Am I happy with the state of our country? No! However, i will vote Republican, because I have no desire to see the Demon-crats and the DSA take over. People have to start bombarding the White House with phone calls.. (202)456-1111. Leave comments and state your views. The president is surrounded by syncophants and Big Pharma promoters...He needs to hear from the people.
Most who vote Democratic, vote without realizing the DNC is splintered into three groups. Democrats.. Traditional like RFK Jr., the Social Democrat like Hillary who believes it takes a village rather than a family to raise a child, then there is the Democratic Socialists which includes Obama who want a ONE CLASS system, except for the ruling politburo. The one Republican plank I do not like is: "Buyer Beware" The creative marketing I see often is sucking money out of the working class and should not be happening. Facebook, Google and Microsoft are experts at it.
My family was Democrats in the past, but we voted for Reagan! After Reagan, I became an Independent, until I was guided to vote for President Trump in 2016. I could not stand Heartless Hillary., after reading about Waco, Texas in Ty Bollinger's book Monumental Myths of the Modern Medical Mafia. I was not for her medical drug promotion, when her husband was president. Drugs, legal or illegal, are anathema to me. My grandmother was a Christian Scientist...and i was raised without drugs. I am into natural healing. eating the right food, exercise, sunlight, fresh air, etc. .and have seen many miracles in my life. I do believe very strongly in the words: Faith without works is dead! One has to live in the right manner.
The creative marketing scenarios on the web are endless in how they are constructed to maximize profitability. The one I love is how Google allows pseudo websites to mimic a legitimate site like Microsoft because they pay Google to help them con the uninitiated. I could write a book how how clever the con artists are.
Not sure I’d say they are in collusion, but would agree that they might could do a better job of policing their FREE product. The one I always hear about is meta/FB. I’m also gonna say that maybe, possibly, perhaps people could be more aware consumers? 🤔 people are greedy, a lil greedy, a lot greedy. That’s what allows people to be hooked. I can say that as a fella who hasn’t been conned (yet), ‘cause I’m not greedy and for an old guy still on my toes. (Well, at least when my knees ain’t screaming)
You are so right! You can't be taken, if you aren't looking for something. Money doesn't tempt me in the least...and there is nothing I want, except peace and harmony in my life...and in the world!
Well, pretty sure I didn’t say I wasnt looking for anything, I just said I’m not greedy. There’s much that I want, I just believe there’s a right way and a wrong way to acquire.
Regulatory Capture rules the day. Regardless if the President is a Republican or a Democrat.
Concentration of Power and Money is continually being consolidated. Observing how the vaccine boys are going about maintaining control speaks volumes about this issue. Most of the rhetoric is political mudslinging. Will someone step forward and not insult the intelligence of the American people and speak the truth!
P.T. Barnum said nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.
I think that needs to be considered in what is an "insult to the intelligence of the American people". An average of the populace is implied, not the readers of this essay.
I have this fantasy I call the fix. Indulge me for a moment. The fix for fascism is this: at the federal government level, separate spending from funding. Elected politicians can and should propose spending BUT ONLY citizen taxpayers should APPROVE FUNDING . I.E. distribute decision making across the entire taxpayer population . This will tend to put a hard stop to fraud, waste, lobbying and stupid socialist ideas. In practice Every taxpayer must assign their tax dollars for or NOT for each spending bill proposed. Make a bill obtuse and unintelligible? Propose a tax on those that work and give to those who don’t ? No problem. Just say “no you can’t use my tax dollars for that.” Bills that taxpayers agree to fund get annual audits and review ie can the government continue to use my tax dollars for this? (That would have saved us all billions on the California high sped rail to nowhere.) The result: Budgets then shrink or swell based on performance and the will of THOSE who actually fund the government. If everyone with skin in the game did this, graft and political manipulation would approach zero. Nothing focuses the mind, and improves the IQ more than having one’s own hard work stolen and misused. And nothing would do more to unite Democrats and Republicans than everyone getting the governance they want TO THE EXTENT THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT. Note: non-contributing citizens and non-citizens ARE NOT allowed in this assignment. Why? Because they get their say when they vote for or lobby their representatives who propose the spending. But if they aren’t actually paying taxes for government services, then they shouldn’t get to fund the government! This is the step change needed in our constitution! And would do a great deal more to secure our God given rights than all the pontificating party politics or all the social media complaining or all the useless dumb ass protesting or all the handwringing by weak powerless citizens. Last, anyone wanting to influence government spending would be most directly able to do it by getting a JOB and putting their tax money where their mouth is.
Barbara, you are aware that we live in a representative/constitutional republic, eh? That’s why we vote for, get this, REPRESENTATIVES. Weird, huh? What you’re proposing is tantamount to anarchy.
You would get pretty much what you want by getting behind term limits, repealing the 17th, etc.
