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We are excited to announce that the My USPS application will soon be upgraded to offer you more benefits and convenience. No action is required from you – you will retain your My USPS benefits, but will also have access to Informed Delivery® notifications, a new, free feature that gives you the ability to see a digital preview of your incoming mail. Informed Delivery allows you to view grayscale images of the exterior, address side of your household’s letter-sized mailpieces* on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. This new feature offers the convenience of seeing what is coming to your mailbox – anytime, anywhere. Now when you log in to your My USPS account, you will be able to track packages and view a preview of your letter-sized mailpieces in one, integrated dashboard. Your dashboard will display mailpiece images for a seven-day period; you can also opt to receive these images via email notification. To learn more about Informed Delivery notifications, please visit the Informed Delivery FAQs. We are proud to offer you more insight into your mail delivery, and thank you for being a valued USPS customer. Sincerely, Your United States Postal Service®

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Now all I need is a way to discard it — electronically.

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FROM WSJ

The Rewards of Charity 

Charities are becoming a lot more generous with pay at the top. The tax-exempt organizations, which include many hospitals and colleges as well as traditional charities, provided seven-figure compensation to roughly 2,700 employees in 2014, our analysis of newly available data shows. The total is higher by a third than in 2011. While many of the big earners ran large enterprises, others were leaders of small charities, such as a couple who run an online ministry. Researchers who study pay at charities say it has been increasing for decades as organizations have grown more professional and adopted pay strategies from the corporate world, where executive compensation has also been on the rise. High pay at charities has drawn scrutiny from some lawmakers because the organizations receive substantial tax breaks for committing to public service.

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I use the Salvation Army as the exemplar.

And all Big Charity entities (i.e., Red Cross; anything connected with the UN or the Clinton Foundation) as the negative!

Sigh!

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https://qz.com/911968/bill-gates-the-robot-that-takes-your-job-should-pay-taxes/

DROID DUTIES
The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates
Why Bill Gates would tax robots
WRITTEN BY Kevin J. Delaney
February 17, 2017

*** begin quote ***

Robots are taking human jobs. But Bill Gates believes that governments should tax companies’ use of them, as a way to at least temporarily slow the spread of automation and to fund other types of employment.

It’s a striking position from the world’s richest man and a self-described techno-optimist who co-founded Microsoft, one of the leading players in artificial-intelligence technology.

In a recent interview with Quartz, Gates said that a robot tax could finance jobs taking care of elderly people or working with kids in schools, for which needs are unmet and to which humans are particularly well suited. He argues that governments must oversee such programs rather than relying on businesses, in order to redirect the jobs to help people with lower incomes. The idea is not totally theoretical: EU lawmakers considered a proposal to tax robot owners to pay for training for workers who lose their jobs, though on Feb. 16 the legislators ultimately rejected it.

*** and ***

Question: And you’re more on the side that government should play an active role rather than rely on businesses to figure this out?

Well, business can’t. If you want to do [something about] inequity, a lot of the excess labor is going to need to go help the people who have lower incomes. And so it means that you can amp up social services for old people and handicapped people and you can take the education sector and put more labor in there. Yes, some of it will go to, “Hey, we’ll be richer and people will buy more things.” But the inequity-solving part, absolutely government’s got a big role to play there. The nice thing about taxation though, is that it really separates the issue: “OK, so that gives you the resources, now how do you want to deploy it?”

*** end quote ***

So there we have it. Bill Gates is a Big Gooferment socialist or worse. 

Ignoring the fact that taxation is theft and there isn’t a SINGLE Gooferment program that meets its goals in an effective and / or efficient manner, how is giving the Leviathan more wealth a good thing?

Bill should stick to retirement and stop trying to save the world. He’s not very good at it.

I just shake my head at the colossal arrogance of left liberal pontificators.

“Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.” — Robert A. Heinlein

All can say is repeat a great movie line:

Kaffee: [interrupts with game-show buzzer sound] eeehhhhh! I’m sorry, your time’s run out! What do we have for the losers, judge? Well, for our defendants, it’s a life time at exotic Fort Leavenworth! And, for defense counsel Kaffee, that’s right, it’s a court martial! Yes, Johnny! After falsely accusing a highly decorated Marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lieutenant Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching… typewriter maintenance at the Rocco Globbo School for Women! Thank you for playing “Should we or should we not follow the advice of the galactically stupid!” — Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men played by Tom Cruise

Argh!

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“The Immaculate Corruption”
https://sharylattkisson.com/the-immaculate-corruption/

*** begin quote ***

Big banks paid tens of billions of dollars in fines for alleged fraud and misrepresentation after the U.S. mortgage crisis. But not one top banker has been indicted or gone to prison. Some call it The Immaculate Corruption. Sunday on Full Measure, I’ll investigate why the Congressionally-appointed panel convened to look into the crisis sealed its records — and what was in them.

*** end quote ***

http://ncc-1776.org/tle2017/tle908-20170129-03.html

The Unapologetic Falsehoods of the Increasingly Discredited Associated Press 
by Vin Suprynowicz vin@catscuriosities.com
Special to L. Neil Smith’s The Libertarian Enterprise

*** begin quote ***

In an otherwise unrelated Jan. 24 news story about President Donald Trump signing executive orders to get some major oil pipelines (purposely stalled by Barack Obama in his ongoing effort to cripple America’s energy industry and thus drive up our electric bills) back on track, The Associated Press couldn’t help themselves, adding:

“Yet even as Trump moves to implement his agenda, he is still making false claims.”

*** and ***

(In Nevada, as in many states, unions can and do instruct their members to request absentee ballots. There’s no longer any need to prove—or even claim—you’ll be out of town or in the hospital on election day. Union shop stewards can then collect the completed ballots—no safeguard prevents them from checking to make sure they’re filled out “correctly”—and mail or deliver them in bulk to the county clerk’s office for counting. So much for the “privacy of the voting booth.”—V.S.)

“In Nevada you never have to prove you’re a citizen to register to vote or cast a ballot,” Cook explains. “Forget about showing government-issued photo identification at the polls, as several states now require. You don’t have to show a photo ID at any point in the process. The immigrants I met could vote Tuesday just by showing a Culinary health insurance card and a power bill.

Evidence? Cook went to the source.

“‘One would establish identity and one would establish residence,’ Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said of state standards. ‘Just like every other voter in Nevada, they will not be asked to prove citizenship.’

“You can’t cash a check in this town with such flimsy identification,” Cook concludes.

But you can vote.

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but I am concerned about this issue.

Funny that it seems to be the “specialty” of Unions and Democrats.

Those are the same folks who protest voter id laws and yell about disenfranchizement.

Wonder what an “honest election” would look like?

If you need id to get on a plane, then you need id to vote.

Seems simple enough to me

Seniors get non-drivers licenses to get discounts at restaurants.

And maybe if some one is unable to figure out how to get id, then maybe they shouldn’t be voting anyway.

Argh!

Personally, I think only vets should be allowed to vote or be in politics.

Not that vets are better, but (1) they have taken up arms and can do it again; (2) they understand what the implications of war are; and (3) they have answered their Nation’s call and so have a in stake in the results.

But that’s just my opinion.

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“DUI” should only be when there is a real injury. Then, throw the proverbial “book” at them.

For example, why should a free man have to worry about prosecution for “possessing”anything? In what way does the mere fact of “possession” entail a harm caused to some other person?

How is it that a free man can be told – at gunpoint – what he may not put into his body?

I refer, of course, to the lunacy that is the “war” on some (arbitrarily decided upon) “drugs.”

Of all the many things wrong with America, this is perhaps the most obvious – and yet, the one most people seem to have trouble appreciating. A cop who drinks alcohol – who possesses and consumes this drug – is legally empowered to throw people in a cage for possessing or consuming that drug.

Or even if not.

