2024-04-11

Hatred of Russia

A dominant theme in modern American life is hatred of Russia.
This is all but omnipresent.

I think there is no good reason for this hatred.
One person (one of the Ukraine-lovers) told me that it was because Russia is an "autocracy".
Oh really?
Is Putin going against the will of the majority of the Russian people?
I think not.
OTOH, Joe Biden is shoving the transgenderism agenda down the throats of Americans.
Going against the will, I would venture to say, of the vast majority of Americans, both male and female.
So if democracy means respecting the will of the majority, it is Putin who is the democrat, not Biden.

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Does anyone else notice that hatred of Russia and love of transgenderism seem to go hand in hand?
Hello, media (and others as appropriate).

2024-04-04

Political correctness in medicine

See, e.g.,
Boston hospital to scale back on child abuse and neglect reports that can perpetuate 'structural racism'

https://www.foxnews.com/media/boston-hospital-scale-back-child-abuse-neglect-reports-perpetuate-structural-racism

There is an underlying question here.
Does a higher percentage of black women use illegal drugs that will harm any infants they may bear
than white women use such illegal drugs?
That would certainly explain the discrepancy that has been found.
Where has MGH Brigham ruled that out?
Examples certainly are not proof, but even so here is an example:
https://www.riverfronttimes.com/music/sexyy-red-gets-blocked-from-st-louis-youth-rally-for-smelling-like-weed-42261505

2024-04-03

Sundance misinformation on the IC

I wonder what Col. Lang would have thought about 
what seems to me to be a piece of misinformation and disinformation about the U.S. intelligence community and its supposed power to control events:

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2024/04/02/house-speaker-mike-johnson-3-point-plan-to-fund-ukraine-senator-graham-happy/

Here is an excerpt:

<Blockquote>The key [U.S.] politicians within the dynamic exist inside information silos, essentially control mechanisms, 
where the intelligence community (IC) constructs reality by briefing the politicians about what is going on in the world.
[Like those politicians don't have other sources of information, and advocacy groups tugging at their sleeves.]
The IC tells the politicians what is happening, defines the importance and instructs the politicians on the priorities.  
The IC is never challenged because ultimately the IC has “seven ways to Sunday” to target the politicians if any non-compliance is identified.

[U.S. House] Speaker Mike Johnson is one of the “gang-of-eight” members within the legislative branch.  
The Go8 are briefed <b>and controlled</b> by the IC, using the exact same intelligence given to the President.  
Speaker Johnson has the funding of Ukraine as his top priority, 
because <b>the IC officials who set priorities</b> have told him it must be.</blockquote>

What misinformation, IMO.
I thought the IC provided information to policy-makers, but did not itself set policy.
There may have been gray areas, but has anyone heard such a one-sided, paranoid, view of the intelligence/policy relation before?

The politicians, decision makers, and public receive pro-Ukraine, anti-Russian information from a wide variety of sources, surely many not controlled by the IC.
Most are, in fact, controlled by whoever funds them.
The old "Golden Rule."

And as to
<Blockquote>Speaker Johnson has the funding of Ukraine as his top priority, 
because <b>the IC officials who set priorities</b> have told him it must be.</blockquote>
surely the wishes of the big campaign donors hold significant, if not decisive, weight.

I think most of us can agree that Sundance is using the IC as a scapegoat to avoid identifying whatever really is determining 
the overwhelming support for Ukraine at top levels of government on both sides of the Atlantic.
As an example of that support, see
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/02/allies-consider-moving-ukrarms-group-into-nato-to-shield-it-from-trump-00150151

There is disagreement on what accounts for that consensus.
Some argue it is somehow stupidity on the part of those who have risen to the top.
I have a different, less acceptable to some, opinion.
I don't think it is stupidity.
Rather, a different view of WHOSE interests are to be served.

Consider the near identity of 
1. the policy positions advocated by the ADL, 
on many issues ranging from 
support for transgenderism and homosexuality in general, 
policies towards Ukraine, Russia, and Israel,
immigration policy, and DEI, 
with
2. the policies advocated in the media and adopted by the government (in practically all Western countries), 
and ask yourself "Who is really in control?"
It isn't the IC.