tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46858133144037517762024-03-13T07:22:57.137-04:00DEWEY FROM DETROITDEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comBlogger707125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-26955234502099305922021-10-23T14:58:00.000-04:002021-10-26T14:58:10.258-04:00Is The Babylon Bee Actually Satanic?<p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1tBdxcRXwu4igP34CDIpkXG6Ka1YacTi4"><img title="babylon bee is your cat actually satan" style="border-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="babylon bee is your cat actually satan" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1em9LwxgDhBSPAH3wN3pb8p9OK_0dkYgP" width="550" height="312" /></a></p> <p>There is an <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/10/babylon-bee-news-kyle-mann-wokeism/620376/"><strong><em>Atlantic</em></strong></a><strong><em> </em></strong>article this month that chronicles author Emma Green’s interview with Kyle Mann, the managing editor of the <em>Babylon Bee. </em>The title, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/10/babylon-bee-news-kyle-mann-wokeism/620376/"><strong><em>The Christians Who Mock Wokeness for a Living</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong>explains to Ms. Green’s audience what the article is intended to do: chastise America’s new newspaper of record for being rather un-Christian. What it actually does is prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the left has absolutely no sense of humor…  </p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1F_t3oQSS_tl0bqmxv7cTF-oUN0xlG3jG"><img title="bo shadow puppet" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bo shadow puppet" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1bnrgxZCvO0GOhTIZX4w7Yxew4dvQgOHu" width="354" height="446" /></a>“Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.” –</em> Martin Luther King</strong></p> </blockquote> <p>…at least when the joke is on them. This excerpt is quite self explanatory, although the author repeatedly demands an explanation. </p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><strong>Green:</strong> You guys wrote an article in January 2020 that was shared roughly 3 million times, claiming that Democrats called for the American flag to be flown at half-staff when the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in an American strike. What makes this funny? I know that’s the worst question to ask somebody who writes jokes. </p> <p><strong>Mann:</strong> It’s funny because General Soleimani died and then they called for flags to be flown at half-mast. Get it?</p> <p><b>Green:</b> But that’s what I’m saying. Besides just saying the joke again, what makes it funny?</p> <p><b>Mann: </b>Do you want me to explain the joke to you? Because the joke is that General Soleimani died and Democrats were sad.</p> <p>If you don’t know why that’s funny, then you’re not the audience for the joke. The funniest part is that it got fact-checked because it was so believable that Democrats would do that. That’s a real honor.</p> <p><b>Green:</b> …But I want to ask about the fact-checking part. I don’t think the reason Snopes fact-checked it was because it was so plausible. I think <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dems-flags-half-mast-soleimani/">it’s because it was being shared millions of times</a>. What if people did believe it was real? Do you worry about that, regardless of how many times you make it clear that you’re a satire publication?…Does that impose any ethical responsibility on you?</p> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p>Mann’s answer is my favorite part of the entire piece:</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><b>Mann:</b> Not any more than any other comedian whose joke gets mistaken for reality. Does <i>SNL</i> bear responsibility because people <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noSw5iZ8fLA">still think Sarah Palin said</a> she could see Russia from her house?</p> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p>And because it is Caturday, I add this bonus feature direct from the satanic <em>Babylon Bee</em> itself:<strong> <a href="https://babylonbee.com/news/is-your-cat-worshiping-satan-what-to-look-for">Is Your Cat Actually Satan? 9 Things To Look For</a>.</strong></p> <blockquote> <p> </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kTQ0kC7P-Mp-l0wOx6FqRdtRXoLZS0AU"><img title="bee cat satan" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bee cat satan" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Lcv1zFyk0Cu8vUfDawAC8zg3Yx_goXh9" width="604" height="933" /></a></blockquote>DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-47831541433579255312021-10-19T14:58:00.000-04:002021-10-26T14:58:59.866-04:00Leaf Peepers Guide To Koroks<p>Seeing as how it’s officially leaf-peeper season I have something for you that’s at least as important as anything you’ll hear in the news: an official guide to Korok Kharacters.</p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18sVBF-PldWbcFbaoFJsKFPvdsZ-8eOn0"><img title="converted leaves" style="border: 0px currentcolor; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="converted leaves" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=15HYmNh1CgTxrXwYsIDCcaBPmmtsImFU3" width="700" height="894" /></a> <p>I won’t pretend to understand Koroks but apparently there are a series of <a href="https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/hyrule-warriors-age-of-calamity-korok-locations"><strong>Nintendo games</strong></a> - another thing I don’t understand – featuring these leaf-like Koroks. Whereas I’ve never played a Nintendo game in my life, or any other computer game for that matter, I cannot add anything beyond that. </p> <p>Like the news they seem to be made-up factoids based on something real. Unlike the news they have been created for fun and entertainment rather than agitprop. In that they could help you identify different tree species as you cruise about they are probably more useful than most of the news. And whereas they appear to be quite harmless they are probably healthier as well.</p> <p>Still, it’s important that you not mistake the real thing </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13Rim_yL_Hb7HZSPf2GbTcIRzDp5YSizY"><img title="gingko-leaf" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="gingko-leaf" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VLPEV3-XehQVV3vfZCGKFCeTWhPTMm7g" width="404" height="304" /></a> <p>with the cleverly designed and packaged fake thing intended to lure you in with it’s too-cute by half appeal.</p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=15LN-BrcKZF2B4SkYfqie6o37g-OWeo7r"><img title="ginko" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="ginko" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Wv784OWmy4kRSmktV42NJIbnqD27gCv7" width="404" height="404" /></a> <p>Now get out there, buy some cider and donuts and get a good peep at the real world.</p>DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-4410569326795506602015-11-19T09:37:00.001-05:002015-11-19T12:47:56.194-05:00WTF Theater Episode 8: Je Suis Paris Cafe<p>We join Faith & Drake at a café, somewhere in Seattle, a few days after the islamic terrorist attacks in Paris…</p> <p align="center"><iframe height="435" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MsGK445dri8?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="580" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><font size="4" face="Trebuchet MS"><strong><em>Linked By: </em></strong></font><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=OSWWFIOPXO124302PM"><strong><em><font size="4" face="Trebuchet MS">BlogsLucianneLoves</font></em></strong></a><font size="4" face="Trebuchet MS"><strong><em>, and </em></strong></font><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3362514/posts"><strong><em><font size="4" face="Trebuchet MS">Free Republic</font></em></strong></a><font size="4" face="Trebuchet MS"><strong><em>, Thanks!</em></strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Trebuchet MS"><strong><em>Cross-Posted on </em></strong></font><a href="http://patriotaction.net/forum/topics/wtf-theater-episode-8-je-suis-paris-cafe"><strong><em><font size="4" face="Trebuchet MS">Patriot Action Network</font></em></strong></a></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-19684297784447103852015-02-03T09:57:00.001-05:002015-02-03T09:57:43.966-05:00Look What You Can Do Without The Government<p align="left"><em><strong>“It might be tough, but my dad used to say, tough times don't last — tough people do." – </strong>James Robertson</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u9Dxet5nBiQ/VNDhxnocefI/AAAAAAABSS0/G1B6U1i5i74/s1600-h/635582490234214435-012915-james-the-walker-rg-34_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="635582490234214435-012915-james-the-walker-rg-34_thumb[1]" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="635582490234214435-012915-james-the-walker-rg-34_thumb[1]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sx-f55L95yo/VNDhymN6QDI/AAAAAAABSS8/WekuWLJFdhw/635582490234214435-012915-james-the-walker-rg-34_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="376" /></a><strong><em>James, on his 21 mile daily commute on foot</em></strong></p> <p>I know we could all use a feel-good story, and I have a doozy for you today. </p> <p>It comes to us from - of all places – Detroit. As you read James’ story you may begin to understand what once made Detroit a great city; a monument to American enterprise and the “Arsenal of Democracy” before the liberals took it over and tried to “fix” it with government dollars. It’s because people like James used to be the norm here, not an oddity of such note that it’s news worthy.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2015/01/31/detroit-commuting-troy-rochester-hills-smart-ddot-ubs-banker-woodward-buses-transit/22660785/">This is James’ story</a></strong>:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em>Leaving home in Detroit at 8 a.m., James Robertson doesn't look like an endurance athlete.</em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em>Pudgy of form, shod in heavy work boots, Robertson trudges almost haltingly as he starts another workday.</em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em>But as he steps out into the cold, Robertson, 56, is steeled for an Olympic-sized commute. Getting to and from his factory job 23 miles away in Rochester Hills, he'll take a bus partway there and partway home. And he'll also walk an astounding 21 miles.</em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em>Five days a week. Monday through Friday. </em></strong>Read the whole, amazing story <strong><a href="http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2015/01/31/detroit-commuting-troy-rochester-hills-smart-ddot-ubs-banker-woodward-buses-transit/22660785/">here.</a></strong> </p> <p>  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8iTh4IBRuoI/VNDhzE3bFkI/AAAAAAABSTE/c8c5iFgkYEI/s1600-h/B9315852091Z_1_20150131173627_000_GHB9QTH3A_1-0_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="B9315852091Z_1_20150131173627_000_GHB9QTH3A_1-0_thumb[2]" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="B9315852091Z_1_20150131173627_000_GHB9QTH3A_1-0_thumb[2]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rfy-icUkLtg/VNDhz8Kl8yI/AAAAAAABSTM/Uc8J7DF0RBY/B9315852091Z_1_20150131173627_000_GHB9QTH3A_1-0_thumb%25255B2%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="353" /></a> <strong><em>James’ daily commute; notable only because 21 miles of it is covered on foot.</em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p>Yes, you read that right, 21 miles a day. And he’s been performing this Sisyphean effort for 10 years, ever since his car died in 2005. In order to get to work on time for his 2:00-10:00 pm shift he has to leave home at 8:00 am. He doesn’t return until early morning the next day – sometimes as late as 4:00 am. He gets by on an average of 2 hours during the work week and “catches up” on the weekend. </p> <p>More astounding still: James has a perfect attendance record for the entire dozen years he’s been working at Schain Mold & Engineering in Rochester Hills.</p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gQEEd2z8vKI/VNDh0reUoRI/AAAAAAABSTQ/ficTJunb1SY/s1600-h/plant%252520manager%252520todd%252520DFP-james-the-walker-rg-09_thumb%25255B7%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="plant manager todd DFP-james-the-walker-rg-09_thumb[7]" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="plant manager todd DFP-james-the-walker-rg-09_thumb[7]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rVgtETXjC6k/VNDh1cNkEBI/AAAAAAABSTc/9H1WXi_m5Oo/plant%252520manager%252520todd%252520DFP-james-the-walker-rg-09_thumb%25255B7%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" height="370" /></a><strong><em>James and plant manager Todd Wilson, whose wife fixes dinner for James every night.</em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p>Why does he do it?</p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em>Robertson has simple words for why he is what he is, and does what he does. He speaks with pride of his parents, including his father's military service. </em></strong><strong><em>"I just get it from my family</em></strong>.</p> <p><strong><em>"I can't imagine not working," he says</em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p>How does he do it”</p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em>"One word — faith," Robertson says. "I'm not saying I'm a member of some church. But just before I get home, every night, I say, 'Lord, keep me safe.' " </em></strong><strong><em>Robertson adds, "I should've told you there's another thing: determination."</em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p>While the reporter who filed James story originally also had an undercurrent storyline running about the lack of mass transit in the “motor city” the only real story here is of one man’s extraordinary work ethic, commitment and perseverance. It is the story of James Robertson, doing what he has to do to keep his job and keep food on the table. </p> <p align="center"><a href="file:///C:/Users/mj/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles591A1B7/detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412[7].jpg"><strong><em></em><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PQdnx8IphSY/VNDh18irThI/AAAAAAABSTk/4jdLuMJncfQ/s1600-h/detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412_thumb[2]" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412_thumb[2]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MVtIgxsb8HI/VNDh2i0llvI/AAAAAAABSTs/tYd0zZdTcDI/detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412_thumb%25255B2%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="269" /></a></strong></a></a><strong><em>God helps those who help themselves.</em></strong> </p> <p>The author makes no note of the fact, and probably is to young to know, that this city was once predominantly populated by people just like James, both black and white citizens who were fiercely committed to doing whatever it took. It was that type of mindset that created the modern automotive industry and all of its spin off businesses. It’s the kind of mindset that vanishes when government steps in to do for you what you once were able, and willing, to do for yourself, no matter how hard.</p> <p>But that’s not the feel-good part of the story. That would be <strong><a href="http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2015/02/01/james-roberston-detroiter-commute-fundraiser/22701087/">here.</a></strong> On reading James’ story a young Wayne State computer science student decided to set up a crowd funding site to raise enough money for James to get a car and pay the high cost of insurance on it in Detroit, Several others had the same idea; they co-ordinated their efforts. Meanwhile a downriver auto dealer offered to give James his choice of a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz or Sonic. Many others offered used cars, money or rides. As of Monday night, $130,000 had been raised. A vice-president at a local bank, who befriended James after seeing him on his daily trek so often that he finally stopped to see if he could give him a lift, has offered to set up an oversight board to help James manage the donations that are rolling in.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zvpGBqKemL4/VNDh3P-befI/AAAAAAABST0/zHNqMq1Yz7Q/s1600-h/635582485819943854-012915-james-the-walker-rg-30_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="635582485819943854-012915-james-the-walker-rg-30_thumb[1]" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="635582485819943854-012915-james-the-walker-rg-30_thumb[1]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ljYuGSbSbn0/VNDh3yAXy5I/AAAAAAABST8/kuwkhA0dK6g/635582485819943854-012915-james-the-walker-rg-30_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a><strong><em>James getting a lift from his friend, UBS banker Blake Pollock.</em></strong></p> <p>Most amazing of all: this happy outcome happened without the intervention of one single government agency or service: the Justice Department was not consulted to make sure James’ civil rights were not being violated. The Labor Department was not called upon to demand that James hourly wage be increased. The EPA did not have to order an environmental impact study on James’ new car, nor was Commerce consulted regarding the economic analysis of James’ additional free time. OSHA did not have to issue new regulations for walking to work, and HHS did not show up to perform a mental health assessment on James. Although I am fairly certain that the IRS will be on site shortly to extract their “fair share” of James endowment. </p> <p>Instead, James story just struck a note in the hearts of middle class Americans in middle America: empathy for a fellow human being who has been doing for a decade what most people could not imagine doing for a day. And they did what good, decent people people have always done; they rallied their resources to assist James. Because often people of good heart are more than willing to help out a fellow human being without the manipulation of social programs or the coercion of monetary reward/punishment. More amazing still to the bureaucrats in Washington, all this good will appears to be without bias; colorblind acts of random kindness taking place in Detroit, one of the most racially segregated cities in the country. That definitely doesn’t fit the current racial profiling template of the Obama administration.</p> <p>So that’s all, just one little story of an amazing man and an amazing community-of-man that has responded to him. Allow it to lessen the grip that cynicism has had on your heart. America is still the greatest country on earth. Do whatever you can to keep it that way.</p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eG9M5TCsBEY/VNDh4r93-sI/AAAAAAABSUE/_jaz0zc1isM/s1600-h/635582485788745454-010915-DFP-james-the-walker-rg-02_thumb%25255B6%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="635582485788745454-010915-DFP-james-the-walker-rg-02_thumb[6]" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="635582485788745454-010915-DFP-james-the-walker-rg-02_thumb[6]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aWElnxAnHqI/VNDh5p-brCI/AAAAAAABSUM/RRzWzN8iBBU/635582485788745454-010915-DFP-james-the-walker-rg-02_thumb%25255B6%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="391" /></a><strong><em>All I know for sure is that if Obama had a son, he wouldn’t look anything like James Robertson</em></strong></p></blockquote> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-27791919479453629572014-08-26T13:01:00.001-04:002014-08-27T08:56:36.221-04:00You Won’t Learn This with Common Core Curriculum<p>And now a message from <strong><a href="http://www.politicalislam.com/">Political Islam</a></strong>:</p> <p align="center"><iframe height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/I_To-cV94Bo?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="500" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="left">Here’s a history lesson that will never be incorporated into the Common Core Curriculum of Western Civilization, where <strong><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/19/common-cores-odd-approach-to-teaching-gettysburg-address/">context is not just optional, it’s actively discouraged.</a></strong></p> <p align="left">Fact based history? How is that going to help your children <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/07/11/David-Coleman-s-Second-Deception-After-Common-Core-The-New-AP-U-S-History-Exam"><strong>get a good score on their Advanced Placement History exam?</strong></a> Answer: it won’t.</p> <p align="left">Common Core: <strong><a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2013/01/23/rotten-to-the-core-obamas-war-on-academic-standards-part-1/">uncommon</a>,</strong> <strong><a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2013/01/25/rotten-to-the-core-part-2-readin-writin-and-deconstructionism/">involuntary</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2013/01/23/rotten-to-the-core-obamas-war-on-academic-standards-part-1/">rotten to it’s propagandist core</a></strong><strong></strong>.</p> <p align="left">Don’t just sit there, do something.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hcwJIy2LrMg/U_y9RrSsH_I/AAAAAAABMqE/y1AGD5MZs8I/s1600-h/common%252520core%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="common core" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="common core" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5kU8Z98FnjQ/U_y9Sk45wuI/AAAAAAABMqM/962QltHb9v8/common%252520core_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="523" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MM3f2y6x5dU/U_y9TWEW9nI/AAAAAAABMqU/sB3F2vuQPNM/s1600-h/common%252520core4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="common core4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="common core4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rfol2kkldx8/U_y9URP0sQI/AAAAAAABMqc/l2LiWLFN1dQ/common%252520core4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a><strong>Never, never,<u> never</u> give up.</strong></p> <p align="left"><em><font size="4"><strong>Linked By: <em><font size="4"><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><strong>Larwyn’s Linx</strong></a></font><font size="4"><strong> on </strong></font></em><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><em><font size="4"><strong>Doug Ross@Journal</strong></font></em></a><em><font size="4"><strong>, </strong></font></em></strong><strong>Thanks!</strong></font></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-44336835558472041302014-01-06T10:52:00.001-05:002014-01-06T11:02:34.277-05:00Armageddon: Global Densification<p><strong><em>Originally posted <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2010/04/armageddon-global-densification.html#.UsrSNdgo6t8">April 6, 2010</a></em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>In today’s Wall Street Journal, Bret Stephens poses the question: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304017404575165573845958914.html">What's the Next 'Global Warming'?</a> That alone was enough to get my attention, but then he throws down the ultimate challenge:</p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000080">Herewith, then, I propose a readers' contest to invent the next panic. It must involve something ubiquitous, invisible to the naked eye, and preferably mass-produced. And the solution must require taxes, regulation, and other changes to civilization as we know it. The winner gets a beer and a burger, on me, at the 47th street Pig N' Whistle in New York City. (Nachos for vegetarians.) Happy panicking!</font></em></p> </blockquote> <p>It just so happens that I have developed a theory about a coming disaster of such biblical proportions that it keeps me up at night. I have, until now, shared my observations and theory with only a few, trusted colleagues. But Mr. Stephens has prompted me to come forward, announce my theory and provide a layman's abstract. Also, I like beer and burgers. I think you’ll agree I’m a shoo-in for the Pig N’ Whistle prize.</p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#800000" size="4">Abstract: </font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#800000" size="4">Earth’s Imminent Destruction Due to the </font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#800000" size="4">Effects of Anthropogenic Global Densification</font></strong></p> <p>Anthropogenic Global Densification (GD) will <font color="#800000" size="4">cause the earth to implode</font><em> </em>unless mankind takes immediate and aggressive actions to relieve the pressure exerted on the earth’s crust and reverse the progression of GD.</p> <p>GD is caused by a number of factors, all of human origin:</p> <ol> <li>Unchecked, <font color="#800000" size="4">explosive population growth exacerbated by high calorie diets</font> in developed nations, </li> <li><font color="#800000" size="4">Massive surface development</font> to support populations principally in the industrialized world, </li> <li><font color="#800000" size="4">Drilling and mining </font>to extract fossil fuels, minerals and other raw materials from beneath the earth’s crust. </li> <li>An unrelenting <font color="#800000" size="4">accumulation of things</font> in a consumer based <font color="#800000" size="4">materialist economy</font>. </li> </ol> <p>The center of the earth is a hot, dense, molten core. The core is so dense that its gravitational pull keeps you and me and everything else on the earth’s surface from floating off into space. The force of the core’s attraction is inversely proportional to the square of the distance to the earth’s surface. That means that <font color="#800000" size="4">as the radius of the earth shrinks, gravitational pull increases exponentially.</font> For example, if the earth’s radius shrinks by 1/2, the force of gravity at the surface is 4 times greater. This is the <font color="#800000" size="4">force exerted on the earth’s surface by every object residing on it: the object’s “GD Footprint”</font> or GDF.</p> <p>Because of the actions of mankind listed above, <font color="#800000" size="4">the radius of the earth has been shrinking since the “Industrial Revolution.”</font> Human population exploded in the 18th century, increasing the stress on the earth’s crust in direct proportion to the increase in population. From 1800 to 2010 human population grew by a factor of 7. That means that the <font color="#800000" size="4">stress on the earth’s fragile crust is 7 times greater now thn in 1800.</font></p> <p align="center"><em><font color="#800000" size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/---F_zGu0lGI/UsrRUU5gWsI/AAAAAAABEn4/-b6T7TmyXH0/s1600-h/population%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="population" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="population" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-forYE9ahoh8/UsrRVPNwU_I/AAAAAAABEoA/9so8MhR3XHM/population_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="343" /></a> “Hockey Stick” increase in Human Population Induced <em><font color="#800000" size="3">Stress on Earth’s Fragile Crust</font></em></font></em></p> <p align="left">In the industrialized, developed nations with primarily capitalist based consumer economies, the populations began to eat higher caloric diets rich in animal fats. This caused these populations <font color="#800000" size="4">to rapidly and dramatically increase their mass and therefore their GDF</font>.</p> <p align="left">The populations in these nations built larger houses in vastly larger cities with huge hotels, office towers, factories and massive shopping centers. These populations accumulated larger gasoline powered vehicles, and covered the earth’s already overstressed <font color="#404040">surface</font> with massive concrete pavements for roads and parking areas.</p> <p align="left">These same populations began to fill their houses with possessions; furniture, appliances, electronics, RVs and every imaginable consumer product. It is estimated <font color="#800000" size="4">the mass of these possessions increased the damaging GDF of every person by a factor of 10<sup>7</sup> , or 10,000,000 times.</font></p> <p align="left">To fabricate all these possessions, greedy corporations developed elaborate mining techniques which extracted minerals from deep beneath the earth’s crust. To power all the factories making these products and the homes and vehicles and products themselves, fossil fuels, oil, natural gas and coal were also extracted from deep within the planet. </p> <p align="left">These massive extractions left voids in the interior of the earth; voids which, with increasing frequency, collapse, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Worst of all, <font color="#800000" size="4">these collapsing voids reduce the radius of the earth, bringing the surface closer to the core.</font></p> <p align="left">Human populations continue to grow, develop, build, extract and accumulate. This increases the earth’s surface stress in direct proportion to its growing mass. The human induced stress causes the radius of the earth to shrink further, increasing the stress exponentially, which in turn causes the radius to shrink even further.</p> <p align="left">The apocalyptic cycle has begun. Most people I have interviewed report that they can already see the effects of GD on themselves, their children and friends. In one recent poll,<font color="#800000"> <font size="4">95% of the respondents reported their weight as measured by a bathroom scale (the force exerted by gravity) has increased each year for the past 10 years.</font></font></p> <p align="left">Global Densification is well under way and is rapidly approaching the point of no return.<font color="#800000" size="4"> A self-perpetuating feed-back cycle is already in play: the expanding mass on the earth’s surface combined with the extraction of the protective layer between the surface and the core results in a reduction of the radius causing an immediate increase in gravitational force which further reduces the earth’s radius. This negative feedback loop will lead to entropy if not broken immediately</font></p> <p align="left">Without robust and immediate action, our beautiful blue spaceship will <font color="#800000" size="4">compact and shrink at an exponentially growing rate until it becomes the planetary equivalent of a black hole</font>, extinguishing all life forms on earth and several neighboring planets as the infinitely growing gravitational pull of the earth distorts the orbit of all planets in the solar system and beyond. Apocalypse, Armageddon, call it what you will, but tomorrow is too late to start. We must begin today.