Category: Culturalism

Culturalism

What Trump Has Accomplished

economiccommander1 Comment

I am not much for petty electioneering, but at times it becomes obnoxious to hear people proclaim their hated public figure to be “a complete failure,” without evening attempting to consider the facts. They just sit and scream.

In the case of Donald Trump, the prevailing narrative is that he is anti-poor, anti-gay, and anti-woman. As we will see, the actual LEGISLATIVE record puts more than a few chinks in that brilliant and pink progressive armor. One simply has to look.

On Women

Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act (Along with the INSPIRE Act, designed to expand number of women in STEM and business)

INSPIRE Women Act (See above)

Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (Focused on resolving conflict by having women play roles as mediators and mitigators)

Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019 (Meant to eliminate backlog of 100,000 rape kits, overwhelmingly to the service of women victims)

On Veterans

American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017 (Provides grants to hire veterans in law enforcement)

Jobs for Our Heroes Act (Makes it easier for veterans to get CDL jobs)

VALOR Act (Expands apprenticeship opportunities for veterans)

Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017 (Helps protect veterans from scams)

Enhancing Veteran Care Act (Reform to improve VA service provision)

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (Revamping of VA claims process)

On Criminal Justice

Rapid DNA Act of 2017 (Focused on reducing violent crime through use of Rapid DNA system)

Justice Served Act of 2018 (Meant to reduce DNA backlog in criminal investigations)

INTERDICT Act (Action against drug smuggling related to the opioid crisis)

Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (Directed against sex trafficking on the internet)

Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017 (Additional protections for victims of trafficking)

Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 (Expands certain Medicaid services, while providing penalties for companies that misclassify drugs)

Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 (Restricts printing of SS numbers on official agency mail)

Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (Ensures the compilation of information on, and institutes penalties for, elder abuse)

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018 (Creates the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency)

Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (Modifies restitution laws for victims of child pornography)

Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 (Reforms juvenile justice system, preventing children from being held in state prisons, and working to reduce racial disparities)

First Step Act of 2018 (Major reform of federal prison system and sentencing rules)

Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (Increases penalties for animal abuse and torture)

On Taxes and Retirement

Taxpayer First Act (Reform of IRS appeals and tax enforcement)

SECURE Act (Substantial overhaul of retirement rules, allowing Americans to save more over their lifetimes)

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Historic reductions in taxes for individuals and corporations; also simplifies tax filing with deduction rules)

On Healthcare

National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018 (Improves suicide hotline structure)

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2017 (Advances research into hearing loss or hearing issues in infants)

Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act (Eliminates pharmacy “gag clauses” which result in Americans paying more for prescription drugs than necessary)

Know the Lowest Price Act of 2018 (Similar pharmacy reform for Medicare/Medicaid)

SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (Opioid crisis response legislation)

Action on AIDS treatment

On Science and Technology

Save Our Seas Act of 2018 (Addresses marine debris issue)

America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (Improves waterway infrastructure throughout the country)

National Quantum Initiative Act (Creates national plan for advancement of quantum tech, including quantum computing)

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Improvements to weather data accumulation and forecasting)

The Power of Chant Warfare
Culturalism

The Power of Chant Warfare

economiccommander4 Comments

While in college, I wrote a piece about the futility of “respectable discourse” in the modern age. I pointed out that those who practice such behavior are made out as suckers and left to drown in the popular swill of rage.

To be quite sullen, I think I was correct. We have already long witnessed the analysis of “post-truth politics”, although this descriptor implies a nostalgic longing for some better time, which probably never existed. You can cycle back and study the 1800 election for good measure.

The better general term to use is “Chant Warfare.” Whenever someone attempts to inject reality into a discussion, the normal response is to hoot and holler until they cannot be heard.

Think back to Occupy Atlanta and their “agenda.”

Consider being a representative supporting Obamacare, or one desiring to replace it. The advanced human species will ensure you have a reasoned discussion.

Best of all, try presenting facts to the caravan of paranoid Del Spooners who want a paycheck. The floodgates will gush.

The danger lies with how these “Scream first, listen after ten years” attitudes will play out in November. If their guy, gal, or someone in the trans community fails to make the Oval, what happens next?

Culturalism

The Impoundment Act Is Unconstitutional

economiccommanderLeave a comment

Trump broke the law.

That’s the shrill new screech echoing in the footsteps of the GAO report, which claims his administration was a bit naughty when it withheld foreign aid to the government of Ukraine. According to the GAO, this constitutes a violation of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

Of course this output presents a critical question: how has the federal law on impoundment not been ruled unconstitutional?

As a bit of background, the legislation was passed under the administration of President Nixon to curtail congressional rage over his “setting aside” of money he did not believe in spending. To be clear, Nixon was not vetoing the spending, but simply declining to release it for specific programs.

