Almost every organization . . . exhibits two faces — a smiling face which it turns toward its members and a frowning face which it turns to the world outside.
Kenneth Boulding, Joseph T. Mahoney & Anne S. Huff, Toward a New Social Contract. Theory in Organization Science (Faculty paper, University of Illinois at Urbana, 1993).
On December 30, 1919, Lincoln’s Inn in London, England, admitted its first female bar student.
Which is understandable, since the U.S. State Department more than merely condemned the European Union.
In the words of Marco Rubio, the five just-sanctioned persons “have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.”
Thierry Breton. Former EU commissioner and top proponent of the Digital Services Act, which seeks to force U.S. tech giants to “police illegal content more aggressively” or face big fines. “Illegal” here doesn’t mean speech deployed to commit bank robberies; it’s speech EU censors dislike.
Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg. Leaders of HateAid.
Clare Melford. Leader of Global Disinformation Index, which, the State Department observes, exhorts “censorship and blacklisting of American speech and press.”
Imran Ahmed. Leader of Center for Countering Digital Hate, described by Breitbart as the “deplatforming outfit which defined its central mission as ‘Kill Musk’s Twitter.’ ” CCDH also worked hard to get Breitbart and other sites blacklisted from social media.
Maybe none of these villains was planning a trip to the United States anytime soon.
And, doubtless, much more could be done to combat overseas attempts to censor Americans. But at least this much action against enemies of our First Amendment rights is warranted, even if mostly symbolic.
Just give us a little more time, European leaders. We’ll do more to oppose and thwart your obnoxious global censorship agenda.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
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Economic problems have no sharp edges. They shade off imperceptibly into politics, sociology, and ethics. Indeed, it is hardly an exaggeration to say that the ultimate answer to every economic problem lies in some other field.
Kenneth Boulding, quoted in Leonard Silk, The Economists (1976).
On December 29, 1911, Mongolia gained independence from the Qing Dynasty.
Well, not nobody-nobody: The recipients of the largesse? They’re the exception; they want it. But these exceptions can’t justify expenditures wholly unrelated to the proper government function of protecting life and liberty from foreign and domestic threats.
“Congress keeps shoveling money toward pet projects and special interests while hardworking Americans pay the price through inflation and crushing interest rates — even after President Trump took action to end most foreign aid programs,” says Paul.
Examples:
And so much more. Take it all back, Santa!
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
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Beware of those who use words to mean their opposites. At the same time have pity on them, for usually this trick is their only stock in trade.
R.A. Lafferty, The Flame Is Green (1971).
Henry Lee III’s eulogy to George Washington in Congress declared the former general and president to be “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Washington had died on December 14th, 1799, and Lee’s eulogy took place twelve days later.
Colorado now mandates that emissions from burning natural gas be cut, over the next ten years, by 41 percent — the perfect percentage, elsewise it would’ve been rounded to 40.
No more natural gas emissions at all by 2050.
“News that Colorado has set hard target dates for an end to burning natural gas in our daily lives prompted many ‘wait, what?’ questions from Colorado Sun readers,” says Sun columnist Michael Booth. He is here to help.
Propane tanks? These may not be banned by the current law, but do try to convert to electrical appliances. (If the power goes out, Coloradans can always use some other electrical thing as backup. Think batteries, lots of batteries!)
Also, the “new rules are not aimed at homeowners,” Coloradans will be relieved to know. Just at utilities . . . which serve homeowners. “Under current rules, no one is showing up at your door to rip out a gas water heater against your will.”
Those helpful government agents will show up at your utility’s door with a court order forcing your utility to rip up natural gas lines, instead.
What if the switchover happens too slowly for regulators?
Column for another day.
Any advice on reversing the ban?
Mr. Booth might protest that it’s not his job to lead any rebel alliance, only to give information on things. Oh, sure. Well, he might have offered info on how to contact Colorado state legislators and the governor’s office.
Not for any purpose but just to keep readers well-informed.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
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