thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Brooks Brothers Files for Bankruptcy After 202 Years of Business

Brooks Brothers , one of the United States ’ oldest and most prestigious retailers , filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday after 202 years , CNBC reported .
The retailer , credited with dressing 40 U.S. presidents since its founding in 1818 , had already been burdened with rising rent when it was devastated by the coronavirus pandemic , which sunk the company ’ s potential sale , according to CNBC .
“ Over the past year , Brooks Brothers ’ board , leadership team , and financial and legal advisors have been evaluating various strategic options to position the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential sale of the business , ” a company spokesman said .
Brooks Brothers had already been discussing which North American stores it would close amid the pandemic , according to CNBC .
The company had decided to close over 50 locations due to coronavirus .
The company reported in June that it would lay off approximately 700 workers , CNN reported .
It also said that it was actively seeking a buyer due to the toll that the coronavirus had taken on the business .
Brooks Brothers had secured $ 75 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CNN .
The company is the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy amid the pandemic , following companies such as J .
Crew , Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney .
Claudio Del Vecchio , Brooks Brothers ’ s owner since 2001 , told the New York Times in June that he was already planning to move production overseas in order to cut costs .
Responding to questions about the company ’ s bankruptcy , Del Vecchio expressed uncertainty about the future , but said “ for now , I want to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Wall Street Journal reported .
Last week , the centuries-old haberdashery made news when its CEO Claudio Del Vecchio sent a letter to customers expressing support for the goals the Black Lives Matter .
Andrew Trunksy is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Brooks Brothers ” by Phillip Pessar .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Andrew Trunsky
Brooks Brothers, one of the United States’ oldest and most prestigious retailers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday after 202 years, CNBC reported.
The retailer, credited with dressing 40 U.S. presidents since its founding in 1818, had already been burdened with rising rent when it was devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, which sunk the company’s potential sale, according to CNBC.
“Over the past year, Brooks Brothers’ board, leadership team, and financial and legal advisors have been evaluating various strategic options to position the company for future success, including a potential sale of the business,” a company spokesman said.
Brooks Brothers had already been discussing which North American stores it would close amid the pandemic, according to CNBC. The company had decided to close over 50 locations due to coronavirus.
The company reported in June that it would lay off approximately 700 workers, CNN reported. It also said that it was actively seeking a buyer due to the toll that the coronavirus had taken on the business.
Brooks Brothers had secured $75 million in financing to continue operating, according to CNN.
The company is the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy amid the pandemic, following companies such as J. Crew, Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney.
Claudio Del Vecchio, Brooks Brothers’s owner since 2001, told the New York Times in June that he was already planning to move production overseas in order to cut costs.
Responding to questions about the company’s bankruptcy, Del Vecchio expressed uncertainty about the future, but said “for now, I want to ensure a long life for this company,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
Last week, the centuries-old haberdashery made news when its CEO Claudio Del Vecchio sent a letter to customers expressing support for the goals the Black Lives Matter.
– – –
Andrew Trunksy is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Brooks Brothers” by Phillip Pessar. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Kanye West Says White Supremacists Doing ‘Devil’s Work’ Brought Planned Parenthoods in Cities

White supremacists placed Planned Parenthood clinics inside cities to “ do the Devil ’ s work , ” according to rapper and recently-declared presidential candidate Kanye West .
West , who announced his presidential bid July 4 , spoke out regarding his political beliefs in an interview with Forbes where he discussed his disillusionment with President Donald Trump , his political beliefs , and his hopes for a West presidency .
“ Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil ’ s work , ” he said .
West ’ s comments may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had a history of pro-eugenics comments and spoke of targeting black communities with birth control through “ The Negro Project.
” Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
West has previously spoken out against abortion , and the rapper reiterated his pro-life stances in the Forbes interview .
“ I am pro-life because I ’ m following the word of the bible , ” he told the publication .
“ God just gave me the clarity and said it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his presidential run .
“ You know I was out there , ended up in the hospital , people were calling me crazy .
I ’ m not crazy .
Between all of the influences and the positions that we can be put in as musicians—you go on tour , you put out all these albums , and you look up and you don ’ t have any money in your account.
” He continued : “ It can drive you crazy , through all of that I was looking crazy because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s time .
And we ’ re not going crazy , we ’ re going Yeezy , it ’ s a whole ‘ notha level now .
N-O-T-H-A.
” Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Planned Parenthood Building ” by Paul Sableman .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Mary Margaret Olohan
White supremacists placed Planned Parenthood clinics inside cities to “do the Devil’s work,” according to rapper and recently-declared presidential candidate Kanye West.
West, who announced his presidential bid July 4, spoke out regarding his political beliefs in an interview with Forbes where he discussed his disillusionment with President Donald Trump, his political beliefs, and his hopes for a West presidency.
“Planned Parenthoods have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devil’s work,” he said.
West’s comments may be a reference Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, who had a history of pro-eugenics comments and spoke of targeting black communities with birth control through “The Negro Project.”
Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
West has previously spoken out against abortion, and the rapper reiterated his pro-life stances in the Forbes interview.
“I am pro-life because I’m following the word of the bible,” he told the publication.
“God just gave me the clarity and said it’s time,” he added regarding his presidential run. “You know I was out there, ended up in the hospital, people were calling me crazy. I’m not crazy. Between all of the influences and the positions that we can be put in as musicians—you go on tour, you put out all these albums, and you look up and you don’t have any money in your account.”
He continued: “It can drive you crazy, through all of that I was looking crazy because it wasn’t the time. Now it’s time. And we’re not going crazy, we’re going Yeezy, it’s a whole ‘notha level now. N-O-T-H-A.”
– – –
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Planned Parenthood Building” by Paul Sableman. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Harvard, MIT Sue to Block ICE Rule on International Students

BOSTON , Massachusetts ( AP ) — Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the Trump administration ’ s decision to bar international students from staying in the U.S. if they take classes entirely online this fall .
The lawsuit , filed in Boston ’ s federal court , seeks to prevent federal immigration authorities from enforcing the rule .
The universities contend that the directive violates the Administrative Procedures Act because officials failed to offer a reasonable basis justifying the policy and because the public was not given notice to comment on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. State Department said that while international students are welcome in the U.S. , the policy “ provides greater flexibility for nonimmigrant students to continue their education in the United States , while also allowing for proper social distancing on open and operating campuses across America.
” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified colleges Monday that international students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools operate entirely online this fall .
New visas will not be issued to students at those schools , and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in-person classes will be barred from taking all of their classes online .
The guidance says international students won ’ t be exempt even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term .
The guidance was released the same day Harvard announced it would be keeping its classes online this fall .
Harvard says the directive would prevent many of Harvard ’ s 5,000 international students from remaining the U.S. Harvard President Lawrence Bacow said the order came without notice and that its “ cruelty ” was surpassed only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears that it was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall , without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students , instructors , and other , ” Bacow said in a statement Wednesday .
“ This comes at a time when the United States has been setting daily records for the number of new infections , with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1.
” The guidelines have provoked backlash from universities across the U.S. who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their communities .
Many schools have also come to depend on tuition revenue from international students , who typically pay higher tuition rates .
It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online .
Those attending schools that are staying online must “ depart the country or take other measures , such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction , ” according to the guidance .
Dozens of colleges have said they plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person this fall , but some say it ’ s too risky .
The University of Southern California last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus , saying classes will be hosted primarily or exclusively online .
Collin Binkley is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this Aug. 13 , 2019 , file photo , pedestrians walk through the gates of Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge , Mass .
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a federal lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging the Trump administration ’ s decision to bar international students from staying in the U.S. if they take classes entirely online this fall .
Some institutions , including Harvard , have announced that all instruction will be offered remotely in the fall during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
( AP Photo/Charles Krupa , File )

