In the world of politics, an operative principle is “Define, or be defined.” Unfortunately, whether that definition is objectively true or not is quite secondary to other political considerations.
As a result, the labels used to define differing ideologies and political policies do anything BUT define those so labeled. Left, right, centrist, liberal, conservative, democrat, and a whole host of other terms, have come to mean entirely different things to different people at different times.
Which side benefits by this confusion? The Left? Or the Right?
Who gets hurt? And how does the damage manifest itself? Continue reading »
To fully comprehend that the political Left and Right are polar opposites is also to understand that the two completely opposite ideologies cannot co-exist.
This represents a great frustration to supporters of both the “liberal left” and of the “conservative right.”
Those on the “left” find themselves forced to compromise with the idea that at least “some capitalism” (on the Right) is necessary, for without it, there is little to no wealth for socialists to “re-distribute.” Those on the “right” find themselves forced to compromise with the notion that at least “some socialism” (on the Left) is necessary, for without it, the elderly, sick, and poor would be unable to survive.
Both camps share a common error. To the extent that each is sincere in its desire to address its concerns as stated (which is another matter entirely), the road to both ends (prosperity, security) has been clearly demonstrated to be Right: the environment of freedom and capitalism.Continue reading »
Comments Off on 512 – Tweeting above the media storm trumpers
Jul062017
He’s the master of insults,” says our in-studio guest Salim Mansur, “and that is a good thing.” U.S. President Donald Trump has pioneered the social media of Twitter in a way that resembles “the Haiku of American politics,” notes Salim. He predicts that in the future we should not be surprised at the emergence of “a serous and academic discussion on tweeting.”
No doubt, Donald Trump would have to be the primary subject of that serious and academic discussion. Trump has successfully taken control of the “news reports” surrounding his presidency by mastering the art of tweeting, and in so doing, has amassed a following on Twitter that dwarfs that of the “established” media news outlets.
What have been called “outbursts” and “undignified comments” etc., penned by Trump’s tweets, are, upon closer examination, very calculated and effective methods of communicating with the public at large. Once again, Trump towers above his media opponents in every respect – from being effective at getting his message across, to the size of the audience following him on Twitter. It is an unprecedented revolution.
But that’s only half the story. As repeated experience has been demonstrating, it turns out that it is Trump, and not the media, who appears to be the guy who’s telling it like it is to the American public.Continue reading »
Comments Off on 511 – Identity crisis and the primacy of consciousness
Jun292017
The idea that words, which represent concepts about the real world, can be subjectively and variably interpreted is not only false, but exceedingly dangerous. It is a root cause of much of the strife in the world today.
Nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in the world of politics, where the very term “identity politics” has come to mean a concealment or misrepresentation of identity.
Among the words most misunderstood in the political lexicon are those used most often: left, right, conservative, liberal, communism, fascism, capitalism, socialism – to name but a few.
Having never clearly defined these words since they were first used, there has been a massive failure in the ability to identify political ideologies – and their consequences when put into action. The political identity crisis has now been expanded into all fields of human discourse, including sexuality, where it has now become politically acceptable to deny one’s sexual identity and to declare it to be something that it is not.Continue reading »
