wnd--2020-10-18--Biden's demand for minimum corporate tax called 'hazardous'

In response to the much-ballyhooed news reports about large corporations paying little to no taxes in a given year , Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden added a proposal for a minimum 15 percent tax on corporate profits to his platform .
That may prove politically popular , but as the coronavirus-induced recession reminds us , it ’ s terrible policymaking .
To begin with , there is no plague of corporations abusing tax “ loopholes ” to zero out their tax liability .
Corporate income taxes do not compare well to personal income taxes , as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profits , not gross receipts .
Corporate profits , much more than the average taxpayer ’ s annual income , can fluctuate wildly from year to year .
For this reason , the tax code allows for deductions for net operating losses to be carried into years other than the one in which the loss technically occurred .
Profits and losses frequently don ’ t coincide neatly with calendar years .
For example , goods purchased or produced by a company in December of one year might be sold in January of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code allow them to smooth out liabilities resulting from such activity , as opposed to being stuck with a “ heads I win , tails you lose ” scenario in which they pay tax on more than their actual profits .
This , not nefarious gamesmanship , is why companies like Amazon have at times had low tax liabilities .
Biden ’ s minimum tax would restrict the value of net operating loss deductions , thereby punishing companies most affected by the pandemic .
Businesses that took significant losses this year would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them with higher tax bills , all while undermining the smarter approach of taxing corporate profits over the long-term .
But where net operating loss deductions are necessary to ensure a fair and equitable tax code , other deductions and credits which are intended to encourage growth and recovery would likewise be hamstrung by Biden ’ s minimum tax .
For example , the tax code allows companies to recover the value of investments they make to grow their business as a means of encouraging more economic production .
Investment , after all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wages .
The 2017 tax reform law changed cost recovery for the better — from a drawn-out , complicated system of depreciation to immediate , full expensing .
This system of full expensing does a better job of encouraging corporate investment , as we saw prior to the onset of the coronavirus .
But a minimum tax significantly reduces this incentive to invest .
In fact , it can even encourage businesses to put off investments to later years if they have already reduced their tax liability to the minimum in the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax credits for research and development ( R & D ) .
Theoretically , these credits encourage R & D spending which benefits the economy writ large even more than it benefits the business investing in it .
But should businesses considering R & D spending run up against a minimum tax assessment , the incentive to do is greatly reduced .
In the context of an ongoing economic recovery , hampering growth with populist signalling is beyond foolish .
The effect on the budget would be miniscule in the context of trillion-dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 billion a year over the next ten years .
That kind of revenue is paltry compared to the economic harm of capping the benefits of good-policy provisions of the tax code .
A minimum tax is a ham-fisted approach that will threaten the ability of the American economy to recover from this pandemic .
Biden would do well to focus his efforts on promoting economic growth rather than on tax hikes that would cut off the nose to spite the face .
Andrew Wilford is a policy analyst with the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tax policy research and education at all levels of government .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Markets . ]

By Andrew Wilford
Real Clear Markets
In response to the much-ballyhooed news reports about large corporations paying little to no taxes in a given year, Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden added a proposal for a minimum 15 percent tax on corporate profits to his platform. That may prove politically popular, but as the coronavirus-induced recession reminds us, it’s terrible policymaking.
To begin with, there is no plague of corporations abusing tax “loopholes” to zero out their tax liability. Corporate income taxes do not compare well to personal income taxes, as they are assessed on the basis of corporate profits, not gross receipts. Corporate profits, much more than the average taxpayer’s annual income, can fluctuate wildly from year to year.
For this reason, the tax code allows for deductions for net operating losses to be carried into years other than the one in which the loss technically occurred. Profits and losses frequently don’t coincide neatly with calendar years. For example, goods purchased or produced by a company in December of one year might be sold in January of the next. Loss provisions in the tax code allow them to smooth out liabilities resulting from such activity, as opposed to being stuck with a “heads I win, tails you lose” scenario in which they pay tax on more than their actual profits. This, not nefarious gamesmanship, is why companies like Amazon have at times had low tax liabilities.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Biden’s minimum tax would restrict the value of net operating loss deductions, thereby punishing companies most affected by the pandemic. Businesses that took significant losses this year would be hampered in their recovery efforts by sticking them with higher tax bills, all while undermining the smarter approach of taxing corporate profits over the long-term.
But where net operating loss deductions are necessary to ensure a fair and equitable tax code, other deductions and credits which are intended to encourage growth and recovery would likewise be hamstrung by Biden’s minimum tax.
For example, the tax code allows companies to recover the value of investments they make to grow their business as a means of encouraging more economic production. Investment, after all, is the key to rising employee wages. The 2017 tax reform law changed cost recovery for the better — from a drawn-out, complicated system of depreciation to immediate, full expensing.
This system of full expensing does a better job of encouraging corporate investment, as we saw prior to the onset of the coronavirus. But a minimum tax significantly reduces this incentive to invest. In fact, it can even encourage businesses to put off investments to later years if they have already reduced their tax liability to the minimum in the current year.
The same is true for tax credits for research and development (R&D). Theoretically, these credits encourage R&D spending which benefits the economy writ large even more than it benefits the business investing in it. But should businesses considering R&D spending run up against a minimum tax assessment, the incentive to do is greatly reduced.
In the context of an ongoing economic recovery, hampering growth with populist signalling is beyond foolish. The effect on the budget would be miniscule in the context of trillion-dollar spending packages, raising little more than $20 billion a year over the next ten years. That kind of revenue is paltry compared to the economic harm of capping the benefits of good-policy provisions of the tax code.
A minimum tax is a ham-fisted approach that will threaten the ability of the American economy to recover from this pandemic. Biden would do well to focus his efforts on promoting economic growth rather than on tax hikes that would cut off the nose to spite the face.
Andrew Wilford is a policy analyst with the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to tax policy research and education at all levels of government.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Markets.]


wnd--2020-10-18--19% of government execs say it's important to refine skills to pursue private sector jobs

A new survey of government executives shows that almost one in five considers it important to refine his or her skills to seek employment in the private sector .
The survey comes from the Partnership for Public Service , which credits Princeton , Vanderbilt and Georgetown universities for the project .
It was highlighted on Government Executive website , which reports on senior leaders in the federal government 's departments and agencies .
The survey found more than 40 % of government executives said their workforces are inadequate to deliver on their agency missions , and the problem was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % said `` their workforces maintained shortcomings that created a 'significant obstacle ' in conducting their work .
They were most likely to list the lengthy federal hiring process as an encumbrance , followed by a lack of career growth opportunities for staff and an inability to compete with salaries from other employers , '' Government Executive reported .
The 2020 Survey on the Future of Government Service was for executives , including Senate-confirmed appointees , presidential appointees , career and non-career members of the Senior Executive Service .
It got a response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error of plus or minus 3.33 % to 5.07 % .
Ninety-seven percent said supporting their agency 's mission is an important or very important attribute of their jobs .
That was followed by 72 % who cited influencing public policies , 67 % who said salary and benefits , 67 % who said job security and 19 % who cited `` developing professional skills to move to a job in the private sector . ''
Fifty-five percent said they agreed their agency is able to recruit the best workers .
But 73 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates because of the time it takes to hire .
Forty-four percent said the departments effectively use internships to build a talent pipeline .
And 45 % strongly agreed that there are enough workers to do a quality job , 57 % said the best workers can be retained , and 61 % said workers are satisfied with the performance of their agency 's contract workforce .
Eighty-two percent said the hiring process takes too long , and more than half want better career path opportunities for staff members , believe other employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the civil service rules that `` prevent hiring the best candidates . ''
The Partnership suggested the survey results demonstrated key areas that need to be addressed in the next administration , including leadership and stewardship , talent , innovation and technology modernization , and collaboration .
`` Our government is struggling to meet many of the major challenges we face today , in part because we have neglected to invest in and strengthen this critical institution for decades , '' said Max Stier , the Partnership for Public Service ’ s @ @

A new survey of government executives shows that almost one in five considers it important to refine his or her skills to seek employment in the private sector.
The survey comes from the Partnership for Public Service, which credits Princeton, Vanderbilt and Georgetown universities for the project.
It was highlighted on Government Executive website, which reports on senior leaders in the federal government's departments and agencies.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The survey found more than 40% of government executives said their workforces are inadequate to deliver on their agency missions, and the problem was "political pressure."
Also, 60% said "their workforces maintained shortcomings that created a 'significant obstacle' in conducting their work. They were most likely to list the lengthy federal hiring process as an encumbrance, followed by a lack of career growth opportunities for staff and an inability to compete with salaries from other employers," Government Executive reported.
The 2020 Survey on the Future of Government Service was for executives, including Senate-confirmed appointees, presidential appointees, career and non-career members of the Senior Executive Service.
It got a response from 992 people with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.33% to 5.07%.
Ninety-seven percent said supporting their agency's mission is an important or very important attribute of their jobs. That was followed by 72% who cited influencing public policies, 67% who said salary and benefits, 67% who said job security and 19% who cited "developing professional skills to move to a job in the private sector."
Fifty-five percent said they agreed their agency is able to recruit the best workers. But 73% said the bureaus often lose good candidates because of the time it takes to hire. Forty-four percent said the departments effectively use internships to build a talent pipeline.
And 45% strongly agreed that there are enough workers to do a quality job, 57% said the best workers can be retained, and 61% said workers are satisfied with the performance of their agency's contract workforce.
Eighty-two percent said the hiring process takes too long, and more than half want better career path opportunities for staff members, believe other employers offer better salaries, and don't like the civil service rules that "prevent hiring the best candidates."
The Partnership suggested the survey results demonstrated key areas that need to be addressed in the next administration, including leadership and stewardship, talent, innovation and technology modernization, and collaboration.
"Our government is struggling to meet many of the major challenges we face today, in part because we have neglected to invest in and strengthen this critical institution for decades," said Max Stier, the Partnership for Public Service’s president.