</p> <p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGTZGf7ZkSgfngd5ZP62EInqTMX8aRpQxjUjpXXkv0BcOIUFnYNNhbpvcuaTSa2-WNd5PzC8FiiaqQ2DdYaMmg7InSW3qBQqoGzOntpijw-ktMnWoP1B6WKMeBMcKp-hE4atQeYL9XHzO/s1600-h/153309main_hidden_blackhole_lg4.jpg"><img title="153309main_hidden_blackhole_lg" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="153309main_hidden_blackhole_lg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSr4dUtaYV9bZdGwQVh-wqmpHjKXSXBljrihnTtYSBC-AM7KXi1XXYOzBxr9h85-DZ1KVYnhgdF9tXv6c3RjZN9eW5yEqSYTZKD3-MD8-Qyg9LtlUf7X9Fr-AnsIYz0uSuVHbyNhOgPmv7/?imgmax=800" width="354" height="266" /></a> </p> <p align="left">The United Nations Security Council <font color="#800000" size="4">must immediately form an Intergovernmental Panel on Global Densification (IPGD).</font> The nations of the world must agree in a Gravity Change Treaty that will:</p> <ol> <li> <div align="left">Immediately, and humanely, reduce the population of the earth by half. Examples of recent, successful population reduction programs are available in several African countries. The new American nationalized health care law shows promise as well.</div> </li> <li> <div align="left">Establish a Mass-Tax in all industrialized nations to help under-developed nations cope with the effects of GD. Every citizen's Mass-tax will be based on their individual GDF.</div> </li> <li> <div align="left">Establish a<font color="#800000" size="4"> new world commodity : Gravity Credits</font>. The IPGD will be tasked with allocating Gravity Credits to the least developed nations, which have the smallest GDF. These Gravity Credits can be sold/traded in open markets to greedy capitalists who insist on increasing their GDF.</div> </li> <li> <div align="left">Move towards a<font color="#800000" size="4"> new “Light Technology” economy</font> based upon reducing mass and GDF. The new “Light Technology” economy will create millions of new jobs developing and producing “Light GDF” products that will replace the old heavy products of the past. Examples of “Light GDF products:</div> <ul> <ul> <ul> <li> <div align="left">   a) Helium filled shoes and clothing.</div> </li> </ul> </ul> <li> <div align="left">   b) Personal dirigibles to replace surface based vehicles.</div> <ul> <li> <div align="left">    c)“Air Dwellings” and structures suspended beneath balloons tethered to the earth. These “air structures” will both remove stress laden masses from earth’s surface, but will also <font color="#800000" size="4">stretch the surface of the earth skyward, increasing the radius of the earth</font> and reducing the strength of the cores gravitational pull.</div> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <div align="left">Extraction of minerals and fossil fuels from beneath the earth’s surface will be strictly regulated. <font color="#800000" size="4">Voids created by such extractions will be required to be filled with private property confiscated as part of the IPGD personal GDF reduction program. Alternatively, Gravity Credits can be purchased to offset the increase in an extractors GDF.</font> </div> </li> </ol> <p align="left">Several “research studies”, funded by corporate interests, claim that they can not reproduce the results I obtained in my study. They conclude that even if my theory is correct and GD is caused by mankind's activities, that the apocalyptic results I predict are wildly exaggerated and much further off in the future. They argue that the “…drastic and economically devastating actions…” I call for <font color="#800000" size="4">can not be justified by the data.</font></p> <p align="left">Global Densification deniers claim that the theory is flawed, the data is incomplete and/or manipulated and that the recorded effects <font color="#800000" size="4">(such as people reporting recent, dramatic weight gain)</font> can be explained by other factors.  </p> <p align="left">To these so called researchers and their small community of deniers I say this: <font color="#800000" size="4">you have not seen my data, my model or my movie</font>, so how can you dispute that which you have not seen? Then I ask you to step on the scale and tell me if you think my theory is flawed.</p> <p align="left">I will be the first to admit that there is a very small, almost infinitesimal, chance that I am wrong. But the <font color="#800000" size="4">risk of doing nothing,</font> in the face of such <font color="#800000" size="4">utterly cataclysmic destruction</font> is too great. We must take action.</p> <p align="left">We’ve got to do <font color="#800000" size="4">something! Because doing nothing is stupid.<font color="#404040"> <font size="3">Just in case I’m not wrong.</font></font></font></p> <p align="left"><strong><font color="#404040" size="5"><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2010/04/global-densification-faqs.html">Update: See Follow-up Global Densification: FAQs Posted Here</a></font></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Linked by <a href="http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/013726.html">Small Dead Animals</a>. Thanks!</p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-26352439989783115032013-11-06T23:53:00.001-05:002013-11-08T08:14:22.765-05:00Detroit Mayoral Election: What difference, at this point, does it make?<p>Detroit held an election yesterday and as I advised <a href="http://www.michellesmirror.com/2013/11/special-election-day-open-thread.html#.Unpa3Ngo6t9"><strong>MOTUS</strong></a> at the time<strong>, </strong>what difference, at this point, does it make? <strong> </strong> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xVvLWWvrO5Q/UnscsJ0PH9I/AAAAAAABBP8/vHlABSmsxk8/s1600-h/zombieland%252520detroit%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="zombieland detroit" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="zombieland detroit" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kPNVH3eoU6I/UnscspGTU3I/AAAAAAABBQE/n9_4XCWhzKM/zombieland%252520detroit_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a><strong><em>Zombieland Detroit: <a href="http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/slideshow/Zombieland-the-abandoned-buildings-of-Detroit-66663.php">have at it</a></em></strong></p> <p>Both candidates appeared to be qualified and either one of them would have been more qualified to run for president than Barack Obama was in 2008 - aside from the perfectly creased pant legs that is.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BhVjGGfEMh4/UnsctQKTRgI/AAAAAAABBQM/naiGBcIC6Dg/s1600-h/benny%252520and%252520mike%252520duggan%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="benny and mike duggan" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="benny and mike duggan" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2vd7urO0y4Y/UnsctyvrrDI/AAAAAAABBQU/X4VDj9svaV4/benny%252520and%252520mike%252520duggan_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="283" /></a><strong><em>Candidates Benny, left; Mike, right, the winner .</em></strong> </p> <p>Since the Detroit Mayoral election is non-partisan, candidates are not listed by political party; there’s no need - there simply aren’t any Republicans here. This year the election came down to a choice between Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon (D) and former Wayne County Deputy Executive, Mike Duggan (D). </p> <p>Like the 2008 presidential election, this race was historic. Mike Duggan, the white guy, won by a 10 point margin in a city that is currently 82% black. The last time a white man was elected Mayor of Detroit was 1969. Indeed, I think the last time a white man even <em>ran</em> for mayor was sometime in the 70’s.  So why, after electing black liberal Democrats to run their city for the last 40 years, did the citizens of Detroit elect a white man this time? Maybe they had grown weary over the course of  4 decades of seeing no results other than a perpetual death spiral of rot, decay and unemployment, combined with continually escalating taxes (property, sales/utility, income). Or maybe people have finally grown tired of  the Boss Hog mentality of City Hall. And perhaps even the black citizens are getting sick of hearing that every problem in Detroit is the fault of the racist suburbs. </p> <p>I’d like to believe that’s at least partially it. The reality is more likely that Mike Duggan, despite being <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130521/NEWS05/305210151/Competitor-charges-Mike-Duggan-violated-residency-rule-run-Detroit-mayor"><strong>accused of being a carpetbagger</strong></a>, and a sloppy one at that, was simply better than his opponent at co-opting the problems of Detroit’s citizens as his own and demonstrating the appropriate empathy. He parlayed his public/semi-private experience into a resume of a “turnaround specialist” and promised to fix all of Detroit’s problems (with somebody else’s money, which is always compelling). </p> <p>He’s an experienced, some would say quintessential, politician who knows every liberal Democratic trick in the playbook and brings the added benefit of knowing how to run the table on crony capitalism. And thanks to a series of plum political appointments to quasi-private positions following his tenure as Ed McNamara’s henchman, he can play that table from both sides. Unlike Obama he’s not the smartest guy in every room, but he’s smart enough. And ambitious. And tenacious; he earned his designation as McNamara’s bulldog.  </p> <p>While Duggan is a charter member of the “say anything” school of Democratic prevaricators, I suppose Detroit could do worse. In fact, we have:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--ssykPVYV1E/UnscuUkLGEI/AAAAAAABBQc/wiRg7ALOAfo/s1600-h/Kwame-Kilpatrick%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Kwame-Kilpatrick" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Kwame-Kilpatrick" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cXsCzoqunQU/UnscvAnL5TI/AAAAAAABBQk/jx0-Wub5H3E/Kwame-Kilpatrick_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="376" /></a><strong><em>Kwame, our Hip-hop Mayor, gets ‘cuffed following his conviction</em></strong>.</p> <p>So I’m  suggesting that, just like white guilt was partially credited for Barack Obama winning his historic 2008 election, black guilt (see Kwame, above) could be partially credited with Mike Duggan winning his historic election. The city’s citizens finally realized that the giant sucking sound they’ve been hearing all these years was the whoosh of the tide that was supposed to be rising and lifting all boats; only it was ebbing and swirling around the drain.  How could you not feel guilty when you find out you’ve been enabling that sort of thing?</p> <p>I’ve chronicled the magnitude of the city’s problems many times in the past, but here is the Cliffs’ note version: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Rvhm8FwKJyA/UnslNUEG-ZI/AAAAAAABBRE/WqGhNe9Iuwk/s1600-h/detroit%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="detroit" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p1D2B8pcZx4/UnslN6W5vFI/AAAAAAABBRI/YdqHCRNFJmI/detroit_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="267" /></a></p> <p>Both private and public infrastructure has been left to languish well beyond disrepair; much of it is now irreparable. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S19GbOmXHPQ/UnslOZGBudI/AAAAAAABBRU/K82Ydt425PY/s1600-h/517x9rtAfsL__SS400_%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="517x9rtAfsL__SS400_" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="517x9rtAfsL__SS400_" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XRyPBSd90yo/UnslPGyt01I/AAAAAAABBRc/P0NPyrPcX_o/517x9rtAfsL__SS400__thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="319" /></a> The city owned electric system has been falling apart for years, the streets are crumbling, along with the steam pipes under the streets. Libraries, factories, theatres, schools – all have been abandoned to the rot and  crumble of entropy on display. Vacant buildings that can’t even be given away multiply by a power of 10 faster than the city’s ability to demolish them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DNta8-Iukos/UnslPgLZTZI/AAAAAAABBRk/96dNu0EqUvM/s1600-h/detroit11%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="detroit11" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit11" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-owYABpncwCY/UnslQDVAgoI/AAAAAAABBRs/cLRZukUe39Y/detroit11_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="276" /></a></p> <p>And then there is the Detroit Public School system: all but consumed by its bureaucracy, debt and corruption; it’s a microcosm of Detroit itself. The DPS is so buried in its own detritus that it has lost sight of its prime objective; to provide children with the tools and education required to become independent citizens able to survive, thrive and pass their knowledge on to the next generation. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RHcbC9ge2d8/UnslQrvTrSI/AAAAAAABBR0/ffZBmhQkMzM/s1600-h/detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zvpXpOzPC54/UnslRE1X3II/AAAAAAABBR8/U3l9gW38NX4/detroit-public-sector-unions-fail-pat-buchanan-620x412_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="269" /></a></p> <p>So, is Duggan the savior that Detroit desperately needs? Hardly, he’s just filling time while waiting to leapfrog into the Governor’s office. He might have stayed on at his $2 million job as CEO of the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) had he not gotten eased out after his chum, Governor Jennifer Granholm, former colleague and fellow McNamara protégé, was term limited out of office. And when she left so, too, did the state subsidies to the DMC. Subsidies gone, CEO gone as well. Coincidence? Probably not, that’s how crony capitalism works. Last I looked, Granholm was still looking for a new gig too, as Al Jazeera America wasn’t working out so well.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b5bhyIwSZgo/Unscvq-poQI/AAAAAAABBQs/Bo9X2X2FF9g/s1600-h/dnc-charlotte-granholm-17sept2012-620x413%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="dnc-charlotte-granholm-17sept2012-620x413" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="dnc-charlotte-granholm-17sept2012-620x413" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QVeAIjniwEo/UnscwNi0_OI/AAAAAAABBQ0/1lpJM2tbG34/dnc-charlotte-granholm-17sept2012-620x413_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a><strong><em>Definitely room for this talent somewhere in the DNC</em></strong></p> <p>Will Duggan be able to improve things in City Hall? Hell, a cockroach should be able to make things work better after the bankruptcy court clears the docket. The city is currently under the control of  Emergency Financial Manager (EMF) Kevyn Orr, and will continue to be so until such time as Detroit emerges from it’s bankruptcy in a year or so. When the bankruptcy is settled Detroit will be unshackled from a ton of bloated administrative overhead, bloated union contracts, unfunded union pension plans and billions of dollars of accumulated debt. Until then, the new mayor will be little more than a figurehead.  That gives Mike 2 years to get plans laid out and ground work laid for addressing the ongoing managerial problems in city management. </p> <p>But if history is any gauge, and it usually is, Duggan will spend the time lining up allies, getting rid of enemies, signing corporations up for their annual donations to the “community chest” and aligning a whole raft of cronies who will prove valuable in the care and tending of the war chest for his next election – be it Mayor 2.0 or Governor 1.0.</p> <p>Despite his lack of the perfect crease in his pant legs, the media by and large has <strong><a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131018/METRO01/310170046">given Duggan a pass on the baggage</a> </strong>he brings to the Manoogian Mansion. His linchpin position in the McNamara machine is simply one of those inconvenient truths that must be ignored for the greater good: the advance of liberalism. </p> <p>So, while I’m not a personal or political fan of “the Duggan’s,” I do wish him well, for the sake of the city. But I feel it only wise to keep my expectations low with respect to the turnaround of Detroit until I see a good reason not to.</p> <p>Politics are an ugly thing, Democrat politics are uglier and Democratic policies in Detroit are uglier still. Would Benny Napoleon, the other liberal Democrat, have been a better choice?  Like I said before, what difference, at this point, does it make.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N_AoVFtNptY/UnslRw3MrMI/AAAAAAABBSE/u35AiGK-rak/s1600-h/41570_2231461734_5551_n%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="41570_2231461734_5551_n" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="41570_2231461734_5551_n" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9le8a1vOPe0/UnslSVSW1FI/AAAAAAABBSM/cTbRdxyKIdM/41570_2231461734_5551_n_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="254" /></a><strong><em>If you can think of something</em></strong>.</p> <p><em><font size="4"><strong>Linked By: <a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/">Legal Insurrection Post of the Day</a>, and <em><font size="4"><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2013/11/larwyns-linx-10-lessons-of-obamacare.html"><strong>Larwyn’s Linx</strong></a></font><font size="4"><strong> on </strong></font></em><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><em><font size="4"><strong>Doug Ross@Journal</strong></font></em></a><em><font size="4"><strong>, and </strong></font></em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/abby.l.call?hc_location=stream">Abby L Call</a> on facebook, and </strong><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=SJLRDKSGMI82320AM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a><strong></strong><strong>, and </strong><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3088529/posts">NOBO2012 on Free Republic</a><strong>, Thanks!</strong></font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4"><strong>Cross-Posted on </strong><a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/detroit-mayoral-election-what-difference-at-this-point-does-it">Patriot Action Network</a><strong></strong></font></em></p> <p><strong><font size="4">Previous Popular Posts about Detroit:</font></strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/07/the-motor-city-broken-and-out-of.html">The Motor City: Broken and Out of Warranty</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/02/why-detroit-still-matters.html#.UelXeNjD-t8">Why Detroit Still Matters</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2011/03/saving-detroit-its-going-to-require.html">Saving Detroit: It’s going to require more than just saying nice things</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/05/short-history-of-detroit.html">A Short History of Detroit</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2010/09/so-mr-president-who-do-you-think.html">So, Mr. President, Who Do You Think Destroyed Detroit?</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/07/michigan-math.html">Michigan Math</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/07/live-and-die-in-detroit.html">Live and Die in Detroit</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/feral-in-detroit.html">Feral in Detroit</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/detroit-back-to-its-roots.html">Detroit, Back to its Roots</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/10/you-cant-handle-solution.html#.UelWNtjD-t8">You Can’t Handle the Solution!</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/12/detroit-schools-where-we-eat-our-young.html#.UelVytjD-t8">Detroit Schools: Where We Eat Our Young</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/08/detroit-ghost-story.html">Detroit: A Ghost Story</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/burn-baby-burn.html">Burn Baby, Burn</a> </li> </ul> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-42450169481762577192013-10-29T08:23:00.001-04:002013-10-30T10:22:06.079-04:00WTF Theatre: Episode 9: If You Like Your Healthcare Plan…<p>Welcome to Episode 9 of <strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2008/12/on-demand-streaming-wtf-theater.html">WTF (Win The Future) Theatre</a></strong>, <em>“If You Like Your Healthcare Plan…” </em>well, you know.</p> <p>Following the <strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/10/wtf-theater-episode-8-shelter-in-place.html#.Um-XbdjD-t8">Great American Shutdown of 2013,</a></strong> Cody and Skylar have finally ventured out of their Seattle condo to restock their *ahem* supplies, and go back to work. </p> <p>Today, they’re excited as they’ve just received their annual health insurance policy renewal. We join them as they discuss the huge savings they’ve been told to expect:</p> <p align="center"><iframe height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/x8CJA3W4MWs?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="500" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>So, to recap: If you like your plan, but can’t keep your plan, blame the Big Greedy Insurance Companies. </p> <p>This message was brought to you in part by the Valkarie and O-BS (Operation Blame-Shifting). <strong><a href="http://www.michellesmirror.com/2013/10/if-you-like-your-planwell-you-know.html#.Um-qitjD-t8">MOTUS</a> </strong>has more details.</p> <p><em><font size="4"><strong>Linked By: <a href="https://twitter.com/i/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FAllisonZulma%2Fstatus%2F395180659217420288&sig=b15d0359a3c0b5e179ca3588c10f3985c0741446&uid=60142787&iid=4a4ffcad457d4e0f9d727a4d0704bbb2&nid=27+1264&t=1">@AllisonZulma</a> on twitter, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mrsawd">Mary Deeters</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joseph.stephens3">Joseph Stephens</a> on facebook, and </strong><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=ISAZEDHQAR92531AM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a><strong></strong><strong>, and </strong><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3084909/posts">NOBO2012 on Free Republic</a><strong>, Thanks!</strong></font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4"><strong>Cross-Posted on </strong><a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/wtf-theatre-episode-9-if-you-like-your-healthcare-plan">Patriot Action Network</a><strong></strong></font></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-14146827219789218792013-10-13T10:31:00.001-04:002013-10-14T08:32:23.043-04:00WTF Theater. Episode 8: Shelter in Place<p>I’m pleased to present Episode 8 of Dewey’s <strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2008/12/on-demand-streaming-wtf-theater.html">WTF (Win The Future) Theatre</a></strong>,  <em>“Shelter in Place.”</em></p> <p>The government shutdown has resulted in <strong><a href="http://wilderness.org/blog/15-horror-stories-government-shutdown">hardships all across the country</a></strong>. As day 13 dawns in Seattle we rejoin Cody and Skylar, holed up in their Seattle condo, trying to wait out the uprising of the Tea Party Anarchists waging outside.</p> <p>Unbeknownst to them, their satellite TV is locked onto the History channel, which has been running a month long anniversary marathon of footage from the 2011 Occupy Wall Street uprising. </p> <p>So you can understand their confusion:</p> <p align="center"><iframe height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nIZ9jsUB4NM?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="500" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>As always, this episode wad brought to you by GE: “Imagination At Work.”</strong></em></p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DawJTCHuL3c/TVqILejZUgI/AAAAAAAALH0/vePztMQXQGQ/s1600-h/FireShot-%5B3%5D.png"><img title="FireShot-" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="FireShot-" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DawJTCHuL3c/TVqIMBHh6EI/AAAAAAAALH4/T92CGrZvooI/FireShot-_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="235" /></a> <em><a href="http://www.ge.com/reagan/">The original GE Theater</a></em></p> <p><em><font size="4"><strong>Linked By: <a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/10/the-only-thing-working-in-detroit/">Legal Insurrection</a>, and <em><font size="4"><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><strong>Larwyn’s Linx</strong></a></font><font size="4"><strong> on </strong></font></em><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><em><font size="4"><strong>Doug Ross@Journal</strong></font></em></a><em><font size="4"><strong>, and</strong></font></em> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.avant">Kathleen Franklin Avant</a> on facebook, and </strong><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=JKXUTDRKMH120258PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a><strong></strong><strong>, </strong><strong>Thanks!</strong></font></em></p> <p><strong><em><font size="4">This episode has been cross-posted at </font></em></strong><a href="http://www.michellesmirror.com/"><strong><em><font size="4">Michelle’s Mirror</font></em></strong></a></p> <p><em><font size="4"><strong>Cross-Posted on </strong><a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/a-flatsimile-studio-premier-wtf-theater-episode-8-shelter-in">Patriot Action Network</a><strong></strong></font></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-5559034935183817372013-09-22T12:17:00.001-04:002013-09-22T17:57:38.239-04:00Sweet Lorraine: A Love Song from the American Heartland<p>In a world that is increasingly shaped and formed by Hollywood’s version of love, i.e., sex; and where celebrities have redefined “forever” to mean until something better comes along, behold Fred Stobaugh. </p> <p>At 96 he’s of an era where “till death do us part” meant till death do us part. His story embodies everything good and decent in America’s heartland, where people face life with stoic determination and heartfelt emotion need not be overwrought.  </p> <p>Here is Fred’s life story, summarized in one simple song that he wrote for his deceased wife commemorating their 75 years together. In a world where “relationships” barely last 75 days this is an edifying story of love, commitment, loyalty and remembrance.</p> <p>If you can watch this and remain dry-eyed, you’re probably not from around these parts.</p> <p> <iframe height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KDi4hBWsvkY?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="500" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p>Love like Fred and Lorraine’s is like a thousand layer cake: deceptively simple when all is said and done.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L6zNv_ZRKk8/Uj8sVaFzr_I/AAAAAAAA-1E/QNN203EKbek/s1600-h/mille%252520feu%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="mille feu" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="mille feu" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1fhDrWm4mio/Uj8sVylT20I/AAAAAAAA-1M/z-gvuKT2nCg/mille%252520feu_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="397" /></a><strong><em>Life is not like a box of chocolates, more like a mille-feuille</em></strong></p> <p>But in reality it has been carefully constructed over a long time, one delicate layer after another, each overlaying the last; a very labor intensive, often tedious, endeavor.  The final product is a sweet concoction that stands tall; a homage to the dedication,  commitment and work put into it. And when you’ve added the last layer, you yearn to add one or two more – so it  can stand a tad taller, to last a bit longer. Anything to forestall that inevitable moment when it is served…and it’s gone in what seems like a millisecond. Thankfully, it lingers on in your memory.</p> <p>P.S.  <strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/oh-sweet-lorraine-feat.-jacob/id676472051">“Sweet Lorraine”</a></strong> is available on iTunes</p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-31246709452359415322013-07-30T12:18:00.001-04:002013-07-30T12:31:02.719-04:00Reflections on the Ash Heap of Detroit h/t MOTUS.<p><em>NOTE: </em><a href="http://www.michellesmirror.com/"><strong><em>MOTUS</em></strong></a><em> has allowed me to re-post </em><a title="An Empty Chair for the Ash Heap of History" href="http://www.michellesmirror.com/2013/07/an-empty-chair-for-ash-heap-of-history.html"><strong><em>An Empty Chair for the Ash Heap of History</em></strong></a><em> from her blog, as it’s largely about Detroit. I hope you enjoy it.</em></p> <p>An Empty Chair for the Ash Heap of History:</p> <p>Please, no more tweets about <strong><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2013/07/29/president-obama-honors-2012-world-champion-san-francisco-giants#transcript">the organic garden at the Giant’s AT&T Park</a></strong>. It was a joke, okay? </p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em><font color="#a50101">“I’m proud to announce that next season they’re planning to turn the centerfield bleachers at AT&T Park into what’s believed to be the first ever edible garden in a major American sports facility. With rows of kale and strawberries and eggplant, the Giants are going to help encourage local youth to eat healthy – even at the ballpark.”</font></em></strong>  </p> </blockquote> <p>It is funny though, isn’t it, how people will believe <em>anything</em> that comes out of Big Guy’s mouth.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eyBJqIypduE/UffnGbP-koI/AAAAAAAA8TM/NbbG3Jt7jsg/s1600-h/LGBT%252527s%252520for%252520Obama%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="LGBT's for Obama" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="LGBT's for Obama" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aL3ihQFF-pw/UffnHHhRVgI/AAAAAAAA8TU/ZN4H_ueYkos/LGBT%252527s%252520for%252520Obama_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="292" /></a><strong><em>“Free healthcare? For everybody?! Oh Mr. President, you are soooo cool!”</em></strong></p> <blockquote> <p>But seriously; I don’t think this is really such a bad idea. Just because San Francisco is at the top of the “best cities in America” list today doesn’t mean they won’t end up at the bottom tomorrow. Just like Detroit, the city the Giants trounced in last year’s World Series. They started out as one of the “best cities in America” too, the “Paris of the Midwest” no less.</p> <p>So it’s never too early to begin planning for your municipal bankruptcy, especially if your city is run exclusively by progressive Democrats.