And don’t get me started on the whole aspect of the rationale for these drug arrests — “civil forfeiture”. See it’s all about stealing money to feed the Gooferment’s endless desire to spend more.

Argh!

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Why Are Jurors Drafted?.

Because the state owns everyone?

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From WSJ 10 points 2016-Dec-08:

*** begin quote ***

Into Thin Air Stop focusing on legroom. It’s the headroom that is shrinking on flights, and making us feel really uncomfortable. Seat density has increased significantly the last couple of years. One passenger’s nose may be 3 inches closer to the back of the head in front of her. The skinny seats installed recently largely preserve knee and legroom, but in rows that are compressed, while installing skinny bathrooms and minimizing galleys have let airlines pack more rows in, too. Psychologists say the eye-level squeeze is a big reason travelers are feeling more anxious on densely packed planes. And it’s only going to get tighter in there.

** end quote ***

My answer to this and the TSA is to stop flying. (I did it three times in the last decade because “I had too”. Argh! And I didn’t like it.)

I more folks do it: (a) the airlines will change; and (b) the airlines being the Crony Capitalists they are, will change the Gooferment policies.

Come on folks vote with your wallet.

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http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/10/13/debunked-another-buzzfeed-hottest-year-evah-story/

Debunked: Another Buzzfeed ‘Hottest Year Evah’ Story

*** begin quote ***

Here’s his latest effort, titled “Here’s What’s Going On Behind Those “Hottest Day/Month/Year Headlines”

Does young Tom go on to write about the data-fudging, noble-cause corruption, groupthink, institutional malfeasance, pal review and scaremongering which have brought about all those “Hottest Day/Month/Year Headlines”?

Of course he doesn’t. Instead, he rings up three of the climate scientists currently growing fat on the climate science gravy train by promoting the accepted climate science narrative and listens uncritically while they explain to him how yes, global warming really is as bad as the scientists are saying, in fact it’s probably worse, much much worse…

*** end quote ***

Last I looked, there were no records kept until late in the Twentieth Century!

Anyone remember why Greenland was called “green land”? Must have been warm then.

Argh!

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https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/09/no_author/home-invader-smashes-70-year-olds-head/

Resident with Cane Shoots Home Invader Dead
By Bob Irwin AmmoLand.com
September 30, 2016

*** begin quote ***

Deputies found that a 48-year-old intruder had broken into a home and attacked a 70-year-old male resident with a bamboo stick and a hockey stick. The victim suffered a severe head injury but was able to shoot the intruder in the chest with his .38 caliber handgun.

*** end quote ***

Every household should be “suitably equipped”!

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http://heatst.com/politics/lester-holt-the-third-debater/

Lester Holt: The Third Debater?
By Heat Street Staff | 11:01 pm, September 26, 2016  

*** begin quote ***

At tonight’s debate, Donald Trump faced off not just against Hillary Clinton, but against moderator Lester Holt.

• Hillary’s emails
• Benghazi
• The Clinton Foundation

While ignoring these issues, Holt grilled Trump on

• stop-and-frisk,
• the birther story,
• his comments about women,
• his many bankruptcies,
• why he hasn’t released his tax returns

— and a host of other issues the media sees as unfriendly to the Republican candidate.

*** end quote ***

Disgraceful.

Trump was “Candy Crowley-ied”!

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http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/09/27/lester-holt-spins-debate-for-hillary-6-huge-ways-plays-gotcha-with-trump.html

1)      Jobs: Holt pressed Trump with two questions on how he was going to add jobs even though the first answer discussed renegotiating trade deals.

2)      Taxes: He portrayed the tax plans from the left – Clinton wanting to tax the rich and Trump “calling for tax cuts for the wealthy,” forcing Trump to correct him.

3)      Tax Returns: Trump got hit hard with tax return questions for “business conflicts” while Hillary got a slide on emails, her hidden speeches and Clinton Foundation business conflicts.

