thestream--2020-08-09--Hiroshima? Abortion? We Have Easy Answers

It ’ s the language we use for diseases .
Polio , we say , has been eradicated from the earth .
A couple years ago , many pro-lifers jumped on the moral carelessness of a CBS story which declared giddily that Down syndrome had been “ basically eradicated from Iceland ” — as if someone in Iceland had invented a vaccine .
CBS technically spoke the truth .
They just left out the way it was done .
Unborn people diagnosed with Down syndrome were being killed in order to eradicate it .
The week before that , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the morality of bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki .
We ’ re observing the 75th anniversary of the two bombings , which eventually killed an estimated 300,000 people , almost all of them civilians .
The necessary arguments were rehearsed , as they are every year .
One side argued that killing civilians intentionally is always wrong .
The other argued that the United States had to kill civilians to save even more lives .
Almost everyone says “ There are no easy answers ” when they address questions like the bombing of Hiroshima @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion .
We say this when the costs of acting rightly are horrific , and especially when other people will bear the costs .
You think about the 18-year-old boy who will die invading Japan .
You think about the 13-year-old girl carrying a rapist ’ s baby .
Sane people look for an out .
Anyone who holds to absolute moral principles — which is pretty much everyone — feels the draw of what the philosophers call consequentialism .
The idea that the results of an action determine whether it is right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 18-year-old boy , the 13-year-old girl —You want to believe , just this once , that the end justifies the means .
Saying “ There are no easy answers ” seems to give us the excuse we need .
But it doesn ’ t .
If we can not kill the innocent , we can not kill the innocent .
The lives of all the boys who will return home if we drop the bomb does not justify incinerating the child walking to school , the man at his desk , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an easy answer , as an answer .
It follows inescapably from the premise we hold as an absolute .
We often have easy answers .
What we don ’ t always have are comfortable answers .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
I think that ’ s a very important but neglected point .
There are no answers we should give blithely , academically , without feeling the horrible suffering and pain the answer entails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some do , as if having a child were always easy .
We should not think we ’ ve said all we need to say when we state the principle .
We ’ re asking other people to suffer , to work , to give up much of what they want and deserve .
J. D. Orion , a father of two children with Down syndrome , writes in First Things : “ Icelanders are right : Disabled people often do suffer .
The French are right : The disabled are often a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ that burden feels overwhelming .
Parenting disabled children is not a saccharine or sentimental experience .
Neither is welcoming them into a community .
The intellectually disabled are often demanding and dependent .
They can be exhausting.
” Pro-choicers like to say that people who defend unborn life don ’ t care about the baby after he ’ s born .
That ’ s silly , and a slander .
But I ’ m not sure we always make our concern known when we speak .
Speaking for a moral principle in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ callous .
The person who flutters his hands and says “ There are no easy answers ” sounds much more caring .
As the Old Joke Goes We have some easy answers , but not , as I say , comfortable ones .
We can too easily utter moral judgments that translate , as the old joke goes , “ Let ’ s you and him fight.
” We can only safely offer the easy answers when we have no other choice .
When someone we care about needs to hear us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessity requires us to speak out .
But that may happen much less often than we think .
More importantly , we should only speak when we suffer the costs of living by our absolutes in every way we can .
We shouldn ’ t say to the soldier who may die invading Japan because the country doesn ’ t drop the bomb on civilians , “ You just have to die , ” if we ’ re not ourselves already dying to self .
In a costly way , the way I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t say to the girl carrying the rapist ’ s baby that she must carry that child till birth if we don ’ t carry our own burdens , including assuming the burdens of others we can carry for them .
And assuming those burdens till it hurts .
The Apostle James says something very cutting about our need to do so .
I confess I ’ m very far from that .
Some people do it .
The blogger Steel Magnificat remembers a man she knew when she picketed abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gentle-spirited Protestant gentleman , [ he ] refused to pick up a sign , but only walked around and around the clinic in deep meditation carrying his Bible , sometimes reading it softly , never confronting anyone.
” One day , “ When an absolutely bonkers guy showed up screaming and threatening , he turned to us and quietly said that he would not fight back if he attacked , but he was going to stand in front of us with his back turned and take all the blows himself to protect us.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who could speak , because he lived what he would say , though he chose not to .
The easy answers are rarely comfortable answers .
We have to speak them anyway .
But we can make ourselves people who have some small right to speak if we also bear the costs .
This first appeared as “ Easy But Uncomfortable ” on the website of the Human Life Review .
It ’ s been slightly revised .
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream .
After teaching writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things .
He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “ Last Things ” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald .
He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press .

It’s the language we use for diseases. Polio, we say, has been eradicated from the earth. A couple years ago, many pro-lifers jumped on the moral carelessness of a CBS story which declared giddily that Down syndrome had been “basically eradicated from Iceland” — as if someone in Iceland had invented a vaccine.
CBS technically spoke the truth. They just left out the way it was done. Unborn people diagnosed with Down syndrome were being killed in order to eradicate it.
The week before that, many had joined in the annual conversation about the morality of bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We’re observing the 75th anniversary of the two bombings, which eventually killed an estimated 300,000 people, almost all of them civilians.
The necessary arguments were rehearsed, as they are every year. One side argued that killing civilians intentionally is always wrong. The other argued that the United States had to kill civilians to save even more lives.
Almost everyone says “There are no easy answers” when they address questions like the bombing of Hiroshima. Many say it when talking about abortion. We say this when the costs of acting rightly are horrific, and especially when other people will bear the costs. You think about the 18-year-old boy who will die invading Japan. You think about the 13-year-old girl carrying a rapist’s baby.
Sane people look for an out. Anyone who holds to absolute moral principles — which is pretty much everyone — feels the draw of what the philosophers call consequentialism. The idea that the results of an action determine whether it is right or wrong. In these cases — the 18-year-old boy, the 13-year-old girl —You want to believe, just this once, that the end justifies the means. Saying “There are no easy answers” seems to give us the excuse we need.
That’s an Easy Answer
But it doesn’t. If we cannot kill the innocent, we cannot kill the innocent. The lives of all the boys who will return home if we drop the bomb does not justify incinerating the child walking to school, the man at his desk, the woman in her garden.
That’s an easy answer, as an answer. It follows inescapably from the premise we hold as an absolute. We often have easy answers. What we don’t always have are comfortable answers.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I think that’s a very important but neglected point. There are no answers we should give blithely, academically, without feeling the horrible suffering and pain the answer entails. No one should speak, as some do, as if having a child were always easy. We should not think we’ve said all we need to say when we state the principle.
We’re asking other people to suffer, to work, to give up much of what they want and deserve. J. D. Orion, a father of two children with Down syndrome, writes in First Things: “Icelanders are right: Disabled people often do suffer. The French are right: The disabled are often a burden.”
Sometimes, he continues, “that burden feels overwhelming. Parenting disabled children is not a saccharine or sentimental experience. Neither is welcoming them into a community. The intellectually disabled are often demanding and dependent. They can be exhausting.”
Pro-choicers like to say that people who defend unborn life don’t care about the baby after he’s born. That’s silly, and a slander. But I’m not sure we always make our concern known when we speak. Speaking for a moral principle in general, even St. Francis might sound callous. The person who flutters his hands and says “There are no easy answers” sounds much more caring.
As the Old Joke Goes
We have some easy answers, but not, as I say, comfortable ones. We can too easily utter moral judgments that translate, as the old joke goes, “Let’s you and him fight.” We can only safely offer the easy answers when we have no other choice. When someone we care about needs to hear us, for example, or when a public necessity requires us to speak out. But that may happen much less often than we think.
More importantly, we should only speak when we suffer the costs of living by our absolutes in every way we can. We shouldn’t say to the soldier who may die invading Japan because the country doesn’t drop the bomb on civilians, “You just have to die,” if we’re not ourselves already dying to self. In a costly way, the way I described a few days ago.
We shouldn’t say to the girl carrying the rapist’s baby that she must carry that child till birth if we don’t carry our own burdens, including assuming the burdens of others we can carry for them. And assuming those burdens till it hurts. The Apostle James says something very cutting about our need to do so.
I confess I’m very far from that. Some people do it. The blogger Steel Magnificat remembers a man she knew when she picketed abortion facilities. “A very quiet, gentle-spirited Protestant gentleman, [he] refused to pick up a sign, but only walked around and around the clinic in deep meditation carrying his Bible, sometimes reading it softly, never confronting anyone.”
One day, “When an absolutely bonkers guy showed up screaming and threatening, he turned to us and quietly said that he would not fight back if he attacked, but he was going to stand in front of us with his back turned and take all the blows himself to protect us.” That’s an example of a man who could speak, because he lived what he would say, though he chose not to.
The easy answers are rarely comfortable answers. We have to speak them anyway. But we can make ourselves people who have some small right to speak if we also bear the costs.
This first appeared as “Easy But Uncomfortable” on the website of the Human Life Review. It’s been slightly revised.
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream. After teaching writing in a seminary, he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things. He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “Last Things” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald. He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press.


thestream--2020-08-09--The Democrats’ Dream World Keeps Collapsing into a Nightmare

