Best explanation yet for why the Confederate statues are falling.

cnelsen

Gold Member
Oct 11, 2016
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Washington, DC
Steve Sailer, the nation's most insightful essayist:

Francis Fukuyama hypothesized the ending of history, but he failed to foresee the increasingly popular practice of the mending of history to delegitimize the right of the politically weak to their pride and property.

Rewriting the past to help disinherit the powerless by demeaning their ancestors is an ancient practice currently growing in popularity. For example, this summer in Madison and Boston, government officials have obliterated or covered up grave markers commemorating prisoners of war who died in captivity.

This is justified as punching up against white supremacy. After all, who is more powerful than a dead POW?

Why are politicians today going out of their way to disrespect Confederate soldiers who died in Union prison camps more than 150 years ago? Because they can. Because this kind of vandalism is a classic turf-marking exercise understood by even the dimmest juvenile delinquents. Because desecration of memorials to the dead signifies that their living heirs are vulnerable to rapacity.

Further, this ISIS-like destruction of monuments can provoke individual losers in this struggle to overreact, which in turn is instantly used to justify more despoliation.

As a Hegelian, Fukuyama defined history as the struggle among ideologies, such as communism and fascism. He became famous for arguing that by 1989, history was over: Capitalist representative government had defeated its left and right rivals and nothing would ever change.

In reality, of course, what everybody who isn’t Fukuyama thinks of as history—the process that creates winners and losers—has been happening since Nineveh and Tyre, long before modernist ideologies ever emerged. Similarly, under whatever nominal rules of the game happen to be prevailing in the future, winners and losers will continue to be crowned after Fukuyama is forgotten. The game of power and property goes on forever.

A central political question since civilization began has been the inheritance of property.

Most societies that have ever accomplished much have treated property with respect. Property rights, both private and public, incentivize innovation and promote conservation by avoiding the tragedy of the commons.

The liberal political philosopher John Rawls explained:

Unless a definite agent is given responsibility for maintaining an asset and bears the responsibility and loss for not doing so, that asset tends to deteriorate. On my account the role of the institution of property is to prevent this deterioration from occurring.

History suggests that property works best when it exists in multiple forms, such as personal, corporate, and public.

Various ideologues on the left and right have tried to abolish one form or another of property. Marxists attempted to eliminate large-scale accumulations of private property, but communist states soon succumbed to economic stagnation and environmental degradation.

British socialists attempted to split the difference by allowing the accumulation of private property during one’s life, but expropriating it through ruinous death duties upon one’s death. But this led to a shoddy society. As Rawls observed:

The perpetuity condition is crucial.

Today, libertarian extremists of the Cato Institute ilk have been attempting to eliminate the concept of national property, the shared patrimony of Americans, by demanding open borders. But Rawls, despite his famous “veil of ignorance” liberalism, realized that permitting massive immigration would be disastrous:

...an important role of government, however arbitrary a society’s boundaries may appear from a historical point of view, is to be the effective agent of a people as they take responsibility for their territory and the size of their population, as well as for maintaining the land’s environmental integrity.

The preservation of national borders is crucial for preserving the well-being of self-regulating peoples by keeping out invading overpopulators:

People must recognize that they cannot make up for failing to regulate their numbers or to care for their land by conquest in war, or by migrating into another people’s territory without their consent.

While Marxism was nominally anti-nationalist, it most succeeded politically—such as in China, Vietnam, and Cuba, where Communist Parties still reign—by mobilizing nativism. Ironically, Marxists proved some of the most successful nationalists of the 20th century. Mao, Ho, and Castro were failures as economic leaders, but their political heirs remain in power because the founding tyrants drove out the foreign devils.

On the other hand, a lot of money can be made by importing foreigners, as Mark Zuckerberg’s vastly well-funded campaign for more immigration to drive down coder salaries has demonstrated.

Winners are successful at portraying themselves as deserving their property. The Bible, for example, goes to great lengths to honor Abraham. The reverence paid to him is seen as justifying his distant heirs’ possession of the Holy Land. Conversely, the wickedness of the Canaanites, as recounted in their enemy’s book, explains why they didn’t get to keep their possessions.

Not surprisingly, the individuals who dominate the means of communication today—such as Zuckerberg (net worth $70 billion); the Google guys, Sergey Brin ($43 billion) and Larry Page ($44 billion); Carlos Slim ($70 billion); Michael Bloomberg ($52 billion); and Jeff Bezos ($81 billion)—are seldom questioned in the media about the ethics of their monopolies.