4)      Birthers: Holt asked a “birther” question that lasted longer than Clinton’s email answer. He then added three separate follow-ups to jam up Trump.

5)      Iraq: He hammered Trump for supporting the Iraq War, downplaying how Hillary had voted to do the same.

6)      Hillary’s Gaffe: When asked about biased policing, Clinton said, “I think implicit bias is a problem for everyone, not just police.” Holt ignored it, rather than challenge the idea everyone is bigoted.

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http://baltimoregazette.com/clinton-received-debate-questions-week-debate/

Argh!

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Which of the following issues were discussed during last night’s Presidential Debate?

a) The sanctity of life
b) Religious freedom
c) Helping poor children attend a better school
d) Taxpayer-funded abortion

Answer: That’s right. None of the above.  

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https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/09/no_author/neocons-remove-mask/

The Neo-Liberals
The Z Man
September 24, 2016

*** begin quote ***

It is a good reminder that neo-conservatism was always a Progressive heresy and never had roots in Anglo-Saxon conservatism. Modern Progressivism has curdled into a list of hatreds, offering nothing but an increasingly dark vision of society. The neocons are following the same path. Guys like Jeff Jacoby can only tell you what they are not, and increasingly that sounds like “not American.” To be a neocon today is to do little more than spew venom at normal Americans for not supporting wars of choice and unlimited immigration.

*** end quote ***

Seems like if Trump wins the “conservatives” will take their warfare / welfare principles off to the D’s.

Can’t hurt for them to go away.

Argh!

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https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/09/walter-e-williams/left-wing-cruelty-black-students/

Cruelty to Black Students
By Walter E. Williams
September 23, 2016

*** begin quote ***

The problem of black education begins long before college. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as The Nation’s Report Card, shows that nationally in 2015, only 7 percent of black 12th-graders scored proficient in math, and only 17 percent did so in reading. This suggests that the average black 12th-grader has the academic proficiency of a white eighth- or ninth-grader. Consider the following question: If one admits 1,000 randomly selected eighth- and ninth-graders to college and admits 1,000 randomly selected 12th-graders, who do you think is going to come out on top? Who would be surprised if the eighth- and ninth-graders felt inferiority, oppression, and insensitivity?

*** end quote ***

Clearly the Goofement Skrules are failures. They are not preparing posterity for “real life”.

Then, the politician and bureaucrats want to “send everyone to college”. How stupid.

What’s the ROI of wasting everyone’s time and a ton of money on “students” who will never succeed with majors that are virtually useless.

And, I still have never seen a poor plumber.

The problem, as I see it, is just another instance of the “socialist calculation problems”. How can one or anyone calculate an ROI? When a private entrepreneur invests their own capital, they calculate — perhaps at a gut level — what will be the likelihood of a return. Unfortunately, students and their families going into debt are essentially misled by the Gooferment Skrules about the return.

Argh!

Of course, the Liberals in the Colleges profit from the bodies pushed through their “meat grinders”!

Argh!

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http://personalliberty.com/15-years-911-perpetual-war-liberties-lost/

15 years after 9/11; perpetual war and liberties lost
Posted on September 12, 2016 by Bob Livingston 

*** begin quote ***

So, what have we to show for 15 years of war?

Our currency – and with it our morality — is being destroyed. Paper money fiat – which is being created at a record pace to fund the wars and prop up the phony economic recovery — is directly the foundation of Machiavellian mentality.

Government printing press money distorts economic reality, dilutes morality and is the true source of “income inequality.” Financial speculation rises with the increase in paper money and the general work ethic deteriorates. The something-for-nothing mentality pervades society.

Paper money promotes the “quick buck” syndrome like narcotics peddling and hookers on the streets. Hookers, incidentally, were widespread in the Weimar Republic in Germany in 1923 because the women had to sell their bodies for food for themselves and their families.

In a paper money society, the social order visibly deteriorates. The morality of the stable gold standard gradually changes to the amorality of fiat. Few people see the cause and effect, and the politicians try to legislate human behavior. They always fail, as the system is overrun with jails and prisons.

