Faith and Spirituality First, an amazing podcast series from Krista Tippett, On Being: Click Here – Living in Deep Time Men of all ages say Richard Rohr has given them a new way into spiritual depth and religious thought — through his writing and retreats. This conversation with the Franciscan spiritual teacher delves into the expansive scope of […]
00mainsiteadminhttps://joehigginsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JH_Colors.pngmainsiteadmin2017-09-24 17:22:222017-09-24 17:22:22Faith and Spirituality – Deep Thoughts on the ‘WHY?’ of the Human Condition
Political Thought Nixon, My Second LEAST Favorite President Blind ambition, narcissism, a man grabbed and consumed by power, you name it, Nixon suffered from it. From early in 1968 where he was behind extending the Vietnam war to make Johnson look bad; There was no doubt, said Johnson, that Nixon’s campaign team was trying to […]
00mainsiteadminhttps://joehigginsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JH_Colors.pngmainsiteadmin2017-09-24 17:19:282017-09-24 17:19:28Political Thought – Deep Thoughts on the ‘WHY?’ of the Human Condition
Faith and Spirituality First, an amazing podcast series from Krista Tippett, On Being: Click Here – Living in Deep Time Men of all ages say Richard Rohr has given them a new way into spiritual depth and religious thought — through his writing and retreats. This conversation with the Franciscan spiritual teacher delves into the expansive scope of […]
00mainsiteadminhttps://joehigginsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JH_Colors.pngmainsiteadmin2017-09-24 17:22:222017-09-24 17:22:22Faith and Spirituality – Deep Thoughts on the ‘WHY?’ of the Human Condition
Political Thought Nixon, My Second LEAST Favorite President Blind ambition, narcissism, a man grabbed and consumed by power, you name it, Nixon suffered from it. From early in 1968 where he was behind extending the Vietnam war to make Johnson look bad; There was no doubt, said Johnson, that Nixon’s campaign team was trying to […]
00mainsiteadminhttps://joehigginsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JH_Colors.pngmainsiteadmin2017-09-24 17:19:282017-09-24 17:19:28Political Thought – Deep Thoughts on the ‘WHY?’ of the Human Condition
Men of all ages say Richard Rohr has given them a new way into spiritual depth and religious thought — through his writing and retreats. This conversation with the Franciscan spiritual teacher delves into the expansive scope of his ideas: male formation and what he calls “father hunger”; why contemplation is as magnetic to people now, including millennials, as it’s ever been; and how to set about taking the first half of life — the drive to “successful survival” — all the way to meaning.
White Evangelical Christians helped secure the election of President Trump. Many said that his views on abortion were decisive, overriding concerns they had on other matters. But to be Evangelical is not one thing, even on abortion. This conversation about Christianity and politics with three generations of Evangelical leaders — Shane Claiborne, Greg Boyd, and the late Chuck Colson — feels more relevant in the wake of the 2016 election than it did when we first recorded it. We offer this searching dialogue, which is alive anew, to a changed political landscape.
Paul Harvey – If I Where The Devil 1965
We’ve played this on air and it sparked a great discussion. The radio legend, Paul Harvey broadcast this commentary in 1965. It’s titled, if If I Were The Devil. Sort of spooky.
Bishop Fulton.J.Sheen was an early adaptor of preaching on TV. He started in the 1950’s and with a chalk board and a dry wit. Bishop Sheen informed Americans about how faith should work in your life. Almost 60 years later, his message is still fun and informative. You can bet he was Classically educated.
Salpointe Graduation homily from Fr. Bill Harry – HERE
That is what the last four years have been about: learning how you can participate in building the Kingdom of God! You have changed an awful lot in the last four years—perhaps more than you will change in any other four-year period of your life. And all of the energy of Salpointe—its staff, its teachers, its administration— has been focused on making sure that you are prepared and passionate about getting out there and doing your part in building the Kingdom.
