From the Pen of David Horowitz: August 23, 2009
These events illustrate the strategy that has been adopted by opponents of academic freedom: Deny that a problem exists at all, and then discredit anyone who says that it does.
This quote of the day was selected by Julie Bushey Trevor who noted its value by saying:
David, this is a very short quote in a piece about academic freedom, but I think it quite useful to when thinking about any current event or cause taken on by the left (as is the case with much of David’s work).
i.e.
-the problems with the science of “global warming”
-the problems with the left’s health care plan
-the problems with liberalism
Julie is very perceptive. This point is an important theme of Horowitz’s work and he elaborated on this idea in his book Indoctrination U: The Left’s War with Academic Freedom. And part of Horowitz’s point in writing the book was not just to talk about the indoctrination issue but to demonstrate the methodology of the Left. And Julie is right to point out how these tactics are applied to other issues.
Let’s be sure and keep this leftist tactic in mind and not accidentally emulate it. When problems exist (as they do in our health care system for example,) why don’t we acknowledge them and try and promote more effective, freedom-oriented solutions that draw on our knowledge of human nature and capitalism.
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What is disturbing most of the elderly is the amount of radicals that are professors at some of the renown universities. It is as though they are publicity ploys used to draw attention to their diversity, but disregarding the damage they bring to rational thought.
These radicals seem to yell the loudest when their agenda is debated, while waving the flag of socialism or worse. It is hypocracy, one would think.
What is most disturbing about the shouting matches promoted by right wing corporations and secretive double blind organizations, is that they offer no solutions. Those of us who have accepted their misrepresentations seem to want to declare our right to speak, which is fine, but let’s have something to say. Let’s have an alternative solution to the problems we say we recognize exist.
It’s self defeating and denigrating to constantly see these displays of emotion with no substance. The showing of firearms is intimidation tactics under the guise of right to bear arms. There is no threat in a town hall meeting with the President of the U.S. with all the security one would expect at something like that. It probably is the safest place around, except for the loonies who think they have to show their bravura by having a weapon in plain sight to “do their talking for them”.
We are losing our sense of logic, respect for each other and ourselves to this nonsense. Time to remind all concerned that we don’t need this in order to be change agents. We are better than that and need to stand up and offer solutions instead of just the same old rhetoric.
jj,
Solutions to problem at hand, let’s see. I daresay you have not read this weekend’s WSJ in which Governor Perry describes how he helped turn the State of Texas completely around, from a $10 billion deficit in 2003 to an $8 billion surplus in 2005, largely by enacting tort reform. And although it has been offered as at least a partial solution to the healthcare problem by many, many Republican Congresspeople, it’s as though they’ve said nothing. The silence to that particular suggestion is deafening. Comment?
Sam,
I see no references to where you get your numbers as in “several tens of thousands of your fellow citizens”, so am assuming you have talked to them all and know their sources of information as well as their intent. The “silly slander or libel” you claim to judge, jury and convict has little to do with those who choose to organize and I am as certain “are capable” as you are. It is my ‘claim’ that much of the ‘organizing’ is by those claiming to be grassroots, though very much a part of the pharmaceutical and insurance lobbying groups under pseudo named support groups with the money to bus folks around, pay for nationwide advertising and create misinformation to confuse us rather than inform.
“Fairly reasonable” is certainly what we all should be striving to achieve at the very least, rather than wasting our time in name calling anyone on the basis of thoughts passed along in an effort to have dialogue and reach creative solutions we are all capable. Sharing information without distain for the fact that another has not somehow experienced all that we have ourselves has to find its way back into conversation. Aggression typically is met with the same and so it is up to us to step a bit above that with an ear to listen and expectation to be heard as well.
I have heard the name calling ( “Mr. Congress Critter” )criticisms. reminders to duty and generalities to save us from Socialism. These are not solutions. They are fear and trembling pleas that have no substance on which to put any ideas into the debate. Unfortunately, the screaming, name calling and theatrics become the message and any solutions that have been or might have been offered are too often lost in the shuffle and retorts.
“Unfortunately, many of our elected leaders think they know better than those who elect them, elitist, or they refuse to listen to the messages being delivered.” This is where we have to maintain our communication with those who ARE elected as our representatives of OUR government. WE are that government. THEY are merely our representatives. NOT a representative of a political party, which much too often gets priority over the public good.
My thanks for your good wishes and efforts to maintain a civil discourse.
Thanks too, for your contribution Janet. I will look at the WSJ on line, since I do not have the funds to subscribe. Tort reform always sounds like a good start for me. How is that going now… since those efforts were four years ago and before the mess we have inherited from the past eight? Perhaps we should keep bringing it to the front of discussions if it is still working!
Keep sharing your peace.
Hey JJ
Perhaps we should do a little review of recent history. In late February, there were a handful of spontaneous demonstrations around the country. They were mostly about the TARP Bailout for banks and the 17 Billion Bailout of GM; both by Bush, and the 700 billion dollar stimulus announced by President Obama in January.