wnd--2020-10-18--Biden policies are 'a direct threat' to U.S. security

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
Through the worst public health crisis in many decades , it has been a devastating seven months for the U.S. economy .
But hope is emerging : September unemployment was at 7.9 % , down from 14.7 % in April .
Even better , U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette recently stated that the U.S. oil and gas industry , which leads the world in production , should be a primary vehicle for our recovery from the pandemic-driven economic fall .
So why would Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are ( 1 ) a direct threat to U.S. security , ( 2 ) morally unjust , ( 3 ) against climate change goals , ( 4 ) bound to up energy prices , and ( 5 ) sure to put millions of Americans out of work ?
The flip-flopping may continue but the past can not be changed : • “ Kiddo…Look in my eyes .
I guarantee you we ’ re gon na end fossil fuels , ” Biden was filmed telling a voter .
• “ There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of banning fracking , ” Harris told a ClimateTownHall .
Struggling through such an extraordinary time , where demand and prices have both unexpectedly plummeted , 2020 has been perhaps the most difficult year in the history of the U.S. oil and gas industry .
Yet we have no choice but to rebound .
Oil and gas meet 65 % of America ’ s energy demand and remain simply irreplaceable at scale .
So much so , that a lack of investments in new supply today could easily begin to spike prices in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebounds : “ $ 190 Oil ?
J.P. Morgan Thinks It 's Possible.
” In the fracking and shale-era from 2008-2019 , for instance , U.S. crude oil production was up 160 % , and gas increased 70 % .
Fracking now accounts for 80 % of our oil and gas output and has transformed the U.S. into an energy powerhouse , producing more oil than Saudi Arabia and more gas than Russia .
Banning fracking would also make it nearly impossible to export oil and gas .
In 2019 alone , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crude oil and increased gas exports by almost 25 % .
From basically nothing in 2016 , the U.S. is now the third largest exporter of liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) , deemed the fastest growing commodity in 2019 – and essential to net-zero goals .
This explains why the U.S. Department of Energy projects : “ global natural gas consumption increases more than 40 % between 2018 and 2050.
” America ’ s oil and gas exports mean rising economic prosperity , but perhaps most importantly we can now help meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
( 1 ) Security – a fracking ban puts our energy future in the hands of OPEC and Russia , a bloc of countries now actively collaborating to dominate global supply .
The U.S. is widely expected to account for the bulk of new oil and gas output .
We must avoid at all costs the Hari-Kari energy policies in Massachusetts that have forced the state to import LNG from U.S.-sanctioned Russia in recent winters .
It is fracking that will keep the U.S. a net energy exporter through 2050 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just Witnessed A Miracle — Energy Independence ” and “ The U.S. Oil Boom Is Sinking OPEC Imports.
” ( 2 ) Economic Justice – here at home : “ Natural Gas Can Help Advance Communities of Color.
” Globally , U.S. LNG exports are crucial to help lift billions of people out of abject poverty while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions .
Some three billion people rely on such biomass as wood and dung for heating and cooking , creating indoor air pollution that kills around four million a year and causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The UN reports that over 17,000 children die every day from preventable causes , enabled by a lack of modern energy .
It is a moral imperative for the U.S. and other energy-rich nations to share their abundant resources with those still stuck in the backwater of human advancement .
( 3 ) Climate Change – President Obama supported natural gas to cut emissions while also backing up the natural intermittency of wind and solar power .
Today , gas accounts for 45 % of U.S. generation capacity and is projected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 235,000 megawatts in new capacity through 2050 , eight times more than wind and a third more than solar .
More natural gas has been cited by our OECD energy advisor , the International Energy Agency , as the main reason why the U.S. has been reducing emissions the fastest in “ the history of energy.
” ( 4 ) Energy Prices – the U.S. Chamber of Commerce finds that with a ban on fracking , gasoline prices would almost double within five years , families would pay twice as much for electricity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
This would lead to a cost-of-living jump of nearly $ 4,000 a year while incomes would drop significantly .
The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts that natural gas prices , for instance , will remain below the low $ 3.70 per MMBtu mark all the way through 2050 .
For reference , from 2000-2008 , before our fracking revolution took flight , prices averaged over $ 6.00 .
( 5 ) Jobs – the Chamber also concludes that a fracking ban would destroy over 19 million jobs from 2021-2025 while slashing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the multiplicative impacts of no drilling bring devastation to America ’ s economy .
Further , the lost opportunity costs would block future economic growth and employment .
IHS Markit has estimated that fracking will create nearly two million additional U.S. jobs from 2017-2035 .
In addition , fracking jobs are extremely high paying jobs : “ The highest-paying college major ?
Petroleum engineering.
” No country ever has abandoned a natural resource of shale ’ s proven worth .
Fracking is expected to account for virtually all of our new domestic oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While wind and solar continue to grow , the recent blackouts in green-fixated California clearly show that they are nowhere near ready to go it alone .
Renewables , of course , are strictly sources of electricity , a sector that accounts for less than 40 % of total U.S. energy consumption .
Critically , this means that wind and solar do not even compete in the majority of ways in which we consume energy , making their ability to extend market share in the immense U.S. energy complex inherently limited .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ headline of them all : “ Putin 's Other American Propaganda Effort : Anti-Fracking News.
” [ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]
By Jude Clemente
Real Clear Energy
Through the worst public health crisis in many decades, it has been a devastating seven months for the U.S. economy. But hope is emerging: September unemployment was at 7.9%, down from 14.7% in April. Even better, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette recently stated that the U.S. oil and gas industry, which leads the world in production, should be a primary vehicle for our recovery from the pandemic-driven economic fall.
So why would Joe Biden and Kamala Harris propose energy policies that are (1) a direct threat to U.S. security, (2) morally unjust, (3) against climate change goals, (4) bound to up energy prices, and (5) sure to put millions of Americans out of work?
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The flip-flopping may continue but the past cannot be changed:
“Kiddo…Look in my eyes. I guarantee you we’re gonna end fossil fuels,” Biden was filmed telling a voter.
“There’s no question that I am in favor of banning fracking,” Harris told a ClimateTownHall.
Struggling through such an extraordinary time, where demand and prices have both unexpectedly plummeted, 2020 has been perhaps the most difficult year in the history of the U.S. oil and gas industry. Yet we have no choice but to rebound. Oil and gas meet 65% of America’s energy demand and remain simply irreplaceable at scale. So much so, that a lack of investments in new supply today could easily begin to spike prices in just a few years as demand inevitably rebounds: “$190 Oil? J.P. Morgan Thinks It's Possible.”
In the fracking and shale-era from 2008-2019, for instance, U.S. crude oil production was up 160%, and gas increased 70%. Fracking now accounts for 80% of our oil and gas output and has transformed the U.S. into an energy powerhouse, producing more oil than Saudi Arabia and more gas than Russia.
Banning fracking would also make it nearly impossible to export oil and gas. In 2019 alone, the U.S. exported over 3 million b/d of crude oil and increased gas exports by almost 25%. From basically nothing in 2016, the U.S. is now the third largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), deemed the fastest growing commodity in 2019 – and essential to net-zero goals. This explains why the U.S. Department of Energy projects: “global natural gas consumption increases more than 40% between 2018 and 2050.”
America’s oil and gas exports mean rising economic prosperity, but perhaps most importantly we can now help meet the desperate needs of energy-poor nations across the world.
(1) Security – a fracking ban puts our energy future in the hands of OPEC and Russia, a bloc of countries now actively collaborating to dominate global supply. The U.S. is widely expected to account for the bulk of new oil and gas output. We must avoid at all costs the Hari-Kari energy policies in Massachusetts that have forced the state to import LNG from U.S.-sanctioned Russia in recent winters. It is fracking that will keep the U.S. a net energy exporter through 2050. No wonder then: “America Just Witnessed A Miracle — Energy Independence” and “The U.S. Oil Boom Is Sinking OPEC Imports.”
(2) Economic Justice – here at home: “Natural Gas Can Help Advance Communities of Color.” Globally, U.S. LNG exports are crucial to help lift billions of people out of abject poverty while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Some three billion people rely on such biomass as wood and dung for heating and cooking, creating indoor air pollution that kills around four million a year and causes a wide range of non-communicable diseases. The UN reports that over 17,000 children die every day from preventable causes, enabled by a lack of modern energy. It is a moral imperative for the U.S. and other energy-rich nations to share their abundant resources with those still stuck in the backwater of human advancement.
(3) Climate Change – President Obama supported natural gas to cut emissions while also backing up the natural intermittency of wind and solar power. Today, gas accounts for 45% of U.S. generation capacity and is projected by the U.S. Department of Energy to add another 235,000 megawatts in new capacity through 2050, eight times more than wind and a third more than solar. More natural gas has been cited by our OECD energy advisor, the International Energy Agency, as the main reason why the U.S. has been reducing emissions the fastest in “the history of energy.”
(4) Energy Prices – the U.S. Chamber of Commerce finds that with a ban on fracking, gasoline prices would almost double within five years, families would pay twice as much for electricity and natural gas prices would rise 400%. This would lead to a cost-of-living jump of nearly $4,000 a year while incomes would drop significantly. The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts that natural gas prices, for instance, will remain below the low $3.70 per MMBtu mark all the way through 2050. For reference, from 2000-2008, before our fracking revolution took flight, prices averaged over $6.00.
(5) Jobs – the Chamber also concludes that a fracking ban would destroy over 19 million jobs from 2021-2025 while slashing $7.1 trillion in GDP, as the multiplicative impacts of no drilling bring devastation to America’s economy. Further, the lost opportunity costs would block future economic growth and employment. IHS Markit has estimated that fracking will create nearly two million additional U.S. jobs from 2017-2035. In addition, fracking jobs are extremely high paying jobs: “The highest-paying college major? Petroleum engineering.”
No country ever has abandoned a natural resource of shale’s proven worth. Fracking is expected to account for virtually all of our new domestic oil and gas supply for decades to come. While wind and solar continue to grow, the recent blackouts in green-fixated California clearly show that they are nowhere near ready to go it alone. Renewables, of course, are strictly sources of electricity, a sector that accounts for less than 40% of total U.S. energy consumption. Critically, this means that wind and solar do not even compete in the majority of ways in which we consume energy, making their ability to extend market share in the immense U.S. energy complex inherently limited.
Indeed, still perhaps the most telling headline of them all: “Putin's Other American Propaganda Effort: Anti-Fracking News.”
Jude Clemente is Editor at RealClearEnergy.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-10-19--Ratcliffe: Hunter Biden emails 'not part' of Russian disinformation