I came to the conclusion that voting for representatives did nothing but put people good a fraud, waste and abuse in charge of my money. Because there are no brakes on the spend it pedal. Furthermore, in a Christian highly moral society where the constitution was written, men weren’t playing political chess games which is what we have now. Lastly, I don’t agree that it would be chaos (although what do I know, it’s never been tried). To separate spending from funding breaks the influence and fraud game. To control funding, especially distributed across the entire taxpayer population insures that no special interest nor partisan politics grabs control and divides a nation like it is right now. Everyone gets the governance they want to the extent they are willing to pay for it.
Not gonna say I disagree with your frustration, just that your solution would create an even worse situation. In law we say "bad facts create bad law," or something close to that- it’s been a few years since I took down my "shingle." Take a look at Mark Levin’s "Liberty Amendments" book. A few years old now but still applicable. Have you signed the convention of states "paper" on site. Have you encouraged your representatives to join the COS movement. You want to take back your country, convention of states is a good start.
Interesting proposal. I suspect that the ultimate outcome would be almost no government because I think most people would choose to fund very little. I am a little unclear as to how that relates to fascism; but, then, there may not be much agreement on what is the proper definition of fascism.
I think the original statement defined fascism as a blend of government and corporations. Without government funding, corporations aren’t able to function. Thus by putting citizen taxpayers in charge of funding it either exerts control over corporations or encourages them to sever their government ties. I’m not the best politically educated so I could be wrong about that.
About my “big” idea, there is obviously a lot of missing detail about how it would work. Everyone has a tax liability which a holding tank gets so you can’t just say no to everything and keep your tax dollars. What you can do is exert population wide choice and oversight. Let’s take the California high speed rail. To start, plenty of people would say “no” because for example how does that benefit an orange farmer in Florida. But enough might say yes to kick off the project. The next year it’s up for renewal and a Doge report says planning and permitting has completed (I’m making this all up) and citizens (some of them) agree to go another year. Year 3 nothing got done. Now a huge bunch who said yes last year say no this year. Ten years later there’s no high speed rail, but there is also no money spent on fraud , waste and abuse. Good idea poor execution brought to a hault by the only people with a genuinely vested interest . Maybe an Elon will come along and taxpayers will pony up for it again. In any case, the people wanting it are the people paying for it and the rest of us are free to “invest “ our tax dollars where it does us the most good.
One thing this makes clear to me is giving 18 yr olds the vote was outright stupid...particularly given just how poorly our progressive infested educational system has prepared them for the reality of living in the real world
Our educational system has been corrupted —- ever since Dewey. Curricula designed to undermine American principles and instill collective ones. The true generation of converts to the collectivist utopians emerged in the 60’s, went on to flourish in the academy and other institutions - churches!! and are in multiple prongs destroying American system. They have to remove the family and God, and we’ve allowed it in so many levels. But there is now a counter revolution, a renewed American Revolution saying: NOT ON MY WATCH!
Too many comfortable, complacent R’s (Thune types) are impeding the Renaissance which will promote the opportunities for middle class.
Since we got so maliciously entwined with Globalist agendas, it’s complex to realign. I have vision with those who ARE DOING IT - including the end of terrorists spun out of Iran’s chokehold (British backed)
Read PrometheanAction worldview.
Pre 40 yr olds haven’t lived an honest American System. (We had a taste in post war (50’s) of economic prosperity.) They hate the 2008 crony capitalism methods. So do I.
We know Socialism is a utopia of promise that can never happen.
President Trump has accomplished a tremendous amount of reform especially in the area of fraud and abuse of our tax dollars. He would need ten years to clean up the mess our government has created for the American people. I hope at this stage if any Zoomers put their phones down long enough to vote they will at least pick the lesser of two evils. Communism has never been a success, but then most Zoomers have a mediocre education, especially in American history. Very thorough article.
if Trump et al have accomplished "a tremendous amount", then why does spending continue to accelerate upwards? The difference between the marketing and reality continues to grow. The vast majority of federal spending is fraudulent BY DESIGN. It is taking from one group and giving it to another. Nothing about it is for national purpose. Hence the reason to dramatically shrink the size of government in order to disincentivize using government to benefit ones own party, tribe, or benefactors.
You’re are 99% correct (sorry about the 1% discrepancy - just my nature 🤣, I don’t even agree with meself 100% , 100% of the time). I believe what you’re referring to as abhorrent is called baseline budgeting and it gets an automatic increase every year, even if it can be shone that it wasn’t needed. Departments should have to justify every dollar above $0 and provide a new budget every year. And this wealth transfer from thems that work to those who won’t has to stop. Last ten years we expanded that issue by giving money who invaded us - not only didn’t we have an actual border, we robbed our grandchildren’s grandchildren to feed, house, clothe, hospitalize and provide communication services. California has even used gave a gender confused freak a brand spankin’ new boob job. Whoever approved that, NEWSOM, is indeed the boob.
