in danger of falling into chaos because of your insistence of clutching onto an ancient document. If you don’t believe me, read the news.
And do not judge me, or the country I chose to live in before having a good long look at yourself. I have visited many countries, and seen many possibilities (including the US …) , And I choose to live in Sweden.
Because I know my life will be better here, and more importantly, my children will have a much better life here in their childhood, and heading into adult life, they will have a head start. Down to the tax I, and every other wage earner in Sweden pay.
You call it “government control” , I call it a country investing in its future.
“I really think a well regulated militia might have been a good idea a few centuries ago, but perhaps not such a good idea these days…. You guys have even militarised your police… In case of a well organised militia?”
The people are the owners of America (That is the concept anyway).
And that being said and understanding the nature of what government and the empowered that populate it is, and that is that they will without doubt abuse that power and over power the people and flip that concept of ownership.
The government as a general rule MUST fear the people ultimately.
And in that model we will somehow move positively into the future, even though there is and can be chaos and confusion.
Lee, you freedom in Sweden relies on America and how free we are. Like it or not.
@Cotour,
You deviate…. But I’m with you….
I carry a probably 4″ knife with me at all times at work… A knife was man’s first tool, and.probably still the most useful. It’s perfectly legal to carry around with me as long as I’m working, or traveling to or from work. It’s kinda obvious if I’m wearing my work clothes. If I was just in my everyday clothes it would be different.
And it’s hard to shoot someone with a knife
And if you are carrying a gun and I kill you with my skate board, which is the weapon?
@Cotour,
Do you really think your government is scared of an uprising of the people? The police are an urban army…
You can convince yourself all you like that you have to hold your government in check by the threat of your “well armed malitia” … But your wrong. It wouldn’t happen.
And regarding the US providing Sweden its freedom… How so ?
And can you argue against any of my comments above regarding you guys not having a better life than I do here in Sweden?
I generally agree with you, *IT* will not happen.
But if it came to that point where it needed to, then that would be different and the militia would exist to do what the Founders intended it to do. Good, Bad or otherwise.
Government needs to be fearful of the people. And I do not mean that in a negative way. I mean it in a healthy way. That is a fundamental concept that the Founders enshrined in the Constitution. Its a concept, its a new kind of thinking in governance.
As to Sweden and your happy life. If and when the Globalists / Socialists are successful and destroy America and its Constitution, then you and your children and me and everyone else will in time become a slave and you and your children and me will do as you / we are told or you, me and all others will be frozen out of civilization and society and isolated until we comply, or worse. And that is their goal whether you realize it or not.
Look into the future a bit and not just myopically at your current happy life. Because that is the trend and you can clearly see it in the irrational rhetoric and actions of our current administration and what the corporate media is attempting to pump into the brains of the public in order to accomplish THEIR agenda and concept of what the world should look like.
And those who will remain free will be with the militia, where ever that militia exists, and they will remain free as long as they can do so. But you, your children and maybe I and many others will be slaves. Slaves to a government that has flipped the original concept that the Founders of America were able to manifest. (And it amazes me still that they were able to do so)
Again, the American Constitution is a concept based in real world understanding of human nature as it relates to power and governance.
“Do you really think your government is scared of an uprising of the people? The police are an urban army…”
Who makes up the “Urban police army”?
And those in the military do not swear an allegiance to a person or a political party, they swear an allegiance to the Constitution.
And at some point they might also have to choose. Why?
Because that is how the system is designed to right itself should that day arrive. And the Founders knew that it would some day arrive.
Why? Because that is the nature of man as it relates to power and governance.
Lee:
Question: George Washington, domestic terrorist? Or Freedom fighter?
Lee:
“HOROR! Biden Regime Sends FBI Jackboots to Break Down Door of School Board Activist Sherronna Bishop – Cuff Her and Abuses Her Children”
That is a headline today in America. What do you think that is about?
@Cotour
We probably agree on more points than we disagree upon.
I remember my father calling both Nelson Mandela and his wife terrorists back in the 70s/80s.
If Islam ever achieves its ultimate goal, the the 9/11 terrorists will become heroes.
( For the record, I have issues with all religions, not just Islam. )
Government is important. If mankind wants a society, we need a process to keep the power on, keep the roads in order, keep the trains running, healthcare, indeed welfare for the poor and underprivileged. I’m not sure who said it, but there is a quote out there that a society should be judged by how it treats it’s poorest members. If you consider this to be true, then the US is quite far down the world ranking.
Government is important, but it has to be transparent. I don’t mind paying my large tax contribution because I can, should I wish, investigate where every last dollar is spent. I’m guessing the same does not apply over there.
