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The Biden Inaugural Address, Translated

Biden_Inaugural_translated   <– pdf

Joseph R. “Wimpy” Biden, Jr. was sworn in today as America’s 46th President, and gave his inaugural address on the Capitol.  It’s the usual patronizing garbage we have come to expect from all politicians.  He was joined at the Capitol by many dignitaries: President Bill “Perjurer in Chief” Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary “Irredeemably deplorable” Clinton, President Barack “Leading with my behind” Obama, and President George W. “Woodrow Wilson” Bush, to name a few.  The big tech titans were not present, but of course were happy that they got their guy elected, no matter what it took.  Mark “Junior High” Zuckerberg, Jack “Censorship is good” Dorsey, and Jeff “I own that, too” Bezos were celebrating in their penthouses. But it important not to take Mr. Biden’s words at face value; they must be translated according to the policies of the Democratic Party, which is now in control of the entire federal government.  I have provided below the complete transcript, clarifying in square brackets Mr. Biden’s actual intent, given his previous announcements and plans, and the various known objectives of the Democratic Party.  Replace the original words in quotes with the words in the square brackets.

President Biden:

Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, distinguished “guests” [members of the Establishment”], and my “fellow Americans” [“soon-to-be serfs”].

This is “America’s” [“China’s”] day.  This is “democracy’s” [“Russia’s”] day; a day of history and hope; of renewal and resolve.  Through a crucible for the ages America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge. Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a “cause” [“socialist revolution”], the cause of “democracy” [Marxism”].  The will of the people has been “heard” [“rejected”] and the will of the people has been “heeded” [“ignored”].  We have learned again that “democracy” [“incompetence”] is “precious” [“essential”]. “Democracy” [“corruption”] is “fragile” [“useful”]. And at this hour, my “friends” [“serfs”], “democracy” [“tyranny”] has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground where just days ago “violence” [“ANTIFA”] sought to shake this Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one “nation” [Party”], under “God” [“humanism”], “indivisible” [“divided”], to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.  We look ahead in our uniquely American way – restless, bold, optimistic – and set our sights on the nation we know “we can be and we must be” [“must be fundamentally changed”].  I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here.  I thank them from the bottom of my heart. You know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength of our “nation” [“Party”].  As does President Carter, who I spoke to last night but who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

I have just taken the sacred oath each of these patriots took – an oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us.  On “We the People” who seek a more perfect Union.  This is a “great” [“crappy”] nation and “we” [“Constitution-embracers”] are a “good” [“bad”] people. Over the centuries through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we have come so far. But we still have far to go.  We will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to “do” [“destroy”] in this “winter” [“dawn”] of “peril” [“confusion”] and “possibility” [“chaos”].  Much to repair [“demonize”], much to “restore” [“investigate”], much to heal [“attack”], much to “build” [“ruin”], and much to “gain” [“steal”].

Few periods in our nation’s history have been more challenging or difficult than the one we’re in now.  A once-in-a-century virus silently stalks the country.  It’s taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II.  Millions of jobs have been lost.  Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed.  A cry for racial “justice” [“retribution”] some “400” [“20”] years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for “all” [“some”] will be deferred no longer.  A cry for “survival” [“more funding”] comes from the “planet itself” [“climate hoaxers”].  A cry that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear.  And now, a rise in political “extremism” [“revolution”], “white” [“Harvard-educated”] “supremacy” [“dominance”], “domestic terrorism” [“socialism”] that we must “confront” [“accept”] and we will “defeat” [“support”].

