Liberal on-line media bowing to EU clamp-down on free speech…

Here are two troubling events impacting free speech in the US:

This first one as reported by Bloomberg proclaims “Tech Giants Vow to Tackle Online Hate Speech Within 24 Hours.”  These “tech giants” (Facebook, Twitter and others) are following the lead of mandates promoted by the European Union (EU).

Unfortunately, “hate speech” as interpreted by the EU is anything that offends anyone, even if the so-called “hate speech” is the truth.  Muslims, especially, have taken advantage of this unique sensitivity of Western culture – not wanting to offend, aka “political correctness.”

An early manifestation of this new on-line media censorship policy is SiriusXM’s suspension of Glenn Beck over an interview with Brad Thor inferring a desire to have Trump assassinated.  Trump supporters are cheering their heads off over Becks’ suspension.  

But wait a minute.  Becks’ suspension is not only a double-edged sword, but is ominous and dangerous censorship overreach.   As much as many of us believe that Beck has gone to the darker side over the past few months, his interview with Brad Thor is not suspension-worthy “hate speech.”  Sirius failed to consider the context of the presumed intent of the comments.

Thor prefaced the ensuing dialogue with Beck with this statement:  “It is a hypothetical I am going to ask as a thriller writer.”  This Breitbart article puts the conversation in better context.  The Sirius suspension is based on a broad brush interpretation taken out of context.

This is just an early example of what EU censorship policy will do to our own freedom of speech.  We will be banned from writing anything that offends anyone.  Christians writing about Christianity will offend Muslims.  Biblical quotes about homosexuals will offend queers.  Anyone writing the truth about Islam will offend Muslims.  Any fiction writer positing a plot of a present or future book will ironically offend the allegedly tolerant liberal media.  This exemplifies the intolerance of “tolerance” that has become a hallmark of the left.

We desperately need to unshackle control of the media, both broadcast and internet, from control by leftists.  The leadership and culture of both Facebook and Twitter are in the hands of these elitists: The most intolerant of tolerance in our culture today.  Certainly there is a conservative or at least “middle ground” alternative out there somewhere.

Targeted responses…

This is from the “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” department.

First up:  Oreos.

I used to love Oreos.  The last package of Oreos I bought was last week.  When I got home I opened the package and tried to remove the first one.  It crumpled in half.  I took that as a one off coincidence.  Over the next several days I tried to pluck out several more.  They all came out in pieces.  Curious about the rest of them, I found that the whole bunch were broken in half, or worse.  The first thing that crossed my mind was their trip from Mexico, crossing the Rio Grande and making their way too Florida was too much for them.  So I returned the half empty package full of Oreo remnants to Publix and traded it in for a mini Blueberry Pie manufactured where?  In Publix, probably Jacksonville, FL.  I also told the cashier who was busy selling lottery tickets that the Oreo’s trip from Mexico was too hard on them.  I doubt she understood.  Those Oreo crumbs were my last until Oreos decide to make a shorter trip from anywhere in the US.

Next up, Target stores: 

I was researching air purifiers on-line.  A product from Target popped up.  I looked at it to compare.  It might have been a contender but for Target’s gender confusion.  As a result of that Target search, I received a survey from Target.  At the end of the survey they asked for my opinions.  I wrote that I might have considered purchasing an item from them if it were not for their gender confusion and stupid public bathroom policies that pander to the perversions of 0.1% of the US population.  By the way, I agree with everything Rush Limbaugh said on the subject a couple of days ago HERE.

“It’s not about what happens in bathrooms…Everybody knows this is just yet another vehicle that extreme liberals are using to undermine and overthrow and transform the founding culture of the United States.”

Rush Limbaugh

Next up, verbiage change regarding “gays”:

I surprised myself a few days ago when conversing about our government’s gender confusion.  I actually used the word “queer” when discussing gays.  I have never done that before.  I tried to be respectful most of my life.  My attitude had been let sleeping perverts lie.  As long as they don’t force their perversion on others, I’m ok.  We all fall short.  But there are limits.  So I had to ask myself  “why now and why that “q” word?”  Well, there are such things as “odd” and “queer” for a reason.  But when the odd and queer and perverse and unruly and disrespectful and obnoxious and threatening get out of control and attempt to impose themselves on the other 99% of us, that’s a problem.  I think this situation has the same root cause as Obama’s pandering to criminal black hoodlums.  Obama’s policies toward Blacks and police and the law has soured the attitudes of many Americans toward blacks.  Obama has eroded race relations back several decades.  He is jamming the “rights” of punk blacks down our throat.  He is doing the same with regard to to sexual perversion – jamming immorality down the throat of parents, children and the mores that have buttressed American civilization over the centuries.   I now feel it fair game to call them what they are, “queers”.  “Just like Obama”, some will say.

