Hi Erik, yes, smaller is better for all kid of reasons, but your Jeffersonian take here is one of the main ones--it limits the inevitable damage of flawed human beings. The other hope (also Jeffersonian) in the states is that the losing party has to indulge in a years-long post-mortem as to what went wrong; parties, like all organisms want to avoid extinction. If the Dems dont move back to being a centre-left party in my centre-right country (rather than a far left party) they can go the way of the Whigs, or the Federalists, as no one wants to work/be part of a perpetually losing party. But you are onto something big here.
As someone who is not a global elite, I can say that the wounds from the far left are deep and will not be soon forgotten. I would like to see a Libertarian “vibe” added to the Republican Party. As John says, meritocracy is how people should be judged. DEI is a disaster. Average people don’t care what people do in their private lives…just be a contributing, responsible citizen…
Yes, Erik, I won the office pool on this. He always had to pardon his moronic brother Jim after Hunter (otherwise the beans would all be spilled anyway); I said it would be the last thing he would do in office, with it was. What a predictable, shabby end to a terrible presidency. Worse for the blob, they have confirmed everyone's suspicions of their inept, corrupt and 'the rules are for the little people' behaviour that is why they are so loathed in the first place.
Entirely agree, Erik; this was as predictable as it is ghastly. But the good news is that in doing so, the establishment blob merely gives credence to every populist in thinking that something was very rotten, indeed (as it was). Its maddening but it also shows they are on the run
Jim Biden will be pardoned as they walk out the door, as he has to be to keep a lid on things; influence peddling is the family's primary source of income
How do you make yourself more --resilient-- to such political cock-ups? What stops a lunatic, a trend, a cohort, a collective delusion from hi-jacking the federal, or state government, in the USA or elsewhere? We are OK with Trump, but that is just 4 years, and maybe even only 2 years.
Besides that, there is massive long term damage from the Biden years: the green failed investments & the underinvestment in fossil fuels, the government debt wasted on ideology will have to be paid back, messed-up judges everywhere, even a nutter in the Supreme Court for life, illegal immigrants which are going to be a pest for decades etc. None of this will just flip back to the 2019 status quo.
I can only see being less dependent on politics. Reduce the size of government, comprehensively. People spending their own wallets smarten up quickly. Maoists and the "Great Leap Forward" are less damaging the smaller the government. In practical terms, breathtaking tax cuts put Washington DC on that track, as otherwise the government candy always incentives and attracks the wrong behaviours again. Ronald Reagan understood that, when even his own budget director David Stockman did not.
What stops a Lunatic, and the followers of the lunacy?
California where I live and has seen the the total demise and destruction because of insanity. We have natural disasters from time to time, but the most destructive has been the result of Man Made Disaster Decisions or lack of...And an unbelievably a "large group mentality" who continue follow the narrative.
John, I recall you saying "What is insanity,.. continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome"
Smaller government and for people more self sufficient is a good start , agree. California at this point I fear is in a spiral that defies reality. But the good side of this is the world can hopefully clearly see this.
Thanks and YES Soros is the Devil, with many, many following closely behind him.
I still don't understand why Europe is afraid or weary of Elon, another discussion at some point.
Yes, Dianne, California is a tragic case in point regarding the follies of big government; compare the big government types (Newsome et al) utterly incompetent response to predictable fires, as opposed to De Santis, who expertly managed the expected hurricanes. Do less and do it better as a result is the mantra of conservatism, as it should be!
The key to this charge is to look at the senior personnel; as Reagan shrewdly noted, people make policy. Blinken, Sullivan (he’s the key ideologically and in power terms), Julie Smith et al, were and remain Obama people first and foremost. The court remains his despite King Lear being the titular figurehead. And its all gone now
Hi Erik, yes, smaller is better for all kid of reasons, but your Jeffersonian take here is one of the main ones--it limits the inevitable damage of flawed human beings. The other hope (also Jeffersonian) in the states is that the losing party has to indulge in a years-long post-mortem as to what went wrong; parties, like all organisms want to avoid extinction. If the Dems dont move back to being a centre-left party in my centre-right country (rather than a far left party) they can go the way of the Whigs, or the Federalists, as no one wants to work/be part of a perpetually losing party. But you are onto something big here.
