Amazing modern life

We're having a bit of a cold snap. Yet I'm warm inside a house. I have a fire in the fireplace, but it isn't necessary because I have natural gas (and electricity). I even lit the fire with a butane lighter this time!
I can get clean water just by turning a handle,
I can get light and help with doing other things by flipping switches.

It really is amazing if you think about it. Or it ought to be.

I will never stop being grateful and appreciating the modern conveniences. Mainly because I've spent significant time without those things. I don't need them, but they make things easier and more comfortable.

If, every time you want light or heat, you must first make a fire-- especially if you don't have modern fire-starting equipment (including ferro rods)-- you appreciate those things more.

If thirst means you must find water and either filter and sterilize it, or hope it's "clean enough" and take your chances, you'll be grateful for tap water. A lot of cooking also requires added water. Even sanitation is made easier by having water available by turning a handle.

Electricity is amazing. It makes so many things easier or possible. I hear people even have electric snow shovels and box cutters!

There are other conveniences I could mention. Some I use, others I don't. I'm glad they are there for those who need them.

In the same vein, I've been told I should accept government because without it, civilization wouldn't have been able to come up with these things. That's bunk, of course. The market provides; government prevents innovation and places obstacles. Even if that weren't the case, I'm not thankful for the existence of a criminal gang, no matter what may come of it.

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Government – even parts you like – is problem

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for February 19, 2025)

The most dangerous thing about the Trump presidency is its risk of causing some people to regain faith in government. This would be a mistake.

Of course, it's making the opposition lose faith in government. They wanted to be the ones imposing their will for the next four years, and this caught them off guard. It derailed their "progress", progress which others experience as a descent into the Dark Ages...read the rest...

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Deniers of liberty on wrong side

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 12, 2025)

No one wants to be on the wrong side with the bad guys. At least, that's what people claim. Many of them don't seem to understand which side is wrong. As strange as it seems, it must be explained to them.

People who are in favor of slavery of any variety are always on the wrong side. Even if it's the "slavery-lite" imposed on everyone in America by Abraham Lincoln's war; subjugating us to an overbearing federal government which goes directly against the principles upon which America was founded. Unless it was all, from the beginning, a hoax to gain power and Lincoln was just the one who was able to finally put all the pieces in place.

People who are in favor of stealing are on the wrong side. It doesn't matter if the theft is called a tax, extortion, armed robbery, a fine, or shoplifting. It doesn't matter if the thief uses a gun or legislation. Theft is never ethical and those who are okay with it, under any circumstances, are on the wrong side.

Anyone who tries to deny others the liberty to defend their life, liberty, or property from all violators is on the wrong side. They often use the justification "I don't condone violence". If you don't condone violence in defense, you want everyone to submit to the bad guys. This helps no one but the bad guys. They appreciate this support.

The wrong side supports censorship, war, kidnapping, vandalism, trespassing, and governing others.

Those on the wrong side will try to argue that something which is wrong in every other situation isn't wrong if the person doing it has imaginary political authority or a government job. This is a feat of mental gymnastics I won't participate in. A government position can't turn wrong into right.

Anyone who is okay with violating any rights, of anyone, is on the wrong side.

Sometimes this is called being "on the wrong side of history". Unfortunately, when the wrong side wins the battle and gets to write the history, it gets to say which side was, in its opinion, right. At least for a while. This is how a protest gets labeled an insurrection. This is how self-defense gets treated as murder. This is how refusing to submit to an armed kidnapping gets called "resisting arrest".

Before you attack those with a different view, make sure you aren't the one on the wrong side.

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Statists clinging to their anchor

Statists will perform seemingly impossible mental gymnastics to justify government.

They'll abandon their morals while pretending they aren't doing so. They'll change their opinions as soon as "their side" is doing something they've always said was wrong when "the other side" did it.

They'll put aside their (other) religious beliefs to keep faithful to The State when the two clash.

They'll redefine (or misdefine) words. Or they'll deny words mean anything at all.

They'll support destructive legislation, sometimes even if it hurts them, because they fear liberty and don't trust anyone. Everything not forbidden must be mandatory!

They'll advocate anything they think will help "their side" of the statist monster gain power over "the other side" of the same monster.

