Category Archives: Political Correctness

PARISFrench President Emmanuel Macron called for international regulation to curb the spread of ideological extremism in Western democracies, chiding tech companies and political correctness for allowing it to flourish.

Speaking to a group of reporters inside the lyse Palace, Mr. Macron said the storming of the U.S. Capitol was a sign of the Wests failure to rein in social media platforms, allowing them to become incubators of hate, moral relativism and conspiracy theories.

The French leader chided tech companieswithout naming themfor giving former President Donald Trump a platform to spread hate for years before taking action. Twitter Inc. banned Mr. Trumps personal account in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, citing the risk of further incitement of violence. Facebook Inc. announced a temporary suspension of Mr. Trump after the riot before extending that action indefinitely.

All those who allowed President Trump to succeed waited until they were entirely sure that he had no power left to then wrap themselves in dignity and now say Lets take away his whistle, Mr. Macron said. Why didnt they shut down his accounts before all this happened?

Mr. Macron said governments had delegated too much authority to tech companies by expecting them to act as stewards for Western democracy. This is an issue for real international regulation, Mr. Macron said.

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Frances Macron Calls for Regulation of Social Media to Stem Threat to Democracy - The Wall Street Journal

Scott Lively thinks about gay sex a lot. Same-sex intercourse preoccupies his thoughts so much that he shaped a career from it. Now the pioneering professional homophobe has pronounced his thoughts on the recent US election. God, he says, allowed Trumps removal from office because he ate the apple of pro-gay political correctness.

In a video recorded earlier this week, Lively suggested a parallel between the recent election and biblical events.

If God had wanted Donald Trump to remain in the presidency, nothing in heaven or on the Earth could have dislodged him. Instead, just as first Israel and then Judah were expelled from the Holy Land by wicked conquerors for ignoring Leviticus 18, God allowed Donald Trump to be expelled from the White House by obviously corrupt and senile Joe Biden and his sneering Jezebel sidekick.

The biblical Jezebel married the seventh king of Israel, Ahab. The foreign princess instituted the worship of false gods and her name became a byword for sexual promiscuity. Livelys none-too-subtle dog-whistle indicates Kamala Harris will inherit the birtherism conspiracies previously directed at President Obama.

But back to same-sex intercourse.

During his video, Lively, sporting a somewhat less elaborate comb-over than the former president, lays the blame for Trumps failing at his daughter Ivankas expensively clad feet. He describes her as seduced by the allure of queer theory pop-culture propaganda, whatever that may be.

Looking up occasionally from his notes, Scott Lively goes on to woodenly describe Mrs Kushner as the Eve in the garden of Trumps own family. He says she convinced her father to eat the apple of pro-gay political correctness.

Hopefully, Ivanka coated the apple in the Colonels secret original herbs and spices before hiding it in a bucket of KFC.

Anti-LGBTQ activist Scott Lively blames Ivanka Trump for her fathers tolerance of homosexual perversion, which caused God to remove Trump from office. pic.twitter.com/zNxxie3G89

Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) January 28, 2021

Accusing Donald Trump of pro-gay political correctness seems a bit of a stretch. The Human Rights Campaign lists numerous ways the Trump administration undermined progress towards LGBTIQ equality.

However, Lively referenced a 2017 report in which anonymous sources claimed Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner convinced the president not to sign an anti-LGBTIQ executive order. It is now widely believed that when anonymous sources spruik the Kushner couples achievements in stopping the former presidents worst impulses, those sources are usually either the Kushners or directed by them.

But, no matter how damaging the Trump presidency to LGBTIQ rights, Lively obviously found it not damaging enough.

Lively claims he became an alcoholic by the age of 12. He says he was often homeless in the 10 years after he left high school and sometimes slept under bridges and begged on street-corners.

He became a born again Christian during treatment for his alcohol dependency. Lively began his religious career as an anti-abortion activist in 1988. However, he probably found it difficult to make progress in that over-crowded market-place. So, in the early 90s, he swapped horses and became a professional homophobe. Instead of telling women what to do with their bodies, he moved his focus to telling gay men and women what to with theirs.

In 1995, he co-authored a book called The Pink Swastika which blamed gays for Nazi atrocities. The suffering of gays at the hands of the Nazis makes that claim especially reprehensible. In this century, he worked with anti-gay organisations in Russia and other former Soviet republics. He touts Russias gay propaganda ban as his proudest accomplishment.

Worse still, he facilitated talks in Uganda which inspired the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014. That legislation allowed for the execution of gays. Despite being signed into law by Ugandas homophobic authoritarian President Museveni, the courts ruled the bill unconstitutional on procedural grounds. Nevertheless, it exacerbated the social stigma around homosexuality in the country. LGBTIQ+ Ugandans since suffered increased persecution which often includes violence and not infrequently, murder.

It seems spending too much time under bridges can lead to becoming a mean and harmful troll.

For the latest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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God removed Trump because of 'pro-gay political correctness' - QNews

Navy Task Force One was created to address concerns brought to the forefront by the death of George Floyd.

WASHINGTON During his six months of work on Task Force One Navy, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Admiral John Nowell Jr. had an eye-opening revelation.

I thought as a white male admiral in the U.S. Navy, that we had made more progress with equality in our nation and in our Navy, Nowell said. And I learned, somewhat to my chagrin, that I had overestimated where we were.

