The Climate Conundrum

 

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

 

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

 

 

John Kerry spoke from the White House this week in connection with the Biden administrations executive orders on climate. It is chilling that the stenographic media has either chosen to ignore his comments or do not fully grasp the severity of the narrative.

To wit, with respect to the Paris climate accord:

“…Paris alone is not enough, not when almost 90 percent of all of the planets emissions, global emissions, come from outside of U.S. borders. We could go to zero tomorrow and the problem isn’t solved.”

 

Consider what he has said. If the United States were to eliminate all of its carbon dioxide emissions, the problem of what is euphemistically called ‘climate change’, the problem would still exist.  The plan apparently is to spend tens of trillions of borrowed monies to address a problem we cannot solve.

The Madison Conservative is not engaging on the merits of the climate change debate, save to say that those who promote the concept insist that there is a consensus among scientists that we have less than 12 years before we are irretrievably doomed. Science does not act on consensus. It deals with facts, and the reality is that the facts are changing as data becomes available. It was 40 years ago we were told we had 20 years left before we were faced with a coming ice age.  Again, we are not venturing into the debate, merely pointing out that facts change as science learns more. One only need look on how science has changed our understanding of Covid-19 in less than a year.  One should never trust a politician who deems something is ‘settled science’. Science is never settled.

 

This is why Kerry’s statement should concern every citizen. The Biden administration has just made their case that anything they deem to be a climate issue will be controlled by government. The car you drive will be mandated by its effect on the environment. The house you live in will need to meet energy standards. Your job will be decided by Biden fiat, as evidenced by the shutdown of the Keystone pipeline. According to Kerry, those pipeline workers can be trained to make solar panels. People will be trained to do what the government deems necessary, not what the individual wished to do with their life. One only needs to witness the arbitrary closure of businesses to address Covid.  Explanations are not given how a business is deemed non-essential. Providing for ones family certainly seems essential.

The other component of kerry’s statement seems to indicate that the Biden administration will attempt to inject itself in the policies of other governments. History has shown us nothing if not trying to force our will into another nation never seems to work out as we had planned.

President Trump started no new military excursions anywhere in the world, and there were no body bags sent back to the United States. On his first day in office, Joe Biden sent troops to Syria.  Are the troops going there to help the Syrians build wind power turbines?

The political left will attempt to use climate change to justify its somewhat bizarre agendas, noting that all actions are designed to ‘save the planet’.

The Earth is some 4 billion years old and has survived things far more dangerous than the internal combustion engine.

As always, the Madison Conservative is a staunch advocate of supporting those who are only asking questions. The press used to be an advocate of holding those in power to account for their actions. If the press abdicates that responsibility, each and every citizen must give their voice to demanding answers.

As Stephen Hopkins, Rhode Island delegate to Congress in 1776 was credited with saying, he’d never heard of a subject so dangerous that it couldn’t be debated about.

The founders and the framers wisdom should continue to guide us through these most interesting of times.

 

 

 

 

 

Reichstag 2021

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

 

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

 

The events at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, will no doubt be remembered not so much as a ‘day of infamy’. as a day of notoriety and opportunity. It is troubling that the political left and their sycophants in the major media immediately, and in unison, put out the narrative that those responsible were in fact ‘Trump supporters’. History has demonstrated through the eons that when everybody agrees on a singular political truth, something is dangerously amiss.

The first amendment to the United States Constitution protecting the right to a free press was intended to protect the press from retribution when questioning those in power. There has been no independent reporting on what may have really happened. The Democratic leadership states President Trump and his supporters were the culprits, and those who can only be called stenographers of the press dutifully write it down and repeat it on-air. Speaker Nancy Pelosi drafted an article of impeachment based upon the claim that the President incited the crowd to violence. One look of the unedited tape of the event proves otherwise. Do not take our word; seek out the tape.

For four years Donald Trumps’ enemies have sought to destroy him, often using the comparison that he was Adolf Hitler incarnate, and that his administration was the Gestapo.

Putting aside those disgusting comparison, Germany in 1933 does hold some frightening similarities to our nation today.