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) — Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the Trump administration’s decision to bar international students from staying in the U.S. if they take classes entirely online this fall.
The lawsuit, filed in Boston’s federal court, seeks to prevent federal immigration authorities from enforcing the rule. The universities contend that the directive violates the Administrative Procedures Act because officials failed to offer a reasonable basis justifying the policy and because the public was not given notice to comment on it.
In a statement, the U.S. State Department said that while international students are welcome in the U.S., the policy “provides greater flexibility for nonimmigrant students to continue their education in the United States, while also allowing for proper social distancing on open and operating campuses across America.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified colleges Monday that international students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools operate entirely online this fall. New visas will not be issued to students at those schools, and others at universities offering a mix of online and in-person classes will be barred from taking all of their classes online.
The guidance says international students won’t be exempt even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term.
The guidance was released the same day Harvard announced it would be keeping its classes online this fall. Harvard says the directive would prevent many of Harvard’s 5,000 international students from remaining the U.S.
Harvard President Lawrence Bacow said the order came without notice and that its “cruelty” was surpassed only by its “recklessness.”
“It appears that it was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall, without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and other,” Bacow said in a statement Wednesday. “This comes at a time when the United States has been setting daily records for the number of new infections, with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1.”
The guidelines have provoked backlash from universities across the U.S. who say international students have an important place in their communities. Many schools have also come to depend on tuition revenue from international students, who typically pay higher tuition rates.
It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online. Those attending schools that are staying online must “depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction,” according to the guidance.
Dozens of colleges have said they plan to offer at least some classes in person this fall, but some say it’s too risky. The University of Southern California last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus, saying classes will be hosted primarily or exclusively online.
– – –
Collin Binkley is a reporter for The Associated Press.
About the Headline Photo: In this Aug. 13, 2019, file photo, pedestrians walk through the gates of Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, July 8, 2020, challenging the Trump administration’s decision to bar international students from staying in the U.S. if they take classes entirely online this fall. Some institutions, including Harvard, have announced that all instruction will be offered remotely in the fall during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Crom Carmichael Talks Mask-Non Education Mandates and Questions the Left’s Continuation of Bad Publi

Crom Carmichael Talks Mask-Non Education Mandates and Questions the Left’s Continuation of Bad Public Policy

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the third hour , Carmichael talked about the unrealistic science being used to mandate masks nationwide .
He added that data supports that children under the age of 12 are unable to contract or contaminate older people and advocated the importance of getting them back into school .
Leahy : We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , Wednesday and Friday by our good friend and the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
Crom , I want to bring something to your attention about coronavirus .
So now Governor Lee has authorized all the counties in the state to put these mask mandates out there .
I ’ ve said repeatedly there is no medical evidence that demonstrates that the wearing of a cloth mask or the wearing of a paper surgical mask has any impact on stopping the spread of COVID-19 .
People talk about the causality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that says if you mandate masks you might possibly decrease the spread of COVID by two percent .
That ’ s out from the University of Iowa .
Two percent is not much .
Here is a tweet , by Alex Berenson former New York Times reporter and author a very good guy .
We ’ ll try to have him on because he looks at the facts .
Governor Jay Inslee announced the mask mandate for Washington state on June 23 .
Since then the state of Washington COVID cases has increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused the COVID case spikes .
What do you make of this Crom ?
Carmichael : I don ’ t know if they ’ ve caused it but they haven ’ t stopped it .
That ’ s the whole point .
COVID , we ’ ve started talking about the politics of COVID back in March .
And after I did kind of my own deep dive into trying to understand the nature of this particular virus and reading from people who are actual doctors and not doctors who are… Carmichael : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion that COVID would ultimately be controlled by herd immunity .
This means that a large percentage of the population actually has to come down with COVID or at least be infected by it .
And infected is a charged word .
A very very large percentage of people who are under the age of 50 who are “ infected ” will barely even know it .
And most people who are under 20 won ’ t know it at all unless they have some other condition .
And so the politics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now talking about the number of cases that are increasing .
By the way , masks are being worn much more often now than they were a month ago .
So if masks help than the number of cases going up shouldn ’ t be happening .
But the number of cases is going up .
Now that ’ s also partly because we are testing a lot more .
But I now read reports where doctors are saying 10-15 times as many people have gotten COVID as have tested positive for COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test everybody .
So with the combination of the new study and it ’ s an actual clinical study on the benefits of hydroxychloroquine and how it beats any other drug in terms of benefiting people either as a prophylactic against getting COVID for healthcare workers or for people who come down with COVID who take hydroxychloroquine , they are better off .
It doesn ’ t ’ mean it ’ s a solution but they are better off .
And masks have clearly based on the fact that there are more masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going up that shows that masks don ’ t work .
But , for me , the number of cases going up with the death rate staying flat or going down is good news .
Leahy : I would agree with that .
I want to bring to your attention Crom and article published in the United Kingdom ’ s Sun back in March .
Let me just read from this because it ’ s about the actual data and medical experts that we like to report on .
Infection prevention specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and epidemiology at the University of Iowa ’ s College of Medicine said on Twitter “ masks won ’ t protect the average person because they will wear them incorrectly and auto-contaminate themselves.
” Professor Perencevich added , “ I ’ ve never seen a person practice hand hygiene before removing the mask in public and then after removing the mask.
” He told Forbes that the average healthy person does not need to have a mask .
“ There is no evidence that wearing a mask on healthy people will protect them.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have that other doctor from California that you quoted before .
Carmichael : Yes .
And she says that the size of the COVID virus is tiny compared .
Carmichael : Yes .
And the holes in a cloth or paper mask .
Carmichael : So it ’ s like putting up a chain-link fence , I think her metaphor was putting up a chain-link fence to stop a mosquito .
So when you look at all these people talking about science and they really don ’ t talk about the science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science and the data then herd immunity would be the goal .
And wearing masks which I think is more of a political tool .
Leahy : It ’ s a total political tool to basically compel the submission of average citizens to the authority of the government .
Carmichael : Yes .
And its unjustified authority .
And when I say unjustified I simply say that when you go back to the Declaration of Independence of what makes this country special is that our individual rights come from God and they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people want to use government to control people they can only do so unjustly by usurping God-given rights .
So that ’ s all this mask thing , in my opinion , is all about .
Now , do I wear a mask when I go into the supermarket ?
Yes , I do because I don ’ t want anybody to be mad at me .
But I try to wear it as little as possible because I don ’ t want to self contaminate myself from wearing the darn thing around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I bump elbows .
I ’ m not going to shake hands .
Leahy : Which makes sense from a scientific perspective as well .
Carmichael : Yes and I ’ m over 70 and in good health .
Leahy : You don ’ t look a day after 50 to me .
( Laughs ) Carmichael : Thank you .
The other day someone confused me with a 60-year-old .
Carmichael : Yes .
That was a thrill .
Carmichael : I said we should meet more often .
( Leahy laughs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Left and the teacher unions who are now trying to do everything they can .
I hadn ’ t figured out politically how it benefits the Left for children not to go back to school because children are clearly not at risk from COVID .
Leahy : Every study shows that children under 12 don ’ t get contaminated and really don ’ t really contaminate older people .
That is what the studies show .
Carmichael : Yes .
Yes .
Especially when they are high school age or younger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is acquiring information .
Carmichael : And you need to develop the brain and to be educated at that age .
So the harm that comes from mask non-education is so much greater than the harm that could possibly be caused by having children go back to school .
So once again you see the left engaging in politics rather than in good public policy .
It ’ s actually frightening to see how they are acting when they don ’ t have absolute power .
Listen to the third hour here : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio.
During the third hour, Carmichael talked about the unrealistic science being used to mandate masks nationwide. He added that data supports that children under the age of 12 are unable to contract or contaminate older people and advocated the importance of getting them back into school.
Leahy: We are joined as we often are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by our good friend and the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael. Crom, I want to bring something to your attention about coronavirus. So now Governor Lee has authorized all the counties in the state to put these mask mandates out there.
I’ve said repeatedly there is no medical evidence that demonstrates that the wearing of a cloth mask or the wearing of a paper surgical mask has any impact on stopping the spread of COVID-19. People talk about the causality of masks. So there is a study that says if you mandate masks you might possibly decrease the spread of COVID by two percent. That’s out from the University of Iowa.
Two percent is not much. Here is a tweet, by Alex Berenson former New York Times reporter and author a very good guy. We’ll try to have him on because he looks at the facts. Governor Jay Inslee announced the mask mandate for Washington state on June 23. Since then the state of Washington COVID cases has increased by 400 percent therefore mask mandates have caused the COVID case spikes. What do you make of this Crom?
Carmichael: I don’t know if they’ve caused it but they haven’t stopped it. That’s the whole point. COVID, we’ve started talking about the politics of COVID back in March. And after I did kind of my own deep dive into trying to understand the nature of this particular virus and reading from people who are actual doctors and not doctors who are…
Leahy: Political analysts.
Carmichael: Political analysts. I came to the conclusion that COVID would ultimately be controlled by herd immunity. This means that a large percentage of the population actually has to come down with COVID or at least be infected by it. And infected is a charged word.
A very very large percentage of people who are under the age of 50 who are “infected” will barely even know it. And most people who are under 20 won’t know it at all unless they have some other condition. And so the politics of COVID what you see is the media now talking about the number of cases that are increasing. By the way, masks are being worn much more often now than they were a month ago.
Leahy: Yes.
So if masks help than the number of cases going up shouldn’t be happening. But the number of cases is going up. Now that’s also partly because we are testing a lot more. But I now read reports where doctors are saying 10-15 times as many people have gotten COVID as have tested positive for COVID just simply because you can’t test everybody.
So with the combination of the new study and it’s an actual clinical study on the benefits of hydroxychloroquine and how it beats any other drug in terms of benefiting people either as a prophylactic against getting COVID for healthcare workers or for people who come down with COVID who take hydroxychloroquine, they are better off.
It doesn’t’ mean it’s a solution but they are better off. And masks have clearly based on the fact that there are more masks being worn and the number of cases is going up that shows that masks don’t work. But, for me, the number of cases going up with the death rate staying flat or going down is good news.
Leahy: I would agree with that. I want to bring to your attention Crom and article published in the United Kingdom’s Sun back in March. Let me just read from this because it’s about the actual data and medical experts that we like to report on. Infection prevention specialist, Eli Perencevich a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa’s College of Medicine said on Twitter “masks won’t protect the average person because they will wear them incorrectly and auto-contaminate themselves.”
Professor Perencevich added, “I’ve never seen a person practice hand hygiene before removing the mask in public and then after removing the mask.” He told Forbes that the average healthy person does not need to have a mask. “There is no evidence that wearing a mask on healthy people will protect them.”
Carmichael: Yes. And then you have that other doctor from California that you quoted before.
Leahy: Dr. Simone Gold.
Carmichael: Yes. And she says that the size of the COVID virus is tiny compared.
Leahy: A tenth of a micron.
Carmichael: Yes. And the holes in a cloth or paper mask.
Leahy: 200 microns.
Carmichael: So it’s like putting up a chain-link fence, I think her metaphor was putting up a chain-link fence to stop a mosquito. So when you look at all these people talking about science and they really don’t talk about the science because if they did talk about the science and the data then herd immunity would be the goal. And wearing masks which I think is more of a political tool.
Leahy: It’s a total political tool to basically compel the submission of average citizens to the authority of the government.
Carmichael: Yes. And its unjustified authority. And when I say unjustified I simply say that when you go back to the Declaration of Independence of what makes this country special is that our individual rights come from God and they do not come from government. So if people want to use government to control people they can only do so unjustly by usurping God-given rights.
So that’s all this mask thing, in my opinion, is all about. Now, do I wear a mask when I go into the supermarket? Yes, I do because I don’t want anybody to be mad at me. But I try to wear it as little as possible because I don’t want to self contaminate myself from wearing the darn thing around. When I go to a meeting I bump elbows. I’m not going to shake hands.
Leahy: You are socially distancing.
Carmichael: I am socially distancing.
Leahy: Which makes sense from a scientific perspective as well.
Carmichael: Yes and I’m over 70 and in good health.
Leahy: You don’t look a day after 50 to me. (Laughs)
Carmichael: Thank you. The other day someone confused me with a 60-year-old.
Leahy: Really?
Carmichael: Yes. That was a thrill.
Leahy: A spring chicken.
Carmichael: I said we should meet more often. (Leahy laughs) I see in schools you have the Left and the teacher unions who are now trying to do everything they can. I hadn’t figured out politically how it benefits the Left for children not to go back to school because children are clearly not at risk from COVID.
Leahy: Every study shows that children under 12 don’t get contaminated and really don’t really contaminate older people. That is what the studies show.
Carmichael: Yes. Yes. Especially when they are high school age or younger, these are the years when your brain is acquiring information.
Leahy: You need development.
Carmichael: And you need to develop the brain and to be educated at that age. So the harm that comes from mask non-education is so much greater than the harm that could possibly be caused by having children go back to school. So once again you see the left engaging in politics rather than in good public policy. It’s actually frightening to see how they are acting when they don’t have absolute power.
Listen to the third hour here:

