newswars--2020-02-21--FBI Could Have ‘Unraveled’ Epstein’s Pedo ‘Network’ Decade Earlier, Attorney Claims

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation had information pertaining to now-deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein more than a decade ago that could have potentially brought down his alleged sex trafficking network , US television network ABC News reported .
According to court documents and sources familiar with the events , the outlet reports that a woman whose allegations of child sex abuse in New York featured prominently in Jeffrey Epstein ’ s 2019 indictment , had been questioned by the FBI and scheduled to testify before a grand jury in the summer of 2008 in connection with the first federal probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two dozen women are suing Jeffrey Epstein ’ s estate , claiming that the late financier , who died while under investigation for new sex trafficking charges , had forced them into prostitution , with many of the alleged victims claiming they were underage .
However , before the woman , who was 19 when questioned by federal agents in 2008 , was able to testify , Epstein had secured a controversial non-prosecution agreement with the US Attorney ’ s Office in Miami by pleading guilty to two state prostitution charges .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled , while Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in a county jail .
The woman ’ s account could have potentially helped prosecutors build up their case against Epstein , possibly unravelling an alleged network of child sexual abuse at his Manhattan residence similar to what had been revealed at his Palm Beach home .
“ I certainly think with the FBI ’ s capabilities , even back then , that they could have unravelled the entire network from New York to Paris to New Mexico , ” ABC News quotes Spencer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who represented three of Epstein ’ s alleged victims during the initial federal investigation in Florida , as saying .
“ The potential was always there .
[ The government ] shut this thing down and plead this thing out before going through and talking to probably more than half of the women that were involved in this whole thing .
Had they conducted a full investigation and taken their time , this would ’ ve been a whole different story.
” After federal prosecutors in New York opened a new investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman , identified in the 2019 indictment as “ Minor-Victim 1 , ” was again contacted by authorities for information pertaining to her alleged sexual abuse by the disgraced financier .
According to the woman ’ s claims in last year ’ s indictment , she was recruited at the age of 14 in 2002 to provide massages to the financier at his Manhattan residence and was subjected to sexual abuse over a period of years .
The billionaire allegedly paid the teenager , whose family was struggling financially , to entice other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the sex offender .
The woman , now 31 , has filed a civil lawsuit against Epstein ’ s estate in the wake of his arrest and death in a federal detention centre last August , stating that the abuse she had endured “ has forever scarred her and altered her life ” .
The victim is one of nearly two dozen women who are suing Epstein ’ s estate , claiming that the late billionaire had trafficked and forced them into sex .
An attorney representing “ Minor-Victim 1 ” has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On 10 August 2019 , American financier Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Metropolitan Correctional Center jail cell , where he was awaiting trial on new sex trafficking charges .
The sex predator had been under investigation for nearly two decades at the time of his death , ruled a suicide , having pleaded not guilty to all charges but facing up to 45 years in prison had he been convicted .
Hillary Clinton believes she has three covert pathways to the White House .

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation had information pertaining to now-deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein more than a decade ago that could have potentially brought down his alleged sex trafficking network, US television network ABC News reported.
According to court documents and sources familiar with the events, the outlet reports that a woman whose allegations of child sex abuse in New York featured prominently in Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 indictment, had been questioned by the FBI and scheduled to testify before a grand jury in the summer of 2008 in connection with the first federal probe into the financier.
Currently, nearly two dozen women are suing Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, claiming that the late financier, who died while under investigation for new sex trafficking charges, had forced them into prostitution, with many of the alleged victims claiming they were underage.
However, before the woman, who was 19 when questioned by federal agents in 2008, was able to testify, Epstein had secured a controversial non-prosecution agreement with the US Attorney’s Office in Miami by pleading guilty to two state prostitution charges. The alleged victim’s testimony was abruptly cancelled, while Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in a county jail.
The woman’s account could have potentially helped prosecutors build up their case against Epstein, possibly unravelling an alleged network of child sexual abuse at his Manhattan residence similar to what had been revealed at his Palm Beach home.
“I certainly think with the FBI’s capabilities, even back then, that they could have unravelled the entire network from New York to Paris to New Mexico,” ABC News quotes Spencer Kuvin, a West Palm Beach attorney who represented three of Epstein’s alleged victims during the initial federal investigation in Florida, as saying.
Kuvin added:
“The potential was always there. [The government] shut this thing down and plead this thing out before going through and talking to probably more than half of the women that were involved in this whole thing. Had they conducted a full investigation and taken their time, this would’ve been a whole different story.”
After federal prosecutors in New York opened a new investigation into Jeffrey Epstein 11 years later, the woman, identified in the 2019 indictment as “Minor-Victim 1,” was again contacted by authorities for information pertaining to her alleged sexual abuse by the disgraced financier.
According to the woman’s claims in last year’s indictment, she was recruited at the age of 14 in 2002 to provide massages to the financier at his Manhattan residence and was subjected to sexual abuse over a period of years. The billionaire allegedly paid the teenager, whose family was struggling financially, to entice other young girls to engage in sex acts with the sex offender.
The woman, now 31, has filed a civil lawsuit against Epstein’s estate in the wake of his arrest and death in a federal detention centre last August, stating that the abuse she had endured “has forever scarred her and altered her life”.
The victim is one of nearly two dozen women who are suing Epstein’s estate, claiming that the late billionaire had trafficked and forced them into sex.
An attorney representing “Minor-Victim 1” has not commented on the new report.
On 10 August 2019, American financier Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Metropolitan Correctional Center jail cell, where he was awaiting trial on new sex trafficking charges.
The sex predator had been under investigation for nearly two decades at the time of his death, ruled a suicide, having pleaded not guilty to all charges but facing up to 45 years in prison had he been convicted.
Hillary Clinton believes she has three covert pathways to the White House.