For Force Master Chief Huben Phillips, much of what he heard during the group's listening sessions, focus groups and surveys, he already knew from his own experience.

There have been many times that I've been in the room and I've been the only one of me in the room, he said.

Task Force One Navy was formed in June 2020 to address implicit bias and systemic racism within its own ranks. Nowell and Phillips hope the task force's report is the catalyst for change, with 56 recommendations for impriving diversity and inclusivity, including a focus on recruiting, retention, professional development and innovation.

The military is starting to look at disparities in its senior ranks, which are filled with 11 white service members for each person of color. WASHINGTON - Force Master Chief Huben Phillips is the senior enlisted member of a Navy task force designed to root out bias and racial barriers.

Strengthening outreach to underrepresented communities, reviewing career development, increasing the visibility of minority groups and providing training will be a key element to executing the task force's recommendations.

I think the training piece is key here -- that was one thing that everyone asked about, Phillips said. Once we provide that, I think its going to be more digestible. I think sailors across our Navy are going to say there is something there and we can be and do better.

To make sure this isn't just a report on paper, but something that creates lasting change, the Navy said they'll track the numbers and survey the sailors.

It lends itself to being able to track -- how many people with diversity are we bringing in, how long are we keeping them, how many are commanders, how many are senior enlisted leaders, Nowell explained.

The question about higher ranks is key. There is less diversity the higher up you go in the Navy, according to the report. About 77% of officers are white,while only about 8% are black.

Nowell said this effort isn't about political correctness, but affects the Navy's ability to protect and defend our country.

It's all about war-fighting readiness," he said. "We know that diverse teams that are led inclusively will perform better. We have got to have the best team possible and that means we've got to have that diversity.

SEE THE FULL REPORT BELOW

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Navy task force issues report on diversity and inclusion - WUSA9.com

To: Kay C. James, president, The Heritage Foundation

Dear Ms. James,

Thank you for offering me a "Don't Tread on Me" Gadsden Flag in exchange for a donation of $35 or more to the Heritage Foundation.

Your offer made me recall the Supreme Court case Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, which came about when a Mr. Mansky wore a "Please I.D. Me" button and a "Don't Tread on Me" Gadsden Flag T-shirt to his Minnesota polling place.

In 2018, the court declared on a 7-2 vote that it was unconstitutional to prohibit that kind of political speech at a polling place. When MVA v. Mansky was before the court, the Heritage Foundation jumped in to declare that it was all well and good for states to have "reasonable measures intended to safeguard the integrity of elections, allow voters to cast their ballots without being intimidated or pressured to support a particular side, and ensure peace and order at polling places," but neither you nor the court majority could fathom how the battle cry of voter suppression and the adopted emblem of the Tea Party could make voters feel "intimidated or pressured." Heritage argued that "neither his button nor his T-shirt bore any relation to a candidate or issue on the ballot that year. And the Gadsden Flag is a historically significant symbol of the American Revolution that was first used by the fledgling American Navy and the Continental Marines."

But now, per your letter to me, the Heritage Foundation is selling the Gadsden Flag to those who want to "advance conservative policies" and oppose "the leftist agenda of tax hikes, open borders, and political correctness;" also "socialized health care," "leftist judges," and "unchecked spending." In short, the usual rote incantations, with no apparent updates since, say, 1982 (the word "pandemic" does not appear), now tied to acquiring a Gadsden Flag, which is about "rejecting the leftist's ruinous policy platform." And you tell me I must act now, because "with a renewed sense of determination sweeping the land after 2020's political battles, demand for this flag has intensified" (emphasis yours in the letter), and its message is one "taxpayers must send in 2021, with leftists claiming a mandate for Big Government and seeking to undermine liberty and prosperity." And this is part of "Washington's freedom-killing cronyism and corruption." (In view of the Heritage Foundation's role as the Trump administration's virtual HR department, I'd be interested to know your timeline on that last one.)

Do you think the fledgling American Navy and the Continental Marines would be surprised to hear about all the things their flag now represents? And can you think of a ballot where none of those things would pertain and to which this heavily freighted flag would "bear no relation," whether in the context of a specific ballot measure or the political philosophies of opposing candidates? Are you retroactively revoking your 2018 argument to the Supreme Court?

I suppose it's a moot point. The Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington took place a week before your offer arrived in my mailbox. The seditionists who flew the Gadsden Flag as they breached the Capitol and attempted to overthrow our democracy have forever branded that flag with that event. Per MSNBC News, they also took along "a crossbow, 11 Molotov cocktails ... brass knuckles and pocket knives, stun guns and 'stinger whips' ... an assault-style Tavor X95 rifle with a telescopic sight, a Glock 9 mm with high-capacity magazines and more than 2,500 rounds of ammunition, including at least 320 rounds of 'armor-piercing bullets,' according to federal prosecutors."

It was nice to see that on Jan. 7, you blogged, "Violence should not be used as a tool to bring about change, and those who stormed the Capitol on Wednesday should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." You affirmed that "as this horrible act is investigated, it will be determined exactly who they were, and they must be held accountable."

As Charles Pierce observed in Esquire, "I believe that a lot of these people did arm themselves for self-defense, except that they were 'defending' themselves against the Washington in their heads, the one that had been carefully constructed there by their favorite radio and TV stars, and by a lot of the politicians inside the Capitol."