The whole point of democracy is that we, the people get to choose who redistributes our taxes. That is pretty much all it comes down to. Over there you have 2 choices. Here we have many. I personally vote either green, or the “left party”… ( Nothing to do with your loony left, who have poisoned the term “left”), and I have representatives in government who fight for the ideals important to me. They mostly do not win, to be honest, but they are there fighting for my corner. This is democracy, and I see very little chance of it falling any time soon. I also see absolutely no need for any reason to allow an armed rebellion to be written into law.
Regarding your headline…. That simply would not happen here. The fact it happens over there is worrying. It kinda shows the cracks in the US system. But as I have said over and over, the pendulum is swinging back. If you had a more democratic system, this sort of rubbish would be rubbed out. The majority of people do not want this “cancel culture” , they might want a more socially inclusive government, but without the bullcrap that is currently hooked to it… Because you only have 2 options in elections. Left or right. Biden or Trump… Jeebus…. I’m pleased I didn’t have to pick a side in that race.
The distribution of God knows how many billions of your tax dollars should be trusted to a system that is transparent. Yours is anything but. Even if you don’t like my socialist leaning, you should be outraged by the lack of transparency in your governments redistribution of your tax dollars. The amount spent on foreign interventions could feed all your poor easily.
Sleepy Joe seems to be trying to pull your troops out of theaters where you have no chance of winning… Credit to him for that. I just hope that the billions of dollars saved get redistributed to the people that need them the most, that they end up in the pockets of the poor, and help them out of the poverty trap. There are few poor folk that want to be so. A little help and they could become active workers and tax payers. This is MY left, the government supplies a fishing rod, the starving man gets to catch fish.
Just a random Constitutional Point:
In One weekend, Gouverneur Morris from Pennsylvania, who was called the PenMan of the Constitution: he took the approved 10,000 to 20,000 words that had been voted as the constitution and cut combined and arranged the form of the less than two thousand that is our founding underlayment.
He was the ONLY person who when scheduled to give convention speeches of four to six hours, the other conventionors would show up to, in mass.
@ Alton…. If only there were more like your guy there…
But politicians from every country tend to run on the BBB system… Bullcrap Baffles Brains.
Lee, you assume that those you have come to depend upon can’t cause you harm before you can vote them out … if they are even subject to direct election; bureaucrats aren’t.
And that can happen, even with the best of intentions on their part … because they simply lack the insight and flexibility to reliably get the decisions right for you, if those needs differ significantly from the norm.
We both have already seen the potential for regulatory obstruction with SpaceX and the LA/Long Beach ports … I’ve seen how a welfare state can’t craft its rules to reliably discern the truly needy from the merely greedy … I’ve seen how media-amplified shifts in cultural norms can quickly erode law enforcement and even support for free speech.
Don’t think it can’t happen in Sweden.
We in the West have been lying to ourselves regarding our responsibilities, our capabilities, and who we should place our trust in as individuals.
Lee:
“Government is important. If mankind wants a society”
There will be society, and there will be culture, the question is who and what flavor of power will own and dominate it?
Look into the future and see who and what is attempting to line up to dominate.
“The distribution of God knows how many billions of your tax dollars should be trusted to a system that is transparent. Yours is anything but. ”
Our system is perfectly transparent: The Democrats and the Leftist and the RINOS that go along with them are in the process of attempting to seal the funding for their social welfare system of perpetual influence in political power for eternity. And that goes back to my initial point, who gets to control the power and say what is what.
Our American Constitutional system is built for political warfare every day. And in that system is our only (And your only) hope to remain free to the degree that we are. If and when there becomes some other power in the world to enslave and dominate both America and Sweden or any other entity that is the day that freedom, your freedom ends.
Is our system crazy and corrupt? WITH OUT DOUBT!
But my suggestion is that you learn to embrace and hold dear that degree of corruption and crazy and the Constitution that ensures, even demands it.
“The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
“Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
There exists one force on the planet that ENSURES that this insane form of governance exists. The human race is entering a truly paradigm changing mode in its evolution both in technology and in governance. And whom ever rises to dominate that new paradigm will write what the future of humanity will be.
Try not to only see what is before you in your good life today, attempt to peer into the future that is not so far off.
And, stay tuned.
“In Our Hands” (1950)
part 3; “How To Lose What We Have”
https://youtu.be/5HKl319gS6A
11:53
Jester Naybor wrote: “Don’t think it can’t happen in Sweden.”
We Americans have the Constitution to protect us, and we understand that we must be eternally vigilant, as the price of liberty. It most certainly cannot happen in the United States.
And yet it has.
Now, please excuse me while I put on my mask, drive to the grocery store, and get yet another faux-vaccine booster shot — all after showing my vaccine papers to the proper authorities. Heil Brandon! Sieg Heil!