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Author: Jose Nino

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The NRA Should Probably Listen to Trump

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Gun Rights. No Comments on The NRA Should Probably Listen to Trump

President Donald Trump recently advised the National Rifle Association (NRA) to move to Texas.  Trump argued that the NRA would fare better there because of Texas’ more gun-friendly policies. In a Tweet, Trump said that “if the NRA is the victim of harassment by the A.G. of [New York], like what they are doing to our great NRA,” it will  have no choice but to “move quickly to Texas, where they are loved.” However, the NRA politely rejected Trump’s advice. Donald Trump budget taxpayer The gun organization, which donated $30 million to the Trump campaign in 2016, thanked Trump for his input. NRA managing director of public affairs Andrew Arulanandam told Newsweek that “The NRA appreciates the ongoing support from President Trump” and opined that “He’s a champion for our cause and the freedoms for which we stand.” Although it has clashed with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the NRA plans to stay in New York in the near future according to the NRA spokesman. Arulanandam cited the NRA’s “long and proud history in New York—for almost 150 years” as one of the main reasons behind their stay in New York.  Even with calls for them to move, the gun organization prefers to stay put.  Nevertheless, Trump might actually be on to something with his advice for the NRA. New York’s gun laws are some of the most draconian in the nation. Guns & Ammo magazine ranks it as the least friendly state for gun owners, putting it in 51st place.  And that’s not all. The NRA is undergoing an investigation conducted by Letitia James, the New York State Attorney General, who believes that the organization has run afoul of certain financial regulations. Things haven’t been so great in NRA land either. Its spending practices have come into question and it controversially shut down its NRATV venture earlier this year. A move to the Lone Star State really does not look like a far-fetched idea at this point. Texas is one of the most pro-gun and pro-business states in the country. It’s no secret that the NRA has left a lot to be desired when it comes to restoring gun rights in America. Often times they are too moderate on many gun control issues. However, New York’s increasingly irresponsible fiscal climate and draconian gun control laws should make the gun organization consider looking for greener pastures.  A change of location might be the necessary catalyst for the NRA to assume its role as an actual pro-gun lobby.
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Hypocrisy? Bernie Sanders Does Not Pay Campaign Workers a $15 Minimum Wage

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Economics, Elections and Politics. No Comments on Hypocrisy? Bernie Sanders Does Not Pay Campaign Workers a $15 Minimum Wage

Bernie Sanders has been one of the leading proponents of a $15 minimum wage in the U.S. Senate. However, he is not exactly practicing what he preaches in his daily operations. According to a Washington Post story, Sanders is not paying his campaign workers enough. Some of his employees even claim they are only getting paid $13 per hour for a 60-hour workweek. Now, they’re demanding more pay, hoping Sanders will apply his legislative vision to his campaign. Bernie Sanders socialism Some members of Sanders’ campaign staff complain that they’re now turning to payday loans to make ends meet, and four people have already quit during the last month because of financial troubles. Interestingly, these demands for higher wages came a few months after Sanders campaign workers decided to unionize. The agreement established wage classifications for national and regional staff. And the compensation ranged from $15 per hour for interns and canvassers to $100,000 salaries for bargaining unit deputies. Field organizers, however, were paid according to an annual salary at $36,000. Regional field directors were slated to be paid $48,000, and statewide department directors were to earn $90,000 annually. However, after the agreement was established, the Sanders campaign met tremendous pushback. The Vermont senator’s campaign manager Faiz Shakir quickly called a meeting with all of the staff present to propose an agreement with some modest pay raises. In the end, Shakir’s proposal was soundly rejected via union vote. Currently, the union is offering up another proposal that will most likely eat up a significant portion of the campaign budget.  ZeroHedge reported on some of the demands:
  • That field organizers receive a salary of $46,800, while regional field directors be paid $62,400.
  • That the campaign cover 100% of the health-care costs for employees making $60,000 or less a year (currently, the campaign pays all premiums for salaried employees making $36,000 or less, while those making more are covered at a rate of 85%).
  • That campaign staff be reimbursed for automobile transportation at $0.58 per mile while they’re traveling around canvassing for Sanders.
In a letter to Shakir, which the Washington Post obtained, the campaign workers stated that they “cannot be expected to build the largest grassroots organizing program in American history while making poverty wages. Given our campaign’s commitment to fighting for a living wage of at least $15 an hour, we believe it is only fair that the campaign would carry through this commitment to its own field team.” From the looks of it, the Sanders campaign is now witnessing what the economic realities of a potential $15 minimum wage proposal look like. Sanders has every right to pay his workers $15 an hour or higher. However, with rights come responsibilities. One of them is the reality of running a business. If employers do not value a worker’s labor at $15, but value their labor at a lesser wage of $5, they simply will not hire them. In some cases, hiring workers at artificially high wage rates could prove fatal for certain businesses. To survive, they either lay off workers, reduce work hours, or shift towards automation. For Ivory tower academics and politicians that are completely detached from the challenges of running a business, these kinds of dynamics seem foreign. But for small businesses, they’re part and parcel of daily operations. Any drastic move to raise wages above the normal market rate could sink these humbler outfits. However, in the era of “social justice,” economic laws are an afterthought. The radicalization of the Sanders campaign is no secret. Sanders made waves by hiring the likes of David Sirota, a known apologist of Venezuelan socialism, as his speechwriter. Given this hiring and his frequent calls for more government involvement in economic affairs, it should be no surprise that Sanders is now pushing for more radical wage control measures on the 2020 campaign trail. Should his campaign team follow through with his vision, it could ironically end up costing him as he would have to lay off campaign workers because of the higher wages. In this scenario, it would just be confined to his campaign. But in the case of actual legislation, this would affect all businesses big or small. There’s simply no escaping the law, no matter how bad the legislation in question is. For that reason, we should give the $15 minimum wage the cold shoulder. 