Actually the first demonstration to protest the bailouts was in Seattle, on Feb. 16, of this year. Then Rick Santelli’s gave his “rant heard round the world” on CNBC on Feb. 19. During which he called for a “Chicago Tea Party†on the Fourth of July. but angry taxpayers weren’t willing to wait until July. Soon, tea-party protests were appearing in one city after another, drawing at first hundreds, and then thousands, to marches in cities from Orlando to Kansas City to Cincinnati.
On March 15, national Federal Income Tax Day, the Tea Party Movement was born. When at 300 locations in all 50 states will hold rallies — dubbed “tea parties” — to protest higher taxes and out-of-control government spending. There is no political party behind these rallies, no grand right-wing conspiracy, not even a 501(c) group like MoveOn.org. (I got all this from the Wall Street Journal – URL http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975867505519363.html.
These are the folks the President and Congress ignored and the left called racist Teabaggers.
Congress began considering the Cap and Trade (Carbon Tax Bill,) and the protests and rallies multiplied, most were now smaller and more local than before. But by the end of the month Congress passed its infamous Cap and Trade Legislation, another trillion dollars we do not have, and this time it was passed without any representatives even reading the thing.
Immediately on the heels of Cap and Trade they began to consider a massive and total overhaul of the nation’s health care system. All through June and July there were hundreds of Tea Parties all over the country and at the offices of elected officials. You can google these yourself; try “Cap and Trade†“Tea Parties†There were Tea Parties on the Fourth of July but they were generally overshadowed by the traditional parades and fireworks displays with which this holiday is celebrated. Now Congress and the President noticed that the folks were upset and accused the Republicans of Astroturfing. Pelosi called the citizens un-American and the President told them to ‘Shut Up.’
Now August is almost over and many Congress Critters (This is pretty mild rhetoric) have heard from their constituents. The health care debate has gone from making sure everybody has health care, which they do, to cutting cost, which it won’t, to castigating the greedy insurance companies. I think it a bit extreme to destroy and rebuild our nation’s health system just to teach the Insurance companies a lesson. But I digress. The Tea Party folks have gone from being racists, to being ignorant Nazis, and are now puppets of the hated Insurance industry. That is pretty good for only six months of community organizing, don’t you think?
I have only responded to the first of your assertions, i.e. I have talked to several hundred of the many tens of thousands, I believe their intent is to save the nation from tyranny, their sources are the same as any person who has access to the internet.
Now how about you sharing with me information about the pharmaceutical and insurance lobby puppet masters, the names of some of their pseudo groups, and the ads that misinform and mislead?
Thank you very much.
Regards Sam
This comment falls into the category: deny conservative solutions exist.
JJ
Your introduction “What is most disturbing about the shouting matches promoted by right wing corporations and secretive double blind organizations,…” is a silly slander or libel against several tens of thousands of your fellow citizens. They are capable of self organization you know. Too bad you included it in what otherwise appeared to be a fairly reasonable presentation.
One of the great things about ‘Rights’ is that you do not have to justify them when they are exercised. We all have the right to speak, we are not required to speak the truth or speak rationally. We also are not required to explain why we wish to speak. The same is true concerning the right to bear arms. The man with the weapon was making a political point, his possessing a firearm at that event was an exercise in free speech. The fact that it made some at the rally uncomfortable is an indication that it was an effective exercise in political dialog. Some may have felt intimidated. I have spoken to three who were there and they were not. In fact they said they supported the armed man’s exercise in Liberty.
I agree with you that we are losing our respect for one another and consequently the free exchange of ideas is being inhibited. We have witnessed multiple shout downs of speakers who represent unpopular views at most or all of our major universities. I am sure you objected to the storming of the podium when the Minute Men were invited to speak at some campus, and that you would have jumped right up and defended Ann Colter from the pie throwing thugs when she was the speaker. Mr. Horowitz has just written an entire book about such lynch mob activities. Perhaps you think only those with whom you disagree should not be allowed to be unpleasant?
The citizens at the Town Hall meetings have been presenting proposals and ideas. The ones I hear often is “Mr. Congress Critter, please confine your activities to those enumerated powers allowed to you by the Constitution.” “We insist that you be as fiscally responsible with the public treasure as we our with our household funds.” “We do not want our nation to be a socialist country!” You could hear the same messages if you listen. Unfortunately, many of our elected leaders think they know better than those who elect them, elitist, or they refuse to listen to the messages being delivered.
I wish you peace and tranquil discourse on this the 233rd year of our glorious revolution.
Sam
Janet
I am fortunate in that I live in the great Republic of Texas. I find it informative to occasionally compare Texas and California. Each are large states, with long coast lines and good harbors, and a large ethnic diversity in their population. Texas is financially sound, California is a basket case. I like to say our politicians are just as corrupt but they are much more competent.
You are correct Tort reform and some modifications to insurance regulations would substantially improve what we have now. Which just happens to be pretty darn good.
Have a great day Citizen.
Exactly!!!