You might be saying: “That is what I was preparing for these last 4 years? Are you kidding me? I was focused on getting into a good college. I was focused on making the team.” True. You were. Those are important as well. But behind that we were focused on getting you prepared to go out into the world and to make a genuine difference. Not to take your place in that world. But to create your place in our world using your God given talents.
We need more people in our world who are willing to listen to other peoples’ stories, to get to know the life experiences of others and then respond with their whole hearts. Don’t just give lip service to your faith in God. Allow your faith to transform you. Grow to love the people you inhabit this planet with— they might think differently than you do, they might look different than you, they might speak a language you cannot understand, they might even wish you harm— but each human being on this planet is created in the image and likeness of God and each one is a child of God. And when you come to realize that and believe it and live your life in accordance with what you believe, everything will be different. Although society may be saying you need to conform, you will know exactly what you need to do to stay true to who you are!
I think your teachers would agree that if you walk out of here today conscious of who you are and what you stand for, with a passion for living justly and peacefully, then you and we have done our jobs. But if you can only recite mathematical formulas or the dates of major world events, or only know how to play a sport, but have no empathy for those around you, then someone has not done their job successfully.
The Class of 2017. Sitting in front of me this morning are not only future doctors but, I hope and I pray, doctors who are going to help care for all, especially those who can least afford it. In front of me are not only future economist but, I hope and I pray, economists who will work to build a economic structure that is fair to all. In front of me are not only future creators of new tools for communication but creators who will renew our ability to communicate the Truth. In front of me are not only future teachers but teachers who will teach to enable young people to reach their dreams. In front of me are some who will live their faith commitment radically— so that our world really does have a chance of transforming back into the loving and just world that God first created. Whatever your career you choose, choose that career because it will allow you to live intentionally, witnessing to God’s presence within yourself.
This is what it means to be a truly loving human being. And that knowledge of how and that commitment to do good is the enduring gift that I hope you take away from Salpointe Catholic! As _______ proclaimed to us from the beautiful reading from Ecclesiastes— there is a time for everything. Now is your time!
Congratulations to each of you and to your families. May God continue to bless you each day of your life—as you seek to do God’s will in our world. Amen.
Conversations with Tyler – Learn about Judaism – HERE
Conversations with Tyler is another one of my favorite thinkers. His long form podcast takes eclectic thinkers at the top of their particular field and shoots all sorts of questions on their familiar topic and many others. This is one that made me understand the Jewish faith a lot better.
This interview on Econotalk is Tyler explaining how the creative aspects that once fuel America is not as dynamic – HERE
Interesting lecture. Not verified but there are some interesting historic components. Fall of Western Civilization.
This lecture by Bill Federer on his book is more historic – Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3
Does God exist?
The debate between Dennis Prager (Author & Radio Host) and Michael Shermer (Publisher, Skeptic Magazine) is well worth a listen. Host, Dave Rubin discusses why the guests believe or don’t believe, atheism vs agnosticism, morality and God, the individual vs the collective, the founding fathers and their view on religion and God, and much more. Great discussion that probably won’t change your mind, but it helped me see both sides.
Dr Bart Ehrman is a professor of religious studies that have written many books on the interpretation of the New Testament. Some of his arguments are a bit out there but his theory about Jesus as a spiritual leader that was grounded in Jewish tradition who referenced and embraced the Old Testament over and over. His analysis of what Jesus’ motives that ultimately lead ot his crucifixion is worth a listen. After this lecture, the proof of Jesus as a man, as a spiritual leader and Son of God is clear on many levels.
Challenging Science – Berlinski
I’m placing this in the Faith category for no other reason than I’m not sure where this debate should actually go. David Berlinski: Rebelious Intellectual Defies Darwinism is a thoughtful discussion on challenging strongly held scientific beliefs. Darwinism and evolutionary theory is a widely held belief. I’m not into this topic enough to denounce the Intelligent Design Theory or the Darwinian Theory of Design. Berlinski puts out some great arguments that challenge the Darwinian theory. Towards the end of this interview, Berlinski talks about the role of science not challenging itself. Groupthink and money play a large role in scientific communities. From global warming causes to evolution, I believe it’s healthy to challenge and question the underlining science OF EVERYTHING.