The Army is Having Trouble Recruiting Troops

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Foreign Policy. 3 Comments on The Army is Having Trouble Recruiting Troops

According to a ZeroHedge report, the U.S. army is aiming to have 500,000 active duty personnel by 2020. Although the U.S. has maintained a relatively restrained foreign policy under President Donald Trump, saber-rattling has been on the uptick near the Strait of Hormuz and the South China Sea as America confronts geopolitical rivals in Iran and China. So by 2020, the U.S. Army hopes to boost its numbers by to 500,000. The Army Times claims that the army is having problems recruiting troops due to an increasing number of “unhealthy, ineligible millennials.” Acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy asserted that, “it’s a difficult market because it’s a very healthy job market.” He also opined, “this environment is as challenging as we’ve faced- 3.6% unemployment. We have no benchmark historically for the all-volunteer force.”  McCarthy revealed to the Times that achieving this recruitment goal by the end of 2019 would be pushing it. The Acting Army Secretary said, “we are on target, but it’s close.” However, McCarthy does not see this goal as a walk in the park. He added, “we, statistically, can make it, but we’re going to have to run through the finish line-undoubtedly a full sprint.” The Army Secretary stated that Army officials are tapping into municipalities across the country to increase recruitment. In the midst of this, army leadership continues to scratch its head at how the booming economy is stifling the recruitment of army troops. They also recognize that other factors are at play when it comes to lagging recruitment.  McCarthy believes that the army’s failure to recruit is “coupled with all the other factors we talk about all the time: obesity, mental health, challenges with law enforcement. Things of that nature that would require waivers.” In all honesty, the problems that the Army is currently facing would not get so much coverage if America had a more non-interventionist approach to foreign policy that actually pursued national defense. Under this kind of foreign policy, there wouldn’t be a need for massive military resources, nor would the Army struggle to meet its recruitment numbers.  Bringing America back to a restrained foreign policy is easier said than done. Powerful interest groups like the military-industrial complex aren’t going away any time soon and still have tremendous sway in Washington D.C. This is the actual Deep State, and it strives to perpetuate itself in power no matter which presidents or members of Congress are in charge. That’s the purpose that military expansionists like national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo serve in the Trump Administration. By pushing for regime change in Iran and Venezuela despite Trump’s campaign to put America first, Bolton and Pompeo seek to undermine non-interventionism and put the country back on its usual neoconservative programming. Their presence poses an existential threat to the president’s restrained foreign policy vision and should remind libertarians that Washington D.C. needs a cultural and political facelift before any change is made.  

