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Page added on March 14, 2016
Kunstler: Bull Run
The Twitter-incited mob that shut down last week’s Donald Trump rally at the University of Illinois’ Chicago pavilion was the first skirmish in what is shaping up to be a civil war between a political Left that has lost its mind and a political Right that has lost its mind and its soul. The tensions between these two camps are so contorted and dishonest that even trying to unpack the issues puts the un-packer in jeopardy of being branded as one kind of thought-criminal or another.
The Left has lost its mind in a climax of zealotry over the new religion of social justice, with its sacred “victims” (blacks, LBGTQs, etc), its sacred tenets (“diversity,” “inclusion”), and its endless charges of blasphemy (renamed “micro-aggressions”) against heretics (“racists,” “homophobes”) who object to absolutist thought policing. This was nicely described by Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University in a recent podcast with author Sam Harris. (Skip to 1 hour 30 minutes in the long discussion.)
The religion got started on the campuses, where social science careerists ginned up an elaborate doctrine to justify the self-importance of their new departments in so-called race, gender, and privilege studies — the main point of which was to create new categories of sacred victims suffering spiritual torments (“traumas”) that could never be healed. These crypto-religious “studies” led to a multiplication of demons that had to be exorcized by an equal multiplication of diversity deans and committees aimed at punishing blasphemies — such as arguing against affirmative action (“racist”), or wearing a Mexican sombrero at a tequila party (“cultural appropriation” + “racist”), which happened recently at posh Bowdoin College.
The hysteria incited by the academic diversity corps spread readily and easily into Democratic Party politics, where badly-needed minority votes could be harvested to shore up the dwindling votes of traditional supporters such as labor unions, and make up for (you might say cover up) the Party’s complete surrender to both Wall Street and the war industry.
The religion of the social justice warriors, got a huge boost with the deaths, and subsequent canonization of the new mega-saints, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and other black youths who were killed under circumstances that were, at least, ambiguous, and, at most, due to their own poor judgment and misbehavior. (Pause for cries of “racist” to subside). The Michael Brown / Ferguson, Mo. incident and subsequent riots led to the “Black Lives Matter” movement, with its now secular (“the street”) and campus branches, and its vote-garnering panders (Hillary) in politics.
Possibly the worst blasphemy — which I will now state — is the idea that the new religion of social justice exists to disguise the vast disappointment over the failure of the civil rights movement to uplift — that is, raise out of poverty, illiteracy, and crime — a substantial part of the black population. In fact, much of the official policy of the civil rights era only made matters worse, especially the well-known failures of the welfare system with all its disincentives to economic striving. So, the well-intentioned people of the Left — a dying breed — are left in dismay and embarrassment, fighting demons, while black America chooses more and more remain an oppositional culture, apart, antagonistic, and increasingly bent on vengeance.
Enter Trump, perhaps the worst figure possible to call bullshit on this vast matrix of dishonesty, with his ugly cohort of “poorly-educated” white yahoo supporters. Why? Because the well-educated non-yahoos of both parties are too cowardly and too corrupt — too busy making money off the war racketeers and the medical racketeers, and the Wall Street racketeers, and the campus racketeers — to take on some of the central lies of our times, which Trump manages to do in the crudest possible ways.
What the politicians and the media and the cringing, pandering intellectuals of this country aren’t figuring is what happens when the political crisis of the moment is amped up by the financial and economic train wreck that is certain to come before the fall elections. The nation has already gone mad with the internal contradictions of its own beliefs. The next step will be when it literally goes to war with itself.
26 Comments on "Kunstler: Bull Run"
ghung on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 2:06 pm
“…a political Left that has lost its mind and a political Right that has lost its mind and its soul.”
No news there. I think I was about 12 when I understood my society was quite insane, and getting worse by the year. I’m pretty sure our species wasn’t wired for over-abundance and a surplus of resources. We go batshit crazy when we have too much stuff, and it gets worse when the stuff starts running out.
Cloud9 on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 2:28 pm
“…black America chooses more and more remain an oppositional culture, apart, antagonistic, and increasingly bent on vengeance.” Isn’t this the group that Bloomberg targeted?
Go Speed Racer on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 2:41 pm
We just went thru Peak Rice Krispies. Don’t eat that anymore.
http://nypost.com/2016/03/14/someone-really-might-have-peed-on-your-rice-krispies-this-Don't eat Rice Krispies anymore./
At least they didn’t pee in my corn flakes.
