George Orwell: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” Control…..Repubs/Right-Wingers[RWs]…need, MUST be in control…..because their “role” as canaries in the mine, of sentries on the wall requires it. They must be free to “sniff out danger, protect American virginity. RWs must control women and “colored persons.” There are others, “enemies of the people,” for whom RWs must always be on guard so “we” don’t become “victims” like Repubs.
“Enemies of the people” include “communists,” Darwin, EPA, taxes, Planned Parenthood, labor unions, Mexican rapists, “socialism,” mainstream news, regulations, separation of church & state, immigrants, gays, “activist judges,” bureaucrats, people not like you.
Follow the breadcrumbs down the RW rabbit hole…into Repub fantasyland…searching for “transparency”…necessary because the 2022 “enemies of the people,” teachers, replace 2021’s “enemies of the people”: volunteer elections workers and those who couldn’t find “missing’ votes; and 2020’s “enemies of the people”: public health workers and nurses.
There is another “enemy of the people’: the wrong kind of voter – an ongoing RW fear.
Michael Ende: “When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies..human live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts.”
The famous 8/23/1971 “Powell Memorandum” spoke of threats to capitalism, warned of “disquieting voices..from college campus, the pulpit, the media.” Powell advocated “constant surveillance” of textbook and tV content, a purge of left-wing elements. Corporations needed to get their message out, fund neoliberal scholars, publish books, influence popular opinions. This has been done, with a vengeance.
The teacher plot against YOUR kids has been sniffed out by ever vigilant Repub/RW canaries, deep in the educational mineshaft. First it was “CRT.,” now a dastardly “lack of transparency,” sneaking in “unAmerican,” “divisive concepts,” brainwashing YOUR vulnerable kids! Using YOUR tax dollars! Shades of Benedict Arnold. Where is Senator Joe McCarthy when “we” need him?
Repub/RW sentries on America’s walls solution: “parent power,” as co-equal educational partners regulating “commie” teachers, safeguarding America’s sacred curriculum.
As Repubs/RWs have taught you, helped by media morons and internet idiots, so-called “experts’ know nothing – but YOU do.It’s called “common sense.” The national press secretary for the Republican State Leadership Committee said Repub/RW proposals are “common sense.”
*****WARNING!!! *****FLASHING LIGHTS! Innocent civilians advised: seek cover whenever ANY Repub/RW operative says “common sense” to describe ANYTHING – because it won’t be. “Common sense” is a major RW “code word” – like “religious liberty,” “free market solution,” “originalism,” “election integrity,” “personal responsibility,” “good man with a gun.”
Perspective: RW operative Chris Rufo [January]: this would be 2022’s wedge issue to “bait the left” into appearing to oppose transparency, implying Dems are hiding something. “The strategy here is to use a non-threatening, liberal value – ‘transparency’ – to force ideological actors to undergo public scrutiny.” Repub/RW proposals will “give parents a powerful check on bureaucratic power.” [unsaid here: give Repubs 2022 votes as rewards for having sniffed out this diabolical “threat” to American democracy]
TIME OUT!!! – read the Repub/RW thinking above again – note HOW they are thinking, note the kind of thing they try to do in a political campaign. Why not something positive? Something improving USA education?
So – we have “constant surveillance” of “commie” teachers, “commie” books, “commie” school boards. “Poll watchers” unleashed in Florida ensuring “election integrity”; vigilantes unleashed in Texas ensuring no rebel females refuse carrying out their God-given roles as baby carriers; “parent power” unleashed across America saving OUR kids from dastardly “unAmerican” ideas and discomfort.
At least one “parent power” sentry wants teachers wearing body cameras. Indiana “parent power” legislation allowing parents filing complaints and lawsuits if they “believe'[!!!] teachers have violated a ban on certain “divisive concepts.” No word yet whether future laws will require “commie” teachers burned at the stake.
Thomas Paine: “He who dares not to offend cannot be honest.”
QUESTION is: “..all Men are created equal..” a “divisive concept”. – and thus banned?
– evolution [modern science & medicine basis], illustrated by COVID variations, a “divisive concept”?
