Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob

“Of course, one of our central tenets is the right, even duty, to criticize our government. But only a woeful lack of historical perspective or a perverse ideological malice (or both) allows some to pretend that ripping apart our society is a thoughtful critique.” (10/12/26)

https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/10/12/will-the-west-awaken

Source: Karl Dickey’s Freedom Vanguard
by Karl Dickey

“Why is a government agency using a private company like SpaceX to take cargo up to its space station? Economics, plain and simple; SpaceX can do it for far less money than it can itself. For example, the government-run Space Shuttle cost taxpayers around $54,000 per kilogram to reach low orbit. SpaceX can do the same for $2,600 per kilogram on its Falcon 9 rocket. NASA used to just dump or burn up its rocket boosters, using them one time; SpaceX reuses its rockets many times, dramatically reducing the cost of each mission, and SpaceX continually reduces the cost per kilogram to get cargo to low orbit and space. … Removing bureaucratic friction caused by government produces local job growth in Florida, lowers costs for essential services, and improves the lives and freedom of millions.” (10/12/260

https://palmbeachexaminer.substack.com/p/why-private-rockets-outperform-government

Source: The UnPopulist
by Andy Craig

“In the spring of 1778, with the war in America going badly, a member of the House of Lords proposed that Britain withdraw its forces and recognize American independence. Charles Lennox, the third Duke of Richmond, was a great-grandson of King Charles II, one of the wealthiest men in the country, and about as well-placed in the British establishment as anyone could be. He was also, for 15 years, its most persistent critic. Richmond is not a name most Americans would recognize. Danielle Allen’s Radical Duke makes a good case that he ought to be.” (10/12/26)

https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-british-radical-who-used-the

Source: The American Conservative
by Peter Van Buren

“Meigs County is around 79 percent Republican; more importantly, 71 percent of adults typically vote, solidly above the U.S. average. The Democrats should take note as they try to retake Ohio in this year’s elections. Many in the area rely on food stamps. Yet people tend to see their benefits as deserved, since most work and pay taxes, unlike the way they see the people in big cities, who they think depend on the same assistance across multiple generations. It takes little more than a bottle of beer to hear anecdotes suggesting this perspective is racially tinged, as is locals’ view of democratic socialism. Public opinion here is still shaped by local daytime conservative talk radio shows listened to in the truck. Being here you understand that the jumbled beliefs people hold do not always make sense—but they vote based on those beliefs, whether you find them logical or not.” (10/12/26)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/what-i-saw-and-heard-in-vance-country/

Source: Big Head Press
by Scott Bieser

Cartoon. (10/12/26)

https://www.quantumvibe.com/strip?page=2609