Go Speed Racer on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 2:47 pm
Try a better link.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/14/kelloggs-video-urinating-cereal-rice-krispie-fda-criminal-investigation
Practicalmaina on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 2:51 pm
As a white man, I can walk wherever the fuck I want with an ar-15. If I was a black kid in the ghetto I would get shot for holding a daisy bb gun. Double standard?
Pennsyguy on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 3:31 pm
Mr. Kuntsler can delve into simplistic, hateful screed at times. With him it’s either a homerun or a strikeout IMHO, but “a religion based on
social justice” (that doesn’t really exist) beats the ones with the patriarchal sky gods, again IMHO.
Cloud9 on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 3:46 pm
Practical there are a number of places you could open carry that would be fatal unless of course you are full dressed in tactical with POLICE on the back of your vest.
Practicalmaina on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 3:47 pm
Hahaha I was thinking today that as a young teen I stopped praying the same time I started listening to politicians. I figured if God was interested in daily comings and goings at least half of world leadership would burst into flames right at the podium.
GregT on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 4:40 pm
“As a white man, I can walk wherever the fuck I want with an ar-15.”
There are very few places in the world that you can walk around with an AR-15 Practical, without being shot at.
Apneaman on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 4:53 pm
The old Kunt doesen’t have a clue as to how bad it can get.
Farmer suicide toll crosses 200 mark in Marathwada; collective toll over 1300 in 15 months
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/farmer-suicide-toll-crosses-200-mark-in-marathwada-collective-toll-over-1300-in-15-months/
antaris on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 6:17 pm
Last June
“A Georgia man openly carried a fully loaded AR-15 semiautomatic rifle into Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest in the world.
Jim Cooley was armed with the weapon — complete with an extended capacity 100-round drum — when he went to drop his daughter off for a flight last Friday. Following the enactment of new state legislation in 2014, it’s actually legal to carry a rifle in the open in the airport, so long as the holder doesn’t attempt to pass through airport security.”
makati1 on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 8:33 pm
I suspect that a civil war is coming to America that will make the one in 1864 look like a tea party, and possibly before November. I also see a chance that there will be no election, but Martial Law and a dictatorship instead. Both are possible. If not this year, then next.
Anyone with an open mind and some intelligence can see that the species called ‘homo sapiens’ is seeing it’s last days. The destructive system it built is reaching it’s end. The result is a ruined world, soon unable to support life much above insects and bacteria. So be it.
I have decided to just sit back and watch the event unfold. I don’t think it will take long. I cannot stop it or even slow it down, so why try? I have prepared the best I can to ride it out in some comfort but will ‘go native’ this year or next, depending on events out of my control. Abandoning the city ‘conveniences’ for a 3rd world rural lifestyle. I am actually looking forward to the change. More like my youth.
I have no debt. I own no vehicles, credit card or property. I do not have any insurances, taxes, or permits to worry about. I have a retirement visa that lets me live in the Ps indefinitely. At 71, I still enjoy good health. My responsibility to my mom will soon be over as she is dying of systems failure. That will end my trips to the States. I will use my SS income to continue to build my ‘safety net’ as long as it (SS) lasts. I do not use Medicare or any other social service.
Those of you who are still chained to the system cannot possibly understand what true freedom is. I can. Those who are not mentally prepared to die cannot imagine the peace that such a thing can give you. Those in the Western world cannot appreciate that there are still parts of the world where a friend is loyal and trustworthy and a handshake can be stronger than a paper contract. I can. I live there.
Kevin Cobley on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 8:36 pm
This guy has been running an anti “black” campaign in his columns for a while.
I might remind him there were people like him that had similar opinions against “Jews” in the the 1930’s.
Practicalmaina on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 8:39 pm
GREGT you are Canadian correct, youtube it. It is perfectly legal to carry a rifle anywhere other than scools federal building bars ect. As long as you are not pointing it at people, you would be approached by the cops but if you know your constitutional rights there is not much at all they can do in many if not most situations.
Stand your ground only applies in gated communitys-suburbs, in the ghetto it is do not have anything in your hands ever or on your belt, or you may be shot.
Davy on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 8:59 pm
Sombody is copying and pasting empty self praise. I read the same thing a few days ago. Some people often feel the need to practice self praise to convince themselves they made the right choice. People who have self confidence don’t need to sell themselves they are already self secure, content and happy.