</p> <p>I’ve been doing some research on this situation and from what I can tell, the best path out of bankruptcy for Detroit is going to be urban farming. Interestingly, we’ve been running some trial programs right here in Washington D.C..</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XIvDI7of150/UffnHosKrTI/AAAAAAAA8Tc/nIbkidQUjlk/s1600-h/White-House-Vegetable-Garden%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="White-House-Vegetable-Garden" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="White-House-Vegetable-Garden" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0rPrF_-D_NQ/UffnH2_TI4I/AAAAAAAA8Tk/KMUu0yKIeoY/White-House-Vegetable-Garden_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="236" /></a></p> </blockquote> <p>It appears that urban farming –<strong> </strong><a href="http://bridgemi.com/2012/05/urban-farm-plan-reels-in-cash-tilapia/#sthash.iDVljWUu.dpuf"><strong>crops as well as fish</strong></a> - is the perfect solution for rehabbing an industrial city that’s gone belly up. It’s sort of a “back to the future” recovery. Progressives highly approve of this scheme: it’s very green, has a small carbon footprint and <strong><a href="http://bridgemi.com/2012/05/urban-farm-plan-reels-in-cash-tilapia/#sthash.iDVljWUu.dpuf">provides jobs for people educated in the local public schools</a></strong>: </p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em><font color="#a50101">In the 19th century in this country, farm-hand work was a traditional trade for the unlettered and semi-skilled. In a way, RecoveryPark brings this neighborhood full circle, to a time before the industrial age transformed Southeast Michigan. “The fish don’t care if you can’t read or write,” he said. “The fish don’t care if you have felonies.”</font></em></strong> </p> </blockquote> <p>And apparently the <strong><a href="http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/5635/fish_farm_and_shipping_container_house_robbed#.UfetM9jD-t8">felons don’t care if you have fish either</a></strong>, as Food Field’s <a href="http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/4809/there_s_another_shipping_container_room_in_town_and_it_s_not_in_eastern_market#.UeXI0j6gkv4"><strong>shipping container house</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/4968/detroit_s_newest_urban_farming_trend_is_pretty_fishy#.UeXI1D6gkv4"><strong>upcoming fish farm</strong></a> was robbed last week, before they even went operational. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y1tEriTmujY/UffnIckKHHI/AAAAAAAA8Ts/YY1g6AqXUTI/s1600-h/aquaponics_050813_6015_copy_5215%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="aquaponics_050813_6015_copy_5215" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="aquaponics_050813_6015_copy_5215" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gULfdRGIIGM/UffnI5y14EI/AAAAAAAA8T0/q9buj7Kgt0M/aquaponics_050813_6015_copy_5215_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><strong><em>The progressive promised land: mind you, they think conservatives are regressive.</em></strong></p> <p>So they need some new equipment to replace what was stolen but there’s no hurry, as they are still awaiting approval from the city for their farms. The city hasn’t quite figured out all the red tape they’re going to need to impose yet: </p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em><font color="#a50101">Though the systems are nearly complete, neither farm is sure when they’ll get individual approval from the city. Exactly how to become a fully permitted, legal aquaponics business is still fishy.</font></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><font color="#a50101">“The city is in the process of coming up with a process,” for approving fish farms, says Kathryn Underwood of the City Planning Commission. “We don't even have all of the forms quite in place yet for all of things that need to happen. We're riding a bike and building it at the same time.”</font></em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p>As I said, I’ve been studying this and I think that there could be a real future for failed cities in farming: getting <strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/detroit-back-to-its-roots.html#.UffDLNjD-t8">“back to their roots”</a></strong> so to speak. In fact, I discovered that other countries have been doing urban farming for decades. Here for example, is an established farm in Havana (Cuba, not Florida):</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wN9n5SkUBMk/UffnJfabzJI/AAAAAAAA8T8/qsJZ3Rug_Wg/s1600-h/havana%252520cuba%252520urban%252520farm%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="havana cuba urban farm" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="havana cuba urban farm" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SgHlgptau60/UffnJ9X-jII/AAAAAAAA8UE/1CNlLAMuIM0/havana%252520cuba%252520urban%252520farm_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="339" /></a><strong><em>Havana Acres: Forward! comrades.</em></strong></p> <p>And let’s face it, growing a few onions in Detroit sure wouldn’t hurt anything.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wGNHfv8UGAU/UffnKkKP9KI/AAAAAAAA8UM/XPvPiiicu4c/s1600-h/detroit%252520urban-farm-3.jonions%252520pg%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="detroit urban-farm-3.jonions pg" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit urban-farm-3.jonions pg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r2pC63Xozlc/UffnLCjWnQI/AAAAAAAA8UU/vjzD76avrmI/detroit%252520urban-farm-3.jonions%252520pg_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="566" height="336" /></a></p> <p>Just like Roosevelt’s New Deal morphed into Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, all our new urban renewal project needs (aside from cash) is a great, historic name: How about <em>“Obama’s Field of Dreams”? </em></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j3M2-whnJ6k/UffnLlCSTtI/AAAAAAAA8Uc/XOKJwOC2PVY/s1600-h/0908columns%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="0908columns" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="0908columns" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5UlS0-t9nCE/UffnLwCf8LI/AAAAAAAA8Uk/caWCmj9qUuo/0908columns_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></p> <p>Yes, I like that. And I think we can all appreciate the symbolism of the dreams; 70 years of fighting to end poverty and racial injustice, 70 years of progress. 70 years of “we can’t wait,” 70 years of fundamentally transforming America. And now, finally, we have something  to show for it: corn fields in Detroit where once great industries stood and people lived. That, my friends, is Progress with a capital P.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wqljWUqYlT4/UffnMVUpBqI/AAAAAAAA8Us/2IYCPXkAeCc/s1600-h/cornfield%252520in%252520downtown%252520detroit%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="cornfield in downtown detroit" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="cornfield in downtown detroit" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ojMkX1BkWAo/UffnM-hlkII/AAAAAAAA8U0/ZGN0aik0LAI/cornfield%252520in%252520downtown%252520detroit_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a><strong><em>Golden ears of corn growing in the shadows of the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelgsmith/5929854587/">Golden Towers of the Fisher Building</a> and the former GM World Headquarters</em></strong></p> <p>So I guess Detroit is going to be okay, they shouldn’t be needing another federal handout, maybe just a little gardening advice from our master gardener and a hand at getting the spring plantings in.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sFTuRC3TTTs/UffnNaBZUvI/AAAAAAAA8U8/-hIzlQpBv4s/s1600-h/165538749%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="165538749" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="165538749" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ezZLwKs4NAc/UffnN8uoWlI/AAAAAAAA8VE/9PiRgMJsHig/165538749_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="358" /></a></p> <p>And later BO can come drop in for the royal harvest:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3sbvELh5abo/UffnOZrA38I/AAAAAAAA8VM/XuyZ0ESwUww/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231262%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Screenshot Studio capture #1262" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #1262" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oDZgdl_eKVI/UffnO4LuhvI/AAAAAAAA8VU/f4zq0i5PXpE/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231262_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="614" height="184" /></a><strong><em>“I told you boys, if I build it they will come.” He didn’t say they’d be rats though.</em></strong></p> <p>So I think Detroit’s positioned to make the shift from industry to our new urban renewal farming program. Heaven knows, they’ve certainly made enough compost to last another 40 years. And if the onions and corn thing doesn’t work out, I hear there’s always a big demand for medical marijuana in the city.</p> <p>What is it about Progressive stewardship that always leads us to the ash heap of history?</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4gubPB6wp0w/UffnPT0AUqI/AAAAAAAA8Vc/Jum7P1nCnaU/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231263%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Screenshot Studio capture #1263" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #1263" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mxYRU9cac1s/UffnP2bBJUI/AAAAAAAA8Vk/Io4gy2l4IlU/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231263_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="614" height="278" /></a><strong><em> What idiot left this classic Eames chair out in the field to rot!??</em></strong></p> <p>Do you see, now, the danger in leaving the chair empty?</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9zebzSaLOMA/UffnQJCCUvI/AAAAAAAA8Vs/XywcaANtV3c/s1600-h/empty%252520chair%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="empty chair" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="empty chair" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--Dcnnj5TMC0/UffnQlf6CII/AAAAAAAA8V0/L5kHBC7XRA0/empty%252520chair_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a><strong><em>Hope fades, the empty chair continues to rot</em></strong>.</p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-15728856613484065732013-07-24T15:55:00.001-04:002013-07-25T11:12:01.933-04:00I Don’t Often Tweet Pictures of my Weiner…<p><strong>Submitted for  your consideration without further comment:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-A9VsJAobUVQ/UfAxL1gEiwI/AAAAAAAA8BI/hJy8Hd0Uqo4/s1600-h/weiner%252520tweet%252520copy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="weiner tweet copy" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="weiner tweet copy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9ZyaGApZ_3Y/UfAxMjahhoI/AAAAAAAA8BQ/63OB0obxQ60/weiner%252520tweet%252520copy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="565" /></a></p> <p align="center"><strong>In Commemoration of National Weiner Day, July 23, 2013</strong></p> <p><strong><em><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/julie.ann.5015">Julie Ann</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watkins.trucker">Robert Watkins</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/monika.gainor">Monika Gainor</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mary.devore.37?hc_location=stream">Mary Devore</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mark.easterly.3">Mark C Easterly</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.avant">Kathleen Franklin Avant</a>,  on facebook, and <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=HEJXRDHBJP41713PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3046855/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks!</font></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/i-don-t-often-tweet-pictures-of-my-weiner">Patriot Action Network</a></font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-67450771912639694962013-07-19T12:13:00.001-04:002013-07-21T08:55:19.577-04:00The Motor City: Broken and Out of Warranty<p align="center"><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><em><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tFM4MRe5_Dg/Uelta788GbI/AAAAAAAA7uQ/wUPymu1UYtA/s1600-h/mind%252520if%252520i%252520play%252520through%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="mind if i play through" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="mind if i play through" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2mhQOI9h2U0/UeltbZVeaMI/AAAAAAAA7uY/pt5ILsLeM5Q/mind%252520if%252520i%252520play%252520through_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="361" /></a></em></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><em>Detroit: officially a man-made disaster</em></strong></p> <p>It’s official; Detroit is now<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130718/METRO01/307180103/Detroit-files-Chapter-9-bankruptcy?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|FRONTPAGE"><strong>legally as well as morally bankrupt.</strong></a> </p> <blockquote> <p><em>“The city of Detroit filed the largest municipal bankruptcy case in U.S. history Thursday afternoon, culminating a decades-long slide that transformed the nation’s iconic industrial town into a model of urban decline crippled by population loss, a dwindling tax base and financial problems</em>.”</p> </blockquote> <p>In short order there will be allegations of racist-fueled white flight and business abandonment of the city. Charges of unfair treatment will be leveled against “the system” that  led to the Motor City’s devolution. This will be followed immediately by demands of restitution payable in the form of a massive federal bail out. </p> <p>What sort of malignant, greedy, hateful racists would not only allow this once magnificent city to self-immolate but actively participate in its demise through racist acts of willful negligence and outright theft? </p> <p>The usual  kind, our leaders: Coleman A. Young, Kwame Kilpatrick</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gx7qLeIEpzA/Uello93ErsI/AAAAAAAA7tY/nfT7aKmSwjY/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231241%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Screenshot Studio capture #1241" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #1241" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qX4VHp5qUEs/UellpYOZ2vI/AAAAAAAA7tg/xVReIehVOQE/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231241_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="212" /></a><em></em></p> <p align="center"><em>Two of the racists who raped and pillaged their own city </em></p> <p>Here is the entire Detroit mayoral lineage from 1974 to the present: </p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5PkVmAZCXrM/Uellp89XP8I/AAAAAAAA7to/_liaQo4L05c/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231240%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Screenshot Studio capture #1240" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #1240" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3nVAYaEWDvQ/UellqfuvfhI/AAAAAAAA7tw/Pha_xCjSlI4/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231240_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="104" /></a><em></em></p> <p align="center"><em>Coleman A. Young 1974-94, Dennis Archer 1994 –2002, Kwame Kilpatrick 2002 – 2008, Kevin Cockerel 2008 – 2009 (interim, following the Hip Hop mayor’s felony conviction), David Bing 2009 – present.</em></p> <p>Five black men have run Detroit for nearly 40 years. Although Archer, Cockerel and Bing are all decent enough men, none of them - for no doubt complicated reasons – could turn the legacy of their predecessors’ graft, corruption, cronyism, and bloated union contracts around.  </p> <p>But the point remains: Detroit has been served exclusively by Democrat leadership since 1962, and exclusively black Democratic leadership since 1974. Coincident with that 50 year period the city began a steady state of entropy that culminated in the bankruptcy filing yesterday.  </p> <p>Never-the-less, the race mongers will be on scene shortly to file charges against a “system” rife with racial animus for causing the collapse of Detroit. Let the record reflect that Detroit, which has been grappling with an explosive crime rate for decades, has also had a black police chief for decades; that the city where the infamous <strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/burn-baby-burn.html#.UelRt9jD-t8">“Devil’s Night fires”</a></strong> were invented has a black Fire Commissioner. Note too that Detroit, led by a black mayor and black city counsel for 40 years also has one of the most abysmal public school systems in the country. In Detroit fewer than 25% of its students graduate high school, and many who do are still functionally illiterate. Of those managing to graduate from the Detroit school system with aspirations of higher education, <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130624/SCHOOLS/306240063"><strong>only 2.3% of them are deemed to be </strong></a><a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130624/SCHOOLS/306240063"><strong>“college ready”</strong></a> based on  their ACT scores. </a></a>The school system too has been led by a black Superintendent and a black Board of Education, for decades.</p> <p>So when Jesse and Al and no doubt President Obama himself show up in Detroit to protest and demand equality and “social justice” from “the system” that has held the black man down for hundreds of years, let the record reflect the following: Detroit is a city comprised of 90% black citizens. They consistently elect almost exclusively blacks to run the the city government and fill the school board seats. Blacks have run the city’s fiscal affairs for 40 years, they have staffed and provided city services for nearly as long. In Detroit – a city of blacks for blacks and by blacks - blacks have not just been part of “the system” they <em>are</em> the system. </p> <p>So I agree with Eric Holder when he said: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>“…in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards."</em> </p> </blockquote> <p>If we are to address the real issues that caused the implosion of a once great American city, we are going to have to discuss race because it is not just a card in somebody’s hand, it is the entire fixed deck. Let’s have an honest discussion regarding the flagrant use of racial pandering, victimization and exploitation for personal and political gain. Let’s talk about why the city’s civic jewels were bequeathed to the city’s black population; and let’s examine why they have been so devalued ever since. Let’s discuss how a city exclusively run by democrats and blacks has spent the better part of half a century circling the drain. </p> <p>Let’s honestly discuss who and what is “holding the black man down” in Detroit because, brother, it most assuredly isn’t white America any more.</p> <p>This is Dewey; reminding you that if Obama had a city, it would look like Detroit.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a><em></em></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pvI0_eeIxVw/UellqzhA0lI/AAAAAAAA7t4/juyqPwiN2Bw/s1600-h/detroit-skyline%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="detroit-skyline" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit-skyline" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Fr4JJ7PvENk/UellrYdXf-I/AAAAAAAA7uA/hLuPp4Bslpw/detroit-skyline_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="289" /></a></a></a><em></em></p> <p align="center"><em>Moon over Detroit: waxing or waning? </em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Excerpts from Dewey’s previous posts on Detroit</em></strong>:</p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/02/why-detroit-still-matters.html#.UelXeNjD-t8">Why Detroit Still Matters</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>But you probably don’t think it could happen “here” do you? </em><em>Neither did the citizens of Detroit, 50 years ago.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2011/03/saving-detroit-its-going-to-require.html">Saving Detroit: It’s going to require more than just saying nice things</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>As Young’s pack of leaches grew fat and very, very wealthy, the people and the city coffers grew poorer and poorer. Both businesses and middle class residents – black and white – fled the city to escape crime, crappy schools and high taxes. And the city grew more and more segregated as only poor blacks stayed put: racial politics tend to do that.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/05/short-history-of-detroit.html">A Short History of Detroit</a></p> <blockquote> <p><em>The Democratic regime that has governed Detroit for decades squelches all critics through one of two ploys: leveling the irrefutable charge of racism, or if that’s inappropriate, demanding that additional funding is needed e.g., schools: because God knows, $11,600 per student isn’t enough (private schools charge $6,600, and I doubt many would pay that if their dropout rate was 75%). The death-spiral of liberalism has annihilated Detroit.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2010/09/so-mr-president-who-do-you-think.html">So, Mr. President, Who Do You Think Destroyed Detroit?</a></p> <blockquote> <p><em>Let’s use Detroit as our test case, since it has had its share of wealthy individuals, corporations and special interest groups over time. And it once had a prosperous middle-class, although that socio-economic demographic has all but disappeared from inside the city borders. So it presents the perfect Petri dish of cultures for this experiment.</em> </p> <p><em>Let’s see if we can ascertain who ruined Detroit, and is therefore responsible for the demise of the middle-class.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/07/michigan-math.html">Michigan Math</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>In return for relocating in Detroit – and planning to build something, somewhere, some time - they’ll get a 12 year tax credit of around $29 million granted by the MEDC. They’ll also get an $18 million tax credit granted by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority to help them complete their current relocation project. In addition the City of Detroit will throw in parking concessions and additional tax abatements. </em></p> <p><em>So is Quicken moving from Toronto? New York? Ohio, maybe? No, they’re moving from…Livonia. Michigan. Let’s see: net new jobs for Michigan?</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/07/live-and-die-in-detroit.html">Live and Die in Detroit</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>When Marabel moved into the house on Robinwood Avenue in 1964 it was a beautiful neighborhood of 1920’s era brick bungalows, stately trees and neat gardens. The northwest Detroit neighborhood was adjacent to the exclusive Palmer Park Golf Course and Country Club. A serene, safe and attractive community. Forty five years later, it had turned into a dump.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/feral-in-detroit.html">Feral in Detroit</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>Possibly there’s an element of schadenfreud attached to Detroit’s decline that both enthralls and repulses people. In the course of less than 50 years  –a blink in the history of a city - it plunged from the pinnacle of urban industrial prosperity to the depths of urban industrial decay: completely, indisputably, very likely irreversibly.</em> </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/detroit-back-to-its-roots.html">Detroit, Back to its Roots</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>There is something innate in human nature that draws our gaze to an impending train wreck, and maintains our slack-jawed attention as we gape at its aftermath. It’s like that with Detroit, which has been voted the worst train wreck in the “major American city” category. Journalists, artists and bloggers from across the world come to look at, photograph, write about and paint us. Then they go home to wring their hands and weep over our detritus.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/10/you-cant-handle-solution.html#.UelWNtjD-t8">You Can’t Handle the Solution!</a> </p> <blockquote> <p><em>To avoid charges of racism there were only a few proscribed approaches for discussing the city’s problems:  you were allowed to wring your hands helplessly, you were allowed to mourn the demise of the city as long as you acknowledged that its fate was the result of white flight and governmental neglect, or you could pull a Pollyanna and proclaim that Detroit was simply in hibernation waiting to rise from the ashes. But under no circumstances were you allowed to speak the unspeakable truth: that for over 30 years Detroit has been governed by Black leadership - with the complete complicity of the Democratic Party – and that each year the city had grown worse</em>.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/12/detroit-schools-where-we-eat-our-young.html#.UelVytjD-t8">Detroit Schools: Where We Eat Our Young</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>If you can read this, thank your parents for not sending you to a Detroit public school.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/08/detroit-ghost-story.html">Detroit: A Ghost Story</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>It feels like a nerve unsheathed, it looks like a malignant menace. It is the face of a city waiting for salvation, it’s worthiness unclear.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/burn-baby-burn.html">Burn Baby, Burn</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>Detroiters escalated the time honored traditions of trick-or-treat vandalism - home egging and mailbox assaults – to arson in the ‘70s. Over the next decade, financially troubled business’ and others with good insurance policies joined in the Devil’s Night fun for profit.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><em><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="http://americandigest.org/sidelines/2013/07/">American Digest</a>, and  <strong><em><font size="4"><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2013/07/larwyns-linx-politics-of-race-perpetual.html">Larwyn’s Linx</a></font></em></strong><strong><em><font size="4"> on </font></em></strong><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><strong><em><font size="4">Doug Ross@Journal</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="4">, and </font></em></strong><a href="http://adriennescatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2013/07/who-better-to-comment-on-detroit-than.html">Adrienne’s Corner</a>, and <a href="http://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2013/07/dewey-from-detroit-lays-out-blame-for.html">Daily Timewaster</a>, and <a href="http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2013/07/19/million_dollar_bab/">Don Rodrigo</a> on <a href="http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2013/07/19/million_dollar_bab/">PJ Media</a>, and <a href="http://rumbear.blogspot.ca/">Rumbear Chronicles</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nancybailey.mironovziegler">Nancy Bailey Mironov Ziegler</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RUDE.RICHARD">Richard Emery</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jon.w.turner">Jon Wesley Turner</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.avant">Kathleen Franklin Avant</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/melissa.kunstadter?hc_location=timeline">Melissa Kunstadter</a> on facebook, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3044977/posts">BlogsLucianneLoves</a>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3044926/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks!</font></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/the-motor-city-broken-and-out-of-warranty">Patriot Action Network</a> and <a href="http://www.redstate.com/deweyfromdetroit/2013/07/19/the-motor-city-broken-and-out-of-warranty/">RedState</a></font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-23112276664145514772013-07-08T13:16:00.001-04:002013-07-08T15:13:23.841-04:00Obama in Africa: Where Multiculturalism Hits the Wall<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LPV9kGyROsg/Udrz_eXFmwI/AAAAAAAA7I4/TG1g2HVN4UQ/s1600-h/swu-treatmentgay-image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img title="swu-treatmentgay-image" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="swu-treatmentgay-image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YDVQ5ximrjU/Udrz_2oVEwI/AAAAAAAA7JA/KE0Ro8sa_7Y/swu-treatmentgay-image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="304" height="415" /></a></p> <p>Don’t you hate it when <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/07/06/Kenyan-Cardinal-To-Obama-U-S-Society-Already-Ruined">multiculturalism bites you in the ass?</a> </p> <p>African leaders last week rejected President Obama’s self-righteous proclamation of American moral superiority with respect to recognizing the rights of homosexuals. He criticized his host nations’ refusal to accept homosexuality and gay unions as normal. </p> <p>Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi and president of the Kenyan Episcopal Conference, effectively schooled him on both good manners and good faith: </p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000000">“Those people who have already ruined their society…let them not become our teachers to tell us where to go,” said Njue in response to Obama’s statements promoting same-sex marriage. “I think we need to act according to our own traditions and our faiths.”</font></em> </p> </blockquote> <p>And from Kenya, homeland of Obama’s father, lest we ever forget, Deputy President William Ruto said:</p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000000">“Those who believe in other things, that is their business…We believe in God.”</font></em> </p> </blockquote> <p>That must have served as a particularly bracing rebuke: our el Presidente is  accustomed to being idolized by the masses and underlings. His proclamations are never,<em> ever </em>seriously challenged by the little people. Bad enough he’s had to be annoyed by <a href="http://redalertpolitics.com/2013/06/30/mccain-putins-harboring-of-edward-snowden-is-a-direct-slap-in-the-face-to-the-u-s/">that little ex-KGB gnat from Russia,</a> but who, exactly, do these tin pot African leaders think they are? </p> <p>So listen up progressives, here’s the take-away: you can’t have it both ways. If you cram multiculturalism down our throats, you can’t then turn around and tell other cultures to modify their societal norms to comport with your concept of superior moral codes. That just seems to be so, so…<em>colonial!