I'm tempted to agree with you on much of this; however, I think Trump was right on the threats Iran posed and if not for the war, the economy would be soaring, and not just for corporate America. It's also partly the narrative driven by the mainstream media that is far left now. And if the Republicans are not the answer, they sure as hell are better than the alternative. The GDP is up, wages are up, inflation would be down except for gas driven by the war, jobs are being created in the private sector, manufacturing is coming back. So I really don't like seeing articles like this that just benefit the left. Though there is truth in what you are saying, your articles have been reading like other influencers that want a following--if y ou can't have 100% of what they want they tear everything down and just helpl the worst people out there. The left does everything for power and if you think socialism will work better than corporate power over time, think again. I am all for breaking up monopolies especially in terms of organic farmers and small meat producers. But you don't have to tear down the whole system to do that. I don't know. This kind of stuff is just so depressing because it just helps those who hate America and want to tear it down.
If I understand Dr M rightly, he is for moving decision making closer and closer to the people those decisions affect and who should rightly have a voice in. Let’s take the welfare system as a whole. Everything about it is broken. Why? Because the people in need are in neighborhoods that have NO influence over any of it. What would work better (in my not so humble and possibly misguided opinion) is for counties to take over ALL of welfare for their residents. (And if county is too big, then precincts or even school blocks.). People needing food support, housing, work are then neighbors we all know. If they need a leg up, we are happy to see our tax dollars help them. If they are lazy drug addicts, we would be equally happy to put them on the equivalent of a chain gang with recovery mandatory to receive help. Lots of down regulating federally and up scrutinizing locally would give everyone a whole bigger incentive to participate in the classical American / capitalist system. Breaking open competition also seems really important. When local farmers and butchers can easily out compete Walmart, you know you’re on to something big.
I like that solution.. Wendell Barry was right. Politics should be local and smaller agrarian communities would do much better. But still, we had better do that within the framework of the right, not the left. So not saying Dr. Malone is wrong--he's right about a lot of this, and he is right on the vaccines, too but the alternatives are so much worse than what we are doing right now.
Most of the discontent in the youth of America today stems from complete LACK OF EDUCATING THE YOUNG IN OUR SCHOOLS AS TO JUST HOW THE WORLD AND ECONOMY WORKS. Ignorance is driving young voters to the lies and deceptions spouted by the Socialists and Communists running for office. Had our schools educated, instead of indoctrinated, our young, this generation would have a more complete and honest understanding of how capitalism works for the betterment of our citizens. Shame on those who let our institutions of learning be taken over by teachers who love Communism! That lack of knowledge is driving our youth into the arms of Marxists who want the downfall of America. This is no small failure on our part. This is a MONUMENTAL SCREW UP!!! And, sadly, we may just have to live with it….. :-(
Just the very reason we should do away with TENURE. Bad teachers should be fired! Length of service should not have a bearing if they are brainwashing our young in Communism! PERIOD.
Thank you for sharing these insights re 2028. I do think there is an additional aspect to consider. Unfortunately it looks like 2027 - 2028 may well be inflicked by a Democratic legislature.
To me our recent culture has been burdened by diminishing opportunies, particularly impacting zoomers. We have focused on higher education. Many have gone into significant debt, only to find opportunities lacking. Further too many of our educators have offered negative views of our nation and our future.
Trump appears to be attempting to migrate to a so called American Economic system. He has been promoting a national sovereignty. He's been pulling industrial operations back and inviting investments in - steel, manufacturing, etc. He has been encouraging a focus on well paying blue collar opportunities. The Dirty Jobs fellow has received support for expanding his training operations. Some like operations are including related degree opportunities.
Thus, there is an effort to open the horizons for our youth to have plausible well paying opportunities ahead. Education that leads to real and enduring positions.
Can we move beyond today's ideal of white collar, college jobs (many threatened by AI) to the benefits and respectability of blue collar opportunities?
It is very late, with an all too real likelyhood of the DSA roiling the waters up to 2028. Will, can a new system be in process, understood and invested in by then? For one I hope so.
Jean, You don't think that Ai/robots will also take over blue collar jobs? Have you seen how automobiles get built now? Apparently robots will be wiring, plumbing, etc., when they aren't driving us around in our cars...
I expect robots will take over some. Someone will be building and perfecting the robots. How about auto mechanics, repair folks. Manufacturing means building facilities, putting in equipment, maintaining it, upgrading it. I'm not very conversant with manufacturing, but if the Dirty Jobs guy is getting serious money to expand, I'll give credit to what they are projecting.
Really enjoyed reading this article. It validates my opinion of how our government has been operating, looking out for the corporations and not the people. Promises of taking care of America first have not been kept. Seemingly, we have no say in the matter.
