For some, this may be “controversial,” for others difficult to accept. My challenge: do fact-based research in mainstream sources.
Following are various insights from Greek-Roman days forward, headlines and book excerpts DOCUMENTING the charge. No “reasonable” person, no real “patriot” will be able to deny a simple truth ; the very rich have sought throughout human history to hide their wealth, pay no taxes on it [because they “earned it all by themself!”], use it corrupting government and justice.
Very important: evidence herein is an exceedingly small portion of the mountains of proven documents about the corrosive, amoral, immoral, selfish greed of those acquiring great wealth. Obviously, not every wealthy person fits this, but millions do.
Much of the obscene wealth could possibly be “forgiven,” even accepted – except for one thing: their arrogant refusal to share any of it through taxes, accompanied by their amoral sabotage of ANY attempt to restrain their selfish destructive behaviors in rigging economies and governments.

Adam Smith: Wherever there is great property, there is great inequality…For one rich man, there must be at least 500 poor.”

“Top 1% of wealthy hold more assets than the entire middle class” [10/11/21, Blomberg – A.Tanzi, M.Dorning]. The middle 60% saw their combined assets drop to 26.6%; the super rich owned 27%. The middle class” share dropped in one generation.”

Economics Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz: “American inequality didn’t just happen. It was created.” [“The Price of Inequality. page 35]

“Plutonomics’: ‘..in a 2006 memo to Citigroup’s wealthy clients, lead ‘strategist’ Ajay Kapur..’Our thesis is..the rich are the dominant drivers of demand’ in the U.S. and other ‘plutonomies.’ How does a country become a plutonomy? One essential factor.. is “favorable treatment by…market-friendly governments to allow the rich to prosper.’ Another is..have CEOs who ‘lead the charge’ on globalization and automation to transfer more of the nation’s wealth into corporate profits ‘at the expense of labor.’ {Mother Jones, March/April, 2011] [Note: this article, and others, calculated the ‘average’ 41-60% American family is ROBBED of $10-11,000 every year by the top 1%]

Abraham Lincoln: “I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country…corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” [11/21/64 letter]

Kurt Andersen: “During the 20th century, America managed to make its economic and social systems both more and more fair and more prosperous. A huge, secure, and contented middle class emerged. Incomes rose in sync. But then the New Deal gave way to the Raw Deal. Beginning in early 1970s, by means of a long war conceived of and executed by a confederacy of big business CEOs, the superrich, and right-wing zealots, the rules and norms that made the American middle class possible were undermined and dismantled. The clock was turned back on a century of economic progress, making greed good, workers powerless, and the market all powerful while weaponizing nostalgia, lifting up an oligarchy that served only its own interests..” [“Evil Geniuses]

Jesus: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven>” [Matthew 19: 24]
John D. Rockefeller: “God gave me my money.”
Plato: “Very rich and very good at the same time he cannot be.”

Propublica: “Wealthy avoided most U.S. taxes” [6/19/21] The richest 25 Americans paid relatively little, and sometimes nothing, in 2014-2018 taxes. They used various accounting tricks and loopholes [“campaign contributions” at work!]; and because America emphasizes taxing labor income [lower 90%] versus wealth [top l%]. The “true tax rate” for the ultrarich: 3.4% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oliver Goldsmith: “Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.” [1728-1774]

Washington Monthly: “..years-long assault by Republicans on the. internal Revenue Service” [July-August, 2021]. George Bush hired private contractors, who “..ended up COSTING the federal government money.” Republicans “slashed 20% of the IRS’s budget and 22% of its staff from 2010-2018. For people making over $1 million…tax audits dropped by 72% – money the IRS collects from audits fell..40%…Biden’s new IRS commissioner..told Congress the agency is leaving on the table $l trillion a year in uncollected taxes because it doesn’t have enough staff.”

Grover Cleveland: “Communism is a hateful thing and a menace to peace and organized government; but the communism of combined wealth and capital, the outgrowth of overweening cupidity and selfishness, which insidiously undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions, is not less dangerous than the communism of oppressed poverty and toil.”

“Tax firms find way to write the rules their workers leave for fed jobs, craft favorable policies, then return” {NY Times, 9/20/21 – J.Drucker, D.Hakim] “The largest U.S. accounting firms have perfected a remarkably effective behind-the-scenes system to promote their interests in Washington. Their tax lawyers take senior jobs at the Treasury Department, where they write policies…favorable to their former corporate clients, often with the expectation they will soon return to their old employers.”

Adam Smith: “The interest of [businessmen] is always in some respect different from, and even opposite to, that of the public…The proposal of any new law or regulation which comes from this order…ought never be adopted, till after having been long and carefully examined..with the most suspicious attention…it comes from an order of men…who have generally an interest to deceive and even oppress the public.”

Forthose thinking the January 6, 2021 insurrection to overturn results of the 2020 election was the first of its kind – you’re WRONG!!! The first occurred in 1933.
Jules Archer’s “The Plot to Seize the White House” states: “The crucial events of the plot to seize the White House unfolded between July and November, 1933, with hearings before the McCormack-Dickstein Committee begun…on November 20, 1934…On February, 1935, the committee submitted to the House of Representatives its final report, verifying completely the testimony of General Butler.”
A group of wealthy industrialists in league with groups like the KKK and American Liberty League planned a fascist coup. They wanted to turn unhappy war veterans into American “Brown Shirts” to depose President Roosevelt and stop the New Deal. The hero was General Smedley Butler, who rejected his proposed “American Caesar” role and revealed the plot to journalists and Congress.”

For perspective on the above, read Charles Higham’s “Trading With the Enemy. An Expose of the Nazi-American Money Plot. 1933-1949.” Declassified WW II documents reveal a long list of prominent “American” corporations supporting the Nazis, even during the war. Edwin Black’s “IBM and the Holocaust” reveals how IBM helped the Nazi war effort. James and Suzanne Pool’s “Who Financed Hitler” documents how. “American” citizens funded Hitler’s rise to power.

Paul Krugman: “We are on a road not just to a highly unequal society, but to ..oligarchy. A society of inherited wealth. When you have a few people who are so wealthy they can effectively buy the political system, the political system is going to tend to serve their interests…” [Dark Money”, page 10}
“…Jeffrey Winters, a professor..specializing in..comparative study of oligarchies, was one of a growing number of voices..beginning to argue..America was a ‘civil oligarchy’ in which a tiny and extremely wealthy slice of the population was able to use its vastly superior economic position to promote a brand of politics that served first and foremost itself.” [“Dark Money”, page 10]
“Let’s call the system..”Citizens United’ and other rulings and laws have created what it is: an oligarchy,’ declared McKinnon. “The system ids controlled by a handful of ultra-wealthy people, most of whom got rich from the system and who will get richer from the system.” [“Dark Money,” page 371]

Gaius Petronis Arbiter [27-66 AD]: “What power has law where only money rules?”

“Trump’s taxes illustrate how the game is rigged” [Jared Bernstein, 10/4/16] “If billionaires..don’t pay what they owe in taxes, there are only three unfortunate consequences: Those of us with less means make up the difference, we lack the revenue to meet challenges we face, or we borrow and run up the deficit.”

Abraham Lincoln: “These capitalists generally act harmoniously, and in concert, to fleece the people.” [1837]

CORRUPTION – I – “Leaked records show vast hidden wealth” [4/5/13 – R.Goldstein]. The files show how offshore financial secrecy has spread aggressively around the globe, allowing the wealthy to avoid taxes, fueling corruption and economic woes.”
CORRUPTION II – April-June, 2016 – “Panama Papers show how U.S. citizens hid millions” [6/6/16. NY Times, E.Lipton, J.Cresell] “..Federal officials estimate..the government loses between $40 billion and $70 billion a year on unpaid taxes on offshore holdings.”
“Tax reform advocates say U.S. is a haven for evaders” [4/7/16 – P.Wiseman, M.Gordon] “The banking lobby has resisted changes in the law that would allow more sharing of data,” says Peter Cotorceanu, a Zurich-based lawyer who specializes in private banking.”
CORRUPTION III – “‘Pandora opens up calls for reform. Cache of documents shows how rich and famous hide wealth”[10/5/21 – P,\.Wiseman, M.Gordon]. “Hundreds of politicians, celebrities, religious leaders and drug dealers have used shell companies or other tactics to hide their wealth and investments…according to a review of nearly 12 million files obtained from 14 firms located around the world.”

Adam Smith: “It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expenses, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.”

“Free Lunch” [David Cay Johnston]: “The rich and their lobbyists have taken firm control of the levers of power in Washington, and the state capitals while remaking the rules in their own interests…These same people also happen to be the primary source of campaign donations that put politicians in office and keep them there…Rules define a civilization…For more than a quarter century..our government has been adopting rules that tilt the playing field in favor of the rich, the powerful, and the politically connected.”