An unlimited supply of paper money buys sophisticated arms that create fear and the propaganda to manipulate the people against their personal freedom and best interest. Fiat paper money is tyranny or becomes tyranny. It guarantees criminal government.

Paper money, personal freedom and privacy are incompatible. Paper money centralizes power to the state and diminishes the individual. This is the first cause of all you see happening. All modern wars are paper money wars. Paper money pays the politicians their lavish profligacy, and they keep their mouths shut about the fiat system.

*** end quote ***

A lot!

The worst lost is the sense of American exceptionalism.

And, the moral authority from WW2 has been squandered by politicians and bureaucrats.

At the end of WW2, America was beloved around the world.

Then, little by little, drip by drip, it was squandered by the politicians and bureaucrats.

Enabled by the FED and Crony Capitalists, everything was stolen.

They talk about the Clinton’s taking the White House dishes and all the W’s from keyboards, “we” lost so much more.

How do we recover it?

IMHO, it’s restore “honest money”, balance the budget in REAL terms, and come to grips with the debt.

First step is to bring home all the girls and boys from these overseas “adventures”.

Getting our own house in order is priority one!

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https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/09/no_author/generation-meathead/

Generation Meathead
The Burning Platform
September 12, 2016
Guest Post by The Zman

*** begin quote ***

Maybe that happens, maybe it is too far gone and alt-right is a just an echo from the past that is too far gone to matter. Regardless, generation Meathead will be remembered as the cohort that gnawed away at the social fabric of the nation, like rats, until it began to fall to pieces. Maybe this election is the start of the great cleaning up of the mess made by guys like Reiner and he cohort. Maybe it is something else, but their time is coming to an end. Generation Meathead will soon be gone. Good riddance 

*** end quote ***

I remember a line from a movie directed by Rob Reiner 

“… You gather a group of middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character. …” 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112346/quotes?ref_=tt_ql_trv_4

I remember “with longing” for that easier time.

… when only those with military experience could aspire to be a Commander in Chief or a Senator.

… when the Blue Dog Democrats were the budget hawks and the Republicans were too.

… when there was a Senate selected by the State Legislators and there was no such thing as an “unfunded mandate”.

… when there was shame at being on the public dole and folk looked after each other.

… when criminals were severely punish and honest citizens could be safe in their daily lives.

… when the money was honest.

… when the politicians and bureaucrats were too. (Alright, there was the concept of “good graft”.)

I feel sorry that the “Greatest Generation” may have abdicated their responsibility to transfer their ethic to the next one.

Hopefully, it’s not too late.

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http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/09/11/fifteen-years-911-learned/

Zumwalt: Fifteen Years After 9/11, What Have We Learned?
by JAMES ZUMWALT
11 Sep 2016

*** begin quote ***

Because we fail to label it as such, civilization jihad has established a beachhead throughout the Western world. One need only look to France to understand what is happening.

Today more than half that country’s military is deployed domestically due to the Islamist threat. We see Muslim policemen refusing to protect Jewish synagogues, targeted by supposed Muslim “moderates,” yet the false cry of Islamophobia hides the reality anti-Semitism exists there. No wonder Jews are now leaving France in droves.

Interestingly, even as Muslims on Arab TV broadcast programs raising the issue of their religion’s penchant for violence, political correctness inhibits any such discussion in the West. Given this free pass, clerics in Western mosques continue to preach Islam’s gospel of global sharia to their flocks. While teaching anti-West hatred, some clerics, like England’s recently-convicted (for promoting ISIS) Anjem Choudary, live off welfare, earning more than the British soldiers being sent to fight the Islamism they promote.

What have we learned from 9/11? In the words of the Temptations, “Absolutely nothing!”

*** end quote ***

Sadly, he’s absolutely correct.

We are allowing the politicians and bureaucrats to flood the country with “refugees” who immediately get more “welfare” than our own citizens and veterans.