( FOX NEWS ) -- Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe on Monday said that Hunter Biden ’ s laptop @ @ @ @ @ some Russian disinformation campaign , ” amid claims from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff @ @ @ @ @ during an exclusive interview on FOX Business ’ “ Mornings with Maria , ” was @ @ @ @ @ Schiff , D-Calif. , who over the weekend said that the Hunter Biden emails suggesting @ @ @ @ @ had knowledge of , and was allegedly involved in , his son ’ s foreign @ @ @ @ @ ’ s funny that some of the people who complain the most about intelligence being @ @ @ @ @ the intelligence , ” Ratcliffe said .
“ Unfortunately , it is Adam Schiff who @ @ @ @ @ the Hunter Biden laptop and emails on it are part of a Russian disinformation campaign @ @

(FOX NEWS) -- Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe on Monday said that Hunter Biden’s laptop “is not part of some Russian disinformation campaign,” amid claims from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff suggesting otherwise.
Ratcliffe, during an exclusive interview on FOX Business’ “Mornings with Maria,” was asked about the allegations from Schiff, D-Calif., who over the weekend said that the Hunter Biden emails suggesting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had knowledge of, and was allegedly involved in, his son’s foreign business dealings.
“It’s funny that some of the people who complain the most about intelligence being politicized are the ones politicizing the intelligence,” Ratcliffe said. “Unfortunately, it is Adam Schiff who said the intelligence community believes the Hunter Biden laptop and emails on it are part of a Russian disinformation campaign.”
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--'Thousands upon thousands' cheer president in California

( FOX NEWS ) -- LOS ANGELES -- Kayleigh McEnany , the White House press secretary , took to Twitter @ @ @ @ @ number of Trump supporters who came out to view the presidential motorcade as it made @ @ @ @ @ home of Oculus Rift co-founder Palmer Luckey for a fundraiser .
Tickets for the event @ @ @ @ @ individual to up to $ 150,000 per couple .
The Beach Boys were reportedly scheduled @ @ @ @ @ upon thousands lined for miles along our motorcade route in CALIFORNIA to cheer on President @ @ @ @ @ !
!
” McEnany tweeted .

(FOX NEWS) -- LOS ANGELES-- Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, took to Twitter on Sunday to show the number of Trump supporters who came out to view the presidential motorcade as it made its way to the Newport home of Oculus Rift co-founder Palmer Luckey for a fundraiser.
Tickets for the event ranged from $2,800 per individual to up to $150,000 per couple. The Beach Boys were reportedly scheduled to perform.
“Thousands upon thousands lined for miles along our motorcade route in CALIFORNIA to cheer on President @realDonaldTrump!!!!!” McEnany tweeted.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--Senator acknowledges possibility of search for child porn on 'Biden' laptop

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- A top Republican senator acknowledged the possibility that the FBI investigated whether there was child @ @ @ @ @ hard drive that allegedly belonged to Hunter Biden .
Journalist Maria Bartiromo asked Sen. Ron @ @ @ @ @ the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , about a Business Insider report that @ @ @ @ @ subpoena served last year to a Delaware business that was given a water-damaged MacBook Pro @ @ @ @ @ retrieved and a hard drive with its contents .
The hardware purportedly contained data about @ @ @ @ @ matters related to the son of former Vice President Joe Biden .
The subpoena appeared @ @ @ @ @ who served it was someone named `` Joshua Wilson . ''
There was a Joshua @ @ @ @ @ Star-Ledger report published last year , who was an FBI agent based in New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ investigating child pornography , but it remains unclear if this is the same Wilson and @ @ @ @ @ investigating .

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) -- A top Republican senator acknowledged the possibility that the FBI investigated whether there was child pornography on a laptop and hard drive that allegedly belonged to Hunter Biden.
Journalist Maria Bartiromo asked Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, about a Business Insider report that described faint handwriting on a subpoena served last year to a Delaware business that was given a water-damaged MacBook Pro to repair but was never retrieved and a hard drive with its contents. The hardware purportedly contained data about foreign business dealings and other matters related to the son of former Vice President Joe Biden.
The subpoena appeared to show the FBI agent who served it was someone named "Joshua Wilson." There was a Joshua Wilson, according to a Star-Ledger report published last year, who was an FBI agent based in New Jersey who spent nearly five years investigating child pornography, but it remains unclear if this is the same Wilson and what exactly the bureau was investigating.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--Governor's interview background raising questions

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer is getting attention for her choice of background features during @ @ @ @ @ 's Meet the Press .
After including a bubble-text `` 8645 '' printout on a @ @ @ @ @ interview , the Trump War Room , one of the Trump campaign 's verified Twitter @ @ @ @ @ governor of `` encouraging assassination attempts against President Trump . ''
`` Whitmer is encouraging @ @ @ @ @ just weeks after someone sent a ricin-laced package to the White House , '' the @ @ @ @ @ `` 86 can be shorthand for killing someone . ''
The term `` 8645 '' @ @ @ @ @ the internet for some time already .
An Urban Dictionary definition of the four-number sequence @ @ @ @ @ `` a sneaky way to illustrate one 's support of getting rid of Trump .
@

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) -- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is getting attention for her choice of background features during her appearance Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press.
After including a bubble-text "8645" printout on a table behind her during her interview, the Trump War Room, one of the Trump campaign's verified Twitter accounts, accused the Democratic governor of "encouraging assassination attempts against President Trump."
"Whitmer is encouraging assassination attempts against President Trump just weeks after someone sent a ricin-laced package to the White House," the tweet said, adding, "86 can be shorthand for killing someone."
The term "8645" has made its way around the internet for some time already. An Urban Dictionary definition of the four-number sequence from 2017 defines it as "a sneaky way to illustrate one's support of getting rid of Trump."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-20--Gym rebrands as church to stay open during COVID lockdown

( BUSINESS INSIDER ) -- A gym in Krakow , Poland , is trying to rebrand itself as a `` @ @ @ @ @ '' in order to stay open during new coronavirus lockdown restrictions .
The manager of @ @ @ @ @ Jamróz , wrote in a Saturday Facebook post : `` Since fitness classes can not @ @ @ @ @ of members are starting today at our club the 'Church of the Healthy Body .
@ @ @ @ @ to the gym 's trainers as `` the elder council . ''

(BUSINESS INSIDER) -- A gym in Krakow, Poland, is trying to rebrand itself as a "Church of the Healthy Body" in order to stay open during new coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The manager of Atlantic Sports Fitness, Marta Jamróz, wrote in a Saturday Facebook post: "Since fitness classes cannot function ... a religious congregation of members are starting today at our club the 'Church of the Healthy Body.'"
Jamróz also referred to the gym's trainers as "the elder council."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-20--Report: Biden economic policy will kill 2 million jobs

( FREE BEACON ) -- One of Joe Biden 's top economic policy priorities could kill as many as two @ @ @ @ @ new report finds .
Biden has championed a $ 15 minimum wage throughout his presidential @ @ @ @ @ website touts helping `` get state and local laws increasing the minimum wage across the @ @ @ @ @ it `` well past time we increase the federal minimum wage to $ 15 across @ @ @ @ @ analysis from the pro-free market Employment Policies Institute ( EPI ) found that a nationwide @ @ @ @ @ minimum wage—more than double the current federal rate of $ 7.25 per hour—could eliminate millions @ @ @ @ @ six years .
Economists found that those job losses would fall mainly among vulnerable populations @ @ @ @ @ heaviest cuts coming in low-skill or entry-level positions .