To “overcome” [“obtain”] these “challenges” [“objectives”] – to “restore” [“eliminate”] the “soul” [“liberties”] and to “secure” [“cancel”] the future of America – requires more than words.  It requires that most “elusive” [“common”] of things in a “democracy” [“revolution”]:  Unity [“Control”].  “Unity” [“Power”].  In another January in Washington, on New Year’s Day 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.  When he put pen to paper, the President said, “If my name ever goes down into history it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it.”  My whole soul is in it.  Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this:  “Bringing” [“Separating”] America “together” [into tribes”].  “Uniting” [“Dividing”] our people.  And “uniting” [dividing”] “our nation” [“the spoils”].  I “ask” [“demand”] every “American” [“Democrat”] to join me in this cause.  Uniting to “fight” [“aid”] the “common foes” [“ANTIFA and BLM street armies”] we “face” [embrace”]:  Anger, resentment, hatred.  Extremism, lawlessness, violence.  Disease, joblessness, hopelessness.  With “unity” [“division”] we can do “great” [“insidious”] things, “important” [“destructive”] things.  We can “right wrongs” [“abolish rights”].  We can put people to work in “good jobs” [labor camps”].  We can “teach” [“indoctrinate”] our children in “safe” [“dangerous”] schools.  We can “overcome” [“perpetuate”] this deadly virus. We can “reward” [“denigrate”] work, “rebuild” [“reduce”] the middle class, and make health care “secure” [“precarious”] for all [“those who oppose my regime”].  We can deliver racial “justice” [“preferences”].

We can make America, once again, the leading force for “good” [“useless wars”] in the world.  I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy.  I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real.  But I also know they are not new.  Our history has been a constant struggle between the “American” [“false”] “ideal” [“notion”] that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that “racism” [“work”], nativism [“self-reliance”], “fear” [“integrity”], and “demonization” [“religion”] have long “torn us apart” [“prevented victory for the Party”].  The battle is perennial.  Victory is never assured.  Through the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our “better angels” “[basic moral principles”] have always prevailed.  In each of these moments, enough of “us” [“them”] “came together” [“stood up”] to “carry all of us forward” [“deter tyranny”].  And, we can “do so” [“defeat them”] now.

“History” [“Delusion”], “faith” [“atheism”], and “reason” [“propaganda”] show the way, the way of unity [“socialist conformity”].  We can see “each other” [“those who embrace the Constitution”] not as “adversaries” [“competitors”] but as “neighbors” [“enemies”].  We can treat “each other” [“those who believe in the Constitution”] with “dignity” [“hatred”] and “respect” [“persecution”].  We can “join” [“enlist”] forces, “stop” [“increase”] the shouting, and “lower” [“elevate”] the temperature.  For without “unity” [“division”], there is no “peace” [“revolution”], only “bitterness” [“freedom”] and “fury” [“liberty”].  No progress, only exhausting outrage.  No “nation” [“balkanization”], only a state of “chaos” [“stability”].  This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and “unity” [“brute force”] is the path forward.  And, we must meet this moment as the United “States” [“Party”] of “America” [Socialism”].  If we do that, I guarantee you, we will not fail.  We have never, ever, ever failed in “America” [“utopias”] when we have “acted” [“conspired”] together.  And so today, at this time and in this place, let us start afresh.  All of us.  Let us “listen” [“obey”] “to one another” [“the Party”].  “Hear” [“Destroy”] “one another” [“all conservatives”].  “See” [Censor”] “one another” [“all conservatives”].  “Show respect” [Demonize”] “to one another” [“all conservatives”].  Politics “need not” [must”] be a raging fire destroying “everything in its path” [“the Party’s enemies”].  Every disagreement “doesn’t have to” [“must”] be a cause for total war.  And, we must “reject” [“firmly establish”] a culture in which “facts themselves are” [“propaganda itself is”] “manipulated” [“promoted”] and even “manufactured” [“forced”].

My fellow “Americans” [“Establishment elites”], we have to “be different than” [“continue”] this.  America has to “be better than” [“adopt”] this.  And, I believe America “is better than” [“can be forced to adopt”] this.  Just look around.  Here we stand, in the shadow of a Capitol dome that was completed amid the Civil War, when the Union itself hung in the balance.  Yet we endured and we prevailed.  Here we stand looking out to the great Mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand, where 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protestors tried to block brave women from marching for the right to vote.  Today, we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office – Vice President Kamala Harris.  Don’t tell me things can’t change.  Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington National Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace.  And here we stand, just days after a “riotous” [“non Party”] mob thought they could use “violence” [“a protest”] to “silence” [“object to”] the “will of the people” [“questionable subversion of an election”], to stop the work of “our democracy” [“the Party”], and to drive us from this sacred ground.  That did not happen.  It will never happen.  Not today.  Not tomorrow.  Not ever.