</em>  But since Progressives like our President suffer from either an inability to recognize contradiction or a high tolerance for incongruity, this internal conflict eludes them.  </p> <p>Let me see if I can make this perfectly clear; don’t tell me that<em> I</em> have to accept everyone else’s values, morals, standards and mores, if you intend to impose<em> your</em> values, standards, morals and mores on those cultures <em>you</em> find lacking in the moral superiority department.</p> <p>Yet the people who trip over themselves in their rush to accept the Muslim sense and sensibilities seem oblivious to the intolerance endemic in that cult. How is it they give Muslims a pass for their rather low tolerance for homosexuals very existence, i.e., they kill them, yet stand at the ready to condemn Christians who are “intolerant” of homosexual marriage?</p> <p>This is my “evolved” position on the Islam faith: as long as <em>they</em> refuse to bifurcate their faith such that we can readily identify the “moderate” Muslims from the insane clown posse of blood thirsty throwbacks to the 7th century, don’t expect <em>me </em>to – bifurcate the cult, that is. Unless and until I see “moderate” Muslims actively condemning those of their faith who still believe in, support, tolerate and participate in acts that are abhorrent by all modern civilization standards I will continue to condemn Islam as a radical political ideology. </p> <p>If Muslims cannot stand up and specifically denounce those in their midst who still condone female genital mutilation, wife beatings, honor killings, stoning of adulterers, torture and death of homosexuals and the beheading of apostates and infidels, I cannot accept their dogma as a “religion.”</p> <p>Adherents of this malevolent form of Islam, which advocates for sharia law and has called for a return of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate">caliphate</a> are members of a political party not a religion. Let me repeat that; a movement that ideologically supports and acts to establish an Islamic theocracy is not a religion. It is a totalitarian political party seeking, like all totalitarian regimes, to exert complete power over its subjects. What else would you expect from a political party whose name, Islam, means “submit?” </p> <p>How many Instagrams do these people need to send before we on the receiving end get it? They hate us; they hate liberty, they hate our way of life. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QfU8cLmyW3Y/Udr0AUmvJfI/AAAAAAAA7JI/tjpv8NQCw5o/s1600-h/State_Department_Images_WTC_9-11_The_Twin_Towers_%252528Right%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="State_Department_Images_WTC_9-11_The_Twin_Towers_(Right)_thumb[2]" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="State_Department_Images_WTC_9-11_The_Twin_Towers_(Right)_thumb[2]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aj0nXoHrnS8/Udr0A8iN2oI/AAAAAAAA7JQ/AuyUFKCRVDs/State_Department_Images_WTC_9-11_The_Twin_Towers_%252528Right%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="317" /></a><em><font color="#000000"><strong>Instagram to America</strong></font></em></p> <p>They’ve been sending these little messages for years. Here’s one  from <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/03/turkey_and_the_restoration_of.html">Turkey</a> for example, another from <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168639#.Udmp6djD-t8">Palestine</a>, as well as from <a href="https://midnightwatcher.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/the-mahdi-cometh-iranian-government-spokesman-says-ahmadinejad-will-return-with-hidden-imam/">Iran</a>, <a href="http://blogs.cbn.com/stakelbeckonterror/archive/2012/01/03/muslim-brotherhood-supreme-guide-says-caliphate-is-near.aspx">Egypt</a>, <a href="http://weaselzippers.us/2012/03/11/tunisia-hundreds-of-women-rally-to-call-for-return-of-the-islamic-caliphate/">Tunisia</a>, and <a href="http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=57964">Syria</a>. They wish to end our way of life. Get it?</p> <p>Don’t take my word for it, here it is directly from the goat’s mouth:  <a href="http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=848">Imran Waheed</a>, a UK based doctor and Representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, <a href="http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/Broader-Middle-East/manuela-paraipan/Our-aim-is-to-reestablish-the-Islamic-Caliphate-in-the-Muslim-world">as interviewed by World Security Network</a> in 2008:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>WSN</strong>: <em>What kind of Islamic ideology does Hizb ut-Tahrir promote?</em></p> <p><strong>IW:</strong> <em>We view Islam as a comprehensive system of life that addresses both individual and societal problems. In Islam we have a judicial system, a social system, an economic system, an educational policy, a foreign policy, a punishment system and a ruling system. Therefore, unlike the Western model of secular liberalism - where religion and state are separated - Islam accepts no such dichotomy. We are an Islamic political party and not a sect or a school of thought.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>And that’s just what they’re willing to say on the record. </p> <p>If Islam is a religion it ought not be in the business of governing; and if it is a political party, it has no business being a religion. </p> <p>I would think that the President of the United States would place the eradication of our sworn enemies higher on his to-do list. In the grand scheme of future generations it would seem that it would warrant more attention than such things as ensuring college coeds have federally funded birth control, gay NBA players are free to marry, or even implementing universal health care. I suppose the only priority that even come close might be passing an amnesty bill which will grant citizenship to millions of illegal citizens in order to ensure that the control of the country remains in the hands of progressive morons for another half a century.</p> <p><strong><em><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/argull">Sam Argull</a> on facebook, and <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=KPAUOKYGOJ20452PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3040370/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks!</font></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/obama-in-africa-where-multiculturalism-hits-the-wall">Patriot Action Network</a></font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-8640504754255354052013-04-06T18:35:00.001-04:002013-04-08T09:38:36.205-04:00Beat Thy Enemy III: Celebrity Culture<blockquote> <p align="left"><em><font color="#000000">Barack Obama did not bring us to this first circle of hell on his own. He was aided and abetted by 1) an education system with a relentless propaganda agenda, 2) a media oligopoly that has completely abrogated its First Amendment responsibility and 3) a celebrity dominated culture that is largely a product of the first two. --</font></em>Prologue, Know Thy Enemy</p> </blockquote> <p>Thus far we’ve seen how the <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html">Education System</a> has been turned into an enemy of the people and discussed how ordinary <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html">citizens can take it back</a>. We’ve also scrutinized the <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">Hollywood-Big Media cartel</a> and considered how conservatives can break the syndicate’s stranglehold from both <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html">outside the tent</a> and <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html">inside the tent.</a> </p> <p>We’ve examined how the emergence of the celebrity culture, a by-product of  50 years of education and media indoctrination, has created a largely vacuous society. </p> <p>In this, the final installment of the <em>Know Thy Enemy/Beat Thy Enemy series, </em>we look at the process required to neutralize the effects of this false idol cult. It won’t be easy; the number of inane people in search of ever more inane celebrities to follow and emulate has reached the epidemic stage.  When it looks like we’re starting to run low on current cult-figures of questionable character and achievement, we just create more out of thin air. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V6QP9N_nuL8/UWCi_ZcxwpI/AAAAAAAA2N4/9kGMDIdai1c/s1600-h/kims-maternity-frock4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Pregnant Kim Kardashian, wearing a nude baby doll dress with matching nude high heels, arrives at the Trump Soho Hotel in New York City <P> Pictured: Kim Kardashian <B>Ref: SPL516185 260313 </B><BR/> Picture by: Christopher Peterson/Splash News<BR/> </P><P> <B>Splash News and Pictures</B><BR/> Los Angeles: 310-821-2666<BR/> New York: 212-619-2666<BR/> London: 870-934-2666<BR/> photodesk@splashnews.com<BR/> </P>" border="0" alt="Pregnant Kim Kardashian, wearing a nude baby doll dress with matching nude high heels, arrives at the Trump Soho Hotel in New York City <P> Pictured: Kim Kardashian <B>Ref: SPL516185 260313 </B><BR/> Picture by: Christopher Peterson/Splash News<BR/> </P><P> <B>Splash News and Pictures</B><BR/> Los Angeles: 310-821-2666<BR/> New York: 212-619-2666<BR/> London: 870-934-2666<BR/> photodesk@splashnews.com<BR/> </P>" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-baRtaH2XWFA/UWCi_0wkRPI/AAAAAAAA2OA/X3dI-pW1CSo/kims-maternity-frock_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="377" /></a><em><font color="#000000">Or, in the case of the Kardashians, fat air.</font></em></p> <p>It doesn’t seem to matter that most celebrities, including those of the new ruling class, are so inconsequential intellectually and artistically they could technically be classified as a hoax. The true believers, groupies, and devotees comprise a new class of social x-rays, in ways that Tom Wolfe never intended.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kvdFP9y_E9o/UWCjACNPY7I/AAAAAAAA2OI/LHjxyql4no8/s1600-h/joey-homer3.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="joey homer" border="0" alt="joey homer" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FcZQXC3FIq8/UWCjApKw1UI/AAAAAAAA2OQ/MR5fr3Ddoaw/joey-homer_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" width="354" height="217" /></a><em><font color="#000000">I mean that in the best way possible</font></em></p> <p>There was a time when celebrities represented all the best superficialities that life had to offer: fashion, style, manners, carriage, and glamour.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SqSCmwV-i0o/UWCj4iBKNfI/AAAAAAAA2P4/frdi_wpfNys/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231030%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Screenshot Studio capture #1030" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #1030" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mmRwlDfkfxc/UWCj5MzUNhI/AAAAAAAA2QA/igO85QnAXlE/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%2525231030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="404" height="262" /></a></p> <p>Today’s Tinsel Town ornaments are more likely to be grungy, ill-mannered, uncouth boors (not be be confused with the new celebs of the ruling class who are likely to be well-groomed, well-dressed, ill-mannered boors). Yet children, of all ages, still want to be just like them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bLOf6CmwGSM/UWCjDewKlYI/AAAAAAAA2O4/8hY3-IaryTE/s1600-h/madonna%252520gaga%252520beyonce%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="madonna gaga beyonce" border="0" alt="madonna gaga beyonce" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i1L1jNwJEck/UWCjD2HdHzI/AAAAAAAA2PA/1wj3Xwck1jU/madonna%252520gaga%252520beyonce_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="404" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Until we’re successful at dismantling the alarmingly off-course education system and dangerously biased media complex, the brainwashing of citizens young and old will continue unabated. I’m doubtful we can stop this insidious cult of the superficial dead in it’s tracks, but we can beat it back. If everyone grabs a stick and starts beating; hard, about the head. </p> <p>If we prevail in our efforts, critical thought will once again be an integral part of education and engrained in the collective intellect. When that transpires, people will no longer take their cues on how to think and vote from clueless celebrities and agenda driven infotainers. They will once again be able to differentiate truth from the specious argument. And the once-again educated citizens will be able to spot and reject pandering, agenda driven appeals aimed at their emotions rather than their brain. </p> <p>If people begin to think for themselves again they’ll stop accepting “received knowledge” from the media.  That means that the media will stop giving liberal artistes – of both the Hollywood and Washington D.C. persuasion - so much air time and stop treating them with such deference. That’s  a Win-Win: the power of the entertainment/ruling class celebrities is diminished and we won’t have to listen to them. </p> <p>If we prevail, people will never again accept schlock <font color="#333333">“consensus”</font> science as proof of anything. Instead, they will require more from what passes as “scientific” research. They will  demand answers to the three M’s behind the “research:” motive, methodology and money.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5fjSLRQJXNQ/UWCjESZDt2I/AAAAAAAA2PI/hTwV-ukw2M8/s1600-h/Screenshot-Studio-capture-10293.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Screenshot Studio capture #1029" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #1029" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GQd80bs43tg/UWCjE8u6T-I/AAAAAAAA2PQ/MQfefjMpFPM/Screenshot-Studio-capture-1029_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="304" height="501" /></a><em><font color="#000000">Yeah babe, it’s not the money; it’s the amount</font></em></p> <p>Should our side prevail, no one will ever again say “I wonder what Cheryl Crow thinks I should be doing to save the planet?” </p> <p>If we prevail, people will cease paying attention to the antics of Sean Penn as he employs all the diplomatic skills he learned in acting class to curry favor with socialist tyrants on our behalf. In fact, if we prevail, people might even consider his behavior treasonous.</p> <p>Should we prevail, no American will abide Canadian Jim Carrey’s inane tweets and tunes about <em>our</em> right to bear arms. And by the way, I see he recently discovered that <em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4M3wlQK6VI">“thought is responsible for if not all, most, of the suffering we experience.”</a></em> Really, Jimbo?  Then I assume I can put you down as agreeing in principle that guns don’t kill people? Apparently thoughts do; would you like to outlaw them too? That would fall under our First Amendment right to free speech, which they don’t have in Canada either.</p> <p>If we prevail,  people will once again be able to analyze data, not just accept it as fact. When that happens, they won’t have to rely on Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-damons-promise-land-anti-fracking-film-2013-2">educate them on the scientific principals of hydraulic fracking.</a>  Maybe their newfound critical thinking skills will even cause people to wonder <a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2012/09/29/movie-american-oil-greedy/">why the Saudi Arabians funded their movie</a> in the first place. </p> <p>And should we prevail at beating the beasts back, the newly educated citizenry will not be knee-jerked into boycotting companies that frack for natural gas just because Susan Sarandon and Yoko Ono combine their choral skills to plead <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/11/yoko-ono-susan-sarandon-anti-fracking-video">“Don’t Frack My Mother.”</a> Because by then people will understand that Susan and Yoko know precisely as much about fracking as they do other economic, environmental and social justice issues.</p> <p>I can’t promise that reforming the education system will necessarily improve the overall quality of entertainment offered by Hollywood, but I’m certain there will be a greater variety on offer. I realize that replacing school indoctrination with critical thinking skills doesn’t guarantee that young people won’t still choose to go to crappy movies, attend crappy concerts and download crappy songs. But I have to think they will be a bit more discerning about the selection of their President than they are about a simple weekend diversion. </p> <p>If we successfully fix the mess of the education system and effectively address the disequilibrium of the media, the culture of celebrity will begin to diminish. Stopping the constant onslaught of false ideas, fallacious premises and debauched values will weaken the influence of celebrities who deal in the business of false ideas, fallacious premises and debauched values. People who rediscover the joy of thinking for themselves are likely to be a bit more discriminating in their idol worship: both the celluloid variety and the political sort. </p> <p>We may eventually come around to the point where idols again represent something worth idolizing, even if that something is only superficial. I’m okay with  pop-culture celebrities being admired for their style; as long as we expect our political class to be more substantive and hold them to a higher standard of intelligence, character and behavior.</p> <p>And occasionally, perhaps, we will be fortuitous enough to get both style and substance rolled into one; and the media will no longer have the power to persuade you otherwise.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TDAasp4qxSw/UWCjFYuq3qI/AAAAAAAA2PY/vqstPMgBww4/s1600-h/ronald-reagan-sarah-palin3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="ronald reagan sarah palin" border="0" alt="ronald reagan sarah palin" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aOQ56AKTs9k/UWCjF_IDb0I/AAAAAAAA2Pg/6tZXq0FNR7c/ronald-reagan-sarah-palin_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="426" /></a><em>I have a dream </em></p> <p>So I have a dream. I dream that we fight until we prevail; that the country remains a bastion of intellectual and economic freedom, that people continue to be independent in spirit and action, our economy once again begins to grow, people prosper and we all grow stronger. In short, I dream that America survives and remains, as it has for over 200 years, to be the world’s last, best hope.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z6Oj2Zetl-Q/UWCjGVPtadI/AAAAAAAA2Po/PNQNingjOr4/s1600-h/Ronald_Reagan1.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Ronald_Reagan" border="0" alt="Ronald_Reagan" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o3r6LxI1HSE/UWCjGyzlaZI/AAAAAAAA2Pw/aerUJUl9uAA/Ronald_Reagan_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="307" /></a></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#000000"><b>“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.</b><em> We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free. –</em> Ronald Reagan</font></p> </blockquote> <p><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></p> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> <p><strong><em><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><strong><em><font size="4">Larwyn’s Linx</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="4"> on </font></em></strong><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><strong><em><font size="4">Doug Ross@Journal</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="4">, and </font></em></strong> <a href="http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=179692">iOwnTheWorld’s Cardigan</a></font></em></strong><strong><em><font size="4">, and <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=JJEWYGRJTJ93652AM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3005326/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks!</font></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on Patriot Action Network</font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-29068343290336196702013-03-29T16:16:00.001-04:002013-04-08T09:22:14.426-04:00Beat Thy Enemy II: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)<blockquote> <p align="left"><em><font color="#000000">“Politics is downstream from culture. I want to change the cultural narrative.”</font></em></p> </blockquote> <p>Long before most of us begrudgingly acknowledged it, Breitbart knew that in order to change the cultural milieu, conservatives must – to borrow a phrase - be<em> in</em> the world, if not <em>of</em> the world. </p> <p>He knew that to beat the enemy, we had to infiltrate the enemy’s bunker and operate from inside the tent. That hasn’t happened.</p> <p>Why is it there are no significant conservative voices in Hollywood? There are two theories. The first is the Hollywood version and it goes like this: “conservatives are simply not suited to the creative arts. They’re too left-brained to be as creative as their far more imaginative right-brained liberal contemporaries.” The implication is that storytelling is the exclusive purview of open-minded, non-judgmental liberals who empathize with the human condition. And by inference that means that story telling falls well outside the scope of close-minded, conservative bigots and oppressors of the poor. Hence, Hollywood’s official verdict: conservative writers and artists either self-select out of the creative industry, or they wash out because they just aren’t good enough.</p> <p>The conservative take on the situation is understandably quite different: “Hollywood, because of its unremitting leftist tilt is uncomfortable with conservative values and creates an exclusionary and hostile environment for writers and artists who make their non-liberal leanings known. In turn, that makes it impossible for conservatives to get referrals and make the kind of connections required to survive in the industry.”</p> <p>Knowing how significantly the odds are stacked against them, conservatives may indeed decide to let reason dictate their priorities and simply opt out - choosing to pursue a  profession more likely to provide financial security for themselves and their family rather than  “following their bliss.” Being left-brained they may conclude that is a more rational choice than waiting tables in LA while waiting for their big break.</p> <p>Refuting the Hollywood version is a bit complicated because of the fact that many conservatives and liberals actually <em>do </em>think differently. Conservatives do tend, counter intuitively, to be left-brain dominant which means their fallback thinking process relies on logic and facts. Liberals (especially the Hollywood breed of  “creative” liberals) tend to be right-brain dominant with a fallback thinking process that relies heavily on feelings (intuition) and imagination. </p> <a name='more'></a> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0zeta8ZWhS4/UVX2ci1p7mI/AAAAAAAA1y8/s3R_EAiutaM/s1600-h/right-left-brain-functions5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="right-left-brain-functions" border="0" alt="right-left-brain-functions" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x3a9CJ9gfbU/UVX2dN5TtVI/AAAAAAAA1zE/UCrfDv_Ce8U/right-left-brain-functions_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="286" /></a></p> <p>But a fallback thinking mode does not a human consciousness make. In reality no one functions within one lobe. In fact, to be <em>really</em> good at what you do, regardless of whether that’s writing or brain surgery, requires a high functioning integration of the two; rapid fire synthesis. Every really smart person I’ve ever known, liberal or conservative was blessed with or learned how to access and run on both brain hemispheres simultaneously. Those who don’t only think they’re smart. Like the <font color="#333333">“big picture” guys who believe facts don’t matter and analysis is overrated. They always think they’re the smartest guy in the room and their</font> ill-conceived schemes always crash and burn. The President comes to mind as an example but I’m sure you know others.</p> <p>Why is any of this important? Because Hollywood justifies its locked in leftist tilt by perpetuating the lie that conservatives are simply not good at or suited to creative work. In reality really good writers are integrative thinkers who can weave reality into fantasy and back again. A phantasmagorical fantasy is only truly entertaining if it’s also logical. Suspending your disbelief is one thing, suspending the laws of physics is just a cheap trick.  Integrating reality with fantasy is a skill that’s completely ambivalent towards your politics and your brain lobes; all it requires is that you keep your brain well lubed and running on all 12 cylinders. </p> <p>So let’s lay to rest the premise of Hollywood’s big lie that being conservative means you’re not creative.  Michael Creighton and Isaac Asimov, among many others, negate the premise.</p> <p>And if being left brained and logical ruled out being likewise imaginative, we would still know nothing of the theory of relativity, <em>E</em> = mc² (h/t Einstein); or that the earth revolves around the sun (h/t Copernicus); nor would we have the rich stories of <em>Crime and Punishment</em> and <em>The Brothers Karamazov</em> (h/t Dostoyevsky) or <em>Atlas Shrugged</em> and <em>The Fountainhead</em> (h/t Ayn Rand) to enjoy. And don’t even get me started on Leonardo da Vinci;  a man blessed with such high-speed inter-cranial connectivity that he could as easily design helicopters as paint masterpieces.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CNDbBOuEPJE/UVX2d5bnUuI/AAAAAAAA1zM/Q0Jfvrcp96Y/s1600-h/The_Golden_Ratio_and_Leonardo_Da_Vin%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="The_Golden_Ratio_and_Leonardo_Da_Vinci" border="0" alt="The_Golden_Ratio_and_Leonardo_Da_Vinci" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XxGUMN98IMc/UVX2eVcHOoI/AAAAAAAA1zU/Bfbzsmo5I_k/The_Golden_Ratio_and_Leonardo_Da_Vin.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a><em>Leonardo’s Golden Ratio</em></p> <p>That leaves us with the more likely explanation that the lack of conservative voices in the entertainment business – all the way from the executive offices to the news readers – is due to discrimination: something that open-minded Hollywood reserves exclusively for right wingers. </p> <p>What will it take for the right to claim a seat at this table; to get a crack at changing the cultural narrative? The left is unlikely to abandon its conceit that conservatives are at best “missing part of their hearts or brains” and therefore inherently incapable of being trusted to shape the hearts and minds of America. </p> <p>So it will be a guerilla war. We already have a few infiltrators in the enemy’s camp working undercover, occasionally slipping past enemy lines with a glimpse of conservative philosophy in scripts. But we need more. Those amongst us who can, must.</p> <p>Even before Breitbart burst upon the scene <a href="http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/">Michael Savage</a>, a great conservative story teller himself, had been screaming for years about how liberals were dismantling America through a 3 pronged attack on our borders, language and culture. When Breitbart came along, he showed us how to push back against the left’s assault; how to engage with them by using their own tactics in order to reveal their intent and their lies.</p> <p>While Andrew loved getting in the face of newsmakers and news shapers – that was his gift – he likewise advised talented conservative creatives to get in the creative end of the game and pursue messaging through entertainment with the same fervor the left does. He implored the right to  participate in the <em>making </em>of pop culture entertainment in order to prevent it from being owned by the left.</p> <p>The imminent merging of “old” media (television and movies) with “new” media (low cost digital) is about to eliminate the stranglehold of the old dinosaur media oligopoly. As the internet begins to replace cable and theatres as the preferred delivery system we will see a new media revolution. </p> <p>As the old ad said, the world of video on demand (VOD) which allows consumers to access any content, anytime, anywhere, on any digital device will change everything. It is imperative that this new direct conduit to public consumption not be ceded to the liberal voice as well. That’s why people like Breitbart, Shapiro, and recently, <a href="http://pjmedia.com/andrewklavan/2013/03/19/getting-hollywood-not-quite-right/?singlepage=true">Andrew Klaven</a> have  encouraged conservative creators, executives, financiers, reviewers to get in the game. Start pitching stories of independent, self-sufficient people who love God and country and don’t look to the government to solve all their problems.</p> <p>Nascent conservative internet media outlets (such as The Blaze,  PJMedia, and the now defunct RightNetwork) have seen the potential for this new entertainment platform.  But the platform needs to be fueled with something other than more of the same liberal message programming. That’s why conservative voices have to jump into the fray and begin creating counterculture entertainment pieces. It seems odd to many of us that  conservative values  have come to represent America’s  counterculture - is there a Boomer alive who thought they’d live long enough to see that happen? But that’s what happens when you’ve had  50 years of unchecked liberal ascendance. </p> <p>So once again some of us from a bygone generation find ourselves standing at the vanguard of another counterculture revolution. One that even <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/10/10/camille_paglias_glittering_images/">Camille Paglia</a> grudgingly concedes has been coopted by the likes of Mark Levin and the conservative/libertarian rightwing:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>Over the last 20 years, freedom has become a conservative watch word, and liberals have lost their claim to it. There is a huge difference between contemporary upper-middle-class bourgeois Democratic liberalism and the fire-breathing 1960s leftism that was the mood of my college years. After all, it all began with the free speech movement at Berkeley! But liberals have now been trained to be docile and obedient.(snip) To a ’60s libertarian dissident like myself, it’s really alarming.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Just like back in the 60’s, whenever there is a counterculture, there is a market for counterculture goods. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-00xTm3YzKGU/UVX2e5Kv8YI/AAAAAAAA1zc/NUTthPLH1bg/s1600-h/History_graphic%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="History_graphic" border="0" alt="History_graphic" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yyOFoEEtnzU/UVX2fE9a6tI/AAAAAAAA1zk/xvuyBrdh0uY/History_graphic_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="274" /></a></p> <p>The History Channel’s recent success with <em>The Bible</em> is, ironically, proof enough.</p> <p>But in the quest to <em>“change the culture, and you’ll change the politics”</em>  I would go one step beyond just infusing media content with a conservative voice. Conservatives are supposedly heartless capitalists right? So why don’t conservatives own any of the Big 6 entertainment oligarchies?   But for Fox News every production studio, network and cable company is owned and operated by the left for the left. Despite the change in the media delivery system,  demand for high production quality news/entertainment programs will remain. (No offense Blaze and PJMedia, you’re on the right path but you’ve still got a way to go.) We need to own the means of production! Or at least<em> some</em> of the means of production.</p> <p>So, hey Republican-conservative-rightwing one per-centers! I’m talking to you! We need you to pull your capitalist friends together and invest in the pop culture business. And believe me, what I’ve seen from the GOP lately, your money will be much better spent.</p> <p>Breitbart would agree with me:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>"The people who have money, every four years at the last possible second, are told, 'You need to give millions of dollars, because these four counties in Ohio are going to determine the election,'" Breitbart told the National Policy Council in October 2009. "I am saying, why didn't we invest 20 years ago in a movie studio in Hollywood, why didn't we invest in creating television shows, why didn't we create institutions that would reflect and affirm that which is good about America?"</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Why, indeed?  </p> <p>In waging this war on The Big Mediacracy, I subscribe to the all-of-the-above strategy to clean out the cultural swamp. By all means switch the channel, boycott the sponsors, write, direct, produce and manage the creative enclaves of Hollywood. But owning our own creative workshop or two would make that a lot easier.</p> <p>Surely there is a group of right leaning millionaires and billionaires out there who can figure out how to make money while simultaneously saving the the country. Oh sure, it would cost billions and billions of dollars. But that’s what capitalists do, isn’t it? Raise capital and invest in stuff to make money? Isn’t that what investment banks are for?</p> <p>Do you realize that if the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/11-richest-super-pac-donors-bankrolling-republican-race-2012-3?op=1">top 10 donors to last year’s failed GOP campaign</a> had pooled their money instead for a business venture they could have put together enough money to do a leveraged buyout of one of the major networks? Granted, we’d <em>still </em>have Barack Obama as president, but we’d also have NBC and at least <em>one</em> pop culture media outlet working for us instead of against us 24/7. I don’t see the downside. </p> <p>So I’m sending out an appeal to all rich conservatives: please use your business acumen, net worth and Wall Street buddies to save the country instead of saving the Republican Party. </p> <p>Maybe we should all send this post to the top GOP donors, asking them to put together a syndicate to build or buy a conservative media conglomerate instead of funding another dead-to-me Republican campaign. The top 10 would be a good start. After that add your own personal favorite rich white guys. Here are some of mine: the Koch brothers, Rush Limbaugh, Dennis Miller, Bill O’Reilly, Ted Nugent, Clint Eastwood, Donald Trump, Kelsey Grammar, and Roger Ailes (although <a href="http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/317-65/14113-murdoch-eyes-ownership-of-la-times-chicago-tribune">he seems to be doing his part</a>). </p> <p><font color="#ff0000"><font color="#333333">I’d write to Mitt Romney too, he is a decent man who I believe genuinely wants to help the country. It’s not his fault that Karl Rove is such an idiot. Besides, he’s not doing anything, he certainly knows how to do leveraged buyouts and he has friends in the venture capitalist business.</font> </font> Maybe he can start the ball rolling.</p> <p>I’ve even got a campaign slogan he can use: “Put the capitalist back in capitalism!”</p> <p>Besides, we supported him; he owes us something.</p> <p>In the meantime, I guess the rest of us just keep fighting back against the mediacracy anyway we can, and hope that America comes to its senses. Or at the very least finds another Happy Warrior to carry on the battle.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em>This post is dedicated to the memory of Andrew Breitbart: Happy Warrior up to his last tweet.</em></strong></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t6SD4h17IeA/UVX2fpGfz8I/AAAAAAAA1zs/fbk7kuNwuMg/s1600-h/breitbart-media-enemy%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="breitbart-media-enemy" border="0" alt="breitbart-media-enemy" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NklpuAkCopY/UVX2gFRPEFI/AAAAAAAA1z0/ipXKy_mEBE4/breitbart-media-enemy_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="245" /></a><em><strong>Happy Warrior from 1969 - 2012</strong></em> </p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em>He left too soon, but he did leave the light on for us.</em></strong>  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XhCD27M_6Q0/UVX2iKcuCTI/AAAAAAAA1z8/bLerrlpmteE/s1600-h/City-Lights-Winter-Snow-long-goodbye.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="City Lights Winter Snow-long goodbye" border="0" alt="City Lights Winter Snow-long goodbye" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a3Pp_hODZcQ/UVX2i9GOPTI/AAAAAAAA10E/r_84RckVN3c/City-Lights-Winter-Snow-long-goodbye%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="348" height="353" /></a><em><strong>Carry on.</strong></em></p> <blockquote> <p><font color="#002d59"><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em></em></a></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em></em></a></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><em><font size="4">Linked By: <font size="4"><em><strong>Linked By: </strong></em></font><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><font size="4"><em><strong>Larwyn’s Linx</strong></em></font></a><font size="4"><em><strong> on </strong></em></font><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><font size="4"><em><strong>Doug Ross@Journal</strong></em></font></a><font size="4"><em><strong>, Thanks!</strong></em></font> <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=IOSFSGIMSW13354PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3002999/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks!</font></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/beating-thy-enemy-ii-the-media-conclusion-operating-within-the">Patriot Action Network</a></font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-50333857127130403152013-03-28T15:45:00.001-04:002013-04-08T09:22:58.312-04:00Beat Thy Enemy II, The Media (attacking from outside the tent)<blockquote> <p><em>Breitbart knew instinctively, as people in Washington, D.C., and most other places did not, that movies, television programs and popular music send out deeply political messages every hour of every day. They shape the culture, and then the culture shapes politics. Influence those films and TV shows and songs, and you'll eventually influence politics. -- <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/byronyork/2012/03/06/in_politics_fight_breitbart_knew_culture_is_key/page/full/">Byron York </a></em></p> </blockquote> <p>As I documented in <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">Know Thy Enemy II, The Media</a>, one of Conservatives’ most formidable enemies is the Hollywood-Big Media Cartel. It is an irrefutable fact of life: this infotainment complex defines pop culture and permeates every aspect of modern life. Nothing short of the state sponsored educational indoctrination system even comes close to the impact it has on how America thinks and lives. Today we look at what can be done to loosen that grip.</p> <p>The Big Media Cartel is run by leftist ideologues who believe their province extends far beyond simply informing and entertaining. With ideological messages embedded in everything from songs to sitcoms, citizens receive continuous reinforcement of leftist precepts. If you’re skeptical, Ben Shapiro’s book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primetime-Propaganda-True-Hollywood-Story/dp/006193478X"><em>Prime Time Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story</em></a><em>,</em> will disabuse you of any doubt.</p> <p><em>Primetime</em> is a well-researched tome on the media’s closed loop system of liberal messaging. Shapiro calls it the “Celluloid Triangle,” comprised of special interest groups, government and Hollywood. He documents how this ménage à trois has operated since the early days of television to infuse entertainment programming with liberal causes and messaging; a ruse otherwise known as propaganda. Tracking the journey of the media/entertainment industry from its original news/entertainment platform to its current role as America’s zeitgeist maker is instructive, although not particularly surprising if you’ve been paying attention.</p> <p>Big Media is a tough nut to crack. Tougher even then the education system since at least in theory we the people own our schools. Here we’re dealing with a huge, private sector entertainment oligopoly which exists with the tacit approval and support of government administrators, legislators and regulators. It enjoys significant tax breaks, subsidies and multiple regulatory protections, yet is not answerable to the taxpayer. Their only responsibility is to their shareholders, consumers and, marginally, the FCC. The shareholders are happy as long as they are making money; consumers seem inured to the liberal messaging as long as Desperate Housewives airs in it’s expected timeslot and the FCC concerns itself primarily with wardrobe malfunctions and hate-speech; so there’s no pushback. </p> <p>We have reached a place where one ideology (liberal) controls virtually all pop culture output; and so many people have already been indoctrinated by leftist precepts that they don't even see a problem. That is why, prior to his untimely death, Andrew Brietbart warned people over and over that “<em>the Media is the enemy.”</em> </p> <p>There are two ways to attack the mediacracy<sup>1</sup> - from outside the tent, and from inside the tent. We need to operate in both <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theater_(warfare)">theatres of operation</a> but we begin from the outside since that’s where most of us reside. From this front, all of us can do something to advance the cause. </p> <p>If you are a stockholder, divest. If you are a consumer, don’t go to that movie or buy the DVD, don’t watch the Sunday “news” shows – or any MSM news shows for that matter. If you find a show (or an entire Network) to contain offensive messaging, switch the channel, turn off the TV, write to the sponsors to complain about the content they’re supporting and let them know you won’t buy their products. </p> <p>Because network/cable television is still ad-revenue driven, enough people complaining to sponsors and boycotting their products will have an effect. But for maximum impact remember to take your clues from the left: organized protests and boycotts by special interest groups get greater and faster results than do individual complaints. While the left invented professional grievance squads, the right has a <a href="http://www.twyman-whitney.com/americancitizen/links/lobbies.htm">surprising number</a> of special interest groups (SIG) of their own that can be culled and employed for this purpose. (Note: it was the Veterans of Foreign Wars who finally <a href="http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/tv-zone-1.811968/the-amazing-race-apologizes-for-hanoi-memorial-shoot-1.4900114">wrestled an apology from CBS for its disgraceful Amazing Race incident</a>.) </p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Nobody has quite gotten behind the “Neilson ratings” Oz curtain to determine how they actually count viewers but as <a href="http://www.themarysue.com/verizon-dvr-watches-you/">technology progresses it gets creepier every year.</a> Cable/satellite companies deny extracting data from your cable boxes, but rumors persist. But what we do know is - by whatever hokum they use to count them - eyeballs do determine ad rates; <em>not </em>watching does count. </p> <p>And don’t forget about your Reps and Senators; they’re the ones writing tax law, funding subsidies and, theoretically, overseeing the FCC. Email your displeasure as frequently as you can; at least it will give their staff something to do.</p> <p>But with just <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665600/infographic-of-the-day-the-mega-companies-behind-90-of-media">6 companies owning all of the entertainment and information venues</a> available on either network or cable TV, “turning the channel” is not much of an option. It just gets you more of the same, only different, as most programing is produced and written by the same kind of people sporting the same leftist ideology. In order to actually change the cultural narrative conservatives need to get their meat hooks into the hindquarter of the media-information-entertainment industry. Exactly why this hasn’t happened yet is, in Facebook parlance, complicated.</p> <p>Popular culture is owned by the left. It’s not going away and it’s not going to change for the better unless the right becomes more involved in its creation. Initially many conservatives thought that just sitting it out in protest would suffice. In hindsight not only was that foolish, but detrimental. As an ongoing strategy it’s both impractical and counterproductive.</p> <p>Impractical because, as Mr. Shapiro points out, <em>“TV is awesome!”</em> Let’s face it, even most of us who complain about crappy shows and bias in news reporting still flip the TV on at least once on most days. People’s lives are filled with so much stress that a medium that provides passive entertainment like TV is a welcome anesthetic. It’s a legal narcotic and for better or worse most of us are recreational users. Even if <em>you</em> can do without, most of the country can’t. And many who can’t are low information voters (LIV) who vote however their favorite desperate housewife or fake news-guy tells them to.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QXKFW3_-nf4/UVSd7UdC1oI/AAAAAAAA1v8/isfTLPb9VfA/s1600-h/biden-Eva-Longor_1658658a%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="biden-Eva-Longor_1658658a" border="0" alt="biden-Eva-Longor_1658658a" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g92c5fy9lY4/UVSd74VUZNI/AAAAAAAA1wE/YiQGueaVYko/biden-Eva-Longor_1658658a_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="344" /></a><em>Eva Longoria casts two votes for Obama-Biden</em></p> <p>Worse than being impractical though, tuning out is counterproductive. It only ensures that the right will <em>never</em> reclaim the culture from the grasp of relativistic liberalism. In the long war, the left has already won that battle; and we were probably complicit by disengaging even as their talons tightened and sunk deeper into our flesh. </p> <p>Pop culture has now woven liberal-think so tightly into the fabric of our collective consciousness that the only way to change it is to go back to the same loom and set a new pattern, thread by tedious thread. Just like the liberals did it.</p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xh03diQMugo/UVSd8S-iAfI/AAAAAAAA1wM/qZYnnEwS0A0/s1600-h/weaving-wiki_thumb1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="weaving-wiki_thumb1" border="0" alt="weaving-wiki_thumb1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KkRuvtJlS1w/UVSd8wJAwMI/AAAAAAAA1wU/hbzCWV2C8ow/weaving-wiki_thumb1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="216" height="240" /></a>“<em>Setting up the loom to weave cloth is a process which requires great patience as well as careful planning, concentration and plenty of time.”</em></p> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Tomorrow, the conclusion of Beating Thy Enemy II, the Media:</em></strong> “<strong><em>Attacking the enemy from within”</em></strong></p> <p>footnote: </p> <blockquote> <p><sup><em>1</em></sup><a href="http://www.unwords.com/unword/mediacracy.html"><em>mediacracy</em></a><em> -- I thought I coined the word, but apparently the Unword Dictionary beat me to it:</em></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em>(n.) Government, usually indirectly, by the popular media; often a result of democracy going awry. A system in which politicians stop thinking and begin listening exclusively to the media regarding what the important issues are and what they should do about them.</em></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em>Origins: A play on democracy and news media; possible reference to being mediocre.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><font color="#002d59"><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote><em></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4"><em><strong>Linked By: </strong></em></font><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><font size="4"><em><strong>Larwyn’s Linx</strong></em></font></a><font size="4"><em><strong> on </strong></em></font><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><font size="4"><em><strong>Doug Ross@Journal</strong></em></font></a><font size="4"><em><strong>, and </strong></em></font><strong><em><font size="4"><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=BLESPIAIEK101428AM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3002039/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks!</font></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/beating-thy-enemy-ii-the-media-attacking-from-outside-the-tent">Patriot Action Network</a></font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-24897315153201527722013-03-16T12:43:00.001-04:002013-04-08T09:23:51.228-04:00Beat thy Enemy: I, The Education System<blockquote> <p><em>“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle” </em> <br />― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1771.Sun_Tzu">Sun Tzu</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3200649">The Art of War</a></i></p> </blockquote> <p>In the preceding “<em>Know Thy Enemy”</em> series - <em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a>,</em> <em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html">I Education</a>, <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">II Media</a></em><em></em> and <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>III Celebrity Culture</em></a>  - I’ve identified three sources which have exposed America to a very dangerous disease. The systemic cause is a virus that manifests itself as a malignant form of socialism characterized by increasing central government control and progressively insistent demands for “social justice.” It’s accompanied by irrational thinking and a loss of will to exert either individual  liberty or personal responsibility. As noted, exposure to the education system, media and the celebrity culture makes one vulnerable, especially the young.</p> <p>Since we now know what ails us, and we know how it’s contracted, it’s time to clean up each contamination site and start the healing.</p> <p>Today we’ll deal with the education system. A brief recap of the situation: we have a hardcore leftist agenda that has been incorporated and deeply embedded into the national education canon, curricula, texts and teachers training programs. The degree to which this indoctrination program is slanted in favor of the postmodern values of relativism, socialism and social justice and against the traditional <a href="http://eagnews.org/wisconsin-education-officials-want-students-to-wear-white-privilege-wristbands/">Western Enlightenment values of  individualism,</a> objective truth, reason, logic and capitalism is stunning. With teachers unions entrenched like a bad nail fungus and completely onboard with the social justice (nee anti-America) agenda, how do we unwind this <a href="http://www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_9_01.html">Gordian knot</a>?</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>It’s important to recognize, from the beginning, that the knot as currently constructed cannot be unraveled. Like the original, it needs to be sliced wide open in order to release its power. But unless you are aware of some sword-wielding Alexander the Great character hiding in the wings,  I suggest death by a thousand paper cuts.  We all need to grab the nearest sharp instrument and start hacking away at it.  Here we can learn from the enemy: we need to deploy an army of Davids. That’s how the Left implemented their agenda, that’s how we can reverse it. We however, don’t have an organized army of foot soldiers, and need to build one. </p> <p>We begin our assault as our founders always intended, at the local level. Yes, ultimately we need to defund and dissolve the $72 billion/year waste factory that is the Federal Department of Education. But that’s only one head of the Hydra, there are thousands more, all of which are attached to a local school board. The local boards are where our power resides to actually force educational change. Generally the board is commissioned by a school district to: </p> <blockquote> <ol> <li>Set overall educational goals </li> <li>Develop a strategic plan to accomplish the goals </li> <li>Hire and oversee the superintendent </li> <li>Approve the school district budget </li> <li>Create policy for schools in the district </li> </ol> </blockquote> <p>If the board doesn’t function as a rubber stamp – and many do - they have enormous power. They can approve or disapprove curriculum, textbooks, expenditures – and this means teachers’ contracts. Teachers’ unions negotiate with their local school district; usually the superintendent and the school board. </p> <p>This is why taking control of the school board is paramount in slicing through the knot. And it isn’t that difficult to seize control at this level. If you can organize a committed group of local, conservative, education “activists” you can win; you can hold the power seat. How do you think the Left got control in the first place? Organize, agitate, campaign, and deliver. </p> <p>Remember, the world is filled with sheeple, thanks in part to the education system you are trying to change. So if you outwork your opponents – who will initially assume they have the upper hand – you can win. </p> <p>The benefit and simplicity of striking at the local school board level is that success can have a pretty immediate impact on the education program in your schools. Also, it is doable. So few voters pay attention to school board elections that with little funding and a lot of grass roots effort an organized group could form an alliance representing your core educational principles and run on a coalition platform. Such a united slate of school board candidates – with enough door-to-door ground support - could readily challenge and beat incumbent members who are either ineffective or opposed to the reforms you are championing. Remember, you don’t need to win the hearts and minds of everyone, you just need to persuade more people to get out and vote for you than your opponents do.</p> <p>I’m not a natural organizer, but I’ve been around enough to know that the world is filled with people who are. You probably know at least a dozen. Enlist them, forcefully if need be. For the win. For the future. (Obama’s already used the WTF slogan, so be sure to choose something different.)</p> <p>If you win, you can significantly improve the distorted curriculum and teaching bias in just one year by requiring that your school board approve not just the district’s goals and strategic plan but also the specific curriculum, text books and lesson plans being used in your schools.</p> <p>Once seated, your new school board consortium will need constant encouragement to hang tough. Pressure from teachers, parents, unions will be brought to bear to get you to compromise “for the sake of the children,” particularly when it comes to contract negotiations. The inconvenience and disruption of a teachers strike will heap pressure of the board. Don’t cave. You know what’s right; there is no virtue in “resolving” differences if the underlying problems remain unsolved.  </p> <p>Aside from the socialist/social justice indoctrination program, the teachers union is the other elephant in the classroom. Many local school boards are out-lawyered by the teachers’ union’s (NEA or AFT) paid staff when it comes to the bargaining table. That means the school board has to lawyer-up too; by training themselves (web-based resources are available), ensuring adequate funding for legal contract negotiation support (school districts find a way to fund everything else, insist on more money here: you’re dealing with pros) and seek pro-bono assistance from local labor attorneys who can educate and prepare the Board to deal with not only the union’s lawyers, but to manage your own counsels as well so they are not the ones calling the shots.  As the President likes to tell us, you need to ensure that you are all <a href="http://teachersunionexposed.com/blocking.php">on a level playing field: </a></p> <blockquote> <p><em>The NEA employs a corps of directors called UniServ. These directors assist local teachers unions with collective bargaining (supplying negotiation experience that often vastly outstrips the resources of a local school district) and serve as conduits for the union’s political messages</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Once you have seized control of your school district, take your political skills to both the local and state levels to initiate even larger changes. Specifically, changes that effect collective bargaining rights of municipal and state employees  - which includes teachers.</p> <p>Government employees aren’t covered under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), so individual states have written their own shadow acts. This means they can be changed at the state level as well. And that’s exactly what some states are doing. For example, <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/06/4104938/kansas-casts-eye-on-teachers-unions.html">Kansas</a> is currently seeking to bar unions from using voluntary paycheck deductions for politics. Others, notably Washington, Idaho, Utah, Indiana, Wisconsin and <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/55447030-68/michigan-union-unions-dues.html.csp">Michigan</a>, have already passed “right-to-work” legislation that makes it illegal to require financial support of a union as a condition of employment. Experience in these states shows that, when given a choice, government employees will quit their union in large numbers - in Utah for example, <a href="http://www.statebudgetsolutions.org/publications/detail/why-government-employee-collective-bargaining-laws-must-be-reformed-now#ixzz2NYPFsb1m">teacher participation fell from 68% to 6.8%,</a> a jaw-dropping 90% drop (and I wonder how many high school grads in, oh say the city of Detroit, could calculate that). Removing teachers from the union rolls removes money from the Democrats’ pockets to support candidates and causes you are most likely opposed to.</p> <p>State level legislators also have a crack at the state’s education budget, the bulk of which is funded by the federal government. It will be good to learn what this money is used for, (hint: a surprising amount  is for “nutrition”) in the event it is cut from the federal budget someday. No sense in letting the unions continue to dictate this allocation process either.</p> <p>These measures may not solve all of the systemic problems that are part and parcel of an outdated teaching system that’s ferociously protected by their unions. It does, however, make significant inroads to gaining the kind of state-by-state control required to make  bigger changes. More importantly this type of initiative begins to hack away at the dogged indoctrination and propaganda currently woven into the fabric of education. And as I already pointed out it removes a lot of union money from the  political coffers of Democrats and progressives that would be used to fight further efforts to change the existing education paradigm which no longer makes sense in an age of web-based everything except education.  21st century instruction should look completely different than it did in the 19th century, and yet somehow it doesn’t.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3dg5nq2raAg/UUShEnmbDOI/AAAAAAAA1C8/YQ2ikEu3oRM/s1600-h/fulton_school3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="fulton_school" border="0" alt="fulton_school" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Cu7jLNQLMNo/UUShFf0ybPI/AAAAAAAA1DE/LXq1_05NLho/fulton_school_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="210" /></a></p> <p>Additionally, if  teachers opt out of unions when given the choice, it presents a much more reasonable group of employees to deal with in terms of teaching expectations and outcomes, which are currently given little more than lip service. It opens the door to the elimination of the pernicious practice of granting teachers tenure for the simple accomplishment of having survived (under the union’s protection) for several years. It would likewise allow for the firing of worthless <a href="http://teachersunionexposed.com/protecting.php">(or worse)</a> teachers rather than carrying them on the backs of taxpayers until they’re eligible to retire, also on the backs of taxpayers. It provides a path to introduce a true merit pay system that will reward the most dedicated, hardest working teachers and deal effectively with those who are inadequate.  </p> <p>Most important it will give conservative Americans hope that we haven’t lost our country It can make us believe that standing together we can reverse the insidious progressive agenda that has been eroding our lives, our capital, our value system and our spirit. We need to know that we can win. The Left will constantly try to demoralize us, knowing that a demoralized enemy won’t fight. Look what happened to the conservative community after Romney lost.