– – –
Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Blackburn Joins Bill to Strip Federal Funding from ‘Anarchist Jurisdictions’

Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) has added her name to a bill that would prevent federal funding from going to cities with “ violent anarchist jurisdictions.
” The bill , carried by Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) , defines an anarchist jurisdiction as a city or state that abdicates its constitutional duty to its citizens to uphold the rule of law , or fails to provide police , fire , or emergency medical services to its residents , according to Blackburn ’ s office .
The Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act would restrict federal funding from going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their duty and ensure the rule of law prevails.
” “ Anarchist jurisdictions – like sanctuary cities – encourage lawlessness and mob rule at the expense of law-abiding citizens .
Cities that do not act to quell the anarchy we are seeing in places like Seattle ’ s CHAZ should not receive the same federal funding as cooperative cities that abide by the rule of law , ” Blackburn said in a statement .
Like Blackburn , Ernst pointed to Seattle ’ s Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , also known as CHAZ , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disqualify cities from receiving federal funds under her bill .
“ We would strip away the federal funding that goes to those cities , ” Ernst told Fox News .
“ So we think it is the right thing to do .
We certainly don ’ t want to enable those areas .
If they truly want to be autonomous , then they can exist on their own.
” The bill has received the support of a number of Republican senators , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) , Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) .
McConnell said he supports the bill because “ the rule of law can not fade in and out with the fashions of the radical left.
” “ The inexplicable passivity and weakness of local leaders in our own country has denied some citizens peace and security .
If left-wing politicians would rather bow to the Twitter mobs and politically-correct thought police than do their jobs , then federal taxpayers should rethink how they subsidize that kind of leadership .
I ’ m proud to join Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation to ensure the mob will never be allowed to overtake our communities , ” he said .
Ernst said support for the bill is growing since her colleagues “ know this is the right thing to do.
” “ Enough of the anarchy ; law and order must be restored on our streets , ” she said in a press release .
“ Local officials are letting chaos continue , and in some cases , preventing law enforcement from protecting the public .
If these leaders fail to do their job and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – American taxpayers – aren ’ t going to pay for it.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ George Floyd Protests ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has added her name to a bill that would prevent federal funding from going to cities with “violent anarchist jurisdictions.”
The bill, carried by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), defines an anarchist jurisdiction as a city or state that abdicates its constitutional duty to its citizens to uphold the rule of law, or fails to provide police, fire, or emergency medical services to its residents, according to Blackburn’s office.
The Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act would restrict federal funding from going to anarchist jurisdictions “until they do their duty and ensure the rule of law prevails.”
“Anarchist jurisdictions – like sanctuary cities – encourage lawlessness and mob rule at the expense of law-abiding citizens. Cities that do not act to quell the anarchy we are seeing in places like Seattle’s CHAZ should not receive the same federal funding as cooperative cities that abide by the rule of law,” Blackburn said in a statement.
Like Blackburn, Ernst pointed to Seattle’s Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, also known as CHAZ, as an example of something that would disqualify cities from receiving federal funds under her bill.
“We would strip away the federal funding that goes to those cities,” Ernst told Fox News. “So we think it is the right thing to do. We certainly don’t want to enable those areas. If they truly want to be autonomous, then they can exist on their own.”
The bill has received the support of a number of Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA).
McConnell said he supports the bill because “the rule of law cannot fade in and out with the fashions of the radical left.”
“The inexplicable passivity and weakness of local leaders in our own country has denied some citizens peace and security. If left-wing politicians would rather bow to the Twitter mobs and politically-correct thought police than do their jobs, then federal taxpayers should rethink how they subsidize that kind of leadership. I’m proud to join Senator Ernst and our colleagues in introducing this legislation to ensure the mob will never be allowed to overtake our communities,” he said.
Ernst said support for the bill is growing since her colleagues “know this is the right thing to do.”
“Enough of the anarchy; law and order must be restored on our streets,” she said in a press release. “Local officials are letting chaos continue, and in some cases, preventing law enforcement from protecting the public. If these leaders fail to do their job and protect their citizens, the federal government – American taxpayers – aren’t going to pay for it.”
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “George Floyd Protests” by Lorie Shaull. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Catholic Nuns, Upholds Conscience Exemptions for Birth Control Mandate