newswars--2020-02-21--Global Air Traffic Could Fall For First Time Since 2003 Due to Coronavirus

The International Air Transport Authority ( IATA ) has warned that declining travel demand amid the Covid-19 virus outbreak could cost global carriers tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue .
The IATA ’ s forecast assumes that the outbreak will remain mostly in China , which means airlines in Asia will be hit the hardest and could lose nearly $ 28 billion in revenue this year .
Carriers outside the region are likely to suffer a smaller sales hit of $ 1.5 billion .
If it [ coronavirus – Ed . ]
spreads more widely to Asia-Pacific markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be larger , ” the organization said .
According to the IATA , the outbreak will also likely reduce global traffic by almost five percent , marking the first overall decline in demand since the global financial crisis of 2008-09 .
Overall , passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to fall by 8.2 percent this year , compared to an earlier estimate of a 4.8 percent rise .
“ Airlines are making difficult decisions to cut capacity and in some cases routes , ” said IATA Director General Alexandre de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help offset some of the lost revenue .
This will be a very tough year for airlines.
” Dozens of airlines have canceled or reduced services to mainland China amid the novel coronavirus outbreak .
Qantas Airlines said the virus could carve up to $ 100 million of pre-tax profit from the second half of the company ’ s fiscal year .
Air France-KLM expects earnings drop by as much as $ 216 million between February and April .
Hillary Clinton believes she has three covert pathways to the White House .

The International Air Transport Authority (IATA) has warned that declining travel demand amid the Covid-19 virus outbreak could cost global carriers tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue.
The IATA’s forecast assumes that the outbreak will remain mostly in China, which means airlines in Asia will be hit the hardest and could lose nearly $28 billion in revenue this year.
Carriers outside the region are likely to suffer a smaller sales hit of $1.5 billion.
If it [coronavirus – Ed.] spreads more widely to Asia-Pacific markets then impacts on airlines from other regions would be larger,” the organization said.
According to the IATA, the outbreak will also likely reduce global traffic by almost five percent, marking the first overall decline in demand since the global financial crisis of 2008-09.
Overall, passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to fall by 8.2 percent this year, compared to an earlier estimate of a 4.8 percent rise.
“Airlines are making difficult decisions to cut capacity and in some cases routes,” said IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac. “Lower fuel costs will help offset some of the lost revenue. This will be a very tough year for airlines.”
Dozens of airlines have canceled or reduced services to mainland China amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Qantas Airlines said the virus could carve up to $100 million of pre-tax profit from the second half of the company’s fiscal year. Air France-KLM expects earnings drop by as much as $216 million between February and April.
Hillary Clinton believes she has three covert pathways to the White House.


newswars--2020-02-21--South Korea Reports 52 More Coronavirus Cases

South Korea reported 52 new cases of coronavirus , or COVID-19 on Friday , taking up the number of infected to 156 .
The country now has the second highest number of infected people after China .
The country also confirmed its first death from coronavirus on Thursday .
The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that of the new cases , 39 were from the southern city of Daegu .
All of these cases were linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city .
The infections have been traced to a 61-year-old woman , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since shut down its services .
The mayor of Daegu , Kwon Young-jin has advised residents to stay indoors as much as possible .
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said that Daegu and the neighboring area of Cheongdo County would be declared as “ special care zones.
” The government is trying to identify those who might have come in contact with infected people , and diagnose the disease at the earliest opportunity .
“ We will proactively provide necessary assistance including sickbeds , personnel , and equipment , ” the PM said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , officials in the capital Seoul banned public rallies in a bid to control the spread of the disease .
The coronavirus outbreak that originated in China has infected more than 76,000 globally .
It was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization due the coronavirus that causes it , and the year 2019 when it originated .
Hillary Clinton believes she has three covert pathways to the White House .