‘Yes scientists do agree that the Darwinian Theory explains the origin of life BUT, here are some points you should consider in adopting this theory:
The theory doesn’t have any substance to it.
It’s proposperous
It’s not supported by the evidence
The fact that all the biologists are in agreement on the theory could be explained by some solid Marxist interpretation that they are all concerned about their economic interest. “
Intersection of Science and Faith from Dr. Stephen Barr
I love how Barr sums this up. It’s the ‘can you see the forest through the trees argument’. Of course, physics and chemistry and biology have their place. Of course, the laws of these disciplines can be observed and quantified. But how did those laws mysteriously line up? Who created the natural laws?
In 2016, Professor Barr helped found the Society of Catholic Scientists, an “international lay organization” intended to “foster fellowship among Catholic scientists and to witness to the harmony of faith and reason.”
BQO – Today, science and religion are often thought of as irreconcilable — by many secularists and believers alike — even though, historically, there was a tight and often fruitful connection between them (as St. Albert illustrates). How do you understand the role of Catholicism in today’s secular world of science?
That science and religion are considered irreconcilable by many people today would have surprised the great figures of the Scientific Revolution, including Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Pascal, Boyle, and Newton, all of whom were devoutly religious. Kepler announced one of his great discoveries with a prayer: “I thank thee, Lord God our Creator, that thou allowest me to see the beauty in thy work of creation.” That continued to be the attitude of most scientists up to and including Faraday and Maxwell, the two greatest physicists of the nineteenth century. They did not see their work as opposed to faith, but rather as revealing the splendor of God’s creation. We in SCS have the same view, expressed in our motto: “speculatio cum devotione, investigatio cum admiratione” (knowledge with devotion, research with wonder). That is what we as Catholic scientists can bring to our work.
Science, however, is for everyone, whether religious and non-religious, because it is based on reason and a desire for truth, which are given to all human beings as creatures made in the image of God. One of the glories of science has been that people of very different backgrounds and beliefs work side by side, united by their love of science. Science has always been “secular” in that sense. But the idea that science should be the exclusive preserve of “secularists” is a recent and narrow-minded idea.
….
In modern science, all natural explanations are based ultimately on the laws of physics. But if you ask why the universe should have laws, especially laws of such mathematical beauty, depth, and richness, absolute naturalism has no answer. If you think that behind those laws there must be a Lawgiver, and behind that subtle mathematics there must be a Mind, then you are drawn to go beyond pure naturalism.
A common mistake is to think that God and Nature are in competition, so that something eitherhas a natural explanation or is caused by God. That is like saying that an event in a play is either caused by other events in the play or is caused by the play’s author. It is as silly as being forced to decide whether Polonius died because he was stabbed by Hamlet or because Shakespeare wrote the play that way. God is the Author of nature and nature’s laws are his laws. So natural explanations really lead to God, not away.
Stoic’s Come Through Again
‘other vices affect our judgment, anger affects our sanity: others come in mild attacks and grow unnoticed, but men’s minds plunge abruptly into anger. … Its intensity is in no way regulated by its origin: for it rises to the greatest heights from the most trivial beginnings.’
So, here is my modern Stoic guide to anger management, inspired by Seneca’s advice:
Engage in preemptive meditation: think about what situations trigger your anger, and decide ahead of time how to deal with them. Check anger as soon as you feel its symptoms. Don’t wait, or it will get out of control. Associate with serene people, as much as possible; avoid irritable or angry ones. Moods are infective. Play a musical instrument, or purposefully engage in whatever activity relaxes your mind. A relaxed mind does not get angry. Seek environments with pleasing, not irritating, colours. Manipulating external circumstances actually has an effect on our moods. Don’t engage in discussions when you are tired, you will be more prone to irritation, which can then escalate into anger. Don’t start discussions when you are thirsty or hungry, for the same reason. Deploy self-deprecating humour, our main weapon against the unpredictability of the Universe, and the predictable nastiness of some of our fellow human beings. Practise cognitive distancing – what Seneca calls ‘delaying’ your response – by going for a walk, or retire to the bathroom, anything that will allow you a breather from a tense situation. Change your body to change your mind: deliberately slow down your steps, lower the tone of your voice, impose on your body the demeanour of a calm person.