– discussion of women not voting until 1920, “glass ceiling” since, a “divisive concept’?
– “separation of church & state” [1776 No. Carolina Constitution, Articles XXXIV: “..no persons..on any pretense whatso-
ever be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to his own faith..”}, a “divisive concept”?
– discussing the three worst [until 2000] Supreme Court decisions in American history, “Dred Scott,’ “Plessy”, “
“Korematsu” [all racist], a “divisive concept”?
– telling students “Second Amendment Rights” don’t exist – as per Articles of Confederation, Madison”s first draft,
1792 Militia Acts explicit wording, a “divisive concept”?
– discussing the 1930s Great Depression as a failure of capitalism, a “divisive concept”?
– any mention Europeans conducting genocide against Native Americans in South and North America, a “divisive
concept”?
– a “divisive concept’ to mention African Americans did NOT “enjoy” slavery?
QUESTION: exactly what parts of “American” history are not a “divisive concept,” permissible to discuss? Are advocates of “Parent power” suggesting teaching America as “The Good Ship Lollypop” – when kids can look this up and know it wrong?
QUESTION: will regimented, “safe” classrooms help solve global warming, supply chain mess, economic inequality, national debt, affordable housing, hunger, outsourcing quality ‘American’ jobs, alternative energy? Would ‘safe” classrooms have put Americans on the moon?
QUESTION: when does the “fire department” become the “Fahrenheit 451 department”; “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” “1984,” “The Rights of Man,” “The Grapes of Wraith” banned; are “we’ going to demand “loyalty test and oaths” for teachers?
QUESTION: does the demand for increased “transparency” apply to Republican legislators? Are ‘we” going to have “parent power” legislation demanding names of legislators giving donors tax breaks; for contracts given ‘politically connected” businessmen; for “reforms’ that don’t; for RW ideology become law?
Mark Twain: “Loyalty to country always. Loyalty to government when it deserves it.”
A circa 2/12/22 Michael Ramirez “Las Vegas Review-Journal” cartoon has an updated definition of “CRT”: “Critical Riot Theory” – as the Repub Nat’l Committee votes to “rewrite the history of the Jan. 6th riots and condemn those who speak the truth.”
Only logical because for decades RWs attempt rewriting truth on many things: reverse Robin Hood tax cuts for rich really “benefit’ America; Founders didn’t explicitly intend “separation of church & state; “2nd Amendment rights’ means carrying any weapon anywhere anytime; “real victims” in American history are white men; “the market’ pre-determined 1975-202X American economic inequality; Founders intended Constitution forever in stone [“originalism”]; revisiting America’s greatest sins and blunders is a “divisive concept’ without merit.
QUESTION: in all this denial, do those pushing “parent power” have so little faith in their own children; these internet kids will be “crushed” and “demoralized” if school tells them what the internet can, maybe already has?
The real “transparency”: Republicans MUST rewrite history – because if they don’t, it will reveal what a huge fraud the post-1980 Republican party is. Long ago, it stopped being the party of Lincoln, Tewddy R, Ike. They can’t win elections on what they stand for – they MUST create “wedge” issues, MUST smear opponents, MUST get people’s emotions aroused against “unAmerican’ villains, “commies'” aliens “out to get them.”
RWs have politicized a disease and vilified doctors and nurses. Now, politicize education and vilify teachers. Before, vilify elections workers; attacked police 1/6/21; deny global warming and vilify scientists. They need, must have “enemies of the people.”
As usual in Repubs/RW melodramas, there’s delicious irony, hypocrisy, and double standards. The Obama and Biden Administrations made White House visitor logs public. The Trump Administration has/is fighting ANY “transparency” on ANY records-documents-emails-memos-visitor logs-etc. You can’t make this stuff up!!!!!
So, you, gentle reader, are left again – to ponder why the Republicans/RWs continue to come up with these “crises,” continue to be upset about something new every day, continue to find enemies. In this case, you have to wonder why “transparency”. – when the post-1945 Republican public record is full of one scandal after another, one case of trying to hide what they’ve done from YOU. They must think you’ve forgotten the last 75 years. i
With Justice For All 