lewrockwell--2020-09-14--Assange Trial Exposes False Partisan Narratives

The last two days of Julian Assange ’ s scandalously opaque and plainly rigged show trial have brought into focus the reality that the WikiLeaks founder ’ s plight is the exact inverse of what the mainstream partisan narratives assert in the nation that ’ s working to extradite him .
A new article about the proceedings in The Evening Standard titled “ Julian Assange ‘ targeted as a political opponent of Trump administration and threatened with the death penalty ’ ” highlights the undeniable fact that this extradition process is only taking place because of a Trump administration agenda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to press freedoms around the world with the precedent it would set .
The Evening Standard reports on the following testimony on Wednesday by Professor Paul Rogers , a lecturer in peace studies at Bradford University : The Fall of the Roman ... Michael Grant Best Price : $ 1.46 Buy New $ 22.76 Assange ’ s legal team argue that a decision was taken under President Obama not to prosecute the Wikileaks activist , but that move was overturned under Trump .
“ During the Obama presidency there was a greater recognition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those presenting conflicting evidence ” , said Professor Rogers .
“ But since the election of President Trump there has been a vigorous denigration of the Obama era , a return to the outlook of the Bush administration and even more bitter opposition to those perceived as dissenters , especially those involved in communicating unwelcome information such as Mr Assange.
” Rogers is absolutely correct .
The Intercept ‘ s Glenn Greenwald explained in 2018 that the Obama administration was unable to find an avenue to prosecute Assange for the leaks which began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yet the Trump administration worked in concert with London and Quito to drag Assange out of the embassy and slam him with an extradition request ( the sole reason for his continued imprisonment ) based on the exact same evidence the Obama administration had access to on those exact same leaks .
The Assault on America ... Kronman , Anthony T. Best Price : $ 13.24 Buy New $ 12.27 Greenwald explained in The Washington Post that the Assange indictment was “ a blueprint for making journalists into felons ” , writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and explicitly seeking to obliterate the last reliable buffer protecting journalism in the United States from being criminalized , a step that no previous administration , no matter how hostile to journalistic freedom , was willing to take.
” “ The argument offered by both the Trump administration and by some members of the self-styled ‘ resistance ’ to Trump is , ironically , the same : that Assange isn ’ t a journalist at all and thus deserves no free press protections , ” Greenwald wrote .
Indeed , it always blows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to them that when they defend this extradition campaign they are in fact defending a Trump administration agenda .
Not because it isn ’ t true , nor even because the proof that it ’ s true isn ’ t publicly available information , but because there ’ s been a massive smear campaign directed at liberal echo chambers to manufacture consent for Assange ’ s silencing and persecution which has been geared toward painting Assange as a Trump supporter .
Conversely , when you talk to those who espouse the common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Julian Assange , they are unable to wrap their head around the indisputable fact that their president is ultimately responsible for the campaign to extradite Assange and imprison him with a sentence of up to 175 years .
They ’ ll claim falsely that this is an Obama-initiated operation .
They ’ ll claim falsely that Trump , who could have issued Assange a full pardon at any time since he took office , is actually working to get Assange to America so he can pardon him .
They ’ ll claim falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting US extradition tooth and claw for many years , is secretly working with Trump and secretly wants to come to the United States to help him .
Again , this is because of establishment propaganda campaigns like QAnon shaping the Assange narrative in a way that benefits the establishment .
The extradition trial has been exposing those partisan positions for the power-serving lies that they are .
In an article titled “ Trump ’ s ‘ War On Journalism ’ Takes Centerstage At Julian Assange ’ s Extradition Hearing “ , Shadowproof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this Wednesday exposition : Trevor Timm , the executive director for the Freedom of the Press Foundation ( FPF ) , told a magistrate court judge , “ [ President Donald ] Trump ’ s administration is moving to explicitly criminalize national security journalism , and if this prosecution is allowed to go forward , dozens of reporters at the New York Times , Washington Post and elsewhere would also be in danger.
” In Timm ’ s statement to the court , Timm highlighted how Trump has “ attempted to stifle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Press Freedom Tracker , which FPF uses to track press freedom violations in the U.S. , has tallied over 2,000 examples , where Trump tweeted “ negative remarks , insults , or threats to the press ” since his presidential campaign in 2016 .
He has referred to journalists as “ enemies of the people.
” iGen : Why Today ’ ... Twenge PhD , Jean M. Best Price : $ 8.95 Buy New $ 9.63 The liberal echo chamber has been enthusiastically taking up the banner of “ Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been pointing its “ resistance ” to this war at its most inconsequential and downright idiotic aspects rather than at an extradition trial which would set a precedent that could arguably constitute a greater leap toward Orwellian dystopia than the Patriot Act .
“ Just embarrassing to have treated this coddled , pompous , self-absorbed windbag who is a threat to nobody like he ’ s some kind of press freedom martyr , while ignoring what would be by far the most dangerous precedent for press freedom in years if Assange is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a screenshot of a self-aggrandizing book by CNN ’ s Jim Acosta .
“ But that perfectly captures Trump-era journalism : hysterically exaggerating deranged conspiracies & sideshows while ignoring real threats unfolding with little attention .
Mean tweets about Chuck Todd and Jim Acosta are treated as grave threats to the Republic while this is ignored.
” The theme of Trump ’ s assault on world press freedoms also featured in the previous day at court .
Former UK ambassador Craig Murray wrote the following of the testimony by Professor Mark Feldstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , on Tuesday : [ Defense attorney Mark ] Summers asked about the Obama administration ’ s attitude to Wikileaks .
Feldstein said that there had been no prosecution after Wikileaks ’ major publications in 2010/11 .
But Obama ’ s Justice Department had instigated an “ aggressive investigation ” .
However they concluded in 2013 that the First Amendment rendered any prosecution impossible .
Justice Department Spokesman Matthew Miller had published that they thought it would be a dangerous precedent that could be used against other journalists and publications .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump had said he wished to “ put reporters in jail ” .
Pompeo when head of the CIA had called Wikileaks a “ hostile intelligence agency ” .
Sessions had declared prosecuting Assange “ a priority ” .
[ Prosecuting attorney James ] Lewis said that Feldstein had stated that Obama decided not to prosecute whereas Trump did .
But it was clear that the investigation had continued through from the Obama to the Trump administrations .
Feldstein replied yes , but the proof of the pudding was that there had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : American I ... Taibbi , Matt Best Price : $ 5.93 Buy New $ 12.06 Maybe it ’ s a good thing this trial isn ’ t being televised .
The head explosions it would cause among America ’ s propagandized partisan hacks would destroy the nation .
This all highlights the fact that it is impossible to gain an accurate understanding of what ’ s going on in the world through partisan perceptual filters .
Partisan echo chambers exist solely to distort people ’ s understanding of events to the advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re talking about ensuring the dominance of establishment political factions , the advancement of status quo-preserving wars , or the elimination of voices who punch inconvenient holes in power-serving propaganda narratives .
Whoever controls the narrative controls the world .
The source of our world ’ s problems is the fact that the powerful understand this , while ordinary people do not .
Things won ’ t change until a critical mass of people begin waking up to this fact .
Thanks for reading !
The best way to get around the internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack , which will get you an email notification for everything I publish .
My work is entirely reader-supported , so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around , liking me on Facebook , following my antics on Twitter , throwing some money into my tip jar on Patreon or Paypal , purchasing some of my sweet merchandise , buying my books Rogue Nation : Psychonautical Adventures With Caitlin Johnstone and Woke : A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more info on who I am , where I stand , and what I ’ m trying to do with this platform , click here .
Everyone , racist platforms excluded , has my permission to republish , use or translate any part of this work ( or anything else I ’ ve written ) in any way they like free of charge .