They'll hate when the right thing is done, or love when the wrong thing is done, based upon who's doing the doing, rather than what they are doing. It's about the teams, not the actions.

They'll see different political sides where it's not political. They believe "everything is political" only because they make everything political.

But, mostly, they'll do whatever it takes to avoid admitting they are doing any of those things. Because, deep down, they believe the state is legitimate; they imagine that governing others is a legitimate human endeavor. They'll do anything to be able to keep believing this. It looks to me as though it scares them to let go of this anchor.

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?

As a mental exercise, start with the assumption that everything is untrue or wrong, then move things into the "true" (or "provisionally true") category as you test them.

See where things lead.

Is anything true, or is it all "mental constructs"? Does "mental construct" automatically mean it's wrong? Can you consider anything without it being at least partially a "mental construct"?

If there are things which are true, does it matter? Does it only matter if the answer hurts you (or others) immediately?

Is it more important to understand what isn't true than what is; to recognize "negative truths"-- which aren't exactly the same as lies? (Think "negative rights".)

Are some people qualified to run the lives of others? What about people they don't know personally? Who is, and under what conditions?

Is taking what others own something other than theft under certain circumstances? Is theft justifiable? When, and under what conditions?

If you hadn't been trained from an early age to see government as inevitable and necessary, and you were unfamiliar with the concept, could you be convinced to accept it now?

Is your life worth living, and is unnecessary death to be avoided?

Is liberty better than slavery? For whom and under what conditions? What does "better" mean? Is the answer the same for everyone?

Can someone who prefers slavery tolerate seeing others choose liberty?

Is it OK to take advantage of others as long as it benefits you in some way? Is your answer the same if the roles are reversed?

Is asking questions of yourself in this way even helpful? How?

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Government is dangerous

One of the greatest dangers facing you and me is government. Not a specific government, but the very notion of government.

Either government alone, or-- possibly the greatest danger-- government vs. government with us caught in between.

Government causes situations that endanger us. 

It meddles in other regions, creating enemies. Many of these enemies are (just like many Americans) unable or unwilling to distinguish between the government hurting them and the people in other countries who disavow what the government that rules them is doing. It isn't necessary to be my enemy just because you hate the US government. I hate it, too!

Government offers handouts, making people dependent and likely to get violent if the handouts stop. It makes people incompetent by design.

Government imports people from other countries. People who hate Americans. How does this make sense, unless it is to create trouble that you need to be resued from?

It makes it a crime for you and me to defend ourselves from freelance bad guys or from the bad guys operating on behalf of government.

Government makes up arbitrary rules that prevent you from "legally" doing things humans have always done-- things you still have the right to do-- to provide for your home.

Without government there wouldn't be excuses like "global climate change" being used against you. There wouldn't be tariffs, or egg shortages, or inflation.

Government also provokes other governments. Without government there wouldn't be missiles aimed at where you live. There wouldn't be nuclear weapons. 

Government is a net negative. I understand how so many have been brainwashed to feel (not think) it is necessary. It's still a net negative.

Government doesn't create society and give us prosperity and safety. If we have those things it's because we create them ourselves in spite of everything government is doing.

The warlords used as justification by fans of government are the very government they defend.

The more who realize this, the better off we all will be.

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DOGEd suddenly

DOGE may actually be doing what it promised.

It has hit home: a relative's federal government-financed "job" (in govschooling) has been DOGEd.

I would have more sympathy if I hadn't spent a lifetime being scolded for not finding a "good" government "job". Not by this individual, but by others who held this person up as an example I should aspire to.

I mean, I do have some sympathy. But I know this person is a Trump supporter, so I'm not sure how she feels about this. If she's consistent and principled, she'll accept this as necessary. The TDS-sufferers in the family will have a different take on events.

I've warned family members about accepting government "jobs"- but most of them either work in govschool or are retired from govschool. It was pointless and counterproductive to keep hammering the point, but if asked, I didn't hide my opinion. I'm not going to say "I told you so", or really make any comment at all. This is a time to hold my tongue and observe.

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One person's "creepy" is another's "possibly wholesome"

Someone posted this picture and commented "Creepy".

I don't find it creepy at all. I find it helpful and compassionate. An example of someone being part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem.