Dr. Malone, I wrote an essay on a similar topic back in July. I find several parallels but my approach is what I call Structural Analysis: Content tells us what we decide; structure tells us how we decide. The essay makes the case that youth are attracted to Socialism because of the broken promises my generation has made to youth. What we promise if they play by the rules turns out not to be accessible to them, and we can't blame them for looking for a solution. It does no good to argue with their experience by claiming their solution, i.e., socialism, is flawed. That does not change the structural realities they were born into. My essay can be found here: https://robberry.substack.com/p/domination-or-accommodation-fdd?r=qy2lv&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
What you’ve articulated is wisdom, truth and simplistic common sense which offers the best answers to all societal issues. How ever, then enters stage left men/women without a moral compass and/or the intelligence to govern and we’re back to John Adams statement, “only a moral society can keep our republic as a thriving governance.
I do have all the hope and trust that the greater public will keep the dsa at bay for now it’s just hard to see with the media campaign right now.
Without Charlie Kirk in Trump’s ear and Kirk’s ability to unify and reign in the entire rightwing coalition as he was so brilliantly doing, I fear the current fracturing and complete non focus on domestic issues will bring in a most chaotic outcome. We cannot ignore that the divisions in our nation are as much spiritual as intellectual and physical. Corruption in our educational institutions and governance has far surpassed any elementary stage cancer levels. I’d vote for the Malone’s anyday and will keep in my daily prayers.
I think the analysis is spot on. I think the difficulty comes in boiling it down to a concise campaign message. Trump is good at that: "Build the wall", "America First". Short and you know what it means. What should the new message be? I played with AI to suggest a few:
"Government and big business: same team. You're not on it."
"Government and big corporations aren't enemies. They're partners. And you're the mark."
"They rigged it together. We'll un-rig it together."
"I'll stop the government from picking winners — and let you pick your own."
"I'll kill the corporate subsidies and bailouts — no more privatized profits, socialized losses."
"I'll cut the red tape that protects giant incumbents and crushes small competitors."
"I'll break up the regulatory moats that keep big business big and new business dead."
"I'll make it easier to start a business than to beg a bureaucrat."
"Break the collusion. Build the opportunity."
"Stop the handouts to the connected. Start the hand up to the rest."
And our problem is deeper than the President. We have the House and Senate and yet none of the EO's are becoming law. That's a painful lesson we learned in January 2021 when Biden killed over 100 Trump EO's on day 1.
Government rent control is a bad thing... but....when houses aren't selling because of high interest and high prices rents always increase drastically. When the housing market adjusts and starts selling again rent comes down. I'm retired from property management, I know the profits are good when rents are lower/reasonable, and the profits are through the roof when the housing market stalls - meaning those huge rent increases are not necessary for operation and maintenance, they are simply excess profit for the owners. Though an increase would be necessary due to inflation the current rental market rates are 95% excess profit right now.
Thank you for explaining "Burn it down" politics! I guess I tend to agree that the big guys have the perks...Not fair to entry levels all across the board. I disagree that Socialism will figure this out though, so still choosing the lesser of evils appears to be the way forward...So far nobody is winning...except the "status quo" of industries...
I felt this article at the grocery store this morning. I deliberately shop at farmers markets when I can because I want to support local farmers, yet increasingly I find their prices far beyond what I can pay, often 50% higher than in organic stores. Even at Natural Grocers, eggs that not long ago cost $1.99 are now $3.49. I found myself simply putting non-essentials back.
If I feel that squeeze at 70, I can only imagine what it feels like to be 25, trying to build a life, buy a home, or start a family.
Yet some Zoomers actually give me hope. I’ve been listening to a young woman on Instagram who is remarkably perceptive about what is happening around her. There seems to be a growing group of young people who aren't merely complaining about the system—they're questioning its assumptions and asking why it works the way it does.
Perhaps “burn it down” is only the first stage. The hopeful question is the one you end with: What will they build instead?
Burn it down. I was in Venezuela twice in the 1980’s. Such a beautiful country and a beautiful people. In a time of some hardship and anxiety they elected a socialist.
Iran was a successful secular and educated country. In a time of unrest and turmoil on college campuses the Mullahs were brought in.
The story of Hitler’s Germany is similar. People often make choices during times of duress that cannot be undone.
Out of the frying pan into the fire is the danger we face. Whatever troubles we currently face, they can be multiples worse.
Am I happy with the state of our country? No! However, i will vote Republican, because I have no desire to see the Demon-crats and the DSA take over. People have to start bombarding the White House with phone calls.. (202)456-1111. Leave comments and state your views. The president is surrounded by syncophants and Big Pharma promoters...He needs to hear from the people.