</p> <p>Of course there are going to be progressive communities where no amount of grass roots work will put conservative values in play on the school boards. Unfortunately we must leave them to their own devices for the time being. If you live in such a community (basically anywhere along our “sophisticated coasts”) I’m sorry. But keep fighting because eventually these cities will be embarrassed  by their schools’ pathetic educational performance compared to that of communities that have enacted reforms. They will be forced to change.  The rest of us can all begin by taking back the heartland from the grasp of the socialist National Education Association.</p> <p>A word with respect to private schools: they are remarkably similar to public schools in the indoctrination and propaganda departments (the teachers were all educated by the same <a href="http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_3_ed_school.html">Bill Ayers model-teacher education and training program</a>). I presume as a paying customer you have a right to provide input and direction to the curriculum and texts – if not, and you don’t approve of the program, pull your child out.</p> <p>I know homeschooling is an option, and a good one. But let’s be honest: most people are simply not up to the task for one reason or another. Judge not, they still need an option. </p> <p>This game plan is that option - for them, for all of us: citizens taking up arms (metaphorically speaking) against the institutions and practices that are corrupting the education system. It’s not a panacea, it’s a battle plan. Because, make no mistake, this is a war. One side believes America was founded on and still reflects the moral values of freedom, equality and justice; and the other side thinks America is an immoral, unjust, racist nation (and always has been). Which side will you fight for? Which version of America do you want your children and grandchildren to be taught?</p> <p>This is going to be a long war and our side needs the kind of tenacity and perseverance that the progressives who brought us to this dark place have been practicing for years.  </p> <p>Progressive policies did not miraculously pop up in the American landscape with the spring rain one year. No, first the policy makers spent decades tilling the soil, spreading another layer of manure every year. They introduced earthworms to churn the dirt for a few more years before the weed seeds and spores were finally propagated. Then, with nothing more than a little watering, the garden of evil germinated beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Now we’ve got chickweed and horsetail all over the place, and it looks like they might just be take over, as weeds always do if not culled. <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/11/feral-in-detroit.html">Just like in Detroit:</a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lAIZeIin5pU/UUShF_DNUMI/AAAAAAAA1DM/sN2XODYTN6c/s1600-h/detroit-feral4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="detroit feral" border="0" alt="detroit feral" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lSYIUxONlQs/UUShGcAohnI/AAAAAAAA1DU/Wz-nFmvqFKM/detroit-feral_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="354" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8VywBenNEwU/UUShGwbbXrI/AAAAAAAA1Dc/JoQ_8uvqucE/s1600-h/feral-house-det13.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="feral house det1" border="0" alt="feral house det1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--mY0RmeVONY/UUShHQ9cj0I/AAAAAAAA1Dk/2JJojyM5QCw/feral-house-det1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="354" /></a><em>Feral House Photos via <a href="http://www.sweet-juniper.com/2009/07/feral-houses.html">Sweet Juniper</a></em></p> <p>Now it will take tons of commercial strength Roundup, and maybe a few flame throwers to beat it back. But if not us, who?  If not now, when?</p> <p>I know none of this sounds revolutionary, or even very exciting. That’s the beauty of it. It’s simple. Not easy, for sure, but a simple stealth strategy for bringing power back to the local and state level, where citizens can still readily exert control if they chose to. As I said, I’m not an organizer. I can’t tell you how, only what. The Gordian knot must be severed and we, the people, are the only ones who can do it. Organize yourselves. Use any resources available to you: Facebook, email, PTA list, web-based marketing, other social media. Call your local Tea Party. Read Alinsky’s rules. And remember: if you know thy enemy like you know thyself, you can smite them. </p> <p>Now get out there and win one for the Gipper.</p> <p> </p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fhOJeXLkPxw/UUShH3_WGkI/AAAAAAAA1Ds/J8oahZHo-cs/s1600-h/RONALD%252520REAGAN%252520great%252520president%252520united%252520states%252520conservatives%252520republicans%252520tea%252520party%252520movement%252520motivational%252520posters%252520online%252520blogspot%252520politicalvote%252520voters%252520voting%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="RONALD REAGAN great president united states conservatives republicans tea party movement motivational posters online blogspot politicalvote voters voting" border="0" alt="RONALD REAGAN great president united states conservatives republicans tea party movement motivational posters online blogspot politicalvote voters voting" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m3x-xV74FEw/UUShIplRnuI/AAAAAAAA1D0/9fou-AGzbSs/RONALD%252520REAGAN%252520great%252520president%252520united%252520states%252520conservatives%252520republicans%252520tea%252520party%252520movement%252520motivational%252520posters%252520online%252520blogspot%252520politicalvote%252520voters%252520voting_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="270" /></a><strong><em>"Sometime when the team is up against it and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go out there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper.”</em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><em><font size="4"></font></em></strong></p> <p><em><font size="4"><strong>UPDATE:</strong> As reported in <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2013/03/18/common-core-whats-hidden-behind-the-language-n1537017">Town Hall yesterday,</a> the adoption of federal so-called  “Common Core” will eliminate standards local control over K-12 curriculum in math and English. </font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4">Dianne Ravitch, educational historian reports in the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/26/why-i-oppose-common-core-standards-ravitch/">Washington Post</a> why she cannot support the standards.</font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4">Efforts to get the states to opt-out of this federal mandate are underway, but need to be ramped up immediately to thwart this federally mandated overreach. More later.</font></em></p> <p><font color="#002d59"><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote><em></em></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em></em></a></p> </blockquote> <p><em><font size="4"></font></em></p> <p><em><font size="4"></font></em></p> <p><strong><em><font size="4"></font></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><strong><em><font size="4">Larwyn’s Linx</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="4"> on </font></em></strong><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><strong><em><font size="4">Doug Ross@Journal</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="4">, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/watkins.trucker/posts/440388359372582">Robert Watkins</a> on facebook, and </font></em></strong><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=ENJPKKELJH104711AM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2998010/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks!</font></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/beating-thy-enemy-i-the-education-system">Patriot Action Network</a></font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-28618692680927722702013-03-10T12:53:00.001-04:002013-04-08T09:24:37.879-04:00Know Thy Enemy III: Celebrity Culture<p><em><strong></strong></em></p> <blockquote> <p><em>Barack Obama did not bring us to this first circle of hell on his own. He was aided and abetted by 1) an education system with a relentless propaganda agenda, 2) a media oligopoly that has completely abrogated its First Amendment responsibility and 3) a celebrity dominated culture that is largely a product of the first two. (KTE Prologue)</em></p> </blockquote> <p><em><strong></strong></em>III. The Culture of Celebrity </p> <blockquote> <p><em><strong>“ All media exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions and arbitrary values.”</strong> -- </em><em>Marshall McLuhan, <a href="http://www.michellesmirror.com/2013/02/marshall-mcluhan-patron-saint-of.html">patron saint of politicians</a></em></p> </blockquote> <p>In today’s segment of <em>Know Thy Enemy</em> we look at the culture of celebrity and its contribution to pop culture. </p> <p>Pop culture is defined more by what it is <em>not </em>– neither high culture or folk culture – than what it is. But an operative definition is <em>“a commercial culture based on popular taste.”</em>  Think Andy Warhol’s soup can art: </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PGoQ9Nu_tdI/UTy6McsuowI/AAAAAAAA0ok/9Bu2XNWJYlM/s1600-h/andy-warhol-campbells-soup4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="andy-warhol-campbells-soup" border="0" alt="andy-warhol-campbells-soup" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-njSBAZBijUA/UTy6M3Sa-kI/AAAAAAAA0os/aFZ3uCacdFM/andy-warhol-campbells-soup_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="240" /></a></p> </blockquote> <p>Clearly the man who predicted that <em>“in the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”</em> knew a thing or two about the endurance of celebrity culture.</p> <p>In 1968 when Andy made his famous prediction, “celebrity” was still a subset, rather than the defining aspect, of pop culture. And although it was considered  “low” culture at the time, to designate it as such today would elevate it to an unfounded level. Even in an era where everything from poverty to death has been assigned its own “culture” it still  seems oxymoronic to talk about “celebrity culture.”  </p> <p>Whatever it is or isn’t, the celebrity element of pop culture dominates the landscape. To many, especially the young, its appeal is so compelling they would do <em>anything</em> to be famous. Anything, that is, aside from actually working for it. The Celebrity Dream has largely replaced the American Dream for this generation; and unlike the original, which contains a significant “work hard” component, the Celebrity Dream requires only that you be discovered for your own fabulosity.</p> <p>This new version of the American Dream reads like a narcissist’s Craig’s List ad:  “Deserving swan, trapped in pond with ducks, ISO fame, fortune, and a really good agent.” It’s <em>like</em> the American Dream, only delusional. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7OVcM4oOyMo/UTy6NTOnVvI/AAAAAAAA0o0/XcVyWGp7O0k/s1600-h/GingerCat-Looking-in-the-Mirror_thum%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="GingerCat Looking in the Mirror_thumb[2]" border="0" alt="GingerCat Looking in the Mirror_thumb[2]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EgE1qEPvyEs/UTy6OIYc1bI/AAAAAAAA0o8/zeRmY5zN04w/GingerCat-Looking-in-the-Mirror_thum%25255B1%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="300" height="338" /></a><em><font color="#000000">In which I behold my own fabulosity</font></em></p> <a name='more'></a> <p>How did  this mindset come to replace the Horatio Alger story?  As is the case with most of life’s unfathomables, it’s complicated.</p> <p><strong>Our Human Fascination With Fame</strong></p> <blockquote> <blockquote><em><font color="#000000">“Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above</font>. -- African Queen.</em></blockquote> </blockquote> <p>There are any number of <a href="http://pyromarketing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/05/the_psychology_.html">interesting theories</a> as to why people are fascinated with the rich and famous. Regardless of the reasons it’s a given that human nature is drawn to both celebrity and train wrecks.  That programming directors discovered how to present both, simultaneously, for your vicarious enjoyment in the comfort of your own living room is the genius of modern media.  <em>Entertainment Tonight</em>, <em>Access Hollywood</em>, People magazine, TMZ, Gawker, gossip blogs and every reality show ever produced all owe their existence to our dual obsession with celebrity and schadenfreude. </p> <p>The sport of celebrity voyeurism has replaced much of what use to pass for popular entertainment. That’s no big deal in itself – after all, why should I care if millions of people want to spend their time, effort and money immersed in the lives of “familiar strangers” to the detriment of the real people in their lives? I wouldn’t, if it ended there.</p> <p>But it doesn’t. When people captivated by the fake lives of famous people use the same criteria to select the President of the United States as they do to decide who to follow on Twitter  we all have a serious problem. Especially when you consider the criteria that factors into their decision process: physical attributes (including age, sex and ethnicity), a reliance on scripted, overhyped background creds and a phony narrative carefully crafted by handlers and PR hacks. </p> <p>Again, discriminating enough if you’re just looking for some celebrity Facebook “friends” and celebrity tweeters to bolster your own sense of worth;  but it’s quite unnerving when the same criteria is used as the basis for selecting the man entrusted with the nuclear suitcase. So to belabor the point: you <em>should</em> care about the legion of moronic celebrity-obsessed people out there because, just like you, they have the right to vote. </p> <p><strong>The Usual Culprits </strong></p> <p>I doubt that anyone seriously disagrees with the premise that  outrageous, narcissistic celebrity behavior is a bad influence on society and that emulating it is a bad idea. The question is why has it become so prevalent; both the behavior and the idolization? Previous generations of young adults seemed to have left the siren’s song of fame and celebrity behind by the time they were 21 or so, and moved on with their lives.  Today, in addition to teenagers, the crazed fans are just as likely to be well into their 20’s or even (gulp!) 30’s. Why the arrested development?  </p> <p>You can probably think of dozens of contributing factors, but there are two primary ones and – not surprising - they are the usual suspects: <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html">education</a> and <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">media</a>. </p> <p><strong>Education</strong></p> <p>The education system has contributed on two fronts. First, it really is cranking out <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/us/july-dec10/education_12-10.html">stupider people</a>. After years of dumbed down curricula we have produced a generation or two of  citizens who learned very few critical thinking skills but did learn how to absorb <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html">spoon–fed platitudes, bromides, politically correct factoids, half-truths and lies.</a> As such, they are great vessels for “received information.” In other words, they are the perfect low information citizen. LoFos are citizens who tend not to recognize logic fallacies  - which they wouldn’t be able to rebut even if they did - but respond well to emotional appeals, sound-bites and bumper stickers.</p> <p>Secondly, remember education’s self-esteem movement? Well, there’s nothing as merciless to self-delusion as reality –something that most people who’ve hit their 20’s and 30’s have had at least a fleeting introduction to. Some may still harbor vestiges of unearned self esteem, but for many others reality has intruded and caused some structural damage to their sense of specialness. These victims of identity theft experience a sort of “reverse transference” paradox by associating with other people they consider special – and who’s more special than celebrities? Fan culture reflects some of the famous person’s  “specialness” back onto the idol worshiper.  A weird, yet effortless, way to recover some of that old self-lovin’ feeling lost in the tug-of-war with reality.</p> <p>So look back to 2008: we have a huge group of idol worshiping receivers who probably didn’t bother to vote at all in previous presidential elections. But now, marshaled by the Obama Hope and Change army of celebutards, bombarded with social media messages from people way-cooler than they could ever hope to be anymore, they are ordered to get out and vote for the coolest (black) human being ever born on this planet. Who could ignore these marching orders when they came directly from Ben, Kim and Scarlett? </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z_mWFd3ShVQ/UTy6O7njSgI/AAAAAAAA0pE/1CeJ-Zpi5ZA/s1600-h/Screenshot-Studio-capture-9723.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Screenshot Studio capture #972" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #972" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B_1PuDO9nd4/UTy6P6lE6gI/AAAAAAAA0pM/SU-J7NTDAUA/Screenshot-Studio-capture-972_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" width="424" height="399" /></a><em>Nobody, that’s who! Some of their fans even voted twice</em>. </p> <p><strong>Media</strong></p> <p>Which brings me to the media. As principle purveyor of both entertainment shows and “news/information” formats, no entity is more influential in crafting our social milieu. Here is their contribution:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R6tB3_nKWYo/UTy6QiMCnBI/AAAAAAAA0pU/z2mnqucVBik/s1600-h/121018_obama_stewart_daily_show_reu_%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="USA-CAMPAIGN/OBAMA" border="0" alt="USA-CAMPAIGN/OBAMA" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oRKDMqqn5OI/UTy6RNJ7ABI/AAAAAAAA0pc/jCvYv3mGCgM/121018_obama_stewart_daily_show_reu_.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="221" /></a><em>I’m Jon Stewart, host of the fake news show and I endorse BO.</em></p> <p>First, they not only tolerate the bad behavior of celebrities, they revel in it. They reward miscreant behavior by covering it 24/7 in all major print and electronic outlets. This naturally assures more of the same, because as any PR hack knows, “the only bad publicity is no publicity.” </p> <p>However, media’s major contribution to the unraveling of civilization was the industry’s consolidation <font color="#ff0000"><font color="#333333">into Big Media</font>. </font>In 1983, 90% of American media was owned by 50 companies. By 2011, that same <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665600/infographic-of-the-day-the-mega-companies-behind-90-of-media">90% was controlled by just 6 corporations.</a> </p> <p>The new Big Media cartel has given us a huge number of outlets, all controlled by a few corporate entities. This serves to give MSM the illusion of programming diversity without actually having to present any content with different points of view<font color="#ff0000"><font color="#333333">.</font> </font><font color="#333333">Obviously this</font> creates a concern from a journalistic standpoint - as the right wing has been arguing for years, and the left wing has been denying. Arguably, an equally concerning societal issue is the corrosive influence of a single-view <em>non</em>-news programing; a constant onslaught of celebrity driven entertainment reflecting liberal, anti-conservative values and mores.</p> <blockquote> <p><em>“This power is so concentrated, ubiquitous, and artful, that to a degree unmatched in former mixtures of entertainment, it dilutes influences from family, schooling, and other sources that are grounded in real-life experience, weakening, their ability to guide growing generations.” —</em> <cite>Ben H. Bagdikian, The Media Monopoly</cite></p> </blockquote> <p>Indeed. But in the entertainment business, you give people what they want, and the growth in the number of young, dumbed down, LoFo viewers did not go unnoticed by media moguls who cater to such demographics. </p> <p>Concurrent with the industry consolidation heaping huge debt on the books of the remaining media companies, the internet began pulling the eyeballs of the most desirable 18-34 demographic away from network programming and, more importantly, the associated advertising revenues. Big Media needed to build a better mousetrap, and they needed to stock it with stinkier cheese to lure the mice back. </p> <p>The search was on for cheap programming that could generate big viewership and hence big ad revenues. Game shows, reality shows and talking heads  - all cheap to produce – hit the drawing board by the gross.</p> <p>When <em>Who Wants to be a Millionaire</em> launched in 1998 to instant high ratings it became the template for everything bad to come for the next 15 years. <em>“Millionaire” </em>demonstrated how easy it was to create your own  in-house celebrity (Regis Philbin, up till then a little known 3rd rate host/sidekick dating back to the 60’s, became an “overnight” celebrity). Scripted “reality” game shows like <em>Survivor</em> followed, creating new celebrities every season,  and the rest, as they say, is history.</p> <p>A similar model was used to boost on-air journalists to celebrity (hence, more eyeballs/ad revenue) status. Cross marketing them on network entertainment programs gave them more exposure; and remember, that’s pretty much all it takes to be “famous” and once famous, you’re a bona fide “celebrity.”</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HZHIdDWiHR0/UTy6RwzJSyI/AAAAAAAA0pk/BfM82kFK3X4/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%252523974%25255B2%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Screenshot Studio capture #974" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #974" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U9cvQqrSIeo/UTy6TZt9aDI/AAAAAAAA0ps/SM5-iRgqnfY/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%252523974_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="454" height="92" /></a><em>Even Dave couldn’t save Katie Couric</em></p> <p>The public’s and media’s obsession with celebrities even launched a mini-industry of incestuous <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/187rmfyj.asp?page=3">“celebrity mongers:”</a> </p> <blockquote> <p><em>Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Oprah--who not only live off others' celebrity but also, through their publicity-making power, confer it and have in time become very considerable celebrities each in his or her own right.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>I would add designated political baggage and water carriers like James Carville, Paul Begala and Karl Rove to that list as well. Which brings me to the role of the political class in pop celebrity. The newly ordained talking head journalist celebrities needed “serious” guests to interview; and who’s more serious, or desirous of air time, than politicians?  Their celebrity status was elevated considerably by being on TV regularly, thus raising their profile with voters. It was love at first sight. Now in addition to being law makers by day they’re on TV every night and we’ll never get rid of them.</p> <p>But still the demand for celebrities to idolize was unfilled.  Reality shows like American Idol were cranking out celebrities every season, but they couldn’t keep up with demand. Similar shows also searching out new talent proliferated. But America still needed more celebrities to follow on Twitter, so people famous for being famous (e.g. Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie) got their own reality shows. Next, people <em>related</em> to people famous for being famous (e.g. the Osbournes) got their own reality show. </p> <p>And then reality shows jumped the shark: can’t sing, can’t dance? Not related to anyone famous? No problem, we still have plenty of openings for minor celebrity wannabes in the following job categories: chefs, fashion designers, CEO’s, junkies, artists, meteorologists, climatologists, bounty hunters, hoarders, foreign dictators, brides, dog trainers, pawn dealers, duck hunters, chubby pre-pubescent beauty pageant losers, and trashy men and women with no identifiable talent other than a willingness to share every aspect of their trashy lives with a huge audience (and who isn’t?). We can turn <em>anyone</em> into a celebrity!</p> <p>Where once upon a time America had talent, we now have man-made disasters like the Kardashians and Honey Boo Boo keeping the world safe for democracy.</p> <p>Sadly, the eyes of the “look at me, I’m special” generation could only watch and weep: vicariously enjoying the specialness of  the “Jersey Shores” gang and the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Most of this generation was left to cash in their designated 15 minutes via YouTube, Sexting, blogging, Facebook and Twitter. Because apparently they’re nobody without the affirmation of strangers.</p> <p><strong>Celebrity Worlds Collide</strong></p> <p>What happens when various celebrity worlds collide? Well for one thing, you end up with a <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2012/06/05/rush-obama-has-become-barack-hussein-kardashian-celebrity-of-the-united-states/">Kardashian President</a>. </p> <p>When the world of entertainment, media and politics all began to orbit around the same sun – celebrity – it was inevitable that America would eventually elect an American Idol to the presidency. Entertainment, media journalism and politics have been mashed up and homogenized into a whole new animal: Infotainment.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iLilsgtZGUk/UTy6UGYu5AI/AAAAAAAA0p0/APgP31mdHWs/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%252523975%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Screenshot Studio capture #975" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #975" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MoaiK99HRF4/UTy6U9toxzI/AAAAAAAA0p8/SuucpBYEEQs/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%252523975_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="454" height="115" /></a></p> <p>Members of the infotainment class attend each other’s parties, shows, celebrations and fundraisers; private jetting between D.C., LA, and New York to preach the tenets of Global Warming, lobbying for cap and trade and to voice their opposition to the Keystone Pipeline. </p> <p>They’re special, this new class, and they do special things. Like ex-presidents handing out Golden Globes, </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lprMoiw3-Gs/UTy6VsQNBCI/AAAAAAAA0qE/M3Rq0GQn4Rc/s1600-h/clinton--golden-globes-jy-1077-3_4_r536_c534.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="clinton--golden-globes-jy-1077-3_4_r536_c534" border="0" alt="clinton--golden-globes-jy-1077-3_4_r536_c534" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BFnXTAYH5gM/UTy6WVt0WYI/AAAAAAAA0qM/Rwd8IkBhW8Y/clinton--golden-globes-jy-1077-3_4_r536_c534_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="335" /></a></p> <p>First Ladies announcing Oscar winners, </p> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4TLZStrQfxs/UTy6W10FYEI/AAAAAAAA0qU/U3sSxiO_QWE/s1600-h/harvey26n-4-web%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="harvey26n-4-web" border="0" alt="harvey26n-4-web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c6zYvXGzpqI/UTy6XgbDPMI/AAAAAAAA0qc/0jCwKcTUdXY/harvey26n-4-web_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="232" /></a></strong></p> <p>movie stars conducting foreign diplomacy missions (so sorry to hear about your little pal biting it, Sean), </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c039Optaykk/UTy6YD2R8sI/AAAAAAAA0qk/PTkDFq_1rPI/s1600-h/sean_penn_hugo_chavez_not_a_dictato%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="sean_penn_hugo_chavez_not_a_dictato" border="0" alt="sean_penn_hugo_chavez_not_a_dictato" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C4d3HwiR37g/UTy6Y7c2rMI/AAAAAAAA0qs/KwxDQbAA9Ls/sean_penn_hugo_chavez_not_a_dictato_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="354" height="239" /></a></p> <p>and journalists <a href="http://chat.anncoulter.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=77944&p=1703137">drafting talking points</a> for the White House.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wyQZZKrModQ/UTy6ZljLu-I/AAAAAAAA0q0/LcGjfo7fIC8/s1600-h/ht_barack_obama_stephanopoulos_dm_110413_wg%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="ht_barack_obama_stephanopoulos_dm_110413_wg" border="0" alt="ht_barack_obama_stephanopoulos_dm_110413_wg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EvPlslGW6ZY/UTy6aRaGZNI/AAAAAAAA0q8/oNgVAFQPLDY/ht_barack_obama_stephanopoulos_dm_110413_wg_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="229" /></a></strong></p> <p>Mergers of this sort, between entities with very different cultures, are often a little rough at first, frequently ending up with the worst rather than best from each culture. That’s certainly the case with the new Infotainment enterprise:  so far it seems to have inherited entertainment’s exhibitionism, media’s hype and politics’ BS<strong>.</strong> And it appears the various operating divisions are still a bit dysfunctional after the merger: our media <font color="#333333">entertainment division no longer entertains so much as it distracts; our media/journalism division no longer informs so much as it entertains, and our political division no longer governs so much as it participates in a reality show – complete with scripted crises and pre-designated winners and losers. </font></p> <p>But hey, America’s got Celebrities! So we’ve got that going for us.</p> <p>As Dostoyevsky noted in <em>The Brothers Karamazov:</em></p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000000">"So long as man remains free, he strives for nothing so incessantly and painfully as to find someone to worship."</font> </em></p> </blockquote> <p>And <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/187rmfyj.asp?page=3">Joseph Epstein</a> noted:</p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000000">“If contemporary celebrities are the best thing on offer as living gods for us to worship, this is not good news.”