THE PATHETIC POSTURING OF THE UAW

Because of professional and occupational reasons, I was a member of a union on two occasions.  In both cases, the experience was totally unsatisfactory, as I derived virtually no benefits from my dues, while the union leadership appeared to prosper at the expense of the membership.

The track record of the United Auto Workers is not one to be especially admired.  Its involvement in the manufacturing process has inevitably led to shoddy products and a work force not noted for living up to its potential.  All things considered, the halcyon days of the 1970's are probably not destined to return for the UAW.  Any comparison of the union's membership rolls of 40 years ago with today's rosters would likely indicate that the organization is in a death spiral.

The recent vote of workers at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant was seen as being indispensable for the UAW continuing as a viable force.  Inroads into Southern auto manufacturing plants would, it was hoped,  bring a needed infusion of funds to further the union leadership's aspirations for a return to collective bargaining dominance.  However, despite having free rein to campaign for 2 years inside the plant, the Chattanooga Volkswagen work force handily rejected union overtures.

With an average hourly wage in the neighborhood of $27.00 an hour and generous benefits to boot, Volkswagen's workers in Chattanooga no doubt consider themselves fortunate during a time of a lagging economic recovery in the U.S.  To subsidize the UAW with annual dues amounting to approximately $600 a year per worker would seem not to be a wise investment, and especially so when one considers the condescending tendency of the union's leadership to willy nilly dole out large-scale political contributions to the Democratic Party.

Grasping at straws, the union leadership has been frantically digging for excuses for
its failed VW vote, the most egregious of which has been to let out shrieks of "racism, racism!" as if somehow a Southern venue would automatically confer a strong dose of prejudice and discrimination that would adulterate a vote on unionization.

Unions have been declining for years.  It has only been with the present politics of cronyism and fraudulence that they have been able to throw around their weight in a manner not equivalent to their numbers.  In reality, the UAW and its ilk are on a downhill run to eventual extinction.  If this country is to resurrect a strong and vibrant economy, it will be without the negative influence of antediluvian relics such as the UAW.  The auto workers in Chattanooga appear to be very much aware of this.  After all, Detroit remains a frightening example of what Democrats and unions can accomplish

Deo Vindice!

God bless Texas, and may the Lone Star State remain forever red!

IS AMERICA BEING WELL SERVED BY THE "TRUTH"?

"Half the truth is often a great lie."
                         Benjamin Franklin

Sardonically christened "Pravda," or "Truth," the Communist Party mouthpiece is still functioning today in the Russian Federation.  Whether or not it has a better handle on truth is hard to say, but current events  are such to make one sometimes wonder if Pravda-like truth is now being served up in the U.S.A.

Just last week the current ratings for the World Free Press Index were announced.  Of the 177 countries included in the 2014 index, Finland, the Netherlands and Norway led the pack. From 2013, the U.S. had fallen 14 spaces to 46th, just behind former communist hellhole Romania.

What, for goodness sakes, is going on here?  Granted that a good bit of our government has gone bonkers over revelations concerning the NSA and other various and sundry leaks; but, for what purportedly is the most free society on earth to finish behind Romania is preposterous.  Could it be that all the emphasis on politically correct communication is finally chipping away at the 1st Amendment?

It was once assumed that a free press was a major American bulwark against political tyranny; but, now, schools of journalism seem more intent on turning out automatons who are willing to go along to get along. And, as for those who step out of line, there are very real possibilities of jail time for not complying with judicial ukases to reveal sources and implicate innocent parties.  Then, too, it should not be forgotten that most American newspapers are controlled part and parcel by powerful family and commercial combines, which are all too often willing to hedge on the truth in order to reap financial and political gain.

Another shocker during the last week involved the story of  how Admiral William H. McRaven, who commanded special operations at the time of the attack on the Abbottobad, Pakistan, compound that resulted in the death of Osama bin-Laden, ordered that all photographs having to do with bin-Laden's death should be destroyed. Apparently, Admiral McRaven and his like have all too conveniently forgotten that it is American taxpayers who pay their salaries and, in effect, underwrite all the operations undertaken by the U.S.military.  Surely, the underwriters are worthy of unassailable proof that the maneuver they financed has been carried out as announced.

