Observations

Something old becomes something new AGAIN.

Cory Booker Wants to Establish ‘A White House Office of Reproductive Freedom’

As Democrats broadcast their strong support for legalized abortion, Presidential aspirant Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) released a “Plan to Advance Reproductive Rights” which includes a pledge to establish “a White House Office of Reproductive Freedom.”  [snip]

It seems that this was tried back in the ’70’s. If we remember correctly, it was called the “Free Love” decade; The attendant increase in STD’s and abortions rivals anything that the Senator can conjure up. Reproductive activity boomed all across campus dorms and in private dwellings. Such goings on increased the STD; Abortions became a popular weekend activity for the naifs who believed either in divine protection, the rhythm method or just woeful ignorance. All this frolic screeched to a halt when AIDS entered the sport.

A factor ignored by the Senator is the preponderance of black teen and twenty crowd having abortions. It is not an oversight that the majority of these clinics in or adjacent to black neighborhoods. Margaret Sanger’s belief n Eugenics is as potent today as back in her time and guides Planned Parenthood.

Stilton’s Place

Toon in

Day by Day

The Collectivist Coin

TANSTAAFL! Forever true is the statement about free lunch.

Universal basic income doesn’t work. Let’s boost the public realm instead

A study published this week sheds doubt on ambitious claims made for universal basic income (UBI), the scheme that would give everyone regular, unconditional cash payments that are enough to live on. Its advocates claim it would help to reduce poverty, narrow inequalities and tackle the effects of automation on jobs and income. Research conducted for Public Services International, a global trade union federation, reviewed for the first time 16 practical projects that have tested different ways of distributing regular cash payments to individuals across a range of poor, middle-income and rich countries, as well as copious literature on the topic.

It could find no evidence to suggest that such a scheme could be sustained for all individuals in any country in the short, medium or longer term – or that this approach could achieve lasting improvements in wellbeing or equality. The research confirms the importance of generous, non-stigmatising income support, but everything turns on how much money is paid, under what conditions and with what consequences for the welfare system as a whole.

From Kenya and southern India to Alaska and Finland, cash payment schemes have been claimed to show that UBI “works”. In fact, what’s been tested in practice is almost infinitely varied, with cash paid at different levels and intervals, usually well below the poverty line and mainly to individuals selected because they are severely disadvantaged, with funds provided by charities, corporations and development agencies more often than by governments.

Experiments in India and Kenya have been funded, respectively, by Unicef and Give Directly, a US charity supported by Google. They give money to people on very low incomes in selected villages for fixed periods of time. Giving small amounts of cash to people who have next to nothing is bound to make a difference – and indeed, these schemes have helped to improve recipients’ health and livelihoods. But nothing is revealed about their longer-term viability, or how they could be scaled up to serve whole populations. And there is a democratic deficit: people who get their basic income from charities or aid agencies have no control over how payments are made, to whom, at what level or over what period of time.

The Alaska Permanent Fund, built from the state’s oil revenues, pays all adults and children a dividend each year – in 2018, it was $1,600 (£1,230). The scheme is popular and enduring; it has been found to produce some positive impacts on rural indigenous groups, but it makes no claim to sufficiency and has done nothing to reduce child poverty or to prevent widening income inequalities. [snip]

International

The glories of Socialism are expressed beautifully in Venezuela. The compassion of the leader for his people couldn’t be more apparent. Makes one wonder why the mass of unwashed  aren’t more appreciative of  Dear Leader’s efforts.

Venezuela: Maduro Denies Military Abandoned Him, Vows to Resist ‘Gringo Empire’

Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro denied that he had lost control of the military and vowed to use all his power to crush legitimate President Juan Guaidó in his first public address since the latter called for a nationwide uprising on Tuesday.

“We have been facing various modes of aggression and coups d’etat like has never happened before in the history of Venezuela,” Maduro declared, in a speech flanked by his top military commanders. He blamed “the Venezuelan far right, the Colombian oligarchy from Bogotá, and American imperialism” for Guaidó’s moves to finally replace him. [snip]

Guaidó became interim president of Venezuela in January after Maduro claimed the position despite not being democratically elected. Maduro has rejected the legislature’s appointment of Guaidó, refused to leave the presidential palace, and has largely maintained control of the military through his senior henchmen, making it impossible for Guaidó to exercise his power as commander in chief.

Guaidó announced on Tuesday that he had acquired control of a critical mass of the military, but he needed civilians to support the anti-Maduro troops against their superiors. Maduro rejected the call as a “coup” despite his lack of legitimacy in office. [snip]

A bit of color is necessary to highlight Venezuela so that AOC can find it easily.

The Latest: Venezuela’s top court orders López’s arrest

The latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local):2:20 p.m.

Venezuela’s top court has ordered the arrest of Leopoldo López, an opposition activist who took refuge in the Spanish Embassy after joining an attempt to topple President Nicolás Maduro this week.

The Supreme Tribunal of Justice on Thursday instructed police to detain López for violating terms of his house arrest.

On Tuesday, López appeared outside a military base in Caracas with opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who urged the military to overthrow Maduro. When the military did not heed the call, López and his family sought refuge in the Chilean ambassador’s residence. They later moved to the Spanish Embassy. [snip]

Snowflakes on Parade

One can only wonder just what is being taught for history in the Mushwit High Schools and Universitiesacross America.

Founding Fathers under attack: Students demand Thomas Jefferson statue removal

Students at Hofstra University protested a statue of Thomas Jefferson on Friday at the second annual event, titled “Jefferson Has Gotta Go!”

The statue has been the center of controversy on the campus and has been defaced with “DECOLONIZE” and “Black Lives Matter” signs and stickers. According to a media advisory sent by the Jefferson Has Gotta Go (JGG) campaign, the protest was held at Hofstra Breslin Hall. Organizers included “students of Hofstra University, staff from Planned Parenthood of Nassau County, and supporters of Hempstead community.”

The group gathered on campus to “expose the culture of bias and discrimination,” as stated in the media advisory, and to demand “the statue of Thomas Jefferson is removed.”

Hofstra College Democrats “want the statue to be removed and [we] stand with the Jefferson Has Gotta Go Campaign,” the group’s president, Brynne Levine, told Campus Reform. {snip]

Former College Democrats executive board member Miranda Pino also professed her support.

“JGG isn’t just about a statue,” she told Campus Reform. “Yes, the removal of the statue is important, but it is about what the statue represents: a legacy of racism and bigotry on college campuses.” {snip]

Here’s another batch of trophy hunting cretins. Tehy more than likely can’t even spell cretin.

High school may erase mural of George Washington: ‘traumatizes students’

A Northern California public school district may remove a mural of George Washington from the halls of George Washington High School due to concerns that it’s offensive and demeaning to Native Americans and African-Americans.

The controversy comes after a working group determined the mural, made up of several panels, “traumatizes students and community members.” But advocates for keeping the 83-year-old mural say that removing it ignores the intent of the artist and represents an attempt to erase history. [snip]

‘Glorifies slavery, genocide, colonization, manifest destiny’

Day by Day

Toon in

Stilton’s Place