The last two days of Julian Assange’s scandalously opaque and plainly rigged show trial have brought into focus the reality that the WikiLeaks founder’s plight is the exact inverse of what the mainstream partisan narratives assert in the nation that’s working to extradite him.
A new article about the proceedings in The Evening Standard titled “Julian Assange ‘targeted as a political opponent of Trump administration and threatened with the death penalty’” highlights the undeniable fact that this extradition process is only taking place because of a Trump administration agenda which threatens to strike a deadly blow to press freedoms around the world with the precedent it would set.
The Evening Standard reports on the following testimony on Wednesday by Professor Paul Rogers, a lecturer in peace studies at Bradford University: The Fall of the Roman ... Michael Grant Best Price: $1.46 Buy New $22.76 (as of 09:10 UTC - Details)
Assange’s legal team argue that a decision was taken under President Obama not to prosecute the Wikileaks activist, but that move was overturned under Trump.
“During the Obama presidency there was a greater recognition of the problems and less pressure on those presenting conflicting evidence”, said Professor Rogers.
“But since the election of President Trump there has been a vigorous denigration of the Obama era, a return to the outlook of the Bush administration and even more bitter opposition to those perceived as dissenters, especially those involved in communicating unwelcome information such as Mr Assange.”
Julian Assange ‘targeted as a political opponent of Trump administration and threatened with the death penalty’ https://t.co/9szJ9r0b88 — Evening Standard (@EveningStandard) September 9, 2020
Rogers is absolutely correct. The Intercept‘s Glenn Greenwald explained in 2018 that the Obama administration was unable to find an avenue to prosecute Assange for the leaks which began dropping in 2010 without endangering press freedoms, yet the Trump administration worked in concert with London and Quito to drag Assange out of the embassy and slam him with an extradition request (the sole reason for his continued imprisonment) based on the exact same evidence the Obama administration had access to on those exact same leaks. The Assault on America... Kronman, Anthony T. Best Price: $13.24 Buy New $12.27 (as of 05:18 UTC - Details)
Greenwald explained in The Washington Post that the Assange indictment was “a blueprint for making journalists into felons”, writing that “the Trump administration is aggressively and explicitly seeking to obliterate the last reliable buffer protecting journalism in the United States from being criminalized, a step that no previous administration, no matter how hostile to journalistic freedom, was willing to take.”
“The argument offered by both the Trump administration and by some members of the self-styled ‘resistance’ to Trump is, ironically, the same: that Assange isn’t a journalist at all and thus deserves no free press protections,” Greenwald wrote.
Indeed, it always blows Assange-hating Democrats’ minds when you point out to them that when they defend this extradition campaign they are in fact defending a Trump administration agenda. Not because it isn’t true, nor even because the proof that it’s true isn’t publicly available information, but because there’s been a massive smear campaign directed at liberal echo chambers to manufacture consent for Assange’s silencing and persecution which has been geared toward painting Assange as a Trump supporter.
Conversely, when you talk to those who espouse the common position of supporting both Donald Trump and Julian Assange, they are unable to wrap their head around the indisputable fact that their president is ultimately responsible for the campaign to extradite Assange and imprison him with a sentence of up to 175 years. They’ll claim falsely that this is an Obama-initiated operation. They’ll claim falsely that Trump, who could have issued Assange a full pardon at any time since he took office, is actually working to get Assange to America so he can pardon him. They’ll claim falsely that Assange, who’s been fighting US extradition tooth and claw for many years, is secretly working with Trump and secretly wants to come to the United States to help him. Again, this is because of establishment propaganda campaigns like QAnon shaping the Assange narrative in a way that benefits the establishment.
The extradition trial has been exposing those partisan positions for the power-serving lies that they are.
Trump’s ‘War On Journalism’ Takes Centerstage At Julian Assange’s Extradition Hearing Read @kgosztola‘s report from Day 3 of this month’s hearing: https://t.co/MgABJ6HjRD — Shadowproof (@shadowproofcom) September 9, 2020
In an article titled “Trump’s ‘War On Journalism’ Takes Centerstage At Julian Assange’s Extradition Hearing“, Shadowproof‘s Kevin Gosztola gives more detail to this Wednesday exposition:
Trevor Timm, the executive director for the Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), told a magistrate court judge, “[President Donald] Trump’s administration is moving to explicitly criminalize national security journalism, and if this prosecution is allowed to go forward, dozens of reporters at the New York Times, Washington Post and elsewhere would also be in danger.” … In Timm’s statement to the court, Timm highlighted how Trump has “attempted to stifle press freedom at all levels.” The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, which FPF uses to track press freedom violations in the U.S., has tallied over 2,000 examples, where Trump tweeted “negative remarks, insults, or threats to the press” since his presidential campaign in 2016. He has referred to journalists as “enemies of the people.”
iGen: Why Today’... Twenge PhD, Jean M. Best Price: $8.95 Buy New $9.63 (as of 04:31 UTC - Details) The liberal echo chamber has been enthusiastically taking up the banner of “Trump’s war on the press”, but has been pointing its “resistance” to this war at its most inconsequential and downright idiotic aspects rather than at an extradition trial which would set a precedent that could arguably constitute a greater leap toward Orwellian dystopia than the Patriot Act.
“Just embarrassing to have treated this coddled, pompous, self-absorbed windbag who is a threat to nobody like he’s some kind of press freedom martyr, while ignoring what would be by far the most dangerous precedent for press freedom in years if Assange is successfully prosecuted,” Greenwald recently tweeted with a screenshot of a self-aggrandizing book by CNN’s Jim Acosta. “But that perfectly captures Trump-era journalism: hysterically exaggerating deranged conspiracies & sideshows while ignoring real threats unfolding with little attention. Mean tweets about Chuck Todd and Jim Acosta are treated as grave threats to the Republic while this is ignored.”
Just embarrassing to have treated this coddled, pompous, self-absorbed windbag who is a threat to nobody like he’s some kind of press freedom martyr, while ignoring what would be by far the most dangerous precedent for press freedom in years if Assange is successfully prosecuted. pic.twitter.com/3M7GuEYfhT — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) September 8, 2020
The theme of Trump’s assault on world press freedoms also featured in the previous day at court. Former UK ambassador Craig Murray wrote the following of the testimony by Professor Mark Feldstein, Chair of Broadcast Journalism at Maryland University, on Tuesday:
[Defense attorney Mark] Summers asked about the Obama administration’s attitude to Wikileaks. Feldstein said that there had been no prosecution after Wikileaks’ major publications in 2010/11. But Obama’s Justice Department had instigated an “aggressive investigation”. However they concluded in 2013 that the First Amendment rendered any prosecution impossible. Justice Department Spokesman Matthew Miller had published that they thought it would be a dangerous precedent that could be used against other journalists and publications.
With the Trump administration everything had changed. Trump had said he wished to “put reporters in jail”. Pompeo when head of the CIA had called Wikileaks a “hostile intelligence agency”. Sessions had declared prosecuting Assange “a priority”.
…
[Prosecuting attorney James] Lewis said that Feldstein had stated that Obama decided not to prosecute whereas Trump did. But it was clear that the investigation had continued through from the Obama to the Trump administrations. Feldstein replied yes, but the proof of the pudding was that there had been no prosecution under Obama.
Your Man in the Public Gallery: Assange Hearing Day 7 – CLIVE STAFFORD SMITH This morning we went straight in to the evidence of Clive Stafford Smith, a dual national British/American lawyer licensed to practice in the UK. He had founded Reprieve in https://t.co/jaBYpqVOIt — Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) September 9, 2020
The Divide: American I... Taibbi, Matt Best Price: $5.93 Buy New $12.06 (as of 04:31 UTC - Details) Maybe it’s a good thing this trial isn’t being televised. The head explosions it would cause among America’s propagandized partisan hacks would destroy the nation.
This all highlights the fact that it is impossible to gain an accurate understanding of what’s going on in the world through partisan perceptual filters. Partisan echo chambers exist solely to distort people’s understanding of events to the advantage of the powerful, whether you’re talking about ensuring the dominance of establishment political factions, the advancement of status quo-preserving wars, or the elimination of voices who punch inconvenient holes in power-serving propaganda narratives.
Whoever controls the narrative controls the world. The source of our world’s problems is the fact that the powerful understand this, while ordinary people do not. Things won’t change until a critical mass of people begin waking up to this fact.
_____________________
Thanks for reading! The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics on Twitter, throwing some money into my tip jar on Patreon or Paypal, purchasing some of my sweet merchandise, buying my books Rogue Nation: Psychonautical Adventures With Caitlin Johnstone and Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what I’m trying to do with this platform, click here. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else I’ve written) in any way they like free of charge.
Bitcoin donations:1Ac7PCQXoQoLA9Sh8fhAgiU3PHA2EX5Zm2