Plus, judging by the patch, she may be a Browncoat.

One of those big, influential Republican "libertarian" accounts said this is "a drug dealer who will touch you". Others said it's probably a guy (and that this proves ill-intent), who needs shampoo, is a pedo, and will rape you.

On the whole, most people were aligned against this person. I think, without knowing more, making the assumptions they made about this person is just sad.

It shows me what others think of me any time I reach out to help a stranger. The assumptions they will make about my motivations and character. If I cared more about what people think, it might make me change my behavior.

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Pleasantly surprised, but greedy

I've said all along that DOGE is misguided; the worst possible thing is a more efficient government. It needs to be destroyed and dismantled.

There's not a single government agency, bureau, or function that I would allow to continue, in any form, if it were in my power to shut it down. Not a one.

However, I have been pleasantly surprised. DOGE is doing more dismantling than I expected it would do. Or, trying to do so. You can tell by who is most vocal in opposition.

Is it enough? Is it fast enough? Not even close, but it appears to be moving in the right direction, and moving in the right direction is better than not moving at all or moving in the wrong direction. Which is the general trend in American history or the history of any political government.

I don't care who's doing it, I only care if it gets done. I'm greedy and I want more!

Crooked politicians and judges will keep trying to stop the progress. Those who have been benefitting from the money pipeline will scream about how ending government handouts to them is "fascist". They'll whine that it's not "constitutional" for unelected people to expose the crimes of unelected people. And those of the elected criminals, too. Their tears get no sympathy from me.

Criticisms are justified. You can argue that I'm deluding myself. Whatever. I know DOGE won't touch some of the worst things that government does. I want the ATF nuked from orbit, and I know I'm not going to be given that gift. I'll take what I can get, though. 

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More government won't make it smaller

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for February 12, 2025)

If you have an unfriendly neighbor, do you threaten your own family in an attempt to force the neighbor to behave? What if he threatened his family first? If all your friends jumped off a roof, would you jump, too? 

What if your threat works and the bad neighbor changes his behavior like you wanted? Most people would still see your behavior as antisocial. Is it different if you're threatening the entire country you rule and we call the threat a tariff? Does this change your act from abuse to a negotiation?..read the rest...

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Time to stop respecting political authority

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 5, 2025)

If you're concerned about America's direction, there's a way to think about it that helps. It's also true.

America is the people, the natural wonders and resources, and the spirit of innovation. America is liberty.

The US federal government is the enemy of all those things and not something you should look to for guidance, protection, or answers. The regional and local governments are not on America's side, either. Being loyal to government is misguided. Or worse.

When the CIA spies on Americans it is showing its loyalty to itself, not to America. It has methods to disrupt other countries; do you believe it won't use these methods in America to make things go its way? Of course it will, regardless of legality.

When the FBI is caught pressuring desperate losers to commit crimes so it can congratulate itself for thwarting another plot, do you think this was an unusual case? Or have you realized the FBI is not looking out for America, either?

Presidents and members of Congress might pretend to listen to you, but even if they were sincere, there are millions of people with opposing values and goals. Don't count on politicians to do the right thing, if they even understand what's right.

The Supreme Court is just as bad. They may follow the Constitution as long as it doesn't inconvenience government too much. Or as long as it doesn't go against their personal preferences.

It would be great if it were safe to ignore all these anti-American institutions, but they've made sure it isn't. You have to watch out for the next threat they'll throw your way.

No one can fix them-- they are already working exactly as designed. You can try to hold them accountable in individual cases, but it's like chasing down a single fly in a feedlot. You might succeed, but it will make no difference. It's too safe for them to keep being the bad guys, and there's safety in the illusion of numbers.

There's nothing they can do to us if enough of us stop complying. They are a drop in the bucket, in terms of real numbers. It's the superstitious belief in political authority that props them up.

The best way to respect America is to stop respecting those who fight against everything that makes America good. America will be fine, as long as you don't give the political criminals too much power over it.

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The arguments for DST

I follow an account on X that advocates for deleting "Daylight Saving Time". This has resulted in debates with DST advocates, which has taught me some things about their view of the world.

Primarily, and at the foundation, nearly all supporters of DST believe anyone who prefers standard time is a "lazy bum who wants to sleep all day". This is where every discussion eventually ends up. It's their gotcha.