After all, they more or less own the media. Thus The New York Times (bailed out in 2009 by Mexican telecom monopolist Slim) over the weekend praised CEOs for speaking “truth to power.”

In America in 2017, the rich have the whip hand to punish average Americans in the notional name of the poor, domestic and global.

Silicon Valley monopolists are currently on the warpath against those who speak up for national solidarity. Those blessed with an abundance of private wealth are paying to demonize those whose main asset is their American nationality. Those with all the money in the world want to debauch the scarcity value of American citizenship in order to get even richer. And they don’t take kindly to dissent.

This jihad by the rich against the one group competent enough to even potentially offer them effective resistance takes weirdly symbolic forms. For example, the defender of the common man, Andrew Jackson, is being booted off the currency, while the paladin of the plutocrats, Alexander Hamilton, has been retconned into a woke Person of Color in the most expensive Broadway musical in history.

This is class war disguised as race war.

History may or may not end, but the rewriting of history will never be over.
 
You play the same class war game blaming the rich for the violence. Trust me, we could care less what ya'll "at the bottom" of the money scale do because we can just leave any time we like. Ya'll fuck up America for us, we'll move out, no biggie for most of us because we can take everything we have, or just rebuild it all better anywhere else.

(Not saying we want to leave, I mean the reason we're in America to begin with is because of the freedom it offers, but if you take that away with liberal/socialist/communist policies well... it's not America anymore... kind of loses it's "appeal" when we could go elsewhere. Hell some of us can buy an island and make our own rules...)

And for the record, we're kind of a different spectrum from like the rich politicians and Hollywood folks - we don't rely on "public perception of our morals" for our wealth, we rely on the market or global business that isn't as harmed by American outrage - which frankly a lot of the world thinks is a bit redic...
 
From what I can tell the uproar and removal of confederate symbols in this country has little to do with "Disrespecting" history and more to do with a long standing problem this country created for itself long ago. The civil war was primarily centered on releasing black slaves from bondage and accomplished this end at the cost of the most Americans to die in any war, anywhere.
Unfortunately the southern states did not much care for defeat and began the Jim Crow/Segregation era in which these monuments were created and established. The free black population has yet to integrate into it's new society and tends to live within the tribal mentality instilled in it for thousands of years, leading to the poverty and violence it complains about. No business wishes to invest in a community prone to theft, drugs, and violence which leads to no local employment and perpetuated poverty.
Regardless, I see no reason to celebrate men who tried to destroy my country in the first place.
 
You play the same class war game blaming the rich for the violence.
Who do you blame?

The individual.

It is not my fault if their dumb ass doesn't have money. In fact, you give me any poor person, give me their life history and shit, I'll point out exactly why they don't have money, guaranteed it will /not/ be "some rich persons" fault. 99% of the time it's personal fuck-ups, stupidity, or failure to act in a fiscally responsible manner. That's not even covering why they're not /rich/ which frankly in America /anyone/ with some brains can do though very simple methods of a personal investment in their own future and a bit of reservation.
 
You play the same class war game blaming the rich for the violence. Trust me, we could care less what ya'll "at the bottom" of the money scale do because we can just leave any time we like. Ya'll fuck up America for us, we'll move out, no biggie for most of us because we can take everything we have, or just rebuild it all better anywhere else.

(Not saying we want to leave, I mean the reason we're in America to begin with is because of the freedom it offers, but if you take that away with liberal/socialist/communist policies well... it's not America anymore... kind of loses it's "appeal" when we could go elsewhere. Hell some of us can buy an island and make our own rules...)

And for the record, we're kind of a different spectrum from like the rich politicians and Hollywood folks - we don't rely on "public perception of our morals" for our wealth, we rely on the market or global business that isn't as harmed by American outrage - which frankly a lot of the world thinks is a bit redic...


The New rich are not the real power brokers here.

It is the old money families that have the trifecta of wealth, power and social influence that manipulates the system to marginalize everyone else.
 
I don't think "the rich" are out to get people, but some are using their wealth to finance this phony social justice war, for purposes that I can't understand.
 
I don't think "the rich" are out to get people, but some are using their wealth to finance this phony social justice war, for purposes that I can't understand.
Me niether.

George-Soros-God.jpeg
 
I guess I fall not on the side of "they're doing it on purpose" but rather on the side of "good intentions with bad consequences."
 