lewrockwell--2020-09-14--Sports and the Election

Sports and the Election

Interesting results from a recent Gallup poll , tracking Americans ’ views of various business and industry sectors .
Gallup measured the views on twenty-five sectors , asking if the views were very positive , somewhat positive , neutral , somewhat negative or very negative .
Of the twenty-five sectors , first a look at those whose net rating ( net positive minus net negative ) was the lowest : The federal government is at the bottom .
I would like to be happy about this , but we don ’ t know if it is because people feel it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In any case , Pharmaceutical and sports aren ’ t much above it , with most of the remaining cellar-dwellers in industries that work to shove garbage down our throats .
Focusing in on sports , what is really interesting is how far it has fallen in one year ; no industry has fallen further : Even more interesting , the change in net score for the sports category in a year is negative in every mentioned grouping : Gallup does not explain why this is .
I will take a crack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things are different from a year ago : first , sports seasons were interrupted or cancelled – hence , people are expressing their disappointment in this ; second , in those sports that have restarted , and especially in professional basketball , there is one message above all other – even more important than which team wins the game .
Blackout : How Black Am ... Owens , Candace Buy New $ 16.73 It is a message in support of the destruction seen in dozens of American cities ; it is a message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sporadic and random events and places these above the countless daily counter-examples ; it is a message of chaos and violence ; it is a message that demonizes their largest and wealthiest customer base .
To the first possibility , that people are disappointed that seasons were interrupted or cancelled .
This is also true of the restaurant industry , yet it ranks third out of twenty-five in net positive ratings ; it is true of both education and travel , yet these rank mid-pack , still with a good net positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t this .
Maybe , instead , it is the other thing – the messaging that demonizes its audience , based on half-truths and lies and with the obvious objective of bringing chaos and destruction .
And , maybe , this is what it has in common with the other cellar-dwellers : they are all killing us with lies .
If it is the other thing , the results by the various demographic categories are telling : the net positive ratings decrease from last year is more pronounced in the ages that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as those above age 30 are up to two times more likely to vote than those who are younger .
Further , the rate of change is more in non-white Americans than in white Americans , and almost as pronounced in independents as in republicans .
The Trump Century : How ... Dobbs , Lou Buy New $ 20.49 I am going to suggest that this will be reflected in the voting in November – assuming current trends hold .
And why wouldn ’ t they ?
This weekend , we get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we have been promised more of what the NBA has been giving us : messaging that demonizes the majority of Americans – messaging that , it seems , even non-white Americans might not appreciate .
Other polls , directly regarding the election , are showing results or trends favorable to republicans – even among minorities .
But nothing grabs the emotion like sports .
If the cause behind the dramatic fall in the net positive view of sports is as I believe it is , then this could be quite telling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those age groups most likely to vote , it is significant in the non-white population ( normally described as democrat voters ) and in independents , who , I guess , could choose to vote either way .
The republicans , therefore Trump , could win in a landslide this November .
Not that election night will tell the tale .
There are elements both inside and outside of the government who won ’ t be happy about such an outcome .
I don ’ t suspect they will go quietly .
The @ @ @ @

Interesting results from a recent Gallup poll, tracking Americans’ views of various business and industry sectors. Gallup measured the views on twenty-five sectors, asking if the views were very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative or very negative.
Of the twenty-five sectors, first a look at those whose net rating (net positive minus net negative) was the lowest:
The federal government is at the bottom. I would like to be happy about this, but we don’t know if it is because people feel it is doing too much or not enough. In any case, Pharmaceutical and sports aren’t much above it, with most of the remaining cellar-dwellers in industries that work to shove garbage down our throats.
Focusing in on sports, what is really interesting is how far it has fallen in one year; no industry has fallen further:
Even more interesting, the change in net score for the sports category in a year is negative in every mentioned grouping:
Gallup does not explain why this is. I will take a crack at it. For sports, two things are different from a year ago: first, sports seasons were interrupted or cancelled – hence, people are expressing their disappointment in this; second, in those sports that have restarted, and especially in professional basketball, there is one message above all other – even more important than which team wins the game. Blackout: How Black Am... Owens, Candace Buy New $16.73 (as of 06:22 UTC - Details)
It is a message in support of the destruction seen in dozens of American cities; it is a message that takes incomplete or even false narratives of sporadic and random events and places these above the countless daily counter-examples; it is a message of chaos and violence; it is a message that demonizes their largest and wealthiest customer base.
To the first possibility, that people are disappointed that seasons were interrupted or cancelled. This is also true of the restaurant industry, yet it ranks third out of twenty-five in net positive ratings; it is true of both education and travel, yet these rank mid-pack, still with a good net positive rating. So, perhaps it isn’t this.
Maybe, instead, it is the other thing – the messaging that demonizes its audience, based on half-truths and lies and with the obvious objective of bringing chaos and destruction. And, maybe, this is what it has in common with the other cellar-dwellers: they are all killing us with lies.
If it is the other thing, the results by the various demographic categories are telling: the net positive ratings decrease from last year is more pronounced in the ages that are far more likely to vote, as those above age 30 are up to two times more likely to vote than those who are younger. Further, the rate of change is more in non-white Americans than in white Americans, and almost as pronounced in independents as in republicans.
The Trump Century: How... Dobbs, Lou Buy New $20.49 (as of 04:32 UTC - Details) I am going to suggest that this will be reflected in the voting in November – assuming current trends hold. And why wouldn’t they? This weekend, we get the start of the National Football League, and we have been promised more of what the NBA has been giving us: messaging that demonizes the majority of Americans – messaging that, it seems, even non-white Americans might not appreciate.
Other polls, directly regarding the election, are showing results or trends favorable to republicans – even among minorities. But nothing grabs the emotion like sports.
Conclusion
If the cause behind the dramatic fall in the net positive view of sports is as I believe it is, then this could be quite telling for November. The fall is greatest in those age groups most likely to vote, it is significant in the non-white population (normally described as democrat voters) and in independents, who, I guess, could choose to vote either way.
The republicans, therefore Trump, could win in a landslide this November. Not that election night will tell the tale. There are elements both inside and outside of the government who won’t be happy about such an outcome. I don’t suspect they will go quietly.
Reprinted with permission from Bionic Mosquito.
The Best of Bionic Mosquito