GregT on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 10:24 pm
Practical, I own an AR, and it is a restricted firearm in Canada. It can only be transported in a locked case from my house to a certified range, or to a gunsmith. If walking around the streets displaying it did not get me shot, doing so carries a mandatory 3 year prison term in Canada. While you are correct, that a non-restricted firearm can be legally carried in public in Canada, doing so would not be a wise decision. Very few law enforcement officials have any idea as to the laws concerning firearms ownership, and if a person is seen brandishing a firearm in public, the first response would be with guns drawn. If the firearm is not surrendered, shots will be fired.
makati1 on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 10:31 pm
GregT, or maybe they will be fired before you are warned as happens daily in the States. The cancer is spreading north. Too bad for you.
onlooker on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 10:46 pm
yeah, and we are told beware the terrorists right with all the people carrying guns in US, some unhinged. Or about this “The macabre truth of gun control in the US is that toddlers kill more people than terrorists do”
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/13/the-macabre-truth-of-gun-control-in-the-us-is-that-toddlers-kill-more-people-than-terrorists-do
davee thompson on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 10:46 pm
I have often wondered what goes through the mind of a person walking around with and openly carrying a firearm. I personally would not want the burden of knowing I could kill another person at any given moment and that at all times, I was setting myself up as a target, especially from behind. Come on the cops always claim they feared for their lives after emptying a full clip in the back of some poor soul not even brandishing a gun. It happens all the time.
onlooker on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 10:50 pm
Yep welcome to the insane asylum or better known as the US of A. That is why I try staying home now as much as possible.
GregT on Mon, 14th Mar 2016 11:00 pm
We’re very happy to no longer live where we did Makati. The gun violence in Vancouver has become far too routine. A neighbour of mine was killed in a drive by shooting a few years back, while going outside to fetch the morning paper. We had a car torched down the street from our house, with a dead kid in it, shot in the head at point blank range. Where we are now there is zero crime. We leave our doors unlocked in our house and our vehicles most of the time. Our biggest concerns here are the wildlife, and climate change. Cougars, grizzlies, and drought. Every one of the locals that I have met so far, is very aware of the challenges ahead.
makati1 on Tue, 15th Mar 2016 1:34 am
GregT, the Us has gone insane. With cops killing an average of 3 people per day without cause or fear of prosecution, 33,000+ armed gangs roaming the countryside (per the FBI), the majority of adults on some form of drug, obesity growing from poor diets, and ignorance replacing education, it is becoming worse than any 3rd world country.
I was obligated to go back for a visit to my mom every year since I relocated to the Philippines 8 years ago. I never really looked forward to my exposure to the Police States of America, but I went anyway. That obligation ended today with her peaceful passing. I may still go back to visit other family or friends, but at least, it will be my choice.
I prefer the four-legged predators to the two legged ones. They are predictable. Humans are not. As for climate change, we all have to deal with that no matter where we chose to live. It will be no worse in the Ps than anywhere else. Just different.
Take care and good luck on your preps and future.
GregT on Tue, 15th Mar 2016 1:48 am
My condolences Bill.
makati1 on Tue, 15th Mar 2016 3:04 am
Thank you. It wasn’t a surprise. But still leaves a hole in my life. We all have to move on. Death comes to all of us at some point. I am now the oldest in my family. Whew!
Davy on Tue, 15th Mar 2016 7:39 am
Guns are a polarizing topic. One of the worst cultural results of the American experiment is the right to bear arms and the lack of control of that right. The whole idea has been perverted and is now a major cultural sickness. This right was for a militia of dispersed citizens to protect themselves. It is now a ticket for the crazies and zealots to express their individuality with hate and violence. I am for gun control. We have driver licenses for a reason we should control guns for a reason.
I am well armed. I have plenty of ammo. I am a great marksmen from knowing how to shoot since I was 10. I hunted for 30 years and was good at it. I no longer mess with guns except the rare occasion to practice competency. I promote wildlife and don’t hunt anymore but will hunt if I need to feed my family. My guns are locked away in a safe location. If the doom meter goes up I will pull them out. I have a variety of guns for different scenarios. The last thing I am going to do is wave a gun around and be in public with them. Don’t pull out a gun except in one circumstance and that is to use it.
Guns kill and often they kill those close to you by accident or stupidity. I have guns now partly because America is full of idiots with guns. The horse is out of the barn and we are never going to fix that. If we could I would readily give up my guns except for a minimum for hunting. Most gun experts know the difference. I have guns and ammo as part of my doomstead. They are not going to save me but the will equalize some situations. They can be barter items. I have 400 acres to hunt on and another 400 that is another family member. Guns have a purpose it is just many purposes these days are just insane and typical of modern American insanity.
onlooker on Tue, 15th Mar 2016 8:52 am
“Guns are a polarizing topic. One of the worst cultural results of the American experiment is the right to bear arms and the lack of control of that right. The whole idea has been perverted and is now a major cultural sickness.” Agree absolutely.