From what I can tell the uproar and removal of confederate symbols in this country has little to do with "Disrespecting" history and more to do with a long standing problem this country created for itself long ago. The civil war was primarily centered on releasing black slaves from bondage and accomplished this end at the cost of the most Americans to die in any war, anywhere.
Unfortunately the southern states did not much care for defeat and began the Jim Crow/Segregation era in which these monuments were created and established. The free black population has yet to integrate into it's new society and tends to live within the tribal mentality instilled in it for thousands of years, leading to the poverty and violence it complains about. No business wishes to invest in a community prone to theft, drugs, and violence which leads to no local employment and perpetuated poverty.
Regardless, I see no reason to celebrate men who tried to destroy my country in the first place.
It's a part of the country's history. Learn from it. Destroying monuments to make someone feel good is childish.
 
I guess I fall not on the side of "they're doing it on purpose" but rather on the side of "good intentions with bad consequences."
There is so much disinformation around and lies being screamed on both sides.

We have to recreate a moderate source of reliable information that does not take sides so we can talk to each other with agreed upon sources, facts and definitions.
 
From what I can tell the uproar and removal of confederate symbols in this country has little to do with "Disrespecting" history and more to do with a long standing problem this country created for itself long ago. The civil war was primarily centered on releasing black slaves from bondage and accomplished this end at the cost of the most Americans to die in any war, anywhere.
Unfortunately the southern states did not much care for defeat and began the Jim Crow/Segregation era in which these monuments were created and established. The free black population has yet to integrate into it's new society and tends to live within the tribal mentality instilled in it for thousands of years, leading to the poverty and violence it complains about. No business wishes to invest in a community prone to theft, drugs, and violence which leads to no local employment and perpetuated poverty.
Regardless, I see no reason to celebrate men who tried to destroy my country in the first place.
It's a part of the country's history. Learn from it. Destroying monuments to make someone feel good is childish.
I find it likely that between history books, movies, documentaries, reenactments and confederate flag stickers on cars I will have no problem remembering. I have no problem with confederate monuments unless they are erected in public spaces or state buildings. These only serve to upset people and are silently intended to do so.
 
~pondering & rambling~

Every person is individual, we all have our own reasons for our actions, causes, etc. I suppose one could argue that certain rich folks are kind of doing it "on purpose" in that they are motivated by personal gain; like one could easily argue that Soro's foundation depends on donations so it behooves him to push causes that appeal to the emotions. Very similar to how churches appeal to emotions to get donations as well, politicians too.

For old wealth, idk about the argument that they are more particularly at fault than a "red-blooded capitalist" type like myself - after all I have been known to make large donations to causes; I've campaigned for SSM in Alaska nearly my entire life for example. (Though admittedly I dropped my funding toward LGBTQWTF causes when they started the bathroom bullshit.) I suppose that's the end all really, I support what I believe in personally as I'm sure all folks who can do. I think it is safe to say that "old wealth" folks do the same - and most likely they pay little attention to the "after math" of their donation - they did their part signing the check. I know my mother is quite guilty of that, she's a classical liberal and frankly until she heard the media tearing up Mr. Trump, and knowing full well who he really was, "saw the light" of how much the left had changed - prior to that frankly she paid no attention to politics believing that both sides were compromising and such.

I suppose it could be argued that a lot of us wealthy folks just don't have time to get as involved in politics, because being bluntly honest, it doesn't really effect our lives so "personally" - we're rather immune to the influences of others voices (actors and shit) because we are /already/ successful (call us narcissistic if you wish, but it has served us and ours well,) we're also relatively "problem free" in that we don't stress about our property taxes, the cost of "rent," food, and gas, etc. as much as say the poor and the middle class. For us it is about "principle" not really the cause and effect... We're also in a sense "insulated" from the effects of real politics and are free to support and vote as we individually believe; and that well meaning intention can go either right or left on a whim.
 
I guess I fall not on the side of "they're doing it on purpose" but rather on the side of "good intentions with bad consequences."
There is so much disinformation around and lies being screamed on both sides.

We have to recreate a moderate source of reliable information that does not take sides so we can talk to each other with agreed upon sources, facts and definitions.

As much as I agree, I'm not entirely sure its possible anymore. I do fault the lefties, they've raised their children (unwittingly imo) to be brats who have no real grasp of true problems. I was one of them until my step-father came into the picture and taught me "discipline." America is wonderful with it's freedom and opportunity, but none of that means anything without discipline, and respect across the board I suppose.

How do you teach grown ass adults to be responsible? How do you teach grown ass adults to have respect for freedom of ideas/beliefs/opinions? I'm just not sure it's possible...
 
How do you teach grown ass adults to be responsible? How do you teach grown ass adults to have respect for freedom of ideas/beliefs/opinions? I'm just not sure it's possible...
Well we used to put them through the draft and military training, though I doubt that that would work much any more.

I guess the School of Hard Knocks will have to suffice.