South Korea reported 52 new cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19 on Friday, taking up the number of infected to 156.
The country now has the second highest number of infected people after China.
The country also confirmed its first death from coronavirus on Thursday.
The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that of the new cases, 39 were from the southern city of Daegu. All of these cases were linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city.
The infections have been traced to a 61-year-old woman, who attended the church. The sect has since shut down its services. The mayor of Daegu, Kwon Young-jin has advised residents to stay indoors as much as possible.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said that Daegu and the neighboring area of Cheongdo County would be declared as “special care zones.”
The government is trying to identify those who might have come in contact with infected people, and diagnose the disease at the earliest opportunity.
“We will proactively provide necessary assistance including sickbeds, personnel, and equipment,” the PM said in a meeting with senior officials.
Also on Friday, officials in the capital Seoul banned public rallies in a bid to control the spread of the disease.
The coronavirus outbreak that originated in China has infected more than 76,000 globally. It was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization due the coronavirus that causes it, and the year 2019 when it originated.
Hillary Clinton believes she has three covert pathways to the White House.


newswars--2020-02-21--Trump Slams Oscars For Giving Best Picture Award to a Foreign Movie

President Trump went off last night on the Oscars for giving its top prize to a foreign movie .
During a speech to a crowd in Colorado Springs , Colorado , Trump asked why an American film wasn ’ t given the award .
“ By the way , how bad were the Academy Awards this year — did you see ?
” he asked .
“ ‘ And the winner is a movie from South Korea ’ — what the hell was that all about ?
We got enough problems with South Korea with trade .
On top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie of the year ?
Was it good ?
I don ’ t know.
” The president was referring to Parasite , a South Korean black comedy thriller .
“ Let ’ s get Gone With the Wind — can we get , like , Gone With the Wind back , please ?
” asked Trump .
The president also said he was never a fan of Brad Pitt , who used his speech at the Oscars to attack Trump over the impeachment process .
Neon , the film company that distributed Parasite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Understandable , he can ’ t read , ” yet another “ Orange man stupid , orange man bad ” sick burn that earned nearly 150,000 likes .
As we highlighted yesterday , if you thought Hollywood wasn ’ t ‘ woke ’ enough , it ’ s about to get a whole lot more politically correct .
Major Hollywood studios are set to use a new tool that scans movie & TV scripts and flags up any examples where “ diversity ” is not portrayed positively or “ gender roles ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bears some hallmarks to Soviet realism , where every piece of art had to mimic the criteria of a prescribed style in order to “ educate citizens on how to be the perfect Soviets ” and “ limit popular culture to a specific , highly regulated faction of emotional expression that promoted Soviet ideals.
” My voice is being silenced by free speech-hating Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever .
It is CRUCIAL that you support me .
Please sign up for the free newsletter here .
Donate to me on @ @ @

President Trump went off last night on the Oscars for giving its top prize to a foreign movie.
During a speech to a crowd in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Trump asked why an American film wasn’t given the award.
“By the way, how bad were the Academy Awards this year — did you see?” he asked. “‘And the winner is a movie from South Korea’ — what the hell was that all about? We got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of it, they give them the best movie of the year? Was it good? I don’t know.”
Trump goes off on the Oscars for giving Best Picture to Parasite because it’s a South Korean movie pic.twitter.com/GUGKdExTbw — Claudia Koerner (@ClaudiaKoerner) February 21, 2020
The president was referring to Parasite, a South Korean black comedy thriller.
“Let’s get Gone With the Wind — can we get, like, Gone With the Wind back, please?” asked Trump.
The president also said he was never a fan of Brad Pitt, who used his speech at the Oscars to attack Trump over the impeachment process.
Neon, the film company that distributed Parasite, responded to Trump by tweeting, “Understandable, he can’t read,” yet another “Orange man stupid, orange man bad” sick burn that earned nearly 150,000 likes.
As we highlighted yesterday, if you thought Hollywood wasn’t ‘woke’ enough, it’s about to get a whole lot more politically correct.
Major Hollywood studios are set to use a new tool that scans movie & TV scripts and flags up any examples where “diversity” is not portrayed positively or “gender roles” are not adequately represented.
The tool bears some hallmarks to Soviet realism, where every piece of art had to mimic the criteria of a prescribed style in order to “educate citizens on how to be the perfect Soviets” and “limit popular culture to a specific, highly regulated faction of emotional expression that promoted Soviet ideals.”
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newswars--2020-02-21--Biden: ‘Nobody Is Going to Be Deported in My First 100 Days’