Let ’ s start with some heartbreaking news from my beloved hometown , New York City .
Reading this I realize that Giuliani ’ s once-thriving , safe city has slid perhaps irreversibly back to the dangerous chaos I grew up in : the NYC of Law and Order , of Mean Streets , of Joker .
From The New York Post : Upper West Side residents say three hotels that are housing hundreds of homeless men during the coronavirus pandemic have turned the area into a spectacle of public urination , catcalling and open drug use .
Among those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Lucerne on West 79th Street , and the more down-market Belnord on West 87th Street , are people who are mentally ill , recovering from drug addictions , and registered sex offenders .
Ten sex offenders are staying in a single hotel — the Belleclaire , which is just one block from the playground of PS 87 .
Just One Anecdote of Hundreds Now this little snippet from the willful destruction of a great city finds echoes across the country .
Visit the burned out storefronts of black-owned shops in Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled by political gangs in Seattle ’ s “ CHAZ ” enclave .
Look at the federal courthouse still under siege in Portland .
Or spare a thought for the nursing homes where tens of thousand of old people died alone and were cremated like shelter pets , thanks to Democrat governors dumping COVID patients there .
And yet millions of our fellow citizens are still considering electing the senile shell of Joe Biden , and handing the Democrats complete control of the Congress .
Most of my readers are busy building things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services that make their neighbors ’ lives easier .
That ’ s what a market economy makes possible .
I don ’ t have to grow my own potatoes , raise my own hogs , or perform my own prostate exams .
Economics , that is the science of human cooperation , calls this happy fact “ the division of labor.
” And it ’ s something the left objects to .
( So does a tiny , reckless segment of the nostalgic , LARPer right ) .
Marx ’ s final fantasy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after decades of worldwide conflict , the destruction of all religions , and hundreds of millions of dead , centers on one promise : Perfect equality , and no more division of labor .
Somehow , by History ’ s magic , once no one owns anything and the state distributes all wealth , that all-powerful state will magically wither away .
( You know , the way immensely powerful institutions just naturally do .
That happens , right ? )
And mankind will no longer need to specialize in things .
Everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll happily dabble in things , but still be amazingly good at them .
Your neighbor who farms and writes novels , but also tinkers in dentistry , will fix up your lower right molar .
You will switch back and forth between designing airplane engines , and translating Lesbian memoirs from Portuguese into Swahili .
Does it sound like I ’ m making this up ?
Read Marx himself : Because that would totally happen , right ?
It doesn ’ t sound at all like some adolescent fantasy , papered over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific socialism.
” Not a bit .
Trust us .
We ’ re reporters at CNN , or lit professors at Harvard .
Just Trust Us with Absolute Power So perfect equality , true freedom , the super-power to specialize in nothing but be good enough at everything — all these things will rain from the skies like manna from heaven .
All you have to do to get it is … turn over absolute power over every aspect of life and culture to a tiny elite of ideologues .
They will run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ ll manage everything for you .
They ’ ll decide when you ’ re ready to waltz down the yellow brick road into the communist Land of Oz .
Now it ’ s time for me to practice my specialty , for your sake .
It ’ s my job to read complicated books and sum them up in clear , common-sense language .
So you can get the gist of them , without taking too much time away from … what you specialize in , which is probably more urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t going to install itself . )
One of the most useful books of the 20th century is Science , Politics and Gnosticism , by Eric Voegelin .
A refugee from the Nazis , detested by the Communists , Voegelin specialized in something quite distinctive .
And a little bit abstruse .
But really important .
He traced ( in a long series of quite complex books called Order in History ) the connection between mankind ’ s religious impulses , and our civilizations and governments .
Anything he wrote is tough going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this one little book I ’ ve mentioned , however , Voegelin tries to understand why sophisticated people and complex societies succumb to simplistic , fantasy politics such as the Nazis and Communists practiced .
Why do Ivy League professors pretend that Antifa ’ s hooded thugs in body armor are “ peaceful protesters ” ?
What makes teachers unions embrace a crude conspiracy theory like the 1619 Project ?
( To get the real gist of that project , imagine that its real title is The Protocols of the Elders of Jamestown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make it in Manhattan vote for mayors like de Blasio , who shove their cities toward chaos ?
Voegelin theorized that modern people without religion still see the fallenness of the world , the wickedness that exists .
But they ’ ve been taught that the Christian explanation for evil ( human sin ) is not allowed .
It ’ s off the table .
Embrace it , and you ’ ll be labeled a rube , a dupe , or a dangerous “ fundamentalist.
” So you must grasp for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering ?
You must find a scapegoat to blame , and a movement that promises to hunt it down and kill it .
The latest target is “ systemic racism , ” of course .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
But it really doesn ’ t matter what made-up villain gets blamed .
You could just as easily choose “ the Jews ” or “ capitalism.
” What ’ s really powerful about this new , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called such systems “ Gnostic ) is that it offers a simple , black-and-white answer to complicated questions .
It locates the source of evil “ out there , ” and not in your own heart and soul .
And it lets you pile up virtue points by bashing other people .
In other words , it ’ s almost the opposite of Christianity , but it taps into much of its power .
It hijacks the scriptures , if ever they come in handy .
It even promises a New Jerusalem , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piles of corpses , and no sign of Christ .
Voegelin said that believers in these new , artificial religions don ’ t mentally dwell in the real world .
They inhabit , instead a “ secondary reality.
” Their ideology filters out conflicting information , and helps them ignore basic laws of logic such as cause-and-effect .
Highly intelligent people can make themselves seem stupid , when their filters block out too much .
And then they do crazy things , like spoiling posh neighborhoods whose taxes keep the subways running , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotels .
Or a thousand other policies which a rational person , living in the real world , could tell them would prove disastrous .
But we ’ re not dealing in logic here , people .
We ’ re dealing with a religion , and a false one supported by principalities and powers .
Expect the same blank denial from hard-line Democrats today as you ’ d have found in Jonestown , Guyana .
That socialist , atheist enclave linked to big California Democrats tried out on a small-scale what the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand one .
Then we ’ ll live in one big homeless shelter , and squabble among the ruins .
But only if we drink the Kool-Aid in November .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns , & the Government .
”