“Woe to them that make unjust laws.” Isaiah 10:1

CORRUPTION – Issues above discussed America as a “plutonomy” and an “oligarchy.” What must be stressed: this is all planned and organized. This is a documented 50-year project. Some recent studies documented corruption occurring. Several have witnessed foreign corruption, see it in America. If you care, read any/all below:
– Nancy MacLean – “Democracy in Chains. The Deep History of Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America” [2017]
– Jane Mayer – “Dark Money The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right” [2016]
– Anne Applebaum – “Twilight of Democracy The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism” [2020]
– Zephyr Teachout – “Corruption in America From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizens United” [2014]
– Eric Weiner – “The Shadow Network How a Group of Wealthy Nations and Powerful Investors Secretly Dominates the World” [2010]
– Anne Nelson – “Shadow Network. Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right” [20190
– Sarah Chayes – “On Corruption in America. and What is at Stake” [2020]

Chayes, pages 95-112, describes “the development of a U.S. integrated kleptocratic network like the ones that dominate so many developing countries. It is the most sophisticated, powerful, and threatening such organism to anchor itself in the United States since the Gilded Age.” Leaders of lucrative industries – fossil fuels, private investment firms, tobacco, Amway, HomeDepot, Coors are there. At the HYDRA’s center: Charles Koch. The Koch network includes “dozens” of non-profits, the Federalist Society, universities such as George Mason and many “law and economics” departments; “thousands” of public officials.

THE OBJECT OF MUCH OF THIS; CHANGING THE RULES by which America runs. The Koch network did this at state levels. Lobbyists do it in Washington. Nancy MacLean: “They want to protect their infinite wealth-accumulation from democracy. They WANT PERMANENT,, RADICAL RULES CHANGES that would shackle the majority’s ability to chart our collective future. Up to and INCLUDING CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION.”
The network wants to change HOW YOUNG AMERICANS THINK – at high school and university levels. An insider: “They want to imbue kids with MARKET-BASED MORALITY.” The notion that everything is worth, in moral terms, the price it can bring, that there is nom such thing as a sacred moral value.”

We end asking how a “reasonable person” would judge the Roberts Supreme Court. Examine the entire 2005-20xx. PATTERN. Look past sensational, emotional, threats to the Constitution. Mitch McConnell and the billionaire donors stress issues affecting how government and economy run. The Roberts Court is VERY BIG ON RULES CHANGES. They’ve defined away a number of restraints on business – probably WHY the Roberts Court is ranked THE MOST BUSINESS-FRIENDLY Court since 1945. [remember things discussed above – WHO wants the rules changed]
Look for cases about forced arbitration, limiting class action suits, impedes unions abilities, “free speech’ rulings giving rights to business, multiple rulings sharply reducing or eliminating limits of “free speech” spending of political campaign contributions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a 70% win rate in the Roberts Court.

If you do things suggested above, you’ll have learned why Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz said: “American inequality didn’t just happen. It was created.” and – most importantly, WHO the creators were.
You’ll have learned what Wendell Phillips meant: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty – power is ever stealing from the many to the few.”

YOU need to ACT – because as Dante Alighieri Said: “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”

Those of us whom lived during the peak of American civilization, the great 1947-73 middle class golden age, are now dying. Those of you younger have no clue – and you’re “not supposed to” – of what America was like then. Nothing is ever perfect, but this was as close to it as America has ever come.
As all the above has illustrated, for then very rich – 1947-73 America was “too good a deal” for the “undeserving’ lower 90%. The empire struck back – IT CHANGED THE RULES. The result is 2021 America: the planned DELIBERATE destruction conducted during then Reagan, Bush II, Trump years.

A massive campaign, 1865-2021, using fear and violence, divide-and-conquer, sophisticated propaganda and lies, has been conducted by then top 1% defending their obscene wealth and power. They’ve used religion, perverted economic “theories,’ twisted legal “theories” defending this. 1890s workers were threatened with if “the wrong man ” became president. 1970 forward its “campaign contributions” buying off elected officials, obtaining FAVORABLE RULES. They own a propaganda TV station, numerous reactionary talk radio and internet mouth pieces. They’ve succeeded in dividing a confused, often gullible, public – and laugh all the way to their banks.

Those of us who lived in 1947-73 America have memories of simple things – working over a summer for tuition money at a good private college; people with “just” a high school education supporting 2-3-4 kids on one salary; a government that actually car ed about ordinary people. This – and MUCH MORE – is what has been STOLEN from ordinary Americans, DELIBERATELY, starting in the 1970s, escalating in the 1980s.

It isn’t only memories. As this post has tried to show – it’s in the NUMBERS, the real, UNSPUN NUMBERS. IT’s NUMBERS that led people quoted above to say what they did. It’s NUMBERS that prove the eternal enemy is the GREEDY RICH.

Following are some samples from “What Does It Mean To Be Human,” compiled and edited by Fredrick Franck, Janis Roze, and Richard Connolly:

“Prologue:” “Albert Schweitzer’s life motto..Reverence for Life is the one principle on which a viable ethic can be founded. I saw him apply it in practice while serving on his medical staff in Lambarene..the guiding principle in everything he did. It was totally free from sentimentality. It was simply the avoidance of inflicting unnecessary suffering on any living being and the alleviation of suffering with all the medical and human means at his disposal. Reverence for the mystery of life was for him the basis not only of an ethic but also of all truly human relationships, not only with our fellow humans, but also with all that lives.”

Elie Wiesel: “To the homeless, the poor, the beggar, the victims of AIDS and Alzheimers, the old and the humble, the prisoners..the wanderers in their dreams, it is our sacred duty to stretch out a hand and say: “In spite of what separates us, what we have in common is our humanity. We cannot and must not live isolated from one another…God alone is alone. Our humanity is measured not by our solitude but by our attitude toward someone else’s.”

Mary Evelyn Tucker: “To be human means to take off the headphones and unplug virtual reality. We need to listen again and to relearn the multiple voices of the universe. From these voices will come the songs of healing and renewal…If we are to survive as humans, it is crucial that we learn once again to sing.”

Donella Meadows: “To be human is to be born with an enormous package of potentials, for hatred and suspicion, for love and trust, for greed, generosity, passion, apathy…born into a world that pulls out and pushes back the potentials inside us.. We do a dance, the world and I. Sometimes the world supports part of me. Sometimes it crushes part of me…So I need other people, who have sampled other parts of the world. Together we can make a more complete picture…and remember that the bit of truth I know is not anywhere near all the truth there is.”

Seyyed Hossein Nasr: “To be human means for of all to possess an intelligence which can know the truth and falsehood, beauty and ugliness, goodness and evil…to have free will to choose and, more specifically, the will to choose the true, the real, the beautiful, and the good and attach oneself to them…A human being can be a saint and a seer, a light onto the world, with goodness and charity which knows no bounds. He cab also be so evil that no creature can be compared to him in the degree of destruction and subversion that he brings about.”

Anne Wilson Schaef: “We are all one human family. All members are worthy of respect. We should never trod over others or their property just because we can. We are responsible for our behavior and our actions no matter how young we are or how innocent the motive. It is our responsibility to see how our actions affect others and to do what we can to right a wrong we have created. We are part of a larger whole..When we destroy or damage any part of God’s creation, we abuse and destroy ourselves. Being fully human means accepting the responsibility of knowing we are one with all things.”

Wilma Mankiller; “To be human is to understand our own insignificance in the totality of things. We are interdependent with plants, animals, waters, stars, the Moon, the sun to sustain our lives..To be human is to be concerned with spirituality, whether one expresses it through orthodox religion, ancient ceremonies, or simply by the way we live our lives.”

David Krieger: “To be human is to break the ties of cultural conformity and group-think and to use one’s own mind…to recognize good and evil and to choose good..to consider with the heart..to act with conscience..to be courageous..to choose the path of compassion…recognize our kinship with all forms of life..appreciate every drop of water..to open our eyes to the simple and extraordinary beauty all around us…to love.”

From You don’t Say,” by L.K. Hanson comes this from Frederick Douglass: “Mr. Lincoln was not only a great President, but a great man – too great to be small in anything. In his company I was never in any way reminded of my humble origin, or of my unpopular color.”

From Paul Morgan’s “Impact Images,” comes “The Ten Indian Commandments;”
“Treat the earth and all that dwell thereon with respect. Remain close to the Great Spirit. Show respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all mankind. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right. Look after the well-being of mind and body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions.”

From Will Durant’s “The Story of Philosophy” comes a description of Aristotle’s ideal man:
“He does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crises, to give even his life – knowing that under certain conditions it is not worth while to live. He is of a disposition to do men service, though he is ashamed to have a service done to him. To confer a kindness is a mark of superiority; to receive one is a mark of subordination…. He does not take part in public displays….He is open in his dislikes and preferences; he talks and acts frankly, because of his contempt for man and things….He is never fired with admiration, since there is nothing great in his eyes. He cannot live in complaisance with others, except it be a friend; complaisance is the characteristic of a slave… He never feels malice, and always forgets and passes over injuries… He is not fond of talking….It is of no concern of his that he should be praised, or that others should be blamed. He does not speak evil of others, even of his enemies, unless it be to themselves. His carriage is sedate, his voice deep, his speech measured; he is not given to hurry, for he is concerned about only a few things; he is not prone to vehemence, for he things nothing very important. A shrill voice and hasty steps come to a man through care…He bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of his circumstances, like a skillful general who marshals his limited forces with all the strategy of war….He is his own best friend, and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy, and is afraid of solitude>”

The inscription on Jackie Robinson’s tombstone: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

“Who is a wise man and endowed with knowledge among you? Let him show it with good conduct, in deeds done in meekness that comes from wisdom. If you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, do not boast of it, and do not deny the truth. This so-called wisdom descends not from heaven, but is earthly, sensual, delish. For where envying and strife are, there is disorder and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
James 3: 13-17

Albert Einstein: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

The United States of America, once “the light of the world,” began death throes in 1980, not then appreciated. Warnings were ignored. The first, ironically, appeared in 1776: Gibbons” “The Decline and Fall of the Roman. Empire.” Tuchman’s “The March of Folly” ignored. Diamond’s “Collapse. How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” obviously ignored.