Yes, Admiral McRaven's order stinks, just as all of the dickering with the truth of Benghazi stinks.  Despite congressional hearings on the tragedy of Benghazi, the powers that be have evidently put out a "stonewall" order that has muffled the truth.  Educated speculation has it, though, that the Department of State has not been forthcoming because the U.S. compound in Benghazi was being used as a staging ground for the procurement and shipment of weapons to Syria rebels, many of whom are aligned with al-Qaeda.   For this to have been divulged during an election year might have proved disastrous for an administration looking forward to a second term.  But, of course, in the brave new world of political correctness, truth must play second fiddle to political considerations.

In a free society, such as the one envisioned by our own American Republic, a free and untrammeled press is a sine qua non of liberty.  By a free press, tendencies of government to be self-perpetuating and overbearing with individual freedoms can, at least theoretically, be reined in.  For government to assume a stance of primacy and deception over those it purports to serve is a travesty of the worst kind.  If we are to survive as a free society, the absolutes of ethical journalistic practice must be reaffirmed and defended.  In the preamble of the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists, it is stated:

"....public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy.  The duty of the journalist is to further these ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues."

May American journalists rededicate themselves to these principles, and may Americans encourage them in their necessary task.

Deo Vindice!

May God bless Texas, and may the Lone Star State remain forever red!

THE TRANSFORMATION OF AMERICA: DO OUR ENEMIES SENSE WEAKNESS?

In his Escape from Freedom, Erich Fromm refers to a symbiosis between authoritarian leaders and individuals who, owing to their inability to reconcile the challenge of individual freedom to their inability or fear of coping with reality, bond themselves to autocratic personalities  as a mechanism of fleeing from accountability.  To say that this process has been a factor in recent U.S. political history is to affirm a certainty.

The last five years in America have been dominated by a determination to effect a radical transformation of society.  The primary vehicles chosen for this metamorphosis have turned out to be the oddly named Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and a full-court press to stir up the enmity of class warfare through the issue of income inequality.  Sadly, too  many of our fellow Americans, unwilling to function to any appreciable degree of autonomy, have willingly surrendered their futures to what they assume is a benevolent central government.

Nevertheless, there are signs that there is finally realization dawning that these developments have not been to the advantage of the nation.  The incompetence of an administration inextricably wed to a hackneyed and stale ideology of statism has been laid bare for all to see.  And, with each day, there is further evidence that domestic failures have complemented an accompanying diminution of America's capacity and energy to execute an effective foreign policy.  

John Bolton, former ambassador of the United States to the U.N., has stated forcefully that, since 2009, American policy has been sacrificed to domestic policy, despite the irony of a multitude of errors and miscalculations on the home front that have branded the present administration as one of the weakest and incompetent in American history.

In taking stock of America, our enemies are undoubtedly rejoicing at the rudderless direction the country has taken and the uncommonly divided state of our body politic.  For all practical purposes, we are now in the hands of a lawless executive branch.  Congress has forfeited its charge to make the laws to the executive branch, a prime example being the 27 changes arbitrarily made by the executive to the ACA.  Furthermore, the president's flamboyant threat to rule with "a pen and a phone" only serves to undermine the American Republic and to take us further down the path of disunity.  The ineptitude and arrogance now shown in the White House is not worthy of a great country.  Rather, this is the type of behavior that one would expect of tyrannical figures holding forth in a Third World setting in the Southern Hemisphere.

And, as for any sort of grand strategy for enhancing stability in the world, there is absolutely no indication that there is or ever has been such a strategy during the last 5 years.  Wherever we turn, there are signs of tattering alliances.  Erstwhile friends and allies are scrambling to reevaluate their relationships with America and are seeking more reliable partners.  In the Middle East, statements about drawing nonexistent "red lines" have not only been an embarrassment but have also shown that ill-advised words have a way of revealing the weakness behind bravado.  And, to further underline how unimportant security for America is to this president, the recent proclamation that those with "limited terrorist ties" would be allowed entry to America has shown that safety for American citizens palls when it comes to radical transformation.