The United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold conscience exemptions from former President Barack Obama ’ s birth control mandate in a victory for the Little Sisters of the Poor .
SCOTUS ruled 7-2 that the Catholic nuns are exempt from Obama ’ s contraceptive mandate .
“ For over 150 years , the Little Sisters have engaged in faithful service and sacrifice , motivated by a religious calling to surrender all for the sake of their brother , ” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his opinion .
“ But for the past seven years , they—like many other religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rulemakings leading up to today ’ s decision— have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs.
” “ After two decisions from this Court and multiple failed regulatory attempts , the Federal Government has arrived at a solution that exempts the Little Sisters from the source of their complicity-based concerns—the administratively imposed contraceptive mandate.
” He continued : “ We hold today that the Departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption , as well as the contemporaneously issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules promulgating these exemptions are free from procedural defects .
Therefore , we reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the cases for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
” Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Mary Margaret Olohan
The United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold conscience exemptions from former President Barack Obama’s birth control mandate in a victory for the Little Sisters of the Poor.
SCOTUS ruled 7-2 that the Catholic nuns are exempt from Obama’s contraceptive mandate.
“For over 150 years, the Little Sisters have engaged in faithful service and sacrifice, motivated by a religious calling to surrender all for the sake of their brother,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his opinion.
“But for the past seven years, they—like many other religious objectors who have participated in the litigation and rulemakings leading up to today’s decision— have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
#BREAKING: Victory for the Little Sisters of the Poor! #SCOTUS ruled 7-2 that the Little Sisters are exempt from the contraceptive mandate and can continue serving the elderly poor without violating their conscience. #LetThemServe https://t.co/LXi4tAcapz pic.twitter.com/ymn903qr8G — BECKET (@BECKETlaw) July 8, 2020
“After two decisions from this Court and multiple failed regulatory attempts, the Federal Government has arrived at a solution that exempts the Little Sisters from the source of their complicity-based concerns—the administratively imposed contraceptive mandate.”
He continued: “We hold today that the Departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption, as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption. We further hold that the rules promulgating these exemptions are free from procedural defects. Therefore, we reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the cases for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
– – –
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Joe Biden Supports Redirecting Money from Police Departments into Mental Health Care Services and Af

Joe Biden Supports Redirecting Money from Police Departments into Mental Health Care Services and Affordable Housing

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden told NowThis ’ Ady Barkan that he supports redirecting money from police departments into other areas such as mental health care and affordable housing .
Here is a transcript of that conversation : Barkan : The most painful part of having ALS is thinking about all the experiences I don ’ t get to have with my children .
I can ’ t chase Carl around the house and make him laugh with silly dances .
I can ’ t squeeze little Willow and kiss her head .
And I am heartbroken when I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will probably miss out on .
I know we share this pain and I can not imagine what it would be like to lose my children .
George Floyd had five children .
Breonna Taylor was only 26 and had decades of hopes and dreams ahead of her .
But America ’ s commitment to white supremacy stole away those relationships and those futures .
The leaders for Black Lives believe that we have been trying to reform police departments for many decades and it is not working .
Instead , they believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of interactions that civilians have with police .
We can reduce the responsibilities assigned to the police and redirect some of the funding for police into social services like mental health counseling and affordable housing .
So for example , instead of sending two police officers with deadly weapons to that Wendy ’ s drive-thru in Atlanta we could have sent a wellness counselor and a tow truck and then Rayshard Brooks would still be alive today and his three daughters would still have their daddy .
Are you open to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I propose that kind of reform .
We need significantly more help .
That ’ s why I call for a significant increase in the funding of mental health clinics and providers .
We are desperately in need of that now .
One of the things I ’ ve been pushing for in my administration , we put together the ability and the bill that I wrote to make sure that we can look at the pattern and practice of police departments .
Go in and get at all the records and find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s why we ’ re able to stop the stop and frisk in Camden .
The stop and frisk in New York City and the rest .
Where the federal government has the right to go in and change systemically what is going on .
There is a whole range of things that we can do .
The idea of no-knock warrants for drug cases is bizarre .
We don ’ t need that .
It just invites trouble .
That ’ s how Breonna was called .
There is a need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to have transparency .
To be able to have access to the records of police when they have misconduct charges against them .
To be able to know where they are so they can ’ t go from one police department to the next .
That should be held in my administration .
That information will have to be made available to the Department of Justice and held in a file so you ’ ll be able to track this .
Surplus military equipment for law enforcement , they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need is an up-armored Humvee coming into a neighborhood .
It ’ s like the military invading .
They don ’ t know anybody .
They become the enemy .
They are supposed to be helping these people .
So my generic point is… Barkan : So do we agree that we can redirect some of the funding ?
Biden : Yes .
Absolutely .
One of the things that we also need to be doing is fundamentally changing the way and I ’ ve been pushing it for years is the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It should be a rehabilitation system .
Not a punishment system .
We ’ re going to make sure you are qualified for every single right you had before you served your time .
And that means that you are entitled to Pell Grants to go to school .
You are entitled to job training programs .
You are entitled to housing grants .
You are entitled to every federal program out there .

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden told NowThis’ Ady Barkan that he supports redirecting money from police departments into other areas such as mental health care and affordable housing.
To make #BlackLivesMatter, we need to redirect money away from police departments into mental health care, affordable housing, good jobs & restorative justice. I asked Joe Biden what he thinks about this approach. Watch his answer. pic.twitter.com/vnXhhhw7Rx — Ady Barkan (@AdyBarkan) July 8, 2020
Here is a transcript of that conversation:
Barkan: The most painful part of having ALS is thinking about all the experiences I don’t get to have with my children. I can’t chase Carl around the house and make him laugh with silly dances. I can’t squeeze little Willow and kiss her head. And I am heartbroken when I think about the decades of joy that I will probably miss out on.
I know we share this pain and I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose my children. George Floyd had five children. Breonna Taylor was only 26 and had decades of hopes and dreams ahead of her. But America’s commitment to white supremacy stole away those relationships and those futures.
The leaders for Black Lives believe that we have been trying to reform police departments for many decades and it is not working. Instead, they believe that the solution is to reduce the number of interactions that civilians have with police.
We can reduce the responsibilities assigned to the police and redirect some of the funding for police into social services like mental health counseling and affordable housing. So for example, instead of sending two police officers with deadly weapons to that Wendy’s drive-thru in Atlanta we could have sent a wellness counselor and a tow truck and then Rayshard Brooks would still be alive today and his three daughters would still have their daddy. Are you open to that kind of reform?
Biden: Yes I propose that kind of reform. We need significantly more help. That’s why I call for a significant increase in the funding of mental health clinics and providers. We are desperately in need of that now. One of the things I’ve been pushing for in my administration, we put together the ability and the bill that I wrote to make sure that we can look at the pattern and practice of police departments.
Go in and get at all the records and find out what they are doing. That’s why we’re able to stop the stop and frisk in Camden. The stop and frisk in New York City and the rest. Where the federal government has the right to go in and change systemically what is going on. There is a whole range of things that we can do. The idea of no-knock warrants for drug cases is bizarre. We don’t need that. It just invites trouble. That’s how Breonna was called.
There is a need for fundamental change in us to be able to have transparency. To be able to have access to the records of police when they have misconduct charges against them. To be able to know where they are so they can’t go from one police department to the next. That should be held in my administration.
That information will have to be made available to the Department of Justice and held in a file so you’ll be able to track this. Surplus military equipment for law enforcement, they don’t need that. The last thing you need is an up-armored Humvee coming into a neighborhood. It’s like the military invading. They don’t know anybody. They become the enemy. They are supposed to be helping these people. So my generic point is…
Barkan: So do we agree that we can redirect some of the funding?
Biden: Yes. Absolutely. One of the things that we also need to be doing is fundamentally changing the way and I’ve been pushing it for years is the way we deal with our prison system. It should be a rehabilitation system. Not a punishment system.
We’re going to make sure you are qualified for every single right you had before you served your time. And that means that you are entitled to Pell Grants to go to school. You are entitled to job training programs. You are entitled to housing grants. You are entitled to every federal program out there.
– – –
Photo “Joe Biden” by NowThis.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Governor Bill Lee Endorses Incumbent Matthew Hill for State Representative