In 1935, Sinclair Lewis’ novel, “It Can’t Happen Here” had demagogue “Buzz” Windrip elected president. His campaign created fear; promised drastic reform; promoted patriotism and “traditional values.” In 2016, the outdated Electoral College allowed a Windrip clone to become president. He promoted fear with a divide-and-conquer campaign claiming America undermined by “others” not legitimate “Americans.” His kleptocracy enriched family and close associates, ran up national debt.

Windrip II significantly weakened unwritten “soft” rules underlying American democracy; corrupted language, engaging in word salad pronouncements saying nothing. He corrupted the very purpose of “democratic” government, appointing a cabinet of the rich hating departments they ran; ruled with openly authoritarian practices.

Windrip II capped this refusing to accept his 7 million vote defeat; plotted with inner circle to subvert the 2020 election. Some of this in plain sight, most infamously, January 6, 2021 insurrection. Other revelations became public in 2021, documenting the depth, breadth, depravity of his treason

Windrip II had help. Like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, he had enablers. “A Warning” by a senior administration official, described democratic “guardrails” systematically dismantled. Chapters included “Assault on Democracy.”
Truth-telling books about Windrip II continue being written, by award-winning authors, corroborating Windrip II’s amoral kleptocracy. His “true believers” refuse accepting overwhelming evidence.

There were earlier warnings. Former Nixon lawyer, John Dean’s “Broken Government..How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches” described and predicted what would happen if a Windrip II was elected. Highly respected Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein’s “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks..How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism”‘s conclusion: “The Republican Party..is an insurgent outlier..ideologically extreme; contemptuous of inherited social and economic policy regime; scornful of compromise; unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence, and science;..dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition, all but declaring war on government.”
There were “confessionals by ex-Republican staffers. Stuart Stevens” “It Was All A Lie” said what was needed was “Burn it [Repub Party] to the ground..{Windrip II] didn’t hijack the GOP..the party had already become [Windrip II], and he or his like was inevitable.”

Windrip II primary victims are truth and language. Read Victor Klemperer’s “The Language of the Third Reich;” Michiko Kakutani’s “The Death of Truth;” Adam Hodges’ “When words Trump Politics..Resisting a Hostile Regime of Language;” “Language in the [Windrip II] Era.. Scandals and Emergencies,” edited by Janet McIntosh and Norma Mendoza-Denton.

1980-2021 pronouncements by authoritarians are word salad and code words. A “yes-no” question results in a 5 minute word barrage, spoken arrogantly and rapidly, at high volume, that says nothing. As Stevens said, most 1980-2021 far right positions and policies are “Al A Lie.” They have to cover up lies, otherwise never win elections. Their weapons: fear and anger, divide and conquer. Their messages delivered by extensive “alternative universe” of media propaganda outlets: one TV station, “talk radio” liars, and internet idiots. The coordinated conveyor belt pushes propaganda lies upward; repeat the lies often.

The propaganda is directed at vulnerable people. We were previously warned. Eric Hoffer’s “The True Believer” analyzed the fanatic, compelled to join a cause. Hoffer: “Who is the True Believer? “He’s a guilt-ridden hitchhiker who thumbs a ride on every cause from Christianity to Communism. He’s a fanatic, needing a Stalin [or Christ] to worship and die for. He’s the mortal enemy of things-as-they-are, and he insists on sacrificing himself for a dream impossible to attain.”
Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death” analyzed effects of electronic media. His premise: “The form in which ideas are expressed affects what those ideas will be.” We’ve paid a heavy price for printed ideas demise.

Jay Lifton’s “Losing Reality..On Cults, Cultism, and the Mindset of Political and Religious Zealotry” discusses “..the cooperation between Cambridge Analytica and Facebook. C.A. ..was largely the creation of Steve Bannon and his billionaire sponsor, Robert Mercer. One former co-executive referred to C.A. as “Bannon’s arsenal of weaponry to wage a culture war on America using military strategies.'”
John Dean and Bob Altemeyer’s “Authoritarian Nightmare” studied why some people are vulnerable to a Windrip II. Altemeyer’s decades-long research, combined with current polling: an estimated 14% of American adults were double risk authoritarians, waiting for the next Windrip, Hitler, Stalin. Some were visible on January 6, 2021
For food for thought: Allen Frances’ 2017 “twilight of american sanity,” and Public Affairs Report’s “What Orwell Didn’t Know,” edited by Andras Szanto

Many believe America is an oligarchy. Start with the easy stuff: from 1947-73, America achieved its peak broad-based middle class golden age; top marginal tax rates averaged 81%; most rich restrained by social mores. Some didn’t like this. High taxes on them “HAD” to go – they did.
Oft-mentioned about the top 1%/corporate revolt, Lewis Powell’s 1970 speech and infamous 1971 “Memo.” Corporate lobbyists multiplied like rabbits. After 1980, election costs exploded. Those who had the play money – top 1% – wanted something; tax lobbying is 50% of D.C. activity; others eliminate labor rights and regulations – both protect the lower 95% – which explains why 2021 America is an oligarchy.
Gone from greatest mass prosperity to: hundreds of thousands of homeless; massive drug overdosing; extensive job “offshoring;” 50% struggling to survive; pervasive hunger; child care crisis….. This DID NOT. happen “naturally.” It was planned.

Beginning of post-1980 theft and inequality comes from unspun IRS income data; March-April, 2011 “Mother Jones;” double Pulitzers Bartlett and Steele’s “The Betrayal of the American. Dream;” Pulitzer winner Hedrick Smith’s “Who Stole the American Dream?:” “The Cheating of America” by Charles Lewis, Bill Allison and the Center for Public Integrity; the “Panama” and “Pandora” Papers; Charles Ferguson”s Academy Award winner “Inside Job” and “Predator Nation;” Sept-Oct, 2021, stories of top 1% cheating America by $160 billion every year.

Further documentation: Nancy MacLean’s “Democracy in Chains..The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America:” Jane Mayer’s “Dark Money…the Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right;” Anne Nelson’s “Shadow Network…Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right>”

Quotes from top 1% employee: “Only governments and..courts remained as sources of authority, if enacted Charles’ libertarian policies would eliminate these. “He was driven..to smash the one thing left in the world that could discipline him: the government.: Betsy DeVos [1997]: “Soft money was..hard-earned..dollars..Big Brother has yet to control…I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion we are buying influence. Now, I simply concede the point..We do expect something in return.” [IS THERE ANY DOUBT??????] Warren Buffett: “There’s class warfare, all right, but it is my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” Republican Representative Fred Heineman: “WhenI see someone..making anywhere from $300-750,000 a year, that’s middle class.” [10/25/96]

The Founders’ #1 fear: corruption. Madison’s notes show “corruption” written 54 times in the 100 days of 1787. America now #24th best in honesty. Money decides elections; foreigners have DC lobbyists; white collar criminals rarely held accountable
Basic info: Teachout’s “Corruption in America.” Sarah Chayes’ foreign service experiences developed her corruption senses for “Corruption in America and What’s At Stake”‘s major message: 3rd world corruption IS. IN. AMERICA. Pulitzer winner Anne Applebaum’s “Twilight of Democracy,” discusses “the seductive lure of authoritarianism,” relating East European tendencies occurring in America.
1995-2021 Congressional corruption now so bad, issues formerly easily discussed and dealt with become “wedges” and “bargaining chips.” Major industries have people they “own” by “campaign contributions” and future jobs. [this from confessions]. Lobbyists write laws, infest Congress, pressure regulators, file lawsuits – whatever “necessary.”

Another major Founders’ fear: religion. Article VI and Amendment One were to prevent corruption – they’ve failed, because of Supreme Court rulings. The Rhenquist and Roberts Courts attacked then “establishment” clause with the “freedom of religion” clause; they’ve made the First Amendment say what Founders explicitly DID NOT say.
Documentation of this corruption can be found examining 1776-1799 state constitutions>. In great detail, those constitutions express an ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL “separation of church and state.” North Carolina, 1776: “..neither shall any person, ON. ANY. PRETENSE WHATSOEVER, be COMPELLED..” to support any church, attend any church, “..contrary to what he believes right.” [ ANY. DOUBT?]
Words from state constitutions, 1776-1799, appear in Article VI and Amendment one: no religious test, no “established [state, official] church., no person compelled to do anything against his will. My challenge to any doubter: look up the original state constitutions, 1776-1799. They have ENTIRE PARAGRAPHS. describing what the First Amendment has in a short phrase. – those constitutions are what Amendment One means
Reactionary religious zealots have very clear goals. “Schools are the battle grounds. The goal of 500,000 born-again Christians working inside the ‘system is to bring public education back under..control of the Christian community.” [Robert Simonds, 1991] Randall Terry: “Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty…are called by God to conquer this country…We don’t..want..pluralism.”