I caught an interview on the Eric Metaxis show with Dr. Mary Neal, an Orthopedic spine surgeon, and UCLA medical and USC medical residency. Dr. Neal was underwater for 30 minutes. Dr. Neal died and went to heaven…literally. Her story changed Faith to Reality for Dr. Neal and her message from God was to return to earth and tell this story. She had four young children and a great life on earth. She recounts her journey to heaven and how we wanted to stay. Her job now is to tell this story to the world. Longer interview/lecture – HERE and HERE and Oprah Own and Oprah and long version HERE
https://youtu.be/9-QjMRF1gkI
Privileged Species?
Yep, take a listen to Michael Denton on the complexities of life on earth. Random? I think not…
Man’s Search For Meaning – Victor Frankl
“Don’t aim at success— the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long run— in the long run, I say!— success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think of it.”
A 2005 address championing the liberal arts might be the best graduation speech of all time
But historically, one speech repeatedly makes various “Best Commencement Speeches” lists: one from late novelist David Foster Wallace, given at Kenyon College in 2005.
Wallace — a graduate of the elite liberal arts college Amherst — told students that a liberal-arts education teaches them how to be self-aware and how to think.
A liberal arts education, Wallace said, teaches you “to be just a little less arrogant. To have just a little critical awareness about myself and my certainties.”
“Because a huge percentage of the stuff that I tend to be automatically certain of is, it turns out,” he added, “totally wrong and deluded.”
Harking back to his original assertion that their education taught them how t o think, Wallace said, “The only thing that’s capital-T True is that you get to decide how you’re gonna try to see it. This, I submit, is the freedom of a real education, of learning how to be well-adjusted. You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn’t. You get to decide what to worship.” – Full 22 minute commencement – HERE
I have to sprinkle in a little Jordon Peterson. Here Peterson explains the story of the Buddha. This ties in with so many themes I continue to be drawn to;
00mainsiteadminhttps://joehigginsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JH_Colors.pngmainsiteadmin2017-09-24 17:22:222017-09-24 17:22:22Faith and Spirituality – Deep Thoughts on the ‘WHY?’ of the Human Condition
Blind ambition, narcissism, a man grabbed and consumed by power, you name it, Nixon suffered from it. From early in 1968 where he was behind extending the Vietnam war to make Johnson look bad;
There was no doubt, said Johnson, that Nixon’s campaign team was trying to scupper peace talks aimed at ending the Vietnam War. They were afraid that peace in Vietnam would help Nixon’s Democratic rival, Hubert Humphrey, to clinch the election.
Johnson threatened to go public with his information. The election was just days away.
But Johnson never did go public. He received an emphatic denial from Nixon in person the next day. And perhaps more importantly, Johnson never had the definitive evidence he needed tying Nixon himself to the efforts being made by his campaign team.
A new discovery by historian John Farrell might well be the smoking gun that Johnson needed. It’s published in The New York Times.
The peace process in 1968 was real. The Soviet Union had persuaded North Vietnam to come to the table, the US just needed to deliver South Vietnam. At the beginning of November, both sides made goodwill gestures to prepare for the talks. The Communists stopped shelling cities and halted attacks across the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Vietnam. Johnson ordered a halt to the massive US aerial bombing campaign. “We’ve had 24 hours of relative peace,” he said in that Nov. 2 call to Nixon’s friend, Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.). “If Nixon keeps the South Vietnamese away from the conference, well, that’s going to be his responsibility. Up to this point, that’s why they’re not there.”