During a town hall on CNN on Thursday , 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden vowed that @ @ @ @ @ during his first 100 days in office and that the only rationale for deportation will @ @ @ @ @ committed a felony while in the country.
” Biden said , “ [ N ] @ @ @ @ @ you are going to get mad at me with this , but nobody is going @ @ @ @ @ first 100 days , until we get through the part that we find out the @ @ @ @ @ be whether or not you ’ ve committed a felony while in the country.
” @ @ @ @ @ ’ s response to the sham trial of Roger Stone that resulted in a 40 @ @ @

During a town hall on CNN on Thursday, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden vowed that no one will be deported during his first 100 days in office and that the only rationale for deportation will be if someone has “committed a felony while in the country.”
Biden said, “[N]obody, and some of you are going to get mad at me with this, but nobody is going to be deported in my first 100 days, until we get through the part that we find out the only rationale for deportation will be whether or not you’ve committed a felony while in the country.”
Alex Jones covers President Trump’s response to the sham trial of Roger Stone that resulted in a 40 month sentence.


newswars--2020-02-22--Terrorists are ‘generally Muslims’ says Ryanair CEO

LONDON : Muslim men should be profiled at airports as terrorists will “ generally be of a Muslim persuasion , @ @ @ @ @ ’ Leary said in an interview published Saturday , sparking accusations of racism .
“ @ @ @ @ @ ” the budget airline ’ s controversial chief executive said while discussing airport security in @ @ @ @ @ newspaper .
“ They are going to be single males traveling on their own… If @ @ @ @ @ family of kids , on you go ; the chances you are going to blow @ @ @ @ @ ” “ You can ’ t say stuff , because it ’ s racism , @ @ @ @ @ males of a Muslim persuasion .
Thirty years ago it was the Irish.
” Former @ @ @ @ @ the U.N. Alan Keyes , of http : //iamtv.us , joins The Alex Jones Show @ @ @ @ @ of constitutional rights in the modern era .

LONDON: Muslim men should be profiled at airports as terrorists will “generally be of a Muslim persuasion,” Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said in an interview published Saturday, sparking accusations of racism.
“Who are the bombers?” the budget airline’s controversial chief executive said while discussing airport security in the interview with the Times newspaper.
“They are going to be single males traveling on their own… If you are traveling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero.”
“You can’t say stuff, because it’s racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish.”
Read more
Former Head U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Alan Keyes, of http://iamtv.us, joins The Alex Jones Show to break down the erosion of constitutional rights in the modern era.


newswars--2020-02-22--Baltimore school district defends lesson likening Trump to Nazis, communists

A high school is Maryland is defending a teacher ’ s history lesson , which used a meme to not-so-subtly compare President Trump to Nazism and communism .
An anonymous AP History teacher at Baltimore County ’ s Loch Raven High School used this meme , according to Fox 45 : The graphic features an image of a stern-looking Trump with the words , “ Wants to round up a group of people and build a giant wall.
” Below that image , the Nazi and Soviet flags are shown , with the words , “ Been there , Done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included the following commentary : “ Oh that ’ s why it sounds so familiar !
” It is not clear where the teacher obtained the meme , but it is readily available on Reddit and Pinterest .
Parents were incensed that the meme was used in an Advanced Placement class .
“ The biggest problem is pushing an agenda on 16-year-olds , ” one parent tells Fox45 .
“ My understanding is that was just put up and it was left there for everyone to see the whole day.
” “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the topic in that class was supposedly world leaders shunning other groups out , ” the anonymous parent says .
“ I said , ‘ Is this part of the curriculum ?
’ ” Apparently , the answer is yes .
Alex Jones breaks down the dangerous slide into implementing a Chines style control of society through a social credit score headed by the ADL .
Baltimore County Schools defended the usage of the meme , saying in a statement : This slide was used as part of a lesson in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussed included World Wars and the attempts by some leaders to limit , or prevent migration , into certain countries .
In isolation and out of context with the lesson , the image could be misunderstood .
In our Advanced Placement ( AP ) classes , which are college level courses , we expect and encourage analysis and discussion around historical and current events even if they are considered controversial .
This lesson was not intended to make a political statement .
If a student has concerns when discussing a controversial issue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern and support the student .
To even imply that our president is in any way a Nazi or a communist is outrageous , ” Baltimore County councilman Wade Kach tells the news station .