Let’s start with some heartbreaking news from my beloved hometown, New York City. Reading this I realize that Giuliani’s once-thriving, safe city has slid perhaps irreversibly back to the dangerous chaos I grew up in: the NYC of Law and Order, of Mean Streets, of Joker. From The New York Post:
Upper West Side residents say three hotels that are housing hundreds of homeless men during the coronavirus pandemic have turned the area into a spectacle of public urination, catcalling and open drug use. Among those staying at the luxury Belleclaire on Broadway and the Lucerne on West 79th Street, and the more down-market Belnord on West 87th Street, are people who are mentally ill, recovering from drug addictions, and registered sex offenders. Ten sex offenders are staying in a single hotel — the Belleclaire, which is just one block from the playground of PS 87. “It doesn’t feel safe anymore,” nanny Michele McDowall, 39, told The Post.
Just One Anecdote of Hundreds
Now this little snippet from the willful destruction of a great city finds echoes across the country. Visit the burned out storefronts of black-owned shops in Minneapolis. Talk to the citizens who were ruled by political gangs in Seattle’s “CHAZ” enclave. Look at the federal courthouse still under siege in Portland. Or spare a thought for the nursing homes where tens of thousand of old people died alone and were cremated like shelter pets, thanks to Democrat governors dumping COVID patients there.
And yet millions of our fellow citizens are still considering electing the senile shell of Joe Biden, and handing the Democrats complete control of the Congress.
Destroy the Division of Labor
Most of my readers are busy building things, making things, or selling useful services that make their neighbors’ lives easier. That’s what a market economy makes possible. I don’t have to grow my own potatoes, raise my own hogs, or perform my own prostate exams. Economics, that is the science of human cooperation, calls this happy fact “the division of labor.”
And it’s something the left objects to. (So does a tiny, reckless segment of the nostalgic, LARPer right). Marx’s final fantasy, the heaven on earth he promises after decades of worldwide conflict, the destruction of all religions, and hundreds of millions of dead, centers on one promise: Perfect equality, and no more division of labor.
Why do Ivy League professors pretend that Antifa’s hooded thugs in body armor are “peaceful protesters”? What makes teachers unions embrace a crude conspiracy theory like the 1619 Project?
Somehow, by History’s magic, once no one owns anything and the state distributes all wealth, that all-powerful state will magically wither away. (You know, the way immensely powerful institutions just naturally do. That happens, right?)
And mankind will no longer need to specialize in things. Everyone will be a dilettante. We’ll happily dabble in things, but still be amazingly good at them. Your neighbor who farms and writes novels, but also tinkers in dentistry, will fix up your lower right molar. You will switch back and forth between designing airplane engines, and translating Lesbian memoirs from Portuguese into Swahili.
“Heaven” on Earth
Does it sound like I’m making this up? Read Marx himself:
[I]n communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, shepherd or critic.
Because that would totally happen, right? It doesn’t sound at all like some adolescent fantasy, papered over by clunky jargon, and relabeled “scientific socialism.” Not a bit. Trust us. We’re reporters at CNN, or lit professors at Harvard.
Just Trust Us with Absolute Power
So perfect equality, true freedom, the super-power to specialize in nothing but be good enough at everything — all these things will rain from the skies like manna from heaven. All you have to do to get it is … turn over absolute power over every aspect of life and culture to a tiny elite of ideologues. They will run the “dictatorship of the proletariat.” They’ll manage everything for you. They’ll decide when you’re ready to waltz down the yellow brick road into the communist Land of Oz.
Now it’s time for me to practice my specialty, for your sake. It’s my job to read complicated books and sum them up in clear, common-sense language. So you can get the gist of them, without taking too much time away from … what you specialize in, which is probably more urgent. (That air-conditioning system isn’t going to install itself.)
New, Man-Made Religions
One of the most useful books of the 20th century is Science, Politics and Gnosticism, by Eric Voegelin. A refugee from the Nazis, detested by the Communists, Voegelin specialized in something quite distinctive. And a little bit abstruse. But really important. He traced (in a long series of quite complex books called Order in History) the connection between mankind’s religious impulses, and our civilizations and governments. Anything he wrote is tough going, but really worth reading.
In this one little book I’ve mentioned, however, Voegelin tries to understand why sophisticated people and complex societies succumb to simplistic, fantasy politics such as the Nazis and Communists practiced. Why do Ivy League professors pretend that Antifa’s hooded thugs in body armor are “peaceful protesters”? What makes teachers unions embrace a crude conspiracy theory like the 1619 Project? (To get the real gist of that project, imagine that its real title is The Protocols of the Elders of Jamestown.) Why do people smart enough to make it in Manhattan vote for mayors like de Blasio, who shove their cities toward chaos?
Promulgating a Fantasy World for Fun and Power
Voegelin theorized that modern people without religion still see the fallenness of the world, the wickedness that exists. But they’ve been taught that the Christian explanation for evil (human sin) is not allowed. It’s off the table. Embrace it, and you’ll be labeled a rube, a dupe, or a dangerous “fundamentalist.” So you must grasp for an alternate theory. What else explains human suffering? You must find a scapegoat to blame, and a movement that promises to hunt it down and kill it. The latest target is “systemic racism,” of course.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But it really doesn’t matter what made-up villain gets blamed. You could just as easily choose “the Jews” or “capitalism.” What’s really powerful about this new, secular form of politicized religion (Voegelin called such systems “Gnostic) is that it offers a simple, black-and-white answer to complicated questions. It locates the source of evil “out there,” and not in your own heart and soul. And it lets you pile up virtue points by bashing other people. In other words, it’s almost the opposite of Christianity, but it taps into much of its power. It hijacks the scriptures, if ever they come in handy. It even promises a New Jerusalem, albeit one built by human hands on piles of corpses, and no sign of Christ.
Voegelin said that believers in these new, artificial religions don’t mentally dwell in the real world. They inhabit, instead a “secondary reality.” Their ideology filters out conflicting information, and helps them ignore basic laws of logic such as cause-and-effect. Highly intelligent people can make themselves seem stupid, when their filters block out too much. And then they do crazy things, like spoiling posh neighborhoods whose taxes keep the subways running, by dumping hundreds of druggies in fancy hotels. Or a thousand other policies which a rational person, living in the real world, could tell them would prove disastrous.
Spiritual Warfare at the Ballot Box
But we’re not dealing in logic here, people. We’re dealing with a religion, and a false one supported by principalities and powers. Expect the same blank denial from hard-line Democrats today as you’d have found in Jonestown, Guyana. That socialist, atheist enclave linked to big California Democrats tried out on a small-scale what the left has in mind for us on a grand one.
Then we’ll live in one big homeless shelter, and squabble among the ruins. But only if we drink the Kool-Aid in November.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism. He is co-author with Jason Jones of “God, Guns, & the Government.”


thestream--2020-08-09--Trump Issues Four Executive Orders for COVID-19 Relief After Congress Fails to Reach Deal

President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders Saturday to help bring further COVID-19 relieve to Americans after the White House failed to reach a deal with House Democrats .
Democrats wanted to spend another $ 3.4 trillion .
The Republicans were offering $ 1 trillion .
Speaker Pelosi said she suggested a compromise of $ 2.4 trillion .
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnunchin said that was a “ non-starter.
” So President Trump acted .
Here ’ s what the four orders provide : Trump ’ s executive action calls for $ 400-per-week in supplemental unemployment aid .
Unemployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal program expired at the end of July .
This supplemental aid is on top of existing state unemployment benefits .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Trump would divert up to $ 44 billion from FEMA ’ s Disaster Relief Fund to cover the unemployment program .
Democratic lawmakers were insisting on keeping the $ 600 payment , even when it provided a disincentive for people to return to work .
President Trump directs his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who , as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19 , are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.
” The goal is to stave off evictions and foreclosures on businesses and homeowners .
The eviction moratorium provided by the CARES Act expired July 24 , leaving millions of renters and homeowners at risk of eviction .
Payroll taxes on employees making less than $ 100,000 will be deferred from Sept. 1 , 2020 through the end of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that goes to Medicare and Social Security .
However , don ’ t think you keep the extra cash for long .
It will have to be paid back at year ’ s end , unless there is another government action to say otherwise .
As Fox News puts it , it ’ s essentially an interest-free loan .
However , Trump said Saturday that he ’ ll call for legislation that forgives people from having to pay back the loan .
Bernie Sanders falsely and loudly claiming that this payroll tax holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump has suspended payments on all federal student loans , and set the interest rate at 0 % , through the rest of the year .
Forbes reports , “ This extension will be a welcome respite for recent graduates and young professionals who have faced layoffs and reduced hours .
Young adults are more likely to work hospitality and retail jobs ; both sectors have seen staggering rates of layoffs and closures.
” The Executive Orders Likely to Face Legal Challenges As with any action taken by Trump on anything , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal challenges .
Matters involving taxes and spending typically require legislation from Congress .
However , politically , Democrats are in a box .
As Secretary Munchin said , “ If the Democrats want to challenge us in court and hold up unemployment benefits to those hardworking Americans that are out of a job because of COVID , they ’ re going to have a lot of explaining to do .
Further , how are they going to justify blocking $ 400 payments to Americans while demanding the next stimulus package pays illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that while he appreciates Trump ’ s executive orders , he would “ much prefer a congressional agreement .
”

President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders Saturday to help bring further COVID-19 relieve to Americans after the White House failed to reach a deal with House Democrats.
Democrats wanted to spend another $3.4 trillion. The Republicans were offering $1 trillion. Speaker Pelosi said she suggested a compromise of $2.4 trillion. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnunchin said that was a “non-starter.”
So President Trump acted. Here’s what the four orders provide:
$400 a Week Supplemental Unemployment Aid
Trump’s executive action calls for $400-per-week in supplemental unemployment aid. Unemployed people were getting $600-a-week extra until the federal program expired at the end of July. This supplemental aid is on top of existing state unemployment benefits.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Trump would divert up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to cover the unemployment program.
Democratic lawmakers were insisting on keeping the $600 payment, even when it provided a disincentive for people to return to work.
Federal Effort to Hold Back Evictions and Foreclosures
President Trump directs his administration to identify available funds to “provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who, as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19, are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.” The goal is to stave off evictions and foreclosures on businesses and homeowners.
The eviction moratorium provided by the CARES Act expired July 24, leaving millions of renters and homeowners at risk of eviction.
Payroll Tax Holiday
Payroll taxes on employees making less than $100,000 will be deferred from Sept. 1, 2020 through the end of the year. This is that chunk of your paycheck that goes to Medicare and Social Security. However, don’t think you keep the extra cash for long. It will have to be paid back at year’s end, unless there is another government action to say otherwise. As Fox News puts it, it’s essentially an interest-free loan. However, Trump said Saturday that he’ll call for legislation that forgives people from having to pay back the loan.
Bernie Sanders falsely and loudly claiming that this payroll tax holiday is President Trump ending Social Security.
Student Loan Relief
President Trump has suspended payments on all federal student loans, and set the interest rate at 0%, through the rest of the year.
Forbes reports, “This extension will be a welcome respite for recent graduates and young professionals who have faced layoffs and reduced hours. Young adults are more likely to work hospitality and retail jobs; both sectors have seen staggering rates of layoffs and closures.”
The Executive Orders Likely to Face Legal Challenges
As with any action taken by Trump on anything, these executive orders are likely to face legal challenges. Matters involving taxes and spending typically require legislation from Congress.
However, politically, Democrats are in a box. As Secretary Munchin said, “If the Democrats want to challenge us in court and hold up unemployment benefits to those hardworking Americans that are out of a job because of COVID, they’re going to have a lot of explaining to do. Further, how are they going to justify blocking $400 payments to Americans while demanding the next stimulus package pays illegal immigrants?
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said that while he appreciates Trump’s executive orders, he would “much prefer a congressional agreement.”


thestream--2020-08-09--10 Key Takeaways from ‘Evangelicals for Trump’ Gathering in Las Vegas