(FREE BEACON) -- One of Joe Biden's top economic policy priorities could kill as many as two million new jobs, a new report finds.
Biden has championed a $15 minimum wage throughout his presidential bid. The Democrat's website touts helping "get state and local laws increasing the minimum wage across the finish line" and calls it "well past time we increase the federal minimum wage to $15 across the country." An analysis from the pro-free market Employment Policies Institute (EPI) found that a nationwide mandate for a $15 minimum wage—more than double the current federal rate of $7.25 per hour—could eliminate millions of jobs within its first six years.
Economists found that those job losses would fall mainly among vulnerable populations, with some of the heaviest cuts coming in low-skill or entry-level positions.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-20--Moving late wife's urn causes serious issue with man's new fiancée

( FOX NEWS ) -- A 37-year-old man has consulted Reddit on whether he is wrong for not wanting to @ @ @ @ @ s urn to make his new fiancée happy .
The unidentified man shared his lengthy @ @ @ @ @ for “ the frustrated moral philosopher ” on Tuesday , where he explained that his @ @ @ @ @ brain cancer four years ago at the age of 31 .
His late wife was @ @ @ @ @ her ashes in an urn in his bedroom , which is something his new fiancée @ @ @ @ @ after she moved in .

(FOX NEWS) -- A 37-year-old man has consulted Reddit on whether he is wrong for not wanting to move his late wife’s urn to make his new fiancée happy.
The unidentified man shared his lengthy story in a subreddit meant for “the frustrated moral philosopher” on Tuesday, where he explained that his late wife passed away from brain cancer four years ago at the age of 31.
His late wife was cremated and he reportedly kept her ashes in an urn in his bedroom, which is something his new fiancée had taken an issue with after she moved in.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-20--Bruce Willis returns as John McClane

Bruce Willis returns as John McClane

Bruce Willis , 65 , returned as his iconic `` Die Hard '' character Detective John McClane for a commercial @ @ @ @ @ new long-lasting car battery , also called DieHard .
The short film includes a few @ @ @ @ @ action flick .
The spoof starts with McClane trying to start his car on a @ @ @ @ @ `` Well , you wanted the quiet life , John .
Dead batteries .
Empty @ @ @ @ @ says as he walks into an Advanced Auto Parts store .

(FOX NEWS) -- 'Die Hard' is back!
Bruce Willis, 65, returned as his iconic "Die Hard" character Detective John McClane for a commercial promoting Advance Auto Parts' new long-lasting car battery, also called DieHard. The short film includes a few other familiar faces from the action flick.
The spoof starts with McClane trying to start his car on a dark and deserted street. "Well, you wanted the quiet life, John. Dead batteries. Empty streets," the character says as he walks into an Advanced Auto Parts store.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-20--Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots aren't reaching giant amounts anymore

( CNBC ) -- If you ’ re one of those people who only buys a lottery ticket when the @ @ @ @ @ , you could be waiting a while .
The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ million , and Powerball ’ s top prize is $ 91 million for its drawing @ @ @ @ @ would be life-changing windfalls for most winners , the amounts pale in comparison to some @ @ @ @ @ including two worth more than $ 1.5 billion , one each in 2016 and 2018 @ @ @ @ @ pandemic-related stay-at-home orders and shutdowns earlier this year , officials for both games announced in @ @ @ @ @ would no longer be $ 40 million , nor would there be a minimum increase @ @ @ @ @ million for Mega Millions and $ 10 million for Powerball ) if there was no @ @ @

(CNBC) -- If you’re one of those people who only buys a lottery ticket when the jackpot climbs into the stratosphere, you could be waiting a while.
The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday’s drawing is $86 million, and Powerball’s top prize is $91 million for its drawing on Wednesday. While those would be life-changing windfalls for most winners, the amounts pale in comparison to some claimed in the past — including two worth more than $1.5 billion, one each in 2016 and 2018.
On the heels of pandemic-related stay-at-home orders and shutdowns earlier this year, officials for both games announced in early April that starting jackpots would no longer be $40 million, nor would there be a minimum increase between drawings ($5 million for Mega Millions and $10 million for Powerball) if there was no top winner.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-10-19--President Trump's 'October surprise' party

I confess to being a great fan of Bernard Cornwell 's historical fiction , having just finished his Richard Sharpe series covering the Napoleonic wars .
His battle scenes are so well written that you can almost feel the spray of blood and gore when a cannonball decimates a squad of advancing infantry next to the protagonist .
Yet nothing in the fictional career of Richard Sharpe quite compares to the unprecedented real-world shock and awe cluster bombing of Joe Biden and the Democratic elites by the Trump campaign with the Hunter Biden laptop scandals .
I say scandals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one criminal enterprise being exposed to the public , but a whole Pandora 's box of Biden family secrets that indict not just their own criminal actions , but implicate the entire nest of deep state snakes by association , while also putting all the hyper-partisan , ethically corrupt news and social media entities under a white-hot spotlight for all the world to see .
My personal favorite microcosm of the still-expanding field of political carnage is the corner where the swamp rat Christopher Wray ( FBI director ) has been trapped by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hunter 's laptop for months but withheld all of its Trump-absolving evidence from Congress and the public during the impeachment scam .
I ca n't recall a clearer example of a bureaucrat being caught `` red-handed '' in the act of malfeasance .
Of course , all the many anti-Trump players in Big Tech and Big Media tried to clamp a lid on the pot when it first started boiling over , thinking they could suppress and spin the news as they 've done so effectively in the past .
But even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more and different scandals from the same pot exploded right in their faces , simultaneously exposing their bias and hypocrisy to the suddenly curious general public .
There is no containing the scandals now : The Biden family demons are out of the box , the genie of Trump vindication is out of the bottle , and very soon the rats will start fleeing the sinking ship .
Never have so many metaphors mixed so smoothly together !
I hesitated to write this column because the story is unfolding so fast and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published , the specific items we 're discussing today might seem like old news .
But the more I think about it , the bigger story that wo n't lose its timeliness is the fact that the Dems knew all of this was coming !
They committed these crimes .
Their deep state agents have had the evidence in their possession all along .
That , of course , explains the Democrats ' desperation and motive for unsuccessfully expending their entire political arsenal over the past four years to remove Trump from office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly stretches 30 miles in battleground state of Arizona What it does not explain – at least not superficially – is why they allowed Joe Biden to be their standard-bearer in this election .
Perhaps they were so confident that they would take Trump down that they considered the risk of Joe 's exposure to be minimal .
I read a piece recently that suggested just the opposite , that they knew Trump would win and allowed Joe the honor of being their candidate as a reward for his many years of faithful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure-winner Barack Obama .
But that assumes a generosity of spirit that I do not believe exists among the Dem elites .
I think itis more likely that yes , they ( meaning Joe 's superiors : Obama , the Clintons and probably the Bushes – at least their man Romney ) expected/feared that Trump would win , and they needed somebody to throw to the wolves .
To mix metaphors again , as the saying goes , you do n't have to run faster than the bear , you only have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's chasing .
Biden is not only the most expendable of the group , his increasing dementia will justify or excuse his own and his handlers ' obfuscation efforts and at the same time make him a more sympathetic defendant in the public `` trial '' to come .
He can ( they hope ) become for the Dems what Morris Dees has always been for the leftist hate group the Southern Poverty Law Center : a sacrificial sin-eater/scapegoat to absorb all public opprobrium directed their way , thus allowing the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As rich a smorgasbord as the Biden scandals represent , they are not the only offerings at the Trump October Surprise Party .
There are also hearty slabs of red meat in the form of emerging new details about the Benghazi scandal , and purported evidence that Obama 's massive $ 152 billion payoff of Iran was actually extorted from him by the Iranians to buy their silence over the allegedly staged assassination of an Osama bin Laden body-double packaged as a `` trophy kill '' to boost Obama 's reelection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ SEAL Team 6 was assassinated by his administration .
The Biden base , including the news and social media , have no new defense against any of this , just more of the same suppression , stalling and distraction tactics they 've used all along .
But these scandals are so huge and so juicy – including alleged video of Hunter Biden sexually cavorting with young girls – that they really ca n't be contained by a media industry that salivates over any chance to `` break news '' of a scandalous nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inner struggle between the desire to protect their candidate on the one hand and the lust to `` get the scoop '' on the competition on the other .
Their united front on Biden will likely crumble .
But that might not even be necessary for the public to finally see Biden as the rotten crook he is , because the Trump base is so highly energized with zeal for the president and so infuriated by the bias and censorship of the leftist controlled public information systems that the entire Trump army has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth by old-fashioned word-of-mouth .
I spent 90 minutes at a Trump stand-out today at a busy intersection of state roads in Massachusetts , not all that far from the liberal bastion of Umass Amherst .
I was simply stunned at the massive pro-Trump response of the passing traffic .
It was n't just a few people , it was a huge percentage of the drivers .
There were about 30 to 50 of us holding Trump and Blue Lives Matter signs , and then a rowdy Trump car and truck convoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long .
Again , this is Massachusetts – under RINO Gov .
Charlie Baker 's `` second wave '' lockdown !
The left expected these people to be curled into a fetal position by now .
But instead of desperation they 're filled with elation and all because our great president is throwing us a blow-out October Surprise Party to celebrate his imminent reelection .
Make sure you earn your right to party with us for four more years by voting in person on Nov. 3 !