A high school is Maryland is defending a teacher’s history lesson, which used a meme to not-so-subtly compare President Trump to Nazism and communism.
An anonymous AP History teacher at Baltimore County’s Loch Raven High School used this meme, according to Fox 45:
The graphic features an image of a stern-looking Trump with the words, “Wants to round up a group of people and build a giant wall.”
Below that image, the Nazi and Soviet flags are shown, with the words, “Been there, Done that.”
The teacher’s slide included the following commentary: “Oh that’s why it sounds so familiar!”
It is not clear where the teacher obtained the meme, but it is readily available on Reddit and Pinterest.
Parents were incensed that the meme was used in an Advanced Placement class.
Watch the full report here:
“The biggest problem is pushing an agenda on 16-year-olds,” one parent tells Fox45. “My understanding is that was just put up and it was left there for everyone to see the whole day.”
“I was told that by another student who said the topic in that class was supposedly world leaders shunning other groups out,” the anonymous parent says. “I said, ‘Is this part of the curriculum?’”
Apparently, the answer is yes.
Alex Jones breaks down the dangerous slide into implementing a Chines style control of society through a social credit score headed by the ADL.
Baltimore County Schools defended the usage of the meme, saying in a statement:
This slide was used as part of a lesson in an AP History course. The topics being discussed included World Wars and the attempts by some leaders to limit, or prevent migration, into certain countries. In isolation and out of context with the lesson, the image could be misunderstood. In our Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which are college level courses, we expect and encourage analysis and discussion around historical and current events even if they are considered controversial. This lesson was not intended to make a political statement. If a student has concerns when discussing a controversial issue, schools have the tools to address the concern and support the student.
To even imply that our president is in any way a Nazi or a communist is outrageous,” Baltimore County councilman Wade Kach tells the news station.


newswars--2020-02-22--“Jeffrey And I Had Everyone On Videotape” Ghislaine Maxwell Reportedly Told Friend

Jeffrey Epstein ’ s alleged ‘ madam ’ told a former acquaintance that she and the now-dead pedophile had “ everything on videotape , ” according to The Telegraph .
The acquaintance , socialite and distant relative to the royals Christina Oxenberg , said that Maxwell also told her that Epstein bought a private helicopter because commercial pilots were “ eyes and ears ” he did not need .
She revealed she had spoken to the FBI about what she had been told .
Ms Oxenberg , 57 , first met Maxwell in the early 1990s and said she would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had in Maxwell ’ s home .
“ We were alone , ” she said .
“ She said many things .
All creepy .
Unorthodox .
Strange .
I could not believe whatever she was saying was real .
Stuff like : ‘ Jeffrey and I have everyone on videotape.
’ ” … Maxwell has been accused by several alleged Epstein victims of both facilitating and participating in sexual crimes .
She has vehemently denied the claims and has not been charged with any crimes in connection to Epstein ’ s activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly was taped ?
Bloomberg ’ s elitist , even hateful , comments about farmers were bad enough but the context and full remarks were even more alarming .
And so are his comments about himself in his book “ Bloomberg on Bloomberg ”

Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged ‘madam’ told a former acquaintance that she and the now-dead pedophile had “everything on videotape,”according to The Telegraph.
The acquaintance, socialite and distant relative to the royals Christina Oxenberg, said that Maxwell also told her that Epstein bought a private helicopter because commercial pilots were “eyes and ears” he did not need.
She revealed she had spoken to the FBI about what she had been told. Ms Oxenberg, 57, first met Maxwell in the early 1990s and said she would never forget a conversation the pair once had in Maxwell’s home. “We were alone,” she said. “She said many things. All creepy. Unorthodox. Strange. I could not believe whatever she was saying was real. Stuff like: ‘Jeffrey and I have everyone on videotape.’”…
Maxwell has been accused by several alleged Epstein victims of both facilitating and participating in sexual crimes. She has vehemently denied the claims and has not been charged with any crimes in connection to Epstein’s activities.
If true, we wonder who exactly was taped?
Bloomberg’s elitist, even hateful, comments about farmers were bad enough but the context and full remarks were even more alarming. And so are his comments about himself in his book “Bloomberg on Bloomberg”


