Woke costs

Three videos on wokeness losing.  Firstly a video on woke companies losing financially. Second wokeness losing in the culture war and finally wokeness eating itself.

Kathy Griffin is a symptom of a sick liberal culture

In case you missed the latest news cycle, this happened:

Here’s what’s happened in the past 19 hours: perpetual try-hard Kathy Griffin tweeted a photo of herself holding an extremely bloody and realistic (though extremely fake) decapitated head of Donald Trump, people got mad and accused her of promoting violence, Squatty Potty dumped her as a brand spokesperson, she deleted the image from her feed, she uploaded an apology video, and then President Trump tweeted that she “should be ashamed of herself.” Oh, and at some point during that timeline, the Secret Service got involved.

Normally I would not show this outrage but I think I have to do so at this point. As repulsive as this is, people need to see it.  It's liberalism with the mask taken off.  This is how they really think.  Kathy Griffin was simply doing what many progressive liberals are thinking.  Some liberals might only be mad at Kathy Griffin because she's errantly exposed their true feelings that they would dare not speak in mixed company.   Some no doubt are also legitimately offended by her actions.

People are rightly mad at Kathy Griffin. But she's not the real problem, she's just a symptom of the real problem. The real problem is a liberal culture that encourages free thinking ONLY if you agree with their point of view. The self-reinforcing nature of the liberal echo chamber creates an environment where it becomes not only okay but is encouraging of an attempt to push boundaries. Again, only so long as you push it in the direction they desire.

Kathy Griffin got too far in front of the curve of what is acceptable. But if this is allowed to continue, by 2020, her asinine attempt at humor might already be mainstream-ready. This is why the culture of political correctness and of liberal media domination needs to be repudiated and stopped. Without an effective countermanding voice to say "this is unacceptable", it is only going to get worse.

It's media week at Nonsensible Shoes

All this week, Nonsensible Shoes will be looking at media and it's impact on society, both positive and negative.  In an era of social media, Mainstream Media, fake news, it's important to understand, or at a minimum, analyze the impact of various media streams on the psyche of a nation and it's resulting goals and values.  Every day this week will feature a different take on media and society.

Later this morning - Social Media and Safe Space
Tomorrow - The ultimate failure of Soviet propaganda

PJTV: Stories liberals tell

Stories liberals tell and and how conservatives can win back the culture. This is important because culture drives some of the electorate and often the direction of the conversation.

Obamacare returning to earth like space shuttle Columbia

Too soon?

In 2003 NASA, America, and humanity suffered a loss when the space shuttle Columbia broke apart, piece by piece as it returned to earth.   foam strike on the wing during takeoff doomed the craft and crew as Columbia was exposed to intense heat that melted it's structural integrity and disintegrated the craft in a horrifying display as it attempted to return to earth.

Over a decade later, in the days following the Halbig Supreme Court decision, Obamacare seems to be experiencing a similar fate, albeit at a much slower pace.

The Halbig decision has already experienced some fallout. The architect of some of the Act's language has been caught not once but twice obfuscating on indications that the Act was deliberately designed with the specific faulty language that had led to the court's decision.  This issue is not going to go away quickly because the flaw means that some sort of change to Obamacare will be required.  How is that going to happen with a Republican congress and potentially a Republican senate come election time?

The analogy doesn't end there. The culture at NASA prior to the accident was one that minimized safety.

Several people within NASA pushed to get pictures of the breached wing in orbit. The Department of Defense was reportedly prepared to use its orbital spy cameras to get a closer look. However, NASA officials in charge declined the offer, according to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) and "Comm Check," a book about the disaster... 

Besides the physical cause – the foam – CAIB had a damning assessment about the culture at NASA that led to the foam problem and other safety issues being minimized over the years.

The similarities to the culture among liberals with Obamacare - minimizing the issues - are stark. For example, they argue that the Act`s legal problems are not important. They dutifully point out that two courts reached two different conclusions and arguing that the Halbig conclusion is wrong.  Minimizing the problem was part of the institutional issue at NASA; minimizing the problem seems to be an institutional problem with the liberal mindset as well.  

More pieces will break off of Obamacare in the months and years to come.  Once a complex system starts to come apart, it can`t simply go back together, especially mid-flight.

The same fiery Columbia experienced conclusion awaits Obamacare.

Conservative Culture

One of the things I find frustrating as a conservative is the lack of a conservative cultural icons in America.  When George Clooney hosts an event for President Obama, it doesn't phase me.  George Clooney has about as much geo-political and economic insight as an oak cabinet.  His 'insight' is not really all that valuable, he's not going to change my mind. Nevertheless, as part of a barrage of liberal entertainment media, he does have an impact on some impressionable voters.  

The problem is conservatism isn't viewed as cool.  Steady and successful doesn't compete well with flashy - all steak doesn't always beat all sizzle.  Conservatism can use some sizzle.  I've always maintained that conservatism needs to expend some effort on the coolness factor.  The good news is that despite having a long way to go, those efforts are at least underway.  Conservative artists, conservative media icons and conservative efforts at comedy, youtube videos, and twitter discussion are not inconsequential - they are starting to matter.

Recently I came across RightPosters and I thought it served as a great example of a way for people to proclaim their conservatism in a culturally relevant way.  Whether it's taking a liberal icon and turning the image on it's head or simply putting some coolness into a conservative idea, the posters work.  It's one more example of  conservatives trying to make a cultural  impact in a pro-capitalism way.  There are some really cool posters there and they are a way to express your conservatism to those around you and help make a difference in the culture war that conservatives have always fought from a defensive position.  Perhaps we have only taken baby steps so far, but they are steps nonetheless.  This sort of effort should be supported and encouraged, and engaged on a personal level.