I copied and pasted the prescient quote from Mr. Hoffer . I am certain I will want to return to it.
I also downloaded the sample of “James” offered on Kindle.
I love the diversity of thought on the Free Press. Since time,as always, is limited and precious I would also appreciate a way to explore this diversity without assigning labels to the people who provide it. Unfortunately I can’t offer any good advice.
The island of Cuba is a sad story. So much going for it and yet it is helpless under the iron grip of communism. A grip that has seen its electric grid collapse and their economy so feeble they must now import sugar. I had hoped when Fidel Castro, the richest Communist in Cuba, died that the people would throw off the yoke of Fidelism. No such luck. Cuba will not emerge from misery until every last living communist no longer is.
Is this really water? Perhaps it is. If so, do not cast your gaze there too long. Eventually, you will see only your own reflection. Then you will fall in love with it. For The Free Press, this will be your kiss of death.
Hoffer’s imagining such a leader in 1951 is not that surprising (although still brilliantly done). He did have certain role models that appeared in the 30’s and 40’s. A disaffected populace will always fall in behind such a person. It’s not all bad. He or she is democratically elected because he or she is a unifier and not an agent of chaos. People atavistically like a strong leader. It can be good or bad.
@Bari Weiss: Can you please start giving your Employees time off for holidays? To be with their families. Please give your Employees all Federal holidays off, including Christmas.
Please do not publish on Federal holidays. Instead, you should send this message "We will not publish tomorrow, because it is Christmas Day & we want to give our employees time with their families.". This should be done for All Federal Holidays. This would Set a good example. Please don't be a Workaholic or a Scrooge. Time off from Publishing is very important.
This is an attack on our constitution and free speech. The law mentioned here needs teeth. If someone violates this law, they need to serve prison time, not in Club Fed but in a supermax prison, where they take long hot showers with a mussled-up, tattooed thug named Knuckles.
It's no secret what they did. We don't want to prosecute it because we're too embarrassed by how gullible and pliable we proved ourselves to be. Better to just pretend it kinda didn't really happen.
I'm ashamed of how spineless we've become. I'm old, so maybe that's part of it. But seriously, we are watching our rights being consumed by some pretty evil people, and being bilked of our money in the process. But content with our bread and circuses, and meds, we just watch it happen.
Thanks, but Eric Hoffer did not predict Donald Trump; the passage you quote is a description of Adolf Hitler as if Hitler were an ideal type of savior-dictator-predator. I formerly was a fan of Hoffer's, because leftist journalists sold me on his work, but now I see his work as social science with no or bad data. There is a reason leftist journalists only advertised The True Believer -- it corresponded to their obsession with fascism. We hardly ever find any mention of The Ordeal of Change, which I enjoyed long ago as philosophy and now find entertaining nonsense. The Ordeal of Change is closer to a negative criticism of Communist expansion in the Far East.
Can we please dispense with the Trump is so cunning and Dem candidates are white as snow no matter what? Being a successful politician like on the take Biden is not an honorable profession.
I've never met such fervent American Patriots as Cubans who've attained US citizenship, the same applies to many naturalized US citizens, especially those coming from communist or socialist countries.
My partner, who is a high school French teacher, tell me year after year how she sees the children of immigrants far surpass the kids from Americans born and raised here.
I don't know why so many people aren't learning from this.
"My partner, who is a high school French teacher, tell me year after year how she sees the children of immigrants far surpass the kids from Americans born and raised here."
This has to do with how children are raised. I'm a pediatrician (and an immigrant) and I see the same things. So many American kids are spoiled. They are allowed to Disrespect their parents & elders & authority. They are allowed to break rules without consequences. They are given too much stuff. Too many rewards. Parents give in to the kids' demands & let the kids walk all over them. Most immigrants don't do this. They punish their kids, harshly when needed. They enforce rules & respect. So kids are very behaved at all times.
Many Americans also raise their kids right. Particularly I see this with more traditional & religiously observant Americans. Kids are respectful & follow the rules.
I copied and pasted the prescient quote from Mr. Hoffer . I am certain I will want to return to it.
I also downloaded the sample of “James” offered on Kindle.
I love the diversity of thought on the Free Press. Since time,as always, is limited and precious I would also appreciate a way to explore this diversity without assigning labels to the people who provide it. Unfortunately I can’t offer any good advice.
I wish Americans liked the US as much as the Israelis love Israel.
Surviving the election?