newswars--2020-02-22--Woke Irrationality Is Undermining Civilization

The Seattle School Board recently deemed inequality – too few minorities – in their gifted children program to be more important than nurturing the abilities of these intellectually talented kids .
They propose to consign these high achievers to classes that will fail to challenge or engross them , and potentially show them the futility of achievement .
“ What are they thinking ?
” we wonder .
Presumably , this school board is not comprised of stupid , corrupt , or ill-intentioned people .
But what could motivate this kind of policy change ?
Of course , people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make bad decisions .
Just as we can choose to damage our health by overeating , smoking cigarettes , and neglecting to take prescribed medications , we can also choose to remain uninformed on policy issues .
Sometimes , it might even make sense to do so .
An internet troll who hated a conservative student because of his political opinions has successfully used “ hate crime ” legislation to get him charged with a felony — “ making terrorist threats ” — simply for posting a photo of himself with his gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Remington moves forward in spite of its clear violation of law According to economists , “ rational ignorance ” comes into play when the “ cost ” ( usually meaning the effort ) of gaining enough understanding of an issue to be able to make an informed decision relating to it outweighs the benefit that one could reasonably expect from doing so .
For example , many who are preoccupied with family , school , work , and mortgages may not consider it worthwhile to sift through a mass of arcane data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and benefits of nuclear power , plasticizers in children ’ s toys , or genetically engineered crops .
A quarter century ago , the cosmologist Carl Sagan expressed concern about the trend toward a society in which , “ clutching our crystals and religiously consulting our horoscopes , our critical faculties in steep decline … we slide , almost without noticing , into superstition and darkness.
” More recently , British polymath Dick Taverne warned that , “ in the practice of medicine , popular approaches to farming and food , policies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other practical issues , there is an undercurrent of irrationality that threatens science-dependent progress , and even the civilized basis of our democracy.
” In everyday life , public policy , and even in the decisions made by elite universities , we are seeing such dire predictions validated .
MISSING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES A variation on these ponderous themes is the kind of thing we recently encountered in an article published by Stanford University ’ s news service that seems a perfect example of largely symbolic idealism : “ simple , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] can take to reduce their environmental footprint.
” Those steps consist of actions like converting lights to LEDs , updating aerators to save water , and reducing the use of disposable packaging and utensils .
Those actions are aimed at addressing climate change at the micro level , and there ’ s nothing wrong with them , to be sure .
Certainly , small contributions can make a difference if they ’ re aggregated across a large population .
But at Stanford , they seem to be missing the forest for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university encourages those baby steps , it embraces and encourages organic farming , which is wasteful of water and arable land .
The university ’ s organic gardens prohibit the cultivation of plants crafted with modern genetic engineering technologies ( including a groundbreaking one that was co-invented by a Stanford professor ) , and , incredibly , invited Vandana Shiva , an aggressively anti-science and anti-technology activist , to lecture to its students .
Her rejection of modern agricultural technologies and encouragement of primitive farming methods in poor countries leads to low yields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under-nutrition , and diminished longevity .
The dissonance between Stanford ’ s ostensible priorities – preeminence in science and technological innovation , and environmental stewardship – and its actions is a prime example of the schizophrenia of much of America ’ s liberal intelligentsia .
Too often , even when small actions make sense , the attempts to generalize and expand the good intentions to a larger scale go wildly awry .
We could go on and on about the wrong-headed , proposed remedies for climate change , but consider the following examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2-3 % ( and dropping ) of the world ’ s coal generating capacity .
Disrupting the coal industry by governmental fiat makes little sense because it is already shrinking from free market forces like the availability of cheap natural gas .
Even if every plant were to close tomorrow , there would be no discernible impact on climate change ( Note : Japan , on the other hand , is planning to build 22 new , coal-fired power plants ) .
• Speaking of natural gas , why would we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of a resource that makes our country energy independent and reduces carbon emissions ?
Emissions began to decline significantly in 2005 , coincident with the shale gas revolution , which ended our dependence on foreign suppliers of energy .
• Wind power is no salvation .
The cost and pollution involved in building the monster wind turbines offset any real benefit ( in terms of dollars and environmental effects ) many years into the future—if ever .
And that doesn ’ t include the negative effects of building the massive batteries needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the realities of demand and distribution .
• Nuclear power continues to be largely ignored , although it is the only purely manmade form of zero-emissions energy .
The broader point is that , echoing Professor Sagan and Lord Taverne , we are increasingly sacrificing common sense and rationality to a kind of mindless idealism .
The most likely explanation for the policy shift the Seattle School Board is considering is that they , too , have capitulated to idealism and have been blinded by identity politics into believing that all people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the eyes of the law , but in innate characteristics including intelligence .
According to this view , differentiating people by accomplishments is hurtful if the outcome does not precisely mirror the racial , gender , ethnic , and cultural dimensions through which everyone can be categorized .
Any underrepresented cohort in these political categorization schemes is , by default , considered to be victimized , and the system must , ipso facto , be racist , sexist , homophobic , etc .
But if this is a valid viewpoint , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t everybody athletically talented enough to play professional sports if they choose ?
” and , “ Why can ’ t everybody become a coloratura soprano or a published poet ?
” Those questions are fundamentally no different than , “ Why can ’ t everybody solve complex math and engineering problems like the smartest kids at M.I.T .
?
” The ideal of perfect equality fails in the real world , so why distort policy to try to achieve the impossible ?
This situation has been a long time coming .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that disappointment or hurt feelings was something their kids should , and could , be entirely spared .
But that fails to distinguish between learning opportunities , where disappointment is constructive – every child must at some point learn that he can ’ t always win the spelling bee or get all A ’ s – and the kind of damage to self-esteem that might justify protection .
This trend has led to “ participation trophies , ” safe spaces , crying booths , protection from micro-aggressions and “ trigger words , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right ” not to be made to feel uncomfortable .
British writer and TV personality Piers Morgan has called it the “ snowflake and victimhood culture.
” This new entitlement is a major contributor to the adoption of feelings-based policies that reject the need to seek rational validation .
Fact-based debate no longer seems necessary , if passion and good intentions suffice .
Unwelcome facts can be ignored , repudiated , or “ cancelled , ” if social media condemns them .
Entitlement is everywhere .
Identity is everything .
Measures of merit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judging people ’ s status .
Virtuous ideas and virtue-signaling are sacrosanct , regardless of their grounding in reality .
Although individuals are entitled to believe in horoscopes , trust in crystals to bring good luck , or buy into quack medical cures , such irrationality becomes a serious threat to society when it is allowed to influence public policy .
For that reason , we need to choose political leaders who understand the limits of quixotic thinking , or we will continue to confront financial albatrosses like the Green New Deal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Train to Nowhere ) .
If we tolerate the dominance of ideological purity and good intentions over reason , perils lie ahead .

