I strongly agree with the comments about the Hatch Act. It was gutted in the 1990s so that only the most overt political acts were prohibited, provided they were performed while at work for explicitly political purposes. Currently, you can work late and then head out for a late dinner where you can meet for casual conversation with other bureaucrats, newsies and consultants (who might pay for the drinks). Under these conditions, conspiracy is not necessary for the development of coordinated political activity.
I would also add abolishing Executive Order 10988, by means of which JFK authorized federal employee unions in 1962. This action politicized the entire federal work force overnight by creating a flow of dues to support union political activities.
We conservatives and our leaders must be IMPECCABLY honest and trustworthy in every aspect of our lives. If we lie, forward untrue information and don't check story sources, we are part of the problem. The world is suffering from a lack of integrity.
Excellent commentary. The goal of the first order must be eliminating the fraudulent elections which have become customary across the country. If that fails we will never have a conservative president again. Is the slim remaining middle class up to the effort?
We made great strides in Florida resulting in the best governor and state government in decades. It can be done but does the electorate actually care enough to take on the many leftist supervisors of elections.
"The counterrevolution must take its bearings from the common citizen and offer to restore his dignity and mastery over his own life. It must reverse the process of institutional capture, break up centralized ideological powers, and return influence to local communities. "
If we just offer an alternative CORE curriculum the better students will flock to it- for the same reason the Marine core always meets its recruitment goals. . Plus we get to say You like choice don't you? Lets form a group whose goal is an an alternative CORE curriculum!
"while the revolution seeks to demolish America’s founding principles, the counterrevolution seeks to restore them; while the revolution proceeds by a long march through the institutions, the counterrevolution works to remove power from institutions that have lost or betrayed the public trust."
Restoration of an entire régime of political life via reactivation of citizenry/democratic legitimacy/participation. A rejection of our status as de facto imperial subjects - which is the true internal meaning of the Left's revolution.
[I once worked for a media company, three hops down the org chart from a gent formerly high up in Nixon's administration. Paper never stayed on his desk. However wordy and detailed what we sent upstairs, it was quickly sent along. Comments, if any, were brief and to the point.]
Re the Nixon M.O., there's one other lesson guys my age remember. He ended the draft! Take the one thing that most motivates the other side, and give it to them. Today, that would be to oppose post-Dobbs GOP overreach, and promise SCOTUS justices with more of an individual liberty orientation.
The matter of the "donors" is important and must be considered.
The direct democracy of the early 1900's "Progressive" movement is relevant vs. oligarchy - that the aims are partially different is not overly sig. as to what can be used. What has changed is mostly what the oligarchs are trying to impose. The rest is a matter of...leadership.
Wilson was one interpretation, T. Roosevelt another, and F. Roosevelt yet another.
Chris is right that the gov't spends billions funding leftist causes, and without this funding they would quickly wither. That's the path to restoring America.
But we can't hope to permanently redirect federal spending to "good" uses. We have to eliminate federal spending and taxes, leaving that money inside the states.
Block grants are a step in the right direction, but still leave feds with the power to attach strings or revoke grants. We need to simply delegate a given responsibility to the states, abolish the fed agency formerly in charge, and reduce fed taxes. Thus actually shrinking, not just temporarily redirecting, the feds.
Dept of Ed is a perfect example. Simply end it and reduce fed taxes by however many billions DOE spends. Hordes of radical leftists would be defunded and have to find productive work. Millions in laundered dem campaign contributions would dry up. Students would get better educations, and voters would be smarter. Citizens would be wealthier, the economy healthier. States would be stronger and would actively resist a return to a world with DOE.
That's a substantial, permanent improvement which engenders a virtuous cycle. Do the same with the Dept of Energy, HHS, BATF, EPA... It seems radical but it's the only real fix. "Our" people can't really make the fed gov't work virtuously bc gov't by its nature lacks profit and loss feedback (one is essentially running blind). And also by its nature gov't attracts people who want to live (better and better) off of others.
For those who would drain the swamp, reducing federal spending is the single metric of success or failure. Nixon, Reagan, and Trump all failed this test. Nixon could have used gold outflows as a hard brake on spending, but instead untethered the dollar, enabling vast expansion. We need to learn this lesson and be laser focused on reducing the scope, the spending, and the income of the feds.
For every dollar we redirect toward conservative issues, we should reduce total spending and income by two dollars. That's a process that can snowball in our favor.
I am also thinking the next conservative POTUS should send a letter to all federal employees along these lines:
"I am your boss now. The Constitution says so. As long as I don't tell you to do something illegal (and I won't), you will do what I say. If that is not acceptable to you, you may now leave on good terms with good referrals. If you stay and intentionally undermine me, I will show no mercy. Welcome to the Trump (or whoever is the new POTUS) Administration!"
Wonderful work! Get us conservatives off our heals with a roadmap to take our country back! I am forwarding this far and wide.