I confess to being a great fan of Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction, having just finished his Richard Sharpe series covering the Napoleonic wars. His battle scenes are so well written that you can almost feel the spray of blood and gore when a cannonball decimates a squad of advancing infantry next to the protagonist.
Yet nothing in the fictional career of Richard Sharpe quite compares to the unprecedented real-world shock and awe cluster bombing of Joe Biden and the Democratic elites by the Trump campaign with the Hunter Biden laptop scandals. I say scandals, plural, because this isn't just one criminal enterprise being exposed to the public, but a whole Pandora's box of Biden family secrets that indict not just their own criminal actions, but implicate the entire nest of deep state snakes by association, while also putting all the hyper-partisan, ethically corrupt news and social media entities under a white-hot spotlight for all the world to see.
My personal favorite microcosm of the still-expanding field of political carnage is the corner where the swamp rat Christopher Wray (FBI director) has been trapped by the disclosure that he has had possession of Hunter's laptop for months but withheld all of its Trump-absolving evidence from Congress and the public during the impeachment scam. I can't recall a clearer example of a bureaucrat being caught "red-handed" in the act of malfeasance.
Of course, all the many anti-Trump players in Big Tech and Big Media tried to clamp a lid on the pot when it first started boiling over, thinking they could suppress and spin the news as they've done so effectively in the past. But even as they rushed to contain the damage, more and different scandals from the same pot exploded right in their faces, simultaneously exposing their bias and hypocrisy to the suddenly curious general public. There is no containing the scandals now: The Biden family demons are out of the box, the genie of Trump vindication is out of the bottle, and very soon the rats will start fleeing the sinking ship. Never have so many metaphors mixed so smoothly together!
I hesitated to write this column because the story is unfolding so fast and furiously that by the time it gets published, the specific items we're discussing today might seem like old news. But the more I think about it, the bigger story that won't lose its timeliness is the fact that the Dems knew all of this was coming! They committed these crimes. Their deep state agents have had the evidence in their possession all along. That, of course, explains the Democrats' desperation and motive for unsuccessfully expending their entire political arsenal over the past four years to remove Trump from office.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
What it does not explain – at least not superficially – is why they allowed Joe Biden to be their standard-bearer in this election. Perhaps they were so confident that they would take Trump down that they considered the risk of Joe's exposure to be minimal. I read a piece recently that suggested just the opposite, that they knew Trump would win and allowed Joe the honor of being their candidate as a reward for his many years of faithful service – a la John McCain vs. sure-winner Barack Obama. But that assumes a generosity of spirit that I do not believe exists among the Dem elites. I think itis more likely that yes, they (meaning Joe's superiors: Obama, the Clintons and probably the Bushes – at least their man Romney) expected/feared that Trump would win, and they needed somebody to throw to the wolves. To mix metaphors again, as the saying goes, you don't have to run faster than the bear, you only have to run faster than the other guy he's chasing.
Biden is not only the most expendable of the group, his increasing dementia will justify or excuse his own and his handlers' obfuscation efforts and at the same time make him a more sympathetic defendant in the public "trial" to come. He can (they hope) become for the Dems what Morris Dees has always been for the leftist hate group the Southern Poverty Law Center: a sacrificial sin-eater/scapegoat to absorb all public opprobrium directed their way, thus allowing the rest of the conspirators to escape scrutiny and accountability.
As rich a smorgasbord as the Biden scandals represent, they are not the only offerings at the Trump October Surprise Party. There are also hearty slabs of red meat in the form of emerging new details about the Benghazi scandal, and purported evidence that Obama's massive $152 billion payoff of Iran was actually extorted from him by the Iranians to buy their silence over the allegedly staged assassination of an Osama bin Laden body-double packaged as a "trophy kill" to boost Obama's reelection. Supposedly, there is even proof that SEAL Team 6 was assassinated by his administration.
The Biden base, including the news and social media, have no new defense against any of this, just more of the same suppression, stalling and distraction tactics they've used all along. But these scandals are so huge and so juicy – including alleged video of Hunter Biden sexually cavorting with young girls – that they really can't be contained by a media industry that salivates over any chance to "break news" of a scandalous nature. There will be a mighty schizophrenic inner struggle between the desire to protect their candidate on the one hand and the lust to "get the scoop" on the competition on the other. Their united front on Biden will likely crumble.
Will laptop-gate have an impact on the presidential election? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 87% (124 Votes) 13% (18 Votes)
But that might not even be necessary for the public to finally see Biden as the rotten crook he is, because the Trump base is so highly energized with zeal for the president and so infuriated by the bias and censorship of the leftist controlled public information systems that the entire Trump army has already taken it upon themselves to spread the truth by old-fashioned word-of-mouth.
I spent 90 minutes at a Trump stand-out today at a busy intersection of state roads in Massachusetts, not all that far from the liberal bastion of Umass Amherst. I was simply stunned at the massive pro-Trump response of the passing traffic. It wasn't just a few people, it was a huge percentage of the drivers. There were about 30 to 50 of us holding Trump and Blue Lives Matter signs, and then a rowdy Trump car and truck convoy came by – at least a mile long.
Again, this is Massachusetts – under RINO Gov. Charlie Baker's "second wave" lockdown! The left expected these people to be curled into a fetal position by now. But instead of desperation they're filled with elation and all because our great president is throwing us a blow-out October Surprise Party to celebrate his imminent reelection. Make sure you earn your right to party with us for four more years by voting in person on Nov. 3!


wnd--2020-10-19--How Big Tech is working to steal the election from Trump

Allum Bokhari , an investigative tech writer for Breitbart , published a book last month explaining how Big Tech intends to defeat Trump .
If anyone should know , it 's him , having written about Big Tech 's attacks on conservatives for years .
It 's important to read this book , because the censorship is now so vast it is difficult to learn about it by merely digging up article after article .
In `` # Deleted : Big Tech 's Battle to Erase the Trump Movement and Steal the Election , '' Bokhari goes over how it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , usually under the guise of something else .
Big Tech uses certain buzzwords to justify its censorship , cleverly all vague , used as excuses to crack down on conservative content .
They include `` fake news , '' `` misinformation , '' `` hate speech , '' `` harassment '' and even `` bots . ''
Twitter employees have admitted if an account has a certain number of words , such as `` guns '' and `` God '' in their profile , they may delete it and claim it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology and a Democrat , explained to Congress how Google shifted 2.6 to 10.4 million users to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election .
Experiments have been done showing how certain candidates were favored over others based on biased search results .
On Google that means showing negative results about conservative candidates and positive results about left-leaning candidates at the top of search results .
On Facebook , if a certain video influenced a conservative to take a less conservative viewpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the newsfeed of other conservatives .
Bokhari says the problem is the internet is no longer being run like the free market .
There has been a corporate takeover of the web , as it 's become an oligopoly controlled by a handful of Big Tech companies .
Some free-market conservatives resist taking any measures against Big Tech , refusing to admit the internet has degenerated into an oligopoly .
They recommend creating our own competing tech companies .
But precisely because the internet is now an oligopoly , it is impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
TRENDING : Caravan of Trump supporters reportedly stretches 30 miles in battleground state of Arizona Bokhari cites Gab as an example .
The social media company has attempted to become an alternative to Facebook and Twitter , that wo n't ban conservatives .
But Big Tech is trying to block it out of existence .
Apple banned the Gab app from its App Store , and Google banned it from the Google Play Store .
Gab 's cloud-hosting provider , domain name registrar and payments processor dropped the company .
Why ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ use its platform .
This is bizarre considering how many terrorists have been allowed to use the Big Tech platforms .
The reality is 43 % of Americans get their news from Facebook .
And you ca n't survive in conservative media without it .
A Facebook insider told Bokhari in 2017 their plan was to get people to move from the right to the center .
And sure enough , Facebook 's newsfeed change in January 2018 destroyed far more conservative pages than left-wing ones .
They have a `` hate agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Owens .
Facebook tracks what people do offline too , using their associations with `` hate '' against them .
Facebook is forcing the right to de-network itself , online and offline .
Another way Big Tech censors conservatives is by cutting them off from advertisers that fund them .
An advertising account manager at Google directed major advertisers to the page of the Sleeping Giants , a far-left organization that spreads smears about conservative media websites in an effort to frighten advertisers away from them .
Bokhari says Google is far more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN , calling it `` The World 's Most Dangerous Company . ''
It 's `` the greatest surveillance network in the history of mankind . ''
Dr. Epstein calls Google `` the most powerful mind-control engine ever created . ''
Google Docs monitors what you type and could ban you based on not approving of your content .
In a document leaked in 2018 , Google was caught calling itself `` The Good Censor . ''
The paper described how it is moving away from the American model of free speech toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over freedom .
Merely a handful of obscure incidents , such as a celebrity progressive being harassed , led to this transition .
One former longtime employee of Google and Twitter explained to Bokhari how Big Tech bans regular conservatives : `` Basically , they take a tiny set of alt-right trolls and then they say that alt-lite [ a new wave of anti-immigration , antiwar , market-skeptical right-wingers ] , new right , libertarians , and even nonconformist center-left have superficial similarity to the troll , like posting the same memes or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all abusive . ''
This is exacerbated considering the left is far more likely to block and report users .
An entire chapter is dedicated to financial blacklisting .
The fundraising platforms GoFundMe , Patreon and Kickstarter are banning conservatives .
Electronic payment processors like PayPal and Stripe are too .
The left-wing group Color of Change is demanding that credit card companies and Apple Pay oust conservatives .
Another chapter is devoted to the `` defamation engine '' of Wikipedia and Google .
Wikipedia appears at the top of Google search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breitbart as a reliable source .
If you try to edit a page to correct any bias against conservatives , you 'll be banned .
Bokhari says a natural solution would be removing or limiting Section 230 protections from Big Tech .
They act like publishers and frequently argue in court that they are publishers , so why are they exempt from lawsuits when other publishers are n't ?
I do n't think it 's intervening in the free market to allow people the ability to sue them .
Bokhari says even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 230 protections from most of Big Tech , since monitoring posts and other things might be onerous for the companies , it 's unfair that you ca n't sue the most powerful publisher in the world , Wikipedia , for defamation , but you can sue The Washington Post .
He warns people that technology will eventually trace down things you wrote anonymously years ago , such as by comparing writing samples .
He advises people to delete old anonymous posts .
He also warns that despite its lower numbers and poor success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more powerful than you think .
What it comes down to is , `` Most American citizens do n't want a future where elections are decided by a Google search algorithm , where Mark Zuckerberg can render your business unprofitable with the push of a button , and where Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey decides whether you 're allowed a voice in the public square . ''
Do n't be fooled by Big Tech 's claims that they are merely censoring really offensive speech .
The evidence is overwhelming that they are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the presidential election ; it 's just a matter of by how many million votes .