Last Thursday , I had the privilege to hear from Jack Hibbs , Paula White , Jentezen Franklin , Bishop Harry Jackson , Charlie Kirk and others at “ Evangelicals for Trump ” in Las Vegas .
Nevada does not allow churches to hold services or meetings with more than 50 people .
So organizers went to a former casino , specifically , the lobby of Ahern Hotel and Convention Center .
We were able to hold the gathering despite COVID-19 by limiting attendance below 50 % of the lobby ’ s capacity , wearing masks —when appropriate — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city and state officials still didn ’ t try to stop us from meeting , even as the event was taking place .
How hard to these politicians go to keep the truth from being spoken . )
More than 500 people participated , and it was quite a Vegas smorgasbord of wonderful , diverse speakers .
“ Our president knows how important faith is to our country , ” said Pastor White .
Bishop Jackson remarked that Trump was not a racist , he ’ s a “ problem solver.
” Pastor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life , pro-Israel , pro-Christian and pro-religious freedom president in history.
” And he made a crucial point about the November election : “ You ’ re not voting for the next four years , ” he said .
“ You ’ re voting for the next 37 years.
” All told , from where I was standing , the message from Evangelicals for Trump coalesced around ten key points .
• Silence is not an option .
We can no longer hide behind the excuse , “ I don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are given the privilege , for now , to place people in positions of leadership .
Whether we like it or not , we are involved .
Millions are not registered to vote , and millions of registered voters stay at home .
We ’ ll stand in line to see a movie , but we won ’ t stand in line to vote and elect leaders who will affect the direction of our country .
This makes a statement about what we value — and isn ’ t it sad .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand-wringing and second-guessing ourselves .
Many things that we ’ ve been praying for to happen in our nation are finally happening .
So , at this stage , many of us will not apologize for backing the president , nor will we be intimidated .
Unless millions of Americans and I , who are praying and truly seeking the will of the Father , are missing it , we will keep contending : “ If the foundations are destroyed , what can the righteous do ?
” ( Psalm 11:3 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are revitalizing a movement — a movement back to God .
I ’ m more concerned with our nation ’ s national character than I am with the president ’ s tweets .
• Share the facts as often as possible .
Let this sink in : innocent children are being protected , godly counsel is surrounding President Trump , terror is being restrained , good judges are being selected , socialism is being resisted , families are being encouraged via employment , prayer is being brought back in schools , God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on and on it goes , but the mainstream media is doing their best to hide all of this .
We must do our best to promote it .
• Wear criticism as a badge of honor instead of fearing it .
Calling Christians hypocrites , racists , and hatters is really just a defense mechanism for those who don ’ t want to see the truth .
It ’ s often Christians who serve as our moral compass to get us back on track .
For example , when I talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labeled a fundamentalist .
When I talk about purity and abstinence , I ’ m labeled legalistic .
When I talk about defending babies , I ’ m labeled as being against women .
When I talk about marriage being between a man and a woman , I ’ m labeled a homophobe .
When I support the current president , I ’ m labeled a hypocrite .
And on and on it goes .
Anytime you stand for truth , you will be labeled .
Granted , the truth must come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth will offend , but our attitude should not .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
• Don ’ t buy into the fake narrative : “ Ungodly means don ’ t justify a godly end.
” To me , this is a no-brainer .
The Bible says don ’ t murder innocent children ( abortion ) .
It also says that we should work hard if we can ( no socialism ) .
It also says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation , securing borders and fighting terrorism ( see Romans 13 ) .
The Bible adds that we should have judges who are honest and that we should bring God ’ s Word into all areas of life .
And on and on it goes .
Many of President Trump ’ s staff are doing all this and more .
How a person , let alone a Christian , can overlook these things is a mystery to me .
No , I don ’ t believe that all ungodly means are good if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depends on the situation and what the means are .
There are many variables , and a blanket statement — like so many of those who speak against the president are trying to make — will not suffice .
• Our past does not disqualify us .
The president ’ s past is not perfect , but he is guiding America in the right direction ( in fact , many governmental agencies are now hosting Bible studies ) .
He still sins , but it appears that he wants to point our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communication is not always Christlike , but he is honoring God in many areas of legislation .
Those of us at Evangelicals for Trump see a man who is flawed like the rest of us .
We see a man who is probably not proud of some of the things that he has done .
We ’ re not looking for perfection ; we ’ re looking for direction — direction back to God .
Throughout biblical history , God has used broken , flawed leaders .
Aside from Christ , is there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the divide , divide us .
Yes , I ’ m perplexed by the divide in the Christian community over President Trump — but I ’ m not surprised .
The media is fueling lies , and the world is listening .
And many of those coming against our president are what is commonly referred to as liberal Christians .
They love to quote scripture out of context when it supports their narrative .
It makes one wonder what is truly leading them : worldly mandates or biblical principles .
Kingdoms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of course there is going to be a divide … a divide between light and darkness , right and wrong , good and evil .
• Trump is not using us , if anything , we are using him ( and I mean that in the right way ) .
We are not following a man , he is shaping a movement .
A better question to be asking , though , is “ What direction is the country heading ?
” If a leader lacks Christian character but is pointing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bad thing ?
If they are minimizing murdering babies and maximizing godly values , is that a bad thing ?
If they are being a terror to terrorists and making America secure , is that a bad thing ?
If they are honoring hard work and minimizing free handouts , is that a bad thing ?
If they respect law enforcement and punish disobedience , is that a bad thing ?
God doesn ’ t judge a nation based on the character of one man ; He judges it based on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forget that .
• “ I ’ m not voting for the lesser of two evils ” is just an excuse .
This statement is often used by those who want to remain silent , but it ’ s a flawed argument .
We are actually voting for principles , not people — all candidates are sinners .
In what direction will they lead our country ?
Even more importantly , what country will we leave for our children ?
• The process of change and hope must begin with humility .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing of heaven can live in you ” ( Andrew Murray ) .
The amount of pride in the church is astonishing .
We ’ ve created an American Idol mentality with many wanting center stage attention .
We often look more like Hollywood than the character of Christ .
If we are to see a genuine move of God ( which is the only hope for our nation ) then we must humble ourselves and confess our pride .
Our blessings have become a curse ; our abundance has taken us away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many people reading this will get upset rather than humble themselves and seek God afresh .
I have not mastered this area .
I ’ m a prideful person working on humility on a daily basis .
But we must recognize pride , repent of it , and return to God with a broken and teachable attitude .
It ’ s Up to Us to Do Something Some time ago , I sat speechless as I listened to a man recount his trip to a holocaust museum with his young daughter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ death camps , gas chambers , and countless bodies piled one upon another , his daughter silently contemplated the horrors that were unfolding before her eyes .
When the tour ended , they drove home without saying a word .
The father wondered if she truly understood the significance of the event .
Was she too young to view such depravity ?
Was she too fragile to cope with the truth of the holocaust ?
Would it make a negative impact on her life ?
Would it leave her fearful and wounded ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ His questions were answered nearly two hours later when his daughter finally spoke .
She looked at her father and asked , “ Daddy , why didn ’ t someone do something ?
” Will we hear those same haunting words from our children and grandchildren ?
Yes !
If we fail to contend for what is right , we may see a time in our history when our children will ask , “ Why didn ’ t someone do something ?
” Sadly , we will know the answer .
Shane Idleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network .
His program , Regaining Lost Ground , points us back to God and reminds us that although times change , truth does not .
His books , blogs , and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com .