The Seattle School Board recently deemed inequality – too few minorities – in their gifted children program to be more important than nurturing the abilities of these intellectually talented kids.
They propose to consign these high achievers to classes that will fail to challenge or engross them, and potentially show them the futility of achievement.
“What are they thinking?” we wonder. Presumably, this school board is not comprised of stupid, corrupt, or ill-intentioned people. But what could motivate this kind of policy change?
Of course, people have a right to be ignorant and to make bad decisions. Just as we can choose to damage our health by overeating, smoking cigarettes, and neglecting to take prescribed medications, we can also choose to remain uninformed on policy issues. Sometimes, it might even make sense to do so.
An internet troll who hated a conservative student because of his political opinions has successfully used “hate crime” legislation to get him charged with a felony — “making terrorist threats” — simply for posting a photo of himself with his gun. And Sandy Hook lawyers’ lawsuit against Remington moves forward in spite of its clear violation of law
According to economists, “rational ignorance” comes into play when the “cost” (usually meaning the effort) of gaining enough understanding of an issue to be able to make an informed decision relating to it outweighs the benefit that one could reasonably expect from doing so. For example, many who are preoccupied with family, school, work, and mortgages may not consider it worthwhile to sift through a mass of arcane data to understand, say, the risks and benefits of nuclear power, plasticizers in children’s toys, or genetically engineered crops.
A quarter century ago, the cosmologist Carl Sagan expressed concern about the trend toward a society in which, “clutching our crystals and religiously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in steep decline … we slide, almost without noticing, into superstition and darkness.”
More recently, British polymath Dick Taverne warned that, “in the practice of medicine, popular approaches to farming and food, policies to reduce hunger and disease, and many other practical issues, there is an undercurrent of irrationality that threatens science-dependent progress, and even the civilized basis of our democracy.”
In everyday life, public policy, and even in the decisions made by elite universities, we are seeing such dire predictions validated.
MISSING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES
A variation on these ponderous themes is the kind of thing we recently encountered in an article published by Stanford University’s news service that seems a perfect example of largely symbolic idealism: “simple, but meaningful steps [people on campus] can take to reduce their environmental footprint.” Those steps consist of actions like converting lights to LEDs, updating aerators to save water, and reducing the use of disposable packaging and utensils.
Those actions are aimed at addressing climate change at the micro level, and there’s nothing wrong with them, to be sure. Certainly, small contributions can make a difference if they’re aggregated across a large population. But at Stanford, they seem to be missing the forest for the trees. At the same time the university encourages those baby steps, it embraces and encourages organic farming, which is wasteful of water and arable land. The university’s organic gardens prohibit the cultivation of plants crafted with modern genetic engineering technologies (including a groundbreaking one that was co-invented by a Stanford professor), and, incredibly, invited Vandana Shiva, an aggressively anti-science and anti-technology activist, to lecture to its students. Her rejection of modern agricultural technologies and encouragement of primitive farming methods in poor countries leads to low yields, vulnerability to pests and diseases, under-nutrition, and diminished longevity.
The dissonance between Stanford’s ostensible priorities – preeminence in science and technological innovation, and environmental stewardship – and its actions is a prime example of the schizophrenia of much of America’s liberal intelligentsia.
Too often, even when small actions make sense, the attempts to generalize and expand the good intentions to a larger scale go wildly awry. We could go on and on about the wrong-headed, proposed remedies for climate change, but consider the following examples:
The U.S. has only around 2-3% (and dropping) of the world’s coal generating capacity. Disrupting the coal industry by governmental fiat makes little sense because it is already shrinking from free market forces like the availability of cheap natural gas. Even if every plant were to close tomorrow, there would be no discernible impact on climate change (Note: Japan, on the other hand, is planning to build 22 new, coal-fired power plants).
Speaking of natural gas, why would we want to block pipelines, exploration, and the use of a resource that makes our country energy independent and reduces carbon emissions? Emissions began to decline significantly in 2005, coincident with the shale gas revolution, which ended our dependence on foreign suppliers of energy.
Wind power is no salvation. The cost and pollution involved in building the monster wind turbines offset any real benefit (in terms of dollars and environmental effects) many years into the future—if ever. And that doesn’t include the negative effects of building the massive batteries needed to make this form of power compatible with the realities of demand and distribution.
Nuclear power continues to be largely ignored, although it is the only purely manmade form of zero-emissions energy.
The broader point is that, echoing Professor Sagan and Lord Taverne, we are increasingly sacrificing common sense and rationality to a kind of mindless idealism.
THE LIMITS OF QUIXOTIC THINKING
The most likely explanation for the policy shift the Seattle School Board is considering is that they, too, have capitulated to idealism and have been blinded by identity politics into believing that all people are, literally, created equal—not just in the eyes of the law, but in innate characteristics including intelligence. According to this view, differentiating people by accomplishments is hurtful if the outcome does not precisely mirror the racial, gender, ethnic, and cultural dimensions through which everyone can be categorized. Any underrepresented cohort in these political categorization schemes is, by default, considered to be victimized, and the system must, ipso facto, be racist, sexist, homophobic, etc.
But if this is a valid viewpoint, we would ask, “Why isn’t everybody athletically talented enough to play professional sports if they choose?” and, “Why can’t everybody become a coloratura soprano or a published poet?”
Those questions are fundamentally no different than, “Why can’t everybody solve complex math and engineering problems like the smartest kids at M.I.T.?”
The ideal of perfect equality fails in the real world, so why distort policy to try to achieve the impossible?
This situation has been a long time coming. It began when parents somehow acquired the notion that disappointment or hurt feelings was something their kids should, and could, be entirely spared. But that fails to distinguish between learning opportunities, where disappointment is constructive – every child must at some point learn that he can’t always win the spelling bee or get all A’s – and the kind of damage to self-esteem that might justify protection.
This trend has led to “participation trophies,” safe spaces, crying booths, protection from micro-aggressions and “trigger words,” and, more recently, the “right” not to be made to feel uncomfortable. British writer and TV personality Piers Morgan has called it the “snowflake and victimhood culture.”
This new entitlement is a major contributor to the adoption of feelings-based policies that reject the need to seek rational validation. Fact-based debate no longer seems necessary, if passion and good intentions suffice. Unwelcome facts can be ignored, repudiated, or “cancelled,” if social media condemns them.
Entitlement is everywhere. Identity is everything. Measures of merit are no longer a crucial factor for judging people’s status. Virtuous ideas and virtue-signaling are sacrosanct, regardless of their grounding in reality.
Although individuals are entitled to believe in horoscopes, trust in crystals to bring good luck, or buy into quack medical cures, such irrationality becomes a serious threat to society when it is allowed to influence public policy. For that reason, we need to choose political leaders who understand the limits of quixotic thinking, or we will continue to confront financial albatrosses like the Green New Deal and California High Speed Rail Consortium (aka the Train to Nowhere). If we tolerate the dominance of ideological purity and good intentions over reason, perils lie ahead.