That Vladimir Putin comes off as a forceful and competent leader in comparison to the current American chief executive is a sad commentary on just how far we have fallen.  And, dear readers, if you think that declining American economic, military and political power has no consequences for you, then think again.  When American power is naught, there will be no one available to pick up the slack, and the world will be a much more dangerous place.  The world is an increasingly complicated place and to fail to act gingerly and with resolve is to abandon the field to those who who would like nothing better than to see America as a debtor country chained to a political and economic system of entitlement, unable to protect its liberties and freedom from the dark forces of repression and tyranny.

Deo Vindice!

God bless Texas, and may the Lone Star State remain forever red!

CONTINUING PERSECUTION FOR EGYPT'S COPTS

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

                       2nd Timothy, 3:12

Despite hopes that attacks on Egypt's Christian Copts would subside in 2014, there are no signs that those hopes will be fulfilled.  At the end of last month, yet another Coptic church was struck, this one being the Church of the Virgin Mary at Gizeh.

In the last half of 2013, fully 70 Coptic churches were attacked, burned or sacked, with corresponding loss of life in the Christian community.  Muslim extremists, taking out their fury over the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood government of Mohamed Morsi, went to great lengths in singling out Christians for retribution.

Egyptian Copts account for about 11% of the Egyptian population,or close to 10 million individuals.  Tracing their origins to St. Mark the Evangelist, who was martyred at Alexandria in the 1st century A.D., the Copts have a Christian history of 2-thousand years. Present day Copts are the descendants of Christians who remained true to their faith in the face of the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century.

Long relegated to the status of dhimmitude, or 2nd class status in Egypt, modern day Copts still face discrimination and persecution on virtually all fronts of Egyptian society.  In many respects, it is virtually impossible for Egypt's Christians to advance into the top tiers of the professions, participate fully in community and political life, receive equal opportunities in employment and to openly profess their faith.

As a result of its perilous position, the Coptic population of Egypt is declining, as Copts choose to leave their homeland for more secure venues.  However, emigration from Egypt cannot be the solution for this religious minority, as it is unimaginable that 10 million people could simply pack up, leave and save their religion on foreign shores. Most Copts, too, are convinced that their claims to an Egyptian homeland supersede equivalent Muslim claims.

Regardless of politically correct propaganda prevailing in America, Christianity in many ways is now experiencing its death throes in the Middle East, as once thriving Christian communities from Lebanon to Syria and the West Bank dwindle to a few thousand.  However, the prevailing attitude among Egyptian Christians seems to be that it would be difficult to call oneself a Copt without living in Egypt.  In any case, the Copts face an uncertain future that would be compounded by the prospect of the Muslim Brotherhood and various Salafist groups assuming power once again.

In the meantime, the lack of knowledge of American Christians of the fate of their Christian brothers and sisters in Egypt must be diminished, and due pressure must be placed on American policy makers to address the oppression and persecution of this sizable religious minority.

Deo Vindice!

May God bless Texas, and may the Lone Star State remain forever red!

POLITICALLY CORRECT MAD HATTER DIPLOMACY AND POLITICALLY INCORRECT CHRISTIAN "MARTYRS"

In a time of increasing violence throughout the world, our pathetic diplomats seem to spend their nonsensical time on such red herrings as championing the notorious Russian rock group "Pussy Riot," which is best known for its invasion of Moscow's Cathedral of the Holy Savior.  While U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power recently praised the group, America's standing in the world continued to plummet, and savagery against innocent parties throughout the world continued unabated.

When questioned by the Mad Hatter as to her view of his sanity and if he had become mad, Alice replied, "I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you  a secret.  All the best people are."  Accordingly, one can't help but think that all the "best people" in the administration in power in Washington are somewhat bonkers. And the bonkering extends all the way from the top.  When the Mad Hatter expressed to the queen that she had an extraordinarily large head and that he might like to make an effort to hat it, it calls to mind the extraordinarily large head which now calls the politically correct shots that make our foreign policy the world's laughing stock.  How embarrassing it is that now this country's ambassadors are appointed to posts in countries in which they have never set foot, as revealed in recent congressional hearings on the appointment to Argentina, and have little to no background in the host country's language, culture or history.