Last Thursday, I had the privilege to hear from Jack Hibbs, Paula White, Jentezen Franklin, Bishop Harry Jackson, Charlie Kirk and others at “Evangelicals for Trump” in Las Vegas.
Nevada does not allow churches to hold services or meetings with more than 50 people. So organizers went to a former casino, specifically, the lobby of Ahern Hotel and Convention Center. We were able to hold the gathering despite COVID-19 by limiting attendance below 50% of the lobby’s capacity, wearing masks —when appropriate — and getting temperature checks. (Not that city and state officials still didn’t try to stop us from meeting, even as the event was taking place. How hard to these politicians go to keep the truth from being spoken.)
More than 500 people participated, and it was quite a Vegas smorgasbord of wonderful, diverse speakers. “Our president knows how important faith is to our country,” said Pastor White. Bishop Jackson remarked that Trump was not a racist, he’s a “problem solver.” Pastor Franklin called Trump,“the most pro-life, pro-Israel, pro-Christian and pro-religious freedom president in history.” And he made a crucial point about the November election: “You’re not voting for the next four years,” he said. “You’re voting for the next 37 years.”
My Ten Key Takeaways
All told, from where I was standing, the message from Evangelicals for Trump coalesced around ten key points.
Silence is not an option. We can no longer hide behind the excuse, “I don’t want to get involved.” As citizens, we are given the privilege, for now, to place people in positions of leadership. Whether we like it or not, we are involved. Millions are not registered to vote, and millions of registered voters stay at home. We’ll stand in line to see a movie, but we won’t stand in line to vote and elect leaders who will affect the direction of our country. This makes a statement about what we value — and isn’t it sad. Now is not the time for hand-wringing and second-guessing ourselves. Many things that we’ve been praying for to happen in our nation are finally happening. So, at this stage, many of us will not apologize for backing the president, nor will we be intimidated. Unless millions of Americans and I, who are praying and truly seeking the will of the Father, are missing it, we will keep contending: “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). We are not following a man, we are revitalizing a movement — a movement back to God. I’m more concerned with our nation’s national character than I am with the president’s tweets. Share the facts as often as possible. Let this sink in: innocent children are being protected, godly counsel is surrounding President Trump, terror is being restrained, good judges are being selected, socialism is being resisted, families are being encouraged via employment, prayer is being brought back in schools, God’s wisdom is being sought, and on and on it goes, but the mainstream media is doing their best to hide all of this. We must do our best to promote it. Wear criticism as a badge of honor instead of fearing it. Calling Christians hypocrites, racists, and hatters is really just a defense mechanism for those who don’t want to see the truth. It’s often Christians who serve as our moral compass to get us back on track. For example, when I talk about ungodly entertainment, I’m labeled a fundamentalist. When I talk about purity and abstinence, I’m labeled legalistic. When I talk about defending babies, I’m labeled as being against women. When I talk about marriage being between a man and a woman, I’m labeled a homophobe. When I support the current president, I’m labeled a hypocrite. And on and on it goes. Anytime you stand for truth, you will be labeled. Granted, the truth must come from a loving, gentle heart. The truth will offend, but our attitude should not. Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day. Don’t buy into the fake narrative: “Ungodly means don’t justify a godly end.” To me, this is a no-brainer. The Bible says don’t murder innocent children (abortion). It also says that we should work hard if we can (no socialism). It also says that the government is to guard the nation, securing borders and fighting terrorism (see Romans 13). The Bible adds that we should have judges who are honest and that we should bring God’s Word into all areas of life. And on and on it goes. Many of President Trump’s staff are doing all this and more. How a person, let alone a Christian, can overlook these things is a mystery to me. No, I don’t believe that all ungodly means are good if they lead to godly ends. It depends on the situation and what the means are. There are many variables, and a blanket statement — like so many of those who speak against the president are trying to make — will not suffice. Our past does not disqualify us. The president’s past is not perfect, but he is guiding America in the right direction (in fact, many governmental agencies are now hosting Bible studies). He still sins, but it appears that he wants to point our nation back to God. His mode of communication is not always Christlike, but he is honoring God in many areas of legislation. Those of us at Evangelicals for Trump see a man who is flawed like the rest of us. We see a man who is probably not proud of some of the things that he has done. We’re not looking for perfection; we’re looking for direction — direction back to God. Throughout biblical history, God has used broken, flawed leaders. Aside from Christ, is there another kind? Don’t let the divide, divide us. Yes, I’m perplexed by the divide in the Christian community over President Trump — but I’m not surprised. The media is fueling lies, and the world is listening. And many of those coming against our president are what is commonly referred to as liberal Christians. They love to quote scripture out of context when it supports their narrative. It makes one wonder what is truly leading them: worldly mandates or biblical principles. Kingdoms are colliding and world views are being challenged. Of course there is going to be a divide … a divide between light and darkness, right and wrong, good and evil. Trump is not using us, if anything, we are using him (and I mean that in the right way). We are not following a man, he is shaping a movement. A better question to be asking, though, is “What direction is the country heading?” If a leader lacks Christian character but is pointing the nation back to God, is that a bad thing? If they are minimizing murdering babies and maximizing godly values, is that a bad thing? If they are being a terror to terrorists and making America secure, is that a bad thing? If they are honoring hard work and minimizing free handouts, is that a bad thing? If they respect law enforcement and punish disobedience, is that a bad thing? God doesn’t judge a nation based on the character of one man; He judges it based on the spiritual health of her people. Never forget that. “I’m not voting for the lesser of two evils” is just an excuse. This statement is often used by those who want to remain silent, but it’s a flawed argument. We are actually voting for principles, not people — all candidates are sinners. In what direction will they lead our country? Even more importantly, what country will we leave for our children? The process of change and hope must begin with humility. “Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you” (Andrew Murray). The amount of pride in the church is astonishing. We’ve created an American Idol mentality with many wanting center stage attention. We often look more like Hollywood than the character of Christ. If we are to see a genuine move of God (which is the only hope for our nation) then we must humble ourselves and confess our pride. Our blessings have become a curse; our abundance has taken us away from God. Pride is so powerful that many people reading this will get upset rather than humble themselves and seek God afresh. I have not mastered this area. I’m a prideful person working on humility on a daily basis. But we must recognize pride, repent of it, and return to God with a broken and teachable attitude.
It’s Up to Us to Do Something
Some time ago, I sat speechless as I listened to a man recount his trip to a holocaust museum with his young daughter. As they walked by photos of the death camps, gas chambers, and countless bodies piled one upon another, his daughter silently contemplated the horrors that were unfolding before her eyes. When the tour ended, they drove home without saying a word. The father wondered if she truly understood the significance of the event. Was she too young to view such depravity? Was she too fragile to cope with the truth of the holocaust? Would it make a negative impact on her life? Would it leave her fearful and wounded? Would she begin to doubt God?
His questions were answered nearly two hours later when his daughter finally spoke. She looked at her father and asked, “Daddy, why didn’t someone do something?”
Will we hear those same haunting words from our children and grandchildren? Yes! If we fail to contend for what is right, we may see a time in our history when our children will ask, “Why didn’t someone do something?” Sadly, we will know the answer.
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network. His program, Regaining Lost Ground, points us back to God and reminds us that although times change, truth does not. His books, blogs, and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com.


thestream--2020-08-10--The Trick that Scientists Use to Tell You to Trust Scientists, Whatever They Say

There ’ s a card trick in which I show I have three cards in my hand .
I also reveal the identity of two of those cards .
Then I manipulate the cards so it appears I ’ ve revealed the identity of all three .
When I finally do reveal the third card , the observer ( or mark ) is convinced that one of the cards he saw has magically turned into a different card .
It ’ s called misdirection .
The best way to lead someone to a false conclusion is to start with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century is that most everyone knows magic is not real .
While they may not be able to explain how it was done , at least they know they have been tricked .
Unfortunately , politicians and the media do this constantly without people ever realizing it .
An article that just appeared on Forbes.com did exactly this .
The title gives it away : “ You Must Not ‘ Do Your Own Research ’ When It Comes To Science.
” The writer , senior contributor Ethan Siegel , has a doctorate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , right ?
He should .
But he ’ s pulling a trick .
Like the magician , he starts with the truth .
He says , “ The techniques that most of us use to navigate most of our decisions in life – gathering information , evaluating it based on what we know , and choosing a course of action – can lead to spectacular failures when it comes to a scientific matter.
” He goes on to say , “ even those of us who are scientists ourselves , lack the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … research on our own.
” It ’ s a good point .
I would certainly never argue astrophysics with Dr. Siegel .
So , when it comes to scientific things , we should listen to scientific experts .
What happens , asks the mark in the audience , when two scientific experts say different things ?
Who do we listen to then ?
Siegel responds , as he manipulates the cards , “ scientific consensus.
” It ’ s the only thing to believe .
Never listen to “ contrarian ” scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false cuts , “ you can no doubt find … a handful of medical professionals ” who confirm “ your preconceived notions.
” That , however , is not research .
“ You are seeking information to confirm your own biases.
” What is the conclusion of the trick ?
“ You need to be humble , and admit that you , yourself , lack the necessary expertise to evaluate the science before you.
” Then , he turns over that third card : you must blindly follow whatever the scientific consensus says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t research , just acquiesce .
The false shuffle : Mr. Siegel neglects to mention how often in history the scientific consensus of the day has been wrong .
Course corrections came , but not from a small band of obsequious , like-minded scientists .
They came from the very “ contrarian ” scientists Siegel disparages throughout his article .
The pinky break : How do we simple marks know what the scientific consensus is ?
Siegel provides three examples of scientific consensus : All vaccines are safe , we must wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , and global warming is real .
Who tells us about this consensus ?
Not the scientists themselves .
The mainstream media .
The problem here is , the mainstream media lies .
The double lift : the trick I described at the beginning works because you assume you ’ ve seen all three cards .
Siegel ’ s argument works if you assume that you ’ ve seen the truth about scientists .
They ’ re always right .
Unfortunately , scientists are human beings , and human beings make mistakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Money and power can corrupt anything , including science .
For instance , when politics gets involved in science , what we get is bad science .
One quick example is : when 20 to 30 people tried to gather together to worship at a church , they were threatened with police action because it was unsafe during the pandemic .
Later that same week , over 100 BLM protesters were allowed to gather together to engage in “ protest ” .
One need not be a medical expert to understand this blatant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what are we to believe ?
One of Siegel ’ s other examples of going with the scientific consensus is vaccines .
The consensus says they ’ re all good .
Don ’ t argue , just take them .
You ’ re endangering yourself and others if you don ’ t .
But vaccines are a $ 40 billion a year industry .
That by itself should make us cautious .
In 1986 , President Reagan signed the NCVIA into law , absolving vaccine manufacturers of all liability if a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientist , but I should think this would make Big Pharma less responsible in the vaccine making process , not more .
One has but to look at Merck ’ s $ 4.85 billion settlement over their drug Vioxx to see the fantastic moral conscience of Big Pharma .
Also , a significant portion of the CDC ’ s budget comes from vaccine profits , yet they ’ re the ones in charge of maintaining and ensuring vaccine safety .
That sounds like a conflict of interest to me .
In these circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own ability to reason .
One need not be a scientific expert to research both sides of the debate not only to get an idea of the right answer , but to figure out who to trust .
Which scientists do we listen to ?
Which ones do we keep questioning ?
Deciding who to trust is not a scientific thing , but a human thing , that all of us do every day .
Will we non-scientists always get it right ?
No .
We ’ re not scientists .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it right ?
No .
Sometimes the scientists get it wrong .
And sometimes that consensus isn ’ t scientific , but economic or political .
From the day homo sapiens first walked upright , what separated us from the animals was the ability to think and reason abstractly .
When someone tells you that because you ’ re not a scientist , you ’ re too ignorant to have any opinion at all , that ’ s not science .
It ’ s a hustle .