We are allowing “political correctness” to preempt the discussion on important national issues.

We are allowing the leftist “media” to convince us of thing that will destroy us.

AND, worst of all, “we” don’t seem to understand the depth and breath of the problems.

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http://nutritionfacts.org/2016/09/08/eat-protect-kidney-cancer

What to Eat and What to Avoid to Protect Against Kidney Cancer
Written by: Michael Greger M.D. on September 8th, 2016

*** begin quote ***

When meat producers advertise their bacon or lunch meat as “uncured,” this means no nitrites or nitrates added. But if you look at the small print you’ll see something like “except for celery juice.” That’s just a sneaky way to add nitrites. Processed meat producers ferment the nitrates in celery to create nitrites, then add it to the meat; a practice even the industry admits “may be viewed as incorrect at best or deceptive at worst.”

*** end quote ***

So “meat producers” find away to deceive the consumers and where’s the FDA?

Why does “We, The Sheeple” think that the Gooferment cares about “protecting” THEM?

Argh!

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Here’s a personal rant.

From PERSONAL experience.

Social Security Disability pays a maximum of a little over 1k$ with a five month “waiting period”.

She earned about 4k$ and paid Soc Sec’s taxes on that.

So, if it was a real “insurance  company”, then that “policy” would have been terrible.

A true disability policy would replace the lost earnings.

The victim in the morality play is screwed. 

And, everyone should NOT depend upon it for anything but “chump change”.

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https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/08/daisy-luther/stop-self-reliance-immediately/

Louisiana Officials Demand That Self-Reliant Locals Stop Surviving the Flood Without Permission
By Daisy Luther DaisyLuther.com
August 27, 2016

*** begin quote ***

“So as we are headed back home from the River Center in Baton Rouge volunteering our nursing services Dawn and I have come to the conclusion that neither of us WILL EVER volunteer or donate to the RED CROSS. The Red Cross basically takes over the shelters and starts refusing clothes, donations and various volunteer services UNLESS they are previously contracted. So what does that mean….well, 60 boxes of doughnuts were discarded this morning becuase the delivery vendor was not in contract, hot meals were refused becuase the entity providing wasn’t contracted, and medical supplies including medications were trashed for same reason. Clothes that were “donated” needed to be left on the street unless they were “furnished” by Red Cross. As of tomorrow, the shelter we were at will be completely over taken by the Red Cross other than the medical area because they couldnt have the actual room since LSU has a contract with state to provide medical care. Its sad when the military police were helping to “protect” the medical areas from the red cross when there are so many other issues at hand. Anyway, next time to want to donate or volunteer your services, do your homework.”

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but “neighbors helping neighbors” is the best fastest most cost effective help that can be delivered.

And, “We, The Sheeple” need to wake up — Gooferment is the problem!

http://preparednessadvice.com/self-sufficiency/youre-right-to-fear-government-interference-during-emergencies/#.V8HWT5MrLsn

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https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/08/thomas-dilorenzo/beware-academic-zika-virus/

Beware the Academic Zika Virus
By Thomas DiLorenzo
August 20, 2016

*** begin quote ***

By now just about everyone has heard of the zika virus, transmitted by mosquitos, which is said to cause brain damage in children.  As worrisome as this is, an even bigger brain damage threat to young people is what I call the academic zika virus, transmitted by left-wing, politically-correct “educators.”  There are exceptions, but undergraduate education in America has become one big socialist indoctrination academy that fills students’ heads with cultural Marxist myths, superstitions, and falsehoods while inculcating an infantile culture that teaches students to run crying to “safe rooms” if a dissenting voice should somehow appear on campus.  All of this can be yours for a mere 50 grand a year at many universities.

*** end quote ***

Yup, it’s a meme. An idea that spreads like gene. And the American “Universities” are the mosquito that transmits it.

The fact that people send their children to these “schools” to be infected is another parallel with Zika.

Argh!

Wonder when people will smarten up or it’s already too late.

Sigh!

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