Evidence cited herein, a minute part of 50 years’ evidence, leads a “reasonable person” in one direction: some “AmericanS are planning to end 1787-1980 America. Their goal”. theocratic plutocracy

The plutocratic part has already largely been created. The top 1% and corporations [they own] control the economy; since 1980, a hugely disproportionate share of national income goes to them. Major problems, like the cost and failures of American “health care” are maintained. Fossil fuel powers prevented meaningful action on global warming. There are two sets of”justice:” one for the rich, one for the bottom 95%.
The theocratic part – the voters the plutocrats need – might get their wishes fulfilled by the 2021 Supreme Court. Then far right wing legal “conveyor belt”shoveled Constitution altering cases for decision. Your health choices could be controlled by a church YOU. DON’T. attend. “Sincerely held religious beliefs” getting close to total “get out of jail free” cards for anything. We may have guns for all with little restraint.
One major party supports this – the Republicans. their own people admitted the crazies have taken over; once fringe fantasies now gospel. their 50 year attack on government legitimacy accepted by most Republican voters.

If “Buzz” Windrip II, or III, wins a future election, death of the American democratic republic will be complete – and final. A death allowed to occur; victims watched it happen, did little; some even cheered.
When everybody has “rights,” but no “responsibilities;” when everybody can march to their own drummer because of “rights”. – we have anarchy. When we have anarchy, ground is ripe for “Buzz” Windrip, II or III.

Then, government of the people, by the people, for the people – SHALL have perished from the earth – in the name of “rights.” The American democracy. SHALL. have ended – resulting in a royalty of the rich, a state church, a corporate economy – EVERYTHING the Founders tried to prevent. Madison, Lincoln, Lewis proved very, very, wrong.

This has been said many times: “more people are killed in the name of religion than anything else.”

Europe had religious wars, 1517-1648. The Indian subcontinent divided between Hindus and Muslims – often at war.
“Crusades” attempted to “take back” the “Holy Land” from muslims – committed many atrocities en route.
Muslims divided between Shiite and Sunni. Various “Inquisitions” occurred in Europe over centuries. Jews and Muslims argue over who should be there, in possessions of Palestinian holy sites. “Witch hunts” occurred in Europe over centuries – people accused of working with the Devil. Buddhists expelled Muslims from Myanmar. Anti-Semitism, centuries old, led to Nazi Holocaust. Genocide occurred in the Americas, often in the name of “Christianizing savages.” In World War I, Germans and their opponents both claimed “God is on our side.” Religion justified slavery, then segregation, now discrimination. 1692’s Salem “witch scare” occurred in an atmosphere dominated by fundamentalist religious outlook.

Professor of religion and Middle East religion expert, Charles Kimball’s 2002 “When Religion Becomes Evil” stated “The Five Warning Signs of Corruption in Religion.” They are”. absolute truth claims, blind obedience, establishing the ‘Ideal Time,” the end justifies any means, declaring holy war. “..One or more of these five signs always precedes any instance of religiously sanctioned evil.”
Kimball put the American “religious right” and the Taliban on a continuum; condemns religious extremists of all kinds. He noted, in many ways, Osama bin Laden and Jerry Falwell “seemed to agree” on interpreting 9/11 events.
Kimball”. “Christians who say they take the Bible literally are either ignorant or self-deluded. No one takes the Bible literally.”

Stacy Schiff’s “The Witches” details the 1692 Salem witch scare. “When the colonists established a legal code, the first capital crime was idolatry. the second was witchcraft. ‘If any man or woman be a witch, that is, hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death,’ read the 1641 body of laws, citing Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Blasphemy came next, followed by murder, poisoning, and bestiality.”

Founders were students of European and English history – well aware of destructive religious events. Some ancestors were refugees from religious persecution.
Founders had four major fears: abuse of power [corruption], slavery, religion, and mobs. The Constitution and Bill of Rights were to prevent these causing trouble.
England’s 1573 law required people in government taking an oath supporting the Church of England. Article VI of the Constitution: “..but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public trust under the United States.” To a “reasonable person” this is rather obvious and clear, right?????

Considerable effort has been made to distort the First Amendment; have it “say” what Founders explicitly denied. The most egregious of efforts to twist “freedom of speech” into an excuse for many things, including political corruption [the number one Founders concern]. The other most egregious falsehood: deny the Founders intended “separation of church and state.”

First Amendment language is very brief. Too brief to state what many Founding generations. DEMANDED. – TOTAL “separation of church and state.”

We have much the Founders said recorded on documents, speeches, letters, etc. Among the best summaries is Edwin S. Gaustad’s. “Faith of the Founders…Religion and the New Nation, 1776-1826.” On pages 134-145 Gaustad has excerpts from 1776-1799 state constitutions. Every American who questions “separation of church and state” needs to read the very exacting language. These state constitutions are THE explanation what the Founders meant by: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..”

Consider: 8 of 13 original states prohibited ministers serving in their government. Delaware, 1776, Article 29: “There shall be no establishment of any one religious sect in this State in preference to another; and no clergyman or preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of holding any civil office in this State, or being a member of either of the branches of the legislature, while they continue in the exercise of the pastoral function.”

Some religious zealots want YOU to pay for their beliefs and churches. Consider North Carolina constitution, 1776, Article XXXIV: “That there shall be no establishment of anyone religious church or denomination in this State, in preference to any other; NEITHER SHALL ANY PERSON, ON ANY PRETENSE WHATSOEVER, be compelled to attend any place of worship CONTRARY. TO. HIS OWN FAITH. OR JUDGMENT, NOR BE OBLIGED. TO PAY, for the purchase of any glebe, or the building of any house of worship, or for the maintenance of. ANY. minister or ministry, CONTRARY. TO. WHAT HE. BELIEVES. RIGHT, or has. VOLUNTARILY any personally engaged to perform; but all persons shall be at liberty to exercise THEIR. OWN. MODE. OF. WORSHIP.” [my capitalizations]
Madison and others in the Founding Generations believed to require a person to support THE CHURCH HE HIMSELF attended – violated his religious freedom.

There is NO. doubt “whatsoever” Founders believed any and all recent “voucher” or “scholarship” schemes to get taxpayer support for churches and religious schools are all unConstitutional. All tax exemptions are also unConstitutional – why should YOU pay for a church YOU don’t attend, a church which might be violating YOUR religious rights?
The Founders didn’t believe you should – as above. If requiring YOU to support the church YOU attend was wrong, why should YOUR taxes go to a church possibly hostile to everything YOU believe in?????

Past gifts by American governments to churches have been done on the. ASSUMPTION all churches are “good” for the community. American churches have a long list of exemptions from laws others are required to obey – on the. ASSUMPTION all churches are positive forces for “good.” This is demonstrably untrue.

Note Founders’ language on many documents indicating without doubt – religion was a. PRIVATE. not. COLLECTIVE right. Part of the 1765-1800 American Revolution was against the Church of England – why replace that with another?
The American experiment was the first governed by the people – not royalty, not an official church.

The 1797 Treaty with the Barbary pirates stated America was not a Christian nation. Negotiated by the Washington Administration, signed by the Adams Administration, it sailed through a Congress full of Founders virtually without dissent.

II. The consequences of violating “separation of church and state>”

In 1980-2021 America, we’ve seen the Founders’ wisdom repeatedly proven – by violations of it; by constant attempts to blur the line between church and state.

The American Taliban, the “religious right,” has conducted religious war against mainstream America. They’ve murdered doctors, vandalized and blown ip medical facilities. They’ve conducted a war of suppression against women – demanding women run their reproductive lives according to fundamentalist demands.

In 2021 Texas, we have, so far, the ultimate in “the state” controlling people’s bodies. Texas law allows “private citizens” to become “bounty hunters” of other Americans. Texas now on par with Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia in creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, of neighbors turning in neighbors. Texas is on the continuum with Afghan Taliban thugs.

Much of 1980-2021 America is the result of violation of the Constitution’s Article VI, prohibiting a “religious test” for public offices. Republican governors and presidents repeatedly promised “pro-life judges.” The result is thenRoberts Supreme Court. All 6 Republican appointees were raised in one “conservative” church, vigorously anti-abortion.

Much of American politics is determined by candidate’s position on abortion and/or homosexuality. These are. RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES, supposedly forbidden from being enacted American laws.

Why should a church YOU DON’T. BELONG TO. control. YOOUR. life??? Why should this church have. ANY. SAY. on how. YOU run. YOUR. life???? The Constitutions says they can’t. The Founding generations were very clear. NO. NEVER. NOT. AT ALL, UNDER. NO. CIRCUMSTANCES. WHATSOEVER. would this happen. Yet it has.

Without full control over YOUR. body – YOU. have. no rights. If the government, pushed by a church, can dictate YOUR. SEX. and. REPRODUCTIVE. life. – YOU. have. no. privacy. The Puritans own YOU.

Welcome to 1621. – or is it. 1692. – ‘AMERICA”??????????????

One of the most dismaying, bewildering, and demoralizing phenomenons of 2016-2021 events is the unthinking cruelty, bigotry, and stupidity unleashed against innocent people.
First, we had opportunistic demagoguery. This led to street brutalities including people being run over, attacks on churches, attacks on the people in them. Some were said to be attending “the wrong church.”
In addition to walls some built around themselves, “we” also built walls to keep “the homeland” free from undesirables.
Groups of people were labeled “unAmerican,” or “criminal;” others parasites undeservingly getting into line “too early” – in front of “real Americans” who has “earned” their place in line.
Some “patriotic” vigilantes were inspired to travel, often long distances, to “cleanse the “real” America of the “undesirables” infecting and afflicting “the homeland.” This often required application of AR-15 “justice.”