Governor Bill Lee endorsed incumbent Matthew Hill for the state House of Representatives ’ 7th District of the eastern portion of Washington County , according to an announcement by the House Republican Caucus .
Hill , who has been a member of the Tennessee House since first elected in 2004 , is being challenged by Rebecca Keefauver Alexander in the August 6 Republican primary .
“ Matthew Hill is a champion for life , Second Amendment rights and keeping taxes low .
Matthew puts the interests of Washington County families first , and has always been a friend to Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Hill is considered to be strongly pro-life , having been the House sponsor of one of the state ’ s strongest pro-life legislation with the Tennessee Infants Protection Act in 2017 , which banned the abortion of a viable fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy .
He was also a co-sponsor of the Heartbeat Bill that passed the House in 2019 .
The representatives also played an instrumental role in passing Lee ’ s Education Savings Accounts ( ESA ) Pilot Program in 2019 .
When the House and Senate couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ESA Program , five members of each chamber met in a Joint Conference Committee , with Hill being one of the House members .
Once the Committee agreed on the details , the ESA Program went on to be passed by both the House and Senate .
Under Speaker Glen Casada ( R-Franklin ) in 2019 , Hill served as Deputy Speaker for one legislative session .
He then ran to replace Casada , after Casada stepped down following a vote of no confidence by Republican House members .
Recognized for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Select Committee on Rules as well as the Finance , Ways and Means Appropriations Subcommittee .
Lee said of Hill ’ s representation of the 7th House District , “ Washington County can count on Matthew .
This election , please vote for my friend , Matthew Hill.
” Hill welcomed Lee ’ s endorsement , saying , “ I am grateful and honored to have Governor Lee ’ s support as I renew my pledge to continue fighting for the people of the 7th House District.
” “ Governor Lee ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Tennesseans makes his vote of confidence special to me .
I am blessed to have his support and prayers .
I look forward to continuing to work together , building a brighter future for all Tennesseans , ” he added .
Hill has received strong support from around the state and in Washington County , according to the state House Republican Caucus .
In addition to the endorsement by Lee , Hill has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business , National Rifle Association , Tennessee State Employee Association and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The winner between Hill and Rebecca Keefauver Alexander in the Republican primary will go unchallenged in the November general election , as no Democrats are pursuing the seat .
Early voting for the August 6 Republican primary runs from July 17 through August 1 .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .

Governor Bill Lee endorsed incumbent Matthew Hill for the state House of Representatives’ 7th District of the eastern portion of Washington County, according to an announcement by the House Republican Caucus.
Hill, who has been a member of the Tennessee House since first elected in 2004, is being challenged by Rebecca Keefauver Alexander in the August 6 Republican primary.
“Matthew Hill is a champion for life, Second Amendment rights and keeping taxes low. Matthew puts the interests of Washington County families first, and has always been a friend to Tennessee farmers, like me,” Lee said.
Hill is considered to be strongly pro-life, having been the House sponsor of one of the state’s strongest pro-life legislation with the Tennessee Infants Protection Act in 2017, which banned the abortion of a viable fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy. He was also a co-sponsor of the Heartbeat Bill that passed the House in 2019.
The representatives also played an instrumental role in passing Lee’s Education Savings Accounts (ESA) Pilot Program in 2019.
When the House and Senate couldn’t agree on the details of the ESA Program, five members of each chamber met in a Joint Conference Committee, with Hill being one of the House members. Once the Committee agreed on the details, the ESA Program went on to be passed by both the House and Senate.
Under Speaker Glen Casada (R-Franklin) in 2019, Hill served as Deputy Speaker for one legislative session. He then ran to replace Casada, after Casada stepped down following a vote of no confidence by Republican House members.
Recognized for his parliamentary prowess, Hill chairs the House Select Committee on Rules as well as the Finance, Ways and Means Appropriations Subcommittee.
Lee said of Hill’s representation of the 7th House District, “Washington County can count on Matthew. This election, please vote for my friend, Matthew Hill.”
Hill welcomed Lee’s endorsement, saying, “I am grateful and honored to have Governor Lee’s support as I renew my pledge to continue fighting for the people of the 7th House District.”
“Governor Lee’s dedication to his faith and public service to Tennesseans makes his vote of confidence special to me. I am blessed to have his support and prayers. I look forward to continuing to work together, building a brighter future for all Tennesseans,” he added.
Hill has received strong support from around the state and in Washington County, according to the state House Republican Caucus. In addition to the endorsement by Lee, Hill has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business, National Rifle Association, Tennessee State Employee Association and Johnson City Firefighters Association Local 1791.
The winner between Hill and Rebecca Keefauver Alexander in the Republican primary will go unchallenged in the November general election, as no Democrats are pursuing the seat.
Early voting for the August 6 Republican primary runs from July 17 through August 1.
– – –
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Exhausted Cities Face Another Challenge: A Surge in Violence

NEW YORK CITY , New York ( AP ) — Still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and street protests over the police killing of George Floyd , exhausted cities around the nation are facing yet another challenge : a surge in shootings that has left dozens dead , including young children .
The spike defies easy explanation , experts say , pointing to the toxic mix of issues facing America in 2020 : an unemployment rate not seen in a generation , a pandemic that has killed more than 130,000 people , stay-at-home orders , rising anger over police brutality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think it ’ s just a perfect storm of distress in America , ” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms after a weekend of bloodshed in her city .
Jerry Ratcliffe , a Temple University criminal justice professor and host of the “ Reducing Crime ” podcast , put it more bluntly : “ Anybody who thinks they can disentangle all of this probably doesn ’ t know what they ’ re talking about.
” President Donald Trump has seized on the violence for political gain , accusing Democrats of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being driven by recent protests calling for racial justice , police reform and drastic cuts in law enforcement funding .
“ Law and order are the building blocks of the American dream , but if anarchy prevails , this dream comes crumbling down , ” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said last week .
Police officials in New York City and elsewhere say the recent bloodshed has shown there are consequences to some reforms they see as misguided , particularly on bail reform , enacted before the protests happened but exacerbated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ that the cops can ’ t do anything anymore , that no one likes the police , that they can get away with things , that it ’ s safe to carry a gun out on the street , ” New York Police Department Chief Terence Monahan said this week .
Monahan ’ s remarks came after a holiday weekend that saw a wave of shootings leaving 10 dead .
Through Sunday , shootings were up more than 53 % — to 585 — so far this year .
The recent spasm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Post headline about a crime-ravaged city crying out for help .
It was nearly identical to one that ran 30 years ago — when there were more than 2,000 murders a year .
But crime has been declining for more than a decade — there were about 300 last year .
Crime has spiked in other major cities , too .
In Dallas , violent crime increased more than 14 % from April to June .
In Philadelphia , homicides were up 20 % for the week ending July 5 over last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 31 people were shot over the weekend , five fatally , compared with seven shootings and one killing over the same week in 2019 .
Some police unions say officers just aren ’ t doing their jobs over fear of being charged with crime .
Bottoms , a Democrat , lashed out after an 8-year-old girl was shot and killed near the Atlanta Wendy ’ s restaurant where Rayshard Brooks died three weeks earlier in a confrontation with police who were later charged criminally .
“ That ’ s an important movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a news conference .
“ But this random , wild , wild West shoot ’ em up because you can has got to stop.
” Trump ’ s Georgia campaign arm claimed Atlanta was a “ war zone ” brought on after Bottoms “ lost control of the city after what started out as peaceful protests , quickly turned violent .
In a flurry of anti-police activity.
” The Trump campaign also launched a $ 250,000 ad blitz Sunday on Facebook and Twitter , claiming “ violent crime has EXPLODED ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments across the country .
The ad features video of an empty police station with a ringing phone that sends a caller to an answering machine , which says the estimated wait time for police help is five days .
The video ends by flashing the words , “ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America.
” Biden ’ s campaign said the Trump approach was just another distraction from his “ inaction and mismanagement ” of the coronavirus crisis .
“ While Donald Trump searches for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and celebrates Independence Day with new , race-baiting rhetoric , Americans are contracting coronavirus at alarming rates , and there is still no coherent national plan to address it , ” said T.J. Ducklo , a spokesman for the presumptive Democratic nominee .
Trump ’ s messaging went beyond the ad campaign .
Donald Trump Jr. shared on Facebook a conservative-created meme of 11-year-old Davon McNeal , who was shot to death in Washington during a cookout over the weekend .
“ Davon was murdered after a string of BLM ( Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July , ” it read .
The shooting was not connected to Black Lives Matter , the movement behind many of the protests against police brutality .
The boy had been at a family-oriented anti-violence cookout Saturday , but he left to get a phone charger from his aunt ’ s house when he was struck by gunmen in a sedan .
Tracie Keesee , a longtime police official in Denver and New York who co-founded the Center for Policing Equity , said it ’ s important to get answers on what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s drugs , domestic violence or poverty .
She cautioned against broad-stroke generalizations .
“ You have to get into the numbers , ” she said .
Reform advocates say blaming a spike on the necessary push for police reform ignores the root causes of crime and the progress of the movement .
Government officials need to “ be thoughtful and nuanced and contextual about these things , ” liberal New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson told radio station WNYC this week .
To link the shootings to reforms , Johnson added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what criminal justice reform is about and is just demonizing the moment that we ’ re in and not talking about what brought us here today.
” Like New York , Chicago had already seen an increase in homicides and shootings in the first part of the year .
But while the violence tapered off in New York under stay-at-home orders , shootings in Chicago remained steady , likely because of gang warfare , said Wesley Skogan , who studies crime at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University .
Seventeen people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounded , one of the bloodiest holiday weekends in memory there .
Gangs “ are not particularly deterred by the risks of being out there , ” Skogan said .
“ Of all the things they are likely to be worried about , COVID is way down the list.
” Tom Hays and Colleen Long are reporters for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Long reported from Washington .
AP writers Don Babwin and Amanda Seitz in Chicago , Summer Ballentine in St. Louis , Jake Bleiberg in Dallas , and Bill Barrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .
About the Headline Photo : In this July 5 , 2020 , file photo , an officer investigates the scene of a shooting in Chicago .
Still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and street protests over the police killing of Floyd , exhausted cities around the nation are facing yet another challenge : A surge in recent shootings has left dozens dead , including young children .
( Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune via AP , File )