Most who vote Democratic, vote without realizing the DNC is splintered into three groups. Democrats.. Traditional like RFK Jr., the Social Democrat like Hillary who believes it takes a village rather than a family to raise a child, then there is the Democratic Socialists which includes Obama who want a ONE CLASS system, except for the ruling politburo. The one Republican plank I do not like is: "Buyer Beware" The creative marketing I see often is sucking money out of the working class and should not be happening. Facebook, Google and Microsoft are experts at it.
My family was Democrats in the past, but we voted for Reagan! After Reagan, I became an Independent, until I was guided to vote for President Trump in 2016. I could not stand Heartless Hillary., after reading about Waco, Texas in Ty Bollinger's book Monumental Myths of the Modern Medical Mafia. I was not for her medical drug promotion, when her husband was president. Drugs, legal or illegal, are anathema to me. My grandmother was a Christian Scientist...and i was raised without drugs. I am into natural healing. eating the right food, exercise, sunlight, fresh air, etc. .and have seen many miracles in my life. I do believe very strongly in the words: Faith without works is dead! One has to live in the right manner.
Thomas, explain that last line about "sucking money out of the working class." I don’t think I agree with you, wanna make sure 😉
The creative marketing scenarios on the web are endless in how they are constructed to maximize profitability. The one I love is how Google allows pseudo websites to mimic a legitimate site like Microsoft because they pay Google to help them con the uninitiated. I could write a book how how clever the con artists are.
Not sure I’d say they are in collusion, but would agree that they might could do a better job of policing their FREE product. The one I always hear about is meta/FB. I’m also gonna say that maybe, possibly, perhaps people could be more aware consumers? 🤔 people are greedy, a lil greedy, a lot greedy. That’s what allows people to be hooked. I can say that as a fella who hasn’t been conned (yet), ‘cause I’m not greedy and for an old guy still on my toes. (Well, at least when my knees ain’t screaming)
You are so right! You can't be taken, if you aren't looking for something. Money doesn't tempt me in the least...and there is nothing I want, except peace and harmony in my life...and in the world!
Well, pretty sure I didn’t say I wasnt looking for anything, I just said I’m not greedy. There’s much that I want, I just believe there’s a right way and a wrong way to acquire.
Regulatory Capture rules the day. Regardless if the President is a Republican or a Democrat.
Concentration of Power and Money is continually being consolidated. Observing how the vaccine boys are going about maintaining control speaks volumes about this issue. Most of the rhetoric is political mudslinging. Will someone step forward and not insult the intelligence of the American people and speak the truth!
P.T. Barnum said nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.
I think that needs to be considered in what is an "insult to the intelligence of the American people". An average of the populace is implied, not the readers of this essay.
While they are being taught by propagandists, they have little chance for intelligence.
Basically, I agree but I think to some degree you need to separate native intelligence from knowledge and probably from thought processing techniques.
Very good essay!
"Economists have various names for this entanglement of private economic power and government protection, including crony capitalism and corporatism."
From at least some sources, the combination of corporations and government to control the populace is the definition of fascism.
I have this fantasy I call the fix. Indulge me for a moment. The fix for fascism is this: at the federal government level, separate spending from funding. Elected politicians can and should propose spending BUT ONLY citizen taxpayers should APPROVE FUNDING . I.E. distribute decision making across the entire taxpayer population . This will tend to put a hard stop to fraud, waste, lobbying and stupid socialist ideas. In practice Every taxpayer must assign their tax dollars for or NOT for each spending bill proposed. Make a bill obtuse and unintelligible? Propose a tax on those that work and give to those who don’t ? No problem. Just say “no you can’t use my tax dollars for that.” Bills that taxpayers agree to fund get annual audits and review ie can the government continue to use my tax dollars for this? (That would have saved us all billions on the California high sped rail to nowhere.) The result: Budgets then shrink or swell based on performance and the will of THOSE who actually fund the government. If everyone with skin in the game did this, graft and political manipulation would approach zero. Nothing focuses the mind, and improves the IQ more than having one’s own hard work stolen and misused. And nothing would do more to unite Democrats and Republicans than everyone getting the governance they want TO THE EXTENT THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT. Note: non-contributing citizens and non-citizens ARE NOT allowed in this assignment. Why? Because they get their say when they vote for or lobby their representatives who propose the spending. But if they aren’t actually paying taxes for government services, then they shouldn’t get to fund the government! This is the step change needed in our constitution! And would do a great deal more to secure our God given rights than all the pontificating party politics or all the social media complaining or all the useless dumb ass protesting or all the handwringing by weak powerless citizens. Last, anyone wanting to influence government spending would be most directly able to do it by getting a JOB and putting their tax money where their mouth is.
Barbara, you are aware that we live in a representative/constitutional republic, eh? That’s why we vote for, get this, REPRESENTATIVES. Weird, huh? What you’re proposing is tantamount to anarchy.
You would get pretty much what you want by getting behind term limits, repealing the 17th, etc.