It was often easy to spot the “patriotic” vigilantes – they frequently displayed American flags. Displaying flags was was the cover for what was being done; this made the actions “legal” and “patriotic.” But – there were times observers got confused: during some of these “patriotic” events there were two flags: the Stars and Stripes, and the Stars and Bars. We saw this during the “patriotic” insurrection of January 6, 2021.

Then – came COVID-19. 2020 and 2021 rank with any time as the most irrational, often cruel and stupid. The 1918-19 flu pandemic didn’t produce this lunacy – even though it killed far more people in relative comparison. Then, people refusing masks were called “mask slackers.” That was before disease [incredibly] got politicized; before doctors and nurses were denigrated, attacked, laughed at.

Trevor-Roper’s “The European Witch-Craze of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries” provides perspective. Witch paranoia largely began in mountain and rural areas. Roper discusses rural superstitions; documents how religious leaders were a major casual factor, later extended by lawyers. He shows once “the fever” hits, it has momentum of its own; how denial of irrationality is seen as “proof;” how irrationality carried all before it; the necessity of scapegoats.

Since COVID-19 was labeled “the Chinese disease,” some felt compelled to attack anyone “Chines” looking. So “Brown Shirts” have beaten up numerous people not Chinese Chinese; vandalized a Hmong Cultural Center.
America is fighting foreign Islamic terrorism – so its “OK” to deface and bomb an American mosque; for good measure attack a Jewish temple; and, of course, shoe anyone who looks like a person of Middle Eastern ethnicity some vigilante street “justice.”

Having personal issues wearing a mask means it”s OK to murder a supermarket employee asking you to wear one; you”re “entitled” to punch them out for similar requests. Airline cabin attendants are “approved” targets if they ask you to mask up. The other passengers have “no rights” to protest your contagious behavior.

Ballistic gear is now standard firefighters gear – to protect them from thrown rocks, bottlers and bricks – while they’re trying to put out the fire near your house!. The police are already “approved” targets for assault and assassination.
Gun buying accelerated during COVID – we need to protect ourselves from “them,” whoever “them” might be.

Across America – school board members, public health officials, elections officials, first responders, teachers, nurses and doctors – have one thing in common. They’re all quitting their jobs – no longer wishing to deal with an increasingly anger, misinformed, and irrational public.

Some of the key people who make America run – have “had enough.” Concerns already expressed”. where do this leave American “civilization.” Who will want to do those jobs – if part of the jobs is dealing with misinformed crazies?

We’re awash in “conspiracy” theories. One prompted a pharmacist to attempt sabotaging “dozens of vials” of COVID vaccine. Others refuse to accept free COVID shots, but are apparently willing to pay $1500 for a bogus “vaccination” card. – in a world were billions are pleading for those same COVID shots.

If 35% of “adults” don’t accept COVID shots, all medical science says the pandemic will go on…and on…and on…and on…

Which means – we’ll again see [real] small businesses stressed; our favorite restaurants and entertainment venues stressed; school kids forced to wear masks [because the “adults” around them won’t].

Attendance at one of America’s premier state fairs was about 50% normal, many vendors refused to set up; some attendees got COVID.

We’ve just begun allowing 1200% football game attendance. Any bets on how long this will last??? Want to take a bet on whether we go through the 2021 season like this??? How many NFL and NHL teams are going to lose a game, or a key player, to new COVID rules?

Why do we have to ask these questions? Because a few million “adults” believe their own definition of their “rights” doesn’t include ay responsibilities. These “refuseniks”. hold America hostage. Why are they allowed to do this???

Refuseniks should be given three choices: get shots; quarantine yourselves; leave the country – pick one.

Worst fo all: refuseniks, YOU are traumatizing children and young people. Books and studies will be written in the future about what American “adults” have done to children. Think back to your own “normal” childhoods – now, think about all these things denied to current k-college, l8-30-year-olds.
Then – reflect on the young who’ve already committed suicide; think about all the young right now, already in mental health programs; the ones who should be there, but aren’t.

All you anti-vaxxers and masks refusers – think on this: YOU and YOU ALONE. have and continue to make all this happen. You have. NO. excuses – absolutely none, except for legitimate medical reasons.

All of you deniers, who listened to discredited demagogues, media morons, internet idiots, discredited doctors……..
YOU will go to your graves knowing your anti-social behavior not only killed people, but worst of all, YOU. are guilty of increasing trauma inflicted on America’s children.

At this point, we don’t know the extent of this damage. What we already know paints a very grim picture. Adult first responders and military personnel suffer PTSD when they see things humans aren’t supposed to see. This is adults…children aren’t meant to acquire PTSD. Refuseniks – this is on you.
Right now, late September, 2021, we are already scrambling a 3rd school year in a row. Record numbers of children getting infected, some will carry COVID ‘long haul’ burdens – perhaps forever. – this is on you.

You refuseniks – antis and deniers, may try to convince yourselves – “I have a right to do this.” BUT. you can never forget what you have done – NEVER. At the end of your lives, it will always be there – the burden of this GUILT.

Yes – the absolute savagery…the bewildering irrationality…the demoralizing arrogance…of those prolonging this pandemic, absolutely without reason. So many normal people are speechless; in conversations just look at other rational people – without words; they cannot understand WHY???

If you’re claiming “sincerely held religious beliefs,” fine – go live in a dedicated “religious” community, they’re all over America. If not – do the moral thing – quarantine yourself, please.
For those thinking you’re “patriots” – in reality, you’re doing the work of America’s enemies, sabotaging health. TheRussians and Chinese are laughing at you; using several things you’ve done i their propaganda.

Refuseniks – know this – there are people who are cheering when they hear 100 or so unvaccinated Americans died. As cruel as this is – it is happening. Sorry to tell you this, they feel good riddance. Yes, your behavior has produced this.

Unfortunately, you’re taking innocents with you. You are sabotaging children. You are burning out doctors and nurses. Many have quit, others thinking of it.
Your final “gift” to America will be a massive shortage of America’s “glue” – doctors and nurses, first responders, public health workers, school board members, elections officials, teachers, school bus drivers, city council members………..

Refuseniks – you are going to die with much GUILT.

The Founders of the American experiment were students of the Enlightenment, Rome, European and English history, religious wars, and human behavior.

Their goal: build a system that could promote “democracy.” The Founding generations, 1760s-1800, revolted against unrepresentative government, a privileged corporation, a royal government, and a state church. The Constitution was intended to solve these problems. A weak central government – the Articles of Confederation – had been tried. It came close to losing the Revolutionary War, was largely unable to run a proper government.

The Founders had four main fears: abuse of power [corruption], slavery, religion, mobs. Unfortunately, America has witnessed these fears, 1980-2021. Alexander Hamilton said the Constitutional Convention’s number one concern was corruption. James Madison’ incomplete notes reveal the word “corruption” written 54 times during the l00 days.

The Founders sought to build a system encouraging men of “civic virtue” to seek office. They recognized human failings, but hoped to build a system that allowed for greed and ambition – thus “checks and balances.” They also sought to encourage “civic virtue” in the public. The hope was a virtuous country.

The Founders had faith that if people were informed and discussed issues, a democratic republic could succeed. The lesson of Rome was ever constant. They saw England a failed country: good structure, corrupted by people. A major British problem was “placemen,” who got government jobs without being “men of virtue.” These “placemen” were loyal to the King would appointed them, but not loyal to England. The rest of Europe was worse.
“Civic virtue” hopes were made possible by First Amendment freedoms: speech [to make dissent possible], press [to provide information], assembly [to encourage discussions]’ petition [to allow written protests]. The Post Office was an important institution. Eventually, free public schools and libraries

The Constitution was, is a flawed document. Compromise necessary to obtain support of all 13 colonies contained fatal cancers. The slave-holding South was the major problem [even thought northern banks and businesses prospered from slavery]. To protect slavery, the infamous “3/5 compromise was accepted. The Electoral College was supposed to be a group of ‘”wise men” who would not allow an inferior person [somebody less than George Washington] to become president. To ease the fears of “smaller” states, a Senate of 2 people per state was created – again, a supposed body of ‘wise men’ who would restrain the “passions” of the the branch closest to the people – the House.
The Electoral College and Senate now give disproportionate power to a minority of the population. Under the original Constitution, women were second class citizens for 130 years.

The American experiment continues. A major problem always – one of exclusion rather than inclusion. America is still unique; still a beacon of hope and inspiration – that intoxicating and liberating concept of personal worth and “freedom.”
At one time, America was called “the last, best hope of man.” Now, America is not the home of “the happiest people.” That honor belongs to “Scandinavia>”. The answer to “why?” Is crucial.

America faces two dangers: one, that Pogo will be proven correct [we have met the enemy, and he is us}; two.\, that she will be sabotaged by numerous “humans” who have places reserved for them in the 8th and 9th Circles of Dante’s Inferno.

The concept of the Founders remains unique, remains the highest achievement of man to responsibly govern himself. The question is the same challenge Benjamin Franklin issued to an inquisitive woman on a mid-September day in 1787 Philadelphia: “…a republic, if you can keep it.”

The other main fears – slavery, religion, mobs – will be discussed in more detail later. Slavery by race was largely an American practice. Indentured servants had been found wanting. It led to segregation after the North “won” the Civil War. The modern problem is race-based discrimination.
Religion was to be a private issue. Everyone went to their church [or none at all], worshipped their faith – and, critically – allowed others to do the same. Allowing others freedom to worship in.their own way has proven difficult to accept for some.
Mobs have created problems, death, for much American history. The most recent, dramatic, example – January 6, 2021 – rattled our foreign friends and most Americans. It threatened everything the Founders planned.