Allum Bokhari, an investigative tech writer for Breitbart, published a book last month explaining how Big Tech intends to defeat Trump. If anyone should know, it's him, having written about Big Tech's attacks on conservatives for years. It's important to read this book, because the censorship is now so vast it is difficult to learn about it by merely digging up article after article. In "#Deleted: Big Tech's Battle to Erase the Trump Movement and Steal the Election," Bokhari goes over how it's being stealthily done on many fronts, usually under the guise of something else.
Big Tech uses certain buzzwords to justify its censorship, cleverly all vague, used as excuses to crack down on conservative content. They include "fake news," "misinformation," "hate speech," "harassment" and even "bots." Twitter employees have admitted if an account has a certain number of words, such as "guns" and "God" in their profile, they may delete it and claim it was a bot.
Dr. Robert Epstein, a senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology and a Democrat, explained to Congress how Google shifted 2.6 to 10.4 million users to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Experiments have been done showing how certain candidates were favored over others based on biased search results. On Google that means showing negative results about conservative candidates and positive results about left-leaning candidates at the top of search results. On Facebook, if a certain video influenced a conservative to take a less conservative viewpoint, that video would show up higher in the newsfeed of other conservatives.
Bokhari says the problem is the internet is no longer being run like the free market. There has been a corporate takeover of the web, as it's become an oligopoly controlled by a handful of Big Tech companies.
Some free-market conservatives resist taking any measures against Big Tech, refusing to admit the internet has degenerated into an oligopoly. They recommend creating our own competing tech companies. But precisely because the internet is now an oligopoly, it is impossible for conservative tech companies to get anywhere.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Bokhari cites Gab as an example. The social media company has attempted to become an alternative to Facebook and Twitter, that won't ban conservatives. But Big Tech is trying to block it out of existence. Apple banned the Gab app from its App Store, and Google banned it from the Google Play Store. Gab's cloud-hosting provider, domain name registrar and payments processor dropped the company. Why? Because Gab ostensibly allowed a terrorist to use its platform. This is bizarre considering how many terrorists have been allowed to use the Big Tech platforms.
The reality is 43% of Americans get their news from Facebook. And you can't survive in conservative media without it. A Facebook insider told Bokhari in 2017 their plan was to get people to move from the right to the center. And sure enough, Facebook's newsfeed change in January 2018 destroyed far more conservative pages than left-wing ones. They have a "hate agent" list that includes people like Candace Owens. Facebook tracks what people do offline too, using their associations with "hate" against them. Facebook is forcing the right to de-network itself, online and offline.
Another way Big Tech censors conservatives is by cutting them off from advertisers that fund them. An advertising account manager at Google directed major advertisers to the page of the Sleeping Giants, a far-left organization that spreads smears about conservative media websites in an effort to frighten advertisers away from them.
Bokhari says Google is far more dangerous than The New York Times or CNN, calling it "The World's Most Dangerous Company." It's "the greatest surveillance network in the history of mankind." Dr. Epstein calls Google "the most powerful mind-control engine ever created." Google Docs monitors what you type and could ban you based on not approving of your content.
Will Big Tech steal the election from Donald Trump? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 17% (5 Votes) 83% (24 Votes)
In a document leaked in 2018, Google was caught calling itself "The Good Censor." The paper described how it is moving away from the American model of free speech toward a European tradition favoring dignity and civility over freedom. Merely a handful of obscure incidents, such as a celebrity progressive being harassed, led to this transition.
One former longtime employee of Google and Twitter explained to Bokhari how Big Tech bans regular conservatives: "Basically, they take a tiny set of alt-right trolls and then they say that alt-lite [a new wave of anti-immigration, antiwar, market-skeptical right-wingers], new right, libertarians, and even nonconformist center-left have superficial similarity to the troll, like posting the same memes or following the same accounts, and therefore are all abusive." This is exacerbated considering the left is far more likely to block and report users.
An entire chapter is dedicated to financial blacklisting. The fundraising platforms GoFundMe, Patreon and Kickstarter are banning conservatives. Electronic payment processors like PayPal and Stripe are too. The left-wing group Color of Change is demanding that credit card companies and Apple Pay oust conservatives.
Another chapter is devoted to the "defamation engine" of Wikipedia and Google. Wikipedia appears at the top of Google search results. Wikipedia bans any citation to Breitbart as a reliable source. If you try to edit a page to correct any bias against conservatives, you'll be banned.
Bokhari says a natural solution would be removing or limiting Section 230 protections from Big Tech. They act like publishers and frequently argue in court that they are publishers, so why are they exempt from lawsuits when other publishers aren't? I don't think it's intervening in the free market to allow people the ability to sue them.
Bokhari says even if you don't want to remove Section 230 protections from most of Big Tech, since monitoring posts and other things might be onerous for the companies, it's unfair that you can't sue the most powerful publisher in the world, Wikipedia, for defamation, but you can sue The Washington Post.
He warns people that technology will eventually trace down things you wrote anonymously years ago, such as by comparing writing samples. He advises people to delete old anonymous posts. He also warns that despite its lower numbers and poor success at driving visitors to businesses, Twitter is more powerful than you think.
What it comes down to is, "Most American citizens don't want a future where elections are decided by a Google search algorithm, where Mark Zuckerberg can render your business unprofitable with the push of a button, and where Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey decides whether you're allowed a voice in the public square."
Don't be fooled by Big Tech's claims that they are merely censoring really offensive speech. The evidence is overwhelming that they are trying to influence the most mainstream of elections, the presidential election; it's just a matter of by how many million votes.