Beyond that--

I've come to discover how few of them realize the sun sets later (and rises earlier) in the summer, giving more hours of daylight no matter what you do with the clocks. I thought everyone knew this. Apparently not.

They'll argue that "everyone prefers DST", but when I suggest that if this is the case, businesses will simply choose to open and close an hour earlier in summer to make people happy (like they are already doing under DST, while pretending this isn't what they are doing), I'm told this wouldn't work because there are too many "lazy bums who want to sleep all day".

They'll claim they don't care which clock setting is chosen, as long as the clock changing stops. But, when I say, "OK, then we can just stay on standard time", they have a meltdown, saying that's not what they meant. Then it goes back to accommodating "lazy bums". 

If pressed at this point, they'll even say we need to keep the twice-a-year "time change" to avoid staying with permanent standard time.

There's more--

They've told me there's no such thing as circadian rhythms. 

I've been told it doesn't matter where the hands of the clock point (as long as the clock is on DST) so I shouldn't care-- while they express how deeply they care that I be forced to adopt their clock setting.

They've told me that time zones are arbitrary (which suggests they've never traveled very far east or west); apparently unaware they are based on when the sun is at its zenith in a general region.
If we're going to ignore noon anyway, let's just adopt the One World Clock (UTC), and go with that (which I oppose as much as I oppose DST). But they don't like that, either.

They've told me that permanent standard time would disrupt international business and put America out of sync with the rest of the world. I don't even know how to respond to that weapons-grade lack of awareness.

They've told me that people who want permanent standard time don't love their kids (or don't have kids) and don't want their kids to have the "extra" daylight.

But, mostly, I'm told-- time after time-- that if I don't embrace DST it's only because I am a lazy bum who wants to sleep all day. And that, to them, ends the discussion.

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Faking data

Let me tell you about the time I faked data "for science".

My Wildlife Management class was assigned to survey the number of squirrels and squirrel nests in a plot of woods on the university campus. It was a wild area of many acres beside the remote free parking lot. A perfect place for hiding corpses, if someone is into that sort of thing.

The class divided into groups. Every group was free to choose their methods of survey, and we were to extrapolate from our observations to the entire area and write up a report. The group I was in decided on our method and chose a time and date to meet.

At the designated hour, we met and headed off into the woods with our notebooks. Then things fell apart.

A little backstory. I spent nearly all my time in the woods-- when I wasn't forced to be somewhere else. Rain, snow, heat, whatever. And, among friends and family, I am envied as the person mosquitos ignore. I taste bad to them or something, and many times I am completely unbothered while the people with me are covered with ravenous mosquitos and going insane from the misery.

The mosquitos in those woods that day had never heard that I should be ignored. My group fled the woods without documenting a single squirrel or squirrel nest. We were all covered in huge, white welts when we had run far enough from the trees to stop and compare. It was a new (unpleasant) experience for me. Later I found out all the other groups had done the same.

Yet, we all turned in "reports", and the "reports" were all similar enough to look like human error or like different methods of extrapolation could explain them.

Science is real and can be trusted. Humans can't be trusted to do real science when there's an incentive to make stuff up. Whether it's a bias, money, or a swarm of giant hungry mosquitos.

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The insult that's a compliment

There's one attempted insult that shouldn't bother you even a little: "You think you’re better than other people".

Malcolm Reynolds handled it wisely by responding, "Just the ones I'm better than". In reality, it's even easier than that.

Anyone who utters those words already knows they have a significant flaw you're lacking. The statement is an admission. It may as well be a compliment. Be happy and move on.

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Don't be distracted by USAID

USAID is bad, but the root problem is archation.

Archation is when life, liberty, and property (natural human rights) are violated. The biggest violator is, and always has been, political government: The State.

The State steals your money through taxation and inflation (wherein it counterfeits "money", making your money worth less). It then uses this stolen money against your rights.

There's no way to ethically spend stolen money. Spending it on USAID is part of that crookedness. It's evil, but it isn't the root evil.

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Overwhelming craziness all around us

The world has gone utterly insane. I mean, the people in the world. (Yeah, I know it's not exactly a new development.)