To all those who supported our campaign I am “humbled” [“grateful”] “by” [“for”] the “faith” [“crimes”] you have “placed in” [“committed for”] us.  To all those who did not support us, let me say this: “Hear me out as we move forward” [“you will be investigates and audited”]. Take a measure of me and my heart.  And if you still disagree, “so be it” [“you’ll be bankrupt and in jail”].  That’s “democracy” [“socialism”]. That’s “America” [rule by the Party”]. The right to dissent peaceably, “within the guardrails of our Republic” [“so long as I permit it”], “is perhaps” [“will be”] our nation’s “greatest” [“most obvious”] “strength” [“initiative”].  Yet hear me clearly: Disagreement must not “lead to disunion” [“be permitted”].  And I pledge this to you: I will be a President for all “Americans” [“loyal Party members and the Establishment”].  I will “fight as hard for” [“attack and punish”] those who did not support me “as for” [“and reward”] those who did.  Many centuries ago, Saint Augustine, a saint of my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love.  What are the common objects we “love” [“accept”] that define us as “Americans” [“robots”]?  I think I know.  “Opportunity” [Obedience”], “security” [“silencing”],  “liberty” [“imprisonment”],  “dignity” [bankruptcy”],  “respect” [“ridicule”], “honor” [“demonization”].  And, yes, the “truth” [“propaganda”].

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies.  Lies told for power and for profit.  And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders – leaders who have pledged to “honor” [“disregard”] our Constitution and “protect” [“sacrifice”] our nation – to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.  I understand that many Americans view the future with some fear and trepidation.  I understand they worry about their jobs, about taking care of their families, about what comes next.  I get it.  But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don’t look like you do, or worship the way you do, or don’t get their news from the same sources you do.  We must “end” [“promote”] this “uncivil” [“civil”] war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, “conservative” [“patriot”] versus “liberal” [“subversive”].  We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.  If “we” [“the other side will”] show a little tolerance and humility.  If “we’re” [“they’re”] willing to “stand” [cooperate”] in “the other person’s shoes” [“the Party’s objectives”] “just for a moment” [“permanently”].  Because here is the thing about life: There is no accounting for what fate will deal you.  There are some days when we need a hand.  There are other days when we’re called on to lend one.  That is how we must be with one another.  And, if we are this way, our country will be “stronger” [“regimented”], more “prosperous” [dangerous”], more ready for the “future” [“conquest”].

My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we will need each other.  We will need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter.  We are entering what may well be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus.  We must “set aside” [“focus on”] the politics and “finally face” [“stumble through”] this pandemic as one nation.  I promise you this: as the Bible says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.  We will get through this, together.

The world is watching today.  So here is my message to those beyond our borders: America has been tested and we have come out stronger for it.  We will repair our alliances and “engage with” [“concede to”] the world once again.  Not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s.  We will lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example.  We will be a strong and trusted partner for “peace” [“negotiations”], “progress” [“concessions”], and “security” [“weakness”].  We have been through so much in this nation.  And, in my first act as President, I would like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those we lost this past year to the pandemic.  To those 400,000 fellow Americans – mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  We will honor them by becoming the people and nation we know we can and should be.  Let us say a silent prayer for those who lost their lives, for those they left behind, and for our country.  Amen.