To starting of the EPA, OSHA, enacted price and wage controls and probably the most devastating short term move any President could make was that he took the US off the gold standard and cut a deal to make sure the Petro-Dollar was adopted by all oil producing nations. Frustrated by a slow economy going into the 1972 elections (the Watergate election), Nixon removed America from the gold standard and forever put the central bankers and the federal reserve in charge of running up the largest deficits in history. With Kissinger at his side, securing the Dollars place as the primary currency for the trade of oil gave America a 40 year run of prosperity. Prosperity at a cost. The constant battles and interventions in the middle east are always in the name of protecting American interests….the petrodollar.
“Can you imagine what this man would have been like if somebody would have loved him?” —Henry Kissinger
Here’s one of the biggest decisions made that Nixon made. It was an election year, we were leading into the Watergate scandal and Nixon knew he’s get a temporary bump from leaving the gold standard. Fast forward 40 years and we can see what the fiat money system has morphed into. My favorite line ‘the many responsible lenders of the International banking community’.
Big Thinkers, Great Political Debators
Mark Steyn is probably one of the best communicators I’ve ever watched. His ability to pull together topics and deliver them in a fun and impactful way is second to none. I find Peggy Noonan’s ability to communicate in writing similar to Steyn’s ability to communicate verbally. They paint a picture with their words. It’s an amazing skill.
William S Buckley – Firing Line
Dig into Firing Line with William S. Buckley, the use of language and the art of DEBATE is absolutely beautiful to watch. To think that Buckley had this platform for so many years tells me how deep society was and how much of a hunger there still is a good and civilized debate. In an arena where Bill Moyers and Charlie Rose had similar formats, Buckley was in a class of his own. His ability to go deep and give an opponent a biting backhand with a smile. This particular exchange between Christopher Hitchings and Buckley is legendary. Jump in about 15 minutes to really geek out.
More classic Buckley – HERE –
His show Firing Line was un-produced and simple. Not cuts, a doorbell meant it was time for a commercial. The show was just Buckley asking pointed questions with thought leaders of the day. Buckley’s interview with Billy Graham in 1969 about the role of Christianity in society and it’s decline is fascinating….especially since these same discussions are happening almost 50 years later.
Two giants dance.
Politics and Business – Rent Seeking and the Decay of Markets
One of my favorite series to learn from is the PBS Frontline. Here’s a great one on the DEBT BOMB (the first chapter in my book), and crony capitalism THE WARNING (the 5th chapter in my book), and LOSING IRAQ and RUMSFELD’s WAR (the 8th chapter in my book on our role as police force for the world) and TOP SECRET AMERICA (the 4th chapter in my book on bureaucracy gone wild). Perhaps the most important Frontline episodes were the inside connection between Wall Street and Washington DC. The players are in and out of Goldman Sachs and the highest levels of government. The episode, INSIDE THE MELTDOWN is probably the scariest and most troubling episode of them all. It’s troubling because it lays bare how government policy (everyone needs to own a home) and human greed collided and almost took the entire world back to the Great Depression era. Pay close attention to the role of Moral Hazard. Suffice to say, Moral Hazard is still an issue and the inflated markets are much much bigger than they were in 2008/2009.
I’m really enjoying the large discussions and topics covered in The Art of Manliness
AoM is a blog about growing up well, aimed at men and their unique challenges and interests. We explore all things manly — from the serious and philosophical to the practical and fun. We seek to uncover how to live with grandpa’s swagger, virtue, and know-how in the present age by wedding the best of the past to the best of the present. The end goal is to create a synergy of tradition and modernity that offers men a way forward and signposts on how to live an excellent, flourishing life.
Ultimately, the Art of Manliness aims to encourage our readers to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens — a new generation of great men..
What Ancient Greeks and Romans Thought About Manliness – Ted Landen
The Road to Character – David Brooks – I bought the book after this interview.
The Untold Story of Jimmy Stewart in WWII – Robert Matzen – A man at the top of the world …… turns to service. Great story!