Ms. James, if you'd like to take a break from constructing the Washington in their heads and stand up for accountability and your vision of America as "a nation where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish," I invite you to join with me and the Sierra Club in urging the impeachment of the man who encouraged the deadly attack on our country that had the sole purpose of overturning the results of a fair election. Text CONVICT to 69866 to be connected to one or both of your senators. Tell them to convict Trump and then vote to disqualify him from ever holding office again.

Then you might want to rethink your marketing plan.

Andrew Christie is the director of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Send a response for publication to letters@newtimesslo.com.

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Flag on the field - New Times SLO

I am writing to respond to the commentary written by Lee Lynch, "Please raise my taxes; I can afford it" (Opinion Exchange, Feb. 2). I agree with everything he said and commend him for the courage to say it. However, I offer a different approach.

Many who express resistance to higher taxes believe strongly that governments that collect the additional taxes are very inefficient and waste a meaningful percentage of the revenues that flow through them. "I would be happy to pay more in taxes to help the disadvantaged, but I can't stand the wastefulness of government" is a frequent refrain of the wealthy.

Regrettably, these same wealthy are free to make voluntary donations to nonprofits that serve the community but do not, even though they profess to care about the disadvantaged. One cannot credibly resist higher taxes as "inefficient" and then not make charitable donations in lieu of paying higher taxes. One way or the other we must address the needs of our community, and we need the wealthy to pay more, as Lynch points out.

My recommendation is that governments impose a special surtax on the wealthy (5% on income above $1 million?) but give the wealthy taxpayer a choice. Either pay the higher taxes to government or make a donation in the amount of the surtax to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The donation must be made in the same year that the taxes would be due.

If donated to a nonprofit, the additional money would flow directly into the community rather than through the government, which would eliminate the excuse for not wanting to pay higher taxes.

A Tuesday letter writer misses the point of Lee Lynch's commentary advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy as a solution to our crippling deficits when making the oft-repeated argument that Lynch is welcome to pay more than his mandatory amount if he feels he is not paying his fair share. Obviously, Lynch electing to pay more in taxes is not going to solve our budget issues by itself. Instead, Lynch would like to see all 1-percenters required to pay more in taxes in order to not leave these huge debts for our children and grandchildren to eventually pay off.

A writer from Stillwater complained in Tuesday's letters about the "high" tax rates in Minnesota. He mentioned the steps taken to compensate his employees but fails to recognize the state-supported programs that make Minnesota a desirable place to live. Then he claims without evidence that there is "waste, fraud and abuse" in public spending. Perhaps this writer would care to explain which of the programs contains all this "abuse"? Would it be the underfunded public health system? The underfunded education system? The underfunded transportation system? The underfunded early child-care system? All of these public projects create the opportunity for his employees to show up at work each and every day so that he can be successful as an entrepreneur.

I certainly have to agree with a Monday letter writer as to the hypocrisy of Republicans now wanting to support fiscal prudence after the massive giveaway that was their tax "reform." To my surprise and gratification, however, on certain points of their counterproposal to the president's stimulus plan, I agree with them. The money, however much it is, really needs to be directed to those in real need "well-thought-out" dollars, to quote the letter writer. To borrow his analogy of the sinking life raft, we need to make sure the life vests we're tossing out are actually landing in the raft, and not on a passing cruise ship (which is where so many of us, in truth, find ourselves).

Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, stated in this paper on Tuesday that to "keep our party united" the "family dispute" between the radical right fringe and traditional Republicans must be handled "behind closed doors" ("Emboldened extremist wing flexes its power," Feb. 2). McDaniel would not even condemn Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has embraced QAnon conspiracies, denied the Sandy Hook and Parkland school shootings and supported violence against Democrats. I guess the radical right epitomized by Greene is in the Republican "family."

What? The Republican Party that once stood for law and order now defends the lawlessness of its supporters storming the U.S. Capitol, the citadel of our democracy. The party of accountability for one's actions now wants to "move on" and pretend this violent assault and attempted coup didn't happen.

The party attacking "fake news" perpetuates the fake news that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen," even though more than 60 court decisions, every secretary of state, the FBI and Trump's own administration assert it was fair and legitimate.

The party that condemned "political correctness" now formally censures Republicans who don't hew to the politically correct positions espoused by former President Donald Trump and his right-wing supporters.

Republicans hope they can unite themselves by opposing Democratic legislation. The Republican Party has become one that can oppose but not propose, detract but not enact. Remember its health care plan to replace Obamacare? Never saw it. Remember tax cuts for the middle class? Only saw one for the wealthy and corporations. Remember legislation to rebuild America's infrastructure? Never started. The border wall paid for by Mexico? Never saw a peso.

By obediently enabling Trump in order to maintain power, Republicans adopted into their family the radical right with its "loony lies" and electoral "cancer" (per Sen. Mitch McConnell). In sacrificing principles for power, they have lost both.

Thank you, Pat Samples, for your excellent commentary on ageism ("Growing older is not awful; ageism is," Opinion Exchange, Jan. 29). I couldn't agree more with your perspective, but I would like to mention one more problem that results from ageism.