Edit: We could do some kind of mandatory community training, to teach a skill and self discipline, but the libertarians wouldnt like it nor the minority race baiters.
 
From what I can tell the uproar and removal of confederate symbols in this country has little to do with "Disrespecting" history and more to do with a long standing problem this country created for itself long ago. The civil war was primarily centered on releasing black slaves from bondage and accomplished this end at the cost of the most Americans to die in any war, anywhere.
Unfortunately the southern states did not much care for defeat and began the Jim Crow/Segregation era in which these monuments were created and established. The free black population has yet to integrate into it's new society and tends to live within the tribal mentality instilled in it for thousands of years, leading to the poverty and violence it complains about. No business wishes to invest in a community prone to theft, drugs, and violence which leads to no local employment and perpetuated poverty.
Regardless, I see no reason to celebrate men who tried to destroy my country in the first place.

Holy hell...that's some funny shit right there. :D
Sorta left out the whole 50's, 60's and 70" Democrat social engineering that lead to generations of poverty and government dependence...oh no...it's the Confederate statues.... man that is great stuff!!

3k_zu1Pd.jpg
 
How do you teach grown ass adults to be responsible? How do you teach grown ass adults to have respect for freedom of ideas/beliefs/opinions? I'm just not sure it's possible...
Well we used to put them through the draft and military training, though I doubt that that would work much any more.

I guess the School of Hard Knocks will have to suffice.

Edit: We could do some kind of mandatory community training, to teach a skill and self discipline, but the libertarians wouldnt like it nor the minority race baiters.

I'd like to take K-12 back to having some "skill" training. Like in my HS they had electives that might actually translate to useful in life; woodworking (which up here is/was huge because of our construction), metal working (lots of welders up here too, oil rigs and such), and so forth. Heck I had a /required/ home economics class where they taught us how to balance a budget, how to balance a checking account, how to write and mail out resumes, how to cook some basic easy meals, mock job interviews, and even got into investing and retirement planning, etc. I think just that class alone would help a lot of folks because so many seem to have no clue how to balance their lives and wants. (Aka leasing a car and an apartment at minimum wage ain't gonna cut it, buy used car with no payment, life is better! - common sense stuff these kids have no clue about.)

I'd also like to see colleges only do classes that are actually useful outside the education and politics fields, but that's privately owned crap lol
 
From what I can tell the uproar and removal of confederate symbols in this country has little to do with "Disrespecting" history and more to do with a long standing problem this country created for itself long ago. The civil war was primarily centered on releasing black slaves from bondage and accomplished this end at the cost of the most Americans to die in any war, anywhere.
Unfortunately the southern states did not much care for defeat and began the Jim Crow/Segregation era in which these monuments were created and established. The free black population has yet to integrate into it's new society and tends to live within the tribal mentality instilled in it for thousands of years, leading to the poverty and violence it complains about. No business wishes to invest in a community prone to theft, drugs, and violence which leads to no local employment and perpetuated poverty.
Regardless, I see no reason to celebrate men who tried to destroy my country in the first place.

Holy hell...that's some funny shit right there. :D
Sorta left out the whole 50's, 60's and 70" Democrat social engineering that lead to generations of poverty and government dependence...oh no...it's the Confederate statues.... man that is great stuff!!

3k_zu1Pd.jpg
Actually I did not leave out the data you giggle about, it simply had nothing to do with my commentary. Though I do quite understand your decision to avoid discussing the information provided in favor of pointless distraction. A very common if regrettable tactic.
 
From what I can tell the uproar and removal of confederate symbols in this country has little to do with "Disrespecting" history and more to do with a long standing problem this country created for itself long ago. The civil war was primarily centered on releasing black slaves from bondage and accomplished this end at the cost of the most Americans to die in any war, anywhere.
Unfortunately the southern states did not much care for defeat and began the Jim Crow/Segregation era in which these monuments were created and established. The free black population has yet to integrate into it's new society and tends to live within the tribal mentality instilled in it for thousands of years, leading to the poverty and violence it complains about. No business wishes to invest in a community prone to theft, drugs, and violence which leads to no local employment and perpetuated poverty.
Regardless, I see no reason to celebrate men who tried to destroy my country in the first place.
It's a part of the country's history. Learn from it. Destroying monuments to make someone feel good is childish.
I find it likely that between history books, movies, documentaries, reenactments and confederate flag stickers on cars I will have no problem remembering. I have no problem with confederate monuments unless they are erected in public spaces or state buildings. These only serve to upset people and are silently intended to do so.
They've been there for over 150 years. Until recently, who has been upset?
 

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