Justice: Free To Choose
Highly recommend Harvard’s hugely popular series by Professor Michael Sandel. His lectures are sold out, his ideas behind morality, markets, and choice really make you think. Here’s a sample, I highly recommend if you like what you hear you keep listening to his larger body of work. Here are a few other interesting lectures from Sandel -Lecture on Adam Smith (jump in about 15 min for the free form and Q&A) – HERE – A great sampling of Prof Sandel – HERE and the lost art of political debate – HERE
Meet Senator Ben Sasse
Thank goodness we have Senators like this elected. Stumbled upon him and want to read his book :
He’s sitting is Daniel Patrick Monyihan’s desk. He is a history guy, turn around pro and former President of a University. Born in 1972, a new US Senator from Nebraska and he’s talking about Tocqueville, the meaning of work, and the inability to for leaders to solve the big problems. He calls out parents for not transmitting work ethic to the kids. He calls American’s in perpetual adolescents because of our tremendous affluence. We’ve forgotten how to grow up. Look at the college experience, student loans and you can see his ideas in reality.
Here’s another deep dive from Sen. Sasse….the topics on work, raising kids and the future are exceptional:
Freakonomics Radio is one of the more fun and informative franchises (podcast, book, video) that I enjoy listening to. They dig deep into topics that are odd and quirky but put together paint an important picture of the big ideas. They start with a big question and then visit thought leaders and answer that question. I am particularly intrigued by their new Earth 2.0. The hypothetical question is; ‘What would you do differently if you could reboot society?’
If we could reboot the planet and create new systems and institutions from scratch, would they be any better than what we’ve blundered our way into through trial and error? This is the first of a series of episodes that we’ll release over several months. Today we start with — what else? — economics. You’ll hear from Nobel laureate Angus Deaton, the poverty-fighting superhero Jeff Sachs; and many others.
In pursuit of a more perfect economy, we discuss the future of work; the toxic remnants of colonization; and whether giving everyone a basic income would be genius — or maybe the worst idea ever. Tyler Cowen makes an appearance.
Here’s some of my other favorite episodes – Duckworth and GRIT – HERE and Why is Life So Hard – HERE – Could Resolving This One Problem Solve All Others? – HERE
HERE‘s how I think ex-Presidents should act when out of office. Want to know why our politics is so divided. It culminated with eight years of THIS sort of rhetoric. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Since the confirmation hearings of Judge Bork, the tit for tat battles has been ratcheting up in America. Sprinkle in redistricting that makes Congressional seats lifetime jobs, huge money from Unions and Corporations flooding politics, the decay of States Rights, fractured and biased news bubbles and an electorate that will un-elect anyone who tells them ‘no’ and is it any wonder we are at this point in American politics?
Weighing in on the Trump Phenomenon. +
Seven years on the air, covering the play by play of American politics I consider myself more up on current events than most. I predicted a Romney win in 2012 and predicted a Trump loss in 2016. So much for a career as a political prognosticator. Here’s the most important reason for a Trump presidency…HERE. What we’ve seen over the past 20 years is an abdication of power by the Congress and a concentration of power in the White House. We’ve witnessed an erosion of States rights and a runaway entitlement system fueling huge deficit spending. Voters ping-pong back and forth looking for the new Hope and Change. We are looking for the next emperor to Make America Great Again. Sadly the power grabs by the Presidency has gone way beyond the visions of the Founders of America. The one remaining check to an imperial Presidency is the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the ultimate referee and the Constitution is the playing field. Is the foundation of what our government a living breathing document or should it be taken literally as written over 240 years ago. That decision happens at the Supreme Court. Look no further than the Affordable Care Act decision that compels every American to buy a product. Talk about commerce clause overreach. Roberts had to bend and contort the intent of the Congress and reclassify the bill as a Tax just to keep the law intact. There will be other Presidents that push for a Patriot Act or attempt to spy on their citizens. There will be more Obama’s and Trumps that get elected by angry mobs. The Supreme Court is our last best hope to call a strike a strike and a ball a ball.