There’s a card trick in which I show I have three cards in my hand. I also reveal the identity of two of those cards. Then I manipulate the cards so it appears I’ve revealed the identity of all three. When I finally do reveal the third card, the observer (or mark) is convinced that one of the cards he saw has magically turned into a different card.
It’s called misdirection. The best way to lead someone to a false conclusion is to start with the truth. The beauty of the 21st century is that most everyone knows magic is not real. While they may not be able to explain how it was done, at least they know they have been tricked.
Unfortunately, politicians and the media do this constantly without people ever realizing it.
The Trick
An article that just appeared on Forbes.com did exactly this. The title gives it away: “You Must Not ‘Do Your Own Research’ When It Comes To Science.” The writer, senior contributor Ethan Siegel, has a doctorate in astrophysics and teaches. He should know, right?
He should. But he’s pulling a trick. Like the magician, he starts with the truth. He says, “The techniques that most of us use to navigate most of our decisions in life – gathering information, evaluating it based on what we know, and choosing a course of action – can lead to spectacular failures when it comes to a scientific matter.” He goes on to say, “even those of us who are scientists ourselves, lack the relevant scientific expertise needed to adequately evaluate … research on our own.”
It’s a good point. I would certainly never argue astrophysics with Dr. Siegel.
So, when it comes to scientific things, we should listen to scientific experts. What happens, asks the mark in the audience, when two scientific experts say different things? Who do we listen to then?
Siegel responds, as he manipulates the cards, “scientific consensus.” It’s the only thing to believe. Never listen to “contrarian” scientists. He then does a series of false cuts, “you can no doubt find … a handful of medical professionals” who confirm “your preconceived notions.” That, however, is not research. “You are seeking information to confirm your own biases.”
What is the conclusion of the trick? “You need to be humble, and admit that you, yourself, lack the necessary expertise to evaluate the science before you.” Then, he turns over that third card: you must blindly follow whatever the scientific consensus says. Don’t question, don’t research, just acquiesce.
The Trick: Explained
The false shuffle: Mr. Siegel neglects to mention how often in history the scientific consensus of the day has been wrong. Course corrections came, but not from a small band of obsequious, like-minded scientists. They came from the very “contrarian” scientists Siegel disparages throughout his article.
The pinky break: How do we simple marks know what the scientific consensus is? Siegel provides three examples of scientific consensus: All vaccines are safe, we must wear masks during this very real and deadly pandemic, and global warming is real. Who tells us about this consensus? Not the scientists themselves. The mainstream media. The problem here is, the mainstream media lies.
The double lift: the trick I described at the beginning works because you assume you’ve seen all three cards. Siegel’s argument works if you assume that you’ve seen the truth about scientists. They’re always right. Unfortunately, scientists are human beings, and human beings make mistakes. They’re even corruptible. Money and power can corrupt anything, including science.
For instance, when politics gets involved in science, what we get is bad science. One quick example is: when 20 to 30 people tried to gather together to worship at a church, they were threatened with police action because it was unsafe during the pandemic. Later that same week, over 100 BLM protesters were allowed to gather together to engage in “protest”.
One need not be a medical expert to understand this blatant hypocrisy. When the establishment contradicts itself, what are we to believe?
The Vaccine Example
One of Siegel’s other examples of going with the scientific consensus is vaccines. The consensus says they’re all good. Don’t argue, just take them. You’re endangering yourself and others if you don’t.
But vaccines are a $40 billion a year industry. That by itself should make us cautious. In 1986, President Reagan signed the NCVIA into law, absolving vaccine manufacturers of all liability if a vaccine proved unsafe. I’m no scientist, but I should think this would make Big Pharma less responsible in the vaccine making process, not more. One has but to look at Merck’s $4.85 billion settlement over their drug Vioxx to see the fantastic moral conscience of Big Pharma.
Also, a significant portion of the CDC’s budget comes from vaccine profits, yet they’re the ones in charge of maintaining and ensuring vaccine safety. That sounds like a conflict of interest to me.
The True Reveal
In these circumstances, you and I must rely on our own ability to reason. One need not be a scientific expert to research both sides of the debate not only to get an idea of the right answer, but to figure out who to trust. Which scientists do we listen to? Which ones do we keep questioning? Deciding who to trust is not a scientific thing, but a human thing, that all of us do every day.
Will we non-scientists always get it right? No. We’re not scientists. But will the “scientific consensus” always get it right? No. Sometimes the scientists get it wrong. And sometimes that consensus isn’t scientific, but economic or political.
From the day homo sapiens first walked upright, what separated us from the animals was the ability to think and reason abstractly. When someone tells you that because you’re not a scientist, you’re too ignorant to have any opinion at all, that’s not science. It’s a hustle.
George Janek is a conservative thinker encamped in Northern California.


thestream--2020-08-10--Spiritual, Moral, Cultural, Political: Useful Guidelines for Pastors and Preachers

One of our most popular videos encourages pastors to speak out more on moral and cultural issues .
And a poll I recently conducted on Twitter confirmed that congregants want their leaders to be more vocal on cultural and even political issues .
But what is a proper balance ?
What should our priorities be as preachers of the Word and shepherds of the flock ?
Most pastors would say , “ My calling is to preach and teach the Scriptures , not to be a cultural commentator.
” To a certain extent , that is true .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t the Bible itself comment on culture ?
Doesn ’ t God ’ s Word intersect with society ?
Didn ’ t the prophets of old confront the evils of their day ?
After speaking at a recent conference , a Black woman who works in the Human Resources department at a large Christian school wanted to speak with me .
She and her husband support our ministry and she wanted me to sign my new book on evangelicals and Trump .
She also wanted me to know the tremendous significance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how critically important it was that , as a ministry , we were addressing the pressing cultural issues of the day , including LGBTQ activism and race issues .
We receive comments like this on a daily basis , indicating that God ’ s people , the flock for whom Jesus died , need leaders to take public stands and give them practical guidance .
Shouldn ’ t Christian leaders help their people navigate their way through these difficult cultural mazes as well ?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moral Issues of Our Day .
To be sure , I do not believe that most pastors and Christian leaders are called to address moral , cultural , and political issues as much as those of us who are called to stand on the front lines of the culture wars .
( This would apply to someone like me as a talk radio host and syndicated columnist . )
But certainly , there must be some intersection between the spiritual realm and these other realms .
This sliding scale of priorities should prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shepherds of the flock , we start with spiritual issues .
We start with the nature of God and the will of God and our relationship to God .
We focus on the cross and the resurrection , on the significance of the Messiah ’ s death , on forgiveness of sins , on the Great Commission .
This is the center of our bullseye in preaching and teaching , and this is where we begin .
As Paul famously wrote to the Corinthians , “ For I decided to know nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucified ” ( 1 Corinthians 2:3 ) .
But Paul didn ’ t stop there , and through his first letter to the Corinthians , he addressed moral issues as well .
In fact , we should strongly question any alleged spiritual experience that does not bring about moral transformation .
As revival scholar James Edwin Orr said , “ The only proof of the new birth is the new life.
” Or , in the words of Jacob ( James ) , “ someone will say , ‘ You have faith and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith apart from your works , and I will show you my faith by my works ” ( James 2:18 ) .
Virtually every single book of the New Testament calls for a moral response , and if our faith sees no connection between the spiritual and the moral , our faith is a sham .
We demonstrate our spirituality by our morality .
Anything less than that is called hypocrisy .
This , then , ties in directly with cultural issues .
After all , is not abortion a moral concern ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is not the destruction of the family a moral concern ?
Is not racism a moral concern ?
As we asked in the aforementioned video ( which was released November 2018 and was not attempting to be “ woke ” ) , “ Looking back on history , how do we feel about pastors and leaders who chose not to speak out during the days of slavery in America ?
Don ’ t we question their integrity and their courage ?
Don ’ t we wonder how they could have nothing to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What about those who had no problem with segregation , yet preached from the Scriptures every Sunday morning about God ’ s love and God ’ s goodness ?
Something just doesn ’ t line up .
“ What about pastors and leaders who chose to remain silent during the Holocaust , when six million Jews were killed in cold blood ?
How do we feel about their silence today ?
And don ’ t we commend leaders like Dietrich Bonhoeffer who refused to compromise their convictions for the sake of safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the spiritual and moral intersect , so also the moral and the cultural intersect .
And that leads us to the last category : political .
Let ’ s say you are the parents of a six-year-old girl who comes home from school crying and confused .
Her friend Johnny now believes he is a girl , and he just started using the girls ’ bathroom at school .
Or let ’ s say you are the parents of a thirteen-year-old girl who comes home from school embarrassed and upset after being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is nothing less than sanitized porn .
In both cases , you decide to make appointments to speak with the school administrator who tells you that this is the policy throughout the county .
Only the school board can change this .
But the school board consists of radical liberals , with not a single committed Christian among them .
So you start a movement in your church community to enlist candidates to run for the school board .
You have now become political .
But you took action because the spiritual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cultural which intersects with the political .
( With reference to our previous illustrations , can issues like slavery or segregation or the Holocaust be divorced from the political realm ? )
What does this mean for pastors and preachers ?
We must always remember that the people we minister to live in a real world , and they need guidance from the Scriptures in all areas of life .
Teaching them to pray is essential .
But teaching them how to love their spouses or raise their children is essential too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m also an ordained minister and began preaching in 1973 .
Ministry of the Word remains a central focus of my life . )
On a practical level , if we will work from this paradigm , using the scale of SMCP .
I believe we will keep our priorities straight .
( Shall we call it “ SMaCuP ” — pronounced Smack-Up — for short ? )
We are not primarily political in our ministries , but we address political issues as needed .
Nor are we primarily cultural in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressed because they intersect with our daily life .
And a biblical faith without morality is not a real faith , nor can a moral code bring transformation unless it starts with relationship with God .
So , we focus first on the spiritual , then from there the moral , then the cultural , then the political .
If we do this , the Lord will be glorified and our people will be equipped .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

