Source: Orange Country Register
by Steven Greenhut

“One recent public-opinion poll asked Americans their thoughts on different periods of European history. Most Americans probably know little about events that took place in their own country 10 years ago, but they nevertheless expressed to YouGov fairly strong opinions about Classical Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Late Antiquity. I still found it reassuring that majorities hold a ‘very or somewhat favorable’ view toward the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. However, 17% were favorably disposed toward the Dark Ages. Even funnier, 9% held the Black Plague in high esteem, with 32% positively inclined toward the Crusades — small, but not insignificant numbers. Such people live among us, although maybe they just have a great sense of humor.” (07/18/25)

https://archive.is/DoMfG

Source: Town Hall
by Mark Lewis

“They are lying about everything. They are lying about climate change. They are lying about the Epstein files. They are lying about Trump, transgenderism, racism, babies, the economy … what are they not lying about? And lying is evil. Can anything be done about this non-stop onslaught of moral degradation in our society? Unfortunately, we will never, ever remove evil from the human heart or an organized society. There is some evil inside all of us, as well as some good. There are degrees of this, however; some people ARE better than others (Jesus), some people ARE more wicked than others (Pelosi). Regardless of degrees, removing evil from society is a practical impossibility. But we can try.” [editor’s note: So if Democrats have a trademark on “evil,” what do we call the Republicans? “Reprobate” works, I guess – TLK] (07/19/25)

https://townhall.com/columnists/marklewis/2025/07/19/evil-thy-name-is-democratic-party-n2660629

Source: CounterPunch
by Stephen F Eisenman

“Not content to impugn the worth of 10 million undocumented workers, the Trump administration must calumniate the reputation of a genus of semi-aquatic reptiles as well. I’m no herpetologist, but having lived in rural Florida for six years, I can tell you that Alligator Alcatraz — the new stalag in the Big Cypress National Preserve, north of the Everglades – isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Immigrants (undocumented and legal alike) take note: Notwithstanding the barbed wire, guard towers, armed ICE agents and 200+ security cameras, escape from AA is no harder than from any other federal detention facility. Unless you are hand feeding alligators or walking a dog (a prey animal) — both improbable activities following an escape – your chance of being attacked by an alligator is less than being struck by lightning. So don’t be afraid of the gators.” (07/18/25)

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/07/18/republic-of-fear-4/

Source: Free Association
by Sheldon Richman

“Trump’s masked goon squad, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), abducts peaceful people off the streets, from their workplaces, and from Home Depot parking lots, then shuttles them without due process to detention centers, including the ominously named Allegator Alcatraz, and prepares to deport them to third countries deficient, shall we say, in their devotion to individual rights. … I’ve heard it said that libertarians should favor government control of immigration in principle (and so such roundups) because free movement constitutes ‘forced integration.’ … Freedom of association, of course, should be respected, and it logically includes the freedom not to associate, or the freedom to exclude, even when it takes irrational and bigoted forms. Freedom must be defended—even when it is exercised obnoxiously. Absolutely true. But would open borders increase coercion in America by prohibiting discrimination and exclusion?” (07/18/25)

https://sheldonfreeassociation.blogspot.com/2025/07/tgif-immigration-and-free-association.html