Upside-Down Planet

GSTAAD—It snowed during the last two days of August up here , and why not ?
We ’ ve traded freedom of speech for “ freedom from speech , ” so on an upside-down planet , snow in the Alps in August is the new normal .
The world is suddenly a grim place , a sick prank when you think of it , a kamikaze fantasy with the bad guys winning and being cheered on by the left and the media .
The virus is now a metaphor , religion having been cast aside by the global elite who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of us as cannon fodder .
Reading the papers a couple of weeks ago , I noticed that only Daniel Hannan in The Sunday Telegraph brought up that 100 years ago Jozef Pilsudski , in the Miracle of the Vistula , saved the Western world from godless communism by stopping the Soviet hordes from extending to Weimar Germany .
Imagine the coverage and celebrations if it had been the other way round .
Europe owes Poland its freedom , but you wouldn ’ t know it by the way the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic country .
In America , most leading journalists—propagandists , rather—are still smitten with leftism and continue feeding the public lies about mob rule as they did back then about communism .
The New York Times ’ Moscow correspondent Walter Duranty , a Stalin pimp , targeted foreign reporters who defected from the party line .
Many were recalled .
Stalinist horrors went unreported , just as today Antifa ’ s and BLM ’ s urban guerrilla looters and killers are downplayed by the Times and shown as peaceful protesters .
All The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Paul Buy New $ 10.00 Yep , Poland saved millions from tyranny , but we have Polish jokes , rather than Belgian ones ; we have Polish plumbers we distrust , but spread our cheeks and cow down to Saudi child-killers in Yemen .
It ’ s not hard to understand .
Today ’ s culture is all about celebrity and shades toward snuff movies , extreme porn , and violence .
Poles are too Christian , too family- and country-oriented to please the Vogue crowd .
Hence the elite see them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially the one 100 years ago last month .
Mind you , Poles are not the only ones to be ignored by media catering for the elite .
The one-sided reporting of undeniable goings-on in America is a real eye-opener .
The burning down of public buildings and small family businesses , the intimidation of townships of whites , the false reporting of BLM and Antifa crime sprees , all taking place in cities and towns run by Democrat mayors , is ignored by the mainstream media .
The New York Times has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point out the obvious : that the riots and the destruction have been tolerated by Democrat-run cities in order to end the Trump presidency .
Instead , like Biden , they blame Trump for them .
Allow me to quote Biden on a different matter , Afghanistan , while he was Obama ’ s vice president : He is talking with Richard Holbrooke , who is pleading with Biden not to abandon Afghan friends and pull out .
“ Fuck that , we don ’ t have to worry about that , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it.
” That ’ s the next president , who asks us to trust him .
He then told Holbrooke that his argument of not abandoning friends was “ right-wing crap.
” It ’ s the cynicism that gets me .
This filthy old man ( he ’ s seven years younger than me ) has lied throughout his life and has gotten away with it .
He makes Trump sound as if The Donald had taken truth syrup .
Biden knows how to lie , Trump does not .
Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the left—a strange alliance , you might think , but one that has formed before our very eyes while we slept .
The Best of Taki Theodoracopulos

GSTAAD—It snowed during the last two days of August up here, and why not? We’ve traded freedom of speech for “freedom from speech,” so on an upside-down planet, snow in the Alps in August is the new normal. The world is suddenly a grim place, a sick prank when you think of it, a kamikaze fantasy with the bad guys winning and being cheered on by the left and the media. The virus is now a metaphor, religion having been cast aside by the global elite who follow only their interests and think of the rest of us as cannon fodder.
Reading the papers a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that only Daniel Hannan in The Sunday Telegraph brought up that 100 years ago Jozef Pilsudski, in the Miracle of the Vistula, saved the Western world from godless communism by stopping the Soviet hordes from extending to Weimar Germany. Imagine the coverage and celebrations if it had been the other way round. Europe owes Poland its freedom, but you wouldn’t know it by the way the media and the E.U. treat that great Catholic country. In America, most leading journalists—propagandists, rather—are still smitten with leftism and continue feeding the public lies about mob rule as they did back then about communism. The New York Times’ Moscow correspondent Walter Duranty, a Stalin pimp, targeted foreign reporters who defected from the party line. Many were recalled. Stalinist horrors went unreported, just as today Antifa’s and BLM’s urban guerrilla looters and killers are downplayed by the Times and shown as peaceful protesters. All The Dupes Fit To P... Kengor Ph.D., Paul Buy New $10.00 (as of 04:33 UTC - Details)
Yep, Poland saved millions from tyranny, but we have Polish jokes, rather than Belgian ones; we have Polish plumbers we distrust, but spread our cheeks and cow down to Saudi child-killers in Yemen. It’s not hard to understand. Today’s culture is all about celebrity and shades toward snuff movies, extreme porn, and violence. Poles are too Christian, too family- and country-oriented to please the Vogue crowd. Hence the elite see them as rubes and ignore their sacrifices, especially the one 100 years ago last month.
Mind you, Poles are not the only ones to be ignored by media catering for the elite. The one-sided reporting of undeniable goings-on in America is a real eye-opener. The burning down of public buildings and small family businesses, the intimidation of townships of whites, the false reporting of BLM and Antifa crime sprees, all taking place in cities and towns run by Democrat mayors, is ignored by the mainstream media. The New York Times has forfeited the public trust by failing to point out the obvious: that the riots and the destruction have been tolerated by Democrat-run cities in order to end the Trump presidency. Instead, like Biden, they blame Trump for them. Allow me to quote Biden on a different matter, Afghanistan, while he was Obama’s vice president: He is talking with Richard Holbrooke, who is pleading with Biden not to abandon Afghan friends and pull out. “Fuck that, we don’t have to worry about that, we did it in Vietnam and got away with it.” That’s the next president, who asks us to trust him. He then told Holbrooke that his argument of not abandoning friends was “right-wing crap.”
It’s the cynicism that gets me. This filthy old man (he’s seven years younger than me) has lied throughout his life and has gotten away with it. He makes Trump sound as if The Donald had taken truth syrup. Biden knows how to lie, Trump does not. Biden is in the pocket of the elite and of the left—a strange alliance, you might think, but one that has formed before our very eyes while we slept.
Read the Whole Article
The Best of Taki Theodoracopulos


