Action, reaction

Kevin picks up on a quite depressing indictment of the current Intellectual Class' inability to defend our society from its enemies because they can't recognize our society's enemies.

I am more convinced now ... that the West has gone over the tipping point in its terminal decline. That intelligent people, or people who claim to be intelligent, (I have in mind the talking heads in the U.S. media such as Chris Matthews or Fareed Zakaria) cannot make the difference between the sham of the Muslim Brotherhood talking about freedom and democracy and the generic thirst in man to be free. These are the people who have like the Bourbons learned nothing and forgotten nothing. They are glibly about to put the Lenins of our time into trains heading for Moscows of our time....

By coincidence, I was going back through older posts, tagging a (very) few for the "Best Posts" category, and I ran across one that speaks volumes to the idea of defending against enemies.  Especially the idea of who is seen as an enemy:

Candide has a new blog over at Nails on Blackboards, and tells the story of how the local authorities saved their community from a sociopath:

Maria Fife, Julie's mom, said her daughter wanted to open a lemonade stand after seeing a cartoon character open one. She was selling Kool-Aid lemonade for 50 cents a cup when an inspector approached and asked for her license - which costs $120 - at the fair. The other vendors reportedly rallied around Julie, and her "business" started booming.

According to KOIN, two inspectors then threatened Julie with a $500 fine, and she left in tears.

Well done to the Oregon Ruling Class for introducing a little girl to the hob-nailed boot early!  Another member of the coming Popular Front rebellion, no doubt.  Perhaps Candide can tell them the passage from his namesake's tale: Dans ce pay-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres. (In this country it is considered wise to kill an Admiral every now and then, to encourage the others).

As a service to the Progressive Left, let me suggest that your problem is here.  The elections of 2010 are a statement from the People that they think that your government is incompetent, and that your philosophy is suspect.  I recommend that you think on the indoctrination you have implemented in our schools, and how this indoctrination is leading to resistance.  It's a good bet that the only actual tyranny that most school children in this country have personally experienced is from you and your Philosopher Kings.

Think on your desire to shut down opposing views with your "speech codes", and how pathetically weak this makes you look.  After all, if your ideas were so powerful, you'd be able to persuade the other side.  Think on what feelings your crackdown creates.  Ask yourself whether, now that you're on top, you've suspended the rotation of Fortuna's Wheel.  Ask yourself who now is creating legitimate grievances, creating a latter day Popular Front?

Ask yourself, why do they hate you?

No need to thank me, it's all part of being a full service blog.