Try to hold on while everyone around you screams for authoritarianism and delusion to be served up just the way they want it, according to their dulled tastes. Stick to your ethical principles even when all the unethical ("normal") people, with their pragmatism and statist agendas, are against you. Right or Left.

Are we witnessing the death throes of authoritarianism, or is the authoritarian dragon just rolling over to find a comfortable position after lying on the same side for too long? Most likely, it's the latter, but I'll keep hoping it's the former. This dragon is not your friend; it's not on your side. Even if it does some things you like, by eating the ugly monsters who have been slashing at you with their swords and pitchforks. It's making way for others to slash at your liberty.

We'll watch and see how this goes. It's interesting, if nothing else.

Keep prepping. Maybe everything will be fine. If it all goes kablooie, you won't have the kind of warning you expect. You won't have a chance to do those things you're waiting for the last minute to do. Go ahead and take care of them as soon as possible. If nothing happens, you'll still be better off.

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The "I oppose DEI" challenge accepted

You've got a deal.

I oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion. I oppose ALL of it.

Would this person want to know why?

I oppose diversity of competence, which is what DEI advocates are really pushing. It's stupid and dangerous. Any other types of diversity are irrelevant and no one who matters cares. I want competent people- of any type- doing the jobs that are critically important.

I oppose equity, because it is impossible to achieve it without striving for the lowest common denominator. Equity is death. It denies that everyone alive has equal and identical rights, and makes everyone equally enslaved. It is evil and I oppose it.

I oppose inclusion for the sake of inclusion. I respect the natural human right of association. If you want or need an exclusive space and don't want me there, that's your right even if it hurts my feelings. Not everyone needs access to everywhere. And if you're excluded, make your own space.
Yes, that means the "Libertarian Party" has a right to kick out statists. It means women's organizations have a right to exclude men. It means churches have a right to exclude atheists or people who hold incompatible beliefs. It means you have a fundamental human right to choose who you associate with, even if I think you're being rude or dumb.
I also have a right to tell people what I think of you for excluding people based on your criteria if I disagree with what you're doing. What I don't have a right to do is use legislation or coercion to force you to change your admittance policy.
I think in most cases, groups would benefit by letting in more people with more points of view. They don't benefit by letting in people who just want to join so they can whine and destroy the group from the inside.

Is that specific enough for the authoritarian bigot who made the challenge?

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Respecting liberty seems too radical for our [sic] government

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for February 5, 2025)

Whenever President Trump does something to reduce the size and scope of government, I applaud him. Offering a payout to encourage federal employees to quit is a great idea. It's one of the best ideas any politician ever had. The more of them who quit, the better off America will be. I wish all of them would take the offer and go out into the market to find productive jobs. 

On the other hand...read the rest...

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Keep reaching for a little more liberty

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 29, 2024)

The year is winding down. I hope yours has been good and your next year will be even better.

I enjoy the week between Christmas and New Year. It might be one of my favorite parts of the holidays; it feels like a cozy nook to rest in and read a book. For me, it's a more relaxed time. The hustle and pressure of the holiday have calmed down, but the family holiday fun often lingers a while longer. So do the leftovers. It's a time to enjoy the present, reflect on the past year, and think about what I can do with the raw material of a new year. The future is what you make of it.

The past year had some challenges for me. but I survived and came through better than ever. I'm optimistic about the future.

I plan to bask in the present, grateful for the things that are going well. Maybe I can even come up with a plan for those things that need improvement.

I'll also keep pushing toward a better future-- "better" in this case always means more liberty. I don't expect huge changes immediately, although I wouldn't complain. As long as things move in the right direction, nothing needs to be instant. "Better than yesterday" is usually good enough.

I'll keep reminding people why liberty is better than slavery, even when slavery is called something more socially acceptable.

Neither the Right nor the Left has a monopoly on slavery; they prefer different flavors of the same old authoritarian swill.

What would your ideal future look like? More liberty, more slavery, or no change at all? Can you make an argument for your preference? Could you join me in smashing the shackles of a superstitious devotion to government and the slavery it inevitably brings? I'll not buy into the excuses some use to justify their favorite brand of authoritarianism, but will keep calling things what they are. Sometimes this will put me in the good graces of one political side, and sometimes it will align me with the other. I can live with that.