Thomas Massie Supports Bill to Expand Gun Rights for Medical Marijuana Patients

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Drugs, Gun Rights. 3 Comments on Thomas Massie Supports Bill to Expand Gun Rights for Medical Marijuana Patients

The firebrand congressman from Kentucky Thomas Massie continues to make waves in Congress. Massie recently joined Congressman Alex Mooney in introducing the 2nd Amendment Protection Act H.R. 2071. This legislation lifts the current federal prohibition on medical marijuana patients who own firearms or ammunition. Killing two birds with one stone, this bill enhances drug freedom while also restoring basic Second Amendment civil liberties.  ThomasMassie On June 28, 2019, Massie became the first co-sponsor of Mooney’s bill. This bill demonstrates the potential overlap with gun rights and drug freedom issues. Similar to gun control, drug policy has witnessed the federal government gradually infringe on people’s basic rights over the last century. Due to this, many individuals are simultaneously witnessing infringements on their gun rights and their ability to freely choose what substances they want to consume. One notable example is a Texas veteran who would have to give up his gun rights if he acquires a medical marijuana prescription. This is what it’s like for millions of veterans across the nation thanks to federal laws that restrict both gun rights and people’s right to consume what they want.  Thankfully, certain liberty groups are catching on to this trend. These types of alliances between different interest groups are key in advancing our ideas. Restoring liberty won’t happen overnight but merging the gun rights and drug reform movements could prove to be a wise endeavor for creating pro-freedom policies in the long-term. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, we must be willing to take advantage of it if we want to move forward.

Trump Wants Japan to Pay Up for Its Own Defense

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Foreign Policy. No Comments on Trump Wants Japan to Pay Up for Its Own Defense

President Donald Trump continues to take issue with how much the US spends on certain other countries’ defense. Japan arguably tops his list. On Wednesday, June 26, 2019, Trump criticized a defense treaty that America has with Japan. This treaty was established in the aftermath of World War II and Trump views it as “imbalanced.” Fox Business Network tried asking him about prospective trade plans with Japan, India, and other Southeast Asian countries, then Trump shifted the discussion towards lopsided military agreements. The president then said, “Let me start off with a general statement,” following up by saying, “almost all countries in this world take tremendous advantage of the United States. It’s unbelievable.” Trump honed his sights on a treaty that America has with Japan, adding: “We have a treaty with Japan. If Japan is attacked we will fight World War III. We will go in and we will protect them and we will fight with our lives and with our treasure.”  More than just a piece of paper, Trump highlighted the potential obligations of such a treaty in war scenarios: “We will fight at all costs. But if we’re attacked Japan doesn’t have to help us at all. They can watch it on a Sony television, the attack,” he said, referring to the Japanese company. Trump’s criticism of the American treaty with Japan comes in the wake of a Bloomberg report detailing the president’s private suggestion of withdrawing from said treaty, which was signed after the conclusion of World War II more than six decades ago. Not too long ago, the president complained about the fiscal burden that America has had to shoulder for certain defense pacts such as NATO. His criticism has at least shifted the Overton Window in terms of political discourse and policy action. Now, NATO member countries are pitching in more for defense spending. Trump nails it when describing the U.S. as a de facto “world police.” Say what you want about his economic nationalism, one of Trump’s stronger points was his call for a restrained foreign policy that gradually shifts the U.S. towards a path of non-interventionism. It’s become abundantly clear that the current status quo of defense policy doesn’t benefit Americans. However, it sure does make a killing for defense companies. For these efforts, Trump should be praised for putting the spotlight on America’s unsustainable defense agreements. Now that the Soviet Union no longer presents an existential geopolitical threat, countries should be willing to assume their own defense functions. At this juncture, the U.S. cannot afford to continue subsidizing other countries’ defense. 

