The way some people use the term “mainstream media,” you would think it has only four letters. The opposite of this MSM is, of course, the underground, iconoclastic, revolutionary side-stream media that is struggling to make its voice heard above the roar of the mighty river that is the mainstream. The demonization of the mainstream media … [Read more...]
Disturbing Parallels Between America & 1930s Germany
September 20, 2010 by 3 Comments
The practice of invoking a comparison between your opponent's argument and Nazi ideology is such a common occurrence in internet discussions that, years ago, an author and attorney named Mike Godwin coined a tongue-in-cheek adage known as "Godwin's Law." Strictly speaking, this tactic constitutes an informal fallacy in that it relies upon … [Read more...]
A Propaganda-Proof People
September 6, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Last week a friend emailed me the following: "Hi Bryan, "How are you doing? "Just wondering, a friend of mine at work was pretty ticked off at you for a show of yours she listened to this weekend. She said that you were saying that Fox [N]ews fans are delusional, and that you didn't reference what people should be watching or listening to … [Read more...]
Great Education in the Internet Age
August 16, 2010 by 1 Comment
As the old saying goes, “Leaders are Readers.” This has proven true generation after generation, and is still the reality today. But there is a significant difference in the leadership value in different types of reading. For example, few would doubt that there is a difference in benefits between reading the following items: a technical … [Read more...]
Is Forced Democracy the Answer?
July 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Much of our recent foreign policy is guided by the notion that spreading democracy will naturally result in a state of peace, and respect for basic human rights. While seeking peace and human rights are notable and essential goals, the idea of using force to set up a system claiming to foster true freedom is a farce. Let me tell you a … [Read more...]
The Anti-Federalists, Entrepreneurship, & the Future of Freedom, Part 3: States & Courts
April 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
This is part 3 of a 6-part article. Read Part 1 Here Read Part 2 Here Anti-Federalist Prediction #3: Power Will Flow Away From the States Prediction: Power will flow consistently away from the states and increase the scope, size, and power of the federal government. Only major crisis, where the federal government falls, will ever send … [Read more...]
Beyond Liberal & Conservative: Independents, Postmodernism, & How To Really Understand the Issues, Part 1
January 8, 2010 by 1 Comment
This is part 1 of a 3-part article. Read Part 2 Here Read Part 3 Here If you want to understand and profit from the political, economic and cultural forces at play in today’s world, you must understand two things: The evolution of pre-modernism, modernism and post-modernism. How independents view and are shaping the world. Armed … [Read more...]
America’s Seven-Party System, Part II: Nixonians & Reaganites
November 25, 2009 by Leave a Comment
This is part 2 of a 5-part article. Read Part I Here Read Part III Here Read Part IV Here Read Part V Here Republicans: The Party of Nixon vs. The Party of Reagan Both Nixon and Reagan were Republicans, but symbolically they are nearly polar opposites to all but the most staunch Republican loyalists. Reaganites value strong national … [Read more...]
America’s Seven-Party System, Part I: The New Politics
November 24, 2009 by Leave a Comment
This is part one of a five-part article. Read Part II Here Read Part III Here Read Part IV Here Read Part V Here Part I. The New Politics High school civics classes for the past century have taught that America had a two-party system. And up until the end of the Cold War, this was true. Each party had clear, distinct values and goals, … [Read more...]
Vampires As Aristocrats?
October 5, 2009 by 3 Comments
In the last few years, as the vampire genre has gone from cult popularity to fringe and then to mainstream and mega-bestseller, I have wondered what vampires signify to our culture. The bestseller vampire story Twilight and its sequels swept American teen reading circles, and these books were also read by a lot of adults. When the movie came … [Read more...]