I came to the conclusion that voting for representatives did nothing but put people good a fraud, waste and abuse in charge of my money. Because there are no brakes on the spend it pedal. Furthermore, in a Christian highly moral society where the constitution was written, men weren’t playing political chess games which is what we have now. Lastly, I don’t agree that it would be chaos (although what do I know, it’s never been tried). To separate spending from funding breaks the influence and fraud game. To control funding, especially distributed across the entire taxpayer population insures that no special interest nor partisan politics grabs control and divides a nation like it is right now. Everyone gets the governance they want to the extent they are willing to pay for it.
Not gonna say I disagree with your frustration, just that your solution would create an even worse situation. In law we say "bad facts create bad law," or something close to that- it’s been a few years since I took down my "shingle." Take a look at Mark Levin’s "Liberty Amendments" book. A few years old now but still applicable. Have you signed the convention of states "paper" on site. Have you encouraged your representatives to join the COS movement. You want to take back your country, convention of states is a good start.
Interesting proposal. I suspect that the ultimate outcome would be almost no government because I think most people would choose to fund very little. I am a little unclear as to how that relates to fascism; but, then, there may not be much agreement on what is the proper definition of fascism.
I think the original statement defined fascism as a blend of government and corporations. Without government funding, corporations aren’t able to function. Thus by putting citizen taxpayers in charge of funding it either exerts control over corporations or encourages them to sever their government ties. I’m not the best politically educated so I could be wrong about that.
About my “big” idea, there is obviously a lot of missing detail about how it would work. Everyone has a tax liability which a holding tank gets so you can’t just say no to everything and keep your tax dollars. What you can do is exert population wide choice and oversight. Let’s take the California high speed rail. To start, plenty of people would say “no” because for example how does that benefit an orange farmer in Florida. But enough might say yes to kick off the project. The next year it’s up for renewal and a Doge report says planning and permitting has completed (I’m making this all up) and citizens (some of them) agree to go another year. Year 3 nothing got done. Now a huge bunch who said yes last year say no this year. Ten years later there’s no high speed rail, but there is also no money spent on fraud , waste and abuse. Good idea poor execution brought to a hault by the only people with a genuinely vested interest . Maybe an Elon will come along and taxpayers will pony up for it again. In any case, the people wanting it are the people paying for it and the rest of us are free to “invest “ our tax dollars where it does us the most good.
There are many corporations that exist without government funding; some even without governments as customers.
One thing this makes clear to me is giving 18 yr olds the vote was outright stupid...particularly given just how poorly our progressive infested educational system has prepared them for the reality of living in the real world
Not to mention the need to restrict the influence and impact of our blue/multicolored haired, nose ringed, homicidal WW....
Our educational system has been corrupted —- ever since Dewey. Curricula designed to undermine American principles and instill collective ones. The true generation of converts to the collectivist utopians emerged in the 60’s, went on to flourish in the academy and other institutions - churches!! and are in multiple prongs destroying American system. They have to remove the family and God, and we’ve allowed it in so many levels. But there is now a counter revolution, a renewed American Revolution saying: NOT ON MY WATCH!
Too many comfortable, complacent R’s (Thune types) are impeding the Renaissance which will promote the opportunities for middle class.
Since we got so maliciously entwined with Globalist agendas, it’s complex to realign. I have vision with those who ARE DOING IT - including the end of terrorists spun out of Iran’s chokehold (British backed)
Read PrometheanAction worldview.
Pre 40 yr olds haven’t lived an honest American System. (We had a taste in post war (50’s) of economic prosperity.) They hate the 2008 crony capitalism methods. So do I.
We know Socialism is a utopia of promise that can never happen.
President Trump has accomplished a tremendous amount of reform especially in the area of fraud and abuse of our tax dollars. He would need ten years to clean up the mess our government has created for the American people. I hope at this stage if any Zoomers put their phones down long enough to vote they will at least pick the lesser of two evils. Communism has never been a success, but then most Zoomers have a mediocre education, especially in American history. Very thorough article.
if Trump et al have accomplished "a tremendous amount", then why does spending continue to accelerate upwards? The difference between the marketing and reality continues to grow. The vast majority of federal spending is fraudulent BY DESIGN. It is taking from one group and giving it to another. Nothing about it is for national purpose. Hence the reason to dramatically shrink the size of government in order to disincentivize using government to benefit ones own party, tribe, or benefactors.
You’re are 99% correct (sorry about the 1% discrepancy - just my nature 🤣, I don’t even agree with meself 100% , 100% of the time). I believe what you’re referring to as abhorrent is called baseline budgeting and it gets an automatic increase every year, even if it can be shone that it wasn’t needed. Departments should have to justify every dollar above $0 and provide a new budget every year. And this wealth transfer from thems that work to those who won’t has to stop. Last ten years we expanded that issue by giving money who invaded us - not only didn’t we have an actual border, we robbed our grandchildren’s grandchildren to feed, house, clothe, hospitalize and provide communication services. California has even used gave a gender confused freak a brand spankin’ new boob job. Whoever approved that, NEWSOM, is indeed the boob.