Libertarian Positions

What is the libertarian position on _______ ?
There probably isn ’ t one .
Here is Murray Rothbard ’ s classic description of libertarianism : Libertarianism is not and does not pretend to be a complete moral , or aesthetic theory ; it is only a political theory , that is , the important subset of moral theory that deals with the proper role of violence in social life .
Political theory deals with what is proper or improper for government to do , and government is distinguished from every other group in society as being the institution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only proper role of violence is to defend person and property against violence , that any use of violence that goes beyond such just defense is itself aggressive , unjust , and criminal .
Libertarianism , therefore , is a theory which states that everyone should be free of violent invasion , should be free to do as he sees fit except invade the person or property of another .
What a person does with his or her life is vital and important , but is simply irrelevant to libertarianism .
For a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Future of Freedom Foundation president Jacob Hornberger : None Dare Call It Treason John A. Stormer Best Price : $ 34.95 Buy New $ 445.13 Libertarianism is a political philosophy that holds that a person should be free to do whatever he wants in life , as long as his conduct is peaceful .
Thus , as long a person doesn ’ t murder , rape , burglarize , defraud , trespass , steal , or inflict any other act of violence against another person ’ s life , liberty , or property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave him alone .
In fact , libertarians believe that a primary purpose of government is to prosecute and punish anti-social individuals who initiate force against others .
I myself have written the following about libertarianism : Libertarianism is the philosophy that says that people should be free from individual , societal , or government interference to live their lives any way they desire , pursue their own happiness , accumulate wealth , assess their own risks , make their own choices , participate in any economic activity for their profit , engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reciprocate , and spend the fruits of their labor as they see fit .
As long as people don ’ t violate the personal or property rights of others , and as long as their actions are peaceful , their associations are voluntary , and their interactions are consensual , they should be free to live their lives without license , regulation , interference , or molestation by the government .
Yet , conservatives , liberals , moderates , and progressives—and even some libertarians—have made libertarianism more complex than it is by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatism , reading into it what they think it means , expanding it beyond what it professes to be , ascribing to it what its critics have falsely said about it , or equating it with the absence of morality .
Libertarianism is the philosophy of nonaggression , whether that aggression be theft , fraud , the initiation of nonconsensual violence against person or property , or the threat of nonconsensual violence .
The initiation or threat of aggression against the person or property of others is always wrong , even when done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in defense of one ’ s person or property or in retaliation in response to aggression against them .
And aggression is only defensible against actual aggression , not because there is a theoretical possibility that someone might commit aggression .
Evil Geniuses : The Unm ... Andersen , Kurt Best Price : $ 33.14 Buy New $ 27.00 Libertarianism , therefore , takes no position on : • whether one has a particular musical taste .
• whether one uses Bitcoin .
• whether one is a cross-dresser .
• whether one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes in God .
• whether one is an agnostic .
• whether one enjoys a particular kind of art .
• whether one uses profanity .
• whether one is a homosexual .
• whether one is bisexual .
• whether a company has an Affirmative Action policy .
• whether couples live together before marriage .
• whether one believes in natural law .
• whether one abstains from alcoholic beverages .
• whether schools have prayer and Bible reading .
• whether one is religious .
• whether marijuana has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a polyamorous relationship .
• whether one partakes of illegal drugs .
• whether one should like science fiction movies .
• whether one gets his children all of the CDC recommended vaccines .
• whether one believes in life after death .
• whether one believes in heaven or hell .
• whether one believes in a last judgment .
• whether one abstains from pork .
• whether one has sex with prostitutes .
• whether one participates in orgies .
• whether one celebrates change for change ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative lifestyle .
• whether one takes hormones of the opposite sex .
• whether one cheats on his taxes .
• whether one works for a large corporation .
• whether one has cable television .
• whether one is a vegetarian .
• whether one is a vegan .
• whether one plays the lottery .
• whether space exploration would be beneficial to mankind .
• whether martinis should be shaken or stirred .
Whether any of these things is right or wrong , healthy or unhealthy , moral , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unethical , or good , bad , or neutral is irrelevant .
Libertarianism is not about one ’ s lifestyle , social attitude , diet , or vices .
It has nothing to do with materialism , selfishness , or hedonism .
And it neither disdains tradition or custom nor rejects religion or moral absolutes .
Libertarians reject government aggression and violence against peaceful people ’ s person or property to effect changes in behavior or achieve some desired end .
Virtuous action should never be compelled ; it should be left up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual .
The libertarian position is that as long as one ’ s conduct is peaceful and doesn ’ t violate the personal or property rights of others , government and society should just leave him alone .
The Best of Laurence M. Vance

What is the libertarian position on _______ ?
There probably isn’t one.
Here is Murray Rothbard’s classic description of libertarianism:
Libertarianism is not and does not pretend to be a complete moral, or aesthetic theory; it is only a political theory, that is, the important subset of moral theory that deals with the proper role of violence in social life. Political theory deals with what is proper or improper for government to do, and government is distinguished from every other group in society as being the institution of organized violence. Libertarianism holds that the only proper role of violence is to defend person and property against violence, that any use of violence that goes beyond such just defense is itself aggressive, unjust, and criminal. Libertarianism, therefore, is a theory which states that everyone should be free of violent invasion, should be free to do as he sees fit except invade the person or property of another. What a person does with his or her life is vital and important, but is simply irrelevant to libertarianism.
For a compact definition of libertarianism, here is Future of Freedom Foundation president Jacob Hornberger: None Dare Call It Treason John A. Stormer Best Price: $34.95 Buy New $445.13 (as of 07:09 UTC - Details)
Libertarianism is a political philosophy that holds that a person should be free to do whatever he wants in life, as long as his conduct is peaceful. Thus, as long a person doesn’t murder, rape, burglarize, defraud, trespass, steal, or inflict any other act of violence against another person’s life, liberty, or property, libertarians hold that the government should leave him alone. In fact, libertarians believe that a primary purpose of government is to prosecute and punish anti-social individuals who initiate force against others.
I myself have written the following about libertarianism:
Libertarianism is the philosophy that says that people should be free from individual, societal, or government interference to live their lives any way they desire, pursue their own happiness, accumulate wealth, assess their own risks, make their own choices, participate in any economic activity for their profit, engage in commerce with anyone who is willing to reciprocate, and spend the fruits of their labor as they see fit. As long as people don’t violate the personal or property rights of others, and as long as their actions are peaceful, their associations are voluntary, and their interactions are consensual, they should be free to live their lives without license, regulation, interference, or molestation by the government.
Yet, conservatives, liberals, moderates, and progressives—and even some libertarians—have made libertarianism more complex than it is by confusing it with elements of liberalism or conservatism, reading into it what they think it means, expanding it beyond what it professes to be, ascribing to it what its critics have falsely said about it, or equating it with the absence of morality.
Libertarianism is the philosophy of nonaggression, whether that aggression be theft, fraud, the initiation of nonconsensual violence against person or property, or the threat of nonconsensual violence. The initiation or threat of aggression against the person or property of others is always wrong, even when done by government. Aggression is justified only in defense of one’s person or property or in retaliation in response to aggression against them. And aggression is only defensible against actual aggression, not because there is a theoretical possibility that someone might commit aggression. Evil Geniuses: The Unm... Andersen, Kurt Best Price: $33.14 Buy New $27.00 (as of 04:14 UTC - Details)
Libertarianism, therefore, takes no position on:
whether one attends church.
whether one gambles.
whether one practices meditation.
whether schools require students to wear uniforms.
whether businesses pay a “living wage.”
whether one smokes marijuana.
whether UFO’s are real.
whether one wears a seatbelt.
whether one has a particular musical taste.
whether one uses Bitcoin.
whether one masturbates.
whether one discriminates.
whether one is a cross-dresser.
whether one uses racial slurs.
whether one celebrates diversity.
whether one believes in God.
whether one is an agnostic.
whether one commits adultery.
whether one enjoys a particular kind of art.
whether one uses profanity.
whether one owns a gun.
whether one is a homosexual.
whether one is bisexual.
whether one commits fornication.
whether a company has an Affirmative Action policy.
whether one boycotts a company.
whether couples live together before marriage.
whether one believes in natural law. How I Found Freedom in... Browne, Harry Buy New $14.99 (as of 04:57 UTC - Details )
whether one watches porn.
whether one thinks Bigfoot exists.
whether one eats red meat.
whether one drinks alcoholic beverages.
whether one abstains from alcoholic beverages.
whether one buys organic produce.
whether schools have prayer and Bible reading.
whether one is religious.
whether marijuana has medicinal value.
whether Oswald acted alone.
whether one is in a polyamorous relationship.
whether one tells racial jokes.
whether one sells illegal drugs.
whether one partakes of illegal drugs.
whether one should like science fiction movies.
whether one gets his children all of the CDC recommended vaccines.
whether one wears a bicycle helmet.
whether one wears a motorcycle helmet.
whether one believes in life after death.
whether one believes in heaven or hell.
whether one believes in a last judgment.
whether one practices licentiousness.
whether one abstains from pork.
whether one has sex with prostitutes.
whether one participates in orgies.
whether one visits National Parks.
whether one consults a medium.
whether one makes a sex tape.
whether one celebrates change for change’s sake.
whether one practices an alternative lifestyle.
whether one takes hormones of the opposite sex.
whether one cheats on his taxes.
whether one works for a large corporation.
whether one has cable television.
whether one buys local produce.
whether business owners hire illegal aliens.
whether one exercises.
whether one celebrates alternative lifestyles.
whether one votes.
whether one is a vegetarian.
whether one is a vegan.
whether one takes vitamins.
whether one reads a horoscope.
whether one supports local businesses.
whether one frequents strip clubs.
whether schools post the Ten Commandments.
whether one plays the lottery.
whether space exploration would be beneficial to mankind.
whether one practices social distancing.
whether martinis should be shaken or stirred.
Whether any of these things is right or wrong, healthy or unhealthy, moral, immoral, or amoral, ethical or unethical, or good, bad, or neutral is irrelevant.
Libertarianism is not about one’s lifestyle, social attitude, diet, or vices. It has nothing to do with materialism, selfishness, or hedonism. And it neither disdains tradition or custom nor rejects religion or moral absolutes.
Libertarians reject government aggression and violence against peaceful people’s person or property to effect changes in behavior or achieve some desired end. Virtuous action should never be compelled; it should be left up to the free and voluntary choice of the individual.
The libertarian position is that as long as one’s conduct is peaceful and doesn’t violate the personal or property rights of others, government and society should just leave him alone.
The Best of Laurence M. Vance