The Act simply represented another attempt by Congress to keep the coffers flowing and hamstring the president into agreeing to “all or nothing.” We see the consequences regularly today with Trump signing massive spending bills because there is no way to pick and choose based on practicality or need.

Supporters of impoundment restrictions will point to the alleged supremacy of the legislature, but history undermines them sharply if we assume the branches are co-equal.

For instance, Congress passed the Line Item Veto Act of 1996, giving the president power to pick and choose what he would accept from appropriations. Bill Clinton used this mechanism 82 times to help bring the budget under control, but the legislation was struck down by a liberal-conservative SCOTUS majority in Clinton v. City of New York, which concluded that the president must to accept all or nothing with spending bills.

In his dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer noted:

“does not violate any specific textual constitutional command, nor does it violate any implicit Separation of Powers principle.”

Now, if we stick with the court’s majority opinion that Congress’ power to spend cannot be moderated or limited save on a “take it or leave it” basis without a constitutional amendment, then how exactly is it permissible for them to turn around and restrict the president’s power to release funds using only a legislative act?

It’s time to challenge the Impoundment Act before the Supreme Court.

How To Win At Economic Dating
Culturalism · Personal Finance

How To Win At Economic Dating

economiccommander1 Comment

If you’re more than a young whippersnapper, you probably remember the video I made on Prince Harry’s decision to wed Meghan Markle. It got about 60,000 views, and made a lot of folks angry.

Why? Because I called his decision an “impending disaster.” This was wholly unacceptable, for anyone detracting from his life choices was necessarily a hater in the eyes of my critics.

As it turns out, I was 100 percent correct. Harry the heroic helicopter pilot has been relegated to the status of a dutiful servant beneath his hard-charging and clever wife. Yes, I meant clever. The mistake of the outrage crowd is to assume a negative attitude towards Meghan, which was never the case. We should rather look to her as a model.

Stop and figure things for a second. At the time of their wedding, Markle was pushing forty and recently divorced. Her acting career had been moderately successful, but nothing to ensure long-term dominance in the entertainment industry. She stood to end up like a more ethical Lori Loughlin: famous, but hardly a star.

Nevertheless, she managed to wife up a younger prince with access to copious wealth, AND had a son with him. That’s pure talent.

The press frenzy over the royal couple’s “Megxit” chapter of stepping back from duties to live in Canada remains baseless controversy, as it’s all part of the plan. With legal and blood ties to the royal family, plus a newly-minted trademark brand, she has become financially invincible. Even Camilla Parker Bowels could never dream up such a fantasy.

How’s that for happily ever after?

Culturalism · Personal Finance

The Broken Male

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I tend to avoid aimless social meandering, but sometimes an image rolls by that says everything without speaking a word. Let’s take a look:

What makes it odd? Well, this is a campaign promo pic, typically meant to showcase the warmth and nonthreatening Americanism embodied by the office-seeker. Instead, we have an unsmiling man forced into the process, perhaps to “keep the peace” at home.

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Maybe it’s a cheap shot, but does the tight-lipped Mr. Jayapal look even remotely happy? The expression signals passivity and resignation to the dominion of another person. He looks scared and restless, as if he wants nothing more than to escape the setting and play a few hours of Railroad Tycoon III, but only with the wife’s permission.

As you can see, his hands aren’t around the wife’s back, or clasping hers, suggesting a coldness or distance between them. Affectionate couples usually strive to showoff their union in public, particularly in politics. Case in point:

Trump firmly clasps his wife’s arms, and doesn’t lean away from her when posing. Whether you believe there relationship is sincere or not, it looks like one bathed in affection and admiration.

Mr. Jayapal on the other hand seems to be a prisoner of the sanctified institution known as marriage.

Culturalism · Personal Finance

While You Were Outraging…

economiccommander1 Comment

Is any anger campaign organic?

It might seem like a silly question, as we already known that “going viral” is largely a planned and calculated event, designed by firms to generate followers and purchases. That’s old news. The real query relates to whether these “outrage activist” movements are not aligned with the same interests.

Think about it for a second: at the beginning of December, Peloton’s cute holiday mom ad began to generate substantial controversy for its depiction of a woman working out.

Fat activists were furious at the misogyny and sexism, because the husband is not shown working out, and his wife already happens to be slim. Those who thought the fury was silly probably pointed out that exercising is not just about losing weight, but also remaining healthy.

 Now, I will not pretend the Denny’s Division was not at some level legitimate; after all, we are well aware of the Trigglypuff saga.

But what was the broader objective? Let’s take a look at Peloton’s stock price right before this controversy blew up around December 2nd:

And now December 5th:

As you can see, Peloton suffers a nearly six-dollar drop over the course of a few days, the perfect opportunity for someone SHORTING the stock. In the event they chose to wait a bit longer, Peloton actually hit $27.00 per share on December 26th.