Illinois Becomes the Next State to Legalize Marijuana

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Business and Economy, Drugs, Economics, Personal Liberty. No Comments on Illinois Becomes the Next State to Legalize Marijuana

The Drug War took another blow to the chest on June 25, 2019. That day the state of Illinois became the 11th state to enact marijuana legalization. When Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed SB2275 into law, Illinois became the first to pass a tax-and-regulate marijuana bill via legislative means. The majority of states have legalized the drug by means of voter referenda and similar initiatives.  SB2275 goes into effect on January 1, 2020. The new law allows all adults 21 and up to consume, possess, and purchase a specified amount of cannabis. Further, individuals who were previously convicted for possession of 30 grams or less of cannabis will have these possession charges expunged from their record.    As he was signing the bill into law, Governor Pritzker declared ““As the first state in the nation to fully legalize adult use cannabis through the legislative process, Illinois exemplifies the best of democracy—a bipartisan and deep commitment to better the lives of all of our people.” The Illinois Governor concluded, “Legalization of adult use cannabis brings an important and overdue change to our state, and it’s the right thing to do.” From a libertarian standpoint, there are some dubious aspects to this law, however. Marijuana Moment reports that this bill slaps some taxes on marijuana sales, which are detailed below:
“Marijuana sales for flower containing up to 35 percent THC will be taxed at 10 percent. There will be a 25 percent tax on products containing more than 35 percent THC. And cannabis-infused products will be taxed at 20 percent. That’s in addition to the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax; local jurisdictions have the option to impose another 3.5 percent tax.”
Indeed, marijuana products, or any other products, for that matter, should not be taxed or at least they should be taxed at low rates. These flaws notwithstanding, this new legislation marks a significant break from the draconian Drug War which has created a mass incarceration pipeline while destroying the civil liberties of millions of Americans since the Drug War was waged in earnest starting in the 1970s. This legislation is a step in the right direction. The flaws of SB2275 can be corrected in future instances and could serve as opportunities for free-market leaders to position their libertarian ideas on taxes and regulation. However, all libertarians can come to an agreement that the Drug War needs to go and SB2275 continues this positive trend. 

Teen Vogue Re-Shares Article Praising Karl Marx

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Economics, Education, Issues, News. 3 Comments on Teen Vogue Re-Shares Article Praising Karl Marx

Although published in 2018, Teen Vogue recently re-shared an article that praised the legacy of philosopher Karl Marx on its Twitter account. Written by Adryan Corcione, this piece discussed the relevance of Marx’s ideas and what they “can still teach us about the past and present.” Corcione praised The Communist Manifesto, describing it as “a piece of writing that makes the case for the political theory of socialism — where the community (rather than rich people) have ownership and control over their labor — which later inspired millions of people to resist oppressive political leaders and spark political revolutions all over the world.” Teen Vogue talked with two educators and learned how they use Marx’s teaching in the classroom. In the first case, Mark Brunt draws from passages in The Communist Manifesto and fuses it with his teaching material on the industrial revolution to get his Marxist message across during the English class he teachers.  Brunt uses The Jungle—a book “that revealed the exploitative workplace conditions of the meat industry in Chicago and other industrialized cities many immigrants were subject to in the late 19th century— to given his students an idea of what it was like to work under so-called “capitalist exploitation.” The English teacher contends that factory workers “did all of the leg work”, which consisted of “slaughtering animals and packaging meat on top of working long days with little, if any, time off” just to “keep the factories intact.”  Teen Vogue tied this class struggle dynamic with the present-day conflict “between state governments and striking teachers in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Arizona, demanding higher pay and more public school funding.” On the other hand, George Ciccariello-Maher, a former Drexel University professor, conveys his history lessons in a way that get his students to imagine “society without capitalism, reminding them that different — though still imperfect and flawed — economic systems existed before, such as feudalism.”  Ciccariello-Maher explained this to Teen Vogue:
“When I teach Marx, it’s got a lot to do with questions of how to think critically about history. Marx says we live under capitalism [but] capitalism has not always existed.”
The former professor concluded, “It’s something that came into being and something that, as a result, just on a logical level, could disappear, could be overthrown, could be abolished, could be irrelevant. There’s this myth of the free market, but Marx shows very clearly that capitalism emerged through a state of violence.” The Teen Vogue article ended on the following note:
“While you may not necessarily identify as a Marxist, socialist, or communist, you can still use Karl Marx’s ideas to use history and class struggles to better understand how the current sociopolitical climate in America came to be. Instead of looking at President Donald Trump’s victory in November 2016 as a snapshot, we can turn to the bigger picture of what previous events lead us up to the current moment.”
What this piece illustrates is that Marxist ideas are still relevant, but the modern-day Left in developed countries has effectively pivoted in its strategy. Although there are still countries like Venezuela who embody the classical Marxist garrison state, Western leftists have become more creative in their tactics. What would have been anathema to past generations of leftists, they are now pressuring corporations to push identity politics and virtue signaling about the latest politically correct trend. They have now opened up a new battlefield that most people are still having trouble adjusting to. The identity politics paradigm we live in is “culturally” Marxist, where historically oppressed groups—women, minorities, and the LGBT community—suffer at the hands of so-called “white privilege.” These allegedly “disadvantaged” groups will then rally against the boogieman of white privilege.  This is different from the socioeconomic focus of traditional Marxism. Nevertheless, it shares a toxic disregard for individualism and focuses on group conflict i.e Bourgeois vs. Proletarian or “oppressed minorities” vs. white privilege. This runs contrary to what made societies like America great. Marx’s strategies and overall blueprints may not be faithfully being followed, but his ugly legacy of collectivism continues to haunt political corridors worldwide.