When I was 59, I joined a fitness training group at a major facility. I was at a somewhat poor fitness level due to a surgery I had to endure, but thankfully I had a trainer who did not let that stop me. He pushed me to do what I could do within the group and if there was a problem, he found an alternate exercise that made me stay in the game. As time passed, I improved. In just nine months, I was in the best shape of my life. I was stronger than ever and I easily found myself running 5-mile runs each week. Even my sore lower back was free of pain and stronger. I slept better, my body fat dropped from 29% to 19%, and I ate healthier.

As we age, it is normal for well-intentioned people to tell us that we need to slow down and be more careful. This message shapes the thinking of seniors so that they think it is impossible to overcome the aches and pains of life. We need to stop telling our seniors to slow down and instead tell them to go for a walk, play pickleball, swim, bike or go for a hike. Will they get aching muscles? Yes, and that is a good thing. Check with your doctor and if possible, work with a fitness trainer. They can give you the right exercise program to overcome what ails you, but in any case, get back to doing something good for your health.

We want to hear from you. Send us your thoughts here.

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Readers Write: Raising taxes, warring sides of the GOP, aging well - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Don't ask the author to write about buffalo.

She said, "Write a poem about buffalo."

I told her I didn't know much about buffalo; save for those I watched grazing a high school football field near Yellowstone. And those may have been bison.

"But your people..."

"My people raised shorthorns on a ranch in Hall, Montana," I told her. "Later my people took jobs as engineers at Hewlett-Packard, joined the PTA, and enrolled me in cello lessons. We celebrated Serbian Christmas."

What had this teacher expected of me? What expectations are had of other diverse writers? Isn't it another form of silencing when we are not encouraged to write our stories and poems in the voice of our experience, even when that experience fails expectation and assumption or challenges the readers' comfort?

A student of mine gave me a book for Christmas. He tapped the cover twice, said, "This is real." The book was Pimp: The Story of My Life, by Iceberg Slim. The first words were "A pimp is happiest when his whores giggle." I put the book down. Picked it back up again. Then I stayed awake late reading it. I found I wanted to understand the life of a pimp in the early '40s, and I came to appreciate Slim for giving it to me straight.

Drew, the student who gifted me Pimp, is writing a memoir of his time in Vegas as a carder, someone who runs credit card scams. One of the first essays he turned in used "bitch" to refer to his female companion. It made me uncomfortable for the same reasons it just made you uncomfortable.

I took it out. Asked him to change it. "Find another word or they won't publish it."

"But that would be their word, not mine." He reminded me of a lecture I repeatedly gave about the most important aspect of memoir: honesty.

Drew knew the street. His closest friends were prostitutes. He did his share of drugs and scamming, then his share of time in prison. I would reference Shawshank, and he would laugh and say, "Not quite." I would ask about prostitutes. Like Pretty Woman? "Hollywood whores are just that," he'd say. "Something made up in Hollywood."

When we began working together, I searched for memoirs by cons and dopers. Examples he could glean from. I came back with fiction from white-collar criminals, reform stories, and a few poems. I wanted him to see himself in literature. Something to point to and ask, like this?

I remembered my own time as a student. I craved memoirs of mixed-race children and biracial adoptees. I wanted to read experiences of women who went into the mountains to experience wildness; not to overcome tragedy or find themselves. I needed stories about women who had to show up at their job the day after terrible heartbreak, not about those who flew first-class to Italy and drank wine. What about girls who struggle with weight but never lose it? Native kids who grow up off-reservation and never experience their presumed culture? What about women who write about rape and cannot retaliate against their abuser?

"This is not a hopeful tale," her agent said of a novel my friend wrote about a woman and her stalker. "But this is real," my friend replied. "I have experienced it."

"No one will believe that."

"I need an agent willing to take risks," my friend told me.

Why is truth risky?

Is it because truth doesn't sell? Because honesty makes us uncomfortable? Has the publishing industry cultivated an audience who only believe writers who are performing their presumed culture? Or gender? Who will only read a hopeful tale? Readers who seek shelter from the truth with political correctness and acceptable speech? Why are students surprised when they hear that "Those Winter Sundays" is written by a Black man? Are you surprised to know Drew is white?

A popular journal recently rejected a poem I wrote about a friend who committed suicide, "This doesn't sound like your other poems." Can't I, like Whitman, contain multitudes? Or are multitudes only allowed to white men?

My friend won't write a strong-girl fairy tale. I don't write about buffalo. Drew left "bitch" in his essay.

CMarie Fuhrman is the author of Camped Beneath the Dam: Poems (Floodgate 2020) and co-editor of Native Voices (Tupelo 2019). She has published poetry and nonfiction in multiple journals as well as several anthologies.

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In writing your own story, why is the truth risky? - Pacific Northwest Inlander

Once a major party that elected two presidents, the Whigs dissolved in 1856 over the issue of slavery. From the ashes arose what became the anti-slavery Republican Party.

Today, 165 years later plagued with deep ruptures its possible the Republican Party could dissolve in a decade or two. The critical question: Is Trump adoration by the GOP base akin to the Whigs splintering over slavery?

Although an overused political clich, here are five reasons the Republican Party could go the way of the Whigs.

Voters are abandoning the GOP for diametrically opposed reasons

Last week, after writing about why I left the Trumplican Party, I was deluged with two types of emails. First, long-time Republican friends and readers of The Hill applauded my bold and brave declaration of independence after doing the same.