This is a time of testing.  We “face” [“lead”] an attack on democracy and on truth.  A raging virus.  Growing inequity.  The sting of systemic racism.  A climate in crisis.  America’s role in the world.  Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways.  But the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with the gravest of responsibilities.  Now we must step up.  All of us.  It is a time for boldness, for there is so much to do.  And, this is certain.  We will be judged, you and I, for how we resolve the cascading crises of our era.  Will we rise to the occasion?  Will we master this rare and difficult hour?  Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world for our children?  I believe we must and I believe we will.  And when we do, we will write the next chapter in the American story.  It’s a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me.  It’s called “American Anthem” and there is one verse stands out for me:

“The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day

What shall be our legacy?  What will our children say?…

Let me know in my heart  When my days are through

America, America,

I gave my best to you.”

Let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our nation.  If we do this then when our days are through our children and our children’s children will say of us they gave their best.  They did their duty.  They healed a broken land.  My fellow Americans, I close today where I began, with a sacred oath.

Before “God” [“Marx”] and all of you I give you my word.  I will always “level with” [“lie to”] “you” [“those who oppose the Party”].  I will “defend” [“abolish”] the Constitution.  I will defend our “democracy” [“socialist revolution”].  I will “defend” [“hate”] America.  I will give my all in your service thinking “not” [“only”] of power, “but” [“and”] of “possibilities” [“greater power”].  “Not” [Certainly”] of personal interest, “but” [“out”] of the public “good” [coffers”].  And together, we shall write an American story of “hope” [“pessimism”], not “fear” [“confidence”]: of unity, not division; of “light” [“power”], not “darkness” [“freedom”]; an “American” [“socialist”] story of “decency and dignity” [“decay and discrimination”]; of “love and of healing” [“hatred and revenge”]; of “greatness and of goodness” [“mediocrity and stalemate”].  May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us; the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history.  We met the moment.

That democracy and hope, truth and justice, “did not die” [“croaked”] on our watch “but thrived” [“completely”].  That our “America” [revolution”] secured “liberty” [“control”] at home and stood “once again” [“for the first time”] as “an beacon” [“an example”] to “the world” [“socialists everywhere”].  That is what we owe our forebears, one another, and generations to follow.  So, with purpose and resolve we turn to the tasks of our time: sustained by faith, driven by conviction; and, devoted to one another and to this country we “love” [“hate]” with all our hearts.  May God bless America and may God protect our troops.

Thank you, America.

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The Errors of Sean Hannity, 6 Aug 2020

ErrorsOfSeanHannity_20200806   <– PDF

Mr. Sean Hannity, nationally syndicated talk show on the Fox Network, continued his usual tactic of making fundamental errors of logic today. In his introductory monologue, Mr. Hannity described former Vice President and prospective 2020 Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden has having poor cognitive abilities, and asserted that those “will be on the ballot in November”.  Mr. Hannity also downplayed Mr. Biden’s ability to engage in debates with President Trump.

Mr. Hannity is incorrect on both counts. Let’s first consider the debate issue.  There will not be any in-person debates this year, since the Democrats can claim that doing so would be dangerous to the health of both Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden as well as the Democratic Party moderators, owing to the Wuhan virus.  So, the Democratic Party is likely to demand that the debates be held by video.  Here are the rules that the Democratic Party will insist upon:

  1. Mr. Trump will be standing in the Oval Office, photographed from high above, at a distance to make him look small, and permit the audience to verify that he has no notes or assistants.
  2. Mr. Biden will be at his home in Delaware, seated behind a podium, photographed close-in so that the audience cannot see the teleprompter, his notes, or his assistants.
  3. Mr. Biden will be asked only easy questions (“Are you opposed to racism?”).
  4. Mr. Trump will be asked difficult ones (“Why haven’t you achieved peace in the Middle East?”).
  5. The usual 60 second response time will be changed to 30 seconds, since Mr. Biden’s attention span and coherence length seem to be limited to about 35 or 40 seconds (based on recent appearances).
  6. Mr. Biden will be provided with the questions two weeks in advance, and will also be provided with the focus-group approved answers; all he has to do is read them from the teleprompter. (His assistants will make sure he matches up the question with the answer in the correct order.)
  7. Mr. Trump will have no knowledge of the questions he will be asked by the Democratic Party moderators.