lewrockwell--2020-09-14--The Little-Known Sordid History of Psychiatry

Dr. Peter Breggin , a psychiatrist , has written more than a dozen bestselling books on psychiatry and the drug industry .
He ’ s frequently referred to as “ the conscience of psychiatry ” because he ’ s been able to successfully reform the psychiatric profession , abolishing one of the most harmful practices , namely lobotomies and other experimental psychosurgeries .
He was the first to take a public stand against lobotomies as a young man , and was able to change the field as a result .
He ’ s featured in Aaron and Melissa Dykes ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Men.
” 1 Now 83 years old , Breggin has seen a lot , and in this interview , he shares his own evolution and experiences as a psychiatrist .
His interest in psychiatry began at the age of 18 , when he became a volunteer at a local state mental hospital .
WARNING TO THE WEST Solzhenitsyn , Aleksandr Best Price : $ 11.00 Buy New $ 16.00 Breggin eventually became the leader of that volunteer program .
He and 200 other students painted the walls and took patients for walks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient per volunteer aid , to build real relationships .
The superintendent balked at the idea , but eventually gave in .
Breggin tells this story in his book , “ Toxic Psychiatry.
” 2 All of this is what motivated Breggin to go into psychiatry , in order to help reform the profession from the inside .
Interestingly , as early as 1963 , Jerry Klerman , who later became the highest-ranking psychiatrist in the federal government and a professor at Harvard , told Breggin there was no future in helping people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Klerman told him , was in drugs , and using computers to decide which drugs to use .
After his first year at Harvard medical school , Breggin left and went back to the Upstate Medical Center ( University ) in New York , where he had already done internship .
Breggin focused on helping people without medication .
“ I learned very quickly that the most disturbed people would calm down and relate when somebody cared about them , wasn ’ t afraid of them , was interested in them and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , ” he says .
Drugs , he explains , were simply stifling the patients .
While they might ease some of the suffering , that relief came at the expense of brain damage .
Breggin goes on to tell the story of how he prevented the return of lobotomies and psychosurgeries — strategies in which the brain is purposely damaged through electric shocks , radium chip implants or puncturing the prefrontal area of the brain with an ice pick inserted next to the eyeball , for example .
Breggin refers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the permanent mutilation of an individual ’ s selfhood , as damage to one area of the brain will harm the integration of the whole brain .
As noted by Breggin , you can not “ plop out aggression ” like a pit out of an olive .
The brain doesn ’ t work like that .
It ’ s an integrated organ and mental processes arise from integrated processes involving many different areas of the brain .
He decided somebody had to stop the madness .
And , while he received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or professor , and came under vehement attack by the establishment , including threats of physical violence against himself and his family that at times necessitated the use of bodyguards .
Breggin eventually succeeded .
It ’ s a fascinating story , so I highly recommend listening to the whole interview .
When asked why he took on this formidable fight , he says : The end of lobotomies was brought about by a lawsuit filed by a young lawyer named Gabe Kaimowitz on behalf of a chronically hospitalized patient who had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he underwent experimental psychosurgery .
Breggin tells the story : It ’ s important to realize just how important this was , to put a stop to the return of lobotomies and experimental psychosurgeries .
It was widely accepted as a practical solution for all sorts of problems , including race riots and behavioral problems among young children .
The beginning of the end of psychosurgery was the early 1970s .
At that time , Breggin , who for most of his career struggled to get support , got the support of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the social consequences of psychosurgery being used on black children , as well as certain conservative Senators who thought it was immoral .
The Dangers of Speaking Out Against Prozac Breggin also had a hand in getting the word out about the dangers of Prozac .
In his 1991 book , “ Toxic Psychiatry , ” he briefly mentioned Prozac is likely to do a lot of harm , and that there were already reports of the drug causing violent aggression .
He was later asked to be the sole scientific expert to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuits against Eli Lilly , in which patients or their families claimed the drug had caused violent episodes , suicide , homicide , mania or psychosis .
The drama and intrigue surrounding this trial rivals any good spy novel , so for more details , listen to the interview .
As just one example , at the time of his deposition against Eli Lilly , he , his wife and daughter all developed severe illness .
By chance , a plumber they ’ d called in to fix a problem in the basement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been disconnected and was laying out of sight , as if purposely hidden , pumping gas into the house .
Before that , the family had received death threats , and Breggin had called the FBI .
Agents claiming to be FBI had visited his family , but something obviously wasn ’ t right .
In broad strokes , the Eli Lilly trial turned out to be fixed in Eli Lilly ’ s favor and Breggin was set up to fail in his investigation .
The plaintiffs lost the case and Eli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , evidence emerged showing Eli Lilly lawyers had bribed some of the plaintiffs and arranged for a secret settlement provided they lost the case .
The Problem of Politic ... Michael Huemer Best Price : $ 28.00 Buy New $ 33.99 A Supreme Court judge in Kentucky declared the trial a fraud and changed the verdict to “ a secret settlement with prejudice.
” When the judge decided to disclose the amount of the secret settlement , he was removed and replaced with another judge who decided the settlement amount was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurt Eli Lilly .
The full details of this remarkable case can be found in Breggin ’ s book , “ Medication Madness.
” 3 One psychiatric treatment Breggin has not been able to eliminate is electroshock treatment ( ECT ) , which is actually starting to be used more and more .
Breggin says : Breggin also discusses the hazards of transcranial direct current stimulation and Neuralink , a transcranial implant designed by the Elon Musk Company .
Elon is probably doing this because he ’ s concerned about the integration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He fears the human race could become subservient to artificial intelligence .
He thinks one of the preservation strategies is to allow us to sort of keep pace with these advances .
Breggin comments : The Best of Joseph Mercola