Gallup Poll: American Pride at an All-Time Low

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Elections and Politics, News. No Comments on Gallup Poll: American Pride at an All-Time Low

According to a new Gallup report, pride in being American has reached its lowest point since Gallup started tracking these attitudes in 2001. Although 70 percent of U.S. adults say they are proud to be Americans, only 45 percent are “extremely” proud. This marks the second consecutive year that this figure is below the majority level. American adults’ extreme pride in being American has been gradually decreasing in recent years. The recent June 3-16 Gallup poll reveals the lowest point to date. However, the recent two-percentage declines from last year’s 47% was not a statistically significant development. The highest numbers found in Gallup polls recording American patriotism were 69 and 70 percent, which were measured between 2002 and 2004. This makes sense since these numbers came after the 9/11 terrorist attacks when the American populace became extremely patriotic and came to their government’s defense. But the start of George W. Bush’s second presidential term in 2005 started shifting the public’s opinion on patriotism. Fewer than 60 percent of Americans hold extreme pride in being American. The Gallup poll also went into more specifics such as eight aspects of U.S. government and society that make Americans proud. According to the Gallup report, “Strong majorities express pride in six of the eight — American scientific achievements (91%), the U.S. military (89%), American culture and arts (85%), economic (75%) and sporting (73%) achievements, and diversity in race, ethnic background, and religion (72%).”  On the other hand, Americans do not view the American political system (32 percent) and the health and welfare systems (37 percent) with pride.  All in all, it seems that Americans are prouder of American institutions—culture and sports— that are separate from the state altogether. It should be noted that the love of one’s country and the ideas it embodies—freedom—is totally different from the love of government.  What these polls show is that Americans do view the government with skepticism. Nevertheless, they still must take concrete steps towards manifesting this distrust into policies that promote limited government. Despite these opinions, the managerial state does whatever it pleases. With the rise of identity politics in the U.S. and the inevitable growth of the U.S. government, it’s probably time for more radical alternatives. Concepts like radical decentralization, which promote more local rule, should now be entertained by advocates for liberty. By promoting efforts such as nullification and local rule, America can make a peaceful transition to a more decentralized form of governance that is less divisive and more socially cohesive.  The current political status quo is simply unsustainable.

Rep. Thomas Massie Introduces Legislation to Repeal Gun-Free Zones

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Gun Rights, Personal Liberty, Second Amendment. 5 Comments on Rep. Thomas Massie Introduces Legislation to Repeal Gun-Free Zones