As someone who is not a global elite, I can say that the wounds from the far left are deep and will not be soon forgotten. I would like to see a Libertarian “vibe” added to the Republican Party. As John says, meritocracy is how people should be judged. DEI is a disaster. Average people don’t care what people do in their private lives…just be a contributing, responsible citizen…
That response is for you Erik. I also learn a lot from you and John
Yes, Erik, I won the office pool on this. He always had to pardon his moronic brother Jim after Hunter (otherwise the beans would all be spilled anyway); I said it would be the last thing he would do in office, with it was. What a predictable, shabby end to a terrible presidency. Worse for the blob, they have confirmed everyone's suspicions of their inept, corrupt and 'the rules are for the little people' behaviour that is why they are so loathed in the first place.
Entirely agree, Erik; this was as predictable as it is ghastly. But the good news is that in doing so, the establishment blob merely gives credence to every populist in thinking that something was very rotten, indeed (as it was). Its maddening but it also shows they are on the run
Jim Biden will be pardoned as they walk out the door, as he has to be to keep a lid on things; influence peddling is the family's primary source of income
From crimes committed at any time in the 20th or the 21st century.
Leaves Joe and Jill up for prosecution.
How do you make yourself more --resilient-- to such political cock-ups? What stops a lunatic, a trend, a cohort, a collective delusion from hi-jacking the federal, or state government, in the USA or elsewhere? We are OK with Trump, but that is just 4 years, and maybe even only 2 years.
Besides that, there is massive long term damage from the Biden years: the green failed investments & the underinvestment in fossil fuels, the government debt wasted on ideology will have to be paid back, messed-up judges everywhere, even a nutter in the Supreme Court for life, illegal immigrants which are going to be a pest for decades etc. None of this will just flip back to the 2019 status quo.
I can only see being less dependent on politics. Reduce the size of government, comprehensively. People spending their own wallets smarten up quickly. Maoists and the "Great Leap Forward" are less damaging the smaller the government. In practical terms, breathtaking tax cuts put Washington DC on that track, as otherwise the government candy always incentives and attracks the wrong behaviours again. Ronald Reagan understood that, when even his own budget director David Stockman did not.
This is very good Eric, and John.
What stops a Lunatic, and the followers of the lunacy?
California where I live and has seen the the total demise and destruction because of insanity. We have natural disasters from time to time, but the most destructive has been the result of Man Made Disaster Decisions or lack of...And an unbelievably a "large group mentality" who continue follow the narrative.
John, I recall you saying "What is insanity,.. continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome"
Smaller government and for people more self sufficient is a good start , agree. California at this point I fear is in a spiral that defies reality. But the good side of this is the world can hopefully clearly see this.
Thanks and YES Soros is the Devil, with many, many following closely behind him.
I still don't understand why Europe is afraid or weary of Elon, another discussion at some point.
Yes, Dianne, California is a tragic case in point regarding the follies of big government; compare the big government types (Newsome et al) utterly incompetent response to predictable fires, as opposed to De Santis, who expertly managed the expected hurricanes. Do less and do it better as a result is the mantra of conservatism, as it should be!
Shameless crook pardons own crime family minutes before leaving office.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/01/20/biden-pardons-five-more-family-members-minutes-before-leaving-office/
At 11th Hour, Biden Pardons Anthony Fauci, Mark Milley And Entire Jan 6 Committee.
Supreme Court Says Accepting Means Admission Of Guilt
No smoke without a fire.
No pardon without a criminal.
Truly, the rot in America started with Barack Obama and was completed under Biden's or rather Obama's 3rd administration.
The key to this charge is to look at the senior personnel; as Reagan shrewdly noted, people make policy. Blinken, Sullivan (he’s the key ideologically and in power terms), Julie Smith et al, were and remain Obama people first and foremost. The court remains his despite King Lear being the titular figurehead. And its all gone now
Obama's gift was to master Dr. Martin Luther King rhetorics, without having any of the substance or the humanity of MLK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXP6hJNaj9Y
I say go after Joe Biden himself and his brother.
The Joe & Hunter Biden crimes incriminate Joe Biden as much as Hunter.
JD mentioned Realism in a recent interview….
Yes, I am close to a number of very bright young people around him; they are all card-carrying realists. The wind is in our favour!