</font></em></p> </blockquote> <p>Indeed. But I worry more about the <em>"So long as man remains free” </em>part. It’s not as if idolatry doesn’t have the potential to enslave. And it’s certainly not as if  <a href="http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/library/sociology-and-culture/rome-bread-and-circuses">this sort of thing has never happened before:</a></p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000000">“As these leaders vied for political control, they bought off public approval through welfare provisions of bread and occasional wine as well as huge gladiatorial competitions. The policy has since become known as ‘Bread and Circuses.’ </font></em></p> <p><em><font color="#000000">Despite the speeches of Cicero and others, over time the people of Rome lost interest in governing themselves and were content to slip quietly into their role as subjects of an emperor.”</font></em></p> </blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dALOthFZeak/UTy6bH5zJjI/AAAAAAAA0rE/sn6vJBKYT9c/s1600-h/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%252523977%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Screenshot Studio capture #977" border="0" alt="Screenshot Studio capture #977" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PFCBbHm8pZc/UTy6cFwrREI/AAAAAAAA0rM/FWjUSwCwjSM/Screenshot%252520Studio%252520capture%252520%252523977_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="404" height="211" /></a><em><font color="#000000"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iRtToBAhLDk/UTzQmZ6ZIEI/AAAAAAAA0uM/dXk90wb2OVQ/s1600-h/sarah-palin-gun%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="sarah-palin-gun" border="0" alt="sarah-palin-gun" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Rxd3SWk24rs/UTzQnJI6ZZI/AAAAAAAA0uU/WPF7tUN0bJA/sarah-palin-gun_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></font></em><em><font color="#000000"><strong>Let the Gladiator games begin</strong></font></em></p> <p>Next Week: What Does it Take to Beat the Enemy?</p> <p> </p> <p><font color="#002d59"><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote><em></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <ul> <li> <ul></ul> </li> </ul> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=175707">iOwnTheWorld’s Cardigan</a>, and <a href="http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2013/03/big-talk-from-a-guy-named-barack.html">3d on JustOneMinute</a>, and </font><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/"><font size="4">BlogsLucianneLoves</font></a></strong></em><strong></strong><em></em><em><strong><font size="4">, and </font><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2995422/posts"><font size="4">Free Republic,</font></a><font size="4"> Thanks! </font></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on </font><a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture"><font size="4">Patriot Action Network</font></a></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-19512807761707235602013-03-05T14:21:00.001-05:002013-04-08T09:27:52.703-04:00Know Thy Enemy II: the Media<blockquote> <p><i>Barack Obama did not bring us to this first circle of hell on his own. He was aided and abetted by 1) an education system with a relentless propaganda agenda, 2) a media oligopoly that has completely abrogated its First Amendment responsibility and 3) a celebrity dominated culture that is largely a product of the first two.  <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Know Thy Enemy: Prologue</a></i></p> </blockquote> <p>Today we examine the role of the “free press,” hereafter known as the Media,  in America’s demise:</p> <p>II. The Media</p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000000">Somebody — was it Burke? — called journalism the fourth estate. That was true at the time no doubt. But at the present moment it is the only estate. It has eaten up the other three. The Lords Temporal say nothing, the Lords Spiritual have nothing to say, and the House of Commons has nothing to say and says it. We are dominated by Journalism.</font><strong> –</strong></em> Oscar Wilde</p> </blockquote> <p>Mr. Wilde was prescient. He could be speaking of 21st century America and it’s “4 branches”  of government - the Judicial (say nothing) branch, the Legislative (nothing to say) branch, the Administrative (nothing to say and says it) branch, and the Journalist (say anything, ad nauseum) branch.</p> <p>There was a time in my memory when the media was respected for their knowledge of the facts and the neutrality they exhibited in the reporting of them. I even remember when sports announcers attempted to be even-handed in the calling of ball games; now that all seems so 20th century.</p> <p>The throng known as the “main stream media” has lost far more than its neutrality; it’s also lost its institutional memory. While there isn’t a journalist on or off payroll who can’t recite his First Amendment rights verbatim, they seem to have collectively forgotten the responsibilities that accompany those rights; i.e. reporting the truth without regard to their personal political, religious or secular beliefs and inclinations. </p> <a name='more'></a> <p>The founding fathers considered a free press fundamental to the functioning of a democratic republic. They provided for a  press unfettered by government censorship to report the truth and serve as a watchdog over government proceedings. Their role was considered threefold: 1) facilitate transparency of government actions, 2) hold government officials accountable for their actions, and 3) keep the citizenry informed so they are capable of acting responsibly in both the public arena (letters to the editor, talk radio, opinion polls, public forums, boycotting, etc.) and the voting booth. </p> <p>It was a simple compact: the unfettered right of free speech in return for speaking the truth; uncensored speech in return for unbiased reporting. </p> <p>The founders considered this grand bargain crucial because they saw a well-informed public as a deterrent to public corruption and malfeasance. Hence the “fourth estate,”  whose rights are protected under the First Amendment, was considered democracy’s first line of defense against tyranny. </p> <p>It makes the second line of defense, protected under the Second Amendment seem a little more important now doesn’t it?</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8pLnwvhi23o/UTZFvOPgA6I/AAAAAAAA0XQ/usINv1AqdFc/s1600-h/evolution%2525201st%252520%252526%2525202nd%252520copy%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="evolution 1st & 2nd copy" border="0" alt="evolution 1st & 2nd copy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0asrCtcgqBM/UTZFv1Bh9WI/AAAAAAAA0XY/d5SmA7DbViM/evolution%2525201st%252520%252526%2525202nd%252520copy_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="295" /></a><em><font color="#000000">Did the Founding Fathers ever imagine Brian Williams being able to spread propaganda to <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/category/evening-news-ratings">9 million people</a> at a time on nightly TV either?</font></em> </p> <p>Yet today instead of an independent “4th branch” we have another vested arm of government; a preponderance of evidence indicates that the media – especially the media elite - have an institutional liberal/progressive  bias. Accordingly, and dependent on the party holding the White House, they serve as either antagonists or protagonists. </p> <p>Along with the other special interest groups they love to pummel, the media has become just another influence peddler. Instead of informing the public debate they now serve to influence the outcome of that debate.</p> <p>Only liberals and MSM journalists believe that MSM news is impartial and unbiased. For those of us fortunate enough to have retained our critical thinking skills however, their bias is as obvious as the zits on their face. Yet by deploying their cloak of invisibility they peer into the endlessly reflecting mirror and see nothing but their photoshopped, unblemished reflections.</p> <p>They drop the cloak of invisibility when they tune to Fox News; there they see the bias zits as clear as day. So clear in fact, that some of them feel compelled to report what they’ve found to the President himself  - who in turn has seen fit on occasion to call them out for it: Fox news I mean, not the MSM. I don’t think that’s exactly how “freedom of the press” was intended to work.</p> <p>The fuss over Fox’s (admittedly) rightwing editorial orientation is surprising in face of the fact that they’re outnumbered 6:1 by left leaning alphabet TV news outlets  - ABC, CBS, NBC, MsNBC, CNN, PBS -  8:1 if you count TMZ and Comedy Central as news sources, which many do – but more about that in the “Celebrity Culture” post. </p> <p>It’s not as if MSM knowingly abrogated their media responsibilities. In fact that’s the worst of it: they mostly<em> don’t</em> know they are biased. Some do of course, but I would bet that by huge margins most of them honestly don’t view themselves as propagandists for leftist political ideology. Most teachers don’t consider themselves to be propagandists either; they’re just teaching what they’ve learned to be true.</p> <p>It is not by accident that useful idiots think of themselves as important purveyors of truth. That requires training. (For details see <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html">Know Thy Enemy I: the Education System</a>). </p> <p>Media types tend to have majors in political science, communications, journalism (duh) or one of the other liberal arts. These are majors pretty light on analytical requirements and pretty heavy on  liberal professors, curricula and ideology; not dissimilar to teachers’ education programs.  And no, college professors don’t cop to being liberal propagandists either; certainly not in any biased sort of way.   </p> <p>For examples of ideological news bias all you need do is turn on the nightly news. The opinion part of news comes through in either the commission or omission of details and stories; and the examples are legion. But here is a particularly egregious one:  </p> <p>Mere days apart in the election cycle last year, two events occurred: Mitt Romney made an off-mic comment about the 47% of the country who paid no income tax, were receiving some type of government assistance and would vote for Obama no matter what (i.e. vote their pocket book - not exactly news in voting polls). A few days before that our Libyan consulate was subjected to an 8 hour attack by a mob (as it turned out, al Qaeda connected) commandeering shoulder mounted rocket launchers. They repeatedly bombed the compound, burning it out and killing our Ambassador along with 3 other Americans. Two of the dead were former SEALS serving as “security” for the Ambassador who somehow (we still don’t know how, exactly, despite Hillary Clinton’s “testimony”) managed to get up to 14 other Americans out of the complex. Reportedly (although not on any of the MSM news outlets) they requested assistance repeatedly which was denied for (still) unknown reasons.</p> <p>Now, if you were watching news coverage over the course of the next 2 months on any of the alphabets you most likely heard only one thing about the Benghazi story: the mob was agitated by a bad video made by some right wing nut bashing Islam: translation, not Obama’s fault. But what you would have <em>seen,</em> looped endlessly, was Mitt Romney making what was characterized as a dismissive - even derisive - remark that showed just how out of touch the rich white guy was with most of America. That incident (captured on tape by a citizen journalist of the left – yay!) by itself is not the type that decides elections. But the type of coverage that it engendered does. If that is not shape-shifting the news to the media’s ideological point-of-view, what might be? </p> <p>The MSM determined that the Republican being an out of touch, uncaring and callous white guy (their conclusion, long before Jimmy Carter’s grandson presented then with “proof”) was more important than whatever in the hell actually transpired in Benghazi the night the President was not to be disturbed. </p> <p>How could any half-decent, half-competent reporter <em>not</em> dig around to find out what happened? Who would not want to nose around to find out why a country equipped with the strongest military force and presence on earth (at least for now) was unable or unwilling to come to the aid of an Ambassador and a consulate under siege? Whose blood wouldn’t boil trying to get to the bottom of this? Is <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/31/exclusive-us-memo-warned-libya-consulate-couldnt-withstand-coordinated-attack/">Catherine Herridge</a> <em>really</em> the only reporter with access to “background sources” at the Pentagon?</p> <p>The answer is in the original question: “How could any half-decent, half-competent reporter…” You see, we don’t really have reporters anymore, decent or otherwise. We have journalists. The evolution is worth reviewing. </p> <p>Originally there were reporters. Their job was to report the news; just the facts - who, what, when, where, and why? In the 1970’s the investigative reporter job description was added. Their job was to cover the 5 “W’s” and add an “H” – how? – which had previously been covered by the the 2nd “W,” what? But that was okay, reporters needed a career path.</p> <p>Things were fine until sometime during the Clinton administration when investigative reporters didn’t feel they were getting their props so they demanded another revision to their job description and were promoted to investigative <em>journalists.</em> </p> <p>From there, grade inflation set in and by the end of Bush’s second term everyone in the media had been promoted to journalist. Along with the title (and huge raises) both print and electronic reporters were granted the right - guaranteed under the First Amendment - to not just report the facts, but their opinion as well.  So when you hear people say “ you’re entitled to your own opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts” just remember, that does NOT apply to “journalists.”</p> <p>Needless to say, news hasn’t been the same since the birth of  this Point-of-View-Journalism. With the upgrade of reporters came a downgrade of “the truth” (because with liberals it’s always a fixed size pie; if someone gets more, someone else has to get less). Thus truth was downgraded from “objective” truth to “perceived” truth; thoroughly postmodernized to keep up with the new responsibilities of journalists. </p> <p>Do you see how nicely this new perceived-truth-in-journalism model works in tandem with the new <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html">education system?</a>  Where <font color="#000000"><em>“subjectivity, relativity, and pragmatism became keystones of a new "education philosophy."</em>?</font></p> <p>In fact, someone has already pointed out just <em>how</em> well these models work together, <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2010/05/postmodernism-unified-theory-of-all.html">only they were talking about science</a> at the time:</p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#000000">Once there was modern science, which was hard work; now we have postmodern science, where the quest for real, absolute truth is outdated, and "science" is a wax nose that can be twisted in any direction to underpin the latest lying narrative in the pursuit of power.</font></em></p> </blockquote> <p>Substitute “reporting” for “science” and I think you get the picture.</p> <p>Don’t you love it when a plan comes together?</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xC4zUb0SLCY/UTZFwVe7esI/AAAAAAAA0Xg/ZKEzqb_rO-8/s1600-h/progquiz%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="progquiz" border="0" alt="progquiz" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qI9OoiQ-4zI/UTZFw6YdcQI/AAAAAAAA0Xo/g808Vw4qtOA/progquiz_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p align="center"><em><font color="#000000">The Progressive Education/Government/Media Complex: working together to raise your score!</font></em></p> <p align="left"><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000">In the next installment I will cover how </font><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>The Education System</em></a> </font><font color="#000000">and <em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">The Media</a></em> have contributed to the creation of the culture of celebrity .</font></p> <p><font color="#002d59"><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p align="left"><font color="#000000"></font></p> <p><em><strong>Linked By: <strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><strong><em>Larwyn’s Linx</em></strong></a><strong><em> on </em></strong><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><strong><em>Doug Ross@Journal</em></strong></a><strong><em>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/russell.barber.75/posts/114068405447188#!/russell.barber.75">Russell Barber</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bruce.cairns2/posts/615204751839665">Bruce Cairns</a> on facebook, and </em></strong><a href="http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2013/03/05/tuesday-open-thread-march-5th/">taqiyyologist on The Last Refuge</a>, and <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=EGMXVHWWQA25356PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a></strong></em><strong></strong><em></em><em><strong>, and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2993726/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks! </strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/know-thy-enemy-ii-the-media">Patriot Action Network</a></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-64570442450358993142013-03-04T15:00:00.001-05:002013-04-08T09:26:06.486-04:00Know Thy Enemy I: the Education System<blockquote> <p><em>Barack Obama did not bring us to this first circle of hell on his own. He was aided and abetted by 1) an education system with a relentless propaganda agenda, 2) a media oligopoly that has completely abrogated its First Amendment responsibility and 3) a celebrity dominated culture that is largely a product of the first two.</em></p> <p>We begin today with a look at:</p> <p><strong>I.</strong> <strong>The Education System</strong></p> <p>In a previous post <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2010/05/postmodernism-unified-theory-of-all.html"><strong>I covered</strong></a> how the public education system fell under the thrall of postmodernism – simply a new name for all the old socialist/communist/relativist claptrap. Some of the key points:</p> <blockquote> <p><em><b>The amalgamation of the "old" postmodernist left, whose anti-modernist philosophy was based on sophistry, with the "new" socialist left, whose political philosophy was based on delusion, created a new political vanguard with a shared animosity for capitalism.</b></em></p> </blockquote> <p>Key in this alliance is a shared, deep-seated disdain for the philosophical roots of Western thought, specifically the individualism inherent in its tenants.</p> <blockquote> <p><em><b>Since both camps were heavily populated with elite intelligentsia, they were well-positioned to pursue their objectives through the education system. Subjectivity, relativity, and pragmatism became keystones of a new "education philosophy."</b></em></p> </blockquote> <p>That new “education philosophy” is now known as “social justice.”</p> <blockquote> <p><em><b>Postmodernism's education cartel has dictated the terms and conditions of education for decades. They own the education departments in major universities, where the curriculum is likely to include the twelve-volume set</b></em> <strong><a href="http://www.psaf.org/archive/2006/June2006/PolitcalAssaultonK12SchoolsDHStatement.html"><em>Teaching for Social Justice</em></a></strong> <em><b>edited by</b></em> <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122411943821339043-lMyQjAxMDI4MjE0MjExMTI5Wj.html"><em><b>William Ayers</b></em></a><em><b>.</b></em></p> </blockquote> <p>Yes, that William Ayers; the anti-American, anti-capitalist, unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers who shares the belief with Hugo Chavez that <strong><a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/02/flashback-bill-ayers-declares-education-the-motor-force-of-revolution/">“education is the motor-force of revolution.”</a></strong></p> </blockquote> <a name='more'></a> <blockquote> <p><strong></strong></p> <blockquote> <p><em><b>The portal between education departments and your child's classroom provides a conduit for an endless stream of postmodernism's collectivist garbage. Think not? How else to explain the likes of  textbooks like</b></em> <strong><a href="http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/math/"><em>Rethinking Math: Teaching Social Justice by the Numbers</em></a></strong><em><b>?</b></em></p> </blockquote> <p>There is no other explanation.</p> <blockquote> <p><em><b>Running under cover of academic freedom and educational "philosophy," postmodernists have managed to do what other strains of totalitarianism only dreamed of: insinuate their beliefs into every aspect and level of education.</b></em></p> </blockquote> <p>“Insinuation” of that nature is also known as propaganda.</p> <p>In my old <strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/03/government-education-complex-agitprop_03.html">Agitprop series</a></strong> on the government-education complex I explained how academic subjects in K-12 have been dumbed down over the decades. It’s not a coincidence that the <strong><a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/us/july-dec10/education_12-10.html">reading, math and science scores of America’s children</a></strong> have fallen behind those of 24 other countries. Think about that: we’re no longer number 1, we’re number 24!</p> <p>Dumbing down the curriculum erodes the need for students to learn critical thinking skills. Less challenging course work was introduced to preserve students’ self-esteem (teaching to the lowest common denominator – for those of you lucky enough to even know what a denominator is) in the misguided belief that somehow self-esteem could stand in for actual achievement.</p> <p>Political correctness was applied to textbooks which <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Language-Police-Pressure-Restrict-Students/dp/1400030641">were then “purged”</a></strong> of anything that could conceivably be considered offensive. In addition to being used as an excuse to exclude that of which we disapprove, political correctness was used to accommodate the inclusion of that of which we do approve as well, such as <i>Johnny Has Two Mommies</i>. By the time you’ve cleaned everything up like that, there’s not much for kids to do other than just sit there and absorb.</p> <p>But it’s the second part of the new academics, the social justice agenda, that is the most insidious. If anyone can persuade me that “social justice” has a valid place in the teaching of <a href="http://www.rethinkingschools.org/ProdDetails.asp?ID=0942961544"><strong>math</strong></a><strong>,</strong> <a href="http://depts.washington.edu/geog/social-justice/"><strong>geography</strong></a> and <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Teaching_Science_for_Social_Justice.html?id=Vye85VDxDgcC"><strong>science</strong></a> I’ll reconsider my position. Until then I will continue to believe that subverting education with the rhetoric and philosophy of “social justice” - in addition to being un-American as it teaches that subjugating the individual will for the benefit of the masses is a superior value – is the ultimate step in the dumbing down of America.</p> <p>Children are now being indoctrinated from kindergarten through post-doctoral programs. Not in every school of course, but in the vast majority of institutions of learning all manner of subjects being taught are presented against a social justice program running in the background. Whatever the subject of human interaction being taught – business, history, psychology, education, recycling – it is being played against the grinding wheel of America as an oppressive society. Children learn at every educational turn that America, along with the rest of the Western world, is systemically racist, sexist and classist. And as such, America institutionally discriminates against women, non-whites, working Americans and the poor.</p> <p>So what are children supposed to do? They certainly aren’t going to want to go to work for a company that perpetuates that sort of thing. Maybe they can follow Michelle Obama’s advice and <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/159678/michelle-obama-dont-go-corporate-america/byron-york"><strong>steer clear of corporate America</strong></a><strong>.</strong> In fact, why not just <strong><a href="http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2012/09/the-legend-of-michelle-obamas-law-license-and-barack-obamas-law-license/">voluntarily “surrender”</a></strong> that law license (that they took $200,000 in student loans out to get)like she did and take a job with the government; or a non-profit. Because after all, <strong><a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/29/obama-i-do-think-at-a-certain-point-youve-made-enough-money/">“at a certain point you’ve made enough money.”</a></strong></p> <p>We should be more than a little suspicious of an education system that presents children with bromides for all of life’s rather complex issues. When all of the possible answers have been neatly laid out for you and all you have to do is choose between the black one (bad) and the white one (good) it does make decisions a lot easier. Although we really need to work on that designation of “black” to designate bad choices. It seems rather racist; but what can you expect from a culture that has oppressed peoples of color from the day the Pilgrims first landed on the shores?</p> <p>Pre-conditioned responses (aka “Pavlovian”) to predictable questions and problems takes a lot of the tediousness out of thinking. And applying them in your daily life does alleviate much of the need for <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_skill">analytical skills</a></strong> which allow you to visualize, articulate, and solve both simple and complex problems on your own. And that’s a good thing, since the new American social justice education system is apparently doing very poorly at teaching all of those skills.</p> <p>People who still know how to apply statistics might have fun looking at a correlation between the implementation of the <a href="http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_3_ed_school.html"><strong>Bill Ayers model teacher education and training program</strong></a> and the decline of the core skill scores of America’s children. It could prove instructional. My guess is that this failure of basic education has been a ticking time bomb for at least 30 years.</p> <p>You see, the fix has been in for so long that our children are now being indoctrinated by teachers who were indoctrinated before them. As the gray-hairs retire they are being replaced with younger teachers who are themselves products of the postmodern education system; they don’t need anywhere near the amount of retraining as their predecessors to “teach to the test.” Rather than teach skills that allow students to “visualize, articulate, and solve both simple and complex problems” on their own, they are <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9444360/Spoon-fed-students-struggling-with-university-maths.html"><strong>spoon–fed</strong></a> platitudes, bromides, politically correct factoids, half-truths and lies.</p> <p>Is it any wonder that the 18-35 demographic voted overwhelmingly for Barack Hussein Obama? It was like Kismet: he fed back all the same vapid platitudes, bromides, politically correct factoids, half-truths and lies they had been taught their entire lives. They were in love!</p> <p>To explain why the over 35 demographic also voted for Obama, I need to move on to the next source of societal breakdown: the Media.</p> <p><strong>Know Thy Enemy, Part II, The Media:</strong> coming tomorrow</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u1jO9X6_G8M/UTT9PwSZHTI/AAAAAAAA0RU/cqnJokYiCXQ/s1600-h/propaganda%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="propaganda" border="0" alt="propaganda" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XEQlNpmlE5Y/UTT9Q5iYTtI/AAAAAAAA0Rc/I-nO6D-aNxQ/propaganda_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="339" /></a></p> <p><font color="#002d59"><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote><em></em></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em></em></a></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="http://adriennescatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2013/03/are-your-children-in-government-schools.html">Adrienne’s Corner</a>, and  <a href="http://www.facebook.com/rick.carnivale/posts/101768560013814">Rick Carnivale</a> on facebook, and <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=EVLHNQETMZ33012PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a></font></strong></em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong><em></em><em><strong><font size="4">, and NOBO2012 on <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2993371/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks! </font></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education">Patriot Action Network</a> </font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-10631825985666364042013-03-03T13:59:00.001-05:002013-04-08T09:27:02.413-04:00Know Thy Enemy: Prologue<blockquote> <p><strong><em>The left does not win its battles in debate. It doesn't have to. In the twenty-first century, media is everything. The left wins because it controls the narrative. The narrative is controlled by the media. The left is the media. Narrative is everything. I call it the Democrat-Media Complex--and I am at war to gain back control of the American narrative. – </em></strong>Andrew Breitbart</p> </blockquote> <p>Six years after Barack Hussein Obama announced his intention to run and 5 years into his presidency Republicans seem as perplexed by the man and his tactics as they did on day one. They now get that he despises them, and are finally beginning to understand that it’s <em>not </em>just politics, it’s personal. They can’t fathom why, even in victory, he continues to campaign against them;  hammering their motives, attacking their character and belittling their beliefs rather than trying to curry their support and cooperation as did the Democrats of old.