Before moving into that point, it is important to remember this warning from George Santayana:

 

“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it”

 

Consider:

In 1933, a month after Hitler assumed power, the German Reichstag –(their equivalent to our Capitol building) was set ablaze. The Nazi party at the time was a political party; they had not yet descended into their depths of evil. At the time, the Communist party in Germany was a political force. Hitler took the occasion of the fire to blame the communists, helping to rally the nation to support his ideology. He would ferret out the communists and keep the nation safe. No one question the claims of culpability; the nation merely wanted safety and security. History has shown that the Nazi’s started the fire, for exactly the reasons mentioned above. They sought political advantage and power.

The Madison Conservative is in no way suggesting any political leader had any involvement in the riots of January 6^th.

We are suggesting, however, that the press do their job and investigate what happened. This is no conspiracy theory, but a simple question. The mass media is filled with ‘experts’ talking about Trump voters being part of a ‘cult’, and that serious efforts need to be considered on how best to ‘reprogram’ the 74 million plus Trump voters.

If we do not question those in authority under the guise of ‘unity’ we do a disservice and dishonor this nation.

Remember this – the last time a nation was in agreement about their political status was Germany in the 1930’s.

That really did not work out well at all.

 

 

Ol' Joe & The Preamble

                                   The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

 

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

 

 

 

Joe Biden has been announced as the winner of the 2020 presidential campaign and thus the media has bestowed upon him the mantle of ‘President-elect’.

 

The Madison Conservative was established to be a cold and dispassionate voice amidst the histrionics and hyperbolic stance of the mass media. There is more than sufficient cause to debate the true outcome of the election. This is not the time for that dissertation, given that the counting and court cases have yet to be resolved.

 

That admission being made, we believe that a quick perusal of the Preamble to the United States Constitution is a fair starting point in discussing the potentially incoming Biden administration.

 

Forgive our acknowledged prejudice on this, but we believe in the world of political thought, nothing written before or since matches the absolute brilliance of our Preamble.

 

To wit:

 

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

 

Again, please forgive our lapse in being cold and dispassionate. That is some tight, concise and outright brilliant writing.

 

Back to the discussion. The purpose is to see where the Biden administration matches up with the preamble.

 

We the People of the United States,

 

This has long been a point of debate between various political factions. President Trump has spoken often of wanting to welcome immigrants who follow our established immigration laws. Joe Biden has said he will do away with much of immigration law, saying no human is illegal. Interesting point, but the Constitution clearly states who is afforded its right, privileges and protections. Joe seems to say that the rest of the world has equal rights to America, without restriction. Unless he changes the Constitution, his policy is in direct conflict with our governing document.

 

in Order to form a more perfect Union,

 

With all due respect, it is hard to take Biden seriously on this point when he fails to renounce comments made by his supporters that President Trump and those who vote for him are Nazis, racists, and want fellow citizens to die from Covid. The question becomes if that is the Biden &  Harris view of how to achieve a status of being closer to perfection.

 

 

establish Justice,

 

Kamala Harris’ record as California AG includes  ignoring exculpatory or otherwise exonerating evidence against a number of suspects including death row inmate Kevin Cooper and George Gage. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard brought the issue up during a Democrat debate, but the press mysteriously did not press the issue. The singular piece of legislation attached to Joe’s 47 years of political history is the crime bill that imposed harsher prison sentences to those who trafficked in crack cocaine – read young urban men – while much lighter sentences of those in the world of powdery cocaine – read the rich and connected.

 

insure domestic Tranquility,

 

Joe and Kamala have yet to discuss what they would do to regain control of areas such as Portland, save for expressing that sometime free speech takes precedence. Exquisitely said by two people who have never had to bear the stresses of building a business, making payroll, coping with government regulations imposed by other people who have similarly avoided taking such risks themselves.

 

 

provide for the common defence,

 

Both Biden and Harris have proudly promoted the ‘defund and restructure the police’ policies. I would concur if the first police force to be so reconstructed is the Capitol Police. Please understand, we hold all law enforcement officers in the highest regard. The suggestion to start with the Capitol Hill force is only intended to demonstrate the cowardice of all public officials who promote the idea.

 

 

promote the general Welfare,

 

Many Americans are suffering economically because of no fault of their own but for Covid. Biden and Harris have stood mute as Nancy Pelosi played political gamesmanship over Covid relief, refusing to pass funding that would help give President Trump a ‘political win’. In this case, perhaps the adage that silence is acceptance sadly rings true.