There can never be "too much liberty". If the world ever gets to a place where you say, "Stop. That's enough liberty for me-- I don't want more", you can stay there and I'll keep pushing forward. I suspect we're decades from that split, so for now, we can be on the same team.

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Did the tariffs work?

Just so you remember: Evil often "works" and is thus pragmatic.

If a threatened tariff gets a government to give another government something, it worked (at least in the short term).

Theft can get you a new car.
Kidnapping can get you a "girlfriend".
And a tariff can get you concessions.

It's still not right, even if it "works". Especially when it violates life, liberty, or property and moves in the direction of more authoritarianism.

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Tariffs expose economic ignorance

People supporting tariffs clearly demonstrate they don't understand economics. They might have a superficial understanding, based on economically ignorant claims, but no more than that.

The only people who pay tariffs are you, me, and other customers. Not the other country, not the tariffing government, not the exporting company, not the importing company-- the customers. Just like customers are the only ones who pay corporate taxes and other taxes said to be imposed on the rich and powerful on behalf of "the regular people". It can't be any other way in the real world.

But you'll pay more than just the higher prices on imported products. You'll end up paying more for "domestic" products and services.

Tariffs reduce competition. If products from Country A cost more for customers in Country B, because of Country B's tariffs, then businesses in Country B face less competition and can raise prices. 

Their own costs will also increase because of the tariffs for the reasons pointed out above, so they'll have to anyway if they want to stay in business.

When the local Salvation Army store closed, Goodwill’s prices doubled. Or more. Not because Goodwill's expenses increased, but because there was no one in town competing with them to keep their prices lower. Plus Goodwill probably got more donations since they were now the only game in town if you wanted to empty out a closet or shed. It would have worked the same if the Salvation Army had been tariffed and Goodwill hadn't.

I've been scolded by people telling me the tariffs will lower the prices I pay. I hope they're right, but I know they aren't. Of course, I'm told this by people who believe, due to their short-sightedness, that their business/industry will immediately benefit, so take it with a cargo container of salt.

Economic ignorance is the most common thing on earth. Politics is a primary cause of feeling confident in bad ideas you don't understand.

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Statists lie

Statists lie. And they frequently rely on newer definitions to help them lie.

Language evolves. I understand that and I don't even care when it evolves naturally. What I do care about is when language is manipulated in order to push an agenda. This is not the same as language evolving- this is language being hacked apart and sewn back together in a Frankenstein's Monster to serve an agenda.

It still looks generally human, that is to say, legitimate, but the integrity of the language that permits clear communication is lost in the process.

I've also noticed they'll switch between definitions as needed to keep their point alive. There's no integrity.

When this happens, there's really nothing you can say (because "words are just words"). Those relying on the manipulated language to "prove" their point just show the neo-definitions or whatever they need and that's that.

Yes, it's dishonest, but as I say, statists lie. It's almost a defining characteristic; you can't support political government and its various programs and efforts while staying honest. So, they manipulate language and then strut around like pigeons on a chessboard.

I also realize most people don't care. To them, words don't have any set meaning; they are just a mental construct and can change every day if convenient. I'm not sure how they expect clear communication to occur if that's the case. Maybe they don't care about that, either.

It's irritating, but it works on observers who buy the garbage they are selling and aren't aware it's garbage.

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Diversity

Diversity of completely irrelevant characteristics like sex, "race", sexuality, etc. doesn't matter. It's not important. It can be ignored. It should be ignored.

Diversity of competence is stupid. It's a disaster and needs to be rejected totally.

Focusing on the diversity of irrelevant characteristics guarantees a diversity of competence because it takes attention away from what's important. It's a method to dilute competence and to take unreasonable chances.

Some individuals of every sex, "race", sexuality, or any other irrelevant characteristic like these are competent in every realm. They don't need to be propped up by dangerous policies.

It's OK to not be competent in every realm, but everyone can be competent in something. Chase that; not the things you lack competence in, but you wish you were good at. Or, find a way to become competent in what you want to pursue.

If someone isn't competent in some area, I don't want to risk putting them in that position. If someone is competent in some area, I want them doing that, regardless of their other irrelevant qualities. It makes my life better and it is risky to exclude them.

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