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It Was Always Only About Power With the Left
American Greatness ^ | 28 May, 2023 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 05/29/2023 4:38:48 AM PDT by MtnClimber

For the left-wing elites, the cause is but a means to personal and professional power.

Why do so many liberal climate-activist grandees fly on private jets? Or why do those who profited from Black Lives Matter have a propensity for estate living? Or why do the community-activist Obamas prefer to live in not one, but three mansions?

The answer is that calls for radical equity, “power for the people,” and mandated equality are usually mostly sloganeering for those who enjoy power and the lucre it brings, and their wish is to augment both for themselves. The result is that the issue du jour of mandated equality often becomes secondary if not irrelevant. There is neither fear of inconstancy nor hypocrisy, given the central theme that governs a leftist party line is political utility—or the ends of power always more than justify the hypocritical means used to obtain it.

Spout racialist nonsense for 40 years? Harass women and young girls by blowing in their hair and squeezing them too tightly? Create a family grifting syndicate to leverage foreign cash in quid pro quo fashion? Praise racial segregationists?

Joe Biden did all those things and more. But he also did them in service to a supposed noble cause, sort of like the current board president of the NAACP promoting a black travel ban on Florida, while he lives—in Florida!

Keep political utility in mind and the baffling hypocrisy of the Left makes all too perfect sense.

January 6 vs. the “Summer of Love”

From all the tens of thousands of January 6 Capitol protesters a small percentage entered the Capitol itself. Of that group, an even smaller number committed violent acts. Most of those seriously injured that day were among the protesters themselves.

(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: communismvdh; vdh; victordavishanson
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To: MtnClimber

Tagline. Read.


21 posted on 05/29/2023 7:17:14 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: AnglePark
This is a rare example of where I disagree with VDH. The man is brilliant.

The elite only seek power to grow and/or maintain their wealth. It’s only about money, and the status it provides. The Biden Crime Syndicate is a prime example.

Hanson has it right. There is a personality defect that feeds purely on power. Just sit in on any HOA board meeting.

22 posted on 05/29/2023 7:27:59 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

Nah. Folks who run HOAs do it to maintain their status, or the appearances thereof, not because they want power over the neighbors they hate. They flip out if you let a weed from your yard creep into theirs, or your kid’s soccer ball is kicked across the line.

Their quest for power is all about their neighborhoods, homes, lawns, golf carts, BMWs and Range Rovers. Material “happiness.”


23 posted on 05/29/2023 7:49:44 AM PDT by AnglePark (My opinion is the most worthless thing I own.)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

REMINDER: Do not water down Memorial Day with your niceness. It’s a day to honor those who gave their lives while serving in the military. It’s not for “veterans and cops and first responders!”

It’s only for the fallen. And their families. They deserve their own day.— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) May 28, 2023


24 posted on 05/29/2023 7:53:22 AM PDT by combat_boots
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To: MtnClimber

Yep. And also always about the GOP lack of a spine.


25 posted on 05/29/2023 7:54:07 AM PDT by tennmountainman ( Less Lindell CONS, More AZ Style Audits)
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To: GeorgiaDawg32
From January 20th 2021:

"In an America ruled without the pretense of self-government, the Left has big plans. Our natural rights from God and our civil rights in society to speech, press, assembly, equal justice and fair elections exist at the pleasure of Obiden’s ministers. To them, the Constitutional envelope of our Framers is an archaic and horrid racist memory. They are the ones they’ve been waiting for. They will not squander this opportunity to fundamentally transform the United States and grind their political enemies into atoms."

Article V Blog.

26 posted on 05/29/2023 10:31:01 AM PDT by Jacquerie (ArticleVBlog.com)
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To: MtnClimber

Larry Grathwohl on Bill Ayers plan for American reeducation camps and the need to kill millions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKTltWU1e7w

I got news for you, these people haven’t changed, and they’ve indeed almost taken over the government.


27 posted on 05/29/2023 10:32:20 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: texas booster

Bttt.

5.56mm


28 posted on 05/29/2023 10:44:22 AM PDT by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho have got to go)
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To: AnglePark
Nah. Folks who run HOAs do it to maintain their status, or the appearances thereof,

Status and power are closely interrelated.

29 posted on 05/29/2023 10:59:25 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain
Status and power are closely interrelated.

I agree 100%, which is why I say people only want power to either increase or secure their wealth (i.e. status).

30 posted on 05/29/2023 11:19:25 AM PDT by AnglePark (My opinion is the most worthless thing I own.)
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To: dfwgator
And the GOP is saying "Go for it!" to the Democrats. 2020 was the Marxist takeover of this country, and they didn't need to fire a shot.
31 posted on 05/29/2023 11:23:06 AM PDT by Major Matt Mason (To solve the Democrat problem, the RINO problem must first be solved.)
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To: Major Matt Mason

2008 was the beginning of the end.


32 posted on 05/29/2023 11:24:56 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: AnglePark
I agree 100%, which is why I say people only want power to either increase or secure their wealth (i.e. status).

I believe it is much more complicated. Wealth, status, and power are all interrelated, and, to some extent, convertible and reinforcing of each other.

Wealth can be spent for status and power, and status and power tend to draw wealth to themselves.

But people can be high status with little wealth and little power.

It is also possible for people of considerable wealth to have little status or power.

33 posted on 05/29/2023 11:47:41 AM PDT by marktwain
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