Category Archives: Politics

These are very U.S. focused since I live here, we are the craziest nation on earth of developed countries, and have a hell of a lot of nuclear weapons

Book review of Democracy in Chains, the history of how extremist Republicans stealthily stole our Democracy

Posted on September 15, 2018 by

Summary I can’t do justice to this book in a book review (so buy it), especially the history of how the right-wing libertarians came to be so powerful, their huge influence on congress, the judiciary, and laws enacted, and how … Continue reading →

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Book review of Hillbilly Elegy and why hillbillies voted for Trump

Posted on September 12, 2018 by

Source: David Horsey / Los Angeles Times Preface. I bought “Hillbilly Elegy: A memoir of a family and culture in crisis” because I’d like to understand why anyone would vote for Donald Trump. Before the election, it was well-known that … Continue reading →

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Book review of “Deer Hunting with Jesus”. Best book to find out why people voted from Trump.

Posted on September 9, 2018 by

[ Joe Bageant grew up in poor, conservative Winchester Virginia, which is like tens of thousands of other small towns in America. He is one of the few who escaped and got a college education.  So when he retired there … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical Thinking and Scientific Literacy, Human Nature, Politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The dangers of relativism, of not being able to criticize anyone or anything because all of our beliefs are equal

Posted on September 4, 2018 by

[ I’ve been criticized for attacking right-wing Republicans, fundamentalist Christians, astrology, medicinal quackery, and so on.  This is dangerous nonsense. It means I can’t criticize Hitler, because after all, he was a product of his times.  I can’t tell my … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical Thinking, Human Nature, Politics, Religion | Tagged , | 5 Comments

How Christians were manipulated by Pat Robertson into becoming right-wing Republicans

Posted on September 1, 2018 by

[Now that the right-wing Christians are changing everyone’s lives by electing Tea Party and other right-wing Republicans, it is long past time to do something, anything to stop them. Over 20% of Americans are evangelist / fundamentalist Christians, and 80% … Continue reading →

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2016 Republican party platform: the most extreme ever

Posted on August 11, 2018 by

Preface. There are two articles below: the New York Times editorial on the 2016 Republican platform (they call Republicans Extremists too), followed by the 50 platform policies. Basically, the GOP 2016 platform would make Christianity the official American religion, replace … Continue reading →

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The evolution of the Republican party from 1960 to 2012: from moderate to extreme

Posted on August 8, 2018 by

Preface (long). Summary of changes in Republican platform from 1960 to 2012: Although their business-oriented and strong defense beliefs are unchanged, they’ve gone from a socially moderate, environmentally progressive and fiscally cautious group to a conservative party that is suspicious … Continue reading →

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The growth of incarceration in the U.S. Causes and consequences. National Research Council 2014

Posted on May 10, 2018 by

Preface. This National Research Council 465-page report may be the most comprehensive study of the U.S. prison system there is.  It will make you cry. I’ve excerpted about one-sixth of it below.  It is shocking that the “U.S. penal population … Continue reading →

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Why and how authoritarian evangelicals threaten Democracy

Posted on September 15, 2017 by

Preface. This is a book review of “Conservatives without Conscience” by John Dean. It is the best book I’ve read in explaining the history of conservatism and leaders like Newt Gingrich on the increasing authoritarianism of Republicans, It also explains … Continue reading →

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