NEW YORK CITY, New York (AP) — Still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and street protests over the police killing of George Floyd, exhausted cities around the nation are facing yet another challenge: a surge in shootings that has left dozens dead, including young children.
The spike defies easy explanation, experts say, pointing to the toxic mix of issues facing America in 2020: an unemployment rate not seen in a generation, a pandemic that has killed more than 130,000 people, stay-at-home orders, rising anger over police brutality, intense stress, even the weather.
“I think it’s just a perfect storm of distress in America,” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms after a weekend of bloodshed in her city.
Jerry Ratcliffe, a Temple University criminal justice professor and host of the “Reducing Crime” podcast, put it more bluntly: “Anybody who thinks they can disentangle all of this probably doesn’t know what they’re talking about.”
President Donald Trump has seized on the violence for political gain, accusing Democrats of being weak and suggesting the crime wave is being driven by recent protests calling for racial justice, police reform and drastic cuts in law enforcement funding.
“Law and order are the building blocks of the American dream, but if anarchy prevails, this dream comes crumbling down,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said last week.
Police officials in New York City and elsewhere say the recent bloodshed has shown there are consequences to some reforms they see as misguided, particularly on bail reform, enacted before the protests happened but exacerbated by the moment.
Emboldened criminals feel “that the cops can’t do anything anymore, that no one likes the police, that they can get away with things, that it’s safe to carry a gun out on the street,” New York Police Department Chief Terence Monahan said this week.
Monahan’s remarks came after a holiday weekend that saw a wave of shootings leaving 10 dead. Through Sunday, shootings were up more than 53% — to 585 — so far this year.
The recent spasm of violence was captured in a New York Post headline about a crime-ravaged city crying out for help. It was nearly identical to one that ran 30 years ago — when there were more than 2,000 murders a year. But crime has been declining for more than a decade — there were about 300 last year.
Crime has spiked in other major cities, too. In Dallas, violent crime increased more than 14% from April to June. In Philadelphia, homicides were up 20% for the week ending July 5 over last year at this time. In Atlanta, 31 people were shot over the weekend, five fatally, compared with seven shootings and one killing over the same week in 2019.
Some police unions say officers just aren’t doing their jobs over fear of being charged with crime.
Bottoms, a Democrat, lashed out after an 8-year-old girl was shot and killed near the Atlanta Wendy’s restaurant where Rayshard Brooks died three weeks earlier in a confrontation with police who were later charged criminally.
“That’s an important movement that’s happening,” she said at a news conference. “But this random, wild, wild West shoot ’em up because you can has got to stop.”
Trump’s Georgia campaign arm claimed Atlanta was a “war zone” brought on after Bottoms “lost control of the city after what started out as peaceful protests, quickly turned violent. In a flurry of anti-police activity.”
The Trump campaign also launched a $250,000 ad blitz Sunday on Facebook and Twitter, claiming “violent crime has EXPLODED” as protesters call for cuts to police departments across the country. The ad features video of an empty police station with a ringing phone that sends a caller to an answering machine, which says the estimated wait time for police help is five days.
The video ends by flashing the words, “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”
Biden’s campaign said the Trump approach was just another distraction from his “inaction and mismanagement” of the coronavirus crisis.
“While Donald Trump searches for the latest cultural issue to drive people apart and celebrates Independence Day with new, race-baiting rhetoric, Americans are contracting coronavirus at alarming rates, and there is still no coherent national plan to address it,” said T.J. Ducklo, a spokesman for the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Trump’s messaging went beyond the ad campaign. Donald Trump Jr. shared on Facebook a conservative-created meme of 11-year-old Davon McNeal, who was shot to death in Washington during a cookout over the weekend.
“Davon was murdered after a string of BLM (Black Lives Matter) violence on the Fourth of July,” it read.
The shooting was not connected to Black Lives Matter, the movement behind many of the protests against police brutality. The boy had been at a family-oriented anti-violence cookout Saturday, but he left to get a phone charger from his aunt’s house when he was struck by gunmen in a sedan.
Tracie Keesee, a longtime police official in Denver and New York who co-founded the Center for Policing Equity, said it’s important to get answers on what is driving the crime, whether it’s drugs, domestic violence or poverty. She cautioned against broad-stroke generalizations.
“You have to get into the numbers,” she said.
Reform advocates say blaming a spike on the necessary push for police reform ignores the root causes of crime and the progress of the movement.
Government officials need to “be thoughtful and nuanced and contextual about these things,” liberal New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson told radio station WNYC this week.
To link the shootings to reforms, Johnson added, gives “an inaccurate picture of what criminal justice reform is about and is just demonizing the moment that we’re in and not talking about what brought us here today.”
Like New York, Chicago had already seen an increase in homicides and shootings in the first part of the year. But while the violence tapered off in New York under stay-at-home orders, shootings in Chicago remained steady, likely because of gang warfare, said Wesley Skogan, who studies crime at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University.
Seventeen people were fatally shot in Chicago and 70 wounded, one of the bloodiest holiday weekends in memory there.
Gangs “are not particularly deterred by the risks of being out there,” Skogan said. “Of all the things they are likely to be worried about, COVID is way down the list.”
– – –
Tom Hays and Colleen Long are reporters for the Daily Caller News Foundation. Long reported from Washington. AP writers Don Babwin and Amanda Seitz in Chicago, Summer Ballentine in St. Louis, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas, and Bill Barrow and Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report.
About the Headline Photo: In this July 5, 2020, file photo, an officer investigates the scene of a shooting in Chicago. Still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and street protests over the police killing of Floyd, exhausted cities around the nation are facing yet another challenge: A surge in recent shootings has left dozens dead, including young children. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune via AP, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Bill Hagerty Delivers Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Rulings For Religious Freedom

U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty on Wednesday commented on the U.S. Supreme Court of the United States ’ rulings for religious freedom .
Hagerty said this in a press release that he posted on his campaign ’ s website .
“ Today ’ s rulings are major victories for our religious freedom , and I applaud the Supreme Court for making the right decisions today , ” Hagerty said in the press release .
“ As a pro-life Christian conservative , I proudly stand with religious groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor and President Trump , who worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No one should be forced to go against their values to follow an unconstitutional directive .
If Joe Biden and the Democrats were to regain control , they would confirm justices who will get it wrong every time .
We must re-elect President Trump this fall .
In the Senate , I ’ ll work with him to protect our religious freedoms and confirm constitutionalist judges who won ’ t legislate from the bench.
” As The Tennessee Star reported last month , Hagerty released a statement after Chief Justice John Roberts joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s law “ requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals : ” “ John Roberts got it wrong again .
Instead of protecting the unborn and ensuring the safety of women , yet again it appears that Chief Justice Roberts made a politically-calculated decision and sided with the liberals , ” Hagerty said .
Also , as The Star reported , Hagerty weighed in after the United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold former president Barack Obama ’ s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump Administration from dismantling DACA , an immigration policy created via Executive Order by the Obama Administration , is appalling and another reminder as to why we need to confirm more constitutionalist judges to the federal bench , ” Hagerty said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty on Wednesday commented on the U.S. Supreme Court of the United States’ rulings for religious freedom.
Hagerty said this in a press release that he posted on his campaign’s website.
“Today’s rulings are major victories for our religious freedom, and I applaud the Supreme Court for making the right decisions today,” Hagerty said in the press release.
“As a pro-life Christian conservative, I proudly stand with religious groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor and President Trump, who worked to repeal this burdensome government mandate. No one should be forced to go against their values to follow an unconstitutional directive. If Joe Biden and the Democrats were to regain control, they would confirm justices who will get it wrong every time. We must re-elect President Trump this fall. In the Senate, I’ll work with him to protect our religious freedoms and confirm constitutionalist judges who won’t legislate from the bench.”
As The Tennessee Star reported last month, Hagerty released a statement after Chief Justice John Roberts joined the liberal justices in overturning Louisiana’s law “requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals:”
“John Roberts got it wrong again. Instead of protecting the unborn and ensuring the safety of women, yet again it appears that Chief Justice Roberts made a politically-calculated decision and sided with the liberals,” Hagerty said.
Also, as The Star reported, Hagerty weighed in after the United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold former president Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to prevent the Trump Administration from dismantling DACA, an immigration policy created via Executive Order by the Obama Administration, is appalling and another reminder as to why we need to confirm more constitutionalist judges to the federal bench,” Hagerty said.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--All-Mail Voting Threatens Election Security, Study Finds