 

and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,

 

Again, the silence has been deafening from the President-elect and his running mate on the greatness of America and our shared history of accomplishment.  The Preamble starts with ‘in order to form a MORE PERFECT union’. The founding fathers had no illusion about the perfection of their creation. They knew changes would need to be made, and so established the parameters on how to amend the Constitution. It was not until 2020 that we were told of our racist, hateful white privileged beginnings. Why would Biden & Harris choose to run such an awful country? Because America is not what a fringe group has been espousing. It should fall to the new administration to state unequivocally that while America is not perfect, we are, and with generations of spilled blood,  on our way.

 

 

 do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

 

On January 20^th, 2021, Joe Biden and kamala Harris will raise their right hands to preserve, protect and defend this august document.

 

The Madison Conservative will give them the benefit of the doubt: sadly, based upon their own words and actions, doubts their intentions and so we will hold them to their sacred oath.

 

We are America. Home of the proud, BECAUSE of the brave. If your candidate lost, get involved and do something to engage in the democratic process. If your candidate won, expect them to hold to their oath of office.

 

232 years and counting. Go live free!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Hiatus

 The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

It is that time of year for a commentary.

To wit:

The body politic will now take the summer to plot and scheme their electoral plans for the November midterms. The American electorate will enjoy the warmth of the summer sun after a particularly long and bitter cold winter and spring.

There will be little of note on the political front, little of constitutional consequence happening on the national stage.

For those reasons, it is the opinion of the Madison Conservative to take a summer sojourn itself. This will be a noticeably active election season in the fall, and as such there will be constitutional issues continually raised as politicians do the dumbest things in pursuit of official power.

The Madison Conservative wishes everyone safe travels this summer, and truly hopes to see everyone back home safe and sound upon our return the first Monday after Labor Day.

God Bless America!

See you all in September.

Memorial Day 2014

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

As the nation turns it attention to the summer season this Memorial Day, it is time again for The Madison Conservative to repost an earlier blog about a subject near and dear to us. We must honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of democracy, to protect the citizens and ideals of the United States of America. There are many ways to honor our fallen heroes, but perhaps the greatest way to do so is to help provide for their fellow surviving soldiers, seamen, airmen and marines.

To that point, here is the re-post:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

At a time when the body politic is abuzz over peripheral issue nonsense it is perhaps a fitting time to turn our attention to a matter of true national importance.

To wit:

There are many worthy charities that need to be supported by the public at large. There is currently running a series of commercials promoting the cause of the Wounded Warrior Project. The one that created the impetus for this blog post featured Trace Adkins.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

The charity is focused solely on helping returning disabled veterans and their families cope with the adjustments inherent with a disability coupled with the stresses related to the rigors of war inflicted upon the mind and body of our returning veterans.

The website address is being repeated throughout this blog to show support and solidarity with their intended mission.

That being said, and speaking as a United States Navy veteran, the fact that this organization was created out of a need to fill a void should be an embarrassment upon the military bureaucracy specifically entrusted with the care of our veterans, and should be an outrage to the electorate at large.

It is a disgrace that in the United Sates of America our veterans need to have an organization outside of the military ask for funds to help with their transition back to civilian life, to say nothing of asking for financial support to aid in their adaptive needs for a war inflicted disability.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

There is constant dialogue throughout the nation that we must “support the troops even if we disagree with the mission”, one of the hard learned lessons at the expense of our Vietnam War veterans: a true national disgrace whose wounds we are hopefully beginning to heal by acknowledging the treatment of those particular veterans and doing all we can to guarantee that such treatment of our military is never repeated.

It is crucial to understand that there is absolutely not one infinitesimal bit of daylight between the Madison Conservative and the wonderful folks at the Wounded Warrior Project.

The issue here is that there should never be a need for the private sector to provide anything of substantive necessity for our veterans and their needs when they return from battle. The men and women of our all voluntary military provide the protection and safety that allows us to become enraptured with the absurdities of any number of inconsequential matters, such as the current national political electoral theater.

The members of our armed forces choose to fill the role of protector, and their families bear the emotional and financial burdens of that decision. They should never be placed in the position of having to ask  any private enterprise for help in providing whatever support – physical, emotional or financial – the veteran and their family may need as they acclimate back to a civilian life  while coping with a injury suffered in defense of American liberty and freedom.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

If we break the explicit and implicit social contract with our soldiers, seamen, marines and airmen, America will no longer be the home of the brave and land of the free.