So, is Wall Street paying for SJW campaigns in order to rig speculative bets on stocks?

I’d lean yes, but no one is really paying attention.

Culturalism

The Sad Truth About Andrew Yang

economiccommander2 Comments

It’s Déjà vu, but you probably don’t remember. In 2008 we had throngs of young people singing the praises of a politician who promised  to rescue them from war and poverty, whilst delivering healthcare to millions and also balancing the budget.

He ended up doing only one of those things, and badly at that, but forget about history. There’s a new kid in town who millions have started talking point simping for on the Internet dot com: Chairman Andrew Yang.

I would normally refrain from silly allusions to communism, but there is no question Mr. Yang shares many of the same communitarian principles, with a necessary dollop of ethnocentrism to boot.

And his fans love it. Take these tidbits for example:

Brilliant points

My favorite is the last one, which drips of Marxist useful idiocy. She won’t respond or explain herself, but others continue chanting in support, so it’s ok. This is typical low IQ behavior, the hallmark of people who can’t get past the basic veneer of issues and simply support a guy because he offers them money.

The comments also tend to explain away any flaws in his plans by appealing to “Andrew says…,” or “Andrew believes…” Forget the realities of politics, or the applied effects. If it sounds good, then it must be good.

The broader danger lies with WHAT Yang has been saying, whilst play acting as Mr. Common Sense. For instance, he boosted his racial self-interest by predicting Asians would be the targets of White shootings in the future:

“I think we’re one generation away from falling into the same camps as the Jews, who were attacked in a synagogue in Pittsburgh like just a couple months ago. It’s like we’re probably one generation away from Americans shooting up a bunch of Asians saying like, you know, ‘Damn the Chinese,’ because there’s a giant cold war even more with China. That is the great danger that I fear that my children are going to grow up in.”

Remember, this is the guy bringing people together. Let’s of course forget the Virginia Tech shooting, Eliot Rodger, and Santa Clarita. I suppose they were insecure about the Chinese taking their jobs too.

As I noted in the video, Andrew Yang also likes to pander and cuck for feminists, against all reality..

Finally, we have the bizarre idea that women raising children at home should be PAID by the government. This is the clearest link to communitarian thinking we have seen so far, the “It takes a village” psychosis on full display. Yes folks, we need the STATE to help you raise your kids, because you can’t do it alone, and you aren’t allowed to be free.

 Nevertheless, his fans will persist.

Culturalism

You Don’t Know What Ad Hominem Means

economiccommander1 Comment

If you have ever backed someone against a wall in an argument on the Internet dot com, chances are good that they started frantically screaming about a litany of fallacies which they neither seem to understand nor care about better comprehending. It was just a momentary gust of emotion, a burst of covering fire to the right and left before they pompously declared, “I don’t have time for small-minded peasants like you!” and proceeded to bravely run way. This behavior is widespread, and even well-educated advocates of civil discourse will employ it, often to merely save face. The sad part is, they probably believe themselves to be correct, and that each of those fallacies truly applies to the context.

Trying to change the irrationality of the internet is a futile endeavor, but at least on an individual basis you can avoid committing the same lazy sins of the mob by considering the weight of your words. The following is a list of the popular candidates in word fuselage, and their correct utilization.

The “Ad Hominem” Fallacy

What it is: Attacking something about the person in place of addressing their argument.

What is it not: Contradicting your opinion with a reasoned manner, and providing facts to support.

Example:

John: Cutting taxes stimulates growth, as shown by this chart.

You: You’re just a greedy bastard who hates poor people!

The “Strawman Argument” Fallacy

What it is: Setting up an opposing argument in a deliberately weak manner so as to effortlessly defeat its propositions.    

What is it not: Defeating your argument logically and making you feel embarrassed.

Example:

Cindy: Rehabilitation can help prevent recidivism on the part of paroled convicts.  

You: LOL so you basically want murderers and rapists on our streets.

The “You’re Projecting” Fallacy

What it is: Holding a position based on a genuine personal insecurity of some sort.     
What is it not: Disagreeing with your viewpoint.

Example:

Nate: I believe child molestation is a heinous crime which should be punished.

You: Nope, you’re just are a repressed pedophile projecting your secrets on the world.

Bonus Example:

Michael: The promiscuity of this woman contributed to the destruction of her marriage.

You: Sounds like you’re just insecure because she’s not having sex with YOU.

The “No True Scotsman” Fallacy

What it is: Using a standard of purity to protect something from dissenting arguments.     

What is it not: Pointing out a legitimate difference in philosophy between individuals or groups.  

Example:

Paul: There are devoted Muslims who believe violence against non-believers is righteous and justified as part of their submission to Allah.  

You: Those people are not “true” Muslims The only way to be a true Muslim is to be like Allah, who is perfect. Since humans are imperfect, no one can be like Allah, and therefore no one can be a true Muslim.