Mandatory voting by mail would undermine election security and endanger Americans ’ right to have their votes counted , according to a report released Tuesday by the Honest Elections Project , a voter integrity group .
The report comes on the heels of a vote-by-mail scandal in Paterson , New Jersey , where 1 in 5 votes were disqualified .
Liberal politicians and advocacy groups championed all-mail voting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Measures proposed at the federal and state level would legalize vote harvesting , which is the practice of allowing political operatives to collect absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his or her vote .
Many of the proposals would undermine voter ID laws and federalize significant portions of election administration .
Two regimes are fighting an ideological war in America today .
But what side are you on ?
And how can you sharpen up on how to defend your position ?
Learn more now > > Concurrently , some liberal advocacy groups are filing dozens of lawsuits to invalidate election laws based on the threat of COVID-19 .
But these groups were opposed to election security measures before the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different from absentee voting , which requires an individual voter to take action and includes several security measures .
In an all-mail system , ballots automatically are mailed out to postal addresses with fewer security safeguards .
Remote voting , including by absentee ballot , has been the largest source of voter fraud over the decades , analysts say .
The Honest Elections Project ’ s new report cites 2012 data from the Pew Center concluding that 4 million voter registrations , 1 in 8 nationwide , are invalid or inaccurate .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead voters .
Last year , Los Angeles County was forced to remove 1.5 million inactive registrations , more than 1 in 5 , in a lawsuit settlement with government watchdog group Judicial Watch .
The states of Nevada , New Jersey , and Maryland also have had problems with mailing ballots automatically , as many ballots were undeliverable .
In Maryland , 10 % of ballots could not be delivered .
Washington has a statewide mail-only voting system , but it took a decade to establish gradually , the report says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands of advocacy groups that want an all-mail system for the presidential election Nov. 3—less than four months away .
The report from the Honest Elections Project cites Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman , a Democrat , as saying , “ You can ’ t just flip a switch ” to transition to a new system .
Mail-in voting also has led to numerous criminal convictions , the report notes .
In one example , Hector Ramirez , a candidate for the New York State Assembly in 2014 , was found guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots for himself .
In 2016 , the Democratic primary for a Missouri state legislative seat was overturned after it became clear that improper absentee votes had affected the results .
The next year , about 700 forged mail-in ballots were submitted for a Dallas City Council race .
Most notably , in the 2018 race in North Carolina ’ s 9th Congressional District , prosecutors said an operative working for the Republican candidate ran a vote-harvesting operation that illegally altered or destroyed hundreds of ballots .
Fred Lucas is the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ The Right Side of History ” podcast .
Lucas is also the author of “ Tainted by Suspicion : The Secret Deals and Electoral Chaos of Disputed Presidential Elections .
”

by Fred Lucas
Mandatory voting by mail would undermine election security and endanger Americans’ right to have their votes counted, according to a report released Tuesday by the Honest Elections Project, a voter integrity group.
The report comes on the heels of a vote-by-mail scandal in Paterson, New Jersey, where 1 in 5 votes were disqualified.
Liberal politicians and advocacy groups championed all-mail voting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Measures proposed at the federal and state level would legalize vote harvesting, which is the practice of allowing political operatives to collect absentee ballots and be present while a voter casts his or her vote. Many of the proposals would undermine voter ID laws and federalize significant portions of election administration.
Two regimes are fighting an ideological war in America today. But what side are you on? And how can you sharpen up on how to defend your position? Learn more now >>
Concurrently, some liberal advocacy groups are filing dozens of lawsuits to invalidate election laws based on the threat of COVID-19. But these groups were opposed to election security measures before the pandemic, the report notes.
All-mail voting is different from absentee voting, which requires an individual voter to take action and includes several security measures. In an all-mail system, ballots automatically are mailed out to postal addresses with fewer security safeguards.
Remote voting, including by absentee ballot, has been the largest source of voter fraud over the decades, analysts say.
The Honest Elections Project’s new report cites 2012 data from the Pew Center concluding that 4 million voter registrations, 1 in 8 nationwide, are invalid or inaccurate. That includes 2.75 million duplicates and 1.8 million dead voters.
Last year, Los Angeles County was forced to remove 1.5 million inactive registrations, more than 1 in 5, in a lawsuit settlement with government watchdog group Judicial Watch.
The states of Nevada, New Jersey, and Maryland also have had problems with mailing ballots automatically, as many ballots were undeliverable. In Maryland, 10% of ballots could not be delivered.
The report says:
At the very least, mailing ballots to every registration on file—knowing that a significant number of registrations are erroneous or outdated—is a waste of precious resources. Clark County, Nevada, estimated it would cost at least $323,000 to mail ballots to inactive registrants. Now, undeliverable ballots are being dumped in garbage cans. Taxpayers’ dollars are literally being thrown away because of ill-conceived vote-by-mail schemes.
Washington has a statewide mail-only voting system, but it took a decade to establish gradually, the report says. That’s in contrast to the demands of advocacy groups that want an all-mail system for the presidential election Nov. 3—less than four months away.
The report from the Honest Elections Project cites Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Democrat, as saying, “You can’t just flip a switch” to transition to a new system.
Mail-in voting also has led to numerous criminal convictions, the report notes.
In one example, Hector Ramirez, a candidate for the New York State Assembly in 2014, was found guilty of fraud after he filled out 35 ballots for himself.
In 2016, the Democratic primary for a Missouri state legislative seat was overturned after it became clear that improper absentee votes had affected the results.
The next year, about 700 forged mail-in ballots were submitted for a Dallas City Council race. Most notably, in the 2018 race in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District, prosecutors said an operative working for the Republican candidate ran a vote-harvesting operation that illegally altered or destroyed hundreds of ballots.
– – –
Fred Lucas is the White House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “The Right Side of History” podcast. Lucas is also the author of “Tainted by Suspicion: The Secret Deals and Electoral Chaos of Disputed Presidential Elections.”


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Commentary: Dismantling America Without a Replacement

