Book Review – The Naked Communist
The book was published over 40 years ago, yet it is so relevant today because it parallels the liberal-progressive strategies used in the destruction of our free-enterprise economy. Socialism is on the rise, liberty is in decline in America. It’s an interesting overview of the beginnings of communism in Russia up through the 60’s. Included in the book is a list of 45 goals to establish Communism. When you read reviews on the book, there are some who bash the author’s credentials, so make sure you understand what you’re reading.
The 45 goals were actually read into the Congressional Record in 1963. Here are a few that seem relevant today:
From “The Naked Communist,” by Cleon Skousen
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind.
15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policy-making positions.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression.
23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”
24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”
28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”
29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.”
32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture–education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents.
Any of this sound familiar?
W. Cleon Skousen, worked in the FBI for 16 years, taught at the university level, and served as a Chief of Police in Salt Lake City and a Field Director for the American Security Council in Chicago.
The Debt Ceiling is Raised – Now What?
Many press accounts of the debt ceiling compromise say “… the tea party won…”, and President Obama was forced to capitulate. It does not feel that way to me. For some reason, this feels as bad as the malaise that followed the passage of the Affordable Care Act. For days it seemed like the sun would not shine again.
Many in the tea party and 912 world are very disappointed in the outcome, and for some reasons that have not been widely explored. Yes it may have been difficult to get more from the divided Congress. But several aspects of the bill seem to have given the initiative for further action completely to the Democrats. The question that hangs in the air like smoke after a firefight is …. what now? What is the strategy to fend off the coming tax increases. How will the “select committee” resolve ideological differences over the role of government and fend off the “trigger” that will decimate the military?
Many tea party and 912 members worked hard to get Congressman Allen West elected, some going back to the 2008 race. We want to be loyal, we want to support him in 2012. But we really need to understand. This is some of what we need to know:
- The bill cuts about $1T over 10 years, but the reduction from planned spending over the next two years is pocket change. Since this Congress can’t bind a future Congress to a course of action, why is anything in the out years even relevant?
- The second “tranche” requires agreement of 6 Republicans and 6 Democrats, yet to be named, or else massive cuts are applied to the military budget and to Medicare providers. Since cuts of the suggested size would severely impact our war fighting capablility and leave us weak in a world of increasing danger and instability, how could this even be contemplated? And as to Medicare providers – will not cutting doctors and hospitals create massive supply disruptions that will make care for seniors difficult to obtain?
- Since both aspects of the mandatory actions on failure of the commission could be considered results sought by a majority of Democrats (based on past actions), hasn’t this bill essentially handed all the leverage over to that party? Why would the 6 Democrats on the commission have any incentive to compromise?
- Speaker Boehner’s PowerPoint charts say that the commission will not be able to raise taxes. Both Harry Reid and President Obama on the other hand, say “balance” – (meaning tax increases on “the rich”), is what they expect of the commission. How are these points of view to be reconciled?
- The CBO scoring of the bill assumes the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire, raising taxes by several trillion, possibly accounting for all the “savings” from the bill over 10 years. What is the plan to prevent this massive tax increase on small businesses and the middle class?
- We understand that necessary changes cannot be made in one step, and that control of only the House and not the Senate and White House makes progress difficult. Accepting the premise that August 2 was a drop-dead date narrowed the range of options. That said, what leverage is remaining to the conservatives and what further steps can be taken short of defeating the President and winning control of the Senate in 2012? How do we continue the fight?
- And lest we forget, what happened to the pledge to have bills published on the Internet for a few days before a vote?
Note:
Both of our local conservative Congressmen from districts 22 and 16 voted for this bill. The Palm Beach County Tea Party is preparing a set of questions for them to help us understand their positions. Congressmen Allen West is a guest for the 8/15 PBCTP meeting and will have plenty of time to address these areas. Congressmen Rooney will also be a guest at the Labor Day Barbecue and can do the same. Watch this space.
His Excellency King George III vs His Excellency Barack Obama
The Founding Fathers’ view of the British Monarch vs a Tea Party view of President Barack Obama:
From The Declaration of Independence
(Note: clarifying terms in [ ])
He has refused his Assent to Laws [a balanced budget], the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his [State] Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance [to protect its citizens], unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people [the unemployed], unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature [agree to onerous tax increases], a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices [Unaccountable Czars], and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction [the United Nations] foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us [with Obamacare and a multitude of freedom-reducing regulations].
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages [illegal immigrants whose presence he encourages] …
Hear and Cheer
Running on Empty Tour Comes to Jupiter on August 11th
Since President Obama took office, gas prices have nearly doubled. However, America has enormous domestic supplies, all we need is the political will to use them and the prices will come down.
Join Americans for Prosperity when their Running On Empty tour comes to Jupiter on August 11th. Share your story and learn what the administration could be doing to make it easier on you and your family. The event will include local and national speakers and a chance to send President Obama your gas bill!
Date: Thursday, August 11th
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Abacoa Amphitheater
1260 University Blvd
Jupiter, FL 33458