Should Mr. Trump reject any of these demands, the Democratic Party will cancel the debates on the grounds that (obviously) Mr. Trump is trying to steal the election by reverting to the traditional racist and/or fascist methods of conducting Presidential debates. But note that these debate demands will apply no matter who the Democratic nominee is, not just for Mr. Biden.

Regarding the Democratic ticket, let’s not forget that the Democrats only want power. But they are smart enough to know that Biden can get elected only if he is successful in the debates.  Even with these rules, it does not seem likely that Mr. Biden can get through the first one unscathed.  So, the Democratic Party has a choice to make: replace Biden either before or after the first debate.   There are two options.  First, they could break their own internal electoral rules (not a problem), open the (remote-controlled) convention, and select a new slate altogether.  The second is to let Mr. Biden fail in the first debate, allow him to be a sacrificial lamb, and use that to justify removing him from the slate. The next step would then be to elevate his running mate to be the nominee with a new person selected as the running mate.  In either case, Mr. Biden will not be on the ballot in November, except to the extent that some states will not have time to re-print the ballots.

Who will end up on the Democratic Party ticket? Keep in mind that Mr. Biden has adopted most of Senator Bernie Sanders’ platform.  A logical choice would be Bernie Sanders (voter energy) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (plenty of cash).  A second choice would be Senator Sanders (voter energy) and former First Lady Michelle Obama (personal popularity).  I do not think Senator Kamala Harris is relevant since she is known only in California, which is going to vote Democratic anyway.

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Real World Graduation, #93: Actors and Dictators

RealWorldGraduation_Question_93_Actors_and_Dictators   <– PDF

A wealthy American-born celebrity Hollywood actor routinely visits a nation that is ruled by a ruthless dictator.  Although the dictator uses populist rhetoric, the economy and political system is actually run as a closely-held corrupt oligarchy, and the poor continue to be worse off each year.  Also, the people have no civil liberties to speak of (and in fact are prohibited from immigrating out of the nation).  However, the actor consistently praises the dictator as a man of the people, a champion of the poor, a defender of the rights of the common man, and as a model of what every government leader should be.  The actor and dictator are not related by blood or marriage, nor does the actor have business or family ties to this nation.  Why would a famous American actor bother to make any comments about the internal politics and economics of a nation run by a dictator?

a) The actor recognizes that poverty can only be alleviated if the government steps in and guides each persons work, ensuring that each person is assigned the work for which he is best suited.

b) The actor thinks it important to give dictators some positive publicity in the interest of fairness; the actor knows how it feels to be rejected since he had many unsuccessful auditions early in his career

c) The actor wants to help the poor people of the foreign nation by giving the dictator sufficient publicity so that the people can understand why the dictator’s programs are good for them

d) The actor admires the orderliness of the dictator’s nation, in contrast to the usual chaos on a movie set

e) Some combination of the above

(The answer is on p. 2 of the PDF.)

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RealWorldGraduation_Question_70_CharitableFoundations   <– PDF

A famous person decides to set up a tax-exempt Foundation. He names the Foundation after himself (like the Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller Foundations), files all the necessary paperwork, and begins to solicit tax-deductible contributions from the public.  Although the Foundation has zero assets at the beginning, the Foundation receives a great deal of money from the public owing to the founder’s personal popularity.  After withholding a small percentage for administrative costs, he bundles all the contributions received from the public into large amounts and gives the money away to various causes, such as AIDS research, literacy, etc.  All of the donations are made in the name of the Foundation.  What is the main benefit of this arrangement?

a) People get to take a tax deduction for their contributions.

b) The money contributed, except for administrative costs, goes to good causes that help the less fortunate.

c) Enough money can be concentrated in each of the charitable areas to make a real difference.

d) People feel better about themselves by helping others.

e) All of the above.

(The answer is on p. 2 of the PDF.)

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