The Founders corruption concerns have been proven. Spectacular excesses occurred during the “Gilded Age’s “Robber Baron” era of 1865-1901; the 1920s, the 1980s. Few of the worst offenders were prosecuted – a major American flaw. Additional [real] reforms were attempted – but often forces of corruption succeeded in having them neutralized by corrupt Congresspeople or Supreme Court “Justices.”
The theory of a “virtuous republic” based on wide availability of valid [true] information has been continually tested. Disinformation has always existed – but has accelerated since 1945 – is now an epidemic. Entire disinformation industries and media exist to, deliberately, confuse the public.

Despite numerous flaws and corruption, the Founder’s vision of America as a land of opportunity has been realized. Generation after generation did better than their parents – until the 1970s. Americans still have more “stuff” than most of the world – they just have to work harder for that. Beginning around 1970, “the empire” [rich and corporations] struck back]. Their greed told them these “lesser’ Americans didn’t “deserve” what they – the masters of the universe – had “earned all by themselves.” So they rewrote the rules [Congress and Supreme Court].

The biggest immorality: it has become difficult for a person with “only” a high school education to support a family, and to thrive. This was not the case during “the middle class golden age” of 1947-1973. Result: for many, even those better off, have fewer children [or none at all]. This too, has consequences.

Factors and truths for the. DELIBERATE. 1970-2021 decline in quality of life for the bottom 90% will be discussed later.

As always – this site’s challenge: do responsible research – in world-wide respected mainstream sources. This does NOT. mean beginning and ending with the internet!!!!! It means doing real – gasp! – reading of unspun and NON-cherry picked data. It means asking questions. What would a “reasonable person” think? It means NOT giving credence to works written by hacks [secretly supported by greedy rogue billionaires] – who are often trying to pound square pegs into round holes; and knocking down their own “straw men.” Even the Supreme Court has been guilty of this. How plausible are their conclusions and conspiracy theories? Would a reasonable person from Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand accept this? If you accept their theories – who are the winners and losers?
Are these people trying to rewrite history. This has BEEN done already – especially on emotional topics. Both the First and Second Amendments are being twisted to say what original documents show was the intent.

Fellow Americans, democracy, America, are not guaranteed to continue. They will continue only if YOU want them to. Enemies of both – domestic and foreign – hope you won’t. You can search for truth or not. You can have “confirmation bias” – or not. You can vote for people who are interested in creating a real democracy – or you can vote for demagogues that tell you what you want to hear. The choice is yours.

After twin Republican assaults on the Constitution [Texas anti-abortion law; Sup. Court overturn refusal], and on American’s right to run their own lives without fascist quasi-government interference, questions exist.
Some people are talking in terms of “Lord of the Flies,’ where non-gov’t vigilantes enforce compliance.
Some people are talking in terms of a new witch burning; groups of citizens crazed by religious zealotry
enforcing compliance.
Some people are talking in terms of a new Inquisition; private citizens carrying out the wishes of The Church
against “heretics.”
Some people are talking in terms of a new Ku Klux Klan, private citizens enforce street “justice” on subhumans
by dragging them into kangaroo courts.
Some people are talking in terms of a new “Scarlet Letter,” worn by abortion assisters.
Some suggest, this being Texas, this is the result of too many concussions under Friday night lights.

Texas, too cleverly, says it has the un-American mandatory motherhood plan insulated from challenge,
because the “state” isn’t doing any of the dirty work.
WRONG!!!
The vigilante suits will be filed in a Texas [government!!!] state court. Then – if the rigged court says “evil-doers” are “guilt,” exactly. WHO enforces the $10,000 penalties??? The police [government!!!]? Private “law enforcement?”
KKK-brown shirts-witch burners-vigilantes-Inquisition?
Suppose the “guilty” resist? Suppose a gun fight – in a state where anybody can carry guns – occurs? Who is “defending themselves? Suppose innocent bystanders are killed – exactly who is guilt of murder: the accused abortion assisters, or the KKK-brown shirts-witch burners-Inquisition-vigilantes???

Texas panderers [circle Eight, Dante’s Inferno] have created yet another attempt at authoritarian America. Like Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, Communist China – authoritarian Texas declares that it, and it alone, controls any pre-pregnant female’s reproductive system [for the good of “the state’]. The state of Texas owns you.

If one does not control their own body – YOU – have no rights.

All this is unnecessary, unConstitutional. Amendment One has two religious freedoms: freedom for and freedom from. Freedom from: “Congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion..” An “established” church is an official state church – like Sweden, England, etc. had. An “established” church requires all paying taxes, all following official church dogma as law. The Founders were very clear – they did NOT want this.

North Carolina, 1776 constitution, Article XXXIV: ‘..no establishment of anyone religious church..in this state, in preference to any other; neither shall any person ON ANY PRETENSE WHATSOEVER. , be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to his own faith..be obliged to pay, for..the building of any house of worship, or for the maintenance of ANY. minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes is right…”

Texas’ mandatory motherhood law is plainly unConstitutional, unAmerican in the worst way, cruelty personified, a violation of individual religious and personal rights, fascist.

All this compounded by actions of 5 “conservative” Supreme Court members, all raised in one of the fundamentalist churches behind this law. They by this reckless action, have now raised terrible possibilities for America.
The Court’s decision invites the possibility of “Nullification” again. Various “red” and “blue” states outlawing things they don’t like – leading to vigilante-brown shirt-KKK-witch burning everywhere. Law made by zealots [we’ve seen them in action, January 6, 2021].
Women protested against similar laws in Poland. Courageous Afghan women taking to the streets. Mexico has just decriminalized abortion. What can we expect in “our” Supreme Court denies American women rights?

In this, like January 6 events, we have seen what Republicans really mean by “law & order.” “Law & order” for them has never been more than a “code word” to get elected. Their 1980-2021 in-office actions have often been repressive “laws” enacting authoritarian ideas – political, economic, religious.

In 2002, internationally respected religion expert, Charles Kimball, published “When Religion Becomes Evil,” listing “The Five Warning Signs of Corruption in Religion: absolute truth claims, blind obedience, establishing the ‘Ideal” Time, the end justifies any means, declaring holy war.”
Kimball put the Taliban and American ‘religious right’ on a continuum. Page 121: “Christian reconstructionists in America are only one step removed from their counterparts with a concrete, divinely ordained plan for an Islamic state…”

Republican presidents put reactionary justices on the Supreme Court – a well known Republican plan since 1968; then the “conservative” game plan is running “test cases” up to the Court so it can make these law. This gave America “Citizens United” and “Shelby County;” previously “Bush-Gore.”
There was already a Mississippi anti-abortion case accepted for 2021-2022, and – SURPRISE111 – another “gun rights” case [America doesn’t have enough murders, we need more gun”rights”].

These are only the most visible Court decisions. For 35 years, an increasingly reactionary Supreme Court has sided with corporations and the rich [“Citizens United” in real life payoff action]. The Roberts Court is the most “business friendly” since 1945. They have made it very difficult to restrain the greed and power of corporations.

Texas added more antidemocratic legislation by making it harder to vote, and insulting intelligence claiming these were “voting reforms.” Changes yes, reforms no. Several other Republican states also made it more difficult to vote [their gift from “Selby County”] – they don’t want “the wrong people” people to vote.

In 1935, Sinclair Lewis wrote “It Can’t Happen Here”. – but it “did.” A fascist dictatorship ran America, reducing women’s rights, and also many others. Texas has now made fiction real life.

Welcome to “law & order” – Republican style. America has now joined Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, Communist China in “owning” women’s bodies [for the “good’ of the state].

If the Supreme Court allows this Texas law – you can throw out the Constitution. You can forget about “freedom” on your terms. “Freedom” will be what Republicans [Texas, Supreme Court, other reactionary states] say it is.

If. YOU. don’t control. YOUR. body – YOU. have no rights.

There is.a fever burning on this land. For 50 years it has burned, and tormented. Now we will burn “witches” in Texas. Previously “heretics” who performed abortions were murdered and medical facilities destroyed. For 50 years the laws and judicial system have been perverted because “the end justifies the means.” Now the Texas Brown Shirts will enact “justice.” We await Spring, 2022, to see if the Inquisition court will bless Texas vigilantes, and all the other brown shirts in various Republican klaverns. And, the fever will continue.

The fever will go on, until the good people, after many burnings, rediscover our humanity, put an end to this Republican madness. Only then, will we be entitled to call ourselves “Americans” – and not the fools of Salem.
Only then, will we discover why a 25-year top Republican political operative, Stuart Stevens, confessed in a 2020 book. – “It Was All A Lie.”i

August, 2021……..America is at war with COVID-19, and losing. In part because COVID-19 is evolving [which some say can’t be happening!!!]. In large part, steadily increasingly – because of sabotage, sedition, and treason.
Sabotage: “any underhanded interference with production, work ,etc…by enemy agents..20 any undermining of a cause..”
Sedition: “incitement of public disorder or rebellion against a government; 2} any action, esp. in speech and writing, promoting such disorder or rebellion..”
Treason: “violation by a subject of his allegiance..tp the state; 2] ..such a violation directed against the United States..in levying war against the United States, or in adhering to its enemies or giving them aide and comfort.”