Second were messages from (now) ex-friends leaving the party for totally different reasons than you listed. Their disappointment stems from so-called Republicans that failed to support Trump and defend him. One wrote that I am part of the problem with the Republican Party, and another stated how no longer would we break bread.

Rising passions resulting in double subtraction generates a political equation with GOP decline as the answer.

Cancer for the Republican Party

During the June 1973 Senate Watergate Committee hearings, White House Counsel John Dean testified that he had told President Nixon of a cancer growing on the presidency. Nixon eventually resigned but left the Republican Party severely damaged. Recovery, in the form of a political savior, came in 1980 when Ronald Reagan was elected president.

On Monday, the cancer analogy dramatically resurfaced. SenateMinority LeaderMitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: Biden commits to ,400 checks, but open to eligibility limits | House approves budget resolution for COVID-19 package | McConnell seeks to inflict political pain on budget votes Overnight Health Care: Biden commits to ,400 checks, but open to eligibility limits | CDC director: Teacher vaccination 'not a prerequisite' for safe school reopening | Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations falling Senate names first Black secretary of the Senate MORE(R-Ky.) alluded to how Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is contaminating the entire party with loony lies and conspiracy theories, warning of cancer for the Republican Party.

Unfortunately, whatever treatment plan McConnell and GOP House leaders put into motion, its too late. Greenes cancer has metastasized into the Republican label, and she is the brands angry new face. Worse, Greene stating that Trump supports me 100 percent highlights her face with professional make-up. Unless eradicated, cancer is often deadly for people and political parties. Now the party is suffering in a white nationalist ICU bed with stage 4 cancer thanks to Trump and Greene.

Republican identity crisis

Given the cancer diagnosis, corporate and major donors are fleeing. And why would average Americans want to identify as Republicans? Soon, they must defend a party that acquitted their president after he incited a deadly insurrection to overturn a certified election based on his Big Lie. The Republican identity crisis is defined by its new membership card slogan reading, We stand for shredding the Constitutions impeachment clause and nullifying lost elections.

Leadership crisis

Here is an easily defined problem that sticks to the party like Super Glue: Are you with Trump or against Trump?

In a recent interview, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDanielRonna Romney McDanielMcConnell says Taylor Greene's embrace of conspiracy theories a 'cancer' Democrats look to make Marjorie Taylor Greene the face of GOP Republicans scramble to unify heading into next election cycle MORE made a laughable assessment, saying, .. if we dont keep our party united and focused on 2022, we will lose. But united and focused around who? Mar-a-Lago is currently the Republican headquarters. Its occupant a twice-impeached former president who in one term led his party to lose control of the White House, Senate and House while inciting a horrific attack on the Capitol is the undisputed party leader. Any senators or representatives who want to purge Trump by voting for impeachment and conviction will face agonizing reelections or choose to step down. Conversely, watch if Trump acolyte Wisconsin Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonSenate panel advances Biden's Commerce secretary pick in 21-3 vote Senate confirms Biden's DHS pick after GOP delay Democrats face tough odds in race for Ohio Senate seat MORE dares to run for reelection.

While the partys future is viewed through the Trump lens, a strong new prescription is needed to see and eradicate the Big Lie. Sadly, according to one poll, 76 percent of Republicans believe Trump defeated Joe BidenJoe BidenScience is back at the White House; now it must be integrated into American diplomacy Why we will oppose spending bills that repeal or weaken the Hyde Amendment Fauci says he hopes he gets another chance to throw out Nationals first pitch after 'embarrassing' first try MORE. But this week, a ray of hope surfaced when Trump campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio released a campaign autopsy showing that the former president lost largely because of his handling of thecoronaviruspandemic. Moreover, his data show that Trump lost ground among key demographic groups.

Armed with Fabrizios autopsy, all GOP leaders (but especially 2024 presidential hopefuls) must undo Trumps Big Lie about the stolen election. If they collectively fail to do so, there is no uniting, no future, and the party deserves not just to lose but to dissolve.

Demographics

Sixty-seven percent of the 2020 electorate was white, down from 70 percent in 2016. Trump won 58 percent of this shrinking majority, compared to 41 percent for Biden. But the growing non-white vote was 33 percent, which Biden won 71 percent to Trumps 26 percent.

On the bright side, Trump increased his percentage of Hispanic voters from 28 percent to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of Hispanics in the electorate rose to 13 percent, from 11 percent in 2016. Trump also won more Black voters, 12 percent compared to 8 percent in 2016. Still, the Republican Party has a lot of catching up to do with non-white voters. Are demographics destiny? Yes, when combined with the all reasons above. For if the GOP goes the way of the Whigs, demographics would accelerate the demise already in motion.

Ultimately, the one saving grace that could keep the GOP in business is Democratic overreach liberalism gone wild, political correctness run amok and tanking the economy with progressive policies. And all that will start happening in 3, 2, 1.

Myra Adams writes about politics and religion for numerous publications. She is a RealClearPolitics contributor and writes aSundayBible study on Townhall. She served on the creative team of two GOP presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2008. Follow her on Twitter @MyraKAdams.

