Aug 06
Common Sense Corner

They Keep Getting It Wrong—And We’re Supposed to Clap?

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They Keep Getting It Wrong—And We’re Supposed to Clap?

At some point, do progressives ever have to get something right?  It is time to stop allowing our benevolent betters to bludgeon the rest of us into accepting their agenda.  For decades, the Unholy Trinity of academia, legacy mainstream media, and the world of entertainment have advanced ideas and policies that clearly do not work.  Not embracing them makes you guilty of bad taste at best and being a racist, sexist, homophobic, etc., at worst.  

Now, we are in a struggle for the soul of the country.  Time after time, progressives self-righteously demand that what they would prefer to be true be treated as accurate and factual, no matter the actual facts.  The narrative must be preserved at all costs, even when it means disparaging or just ignoring what is a measurable fact.

Both in New York City and Minneapolis, avowed Socialist Democrats are poised to become their city’s next Mayor.  In New York, State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is pledging to open city-run grocery stores.  Ask the Russians how that worked out for them.  After a policeman was killed in the line of duty, Mamdani made a clumsy attempt to walk back his earlier demands to defund the police.  Throw in eliminating bus fares and providing free child care to the age of five.  This week, he promised free medical care and housing for anyone from anywhere seeking gender affirming care, including minors.  Yes, America, some of these folks really mean it.

In Minneapolis, State Senator Omar Fateh has secured the endorsement of the Democrat Farm-Labor Party (the basic Democratic Party in the state) against incumbent Jacob Frey, who is seeking a third term.  Fateh is promising to raise the minimum wage, create more affordable housing, and “combat police violence.”  Who can forget how tough the Minneapolis police were during the burning, looting, and violence taking place during our summer of “mostly peaceful protests?  Is this a joke?

For other bright blue cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, etc.—just what is it that recommends more of the same on steroids?  The quality of their schools alone should cause a reluctance to march in lock step to the progressive approach to things.  

Not content to drive once great cities into the ground, this progressive voice is loudly screamed in blue states such as California, Illinois, and New York.  Both California Governor Gavin Newsome and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker are awkwardly stepping toward a candidacy for the 2028 Democratic nomination for President.  I believe it is fair to say these states are not exactly overperforming.  Some would be less charitable and describe them as being in the toilet.

Going for the Triple Crown, we cannot forget the national level.  This is where AOC, the rest of The Squad, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren make their contributions.  Once more, please tell me, based on measurable facts (not feelings and emotions), the one time they have been right about anything.  Were it not so serious, and those on the progressive side not so unrelenting, you would think the adults in the room would have already taken care of this foolishness.

It really does get down to what it is that we want more of.  If Americans prefer to pursue a path of democratic socialism, one of more dependence on and control by government, in the face of its record of performance, well, that’s what elections are held for.  The other side, where I find myself, prizes freedom, liberty, and opportunity.  Game on.

One thing is for sure.  If the rest of us go along with the progressive movement almost as a matter of good taste and enlightenment, the Republic we have had will disappear.  Continued allegiance to the progressive agenda in the face of actual performance needs to be taken on for what it is.  Quite simply, it is a surreal world where you must pretend what isn’t true is true and what is true is not true.

Before Americans decide that extending the reach of progressive governance is a good idea in light of actual performance, we need to shout it is not.  We are the majority, or at least I am booking on it.

Common Sense:  It is up to Americans to decide which approach they prefer.  May we be wise in our choice.


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