Dr. Peter Breggin, a psychiatrist, has written more than a dozen bestselling books on psychiatry and the drug industry. He’s frequently referred to as “the conscience of psychiatry” because he’s been able to successfully reform the psychiatric profession, abolishing one of the most harmful practices, namely lobotomies and other experimental psychosurgeries.
He was the first to take a public stand against lobotomies as a young man, and was able to change the field as a result. He’s featured in Aaron and Melissa Dykes’ excellent documentary, “The Minds of Men.”1
Now 83 years old, Breggin has seen a lot, and in this interview, he shares his own evolution and experiences as a psychiatrist. His interest in psychiatry began at the age of 18, when he became a volunteer at a local state mental hospital. WARNING TO THE WEST Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr Best Price: $11.00 Buy New $16.00 (as of 02:40 UTC - Details)
“It was a nightmare,” he says. “It was like my uncle Dutch’s descriptions of liberating a Nazi concentration camp. The place stank. People were sitting in these bare, barren concrete corridors.
They had a TV set that wasn’t working … and bolted down tables and chairs so the people couldn’t throw them at each other. No attention being given to them at all. Often just sitting there; some hallucinating, and somebody told me that the girl in the corner coiled up in a ball on the floor by a radiator had been a Radcliffe student …
The doctors were callous, the aids were callous, there was just no love in the place at all. I could tell, even though I didn’t really have much experience growing up with love, I could feel that what was missing was love, care, nurturing. It was so clear.”
Toxic Psychiatry
Breggin eventually became the leader of that volunteer program. He and 200 other students painted the walls and took patients for walks. He asked the superintendent to assign one patient per volunteer aid, to build real relationships. The superintendent balked at the idea, but eventually gave in. Breggin tells this story in his book, “Toxic Psychiatry.”2
“We ended up getting almost every patient out of that hospital,” he says. “We got them placed in different places that were much better. We got some back with their families. It was so clear to me that this was the way to go …
I watched electroshock and insulin coma shock where people would come in and they’d give them overdoses of insulin to send them into coma. They’d be frothing at the mouth, unconscious, having seizures and getting ready to die, literally. Then they would give them orange juice or sugar water and they would become alert again.
It was so clear to me what was going on. People would come in full of energy — angry, depressed, anxious and often resistant … They’d get this injection of insulin to knock them out, killing them, basically, but when they came awake they were like puppies. They were grateful, they said ‘Thank you, I feel like you saved me.’ They’d be docile … There’s no fooling about what this was. I knew exactly what it was.
I knew what shock treatment was … I’ve been fighting this, but we’re still doing it … It’s when they put electrodes on the forehead of the brain … You get a shock of a voltage … 10 times what you need to give convulsions … and it makes docility. It makes people out of touch with themselves. It makes people unable to complain … [Elevated mood] is the artificial euphoria [caused by] brain damage. This is very brain damaging.”
All of this is what motivated Breggin to go into psychiatry, in order to help reform the profession from the inside. Interestingly, as early as 1963, Jerry Klerman, who later became the highest-ranking psychiatrist in the federal government and a professor at Harvard, told Breggin there was no future in helping people strengthen their mental resilience.
The future, Klerman told him, was in drugs, and using computers to decide which drugs to use. After his first year at Harvard medical school, Breggin left and went back to the Upstate Medical Center (University) in New York, where he had already done internship.
“Then I went on to the National Institute of Mental Health … for two years. There I saw clearly what was happening. Psychiatry was leaving the psychosocial model behind.
My volunteer program had already been described by the last big Federal Commission on Mental Health. It’s mentioned two or three times and described as one of the solutions to the vast mental hospital problems … Nothing about drugs, drugging and shocking people in it.
It was much more real, much more about what was really going on with human beings and human sufferings, spiritual, psychological. I could just see this writing on the wall and I was not sure what to do. I was invited to stay at the National Institute of Mental Health.
I accepted briefly, in the child division. I was very interested in helping children. Then I thought, I can’t do this. I gave them warning without even having a job that I was leaving. I didn’t know what else to do, so I went into private practice.”
Breggin Spearheaded Drug-Free Psychiatry
Breggin focused on helping people without medication. “I learned very quickly that the most disturbed people would calm down and relate when somebody cared about them, wasn’t afraid of them, was interested in them and made no pretense of being superior to them,” he says. Drugs, he explains, were simply stifling the patients. While they might ease some of the suffering, that relief came at the expense of brain damage.
Breggin goes on to tell the story of how he prevented the return of lobotomies and psychosurgeries — strategies in which the brain is purposely damaged through electric shocks, radium chip implants or puncturing the prefrontal area of the brain with an ice pick inserted next to the eyeball, for example.
Breggin refers to lobotomies as a rape of the soul, the permanent mutilation of an individual’s selfhood, as damage to one area of the brain will harm the integration of the whole brain. As noted by Breggin, you cannot “plop out aggression” like a pit out of an olive. The brain doesn’t work like that. It’s an integrated organ and mental processes arise from integrated processes involving many different areas of the brain.
So many people now know that drugs are dangerous and shock treatment is horrible. But, the power of psychiatry grows and the drug companies grow … and more and more people are being recruited by all the ads and all the fake science. A Republic Under Assau... Fitton, Tom Buy New $30.00 (as of 03:00 UTC - Details )
He decided somebody had to stop the madness. And, while he received no support from any other well-known psychiatrist or professor, and came under vehement attack by the establishment, including threats of physical violence against himself and his family that at times necessitated the use of bodyguards.
Breggin eventually succeeded. It’s a fascinating story, so I highly recommend listening to the whole interview. When asked why he took on this formidable fight, he says:
“When I saw what was being done to people, I said ‘Somebody has to do this. I have no choice about this.’ I had no idea what I was up against. I had no idea that everywhere there would be enemies; that I’d be threatened with violence.
When I was invited to speak by Harvard Medical students, that people would rip down all the signs about the meeting; that there’d be blowback on the students and stuff like that. I had no idea what I was walking into.”
The Lawsuit That Ended Lobotomies
The end of lobotomies was brought about by a lawsuit filed by a young lawyer named Gabe Kaimowitz on behalf of a chronically hospitalized patient who had been promised release from the mental hospital if he underwent experimental psychosurgery. Breggin tells the story:
“[Kaimowitz] found out they were going to do a psychosurgery experimentation in the state hospital with a local university, Wayne’s State. It was all set up to go. He intervened. In fact, the case is called by his name, which is unusual … Kaimowitz v. The Department of Mental Health Wayne State University.
A three-judge panel met about the case. This [patient] had been interviewed by the Commissioner of Mental Health. He had been chronically hospitalized and then allegedly had sexually assaulted a nurse or something, but there was no record of it and certainly no adjudication about it; no meetings about it. He was a lifetime patient.
The Commissioner told him he could get out if he underwent the psychosurgery. Well, the judges looked over his case and decided that, first, he was going to be discharged because he was being held illegally. They discharged John Doe. Then the state said, ‘Well, the case is over.’ They said ‘No. You guys have set up this whole thing. We’re going to look at it.’
Well, I was the go-to person as … [Kaimowitz] brought me in. I couldn’t testify the first day because they were filibustering me. They wanted to force me to stay overnight so that … they’d have the whole weekend to review the case with the surgeons. Follow me? Why I Couldn’t S... David Harris Jr Best Price: $1.23 Buy New $30.03 (as of 01:37 UTC - Details)