We will be too busy having telethons to raise money for guns, and asking corporations to help with a ‘buy a bullet’ campaign.

The Wounded Warrior Project is truly a charity that speaks to our higher ideals; but it should fall onto the American people through the military bureaucracy to insure that no veteran should ever need to ask a private entity for help.

We as a people are better than that.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

The 9/11 Museum - A Guest Commentary

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

When researching topics for the weekly blog post, the Madison Conservative uses a variety of sources for potential issues.

Rarely is a resource utilized in its totality, but when such an event does occur, the belief is that said source should be given this platform.

Such is the case this week.

The 9/11 Memorial was opened and dedicated this past week. There were many moving tributes presented by a multitude of media outlets, but none addressed the topic contained below. It was not our intent to discuss the Museum at all, but this column, presented here in its entirety, struck a deep chord.

So here is Susan Edelman’s beautifully written piece, reprinted here by permission of the copyright holder.

To wit:

The 9/11 museum’s absurd gift shop

By Susan Edelman

May 18, 2014

The 9/11 Memorial Museum features a gift shop with items such as caps, shirts, and FDNY vests for dogs.

The museum at Ground Zero tells the dark story of the 9/11 terror attacks with spectacular artifacts and exhibits. It pays heart-wrenching tribute to the innocents and heroes killed that day.

It also has a gift shop.

The 9/11 museum’s cavernous boutique offers a vast array of souvenir goods. For example: FDNY, NYPD and Port Authority Police T-shirts ($22) and caps ($19.95); earrings molded from leaves and blossoms of downtown trees ($20 to $68); cop and firefighter charms by Pandora and other jewelers ($65); “United We Stand” blankets.

There are bracelets, bowls, buttons, mugs, mousepads, magnets, key chains, flags, pins, stuffed animals, toy fire trucks, cellphone cases, tote bags, books and DVDs.

You can pick up an assortment of oak leaf jewelry at the 9/11 museum gift shop.

Even FDNY vests for dogs come in all sizes.

After paying $24 admission for adults, $18 for seniors and students, and $15 for kids 7 to 17, visitors can shop till they drop.

“To me, it’s the crassest, most insensitive thing to have a commercial enterprise at the place where my son died,” Diane Horning said.

She and husband Kurt never recovered the remains of their son Matthew, 26, a database administrator for Marsh & McLennan and aspiring guitarist.

About 8,000 unidentified body parts are now stored out of sight in a “remains repository” at the museum’s underground home.

“Here is essentially our tomb of the unknown. To sell baubles I find quite shocking and repugnant,” said Horning, who also objects to the museum cafe.

“I think it’s a money-making venture to support inflated salaries, and they’re willing to do it over my son’s dead body.”

Among the museum shop’s specially designed items:

- A black and white “Darkness Hoodie” printed with an image of the Twin Towers. The pullover, like other “Darkness” items, bears the words “In Darkness We Shine Brightest.” Price: $39.

- Silk scarves printed with 1986 photos by Paula Barr, including a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. Another depicts “lunchtime on the WTC Plaza.” They go for $95 each.

- “Survivor Tree” earrings, named after a pear tree that stood in the World Trade Center plaza and survived 9/11. Made of bronze and freshwater pearls, a pair costs $64. A leaf ornament molded from the swamp white oaks at the memorial is said to change from amber to dark brown “and sometimes pink around the time of the 9/11 anniversary.”

- Heart-shaped rocks inscribed with slogans such as “United in Hope” and “Honor.”

One rock bears a quote by Virgil that is emblazoned on a massive blue-tiled wall in the museum: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.” It costs $39.

John Feal, a Ground Zero demolition supervisor who runs the FealGood Foundation for ailing 9/11 responders, said he understands the need to raise money for costs, including six-figure salaries for execs like CEO Joe Daniels, who takes in $378,000.

But Feal blasted the store’s opening Thursday, when only 9/11 relatives, rescuers and recovery workers were invited to visit. Those free visits will continue through Tuesday. The museum opens to the public Wednesday.

“These people are suffering, and they don’t need to be reaching into their pockets,” Feal said. “The museum could have gone six days without asking for money.”

The museum plans to fund its $63 million operating budget with admission fees and donations.