</p> <p>Today I’m going to explain why Barack Obama is a whole new political animal, one that has “been evolving” for quite awhile in our primordial societal goo. In <strong><em>Know Thy Enemy, Part I – III,</em></strong> I’ll cover the 3 aspects of society that have set us up for this evolutionary force: the education system, the media and –  an outgrowth of the first two – the celebrity culture. The synergy of all three elements has caused us to slip free of the gyroscopic force holding it all together. In <em><strong>Beat the Enemy, I -III</strong> </em>I’ll describe what can and must be done to stabilize and repair a society that is quickly moving from evolving to devolving.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Let’s begin by getting our arms around why the President is vested in maintaining the Republicans as his sworn enemies. That can best be explained by a brief Q&A: </p> <blockquote> <p><em><strong>Q</strong>. What is the difference between a leader and a community agitator?</em></p> <p><em><strong>A</strong>. Leaders lead and community agitators agitate.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>And what does a community agitator need, first and foremost, to agitate against? An enemy. You know, <strong><a href="http://www.bestofbeck.com/wp/activism/saul-alinskys-12-rules-for-radicals">Alinsky’s Rules</a></strong> et al.: “Pick the <em>target</em>, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. ...” “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Republicans, with their “kick me” signs on their backs were a natural.</p> <p>But why would an American President spend his days agitating instead of working with Congress and business leaders to build up the economic sector, or develop meaningful bipartisan tax reform to stimulate business and jobs? The answer, as they say, is complicated but has been <strong><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/07/31/The-Community-Organizer-In-Chief-Part-One-The-Alinsky-Ethics">well chronicled</a></strong>. </p> <p>The short answer is that Barrack Obama isn’t like other leaders. Where previous presidents – some more misguided than others – attempted to encourage economic growth through the mechanisms of capitalism and free markets, hallmarks of American democracy, this President does not. The “one we’ve been waiting for” to “fundamentally transform America” is committed to quite a different economic model: <em>social justice</em>. This “spread the wealth around” because “at some point I do think you’ve made enough money” system of redistribution has far more use for government than it does the private sector, and Obama governs accordingly. </p> <p>If you think social justice is just a fringe element of extreme left wing politics you are partially correct. It is extreme, but fringe? No. Not anymore. If you think otherwise I suggest that you take a closer look at the handbooks, curricula and syllabi from the colleges and universities you hope to send your kids to. You’ll discover that not only is social justice an inherent theme in multiple liberal arts programs, but in the schools of education and social work/welfare it is a primary element: </p> <p>Here is how it is defined <strong><a href="http://socialwelfare.berkeley.edu/sjs/">by the Berkeley School of Social Welfare</a></strong>:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong><em>“Social Justice is a process, not an outcome, which (1) seeks fair (re)distribution of resources, opportunities, and responsibilities; (2) challenges the roots of oppression and injustice; (3) empowers all people to exercise self-determination and realize their full potential; (4) and builds social solidarity and community capacity for collaborative action.</em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p>And any curriculum where you find “social justice” you will  find its companion piece “community organizing.”  This definition, compliments of the <strong><a href="http://comm-org.wisc.edu/papers97/beckwith.htm">University of Wisconsin:</a></strong></p> <blockquote> <p><b><em>“Community organizing is the process of building power through involving a constituency in identifying problems they share and the solutions to those problems that they desire; identifying the people and structures that can make those solutions possible; enlisting those targets in the effort through negotiation and using confrontation and pressure when needed…”</em></b></p> </blockquote> <p>Nor does this <strong><a href="http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=715">social justice indoctrination</a></strong> <em>begin</em> at the university level, but I’ll get into that more tomorrow. For now just recognize the natural affinity of the two: social justice provides the objective (i.e. redistribution of wealth) and community organizing supplies the tactics, ala <em>Alinsky’s Rules</em>.  When these two strains of sociopathy were allowed to mate they mutated into a rather virulent strain of political philosophy that is deeply embedded in Barack Obama’s DNA. Treating this type of political mutant like an average political foe is like treating cancer with “the pain killer.” </p> <p>You’ve been warned.</p> <p><strong>TOMORROW: Know Thy Enemy, Part I</strong></p> <blockquote> <p><em>Barack Obama did not bring us to this first circle of hell on his own. He was aided and abetted by 1) an education system with a relentless propaganda agenda, 2) a media oligopoly that has completely abrogated its First Amendment responsibility and 3) a celebrity dominated culture that is largely a product of the first two.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AhJgU9pl-nU/UTOdhMaHbHI/AAAAAAAA0PQ/rzGJFITz3eI/s1600-h/who-watches-breitbart%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="who-watches-breitbart" border="0" alt="who-watches-breitbart" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZC0oOoA1hkE/UTOdhoygsbI/AAAAAAAA0PY/pKYz1hRtFv8/who-watches-breitbart_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="229" /></a></p> <p><font color="#002d59"><strong>NOTE: This is part of the “<em>Know Thy Enemy/ Beat Thy Enemy”</em> series --</strong></font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-prologue.html">Prologue</a> </em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-part-i-education.html"><em>KTE I: </em>Education</a></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-ii-media.html">KTE II: Media</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/know-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html"><em>KTE III: Celebrity Culture</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-i-education-system.html"><em>BTE I: The Education System</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-attacking.html"><em>BTE II-A: The Media (attacking from outside the tent)</em></a><em> </em></p> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em>BTE II-B: the Media (conclusion; operating within the tent)</em></a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote><em><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/04/beat-thy-enemy-iii-celebrity-culture.html">BTE III: Celebrity Culture</a></em></blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote><em></em></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2013/03/beating-thy-enemy-ii-media-conclusion.html"><em></em></a></p> </blockquote> <p><em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Linked By: <strong><em><font size="4"></font></em></strong><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkfest"><strong><em><font color="#cc6600" size="4">Larwyn’s Linx</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="4"> on </font></em></strong><a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/"><strong><em><font color="#cc6600" size="4">Doug Ross@Journal</font></em></strong></a><strong><em><font size="4">, and <a href="http://robcunninghamusa.com/2013/03/03/the-obama-phenomena/"><font color="#cc6600">Rob Cunningham</font></a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bruce.cairns2"><font color="#cc6600">Bruce Cairns</font></a> on facebook, and </font></em></strong><a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=ZKSLADZITD35508PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a></font></strong></em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong><em></em><em><strong><font size="4">, and NOBO2012 on <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2993022/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks! </font></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Cross-Posted on <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/know-thy-enemy-prologue-1">Patriot Action Network</a> </font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-85366828213573470242013-02-26T16:30:00.001-05:002013-03-03T12:02:05.189-05:00SkyFall: Now Playing Everywhere Across America<p>Why must Republicans always play defense? Seemingly on the wrong side of any argument? </p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FLBVx3xvaQw/US0pcSFKw2I/AAAAAAAA0CA/8RdsKpXlB84/s1600-h/Sequester%252520education-ad%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Sequester education-ad" border="0" alt="Sequester education-ad" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xgge2OuAOME/US0pc3ChT5I/AAAAAAAA0CI/g1DAmB22zXw/Sequester%252520education-ad_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="377" /></a><em><font color="#000000"> Education; you? </font></em></p> </blockquote> <p>The pending sequester cuts have the President and his minions, like a flock of Chicken Littles, running to and fro, spinning tales of planes falling out of the sky.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fhZZ5llmZho/US0peJxWy7I/AAAAAAAA0CQ/cZLW0WVfQHM/s1600-h/skyfall9290283424%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="skyfall9290283424" border="0" alt="skyfall9290283424" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rlsg8BO9Mmg/US0pfCrkhTI/AAAAAAAA0CY/eHzV1F3i1N8/skyfall9290283424_thumb%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="404" height="235" /></a></p> <p>For some reason - whether they’re too polite, too incredulous or just too inept - I barely hear a peep from the loyal opposition. </p> <p>So I wrote this little story to help Republicans explain the scale of sequester cuts to their constituents and hopefully help them put things in perspective:</p> <p align="center"><strong><em>George Finds Out He’s getting a 2% pay “cut”</em></strong></p> <blockquote> <p><em>George was expecting to get a $10/week raise, because he’s gotten a $10/week raise every year since he went to work for the Ace Car Company. (See </em><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/12/20/what-40-means-middle-class-americans"><em>“What does $40 a month mean to you?”</em></a><em> from our last manufactured fiscal crisis.) </em></p> <p><em>Then George’s boss tells him that - due to budgetary constraints imposed on Ace by corporate - he’s  forced to cut everybody’s raise by 2% (as agreed to by George’s UAW union president in the last round of contract talks - when nobody figured the sky would actually fall). So now, instead of the $10/week he was counting on, George will only be getting a $9.80/ week raise this year.</em></p> <p><em>On hearing this awful news George immediately shifted into crisis mode: he pulled his son out of day care forcing his wife to quit her job to stay home with the kid, canceled the family trip to Disneyworld which they could no longer afford since his wife wasn’t working, and sold his car and the house to save money. Then, having no reason or will to live, George quit his job, starting using drugs and alcohol and went on welfare.</em></p> <p><em>The end.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>I hope that helps.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rk2B2SC3FCQ/US0pfdF--EI/AAAAAAAA0Cg/93cqVETa-3Q/s1600-h/sequester_is_manufactured_crisis%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="sequester_is_manufactured_crisis" border="0" alt="sequester_is_manufactured_crisis" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yrl6nXrXuq4/US0pf11D4BI/AAAAAAAA0Co/Hq7lGa6kHuY/sequester_is_manufactured_crisis_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="704" /></a><strong><em>Sequester: it’s a monster.</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2lkWwQnjR4o/US0pg6GrY_I/AAAAAAAA0Cw/A9EJvORqkvE/s1600-h/6816_chicken-little-dancing%25255B3%25255D.gif"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="6816_chicken-little-dancing" alt="6816_chicken-little-dancing" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V76Fa6nYRhY/US0phqB6BXI/AAAAAAAA0C4/o1ZzB1Q1lmU/6816_chicken-little-dancing_thumb%25255B1%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="200" height="186" /></a></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/clint.counts/posts/527179360653516#!/clint.counts">Clint Counts</a> on facebook, and <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=JFRVJLJCRN45347PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a></font></strong></em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong><em></em><em><strong><font size="4">, and NOBO2012 on <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2991487/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks! </font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-65280625430675770322013-02-24T14:37:00.001-05:002013-07-19T14:38:29.061-04:00Why Detroit Still Matters<p>Good news Detroit: We’re #1 again! In a head-to-head contest with real contenders like Chicago, New York, Cleveland (<strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2010/08/at-least-were-not-cleveland-part-deux.html">At Least We’re Not Detroit!</a></strong>) and Atlanta, Detroit once again grabbed victory through the misery of defeat. Numero uno on <strong><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2013/02/21/detroit-tops-2013-list-of-americas-most-miserable-cities/"><em>Forbes Most Miserable City in America.</em></a></strong><em> </em> Heady stuff for a city on the verge of insolvency and far beyond societal breakdown. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lHWWd0E7mbA/USprmiXbVSI/AAAAAAAAz3E/CvjtN9PDMoo/s1600-h/detroit-enter-at-your-own-risk4.jpg"><img title="detroit enter at your own risk" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit enter at your own risk" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bjyX5R84XbM/USprnRyTLUI/AAAAAAAAz3M/tF3P7koBWEk/detroit-enter-at-your-own-risk_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="304" /></a></p> <p>Much should be made of the fact that Detroit, along with the other top-10 miserable winners, is reaping the fruits of decades of liberal husbandry. Unfortunately all that carefully cultivated fruit has been left to ferment on the ground. </p> <p>Oddly, few people in the media seen interested in discussing this ‘as ye sow so shall ye reap’ phenomenon. Even though the evidence in Detroit’s case is quite staggering, as I’ve recounted before (<strong><a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/08/detroit-ghost-story.html">here</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2011/03/saving-detroit-its-going-to-require.html"><strong>here</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/2009/05/short-history-of-detroit.html"><strong>here</strong></a>).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cJelA5L-nAA/USproeXVgfI/AAAAAAAAz3U/p6oFlLSPb50/s1600-h/MooreADetroitCouch_in_Trees8.jpg"><img title="MooreADetroitCouch_in_Trees" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="MooreADetroitCouch_in_Trees" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2FXH4ubCuaw/USprozexV4I/AAAAAAAAz3c/W5-KJevfEQ4/MooreADetroitCouch_in_Trees_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="360" /></a>  <strong><em>Democrats care about the environment</em></strong></p> <p>Take <strong><a href="http://charlieleduff.com/">Charlie LeDuff</a></strong>  for example, who has just published a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Detroit-American-Autopsy-Charlie-LeDuff/dp/1594205345#_"><strong>Detroit: an American Autopsy</strong></a>.   When asked about the connection between liberal Democratic policies and Detroit’s collapse on Fox last week, he deftly glossed over it by responding that Detroit’s last<em> Republican</em> mayor also went to jail for corruption. </p> <p>Interesting, but just for the record, Detroit’s<strong> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Miriani">last Republican mayor</a></strong> left office in 1962, pre-Great Society. And he was convicted 7 years after leaving office not for “corruption” but rather tax evasion - a felony that <strong><a href="http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/30195">barely raises an eyebrow in Congressional races</a></strong> anymore. Still, better to smear the Republicans of the distant past than acknowledge the <strong><a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/09/17/161142227/kilpatrick-corruption-case-a-classic-greek-tragedy">shenanigans of more recent Democratic scoundrels</a></strong>.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_skHVZP4Sko/USprpSIadRI/AAAAAAAAz3k/XK7I_GNoXI8/s1600-h/bernard-and-kwame-kilpatrick-on-tria.jpg"><img title="Detroit Ex Mayor" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Detroit Ex Mayor" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-34URSMtZxG8/USprp8E42BI/AAAAAAAAz3s/8-e6Ea1HN5w/bernard-and-kwame-kilpatrick-on-tria%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="129" /></a><em><font color="#000000">Ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his father, on trial.</font></em></p> <p>Charlie is a street wise and at times <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDqu8tXrQWU&feature=player_embedded#!"><strong>entertaining local news reporter</strong></a> with impeccable <a href="http://charlieleduff.com/"><strong>journalistic creds.</strong></a> Still, he’s not ready for prime time, unless you’re looking for another talking head capable of spinning an artful dodge of  the inconvenient truths that plague liberal politics. </p> <p align="center"><iframe height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RXCawI4nxHY" frameborder="0" width="400" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>And not to disparage Charlie’s intellect – which I’m sure is awesome because he has degrees from two very prestigious universities - but anyone stupid enough to be<em> “urinating in the dark</em>” in Detroit isn’t exactly the sharpest utensil in the drawer.  Unfortunately, in a knife fight with Steve Doocy even a <a href="http://www.politicususa.com/hilarious-fox-fail-ensues-blame-democrats-detroit.html"><strong>spoon</strong> </a>wins.</p> <p>So here’s Charlie’s conclusion: While Detroit probably was done in by corrupt politicians, it doesn’t matter whether or not they were Democrats or Republicans (again, for the record, they <em>were</em> Democrats, exclusively, from 1962 on) because everyone in the country is corrupt: <em>“This is a national sickness. We’re just corrupt cheaters. That’s what we do now.”</em></p> <p>It looks like the stay-at-home “independent” non-voters have found their spokesman in Charlie - <em>it doesn’t matter who you vote for – you’re gonna get screwed, man!</em> </p> <p>Because of his excellent education (which may or may not have been made possible in part due to his Ojibway heritage)  I’m sure Charlie is aware of the fact that one of the founding principles of this great country is that it was to be <em>a nation of laws</em>, <em>not men. </em>I wonder what he thinks that means, though, and if he even finds it to be relevant anymore?<em> </em>Because to glibly disregard the bad ideas and political corruption that brought Detroit to its knees strikes me as a very cynical view of not just human nature but the entire concept of “a nation of laws.” It seems as if he might be acknowledging, if not actually condoning, the ruling class’ ability to play by their own rules.  </p> <p>If the governing elite - “our betters” - are not required, or even expected, to obey the laws implemented to guard against the very type of personal corruption that has ruled Detroit for decades, how can we expect them to uphold other rules of law? What’s to prevent them from circumventing or disregarding legal restrictions on their inherent power? Or the Constitution? </p> <p>Indeed: who’s watching the watchers?</p> <p>Shrugging your shoulders at corruption seems a slippery slope. But what if resistance<em> is</em> futile? What if we all adopt Charlie’s attitude of concerned resignation? What if we accept the premise that all politicians are bad, and there is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/books/review/detroit-an-american-autopsy-by-charlie-leduff.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0"><strong>clearly nothing to be done about it</strong></a> so you might as well just go about your business? </p> <p>Choosing the path of least resistance has led Detroit to insolvency. The State of Michigan is about to appoint an Emergency Financial Manager to take over the City’s financial affairs. Imagine what would become of America if the rest of the country adopted the attitude of the citizens in America’s most miserable city. </p> <p>Imagine what would happen if everyone just looked the other way when leaders make a mockery of their fiduciary responsibilities to the citizenry;</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2enzY4AbbnI/USprqnK7EOI/AAAAAAAAz30/AlKgnVzPrYY/s1600-h/DetroitRuinofCity7.jpg"><img title="DetroitRuinofCity" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="DetroitRuinofCity" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--I3gxP_gFFc/USprrKoQ6XI/AAAAAAAAz38/VzzYCsYKOq0/DetroitRuinofCity_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="326" /></a><strong><em>Democrats care about jobs</em></strong></p> <p>if they continued to allow the ruling class to violate the laws they swore to uphold, or reinterpret them to their own purpose.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--PLKg8iq7pE/USprrwskJiI/AAAAAAAAz4E/1O0Yz7ARXIA/s1600-h/detroit_hudsonwallfall5.jpg"><img title="detroit_hudsonwallfall" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit_hudsonwallfall" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-okRjjRrkwPA/USprsVYYC2I/AAAAAAAAz4M/Q5RsxIeVzo0/detroit_hudsonwallfall_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="397" height="588" /></a><strong><em>Forward!</em></strong></p> <p>Thankfully, you don’t even have to imagine. All you have to do is look at Detroit. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CNg9PvQMJ0w/USprs1_wksI/AAAAAAAAz4U/I7SOdZTitxg/s1600-h/detroit_0113.jpg"><img title="detroit_01" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit_01" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-deD8VV-S3hg/USprtTz4W3I/AAAAAAAAz4c/Bttb9jhEHfY/detroit_01_thumb10.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="272" /></a><strong><em>Detroit: We had to destroy it in order to save it.</em></strong></p> <p>Keep spending recklessly, without considering the long term effect of huge deficits.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9z-50b0LAXM/USprt0y2leI/AAAAAAAAz4k/NToRA-dTSoc/s1600-h/detroit_dry_dock-detroit4.jpg"><img title="detroit_dry_dock-detroit" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit_dry_dock-detroit" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S0o17BK3VQA/USpruWPju2I/AAAAAAAAz4s/LfRUW6xjxY0/detroit_dry_dock-detroit_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="444" /></a><strong><em>Detroit: the urban frontier of homesteading; and recycling </em></strong></p> <p>Keep ignoring the basic laws of economics at your own peril.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aMDZ90pcL9U/USprvIpS2wI/AAAAAAAAz40/GI0jYv4uuY8/s1600-h/michigan_central_depot7.png"><img title="michigan_central_depot" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="michigan_central_depot" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SfdPI9yf8mE/USprvloXBRI/AAAAAAAAz48/r22jiZP-jA0/michigan_central_depot_thumb3.png?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a><strong><em>Keep out: no business welcome here</em></strong></p> <p>Keep flouting the rule of law.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RMKIgFhKhp4/USprweQ8guI/AAAAAAAAz5E/Yh6Txyu-hM0/s1600-h/detroit_0114.jpg"><img title="detroit_01" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit_01" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-swHGKLEUN4w/USprxFZ9-KI/AAAAAAAAz5M/S8HrfhtI-1c/detroit_01_thumb11.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="329" /></a><strong><em>The halls of justice are empty</em></strong></p> <p>What you will be left with is exactly what we have in Detroit. The artists call it <a href="http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/search?q=ruin+porn">“ruin porn.”</a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qNuFvp1LxuM/USpryhxINuI/AAAAAAAAz5U/JR0kABBM1SI/s1600-h/mich.-central-graffiti3.png"><img title="mich. central graffiti" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="mich. central graffiti" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XQhDZkbfwv0/USprzf1249I/AAAAAAAAz5c/DJ3wWtlb-Hk/mich.-central-graffiti_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" width="404" height="269" /></a></p> <p>To the untrained eye, it just looks like decay.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8cztQCmaMHM/USprzxihsqI/AAAAAAAAz5k/enR-fiGmUJc/s1600-h/detroit118.jpg"><img title="detroit11" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="detroit11" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q_WvGNR2MFo/USpr0ssaFkI/AAAAAAAAz5s/oEeMZ2OIjy0/detroit11_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="276" /></a></p> <p>But you probably don’t think it could happen “here” do you? </p> <p>Neither did the citizens of Detroit, 50 years ago.</p> <blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oLM_aVI3Cp8/USpr1HGeM9I/AAAAAAAAz50/R1-mc4c76OM/s1600-h/mich-central10.jpg"><img title="mich central" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="mich central" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9s0GapnImHw/USpr12Z7KFI/AAAAAAAAz58/IxCWKwW02gI/mich-central_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="256" /></a><strong><em>Michigan Central Station, located in the heart of Detroit, then and now:</em></strong></p> </blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HtvibiKaAzo/USpr2QgwlCI/AAAAAAAAz6E/ZZtOTIpjUOc/s1600-h/through-the-fields-to-michigan-centr%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img title="through the fields to michigan central station detroit" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="through the fields to michigan central station detroit" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KVLnPPjhcAE/USpr287AMbI/AAAAAAAAz6M/GdDBJ55Xyfc/through-the-fields-to-michigan-centr.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a><strong><em>Democrats stand for progress</em></strong></p> <p>Most of us can’t do great things, but all of us can do something. Do something. If you don’t, you, or your children, will wake up one day on the other side, staring into the abyss that was once a great civilization.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RMxL7tXNlZA/USpr3p8iIYI/AAAAAAAAz6U/Yqrpswkb6-Q/s1600-h/judt_1-042910_jpg_630x495_crop_q8533.jpg"><img title="Arnold Nursing Home, 7 Mile Road; photograph by Andrew Moore from <i>Detroit Disassembled</i>, just published by Damiani and the Akron Art Museum. For a slide show of Moore’s photographs, see the NYR blog, blogs.nybooks.com.<br />" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Arnold Nursing Home, 7 Mile Road; photograph by Andrew Moore from <i>Detroit Disassembled</i>, just published by Damiani and the Akron Art Museum. For a slide show of Moore’s photographs, see the NYR blog, blogs.nybooks.com.<br />" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-blpDXVXXQeU/USpr4DdfRLI/AAAAAAAAz6c/02h19ohoboM/judt_1-042910_jpg_630x495_crop_q853_.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="319" /></a><strong><em>In Detroit, God has left the building.</em></strong> </p> <p>This is Dewey, from Detroit; reminding you that <em><strong>we</strong></em> are the ones we’ve been waiting for.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1bWxZWhqr8U/USpr4v7QUdI/AAAAAAAAz6k/e3V3FhllmE4/s1600-h/help-detroit4.jpg"><img title="help detroit" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="help detroit" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9Gypn0CMozI/USpr5WRl63I/AAAAAAAAz6s/wIojpdKOO7o/help-detroit_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a><strong><em>God helps those who help themselves.</em></strong></p> <p align="left"><strong><em>Cross posted on <a href="http://www.redstate.com/deweyfromdetroit/2013/02/24/why-detroit-still-matters/">RedState</a> and <a href="http://patriotaction.net/profiles/blogs/why-detroit-still-matters">Patriot Action Network</a></em></strong></p> <p><em><strong><font size="4">Linked By: <a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/07/detroit-files-for-bankruptcy-bet-you-thought-it-already-was-bankrupt//#more">Legal Insurrection</a> and <a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/02/dewey-returns-to-detroit-can-a-conservative-spring-be-far-behind/">Legal Insurrection</a>, and  <a href="http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/archives/21625-Monday-morning-links.html">Maggie’s Farm</a>, and <a href="http://americandigest.org/">American Digest</a>, and  <a href="http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=173705">Cardigan @ iOwnTheWorld,</a> and <a href="http://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2013/02/dewey-from-detriot-has-great-post-up.html#comment-form">daily timewaster</a>, and <a href="http://blogslucianneloves.com/Forum/?Thread=IECMLLIBDD30236PM">BlogsLucianneLoves</a></font></strong></em><strong><font size="4"></font></strong><em></em><em><strong><font size="4">, and NOBO2012 on <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2990778/posts">Free Republic</a>, Thanks! </font></strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685813314403751776.post-45027687080566647712013-02-22T22:50:00.001-05:002013-02-24T19:44:56.418-05:00Dewey’s Dumpster Diving: Good work if you can get it<p>I am pleased to announce that, after a brief nap in the dumpster, Dewey will be returning to work tomorrow :</p> <p align="center"><iframe height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9EAq4ffOaRE?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="500" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p align="center">See you mañana!</p> <p><em><strong>Linked By: <a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/02/dewey-returns-to-detroit-can-a-conservative-spring-be-far-behind/">Legal Insurrection</a>, </strong></em><em><strong>Thanks! </strong></em></p> DEWEY FROM DETROIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598713003250290184noreply@blogger.com