wnd--2020-10-19--Critical Race Theory: A satanic lie from the pit of hell

I was recently contacted pursuant to my perspective on the damnable heterodoxy known as Critical Race Theory ( CRT ) .
For whatever reason ( s ) the person seeking my input failed to reconnect with me to hear my thoughts regarding same .
That said , I 've been planning to share my feelings regarding CRT – and there 's no time like the present .
Let me first say that I am an unapologetic , uncompromising , in your face when the situation calls for it , born-again Christian , ordained minister who has been called to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front lines of the political theater .
I stand upon the Word of God first , last and always , and for whom that offends , `` c'est la vie . ''
It is paramount that I stress this fact , because it 's foundational to everything I have to say on this subject moving forward .
CRT is another facet of Fabian democratic socialism dressed in a cheap suit of anti-whiteness , preached to those blacks gullible enough to believe the lies despite all evidence to the contrary .
It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lubricates the divisive `` white people bad / black people oppressed '' machine .
As a one who has rejected the lie of inequality my entire adult life , not to mention as a Christian and reverend , in what biblical scenario could I agree that said socialist construct has even a modicum of truth to it ?
CRT is a political construct created to implant the vilest form of socialism and neo-Leninism into the psyche giving it permanence in the zeitgeist of America for the singular and expressed purpose of turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crown of socialism .
And , let there be no doubt that is what these deceitfully named social constructs are all about .
TRENDING : Caravan of Trump supporters reportedly stretches 30 miles in battleground state of Arizona America was blessed by God from its inception .
Great men of God , irrespective of their imperfections , were used by Him to create a nation and system of government that virtually became the envy of civilization overnight .
A constitutional republic , free-market capitalism and the determination to right its imperfections made America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propelled us to become the greatest nation since the kingdom ruled by Solomon .
Socialism , on the other hand , has an unabridged and uninterrupted record of failure from its inception regardless of whether one credits Karl Marx , Auguste Comte or Friedrich Engels with its creation .
Socialism can point to nowhere on earth or in history where it has worked even marginally .
Socialism is the creation of deeply flawed , God-hating men fixated upon building a societal construct based on government edict and dependence upon the State .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show me where socialism has worked in the whole of its history .
Our Founding Fathers , despite what Hegelian revisionists would try to convince us , were brilliant beyond their years and were led by God in the creation of the United States of America .
If socialism were even remotely a viable construct , the founders would have at the very least introduced some portion of same into the form of government they created .
Fabian democratic socialism is one of the principle heads of the hydra that comprises the Medusa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinvent the vocabulary used to fault America for the ills of the world and specifically the supposed ills of persons of color .
CRT is simply the latest .
It is another way to blame America , curse white people and convince persons of color that they do n't have the same things others have – read : things white people have .
But what would those things be ?
Blacks have jobs .
Thanks to President Trump , more blacks have jobs than at any time in history .
But I digress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to succeed in America as his or her neighbor .
But , just as the serpent in the Garden of Eden deceived Eve , so too has the elapid called socialism deceived Americans and specifically those Americans who have higher melanin content .
Every single American born today has the chance to pursue more than he or she was born with or into .
It 's an insult to the brilliance , genius , commitment to hard work and determination of countless Americans to suggest otherwise .
However , that reality has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewed as the reasoning of Uncle Toms , sellouts or racists .
This is socialism 's ground game .
Fabian democratic socialists are using CRT to demonize the success of Americans and by extension the American way of life by attempting to convince the gullible they 've been cheated .
CRT is built on the fallacious premise that a colorblind society and riddance of segregative language , i.e.
, skin-color-coded prefixes drawing attention to a distinction based upon invented inequality , is neither possible nor just .
Let me repeat ; CRT is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hell .
There 's nothing truthful about it , nor is there any component of same that subscribes to summum bonum .
In the upcoming weeks I will be discussing what CRT is and why the successful implementation of this heretical Hegelian falsity will destroy America .
Order Mychal Massie 's new book , `` I Feel the Presence of the Lord , '' a collection of devotions intended to encourage the reader to seek and see the Lord in every aspect of life .

I was recently contacted pursuant to my perspective on the damnable heterodoxy known as Critical Race Theory (CRT). For whatever reason(s) the person seeking my input failed to reconnect with me to hear my thoughts regarding same. That said, I've been planning to share my feelings regarding CRT – and there's no time like the present.
Let me first say that I am an unapologetic, uncompromising, in your face when the situation calls for it, born-again Christian, ordained minister who has been called to a ministry that has kept me on the front lines of the political theater. I stand upon the Word of God first, last and always, and for whom that offends, "c'est la vie." It is paramount that I stress this fact, because it's foundational to everything I have to say on this subject moving forward.
CRT is another facet of Fabian democratic socialism dressed in a cheap suit of anti-whiteness, preached to those blacks gullible enough to believe the lies despite all evidence to the contrary. It's a satanic hegemony used as the viscous agent that lubricates the divisive "white people bad / black people oppressed" machine.
As a one who has rejected the lie of inequality my entire adult life, not to mention as a Christian and reverend, in what biblical scenario could I agree that said socialist construct has even a modicum of truth to it?
CRT is a political construct created to implant the vilest form of socialism and neo-Leninism into the psyche giving it permanence in the zeitgeist of America for the singular and expressed purpose of turning the nation into the jewel in the crown of socialism. And, let there be no doubt that is what these deceitfully named social constructs are all about.
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America was blessed by God from its inception. Great men of God, irrespective of their imperfections, were used by Him to create a nation and system of government that virtually became the envy of civilization overnight.
A constitutional republic, free-market capitalism and the determination to right its imperfections made America the only nation of her kind and propelled us to become the greatest nation since the kingdom ruled by Solomon.
Socialism, on the other hand, has an unabridged and uninterrupted record of failure from its inception regardless of whether one credits Karl Marx, Auguste Comte or Friedrich Engels with its creation. Socialism can point to nowhere on earth or in history where it has worked even marginally.
Socialism is the creation of deeply flawed, God-hating men fixated upon building a societal construct based on government edict and dependence upon the State. For those who disagree, I demand they show me where socialism has worked in the whole of its history. Our Founding Fathers, despite what Hegelian revisionists would try to convince us, were brilliant beyond their years and were led by God in the creation of the United States of America. If socialism were even remotely a viable construct, the founders would have at the very least introduced some portion of same into the form of government they created.
Fabian democratic socialism is one of the principle heads of the hydra that comprises the Medusa recognized as socialism. Socialists continue to reinvent the vocabulary used to fault America for the ills of the world and specifically the supposed ills of persons of color. CRT is simply the latest.
It is another way to blame America, curse white people and convince persons of color that they don't have the same things others have – read: things white people have. But what would those things be? Blacks have jobs. Thanks to President Trump, more blacks have jobs than at any time in history. But I digress.
Everyone has the exact same opportunity to succeed in America as his or her neighbor. But, just as the serpent in the Garden of Eden deceived Eve, so too has the elapid called socialism deceived Americans and specifically those Americans who have higher melanin content.
Every single American born today has the chance to pursue more than he or she was born with or into. It's an insult to the brilliance, genius, commitment to hard work and determination of countless Americans to suggest otherwise.
However, that reality has been purposefully bastardized, so as to be viewed as the reasoning of Uncle Toms, sellouts or racists. This is socialism's ground game.
Fabian democratic socialists are using CRT to demonize the success of Americans and by extension the American way of life by attempting to convince the gullible they've been cheated.
CRT is built on the fallacious premise that a colorblind society and riddance of segregative language, i.e., skin-color-coded prefixes drawing attention to a distinction based upon invented inequality, is neither possible nor just.
Let me repeat; CRT is a satanic lie from the pit of hell. There's nothing truthful about it, nor is there any component of same that subscribes to summum bonum.
In the upcoming weeks I will be discussing what CRT is and why the successful implementation of this heretical Hegelian falsity will destroy America.
Order Mychal Massie's new book, "I Feel the Presence of the Lord," a collection of devotions intended to encourage the reader to seek and see the Lord in every aspect of life.