Of course, they’re forcing me into testifying in the afternoon, filibustering in the morning. Gabe said, ‘This is really too bad because now they’re going to have the whole weekend to talk about your testimony with the surgeons.’ I said, ‘No, no, no. We’ll filibuster back. I’ll testify on something else for the afternoon.’ He said, ‘How are you going to do that?’
I said, ‘Well, I’ll talk about the history of psychiatry. I’m going to tie it into the extermination camps, which were very much modeled on state mental hospitals. Show the comparison and hopefully the judges will invoke the Nuremberg Code, which says that, of course, that man couldn’t volunteer in a state mental hospital because he’s in a total institution, just like the Nuremberg Code was applied to.
He said, ‘OK.’ I gave him a few questions and we went that afternoon and did that. Then on the following Monday, I started to talk about psychosurgery. They were so unprepared that all they could do was go through this 100-page paper that I had written …
We won the trial and it stopped, on the spot, all psychosurgery in the state hospitals in the federal programs. NIH stopped; VA stopped and all the state hospitals stopped. This was 1972-1973.”
It’s important to realize just how important this was, to put a stop to the return of lobotomies and experimental psychosurgeries. It was widely accepted as a practical solution for all sorts of problems, including race riots and behavioral problems among young children.
The beginning of the end of psychosurgery was the early 1970s. At that time, Breggin, who for most of his career struggled to get support, got the support of the Congressional Black Caucus, who could see the social consequences of psychosurgery being used on black children, as well as certain conservative Senators who thought it was immoral.
“I was the first person to criticize lobotomies in public, let alone the first psychiatrist. It was crazy. I still don’t understand human beings. I work hard about it, but I keep falling short. I couldn’t believe that I was so alone doing this,” he says.
The Dangers of Speaking Out Against Prozac
Breggin also had a hand in getting the word out about the dangers of Prozac. In his 1991 book, “Toxic Psychiatry,” he briefly mentioned Prozac is likely to do a lot of harm, and that there were already reports of the drug causing violent aggression.
He was later asked to be the sole scientific expert to put together the science for several dozen lawsuits against Eli Lilly, in which patients or their families claimed the drug had caused violent episodes, suicide, homicide, mania or psychosis. The drama and intrigue surrounding this trial rivals any good spy novel, so for more details, listen to the interview.
As just one example, at the time of his deposition against Eli Lilly, he, his wife and daughter all developed severe illness. By chance, a plumber they’d called in to fix a problem in the basement discovered the stovepipe for the gas heater had been disconnected and was laying out of sight, as if purposely hidden, pumping gas into the house.
Before that, the family had received death threats, and Breggin had called the FBI. Agents claiming to be FBI had visited his family, but something obviously wasn’t right.
“When I called the FBI back, they said they had no record of coming to see me,” Breggin says. “It got very weird … We were in this strange world. People would get angry at me in the audiences. By the way, that never happens, anymore … I want people to know, the environment has changed completely.
So many people now know that drugs are dangerous and shock treatment is horrible. But, the power of psychiatry grows and the drug companies grow … and more and more people are being recruited by all the ads and all the fake science. It is all fake science. You can look at any of my books. If you want it quicker, look up my YouTube channel.”
In broad strokes, the Eli Lilly trial turned out to be fixed in Eli Lilly’s favor and Breggin was set up to fail in his investigation. The plaintiffs lost the case and Eli Lilly was cleared of charges. Eventually, however, evidence emerged showing Eli Lilly lawyers had bribed some of the plaintiffs and arranged for a secret settlement provided they lost the case. The Problem of Politic... Michael Huemer Best Price: $28.00 Buy New $33.99 (as of 04:55 UTC - Details)
A Supreme Court judge in Kentucky declared the trial a fraud and changed the verdict to “a secret settlement with prejudice.” When the judge decided to disclose the amount of the secret settlement, he was removed and replaced with another judge who decided the settlement amount was not to be disclosed as it might hurt Eli Lilly. The full details of this remarkable case can be found in Breggin’s book, “Medication Madness.”3
Electroshock Treatment — A Real-World Conspiracy
One psychiatric treatment Breggin has not been able to eliminate is electroshock treatment (ECT), which is actually starting to be used more and more. Breggin says:
“I’ve worked on denting shock treatment. Then finally, a class action suit was brought against the manufacturers. They lost against the first manufacturer. There are only two [manufacturers] in North America, and I wasn’t involved. Then they called me in. Of course, they expected, again, to just get it thrown out of court.
I did a scientific brief for the judge on brain damage from ECT. The judge decided that there was sufficient evidence for brain damage to make it a jury question. This was huge. The judge focused on the single most important thing he could.
The drug company, within days, settled and put out a statement to the FDA that ECT can cause brain damage and severe memory loss. All that’s up on my website, and I’ve written blogs about it … to show you the nature of what is definitely a conspiracy of people working together toward the same aim and being evil about it.
Within days, the FDA approved ECT for the first time for treatment-resistant depression, which means nothing. It’s used more and more. It’s not less. I don’t think we slowed it down with this, but we made a big gain. We now have a record of a drug company admitting to the FDA it causes brain damage and so on.
Then the FDA with all its power comes right back and then approves ECT for the first time. They had never approved it. They tried to and there was so much opposition they didn’t do it. Then when the drug companies got hurt, it was within days that they approved it. Wow.”
On Neuralink and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Breggin also discusses the hazards of transcranial direct current stimulation and Neuralink, a transcranial implant designed by the Elon Musk Company. Elon is probably doing this because he’s concerned about the integration of artificial intelligence, which is coming.
He fears the human race could become subservient to artificial intelligence. He thinks one of the preservation strategies is to allow us to sort of keep pace with these advances. Breggin comments:
“This is the new cutting edge that I’m trying to get across to people. I have a new show. If you go to my YouTube channel and look at [my interview with] the Dykes … I did a show about this saying that this is worse than the psychiatry we have now. I’m focusing on all the electronics.
The FDA has approved electrodes on the heads of children to leave them on all night long to give them low voltage stimulation, which is going to go through the skin, back up the nerves, all the way to the frontal lobes in an entirely disruptive hammer-like, crushing way. It’s going to blunt the kids. It’s horrible. They studied it for four weeks and approved it, if you can imagine that.
It’s low voltage, but we know it disrupts brain waves. It’s bizarre that they approved this. I started to take this on and then, or actually through Aaron and Melissa, I found out about what was being done by Elon Musk. What’s interesting to me is that while Musk is so brilliant, he’s stupid about the brain. That’s probably because the neurosurgeons and psychiatrists he consults are stupid about the brain.
I mean they’re just stupid. He wants to put in multiple threadlike electrodes into the brain, into webs of neurons, and put in low voltage stimulation. This is insane. The brain can’t tolerate this. He hopes to [be able to] communicate but there’s not going to be any communication.
The brain isn’t going to talk to these electrodes. That’s not how the brain works. The brain talks to itself. It’s not going to talk to Elon Musk [or anyone else] and he’s going to disrupt the brain talking to itself. It’s a terrible thing to do.
I wish somebody who knows Elon Musk would say, ‘You ought to talk to Peter Breggin. He says your consultants are stupid.’ He’s already planning to try to get FDA approval for some neurological disorders and that’ll be the beginning of the onslaught.
Here’s the really deadly part — a part to really think about and close with — and that is that the defense department, DARPA, is funding Musk.
The Dykes found out that the machine is going to be used to sew in these electrodes … through the funding of DARPA and work through UCLA, which has always been murderers of the brain. We shut down programs at UCLA going way back. We shut down a lot of different kinds of programs in my anti-psychosurgery campaign.”
Sources and References
The Best of Dr. Joseph Mercola