One of our most popular videos encourages pastors to speak out more on moral and cultural issues. And a poll I recently conducted on Twitter confirmed that congregants want their leaders to be more vocal on cultural and even political issues. But what is a proper balance? What should our priorities be as preachers of the Word and shepherds of the flock?
Most pastors would say, “My calling is to preach and teach the Scriptures, not to be a cultural commentator.”
To a certain extent, that is true. But it is also overstated. After all, doesn’t the Bible itself comment on culture? Doesn’t God’s Word intersect with society? Didn’t the prophets of old confront the evils of their day?
The Flock Thirsts For Leadership
After speaking at a recent conference, a Black woman who works in the Human Resources department at a large Christian school wanted to speak with me. She and her husband support our ministry and she wanted me to sign my new book on evangelicals and Trump.
She also wanted me to know the tremendous significance of the work we were doing and how critically important it was that, as a ministry, we were addressing the pressing cultural issues of the day, including LGBTQ activism and race issues.
We receive comments like this on a daily basis, indicating that God’s people, the flock for whom Jesus died, need leaders to take public stands and give them practical guidance. Shouldn’t Christian leaders help their people navigate their way through these difficult cultural mazes as well?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
To be sure, I do not believe that most pastors and Christian leaders are called to address moral, cultural, and political issues as much as those of us who are called to stand on the front lines of the culture wars. (This would apply to someone like me as a talk radio host and syndicated columnist.)
But certainly, there must be some intersection between the spiritual realm and these other realms. This sliding scale of priorities should prove helpful.
Sliding Scale of Priorities: Spiritual and Moral
As teachers of the Word and shepherds of the flock, we start with spiritual issues. We start with the nature of God and the will of God and our relationship to God. We focus on the cross and the resurrection, on the significance of the Messiah’s death, on forgiveness of sins, on the Great Commission. This is the center of our bullseye in preaching and teaching, and this is where we begin.
As Paul famously wrote to the Corinthians, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:3).
But Paul didn’t stop there, and through his first letter to the Corinthians, he addressed moral issues as well. In fact, we should strongly question any alleged spiritual experience that does not bring about moral transformation.
As revival scholar James Edwin Orr said, “The only proof of the new birth is the new life.” Or, in the words of Jacob (James), “someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).
Virtually every single book of the New Testament calls for a moral response, and if our faith sees no connection between the spiritual and the moral, our faith is a sham. We demonstrate our spirituality by our morality. Anything less than that is called hypocrisy.
Cultural and Political
This, then, ties in directly with cultural issues. After all, is not abortion a moral concern? Is not sex-trafficking a moral concern? Is not the destruction of the family a moral concern? Is not racism a moral concern?
As we asked in the aforementioned video (which was released November 2018 and was not attempting to be “woke”), “Looking back on history, how do we feel about pastors and leaders who chose not to speak out during the days of slavery in America? Don’t we question their integrity and their courage? Don’t we wonder how they could have nothing to say in the light of such evil?
“What about those who had no problem with segregation, yet preached from the Scriptures every Sunday morning about God’s love and God’s goodness? Something just doesn’t line up.
“What about pastors and leaders who chose to remain silent during the Holocaust, when six million Jews were killed in cold blood? How do we feel about their silence today? And don’t we commend leaders like Dietrich Bonhoeffer who refused to compromise their convictions for the sake of safety and career?”
So, just as the spiritual and moral intersect, so also the moral and the cultural intersect. And that leads us to the last category: political.
Let’s say you are the parents of a six-year-old girl who comes home from school crying and confused. Her friend Johnny now believes he is a girl, and he just started using the girls’ bathroom at school.
Or let’s say you are the parents of a thirteen-year-old girl who comes home from school embarrassed and upset after being exposed to the new sex-ed curricula, which is nothing less than sanitized porn.
In both cases, you decide to make appointments to speak with the school administrator who tells you that this is the policy throughout the county. Only the school board can change this.
But the school board consists of radical liberals, with not a single committed Christian among them. So you start a movement in your church community to enlist candidates to run for the school board. You have now become political.
But you took action because the spiritual intersects with the moral which intersects with the cultural which intersects with the political. (With reference to our previous illustrations, can issues like slavery or segregation or the Holocaust be divorced from the political realm?)
Smack-Up
What does this mean for pastors and preachers? We must always remember that the people we minister to live in a real world, and they need guidance from the Scriptures in all areas of life. Teaching them to pray is essential. But teaching them how to love their spouses or raise their children is essential too. (For the record, I’m also an ordained minister and began preaching in 1973. Ministry of the Word remains a central focus of my life.)
On a practical level, if we will work from this paradigm, using the scale of SMCP. I believe we will keep our priorities straight. (Shall we call it “SMaCuP” — pronounced Smack-Up — for short?)
We are not primarily political in our ministries, but we address political issues as needed. Nor are we primarily cultural in our emphasis, but cultural issues must be addressed because they intersect with our daily life. And a biblical faith without morality is not a real faith, nor can a moral code bring transformation unless it starts with relationship with God.
So, we focus first on the spiritual, then from there the moral, then the cultural, then the political. If we do this, the Lord will be glorified and our people will be equipped.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-08-10--Military Photo of the Day: Countermeasure Flares Over Afghanistan

Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs release countermeasure flares over Afghanistan on July 23 , 2020 .
Have a @ @ @ @ @ We are praying for all our troops serving overseas and their families here at home @ @ @ @ @ : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of @ @ @

Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs release countermeasure flares over Afghanistan on July 23, 2020.
Have a safe week, everyone. We are praying for all our troops serving overseas and their families here at home.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.


thestream--2020-08-10--300 Female Athletes Back Idaho’s Barring of Transgender Biological Males from Women’s Sports

More than 300 female athletes are speaking out in support of Idaho ’ s decision to protect women ’ s sports from biological men .
Female professional , Olympic , and National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes on July 29 sent a letter to the NCAA board of governors asking it to reject calls from LGBT activists to boycott Idaho over its new law protecting women ’ s athletics from participation by transgender biological males .
“ We do not want to watch our athletic achievements be erased from the history books by individuals with all the inherent athletic advantages that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Save Women ’ s Sports wrote in its letter .
On March 30 , Idaho Gov .
Brad Little signed the Fairness in Women ’ s Sports Act , making Idaho the first state to pass legislation preventing biological males from competing in women ’ s sports .
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Idaho less than three weeks after Little signed the bill .
Now , the ACLU has asked the NCAA to boycott Idaho until the Fairness in Women ’ s Sports Act is repealed or amended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women .
In the letter , Save Women ’ s Sports reminds the NCAA that there are innate physical differences between men and women and that even “ testosterone suppression does not undo these physiological advantages.
” Allyson Felix is an American track and field athlete who has won six Olympic gold medals and three silver medals .
After competing in four Olympic Games , Felix is the “ undisputed queen of the track , ” according to Olympic.org .
At the 2012 London Summer Games , Felix ran the 200 meters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By comparison , South Africa ’ s Anaso Jobodwana finished eighth in the men ’ s 200 meters with a time of 20.69 , more than a second faster than Felix ’ s first-place time .
“ Even the world ’ s best female Olympic athletes would lose to literally thousands of male athletes , ” the letter states .
For veterans of the women ’ s sports fight like Sandra Bucha , a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame , signing the letter to the NCAA was a no-brainer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ against females , “ you are once again discriminating against girls , ” Bucha said in an interview on The Daily Signal ’ s “ Problematic Women ” podcast Thursday .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
In the 1960s , Bucha was a talented competitive swimmer , but there were no female swim teams in the state of Illinois .
She qualified to train with the boys , but was not permitted to swim in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before her senior year , Bucha filed a lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association to be allowed to compete in races with the boys swim team .
She lost the suit .
She was represented by the ACLU in her court battle in 1972 .
Today , the ACLU is “ asking for the state of Idaho to be boycotted simply because it is not allowing men to compete against women in women ’ s sports , ” Bucha said .
She added that the boycott effort “ completely reverses the purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for which I fought so strongly back in the ’ 70s.
” The passage of Title IX in 1972 by Congress was the breakthrough so many female athletes had waited for .
Title IX requires that any institution that receives federal funding , such as schools , must provide equal opportunity to women , including in the field of sports .
The Women ’ s Sports Foundation reported that before Title IX was passed , only 1 in every 27 girls in America played sports .
By 2016 , that number had grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I certainly don ’ t want to see the clock turned back , where women that were provided opportunities from Title IX forward are now being discriminated against by the same folks that advocated for them so many years ago , ” Bucha said .
Virginia Allen is a news producer for The Daily Signal .
She is the co-host of The Daily Signal Podcast and Problematic Women .
Send an email to Virginia .

