35 Comments
Feb 6Liked by Joel Bowman

I've been yelling "us vs them" from the rooftops for 5 years, and most every time I say it I need to explain myself. I just don't get how the mindless masses can't see it. Or maybe it's just the talking heads in the press. Maybe the people CAN see it. El Salvador and Argentina are banana republics run by dictators if you listen to the press. No matter where I look, USA, England, France, my home Canada, et al, all I see is monkeys running the show, with opposition parties salivating at the chance to step in and carry on with more of the same. Forget the monkeys, and give me a banana. It is time for a serious change.

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author

Well said, sir! As for those who CAN see it... once you do, it's hard to unsee. Given demographic trends, it seems clear to some that the future is liberty bound. Let's hope!

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founding
Feb 6Liked by Joel Bowman

Thanks Joel. I'm fascinated by the goings on in Argentina and El Salvador so I appreciate your covering both. Perhaps the Progressives in our midst might consider doing a little homework on just exactly what is entailed in a "liberal democracy"... I personally found this quote from Britannica's to be enlightening... "liberal democracy, a form of democracy in which the power of government is limited, and the freedom and rights of individuals are protected, by constitutionally established norms and institutions." It brings to mind for me (being a US citizen) our Constitutional Republic adorned with its Constitution, Bill of Rights and foundational principals encapsulated therein. I'll note that Progressives in the US have been working to tear down the works since Woodrow Wilson was President, 100 years ago. Most recently censorship, lawfare and tyranny has become all the rage to them and hence my confusion with all their bleating about "liberal democracy". Keep it coming Joel.

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Ugh, Wilson was the worst. It’s a testament to the framework of the US, and its better stewards, that the country was able to survive past his scorched constitution policy. Smith was right: There’s a lot of ruin in a country indeed. Cheers!

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Subsequent presidents strove to surpass Wilson in the 'worst' category.

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founding
Feb 6Liked by Joel Bowman

"liberal democracy, a form of democracy in which the power of government is limited, and the freedom and rights of individuals are protected" Britannica has it spot on.

The word"liberal" has, today, become so corrupted as to have lost all meaning. Liberals or Libertarians what are they? Freedom; what is not to like? The elite use the word often to disguise all manner of nefarious motive and the sheeple follow confident in the belief that they will be free.

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Liberal to me means centrist, as in the Liberal Party which has existed in the UK for centuries. While initially the only opposition to the Conservative Party it is confirmed not to have been left wing by the later arrival of the Labour Party. The word "liberal" has indeed been corrupted, to mean left wing in some countries and right wing in others. "Libertarian" is to me a new buzz word, as is "collectivist". It has an undesirable verbal hint of "libertine".

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Amazing how these words change and morph over time...euphemisms, dysphemisms, etc. I can't help but think this is not by accident, but under manipulation by people who would seek to control out thoughts through our language. Thanks for the insights!

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Feb 6Liked by Joel Bowman

Yesterday I saw this quote from C.G. Jung while reading a poem by Mary Oliver. It calmed me, and provided some solace from the insanity.

“The life that I could still live, I should

live, and the thoughts that I could still

think, I should think.”

We can’t mollify the devil’s midwives,

but we can enjoy & appreciate Joel’s

piercing & humourous missives.

Thank you once more sir.

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author

Thank YOU, good sir. That there's a keeper!

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Feb 6Liked by Joel Bowman

Hooray for educated youth south of the Land of the Uniparty! Getting to choose what speed we drive off the fiscal cliff is no choice at all. God speed to Milei and Buekele!

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Great writing today Joel, most enjoyable!

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Thanks Joel. I didn't realize this had happened.

I find it extremely disheartening that many of these legal battles around Trump are going the way Biden wants and hearing that we are sending Ukraine billions while allowing in millions of illegals. What is Congress other than a bunch of imbeciles.

To see a big time win that Biden doesn't like makes me very happy.

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Feb 6Liked by Joel Bowman

The words have no meaning anymore! People don’t know what democracy means nor fascism nor anything else! Cuba is a democracy for the leftists and somebody trying to reduce the power of the State is called fascist!!! I recommend reading the Brazilian philosopher and writer Olavo de Carvalho to understand the concept of Cognitive Parallax and read his book “Jardim das Aflições”. Cheers.

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author

Thanks for the recommendations!

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Putin has no idea what "imperialist" or "fascist" mean. The pot just keeps on calling the kettle black.

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founding

Joel, I like the quote " Advanced auction on stolen goods", and I like the cartoon with the cow considering the options of Democracy, which sums up U.S. politics. Two parties (Republicans and Democrats) carrying out the lying orders of the Elite, while counting the money in their campaign treasuries (untaxed and uncontrolled) and their offshore accounts filled with Lobbyists money. Thank you President Melei for giving Freedom back to the people.

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Feb 7Liked by Joel Bowman

We don’t know what Democracy means anymore but we’ll damn sure save you from it!

Thank you ol Joe

And thank you Joel!

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author

Haha, good one!

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Feb 6Liked by Joel Bowman

I've just discovered you - through one of your recent articles about Milei and another one on "the 1837 generation" I think. For a typical 'yanqui' hitherto ignorant of Central and South America, I'm finding your stuff enlightening - and very enheartening. Thank you. Best.

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Welcome aboard, good sir! Thanks for your support!

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Thank you once more Joel.The election of Mileil reconciles me with my country of origin.I hope the change will hold!!!! As a pertinent historical review I would like to mention an article written by Niall Ferguson titled #the treason of the intellectuals" Enlightening !!!!!!

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Excellent recommendation. Dear wifey interviewed Prof. Ferguson a few years back. He was a real gentleman and, of course, a wealth of knowledge. I'll check out that essay for sure. Saludos!

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Feb 7Liked by Joel Bowman

I would rather be “night swimming.” Great band!!

Great read as always thx for sharing all you do with us.

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author

Aaaand…now I’ve got THAT one in my head, haha. Thanks for reading!

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WaPo

“El Salvador is the site of a startling — and, to many liberals, disturbing — political project.” 

Oh My! those uneducated peasants.

Do they have any idea what freedoms of expression do to civil society?

The disruption will be, Oh, what’s that word, Dear?

Oh! Cathartic.

You sure it wasn’t Chaotic ?

Are you sure?

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Feb 7Liked by Joel Bowman

Spoiler- Is that Pink Floyd I spy on Joel’s event horizon? “Us…..and Them….”

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Funnily enough, I made a Pink Floyd joke just yesterday... one about Another Brick in the Wall and the dismal state of public education. Hmm...

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Feb 7Liked by Joel Bowman

Ah, a kindred soul.

So going slightly off topic, there’s a version of that tune by Shirley Adamson thats worth a listen, from the compilation Jazz and Floyd:

https://youtu.be/9TN8NlQDj-s?si=ppsskoR-LXbXqxIK

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Nice one! Made me think of Noordpool Orchestra's reworking of Radiohead's tunes. Some good ones in here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU_zgnNFcA0&list=PLfgR7JlcQ4Pf1Gp-x34thSfsxD9r32LQA

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What about His big whiny way when an election went the "wrong" way (He who says everything twice, hoping to be mistaken for The Bible)? He is one of Them! What are the American Us (of which I am not one) to do faced with two abattoir lanes of apparently (according to the polls) equal horror?

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From the US, let me say only: "Oh, please, God!"

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