Calls to dismantle this group or that institution have become the topic du jour in American politics .
It started with police departments and the criminal justice system , then it spread to museums , and now one Democratic congresswoman is raising the bar on a logarithmic scale .
In a Tuesday press conference devoted to discussing America ’ s alleged systemic racism , Congresswoman Ilhan Omar , D-MN , called for dismantling “ the whole system of oppression wherever we find it.
” “ As long as our economy and political systems prioritize profit without considering who is profiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will perpetuate this inequality , ” Omar said .
“ So we can not stop at the criminal justice system .
We must begin the work of dismantling the whole system of oppression wherever we find it.
” One wonders which economic and political systems ought to replace America ’ s in order to ensure Omar ’ s vision of a more equal society .
Somalia , Omar ’ s home country , supposedly “ maintains an informal economy based on livestock , remittance/money transfer companies , and telecommunications , ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government means it “ lacks the ability to collect domestic revenue.
” Lacking an ability to collect and redistribute wealth likely makes this model ill-suited for Omar ’ s vision of America .
Somalia also gets knocked for being labeled “ the most homogenous country in sub-Saharan Africa , ” with roughly 85 percent of its population being ethnic Somalis .
Zero points for the diversity score , folks .
What about nations such as China , Cuba , Venezuela , and North Korea ?
The Communists who lead these nations always end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other terrible human rights violations , and only those at the very top see any benefit of this supposedly lovely and egalitarian system .
One would assume that such an arrangement would be no better to Omar than America ’ s supposed crimes .
In fact , she did condemn China ’ s current campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Uyghur Muslims , so we can likely rule this system out as suitable for replacing America ’ s current one .
Now , those Nordic countries , with their so-called democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least before COVID-19 ) , purveyors of single-payer health care and high taxes… ahh , this must be paradise , and the model to replace America ’ s tyrannical systems !
Unless , of course , the democratic-socialism label is a complete myth perpetuated by Sen. Bernie Sanders , and one explicitly rejected by leaders of Scandinavian countries .
“ Our economic freedom is at the level of the United States , and Denmark is a good place to invest , ” then Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market economy which allows both employees and employers much freedom .
The Scandinavian model clearly understood would be anathema to Omar , so instead she , Sanders , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , and others content themselves with spinning a fictitious view of Sweden , Denmark , and Finland to push policies that those countries have either never had , or have tried , suffered under , and repealed in favor of a freer system of governance .
Omar may want to dismantle America ’ s criminal justice , economic , and political systems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything to replace them .
It is even less likely that any system she and the far-left devise would actually work to the benefit of the American people .
But that is irrelevant to these politicians .
Their desires seem to be not so much to build up their constituents , as they are to degrade and destroy what their predecessors in office and political theory have built .
If there are no remaining works , structures , or edifices built by or dedicated to the great men and women who preceded them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer be a stick against which today ’ s politicians and their legacies can be measured .
In 1787 Benjamin Franklin wrote “ Information to Those Who Would Remove to America , ” an essay addressed to Europeans imagining an easy and wealthy life for themselves on the new continent .
Franklin penned this work to dispel that illusion .
“ [ I ] t is imagined by Numbers that the Inhabitants of North-America are rich , capable of rewarding , and dispos ’ d to reward all sorts of Ingenuity ; that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all the Sciences ; & consequently that strangers possessing Talents in the Belles-Letters , fine Arts , & c. must be highly esteemed , and so well paid as to become easily rich themselves… .
These are all wild Imaginations ; and those who go to America with Expectations founded upon them , will surely find themselves disappointed.
” The hard work of its citizenry is still a central tenant and driving force of America ’ s economic system .
Based on the availability of resources and the preferences of its people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than others .
Yet America ’ s system allows for upward mobility , and an unequal sharing of rewards in proportion to the value of an idea or product is part and parcel of that mobility .
Propping up businesses which fail and oppressing those which succeed on their own merits may serve Omar ’ s base , but it is not American .
In fact , as such an action would limit class mobility , it ’ s a rather aristocratic way of thinking , which , as we ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , serves only to engage in what Winston Churchill eruditely labeled “ the equal sharing of miseries.
” Besides , as Franklin said later in “ Information , ” there is great virtue to be found in hard work , and its abolition does not bode well for a society either .
“ The almost general Mediocrity of Fortune that prevails in America , obliging its People to follow some Business for Subsistance , those Vices that arise usually from Idleness are in a great Measure prevented .
Industry and constant Employment are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Nation.
” Perhaps it ’ s time to leave the system alone , Congresswoman .
After all , it seems to have worked out more than just fine for you .
Anders Koskinen is an Editorial Associate at Intellectual Takeout .
He earned his BA from the University of Minnesota in December 2016 where he graduated with a double major in Journalism and Political Science .
He previously wrote at Alpha News and worked for Guns.com as a copywriter .
In his spare time , Anders enjoys reading , writing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Baseball Research .
He has given two presentations to the Minneapolis-based Halsey Hall chapter thus far and serves as its secretary .
He is also involved in the young adult group at his church .
Photo “ Overthrow the System Poster ” by Mark Dixon .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Anders Koskinen
Calls to dismantle this group or that institution have become the topic du jour in American politics. It started with police departments and the criminal justice system, then it spread to museums, and now one Democratic congresswoman is raising the bar on a logarithmic scale.
In a Tuesday press conference devoted to discussing America’s alleged systemic racism, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, D-MN, called for dismantling “the whole system of oppression wherever we find it.”
“As long as our economy and political systems prioritize profit without considering who is profiting, who is being shut out, we will perpetuate this inequality,” Omar said. “So we cannot stop at the criminal justice system. We must begin the work of dismantling the whole system of oppression wherever we find it.”
One wonders which economic and political systems ought to replace America’s in order to ensure Omar’s vision of a more equal society.
Somalia, Omar’s home country, supposedly “maintains an informal economy based on livestock, remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications,” but the instability of the country’s government means it “lacks the ability to collect domestic revenue.” Lacking an ability to collect and redistribute wealth likely makes this model ill-suited for Omar’s vision of America. Somalia also gets knocked for being labeled “the most homogenous country in sub-Saharan Africa,” with roughly 85 percent of its population being ethnic Somalis. Zero points for the diversity score, folks.
What about nations such as China, Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea? The Communists who lead these nations always end up engaging in slavery, mass murder, and other terrible human rights violations, and only those at the very top see any benefit of this supposedly lovely and egalitarian system. One would assume that such an arrangement would be no better to Omar than America’s supposed crimes. In fact, she did condemn China’s current campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Uyghur Muslims, so we can likely rule this system out as suitable for replacing America’s current one.
Now, those Nordic countries, with their so-called democratic socialism. Accepting of refugees (at least before COVID-19), purveyors of single-payer health care and high taxes… ahh, this must be paradise, and the model to replace America’s tyrannical systems! Unless, of course, the democratic-socialism label is a complete myth perpetuated by Sen. Bernie Sanders, and one explicitly rejected by leaders of Scandinavian countries.
“Our economic freedom is at the level of the United States, and Denmark is a good place to invest,” then Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a 2015 speech, adding that Denmark is a market economy which allows both employees and employers much freedom.
The Scandinavian model clearly understood would be anathema to Omar, so instead she, Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others content themselves with spinning a fictitious view of Sweden, Denmark, and Finland to push policies that those countries have either never had, or have tried, suffered under, and repealed in favor of a freer system of governance.
Omar may want to dismantle America’s criminal justice, economic, and political systems, but it is doubtful that she has anything to replace them. It is even less likely that any system she and the far-left devise would actually work to the benefit of the American people.
But that is irrelevant to these politicians. Their desires seem to be not so much to build up their constituents, as they are to degrade and destroy what their predecessors in office and political theory have built. If there are no remaining works, structures, or edifices built by or dedicated to the great men and women who preceded them in power, then there will no longer be a stick against which today’s politicians and their legacies can be measured.
In 1787 Benjamin Franklin wrote “Information to Those Who Would Remove to America,” an essay addressed to Europeans imagining an easy and wealthy life for themselves on the new continent. Franklin penned this work to dispel that illusion.
“[I]t is imagined by Numbers that the Inhabitants of North-America are rich, capable of rewarding, and dispos’d to reward all sorts of Ingenuity; that they are at the same time ignorant of all the Sciences; & consequently that strangers possessing Talents in the Belles-Letters, fine Arts, &c. must be highly esteemed, and so well paid as to become easily rich themselves…. These are all wild Imaginations; and those who go to America with Expectations founded upon them, will surely find themselves disappointed.”
The hard work of its citizenry is still a central tenant and driving force of America’s economic system. Based on the availability of resources and the preferences of its people, some careers are valued more highly than others. Yet America’s system allows for upward mobility, and an unequal sharing of rewards in proportion to the value of an idea or product is part and parcel of that mobility.
Propping up businesses which fail and oppressing those which succeed on their own merits may serve Omar’s base, but it is not American. In fact, as such an action would limit class mobility, it’s a rather aristocratic way of thinking, which, as we’ve seen in socialist and communist countries throughout history, serves only to engage in what Winston Churchill eruditely labeled “the equal sharing of miseries.”
Besides, as Franklin said later in “Information,” there is great virtue to be found in hard work, and its abolition does not bode well for a society either.
“The almost general Mediocrity of Fortune that prevails in America, obliging its People to follow some Business for Subsistance, those Vices that arise usually from Idleness are in a great Measure prevented. Industry and constant Employment are great Preservatives of the Morals and Virtue of a Nation.”
Perhaps it’s time to leave the system alone, Congresswoman. After all, it seems to have worked out more than just fine for you.
– – –
Anders Koskinen is an Editorial Associate at Intellectual Takeout. He earned his BA from the University of Minnesota in December 2016 where he graduated with a double major in Journalism and Political Science. He previously wrote at Alpha News and worked for Guns.com as a copywriter. In his spare time, Anders enjoys reading, writing, and researching baseball with the Society for American Baseball Research. He has given two presentations to the Minneapolis-based Halsey Hall chapter thus far and serves as its secretary. He is also involved in the young adult group at his church.
Photo “Overthrow the System Poster” by Mark Dixon. CC BY 2.0.