The island of Cuba is a sad story. So much going for it and yet it is helpless under the iron grip of communism. A grip that has seen its electric grid collapse and their economy so feeble they must now import sugar. I had hoped when Fidel Castro, the richest Communist in Cuba, died that the people would throw off the yoke of Fidelism. No such luck. Cuba will not emerge from misery until every last living communist no longer is.
Is this really water? Perhaps it is. If so, do not cast your gaze there too long. Eventually, you will see only your own reflection. Then you will fall in love with it. For The Free Press, this will be your kiss of death.
That is also my biggest regret. (for every year) Thanks for distilling it into a single thought.
Thank you for mentioning Eric Hoffer - a long time hero - prescient in many ways
My best Christmas surprise was from Margi Conklin!
Happy Day!
Hoffer’s imagining such a leader in 1951 is not that surprising (although still brilliantly done). He did have certain role models that appeared in the 30’s and 40’s. A disaffected populace will always fall in behind such a person. It’s not all bad. He or she is democratically elected because he or she is a unifier and not an agent of chaos. People atavistically like a strong leader. It can be good or bad.
@Bari Weiss: Can you please start giving your Employees time off for holidays? To be with their families. Please give your Employees all Federal holidays off, including Christmas.
Please do not publish on Federal holidays. Instead, you should send this message "We will not publish tomorrow, because it is Christmas Day & we want to give our employees time with their families.". This should be done for All Federal Holidays. This would Set a good example. Please don't be a Workaholic or a Scrooge. Time off from Publishing is very important.
We'd be a thousand years behind if it weren't for the workaholics. Complacency never really revolutionized anything. Let the hard workers...work hard.
I don't know how to contact Bari but I think this topic is right up TFP's alley:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/deeply-troubling-when-josh-hawley-grilled-the-biden-administration-over-covid-19-origins/vi-AA1woasG?ocid=msedgntp&pc=EDBBAN&cvid=6c1bd2bc36e543daa81d39c4f4ece95a&ei=46
This is an attack on our constitution and free speech. The law mentioned here needs teeth. If someone violates this law, they need to serve prison time, not in Club Fed but in a supermax prison, where they take long hot showers with a mussled-up, tattooed thug named Knuckles.
It's no secret what they did. We don't want to prosecute it because we're too embarrassed by how gullible and pliable we proved ourselves to be. Better to just pretend it kinda didn't really happen.
I'm ashamed of how spineless we've become. I'm old, so maybe that's part of it. But seriously, we are watching our rights being consumed by some pretty evil people, and being bilked of our money in the process. But content with our bread and circuses, and meds, we just watch it happen.
100% Agree. They need to come clean. The American people deserve to hear the truth. Expose Fauci's crimes.
Thanks, but Eric Hoffer did not predict Donald Trump; the passage you quote is a description of Adolf Hitler as if Hitler were an ideal type of savior-dictator-predator. I formerly was a fan of Hoffer's, because leftist journalists sold me on his work, but now I see his work as social science with no or bad data. There is a reason leftist journalists only advertised The True Believer -- it corresponded to their obsession with fascism. We hardly ever find any mention of The Ordeal of Change, which I enjoyed long ago as philosophy and now find entertaining nonsense. The Ordeal of Change is closer to a negative criticism of Communist expansion in the Far East.
Lovely thoughts, glad Bari was in a good mood and left the soft stuff in. No offense Bari I was one of your first subs and think you are great.
Such a beautiful Christmas Day gift. Thank you, Margi, and Merry Christmas!
Can we please dispense with the Trump is so cunning and Dem candidates are white as snow no matter what? Being a successful politician like on the take Biden is not an honorable profession.
I've never met such fervent American Patriots as Cubans who've attained US citizenship, the same applies to many naturalized US citizens, especially those coming from communist or socialist countries.
My partner, who is a high school French teacher, tell me year after year how she sees the children of immigrants far surpass the kids from Americans born and raised here.
I don't know why so many people aren't learning from this.
Merry Christmas everyone!
"My partner, who is a high school French teacher, tell me year after year how she sees the children of immigrants far surpass the kids from Americans born and raised here."
This has to do with how children are raised. I'm a pediatrician (and an immigrant) and I see the same things. So many American kids are spoiled. They are allowed to Disrespect their parents & elders & authority. They are allowed to break rules without consequences. They are given too much stuff. Too many rewards. Parents give in to the kids' demands & let the kids walk all over them. Most immigrants don't do this. They punish their kids, harshly when needed. They enforce rules & respect. So kids are very behaved at all times.
Many Americans also raise their kids right. Particularly I see this with more traditional & religiously observant Americans. Kids are respectful & follow the rules.
"So many American kids are spoiled..." So are their dogs.