Months and months before the presidential election, I began thinking of Trump not as a cause of American disruption but a symptom of it. And as much as I don’t like quoting myself, here is something from March 2016:
“It’s obvious the American political system is breaking down. It’s been crumbling for some time now, and the establishment elite know it and they’re properly frightened. Donald Trump, the vulgarian at their gates, is a symptom, not a cause. Hillary Clinton and husband Bill are both cause and effect.”
The establishment pushed the wars and free trade and their partners in the corporate-government matrix agreed to the sending off of capital (and jobs) to foreign lands.
For all the talk of partisanship, Democrats and Republicans were the two horns on the head of the goat.
And Trump voters? They were forgotten, left behind, mocked as deplorable.
Would Trump the barbarian have been elected president of the United States even 10 or 20 years ago?
No. He seems determined to prove he is socially unfit for the office. His rude personal style ruffles the feathers of many who see him as a pretender or a huckster. But he’s not dumb.
And neither are the almost 63 million people who voted for him. They’ve long been dismissed as stupid or unlettered or unsophisticated. They’d been written off as pathologically angry by the media that cleave to the establishment and see distrust in government as some kind of mental disorder.
I grew up with these people. They don’t deserve the shaming that comes their way.
They were betrayed. And all they want, really, is meaningful work and to not be told they’re idiotic or hateful simply because they dare support traditional values, and that a nation should shape its culture by controlling its own borders.
They knew Trump was loud, they knew he was vulgar, they knew he was trouble. And they voted for him because they wanted him to make trouble.
They wanted him to punch the Washington elites in the mouth, to kick them and stomp on them as they had been kicked and stomped on. They detest the ruling elites in the modern Versailles so much that they installed a character like Trump.
Fixating on Trump doesn’t really address this.
And you might want to ask yourselves, what happens 10 years from now, with the next Trump, from the right or from the left?
Because things aren’t going back to normal, are they?
Tales is on Bloomberg trying to explain the Donald Trump phenomenon. It’s worth a listen.
https://youtu.be/kKW0LbeiWio
00mainsiteadminhttps://joehigginsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JH_Colors.pngmainsiteadmin2017-09-24 17:19:282017-09-24 17:19:28Political Thought – Deep Thoughts on the ‘WHY?’ of the Human Condition
You might be saying: “That is what I was preparing for these last 4 years? Are you kidding me? I was focused on getting into a good college. I was focused on making the team.” True. You were. Those are important as well. But behind that we were focused on getting you prepared to go out into the world and to make a genuine difference. Not to take your place in that world. But to create your place in our world using your God given talents.
In 2016, Professor Barr helped found the 
‘other vices affect our judgment, anger affects our sanity: others come in mild attacks and grow unnoticed, but men’s minds plunge abruptly into anger. … Its intensity is in no way regulated by its origin: for it rises to the greatest heights from the most trivial beginnings.’
There was no doubt, said Johnson, that Nixon’s campaign team was trying to scupper peace talks aimed at ending the Vietnam War. They were afraid that peace in Vietnam would help Nixon’s Democratic rival, Hubert Humphrey, to clinch the election.
One of my favorite series to learn from is the PBS Frontline. Here’s a great one on the 
AoM is a blog about growing up well, aimed at men and their unique challenges and interests. We explore all things manly — from the serious and philosophical to the practical and fun. We seek to uncover how to live with grandpa’s swagger, virtue, and know-how in the present age by wedding the best of the past to the best of the present. The end goal is to create a synergy of tradition and modernity that offers men a way forward and signposts on how to live an excellent, flourishing life.
Freakonomics Radio
HERE
Seven years on the air, covering the play by play of American politics I consider myself more up on current events than most. I predicted a Romney win in 2012 and predicted a Trump loss in 2016. So much for a career as a political prognosticator. Here’s the most important reason for a Trump presidency…