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Is the GOP going the way of the Whigs? | TheHill - The Hill

Dear Editor

To reduce potential confusion I begin this essay with the admonition that no president has represented my interests since JFK. We havent had a free press since at least acting President Reagan and slick Willie. What we have are Propaganda Outlets. Political correctness increases: our free press establishes official truth. Youre free as long as you stand where youre told and say whats expected.

On 1/6 the Dems found a political godsend enabling them to frame their opposition as enemies of the state, damned to ideological purgatory. The Dems now conduct a war of annihilation. The hildabeest said, during an interview, Trump and his deplorables took their orders from Putin. Divide and conquer is the tactic of the rulers and successful as ever.

Consensus is the only way to solve conflict.

If you think the game aint rigged, you aint been paying attention. It follows the same pattern as every other convenient crisis used by government as an excuse to expand its powers, and remove freedoms, at your expense. If you dare to subscribe to any views contrary to the governments you may be suspected of being a domestic terrorist and treated accordingly.

Biden signaled its open season on any opposition: The opposition wont sit still and be abused.Theyll respond so, anticipate consequences. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party, was the question in 1950, but now its centered on the orange man.

Biden said On this January day my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, and uniting our nation. I ask every American to join me in this cause. He itemized the target: Anger, resentment, hatred, extremism, violence and lawlessness.

The Biden gang speaks to the Not-Biden Rabble with a sense of conviction that theyre better people and more competent; the rabble are deluded simpletons, who need guidance from their intellectual, moral, and cultural superiors to re-direct their peasant yearnings for a better life into the approved Track.

On inauguration night, Antifa mobs rioted in Portland and Seattle. Similar mobs gave us a summer of rioting, looting and arson after George Floyds death. Democrats never condemned these mobs, but they did the activities of 1/6. Referring to the 2011 invasion of Wisconsins state capitol Nancy Pelosi praised it as an impressive show of democracy in action.

Police brutality certainly is Americas sin. To purge it, we have to kneel. To remove systemic racism while kneeling, white people have to apologize for their privilege. Slaverys next; to free ourselves from that we have to destroy sculptures as white people judge themselves while kneeling and repenting of their white privilege. White supremacy is the latest fiction. I havent seen much of that since the seventies. Now its the new burning issue.

De-fund the police calls have become fund the secret police. Domestic terror bills creating new DHS units to monitor extremism are being advanced. During summer BLM riots were called acts of courage. They even declared an autonomous zone taking over government buildings, yet our free press never used the words insurrection, sedition, or treason. AOC praised these mostly peaceful protests and said the point is to make people feel uncomfortable.

If you feel uncomfortable that 25,000 troops were in the district of corruption, then were told youre a conspiracy theorist. Remember, ignorance is strength, so you must obey the experts. When you accept the accusation, which its become, that someones a conspiracy theorist, youre allowing another to do your thinking for you. Replace that term with: critical thinker.

The media says its their job to control what you believe. Americans in the Land of the Free have had their free speech censored by most media, which features who and what they want while forbidding different views. Welcome to double standard America.

You cant make someone be someone else. You might convince them with patience and evidence.

A majoritybelieve journalists/reporters mislead by knowingly presenting false or exaggerated news; most news organizations favor a political position more than informing citizens. Americans can see that the news is the same no matter which channel you watch. The hypocrisy is thick. Party loyalists are a huge problem because they wear blinders. We expect the media to hold the powerful to account but its mostly image marketing.

After the Trump supporters, with much evidence they were directed by Antifa masquerading as trumpers, stormed the Capitol on 1/6, the media piled on. Their first move was to make it a story about race. The Trump extravaganza had nothing to do with race, but a confederate flag or two and suddenly its a KKK rally to hear the TV present it. Covid blowback, unrestricted immigration, wars of choice, election fraud, but were told its about race. Imagine the outcome/response if BLM had done 1/6? An unarmed Trump supporter at the Capitol was shot dead. If a black protester died by police in 2020s incessant BLM riots, lootings and arsons, hed already be on a postage stamp.

The TV tells us that immigrants from failing countries need free admission to the empire but neglect to remember/consider, the reason theyre running is because our empire has continually destroyed their elected governments that dont toe the empires line, creating mayhem in their countries.

Racism is an endless game of political correctness ignoring that, worldwide, there are differences others have trouble getting past, especially when you factor in the crime of micro aggression whatever that means. Disney is now, with a straight face, calling Peter Pan and Dumbo racist.

Who needs fiction writers these days when we have the Democratic Party? Our ministry of truth sells lies so well, many accept them. All the presstitutes said that theres no evidence of fraud, and all who support examining the evidence are enemies of democracy.In other words, democracy is a stolen election.If you protest the theft, you oppose democracy.

America is close to the monolithic control of information that Orwell predicted in 1984. Big Tech has banned debate about government policy on the coronavirus, and any discussion of election fraud is treated as a crime.One mans misinformation is anothers truth: ignoring Israels crimes is an example of that, as is the recent election. The world clearly sees that the emperor is wearing no clothes.

Our free press was joyous at the arrival of slow Joe. You can sleep easy again: the party of peace, tolerance, and reconciliation has returned. They want to heal and unify the nation, but clearly the only way to do so is to create enemies lists and silence anyone with dissenting opinions.