wnd--2020-10-19--80 years after the Warsaw Ghetto, Jews still face danger

In a recent article I wrote , I went over the results of a U.S. survey of the millennials and Gen Z community .
The results were terrifying .
One of the questions posed had to do with the ability to name a death camp or a ghetto .
Incredibly , 48 % of all respondents were unable to name anything , and in some states , it was as high as 60 % .
Historically , Auschwitz and the Warsaw Ghetto are the most-known names within that category , and yet half the people did n't have a clue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago , in October 1940 , in Poland , the Warsaw Ghetto was established .
But what is it exactly that we remember , for those of us who do remember ?
So much can be said about the Warsaw Ghetto , and so much can be learned from what happened there and how it happened .
To be sure , the concept of the ghetto did n't get invented by the Nazis to control the Jewish population , but it was simply re-introduced and `` put on steroids '' so to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Italian for `` foundry , '' which is the area where the first ghetto was organized in Venice , Italy , in 1516 in the district known then as Gheto Vechio , some 400 years before the Warsaw Ghetto .
The large Jewish community that had been expelled from Spain in 1492 was moving to Italy to relocate , and the Venetian community decided to keep things separated for better control .
You can still visit the Venetian ghetto area to this day .
Fast forward to 1940 .
The Nazi Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holocaust historian and author Raul Hilberg explained that there was a progression in how the world got organized to first control and eventually get rid of its Jews : `` Since the fourth century after Christ there have been three anti-Jewish policies : conversion , expulsion and annihilation .
The second appeared as an alternative to the first , and the third emerged as an alternative to the second . ''
While the final solution concentrated on the complete eradication of European Jewry , the institutionalization of the ghetto paved the way and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversions and forced baptisms of the Jews to Christianity had been attempted for centuries and had resulted in the loss of many lives .
Expulsion seemed to be a good option for those who wanted to get rid of the Jews .
It had occurred in Europe on many occasions ( England in 1290 , Hungary in 1349 and 1360 , France in 1394 , Austria in 1421 , Spain and Sicily in 1492 , Portugal in 1497 , Nuremberg in 1499 , Naples in 1510 and Milan in 1597 . )
TRENDING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 miles in battleground state of Arizona But for Hitler and his Nazi murderers , expulsion did n't yield the results expected .
Things had to move further along and much faster .
Ghettos started to get organized by the Nazis all over Europe as early as 1939 .
Jews were rounded up and sent to controlled and enclosed areas .
Many smaller ghettos were started across Europe , with the first large metropolitan ghetto in Lodz in April of 1940 , closely followed by the Warsaw Ghetto in October of 1940 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new boundaries for various Jewish communities that would have to survive in their new communal prisons .
The ghettos were somewhat organized with occasional Jewish traffic in and out of their limits , with special authorizations from the Nazis .
The Jewish people did their best to maintain a semblance of communal life .
Schools were organized , and even synagogue services took place .
But things started to deteriorate very rapidly .
Food became scarce ; living conditions were extremely crowded ; and sanitation was insufficient at best .
Typhus and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the death toll became very high .
Over 43,000 people died inside the Lodz Ghetto , and 76,000 within the Warsaw Ghetto before the summer of 1942 .
In a sense , the ghettos became clearing houses for the `` final solution to the Jewish question , '' a euphemism for the total destruction of the Jews of Europe .
Since the Jews were not leaving fast enough and the ghettos were bulging at their seams , something else had to be done to rid the world of the `` Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nazis started to deport the Jews out of the ghettos to the death camp of Treblinka , only 50 miles away .
Two heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto are worth remembering .
The first one was Mordekhai Anielewicz , the young leader of the Jewish Fighting Organization ( ZOB ) who led the Warsaw Ghetto uprising .
This was the largest Jewish revolt during World War II , which inspired others of the sort in various ghettos and camps .
He is remembered as the symbol of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historian named Emanuel Ringelblum .
He managed to chronicle Jewish deportation and ghetto life .
His records were preserved inside tin boxes and large metal milk cans .
They were respectively recovered in 1946 and 1950 and have provided the world with over 25,000 artifacts documenting the Holocaust and life in the Warsaw Ghetto .
This was a priceless find made possible by the selfless desire of a Jewish man to document the horrors he had to live through .
Such courage !
What will happen to this crucial part of history if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' movement had their way ?
I can only imagine !
But there is something we need to come to grips with even today .
I believe that even though we are not seeing the brick and mortar walls being erected with barbed wires around Jewish communities , ghetto life is lurking again .
The purpose of a ghetto is to separate , ostracize and control a group of people .
Could it be that the global Jewish community is being rounded-up into a virtual ghetto ?
The Boycott , Divestment and Sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of apartheid , colonization and human rights abuse in an effort to ostracize the Jewish people .
No physical walls are necessary ; just paint the Jews into the unwanted camp .
The campus intifadas are indoctrinating our young people into believing that Israel murders Palestinians every day and inviting pro-Palestinian apologists to lecture on U.S. campuses .
Jews are excluded from the marketplace of ideas , ironically enough , under the guise of freedom of speech .
No physical walls are necessary ; just portray the Jews as the oppressors , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gladly denigrate them .
The myriad of anti-Semitic acts all over the world are a constant reminder of the danger Jewish people face simply for `` being Jewish . ''
Cemeteries are being desecrated , synagogues set on fire .
Diatribes and libels are posted online on all social networks ( even though Facebook and Twitter finally agreed to block and cancel Holocaust deniers on their platforms ) .
No physical walls are necessary , just accuse the Jews of the ills of the world , and the world will gladly pass judgment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ghettos proved not to be enough for those who hated the Jews with every fiber of their beings , Jewish extermination became the next logical step .
No `` Cancel Culture '' demagogue will be able to prove otherwise .
Today , the Jewish people are no longer in a ghetto between four walls topped by barbed wire , but it can easily be argued that we are being ghettoized by the media , politicians , the entertainment industry and even some of the churches .
I dare not imagine what 's next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we let history repeat itself !
`` Indifference to evil is worse than evil itself , and in a free society , some are guilty , but all are responsible . ''

In a recent article I wrote, I went over the results of a U.S. survey of the millennials and Gen Z community. The results were terrifying. One of the questions posed had to do with the ability to name a death camp or a ghetto. Incredibly, 48% of all respondents were unable to name anything, and in some states, it was as high as 60%. Historically, Auschwitz and the Warsaw Ghetto are the most-known names within that category, and yet half the people didn't have a clue.
This month we remember that 80 years ago, in October 1940, in Poland, the Warsaw Ghetto was established. But what is it exactly that we remember, for those of us who do remember? So much can be said about the Warsaw Ghetto, and so much can be learned from what happened there and how it happened. To be sure, the concept of the ghetto didn't get invented by the Nazis to control the Jewish population, but it was simply re-introduced and "put on steroids" so to speak!
The word ghetto or geto is Italian for "foundry," which is the area where the first ghetto was organized in Venice, Italy, in 1516 in the district known then as Gheto Vechio, some 400 years before the Warsaw Ghetto. The large Jewish community that had been expelled from Spain in 1492 was moving to Italy to relocate, and the Venetian community decided to keep things separated for better control. You can still visit the Venetian ghetto area to this day.
Fast forward to 1940. The Nazi Party is struggling to control the Jews. Holocaust historian and author Raul Hilberg explained that there was a progression in how the world got organized to first control and eventually get rid of its Jews: "Since the fourth century after Christ there have been three anti-Jewish policies: conversion, expulsion and annihilation. The second appeared as an alternative to the first, and the third emerged as an alternative to the second."
While the final solution concentrated on the complete eradication of European Jewry, the institutionalization of the ghetto paved the way and helped to organize that step. Forced conversions and forced baptisms of the Jews to Christianity had been attempted for centuries and had resulted in the loss of many lives. Expulsion seemed to be a good option for those who wanted to get rid of the Jews. It had occurred in Europe on many occasions (England in 1290, Hungary in 1349 and 1360, France in 1394, Austria in 1421, Spain and Sicily in 1492, Portugal in 1497, Nuremberg in 1499, Naples in 1510 and Milan in 1597.)
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
But for Hitler and his Nazi murderers, expulsion didn't yield the results expected. Things had to move further along and much faster. Ghettos started to get organized by the Nazis all over Europe as early as 1939. Jews were rounded up and sent to controlled and enclosed areas. Many smaller ghettos were started across Europe, with the first large metropolitan ghetto in Lodz in April of 1940, closely followed by the Warsaw Ghetto in October of 1940. Erected brick walls and barbed wires formed new boundaries for various Jewish communities that would have to survive in their new communal prisons.
The ghettos were somewhat organized with occasional Jewish traffic in and out of their limits, with special authorizations from the Nazis. The Jewish people did their best to maintain a semblance of communal life. Schools were organized, and even synagogue services took place. But things started to deteriorate very rapidly. Food became scarce; living conditions were extremely crowded; and sanitation was insufficient at best. Typhus and other infectious diseases started to plague the ghettos, and the death toll became very high. Over 43,000 people died inside the Lodz Ghetto, and 76,000 within the Warsaw Ghetto before the summer of 1942.
In a sense, the ghettos became clearing houses for the "final solution to the Jewish question," a euphemism for the total destruction of the Jews of Europe. Since the Jews were not leaving fast enough and the ghettos were bulging at their seams, something else had to be done to rid the world of the "Jewish virus." Slowly but steadily, the Nazis started to deport the Jews out of the ghettos to the death camp of Treblinka, only 50 miles away.
Two heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto are worth remembering. The first one was Mordekhai Anielewicz, the young leader of the Jewish Fighting Organization (ZOB) who led the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. This was the largest Jewish revolt during World War II, which inspired others of the sort in various ghettos and camps. He is remembered as the symbol of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.
The other hero was a Polish-Jewish historian named Emanuel Ringelblum. He managed to chronicle Jewish deportation and ghetto life. His records were preserved inside tin boxes and large metal milk cans. They were respectively recovered in 1946 and 1950 and have provided the world with over 25,000 artifacts documenting the Holocaust and life in the Warsaw Ghetto. This was a priceless find made possible by the selfless desire of a Jewish man to document the horrors he had to live through. Such courage!
What will happen to this crucial part of history if the proponents of the "Cancel Culture" movement had their way? I can only imagine! But there is something we need to come to grips with even today. I believe that even though we are not seeing the brick and mortar walls being erected with barbed wires around Jewish communities, ghetto life is lurking again. The purpose of a ghetto is to separate, ostracize and control a group of people. Could it be that the global Jewish community is being rounded-up into a virtual ghetto?
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is working hard at accusing Israel of apartheid, colonization and human rights abuse in an effort to ostracize the Jewish people. No physical walls are necessary; just paint the Jews into the unwanted camp.
The campus intifadas are indoctrinating our young people into believing that Israel murders Palestinians every day and inviting pro-Palestinian apologists to lecture on U.S. campuses. Jews are excluded from the marketplace of ideas, ironically enough, under the guise of freedom of speech. No physical walls are necessary; just portray the Jews as the oppressors, and the rest of the student body will gladly denigrate them.
The myriad of anti-Semitic acts all over the world are a constant reminder of the danger Jewish people face simply for "being Jewish." Cemeteries are being desecrated, synagogues set on fire. Diatribes and libels are posted online on all social networks (even though Facebook and Twitter finally agreed to block and cancel Holocaust deniers on their platforms). No physical walls are necessary, just accuse the Jews of the ills of the world, and the world will gladly pass judgment and inflict the verdict.
When the ghettos proved not to be enough for those who hated the Jews with every fiber of their beings, Jewish extermination became the next logical step. No "Cancel Culture" demagogue will be able to prove otherwise. Today, the Jewish people are no longer in a ghetto between four walls topped by barbed wire, but it can easily be argued that we are being ghettoized by the media, politicians, the entertainment industry and even some of the churches. I dare not imagine what's next if indeed we do cancel Jewish culture and we let history repeat itself!
"Indifference to evil is worse than evil itself, and in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible."
– Abraham Joshua Heschel