I'm tempted to agree with you on much of this; however, I think Trump was right on the threats Iran posed and if not for the war, the economy would be soaring, and not just for corporate America. It's also partly the narrative driven by the mainstream media that is far left now. And if the Republicans are not the answer, they sure as hell are better than the alternative. The GDP is up, wages are up, inflation would be down except for gas driven by the war, jobs are being created in the private sector, manufacturing is coming back. So I really don't like seeing articles like this that just benefit the left. Though there is truth in what you are saying, your articles have been reading like other influencers that want a following--if y ou can't have 100% of what they want they tear everything down and just helpl the worst people out there. The left does everything for power and if you think socialism will work better than corporate power over time, think again. I am all for breaking up monopolies especially in terms of organic farmers and small meat producers. But you don't have to tear down the whole system to do that. I don't know. This kind of stuff is just so depressing because it just helps those who hate America and want to tear it down.
If I understand Dr M rightly, he is for moving decision making closer and closer to the people those decisions affect and who should rightly have a voice in. Let’s take the welfare system as a whole. Everything about it is broken. Why? Because the people in need are in neighborhoods that have NO influence over any of it. What would work better (in my not so humble and possibly misguided opinion) is for counties to take over ALL of welfare for their residents. (And if county is too big, then precincts or even school blocks.). People needing food support, housing, work are then neighbors we all know. If they need a leg up, we are happy to see our tax dollars help them. If they are lazy drug addicts, we would be equally happy to put them on the equivalent of a chain gang with recovery mandatory to receive help. Lots of down regulating federally and up scrutinizing locally would give everyone a whole bigger incentive to participate in the classical American / capitalist system. Breaking open competition also seems really important. When local farmers and butchers can easily out compete Walmart, you know you’re on to something big.
I like that solution.. Wendell Barry was right. Politics should be local and smaller agrarian communities would do much better. But still, we had better do that within the framework of the right, not the left. So not saying Dr. Malone is wrong--he's right about a lot of this, and he is right on the vaccines, too but the alternatives are so much worse than what we are doing right now.
Most of the discontent in the youth of America today stems from complete LACK OF EDUCATING THE YOUNG IN OUR SCHOOLS AS TO JUST HOW THE WORLD AND ECONOMY WORKS. Ignorance is driving young voters to the lies and deceptions spouted by the Socialists and Communists running for office. Had our schools educated, instead of indoctrinated, our young, this generation would have a more complete and honest understanding of how capitalism works for the betterment of our citizens. Shame on those who let our institutions of learning be taken over by teachers who love Communism! That lack of knowledge is driving our youth into the arms of Marxists who want the downfall of America. This is no small failure on our part. This is a MONUMENTAL SCREW UP!!! And, sadly, we may just have to live with it….. :-(
Just the very reason we should do away with TENURE. Bad teachers should be fired! Length of service should not have a bearing if they are brainwashing our young in Communism! PERIOD.
Thank you for sharing these insights re 2028. I do think there is an additional aspect to consider. Unfortunately it looks like 2027 - 2028 may well be inflicked by a Democratic legislature.
To me our recent culture has been burdened by diminishing opportunies, particularly impacting zoomers. We have focused on higher education. Many have gone into significant debt, only to find opportunities lacking. Further too many of our educators have offered negative views of our nation and our future.
Trump appears to be attempting to migrate to a so called American Economic system. He has been promoting a national sovereignty. He's been pulling industrial operations back and inviting investments in - steel, manufacturing, etc. He has been encouraging a focus on well paying blue collar opportunities. The Dirty Jobs fellow has received support for expanding his training operations. Some like operations are including related degree opportunities.
Thus, there is an effort to open the horizons for our youth to have plausible well paying opportunities ahead. Education that leads to real and enduring positions.
Can we move beyond today's ideal of white collar, college jobs (many threatened by AI) to the benefits and respectability of blue collar opportunities?
It is very late, with an all too real likelyhood of the DSA roiling the waters up to 2028. Will, can a new system be in process, understood and invested in by then? For one I hope so.
Jean, You don't think that Ai/robots will also take over blue collar jobs? Have you seen how automobiles get built now? Apparently robots will be wiring, plumbing, etc., when they aren't driving us around in our cars...
I expect robots will take over some. Someone will be building and perfecting the robots. How about auto mechanics, repair folks. Manufacturing means building facilities, putting in equipment, maintaining it, upgrading it. I'm not very conversant with manufacturing, but if the Dirty Jobs guy is getting serious money to expand, I'll give credit to what they are projecting.