Dick Costolo, the former CEO of Twitter, said, Me-first capitalists are going to be the first peoplelined up against the wall and shot in the revolution. Ill happily provide video commentary. Companies like Twitter are a big part of the efforts to unify the nation deleting 70,000 accounts using 1/6 as an excuse. The completely fair and objective media says that simply acknowledging this tech purge makes you a conspiracy theorist.

Axios wrote:Right wings new conspiracy: The silencing. They said that only crazy conspiracy theorists believe that there are efforts to silence their voices. In other words, dont believe your lying eyes.

Its illegal for businesses to discriminate due to peoples ancestral origin, but its legal to prohibit opinions. In the manner of No Colored signs on the door of businesses in the 50s they have every right asprivately owned businessesto do business with whomever they wish. The Left is defined by its psychotic doublethink. Its intolerant while advertising itself as open-minded. It promotes discrimination in the name of combatting it.

What are they afraid of, and who have we become?

The first amendment says you shall make no laws restricting free speech. Were told we must ensure harmful speech is regulated to guarantee broad participation in the public dialog thats essential to our democracy. Were told that thefirst amendment needs removal because right-wingers are speaking in unapproved ways. This open-ended condition can be interpreted however any official feels necessary.

Were told Twitter is big, so anti-vaccination/anti-war/pro-Russia/Covid denial viewsare going to cause panic so we must redefine free speech; Offensive, misinformation, and hate speech will be discoveredoften. Everythingcan be made to meananything. The ministry of truth has arrived.

Sowell wrote: If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules that would have gotten you labeled a radical 50 years ago, a liberal 25 years ago, and a racist today. Our free press presents selected information designed to do your thinking for you.

Our political/media class have beenpushing for more authorityto solve their fear of domestic terrorism. New domestic terror policies were in the works before 1/6. Internet censorship isincreasing normalized, and digital armiesare encouraged to report suspects to the authorities, just like the Soviets. An incredibly large part of America seems to have no problem with any of this.

Monopolistic Silicon Valley tycoons are censoring worldwide political speech, just like the TV news. Theres lots of narrative manipulation going on to keep it from being obvious.

The way to stem the tide of whatever concerns you is to eliminate conditions which created it.

Trump was successful by using the widespread awareness that theres a swamp that needs draining: a corrupt political system unconcerned with your interests. Governmentoften does evil things and lies about themassisted by our free press leaving people to imagine whats happening behind closed doors. People see that the system has failed them. Those interested in ending Trumpism/populism would act to end the corrupt political system, from top to bottom.These changes arent being promoted by our political/media class because they speak for an empire that depends on these things.

Corruption enables campaign donations and corporate lobbying/revolving doors,to advance the ruling interests; Government secrecy enables members to conspire (ops, conspiracy theory) to advance the empires agendas. The lying mass media manufacture yourconsent for wars in a system which doesnt serve your interests.

Youre not going to change Americas existing fascist system by expanding an authoritarian monster: you need drastic actual change.

If you dont comply with the ruling parties dogma and agenda, your ability to work, communicate, express your once-free-opinions will come to a halt. The Biden gang doesnt seem to care that there are costs for persecuting Trump and 75 million Americans. It cant be long until those consequences arrive, violently.

Criminalizing opposition to our government is insanely dangerous. The globalist ruling classes have reminded us who is in charge, and how quickly they can remove the democratic and legal facade. The War on Populism is becoming the War on Domestic Terror, one part of the Global War on Terror.

The treatment by the propagandists at CNN/ABC/NBC/CBS/Bloomberg/Fox, et al, of 1/6 proves that when they lie, mislead, quote biased official sources, and reject as conspiracy theory anything opposing their misrepresentations, they can fool half the country. Im reading about arrests for spreading misinformation.

Craig Dudley

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LETTERS / To Ensure That There - High Country Press

The corporate world may not be as supportive of its staff as we would think or like it to be with excesses of passive and hidden aggression. Even with modern management approaches, have we really arrived? Reading the hidden signs in dealing with hostility is key in improving performance and addressing dysfunction in teams.

There is a western trend to a more progressive and less directive culture in certain companies. In theory, employees have greater autonomy and influence over their respective scope of work. This is driven by change management practices, belief in the value of employee engagement, a drive to self-actualization, and the current trends in Mindfulness.

However, I believe there are some recent regressive factors moving away from this, in part driven by a competitive marketplace and the need to be more agile. This may seem as paradoxical as the conventional theory / practice has shown that a more engaged and content workforce will perform better, and deal with the need for agility and rapid delivery. I have tried to postulate the drivers for this regression.

There has been a recent rise of factionalism and tribalism, and the need for people to identify with certain factions or groups. Some commentators are also concerned about the dangers of political correctness, in terms of its potential lack of transparency, and the potential consequence of limiting open debate. This has been exemplified by the recent rhetoric on social media and in the press, post the Brexit vote in 2016. We have also witnessed lower levels of actual teamwork and more individualism. This selfishness is driven by the need to survive, especially as the economy gets tighter.

The first step to delivering impact in a hostile culture is to recognize that you are in one. That statement may sound trite, but it is not as easy as it looks.

What defines a hostile culture or environment? My definition is relatively simple. It is one which limits ones ability to execute their work or perform consistently without thinking of what could come next, and negative distractions like watching your back continually. It is noteworthy that people do not have to shout or raise their voice for the atmosphere to be hostile.