Congressman Thomas Massie continues to prove that he is one of the most pro-liberty representatives in D.C. On June 12, Massie went on 55KRC to discuss his introduction of the Safe Students Act. Under this legislation, “the one-size-fits-all federal ban on guns in school zones” would be eliminated. Since the Virginia Beach shooting, the issue of gun control quickly came back into the national discussion. As expected, renewed cries for gun control instantly came into the picture. Emotions run high during these events, but they often cloud people’s judgment. Interestingly, the perpetrator of the shooting, DeWayne Craddock, acquired his gun legally by going through the standard background check that every American citizen must go through to acquire a gun. So, any more gun control is security theater at best and would have proven futile in stopping him. Instead of offering some milquetoast half-measure or even capitulating to the anti-gun pressure, Massie presented a pro-liberty alternative to this dilemma—getting rid of gun-free zones at school. By introducing the Safe Students Act, the Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) of 1990 would be repealed in order to allow teachers to carry firearms in self-defense. Massie introduced similar legislation in 2017 and 2018 in hopes of repealing this law.  In 2017, Massie defended his legislation stating that “Gun-free school zones are ineffective. They make people less safe by inviting criminals into target-rich, no-risk environments. Gun-free zones prevent law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves, and create vulnerable populations that are targeted by criminals.” Curiously, the GFSZA had bipartisan support, with 2020 Democratic Party Presidential front-runner Joe Biden introducing this legislation and Republican President George H.W. Bush signed this bill into law. Since 1950, 98 percent of mass shootings have taken place in gun-free zones, with schools being one of the primary locations that these atrocities are carried out in. With nearly 30 years in existence, it’s become abundantly clear that the GFSZA is a failure. To his credit, Massie has acknowledged this obvious trend and has the courage to do what’s right. It might not be the most popular idea, but someone has to start the conversation about repealing gun-free zones. Such a measure would save countless lives and bring back more autonomy to local school districts when it comes to providing security services. At this juncture, there’s no need to keep legislation that has repeatedly failed intact.

DC Politicians Want Further Micromanagement of E-Cigarettes

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Business and Economy, Drugs, Elections and Politics, Personal Liberty. No Comments on DC Politicians Want Further Micromanagement of E-Cigarettes

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin recently demanded that The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remove certain brands of e-cigarettes off of the market. If that wasn’t enough, Durbin wants to muzzle Juul’s advertising shut. What irked the Senator was the e-cigarette company’s claim that its products could help people break their smoking habits. In control freak fashion, Durbin expressed his disbelief with the Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless’ inaction on the issue. The Illinois Senator even believes that Sharpless has no intention of addressing this issue. Durbin voiced his frustration:
It is my belief that any person leading the FDA … must, first and foremost, feel a deep sense of responsibility to protect the health and well-being of all Americans, especially our nation’s children. Unfortunately, based on our meeting, I do not have confidence that you are that leader.
Durbin advised the Acting FDA chief to follow through with the enforcement of the FDA’s “deeming rule” which bars non-FDA approved e-cigarette products from hitting the market after August 8, 2016. He then noted that “new products are coming to market seemingly daily” without receiving the FDA’s approval. Durbin asserts that “FDA has not ordered the removal of a single product for this violation.” For Durbin, the way Juul has entered the market is completely unacceptable: It defies logic that a federal regulatory agency, such as FDA, would not have an understanding of which products are on the market legally and which are on the market illegally. Durbin then called for the FDA to remove all e-cigarette products that were not available on the market before the 2016 deeming rule came into effect. Whether e-cigarettes are healthy or not, is beside the point. The government has no authority to be stepping in and micro-managing people’s private affairs. If there is evidence to demonstrate the harmfulness of such products, civil society can step in to help alleviate those consequences. Freedom comes with responsibility, and private actors have proven time and time again to be able to build solutions to societal ills. On top of that, such interventions cause consequences that the regulators don’t anticipate. The drug sector is one which is filled with accounts of certain types of prohibitions leading consumers to use more dangerous drug alternatives. One of the most notable cases of this trend took place during the Prohibition Era when people started consuming the more dangerous variant of bathtub gin. In their zeal to do something, these kinds of consequences are never considered by the political class. The current nature of politics is to reward short-term actions masquerading as solutions that ultimately morph into a whole different set of problems in the long-run. Long-term analysis has completely flown out the window in today’s era shock politics. Sadly, our current society has lost its imagination and impulsively turns to the State to solve almost every problem.