When does “freedom of speech,” “religious freedom,” “personal choice,” “personal responsibility” cross the wartime line of disloyalty, “giving aid and comfort” to America’s enemies?
Since political/economic enemies of America – Russia and China- are actively filling media with COVID-19 disinformation. – wouldn’t a reasonable person conclude that “Americans” deliberately doing the identical thing – be correctly accused of “giving aid and comfort” to America’s top two enemies?

Earlier American casualties in other wars show World War II dead as 405,399; World War I dead as 116,516; Korean War dead as 54,246; Vietnam dead as 58,000. A total of 634,161. American COVID-19 deaths exceed 620,000. In less than 2 weeks we’ll surpass deaths of those four wars. Our next death “target” is the Union’s Civil War 360,000 dead.

America’s “frontline troops” in the COVID-19 war – doctors and nurses, first responders – are being ground down. Several thousand died in the first COVID year. Doctors have committed suicide, so have EMT personnel. Nurses are leaving the profession – saying they feel. BETRAYED. by people in their own communities laughing at them; incredulous that people believe “Fox” falsities, internet idiots, Russian and Chinese lies over world-wide sound medical and scientific evidence.

Widely reported, for months, have been numerous deaths of American “essential workers” – people supplying our food, keeping America running. What has only begun to be reported is massive trauma inflicted on our children, K-12, college, and beyond. their childhoods and educations have been disastrously dislocated, some destroyed
Studies, papers, books will be written in years to come on damage American “adults” inflicted on our children. Even worse will be the conclusions that much was deliberately done – for various political, economic. social, religious reasons.

Examine the three definitions above: “any action, especially in speech and writing, promoting such disorder or rebellion;” “adhering to its enemies or giving them aid and comfort.”

Reflect on just current newspaper sand responsible media headlines – showing “adult” demonstrators threatening public health workers, showing up at public meetings to disrupt them, death threats to medical personnel, people attacking airline workers, people threatening school personnel over masks, people talking of using underground fake COVID-19 vaccine cards.

We were on the verge of returning to “normal” life. Deaths were dropping, more and more people were getting vaccinated. Businesses, especially restaurants and entertainments, were reopening. Fans returning to sports events. It looked like we could have a “normal” school year…..and much more…. It wasn’t to be.

It didn’t happen because “adults” acting like children – and threw tantrums. The old theory was that as an “adult” one had “rights” BUT. one also had “responsibilities.” The saboteurs, seditionists, traitors have arrogantly and irresponsibly claimed their “rights” – and refused to accept their “responsibilities.” In so doing, they’ve killed innocents.

America has always talked big on how much we love our children, even though compared to other, more civilized, “rich” nations statistics don’t show this. We are 35 of 37 “rich” nations in providing child care {now severely undermining return to “normal”}; number 37 in medical health. We are number one in gun deaths and prison populations. Many of our schools are out dated, with defective/non-existent cooling systems {now especially relevant in the COVID and global warming crises}.

The future of America is being traumatized – deliberately – by COVID-19 saboteurs, seditionists, traitors.

Children are powerless; they can’t vote, have no billionaire lobbyists; we’re ignoring the ones speaking out.
We. will. pay. for. this – BIG.

All this recent COVID damage to “our” children is on top of post-1980 damage already inflicted. The costs of raising a child, without college, are estimated to be $250,000 each. In the golden middle class era of 1947-75, families routinely had 2-3-4 children. Now many are having none, or 1 or 2. Having more than 2 kids is, statistically, largely only possible for rich people. Our ability to reproduce ourselves is declining.
If Joe Sixpack graduates high school, works 18-68, making $50,000 every year, his total lifetime earnings will be $2.5 million. Spending $250,000 per child becomes more difficult

We’re proving Lincoln correct. A “nation” divided against itself cannot stand.

Those of us who’ve “done the right thing;” who acted responsibly. – we have “rights” too. We have rights to be protected from saboteurs, seditionists, traitors giving “aid and comfort” to our enemies – COVID-19, Russia and China.
We’ve tolerated the saboteurs. Given them chances to speak. Tried to reason with them. Coddled them. Allowed them to go unpunished for their sabotage. All this got us is more senseless deaths and trauma.

In the beginning, it was said “we’re all in this together.” NO. WE. AREN’T – millions of our fellow “citizens” have decided they have special “rights.” “Rights to infect us. “Rights to infect/kill our children. “Rights” to wear out the only people saving us – doctors and nurses, first responders. “Rights” to prevent America from resuming “normal>”. “Rights” to sabotage everything this country tried to do. “Rights” to be seditionists and traitors. “Rights” to do the work of our enemies – COVID, Russia and China. “Rights” in deed.

Many of the saboteurs are self-proclaimed “law and order” people. Many claim they’re “patriots.” NO, absolutely NO they’re not. The real “law and order” people got vaccinated, wear masks. The real “patriots” are doctors and nurses, first responders, essential workers. Far too many of the real patriots have already died.

In earlier wars, people who dodged duty, were disloyal, were caught “giving aidf and comfort” to the enemy – were prosecuted, jailed, even executed.
In August, 2021, having already lost over 6230,000 innocent citizens in the COVID-19 WAR, it is time to ask who is with us, who is against – by their own actions.

The good, patriotic, Americans, who did/do what they’re supposed to – we have rights. When does our right to “Life, Liberty, and Happiness” get enforced?

Why is it that the saboteurs, seditionists, traitors get to stab the loyal Americans in the back?

The May l2, 2021, purge of conservative Wyoming Republican U.S. Representatives by other Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives removes all doubt. The Republicans have now completely moved themselves into Nineteen Eighty Four status. From the movies back panel: “The classic George Orwell story set in a world where absolute conformity in action, word and thought including loyalty to Big Brother is demanded.”

So….loyalty to “Big Brother” means that the Republican Party of 1854-1960 is no more. Even the increasingly irrational and insane Republican Party of l964-2016 is no more. All that is required is a formal name change – to – The Trump Dictatorship.

The Cheney Purge removed all doubts that Trumpanistas stand for lies and lunacy; cruelty and craziness; destruction and divisiveness; racism and reaction; fascism and fraud..

We don’t even need to go back into the last 40 years of Republican deliberate destruction of what we used to know was “the American Dream; done by reverse Robin Hood tax cuts for the least deserving Americans: the obscenely overpaid top 1% and corporations moving jobs overseas.

All one needs to do is look at the Republican response to COVID-19 – irrational and incompetent. By comparison to rational countries like South Korea, American cases and deaths, per capita, are many times worse. The Republican mantra has been “personal responsibility.” Even leaving carve outs for “religious liberty” claims, the main response from “responsible” conservatives has been a series of super spreader events; plus multiple bullying events all over America.
Enraged “personal responsibility” conservatives have threatened retail employees, assaulted retail workers, been kicked off airplanes, and, of course – threatened to shoot people who denied their “right” to go without masks even in private property stores.

We are seeing a steady descent into anarchy, accelerated by the claim that: “I have rights.” But, no responsibilities to any other human being. Just “personal responsibility” rights. The ultimate “ME” over the collective “We.”

So…the CDC feels that all Americans can be trusted to do “the right thing” with respect to COVID-19. We’re all on “the honor system.” If we haven’t had a full course of COVID-19 vaccines, we’ll feel “honor bound’ to continue wearing masks – as a sign of caring for our fellow Americans. Since less than 50% of adults have had a full vaccine, that means in public spaces we’ll see about half the people with masks, RIGHT???

When the COVID-19 cases, and deaths, resume going up – we’ll know that faith has been misplaced. And since the COVID-19 resisters have “privacy rights,” the victims won’t know who sickened them, or possibly killed their under l2-aged child.

In our upside down America, those who refuse to respect your rights to live have “rights.” You don’t. Lies, lunacy, cruelty, craziness have a price. “Personal responsibility” without responsibility has a price. It might be somebody you love.

In post-1980 America, society has been torn apart by religious zealots demanding special treatment in the name of “religious liberty.” They have justified their unconstitutional claims of unrestrained “religious liberty” by attempting to rewrite American history and law. This has been done with the usual far right technique of plausible lies, twisting and taking out of context words, and making up things never said.
Below are some of the historical true facts there prove the zealots to be frauds and liars.

Above all, in America, there is this one central question: Should a church you DON’T ATTEND be able
to impact YOUR life in any way? Should this church[s] be able to put its particular dogma into law
that prohibited YOU from doing life’s normal functions on YOUR terms?

The Founding Fathers’ generation said “NO,” absolutely not. YOU can judge for yourself>

1] North Carolina state constitution, 1776
Article XXXI – “That no clergyman, or preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of being a member of either the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he continues ..pastoral function.”
Article XXXIV – There shall be no establishment of anyone religious church or denomination in this state, in preference to any other, neither shall any person, on any pretense whatsoever, be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to his own faith or judgment, nor be obliged to pay, for the purchase of any glebe, or the building of any house of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry…”
note: this is taken from Edwin Gaustad’s “Faith of the Founders, pages 134-145; note also that 8 states prohibited religious ministers from political activity and 4 prohibited a religious test for office]

2] On October 16, 1776, “The Ten Thousand Name Petition” was presented to the Virginia Assembly. Organized mostly by Baptists, “It called for the church of England’s disestablishment in the Virginia colony and breaking the “yoke” of religious oppression.” [“Church & State,” December, 2020, page 21]

3] Article VI of the Constitution: “…but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

4] The “Treaty of Tripoli,” signed in Tripoli November 4, 1796, and again at Algiers January 3, 1797, Article 11:
“As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims]…it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing….”
The treaty was negotiated by the Washington administration, endorsed by the Adams administration, read aloud in the U.S. Senate. The Senate ratified the Treaty of Tripoli unanimously, without debate – June 7, 1797.
the above from: “Church & State,” March, 2021, page 7]

5] No Bibles were used for inauguration ceremonies for presidents Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson. President J.Q. Adams swore his oath on a law book. President Pierce affirmed, rather than swore the oath, didn’t use a Bible in 1853. [the above from “Church & State,” January, 2021, page 12]

6] Several of the original 13 states had an “established church<: by 1830 – all had eliminated them.