“All net proceeds from our sales are dedicated to developing and sustaining” the museum, reads a notice at the store and online, where items are also sold. “Thank you for helping to build a lasting place for remembrance, reflection, and learning for years to come.”

In a twist, a plaque says the store was “made possible through the generosity of Paul Napoli and Marc Bern,” partners in a law firm that reaped $200 million in taxpayer-funded fees and expenses after suing the city for nearly 10,000 Ground Zero workers.

The museum Web site lists the firm as having donated $5 million.

“They could have given that $5 million to the sick and suffering — their former clients,” Feal said.

Happy Mothers Day

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

George Washington is universally accepted as earning the title of ‘Father’ of America, being the general who led the fledging nation to victory against England in the Revolutionary War, and then being elected to the office of the presidency as the America’s first constitutionally empowered chief executive. His wisdom set the tone for the new nation, and his choice to refuse a position of ‘President for Life’ provided a standard which all subsequent presidents followed, save for Franklin Roosevelt.

On this Mother’s Day, the question begs to be answered: who would qualify as the ‘Mother’ of America? While Martha Washington, as the nations inaugural First Lady did little of public note to be rewarded with the sobriquet. Dolly Madison, who served as official White House hostess for both Thomas Jefferson and then her husband, provided a standard for future first ladies, but again lacks the public record of involvement in the formation of the greatest nation the world has ever seen.

The Madison Conservative would propose that the true ‘Mother of America’ honor be bestowed upon Abigail Adams. Truly no other woman of the revolutionary era had as much to do with policy and substantive input as Abigail. The letters between her and John Adams show a woman intent on insuring that democracy come to America, and was a critical sounding board for her husband as his involvement in the War for Independence grew.

Consider the following official biography from the Abigail Adams website and we are sure all will agree that she has earned her place as Mother of America.

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms’ of America, past, present and future!

ABIGAIL SMITH ADAMS

1744-1818

Abigail Adams was born November 11, 1744 in Weymouth, to Elizabeth Quincy Smith and Reverend William Smith, pastor of Weymouth’s First Church.

Like most girls of her time, she did not receive a formal education, but took advantage of her father’s library and studied the Bible, history, philosophy, essays and poetry.  Abigail’s mother and grandmother Quincy taught her social graces, as well as homemaking and handiwork skills.  Such a background helped her to become a keen political observer, prolific writer, and influential First Lady.

On October 25, 1764 Abigail married John Adams, a Harvard graduate pursuing a law career.  Their marriage was one of mind and heart, producing three sons and two daughters, and lasting for more than half a century.  They first lived on John’s farm in Braintree, and later in Boston.  Long separations kept them apart, when John traveled as a circuit lawyer and later, when John served as delegate to the Continental Congress, envoy abroad, and elected officer.

Abigail struggled alone with wartime shortages, lack of income, and difficult living conditions.  She ran the household, farm, and educated her children.  Abigail’s letters to John were strong, witty and supportive.  The letters, which have been preserved, detail her life during revolutionary times, and describe the many dangers and challenges she faced as our young country fought to become independent.  Most of all, the letters tell of her loneliness without her “dearest friend,” her husband John.

Abigail followed John to his posts in Paris in 1784 and Great Britain in 1785, always observing and commenting upon politics, customs and society.  They returned to a newly acquired house in Braintree (now part of Quincy) that would remain their home for the rest of their lives.  From 1789 to 1801, Abigail, as wife of the Vice President and then as First Lady, became a trusted and influential political advisor to John, while she also fulfilled her role in official entertaining.  Her unwavering support and encouragement of her husband in his career was apparent, as she fearlessly expressed her opinions in private and in public.

Abigail and John retired to Quincy in 1801, and for 17 years enjoyed the companionship that public life had long denied them.  Abigail died on October 28, 1818, and is buried in the United First Parish Church of Quincy beside her husband, who died on July 4, 1826.

Abigail Adams is further distinguished as the first American woman honored as the wife of one U. S. President and the mother of another.  Her husband John Adams, 2nd President, served from 1797 to 1801, and their son, John Quincy Adams, 6th President, served from 1825 to 1829.

Intelligent and broadminded, Abigail Smith Adams was often ahead of her time with many of her ideas. She opposed slavery, believed in equal education for boys and girls, and practiced what she learned as a child - the duty of the fortunate is to help those who are less fortunate.