More than 300 female athletes are speaking out in support of Idaho’s decision to protect women’s sports from biological men.
Female professional, Olympic, and National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes on July 29 sent a letter to the NCAA board of governors asking it to reject calls from LGBT activists to boycott Idaho over its new law protecting women’s athletics from participation by transgender biological males.
“We do not want to watch our athletic achievements be erased from the history books by individuals with all the inherent athletic advantages that come from a male body,” Save Women’s Sports wrote in its letter.
Idaho Steps Up
On March 30, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, making Idaho the first state to pass legislation preventing biological males from competing in women’s sports.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Idaho less than three weeks after Little signed the bill. Now, the ACLU has asked the NCAA to boycott Idaho until the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is repealed or amended to allow transgender biological men to compete alongside women.
In the letter, Save Women’s Sports reminds the NCAA that there are innate physical differences between men and women and that even “testosterone suppression does not undo these physiological advantages.”
Allyson Felix is an American track and field athlete who has won six Olympic gold medals and three silver medals. After competing in four Olympic Games, Felix is the “undisputed queen of the track,” according to Olympic.org.
At the 2012 London Summer Games, Felix ran the 200 meters in 21.88 seconds, taking the gold. By comparison, South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana finished eighth in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 20.69, more than a second faster than Felix’s first-place time.
“Even the world’s best female Olympic athletes would lose to literally thousands of male athletes,” the letter states.
Swimmer and Women’s Sports Activist Sandra Bucha: ACLU No Longer Protecting Female Athletes
For veterans of the women’s sports fight like Sandra Bucha, a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, signing the letter to the NCAA was a no-brainer.
When biological men are allowed to compete against females, “you are once again discriminating against girls,” Bucha said in an interview on The Daily Signal’s “Problematic Women” podcast Thursday.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In the 1960s, Bucha was a talented competitive swimmer, but there were no female swim teams in the state of Illinois. She qualified to train with the boys, but was not permitted to swim in her school’s all-male swim competitions.
Before her senior year, Bucha filed a lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association to be allowed to compete in races with the boys swim team. She lost the suit.
She was represented by the ACLU in her court battle in 1972.
Today, the ACLU is “asking for the state of Idaho to be boycotted simply because it is not allowing men to compete against women in women’s sports,” Bucha said. She added that the boycott effort “completely reverses the purpose and intent of Title IX and that for which I fought so strongly back in the ’70s.”
The passage of Title IX in 1972 by Congress was the breakthrough so many female athletes had waited for. Title IX requires that any institution that receives federal funding, such as schools, must provide equal opportunity to women, including in the field of sports.
The Women’s Sports Foundation reported that before Title IX was passed, only 1 in every 27 girls in America played sports. By 2016, that number had grown to 2 of every 5 girls.
“I certainly don’t want to see the clock turned back, where women that were provided opportunities from Title IX forward are now being discriminated against by the same folks that advocated for them so many years ago,” Bucha said.
Virginia Allen is a news producer for The Daily Signal. She is the co-host of The Daily Signal Podcast and Problematic Women. Send an email to Virginia.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-08-10--Ohio Manufacturers Come Back, Thanks to @POTUS

President Trump ’ s recent visit to Clyde , Ohio is a symbol of hope for manufacturers all over the country who had been forgotten by the Washington , D.C. establishment for decades until the current administration took office .
Prior to Donald Trump ’ s stop at the city ’ s Whirlpool manufacturing plant , no U.S. President had set foot in Sandusky County for more than a century .
Much like Ohio ’ s manufacturing sector , the region was sorely neglected by the political elites , who cared more about maximizing America ’ s GDP than they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of American workers .
Everything changed with the election of Donald J. Trump , who has kept his promise to rebuild American manufacturing as part of his plan to Make America Great Again .
“ [ Your ] manufacturing jobs , your steel jobs , your miners are going to be protected , your miners are going back to work , ” he said during a 2016 speech in Cincinnati , adding that Ohio was among the states that suffered the most under the Great Recession .
“ The state of Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since NAFTA , ” he continued , vowing to pursue a new trade policy that would put Ohio workers first .
As he reminded the workers in Clyde , that ’ s exactly what he ’ s done .
First , the President imposed strategic counter-tariffs on bad actors such as China to combat the effects of illegal and abusive trade practices that previously put companies like Whirlpool at an unfair disadvantage .
As a direct result of this effort , Whirlpool was able to expand its operations and add 200 local jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the last administration , the men and women at Whirlpool saw their jobs and factories targeted for destruction , ” the President said during his visit , noting that the Obama-Biden administration did nothing to stop the assault on Ohio manufacturers .
“ Under my administration , all of that has changed.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Of course , Whirlpool is just one of many success stories that have been made possible by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies .
In July alone , several major manufacturers announced their own plans to expand operations in the Buckeye State , investing millions of dollars in local communities and creating hundreds of new jobs across the state .
Advanced manufacturer Dorel Home , for instance , recently decided to invest $ 3.3 million on its facility in Tiffin , creating almost 100 new jobs .
Shutterfly , meanwhile , is investing a whopping $ 23.2 million on upgrades to its Crawford County plant .
International Cushioning Company , a commercial packaging manufacturer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a new facility in the state , as well .
There will be more success stories to come , because President Trump will never stop fighting for American manufacturers .
Just recently , the White House took bold steps to ensure that companies don ’ t displace American workers by abusing H-1B visas , ensuring that Americans will be first in line for the millions of jobs that are already being created by our “ V-shaped ” post-pandemic economic recovery .
The President is also seizing this opportunity to cut America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dependence that had tragic consequences during the coronavirus pandemic — and just announced a directive to ensure that essential medicines are produced in the U.S. from here on out .
The record is crystal clear — no other president has done more to strengthen Ohio manufacturers than Donald Trump .
The future of our state is brighter than ever before .
Ken Blackwell served as the mayor of Cincinnati , Ohio , the Ohio State Treasurer , and Ohio Secretary of State .
He currently serves on the board of directors for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

President Trump’s recent visit to Clyde, Ohio is a symbol of hope for manufacturers all over the country who had been forgotten by the Washington, D.C. establishment for decades until the current administration took office.
Prior to Donald Trump’s stop at the city’s Whirlpool manufacturing plant, no U.S. President had set foot in Sandusky County for more than a century. Much like Ohio’s manufacturing sector, the region was sorely neglected by the political elites, who cared more about maximizing America’s GDP than they did about the lives and livelihoods of millions of American workers.
Everything changed with the election of Donald J. Trump, who has kept his promise to rebuild American manufacturing as part of his plan to Make America Great Again.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by The White House (@whitehouse) on Aug 7, 2020 at 6:46pm PDT
“[Your] manufacturing jobs, your steel jobs, your miners are going to be protected, your miners are going back to work,” he said during a 2016 speech in Cincinnati, adding that Ohio was among the states that suffered the most under the Great Recession. “The state of Ohio has lost one in three manufacturing jobs since NAFTA,” he continued, vowing to pursue a new trade policy that would put Ohio workers first.
As he reminded the workers in Clyde, that’s exactly what he’s done.
Ohio Companies Expanding and Investing
First, the President imposed strategic counter-tariffs on bad actors such as China to combat the effects of illegal and abusive trade practices that previously put companies like Whirlpool at an unfair disadvantage. As a direct result of this effort, Whirlpool was able to expand its operations and add 200 local jobs at its facility in Clyde.
“Under the last administration, the men and women at Whirlpool saw their jobs and factories targeted for destruction,” the President said during his visit, noting that the Obama-Biden administration did nothing to stop the assault on Ohio manufacturers. “Under my administration, all of that has changed.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Of course, Whirlpool is just one of many success stories that have been made possible by the Trump administration’s pro-growth economic policies. In July alone, several major manufacturers announced their own plans to expand operations in the Buckeye State, investing millions of dollars in local communities and creating hundreds of new jobs across the state.
Advanced manufacturer Dorel Home, for instance, recently decided to invest $3.3 million on its facility in Tiffin, creating almost 100 new jobs. Shutterfly, meanwhile, is investing a whopping $23.2 million on upgrades to its Crawford County plant. International Cushioning Company, a commercial packaging manufacturer, is slated to spend $3.6 million on a new facility in the state, as well.
Beyond Ohio
There will be more success stories to come, because President Trump will never stop fighting for American manufacturers. Just recently, the White House took bold steps to ensure that companies don’t displace American workers by abusing H-1B visas, ensuring that Americans will be first in line for the millions of jobs that are already being created by our “V-shaped” post-pandemic economic recovery.
The President is also seizing this opportunity to cut America’s reliance on foreign supply chains — a dependence that had tragic consequences during the coronavirus pandemic — and just announced a directive to ensure that essential medicines are produced in the U.S. from here on out.
The record is crystal clear — no other president has done more to strengthen Ohio manufacturers than Donald Trump. The future of our state is brighter than ever before.
Ken Blackwell served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Ohio State Treasurer, and Ohio Secretary of State. He currently serves on the board of directors for Club for Growth and National Taxpayers Union.