Next up, Jeff Bezos and Amazon:

Jeff is a great business man and an even greater free trade guy.  He hates the idea of a balanced trade policy because it will somehow work against his business plan.  And consequently he also hates Donald Trump who favors US jobs to Chinese jobs.  If nothing else, Amazon is a great place to look at product reviews.  I tried ordering a couple of items there but product delivery would take 3 weeks or more for the model I wanted.  Further web searches discovered Best Buy’s “price matching” policy.  So I documented Amazon’s cheapest price for my air purifier that they wouldn’t deliver for a month (I guess that’s how long it takes to arrive here from China) and used that to get a great price from Best Buy – and delivered in a week.  Take THAT, Trump-hating Bezos.  I will be sure to take advantage of Best Buys’ price matching policy in the future to avoid Amazon as much as possible – at least until Trump balances the trading field between us and China.  HERE is more on the Trump/Bezos tussle.

Oh, I almost forgot…I refuse to click on Washington Post articles that don’t allow comments from readers.  I don’t appreciate one-way brain washing – especially from Bezos progressives.

These are four little ways I am making my feelings known.  If 100 million of us did the same, it might make a difference.

The first mainstream media story of the inevitable US debt default…

This is from the “but Sapphire, you can’t do dat…” department.  Peter Schiff and Donald Trump agree that default on our national debt may be required.

 

Kingfish is “entitled” just like too many citizens feel entitled.

Schiff prefers to call it “restructuring” rather than default, although he also uses the “d” word.  But the reality is that our national debt is so huge with no possibility that the rate of increase will decline.  Even worse, the current rock bottom interest rates cannot be maintained forever.  Once rates start their upward march, we will see our national debt increase at an exponential rate that will not be sustainable for long.

Something will need to be done, and the sooner the better.

HERE is the CNBC story.  The video of Peter Schiff laying out the problem and required solution is below:

I can hear Hillary now:  “There goes Donald , saying ridiculous things again.  We will never have to default.  We can keep raising our debt ceiling forever.  As long as I have anything to do with it, we will continue to kick the can down the road. It doesn’t matter.  [now squealing] What difference at this point does it make?” 

But Sapphire, you can’t do dat!

Here is the difference:  The longer the inevitable is put off, the worse it will be for all Americans.  No politician wants to be in office when the inevitable happens.  Only a non-politician like Trump will have the courage to do what is necessary to enhance our prosperity.  Trump and Schiff realize that as long as the burgeoning national debt albatross is hanging around America’s neck, prosperity will not be possible and decline will be our lot. 

All other candidates would prefer to ignore the problem until our economy suffers an unavoidable,uncontrolled, terrible collapse.

Here is more from Zero Hedge, this time with Trump clarifying his earlier comments about “restructuring” and “default.

And, for your listening enjoyment, here is Tennessee Ernie Ford.  Except instead of “company store” in the lyrics, substitute “China.”

The Trump effect on Russian clicks on my blog…

The map and table below indicate the recent national source of page views on my blog as reported by Google Stats.  Never have I seen the clicks from Russia exceed those from the United States.  In fact I don’t recall the Russian viewers being more than a small fraction of US viewers before this.

I attribute this surge of Russian audience to the “Trump effect.”  Trump has hinted at greater friendship with Russia along with his appreciation of Russia’s  assistance in our common fight against the threat posed by the Islamic ideology and the fanatics who implement it.

I have thought for some time that the alleged hostile relationship between Russia and the United States was overblown.  We have much more in common than we have differences.

Over the last couple of decades Russia has edged a bit toward the freer political and economic systems of the US.  There is still a ways to go.

And, sadly, the United States has edged toward the more regulated and less free political and economic systems of Russia.

While we have not yet “met in the middle” – there are still great differences in our political systems and economies – we are more alike than most realize:  In religion, in race, in cultures, in aspirations, and in many cases, in heritage.

Donald Trump recognizes the common interests we share.  He is a breath of fresh air in that regard and in many other ways.

Hopefully there are those in Russia who also appreciate the good that can come from those who share the reality of our common interests as well.

      Entry                     Page views

• Russia                     157
• United States      130
• Brazil                        14
• Japan                        14
• China                          7
• Italy                           4
• Germany                  3
• France                       3
• Canada                      2
• India                          2

Congratulations Donald Trump

Mr. Trump won Indiana by over 15 points and Ted Cruz has suspended his campaign.

Now, regarding the upcoming Republican convention and campaign against crooked Hillary, here is a must see and must send video:

A current Trump employee who excoriates those who slander Trump’s name and reputation.

 

And for a bit of celebratory humor, here is a Canadian’s travel monologue for Trump haters who have vowed to move to Canada if Trump wins.  Bon Voyage.  We will be a better nation for it.