A key element for success, is to understand the difference between active hostility and constructive pressure. The former is intense, repetitive, inauthentic, and likely to be less rational. The latter is the opposite, but still maintains the required accountability, and has a level of mutual trust between parties.

Typical behaviors and activities that are common for active hostility include unrealistic targets, minimal information, poor explanation, no context, shifting deadlines or targets and changing the scope of work. In more severe cases, there can be a mob style approach where a manager enlists others to aid the hostility.

There are many other behaviors that one may witness, but another useful reference point is the work done by Geert Hofstede, the eminent psychologist and his associates, on macro cultures. Hofstede categorizes and describes six different cultures. There will be traits mentioned above that are pertinent in a significant number of the dimensions, but probably the most relevant are Power Distance and Masculinity vs. Femininity.

Cultures that are likely to be hostile will have large power distance and show the characteristics of hierarchy, leading to existential inequality, expected subordination, autocracy, the belief that power is absolute and that its legitimacy cannot be challenged. Cultures with small power distance tend to be more collegiate.

Another trait of active hostility that I have witnessed is that of Compliance. In this case, compliance can be interpreted not of defined rules, but of dictates and edicts. Here, the end justifies the means and defined rules can be bent or ignored to meet the edict.

We must remember that none of these characteristics can be taken in isolation, and on their own, will not determine active hostility, but a combination could lead to one.

What do I mean about finding the balance point, and why is it relevant?

If you are a new leader in a large organisation, then for you to be impactful you will have to be different, without alienating yourself or acquiescing to inappropriate cultural norms. It is critical that you resonate with your team and conform to the rules initially. This does not stop you being a change agent, but you should do it without being too much of an initial maverick.

If you are already established in the organisation, this will be easier, but for you to effect any internal change may be more difficult as there may be a reticence to your challenge. You need to be accepted by your own team to have future impact. This does not mean you do not question, or challenge paradigms. It means you must effect change from the inside and gather momentum.

A coaching background, or understanding the concept of mindfulness and particularly self-awareness, can help. According to the Building Strong Coaching Cultures for the Future, a 2019 study from the International Coaching Federation and the Human Capital Institute (HCI), developing coaching skills for leaders is an ongoing and successful process in organizations with strong coaching cultures.

Understanding the impact of your approach and the behaviour you elicit on the people around you will enable a greater chance of success. This will give you key insights into how your approach will impact the team as you start to challenge them. You need to find the critical balance point between listening, challenging and conforming.

In the previous section I mentioned about the importance of finding the balance point and understanding your environs. This will be a platform for the work you are going to do and help determine the impact you will have on your team.

So, in more detail, what are the key things you need to do to have impact in a hostile environment?

Professional Coaching is an asset for many organisations looking at enforcing authenticity in their workplaces. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. ICF professional coaches work within high ethical standards when coaching teams and leaders. They are part of a worldwide network of credentialed coaches across a variety of coaching disciplines and work toward the common goal of enhancing awareness of coaching, upholding the integrity of the profession, and continually educating themselves with the newest research and practices.

Professional coaching services can befound usingICFs directoryof credentialed coaches spread all over the world.

http://www.coachingfederation.orgwww.coachfederation.org.ukwww.experiencecoaching.com

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How to have impact in hostile environments | theHRD - The HR Director Magazine

Letters to the editor| Ames TribuneFaith and helping

In response to Hector Avalos'sopinion article ("Imagine if we all offered emotional, physical help to those who need it," Jan. 29) I would like to think that being a person of faith does not exclude or prohibit helping others. On the contrary, in many, if not most cases the two go hand in hand.

Renate Dellmann, Ames

I am fed up with the obscene costs of elections and the nauseating levels of political spending.

Nationally, $14 billion was spent on the 2020 elections, with $234 million going towards the Ernst/Greenfield Senate race, the most expensive campaign in Iowas history.

Its no wonder that Americas politics have been overwhelmingly dominated by the ultra-wealthy and well-connected. Sohow can you and I, ordinary people with modest means and good ideas, ever hope to run for office?

Well, finally there is corrective action!H.R. 1, or the For the People Act is a bill introduced in Congress to strengthen voting rights, reform ethics laws, and change campaign finance for the better.

H.R. 1 fundamentally transforms the way that candidates raise money. It addresses dark money, requiring political organizations to disclose big donors. It also establishes a 6x1 matching system for small-dollar donations to presidential andcongressional campaigns, with funds coming from a surcharge on settlements involving corporate wrongdoing (think Wells Fargo or Purdue Pharma).

Reforming money in politics amplifies support from regular people, so that many more of us can run for office without chasing mega-donors. Iowas representatives should vote for H.R. 1.

Susie Petra, Ames

It was once a strength of our country to have a First Amendment that encourages free speech and vigorous debate. A place where all sides of an issue are heard and expressed. But now those who profess to be the most progressive among us wish to stifle debate. When some or many disagree with them concerning the Ames Schools' Black Lives Matter campaign, they are dismissed as racists and bigots. No thought goes into a response like that. It's reflexive and implies that the person with an opposing opinion is ignorant and doesn't deserve to be heard. We have moved from political correctness to the cancel culture. Where are we going as a country? How long before our First Amendment rights have been shredded and we become a totalitarian state like Russia or China?

James Baker, Ames

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Letters to the editor: Regular people must be able to run for office - Ames Tribune