More Americans Are In Favor of Socialism Than Ever Before

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Business and Economy, Communicating Liberty, Elections and Politics, Philosophy. 3 Comments on More Americans Are In Favor of Socialism Than Ever Before

A new Gallup poll shows that Americans are gradually acclimating to the ideas of socialism. A once taboo idea for past generations, younger generations are starting to slowly accept the idea that socialism is a viable economic system. One of the specific trends that this study found is that Americans are now more evenly divided on this topic than in previous decades. About 51 percent of American adults view socialism in a negative light, thinking it would have harmful effects on America. Whereas, 43 percent see socialism as a good thing. These attitudes were different in decades prior. For example, a 1942 Roper/Fortune survey illustrated how 40 percent viewed socialism negatively, while 25 percent were in favor of socialism, and 34 percent did not take a particular stand on the issue. What these latest Gallup polls show is that Americans are gradually becoming more accepting of socialism than previous generations. One interesting point is that Americans are now defining socialism in different terms. A fourth of Americans tie socialism to social equality and 17 percent still define in its traditional terms of the government controlling the means of production. Democratic Party voters hold socialism in high esteem, which has been a consistent trend according to Gallup polling in 2010. A solid majority of Democrats, 57 percent, show receptiveness towards socialism.  The prospects of Americans voting in a socialist for president are also increasing. An April Gallup survey highlighted how 47 percent of Americans would pull the lever for a socialist presidential candidate. While still a minority, these figures show that the Overton Window of public opinion is shifting towards socialism as the days go by. This makes sense when you consider several developments in the 2020 election cycle.  Bernie Sanders’ recent hiring of David Sirota, who was a vociferous fan of Venezuelan socialism in the past, shows that praise for socialism is becoming a normal talking point in the modern-day Democratic Party. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s meteoric rise has done a lot to make people reconsider capitalism and favor more government involvement in their economic decision-making. However, this is not to say that mainline Republicans and conservatives are much better. On issues like gun rights, they have generally conceded ground to the state. Additionally, once in office, they accept many premises of big government such as the managerial state and entitlement spending, despite their limited government campaign talking points. The solution to this is a more robust, cultural alternative to what the Left is offering. From there, public perception of these ideas can shift towards a more liberty-oriented direction.

Neoconservatives Want Trump to Take More Decisive Action in Syria

Written by Jose Nino on . Posted in Foreign Policy, Middle East, Military. No Comments on Neoconservatives Want Trump to Take More Decisive Action in Syria

When it seems that President Trump is putting America on the right path for foreign policy, neoconservatives want Trump to revert back to the usual interventionist programming. Syria is now the spot where hawks want Trump to take stronger action in light of recent events. According to a ZeroHedge report, the U.S. government sharply criticized the Russian and Syrian government’s actions as they ramped up airstrikes within the Idlib province in northwest Syria. In September 2018, the Russian-Syrian coalition was preparing for another assault on the Al-Qaeda dominated province. However, this campaign would be scrapped after the Trump administration threatened to use another military strike against the Syrian government. Fast forward to the present, and a State Department spokesperson said that “Indiscriminate attacks on civilians and public infrastructure such as schools, markets, and hospitals is a reckless escalation of the conflict and is unacceptable.” The spokesperson capped this condemnation off by saying that “The violence must end.” According to international coverage of recent events in Syria, 200 civilian deaths have occurred since the Syrian government has stepped up its attacks. The threat of “Iranian expansion” worries many neoconservative elites in Washington D.C. due to Iran’s alliance with Russia and Syria. Iran keeps D.C. elites up at night because of the increased activity of its proxy forces in the Middle East. In response, the U.S. government deployed a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf region to confront Iran and its proxies. A bipartisan coalition of elected officials delivered a letter to President Trump demanding that his administration assert itself more in Syria. Among their concerns were Russian intervention, Iranian expansion, and extremist group activity. Syria is another foreign policy adventure that the U.S. should withdraw out of. Neoconservative elements within the Trump administration and defense interests relish at the prospect of getting America entangled in another foreign conflict. However, the President’s role is very clear in foreign policy. The buck stops with Trump, which means that he can derail any interventionist plots from the likes of Mike Pompeo and John Bolton. If America First is the goal, interventionist schemes should be last.