7] In his near-definitive “The Establishment Clause Religion and the First Amendment<; Leonard Levy mentions the emphatic efforts of two highly respected and influential Baptist ministers in the 1770s and 1780s , John Leland and Isaac Backus, and their successful advocacy for separation of church and state. [pages 111, 112] Most of the book is a documented refutation of any and all claims seeking to undermine the Founders determination to achieve strict separation of church and state. Chapter 5, “The Nonpreferentialists” is a robust criticism of those “..quick to rely on a few historical facts which, yanked out of context..” seem to offer “proof” for false claims. On page XII, Levy says former Chief Justice Rehnquist “..flunked history..” in a 1985 opinion.

8] In his “Blasphemy How the Religious Right is Hijacking Our Declaration of Independence,” Alan Dershowitz accuses the Religious Right’s Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Alan Keyes, and others of repeated false claims. And reveals the motive behind “this mendacity: if the Religious Right can convince enough gullible Americans that the United States was founded as a religious nation, they can require religious control of public schools, federal funding of churches and church-based programs, religious test for elected and appointed officials, and much more.”

9] Garrett Epps’ “Wrong and Dangerous Ten Right-Wing Myths About Our Constitution,” includes Chapter Four’ “The constitution doesn’t Separate church and State.” “The attack on separation involves twisting words and reading history backward, and involves making some inconvenient parts..disappear. Most ardently espoused by loud foes of “big government,” the attack aims to place that big government in charge of American’s spiritual lives.’ [58] The term “wall of separation began in 1644, with Baptist theologian Roger Williams [driven out of Massachusetts] [59]
Epps attacks religious right favored “historian” David Barton as “..more than a crackpot, he is a charlatan..” throwing dust in reader’s eyes. [61] “The Founding generation’s opinions on religion cover a wide span, running all the way from orthodoxy to almost total infidelity. The First Amendment protected all these opinions.” [64]

10] Andrew Seidel’s “The Founding Myth Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American,” states: “The Declaration of Independence is an anti-Christian document with snippets of religious-sounding language as window dressing. If Jefferson and the other revolutionaries had been devout Christians, they never would have rebelled, the Declaration would never have been written, and America’s political relationship to the United Kingdom today would resemble Canada’s. The Christian bible stands directly opposed to the Declaration’s central ideas, including that it is “the Right of the People to alter or to abolish [their government], and to institute a new Government.” See Paul’s letter to the Romans.
“Christian nationalism is not solely about religion. It is an unholy alliance, an incestuous marriage of conservative politics and conservative Christianity. [see the highly secretive, powerful “Council for National Policy’ – page 8]
“Project Blitz encapsulates the problem Christian nationalism poses. First, it seeks to alter our history, values, and national identity. Then it codifies Christian privilege in the law, favoring Christians above all others. Finally, it legally disfavors the nonreligious, non-Christians, and minorities such as the LGBTQ community…” [page 6]
Part II – “United States v. The Bible” and Part III – “The Ten Commandments v. the Constitution” present the case.

11] Randall Balmer’s “Thy Kingdom Come How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America An Evangelical’s Lament” contains this: “I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.” Billy Graham, “Parade,” 1981 And this:
“I”m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?” Barry Goldwater, 1964
“I write as a jilted lover. The evangelical faith that nurtured me as a child and sustains me as an adult has been hijacked by right-wing zealots who have distorted the gospel of Jesus Christ, defaulted on the noble legacy of 19th century evangelical activism, and failed to appreciate the genius of the First Amendment….When they do quote the Bible, they wrench passages out of context and offer pinched, literalistic interpretations……The effect of this right-wing takeover has been a poisoning of public discourse and a distortion of the faith.” [IX]

12] Erwin Chemerinsky’s “The Conservative Assault On the Constitution” states: “..to understand what conservatives have accomplished it is necessary to look beyond the Supreme Court and beyond the judiciary. The assault on the Constitution is the result of a concerted effort by conservatives to alter foundational constitutional principles. The focus needs to be..on policies developed during the presidencies of Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, and Bush…..Young lawyers who served in the Reagan administration and were deeply committed to its conservative agenda, such as John Roberts and Samuel Alito, came to be Supreme Court justices. It is a mistake to see the policies of the Bush administration or the Roberts Court in isolation from a larger conservative movement that has sought to alter, and in many areas succeeded in altering, basic precepts of constitutional law.” [29-30] “Four justices – Rehnquist, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas – repeatedly had said that they rejected the notion of a separation of church and state.” [113]
Chapter 3 is “Dismantling the Wall Separating Church and State.”

13] Internationally known and respected Baptist minister Charles Kimball”s “When Religion Becomes Evil” provides “The Five Warning Signs of Corruption in Religion: absolute truth claims, blind obedience, establishing the “ideal” time, the end justifies any means, declaring holy war.”
“It is somewhat trite, but nevertheless sadly true, to say that more wars have been waged, more people killed, and these days more evil perpetrated in the name of religion than by any other institutional force in human history.” [1]
“Christians who take the Bible literally are either ignorant or self-deluded. No one takes the Bible literally.” [57]
“It is important to remember that freedom from religion is a corollary to freedom of religion.” [93-94]
“Christian reconstructionists in America are only one step removed from their counterparts with a concrete, divinely ordained plan for an Islamic state or the reconstituted, expanded biblical state of Israel. The gap begins to close when the agenda includes denigration of Islam or direct action against abortion clinics.” [121]

14] Damon Linker’s “The Theocons Secular America Under Siege” states; “THeoconism teaches that a secular society is both undesirable and unsustainable…the United States has been a thoroughly Christian nation…the liberal and secular drift of American culture since the 1960s is the result of..liberal and secular elites…to impose their corrupt views..through undemocratic means [..the courts]…consequences..are a sex-saturated popular culture..collapse of..important social institutions [..traditional marriage]..separation of law from religiously based moral principles.. a “culture of death]……; the solution..is to bring ..America [back] into line with ..moral strictures of biblical religion..” [4]

15] The most powerful and distressing part of Katherine Stewart’s “The Power Worshippers…Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism” is pages 235-247 – the case histories of several people victimized by being under the control of fundamentalist religion controlled health care institutions: “Controlling Bodies: What “Religious Liberty” Looks Like from the Stretcher.” Denied medication, one woman gave birth to a baby without a brain.One woman had her water break prematurely. Testing revealed the fetus had no chance of survival – but the hospital denied her relief for 5 weeks. A similar case also occurred – denial until on the 4th trip – her body began delivering the products in front of an administrator filling out discharge paperwork- which “qualified” her for proper medical help!!!!
A 19-year old came to an emergency room for help with her miscarriage – denied twice, with a dead baby and a fever, the hospital waited until her blood pressure was low and she was septic before helping her.
Another woman, with a dead 2nd child went to a pharmacy for a relieving prescription from her doctor – the pharmacist refused to fill it – as she stood in line with her child and 5 customers who heard everything – denied.
A Washington state man, in hospice care because he was dying from brain cancer, asked for information on legal medically assisted death – it was denied. So, he got a gun – and blew his brains out in a bathtub – traumatizing the nurses.
Stewart herself started bleeding at 13 weeks of her second pregnancy. Taken by ambulance to an emergency ward with low blood pressure… “I was left to hemorrhage alone. On several occasions hospital attendants came by my blood-soaked sheets, but no one would touch me.” One doctor got angry nd walked away. After going into shock and losing “nearly 40% of my blood” they gave her the required care.

16] Pages 219-245 of Sarah Posner’s “Unholy Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump,” detail the massive extent of contacts between American far right people and far right people in Eastern Europe and Russia. One could draw a conclusion that the Americans were deliberately sabotaging America and democracy world-wide. One far right strategist visited an Eastern Europe authoritarian and planned his successful election strategy. An elected Republican Representative is called a “Putin ally.” Hungarian lobbyists are working Congress with the help of a former Republican Representative. A big part of all this is religion and “family issues.”
Pages 246-258 discuss “The Assault on Reality,” emphasizing the support Trump got from the religious right base, and significantly “From a prodigious infrastructure decades in the making, including networks of churches, advocacy organizations, charismatic televangelists, and Christian media……..In the Trump presidency, Christian right leaders routinely boast that they attend high-level meetings, and that the White House seeks their counsel on important matters of policy, from religious freedom to prison reform to Israel. these leaders….have become accomplices in Trump’s assault on the truth….Trump has consistently used these Christian right supporters as a shield against news coverage that exposes his wrongdoing.”

17] David Cohen and Krysten Connon”s “Living in the Crosshairs The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism” details how people are targeted – at home, at work, in community spaces, and on-line. Not just providers, but also families, neighbors, and friends. Chapter l – provides “Seven Stories of Targeted Harassment.” Chapter 7 – provides “Six Stories of Law and Targeted Harassment.”

Is this partial list of information enough? Should a church you don’t attend impact your life?