I strongly agree with the comments about the Hatch Act. It was gutted in the 1990s so that only the most overt political acts were prohibited, provided they were performed while at work for explicitly political purposes. Currently, you can work late and then head out for a late dinner where you can meet for casual conversation with other bureaucrats, newsies and consultants (who might pay for the drinks). Under these conditions, conspiracy is not necessary for the development of coordinated political activity.
I would also add abolishing Executive Order 10988, by means of which JFK authorized federal employee unions in 1962. This action politicized the entire federal work force overnight by creating a flow of dues to support union political activities.
Brilliant!!! Thanks. We need to work out how to move the same way here in the UK.
We conservatives and our leaders must be IMPECCABLY honest and trustworthy in every aspect of our lives. If we lie, forward untrue information and don't check story sources, we are part of the problem. The world is suffering from a lack of integrity.
Excellent commentary. The goal of the first order must be eliminating the fraudulent elections which have become customary across the country. If that fails we will never have a conservative president again. Is the slim remaining middle class up to the effort?
We made great strides in Florida resulting in the best governor and state government in decades. It can be done but does the electorate actually care enough to take on the many leftist supervisors of elections.
"The counterrevolution must take its bearings from the common citizen and offer to restore his dignity and mastery over his own life. It must reverse the process of institutional capture, break up centralized ideological powers, and return influence to local communities. "
Clarity of purpose.
You are correct. But it is easier than you think.
If we just offer an alternative CORE curriculum the better students will flock to it- for the same reason the Marine core always meets its recruitment goals. . Plus we get to say You like choice don't you? Lets form a group whose goal is an an alternative CORE curriculum!
Totally right, but America needs a conservative political party with a coherent plan, which does not exist.
"while the revolution seeks to demolish America’s founding principles, the counterrevolution seeks to restore them; while the revolution proceeds by a long march through the institutions, the counterrevolution works to remove power from institutions that have lost or betrayed the public trust."
Restoration of an entire régime of political life via reactivation of citizenry/democratic legitimacy/participation. A rejection of our status as de facto imperial subjects - which is the true internal meaning of the Left's revolution.
Great piece. Send to Trump.
[I once worked for a media company, three hops down the org chart from a gent formerly high up in Nixon's administration. Paper never stayed on his desk. However wordy and detailed what we sent upstairs, it was quickly sent along. Comments, if any, were brief and to the point.]
Re the Nixon M.O., there's one other lesson guys my age remember. He ended the draft! Take the one thing that most motivates the other side, and give it to them. Today, that would be to oppose post-Dobbs GOP overreach, and promise SCOTUS justices with more of an individual liberty orientation.
Ten Hut! What a manifesto! I'm all in!!!
The matter of the "donors" is important and must be considered.
The direct democracy of the early 1900's "Progressive" movement is relevant vs. oligarchy - that the aims are partially different is not overly sig. as to what can be used. What has changed is mostly what the oligarchs are trying to impose. The rest is a matter of...leadership.
Wilson was one interpretation, T. Roosevelt another, and F. Roosevelt yet another.
Chris is right that the gov't spends billions funding leftist causes, and without this funding they would quickly wither. That's the path to restoring America.
But we can't hope to permanently redirect federal spending to "good" uses. We have to eliminate federal spending and taxes, leaving that money inside the states.
Block grants are a step in the right direction, but still leave feds with the power to attach strings or revoke grants. We need to simply delegate a given responsibility to the states, abolish the fed agency formerly in charge, and reduce fed taxes. Thus actually shrinking, not just temporarily redirecting, the feds.
Dept of Ed is a perfect example. Simply end it and reduce fed taxes by however many billions DOE spends. Hordes of radical leftists would be defunded and have to find productive work. Millions in laundered dem campaign contributions would dry up. Students would get better educations, and voters would be smarter. Citizens would be wealthier, the economy healthier. States would be stronger and would actively resist a return to a world with DOE.
That's a substantial, permanent improvement which engenders a virtuous cycle. Do the same with the Dept of Energy, HHS, BATF, EPA... It seems radical but it's the only real fix. "Our" people can't really make the fed gov't work virtuously bc gov't by its nature lacks profit and loss feedback (one is essentially running blind). And also by its nature gov't attracts people who want to live (better and better) off of others.
For those who would drain the swamp, reducing federal spending is the single metric of success or failure. Nixon, Reagan, and Trump all failed this test. Nixon could have used gold outflows as a hard brake on spending, but instead untethered the dollar, enabling vast expansion. We need to learn this lesson and be laser focused on reducing the scope, the spending, and the income of the feds.
For every dollar we redirect toward conservative issues, we should reduce total spending and income by two dollars. That's a process that can snowball in our favor.
I am also thinking the next conservative POTUS should send a letter to all federal employees along these lines:
"I am your boss now. The Constitution says so. As long as I don't tell you to do something illegal (and I won't), you will do what I say. If that is not acceptable to you, you may now leave on good terms with good referrals. If you stay and intentionally undermine me, I will show no mercy. Welcome to the Trump (or whoever is the new POTUS) Administration!"
This should not appeal to conservatives alone, but to anyone who opposes Wokeness.
T day we are paying people to spit in our faces.