Really enjoyed reading this article. It validates my opinion of how our government has been operating, looking out for the corporations and not the people. Promises of taking care of America first have not been kept. Seemingly, we have no say in the matter.
Dr. Malone, I wrote an essay on a similar topic back in July. I find several parallels but my approach is what I call Structural Analysis: Content tells us what we decide; structure tells us how we decide. The essay makes the case that youth are attracted to Socialism because of the broken promises my generation has made to youth. What we promise if they play by the rules turns out not to be accessible to them, and we can't blame them for looking for a solution. It does no good to argue with their experience by claiming their solution, i.e., socialism, is flawed. That does not change the structural realities they were born into. My essay can be found here: https://robberry.substack.com/p/domination-or-accommodation-fdd?r=qy2lv&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
What you’ve articulated is wisdom, truth and simplistic common sense which offers the best answers to all societal issues. How ever, then enters stage left men/women without a moral compass and/or the intelligence to govern and we’re back to John Adams statement, “only a moral society can keep our republic as a thriving governance.
I do have all the hope and trust that the greater public will keep the dsa at bay for now it’s just hard to see with the media campaign right now.
Without Charlie Kirk in Trump’s ear and Kirk’s ability to unify and reign in the entire rightwing coalition as he was so brilliantly doing, I fear the current fracturing and complete non focus on domestic issues will bring in a most chaotic outcome. We cannot ignore that the divisions in our nation are as much spiritual as intellectual and physical. Corruption in our educational institutions and governance has far surpassed any elementary stage cancer levels. I’d vote for the Malone’s anyday and will keep in my daily prayers.
Rein in (like a horse).
Oh how we’ve all suffered with the assassination of Charlie!
Indeed! You’re right, his loss has been heartbreaking and on many levels has altered America’s trajectory as we all had hoped.
I think the analysis is spot on. I think the difficulty comes in boiling it down to a concise campaign message. Trump is good at that: "Build the wall", "America First". Short and you know what it means. What should the new message be? I played with AI to suggest a few:
"Government and big business: same team. You're not on it."
"Government and big corporations aren't enemies. They're partners. And you're the mark."
"They rigged it together. We'll un-rig it together."
"I'll stop the government from picking winners — and let you pick your own."
"I'll kill the corporate subsidies and bailouts — no more privatized profits, socialized losses."
"I'll cut the red tape that protects giant incumbents and crushes small competitors."
"I'll break up the regulatory moats that keep big business big and new business dead."
"I'll make it easier to start a business than to beg a bureaucrat."
"Break the collusion. Build the opportunity."
"Stop the handouts to the connected. Start the hand up to the rest."
And our problem is deeper than the President. We have the House and Senate and yet none of the EO's are becoming law. That's a painful lesson we learned in January 2021 when Biden killed over 100 Trump EO's on day 1.
Government rent control is a bad thing... but....when houses aren't selling because of high interest and high prices rents always increase drastically. When the housing market adjusts and starts selling again rent comes down. I'm retired from property management, I know the profits are good when rents are lower/reasonable, and the profits are through the roof when the housing market stalls - meaning those huge rent increases are not necessary for operation and maintenance, they are simply excess profit for the owners. Though an increase would be necessary due to inflation the current rental market rates are 95% excess profit right now.
Thank you for explaining "Burn it down" politics! I guess I tend to agree that the big guys have the perks...Not fair to entry levels all across the board. I disagree that Socialism will figure this out though, so still choosing the lesser of evils appears to be the way forward...So far nobody is winning...except the "status quo" of industries...
I felt this article at the grocery store this morning. I deliberately shop at farmers markets when I can because I want to support local farmers, yet increasingly I find their prices far beyond what I can pay, often 50% higher than in organic stores. Even at Natural Grocers, eggs that not long ago cost $1.99 are now $3.49. I found myself simply putting non-essentials back.
If I feel that squeeze at 70, I can only imagine what it feels like to be 25, trying to build a life, buy a home, or start a family.
Yet some Zoomers actually give me hope. I’ve been listening to a young woman on Instagram who is remarkably perceptive about what is happening around her. There seems to be a growing group of young people who aren't merely complaining about the system—they're questioning its assumptions and asking why it works the way it does.
Perhaps “burn it down” is only the first stage. The hopeful question is the one you end with: What will they build instead?
Burn it down. I was in Venezuela twice in the 1980’s. Such a beautiful country and a beautiful people. In a time of some hardship and anxiety they elected a socialist.
Iran was a successful secular and educated country. In a time of unrest and turmoil on college campuses the Mullahs were brought in.
The story of Hitler’s Germany is similar. People often make choices during times of duress that cannot be undone.
Out of the frying pan into the fire is the danger we face. Whatever troubles we currently face, they can be multiples worse.
I pray for God’s guidance in these midterms.