While much consideration is given to the likes of Pussy Riot and immigration policies are twisted to allow individuals with "limited" terrorist ties to enter America, little to nothing is heard from those who represent us on the international front about the geometrical increase in the persecution and killing of Christians throughout the world.  Over the past year, the numbers of Christians who have been martyred for their faith has at least doubled, to 2,200, while some authorities would place the total much higher, at perhaps 8,000.  We will never hear anyone from the Department of State holding forth on this subject, but it must be remembered that Christians and martyrs are not high on the list of politically correct topics in 21st century America.

Most of the martyrdoms, of course, are the result of the unrestrained brutality of extreme Islam, and we should not be surprised by that.  Despite politically correct goobledygook to the effect that Islam is a religion of peace, the word has not gone out to the thugs doing the persecuting in places like Egypt, Pakistan and Syria.  Looked at historically, these extremists are simply carrying on in the 7th century tradition of spreading the faith by the sword.

At home, meanwhile, the administration continues its efforts to foist elements of its health care program not considered compatible with the faith of Catholics and fundamentalist Christians on believers.  Is there not some sort of dichotomy here?  Is it not surprising that many are beginning to feel as though the  politically correct mindset in Washington has gotten things out of whack?  Just as unrestrained Islamic extremism has caused the deaths of thousands of Christians abroad, so, too, would the perpetrators look forward to like slaughter in the U.S.  Is there not something pathetically wrong with an administration that will not even tell the truth about forces committed to our demise?

Deo Vindice!

May God bless Texas, and may the Lone Star State remain forever red!

IS THIS REALLY AMERICA?

THE ROMEIKE FAMILY

As more and more time passes, it becomes more and more difficult to relate to current developments  in American politics and government.  Supposedly flexibility is the key to understanding, but there are just certain things that tax one's flexibility.

I vividly recall my grandfather, who was a county Democratic office-holder, extolling the virtues of a Democratic Party, which had created a broad coalition across class, racial and income lines.  As a child, I accompanied my grandfather to party rallies and heard more of the same. To say that these experiences had an impact on my young mind would be an understatement.

If I were to return to my grandfather's home county today, I would find no Democrats in the county court house.  And, sadly, I must also say that if my grandfather were alive, he would likely be hard pressed to call himself a Democrat, for the Democratic Party, the longest continuously existing political party in world, is no longer the party my grandfather so loved and admired.

A staple of the political grounding in my family was strong emphasis on freedom of conscience and religion. In fact, my earliest ancestor to reach North America in the 17th century fled the Puritans to practice his Anglicanism in Virginia.  With this sort of background  in my lineage, I find it incredible that my country would turn away and expel evangelical Christians coming to America in order to follow the dictates of their faith.  But this is exactly what is happening with the Romeike family, which had previously been granted asylum in the U.S.

The Romeikes had sought to home school their children in Germany; however, in Germany, home schooling is against the law.  Incredibly, in Germany, parents insisting on home schooling may be deprived of their children by the state. Recently, the administration of our Democratic president has had the asylum status of the Romeikes revoked and has taken steps to deport them.  To call the administration action against the Romeikes astonishing would be to miss the point.  At a time when the asylum process seems intent on admitting assorted Islamists and individuals with terrorist links to the U.S., evangelical and fundamentalist Christians often find themselves demeaned and ridiculed in an increasingly pagan society clearly adrift from its traditional moorings.  So, while the administration turns a blind eye to illegal immigration and bends the asylum law in favor of elements unlikely to meld into American society, to bar the door to the Romeikes is nothing short of appalling.

However, it all begins to fit when one hears of the Democratic governor of New York railing against conservatives, pro-life advocates and defenders of the 2nd Amendment, saying that such individuals are lacking in proper New York values.  Yes, dear readers, it was not so long ago that we would not have imagined that such things would be said or imagined by responsible public servants.  As one who cut his teeth on the principle of academic freedom, I would have considered the prospect of having leaders such as those who now strut and preen on center stage of the Democratic Party laughable.  But history is such that the unimaginable more often than not takes one by surprise.  Nevertheless, one has faith that the abiding strength and goodness of America will weather the storm of the present Democratic Leninist doppelgangers, who give every indication that they wish to impose their own dogma of deceit, dismantling our country to such an extent that it is no longer recognizable.

Deo Vindice!

May God bless Texas, and may the Lone Star State remain forever red!