The Lenin-prototype hero in Dostoevsky’s “Demons” says, on p. 418, that there will be “No need for education...but obedience must be set up. Only one thing is lacking in the world: obedience. ... We’ll extinguish families. ... we’ll get drinking, gossip, denunciation going; we’ll get unheard of depravity going; we’ll stifle genius in infancy.” And earlier, on p. 415, this “hero” discusses the “technique” of binding people through crime, any crime, all crime, the bloodier the better. Dostoevsky wrote all this 170 momentous years ago, and we are held hostage, spell bound, like the public in his novel. The real hero of this novel discovers as he is dying that man’s salvation lies in his belief in eternal life (he had lamented his criminal failure to stand up for his rights). This brings us to the Brothers K: the loss of belief in eternal life, promised by faith in Jesus, is the murder of mankind. —Thank you, Michael, as always—
Thank you, Michael, for your brilliant and exhaustive work. I tell friends that Dostoevsky wrote the blueprint in such (philosophical) detail for what’s happening today, and truly creepy considering current events is the Lenin character’s discussion of the necessity of fire—spark and conflagration—as a tool.
Hmm...I came to see how the discussion was progressing and noticed that my comment was not posted. Did it not post, did substack not post it, or did you strike it, Dr. Hoffman?
Unfortunately, I did not save it. I went into some detail about what the author hinted at in the essay, and observations about anti-Christian sentiment (the Ohio congressman's tweet being the latest) among the Judeo part of "Judeo-Christian" tradition.
Michael, you have laid out everything so clearly and convincingly. We should all give your current essay to all the "George Babbitts" in our neighborhoods, so that they know what they are facing.
Two comments:
"Unlike Trump’s 91 felony counts which are to be decided by HOSTILE juries,..." (emphasis mine).
I am not a Trumpster. I despise Trump. But I believe Trump has a good chance for a hung jury in Florida. Having lived in Dade County, I know there are many older Cuban-Americans from the "Little Havana" and "Calle Ocho" neighborhoods with one track political minds. They only want a president who is tough on "Gatdo" (referring to Fidel in the past, and more recently, Raul). In a criminal case, it only takes one to hang a jury.
"...It signifies (the Democratic Party's) belief that in the long term they have already won permanent control over the United States." You recently tweeted that you believe Gavin "Nuisance" (my term for him) will replace Biden as the Democrat presidential candidate because of Biden's dementia. It does not appear to me that Biden's dementia is at a very advanced stage (perhaps that says something troubling about myself). Short of repealing, suspending, or abrogating the 22nd amendment, by drafting "Nuisance" (Newsome), the Democrats would be abbreviating his political shelf life. It probably would be best for the Democrat (Leninist) agenda if Newsome serves out his second term as Governor and then in early 2027 turns his attention to the 2028 presidential campaign (followed by a run in 2032?). The Democrats are probably confident enough to risk the possibility of a Trump victory in 2024. A Trump presidency would probably face such massive resistance by the Leninist Left that Trump would be virtually hog-tied on many of his initiatives.
Thank you for writing and your generous evaluation of my work.
I am suspicious of the polls and more specifically, ones that declare that Mr. Trump is wildly popular with Republicans.
If he receives the party's nomination for president I believe he will be soundly defeated by whoever is the Democrat candidate. His extreme egomania is repellent and disqualifying.
A Trump Republican nomination will also very likely lead to the election of a Democratic Congress.
But the whole thing is more than 14 months distant! Have we nothing better to do than spend from now until November of '24 thinking about every move of Donald Trump and the other politicians? It is a colossal distraction, and a bore.
"If he receives the party's nomination for president I believe he will be soundly defeated by whoever is the Democrat candidate..." "...A Trump Republican nomination will also very likely lead to the election of a Democratic Congress." (end quote) If that happens, I believe that the Neo-Bolshevik "Democrats" will cancel Trump's one and only partially positive achievement, his SCOTUS appointments. I believe they will impeach and remove Thomas, Kavanaugh, and possibly Gorsuch from the SCOTUS.
Positive because the "conservative" majority of the SCOTUS saved the nation from one size fits all COVID "vaccination", and mandated it only for the unaccountable tyrants* (see note) whom the SYSTEM calls physicians and medical professionals. The SCOTUS also reversed Roe v Wade. Only partially positive because the SCOTUS ruled against Biden's one and only positive initiative, the forgiveness of student debt.
"(Trump's) extreme egomania is repellent and disqualifying." I whole-heartedly agree.
*-NOTE-Not all people in the medical profession are tyrants, of course. But if my personal experience is indicative, a vast majority of them ARE tyrants who believe themselves to be unaccountable.
Yes indeed, Mr. Trump achieved some important advancements, including rebuffing NATO and its war manias, and nominating jurists like Amy to the Supreme Court. In my opinion these don't offset his negatives, however.
With the notable exceptions of the outrageously partisan conduct of the FBI and the Dept. of Justice, and the unconstitutional invasion at our largely open southern border, the Democrats are otherwise operating at present by an incremental revolution.
I doubt that in the current zeitgeist they would attempt to impeach the Supreme Court judges you mention; perhaps in six or eight years but not sooner. Court-packing, by expanding the number of justices while a Democratic President and Congress are in office, is more likely. The power of the conservative justices would be significantly diluted but with less drama and alarm than would ensue if they were impeached.
If you ever wondered why your writings never go beyond a tiny niche appeal. The answer stares at you in the mirror. For all your grand ideas about yourself, expressed in all its absurdity in your pompous and verbose vocabulary, your effect on the world remains impotent. A certain mental disorder fits the bill.
The Lenin-prototype hero in Dostoevsky’s “Demons” says, on p. 418, that there will be “No need for education...but obedience must be set up. Only one thing is lacking in the world: obedience. ... We’ll extinguish families. ... we’ll get drinking, gossip, denunciation going; we’ll get unheard of depravity going; we’ll stifle genius in infancy.” And earlier, on p. 415, this “hero” discusses the “technique” of binding people through crime, any crime, all crime, the bloodier the better. Dostoevsky wrote all this 170 momentous years ago, and we are held hostage, spell bound, like the public in his novel. The real hero of this novel discovers as he is dying that man’s salvation lies in his belief in eternal life (he had lamented his criminal failure to stand up for his rights). This brings us to the Brothers K: the loss of belief in eternal life, promised by faith in Jesus, is the murder of mankind. —Thank you, Michael, as always—
Dear Katya
I’m grateful for your astute summary of Dostoyevsky’s prescient analysis of the revolutionary mentality we are witnessing (and suffering under) today.
Thank you, Michael, for your brilliant and exhaustive work. I tell friends that Dostoevsky wrote the blueprint in such (philosophical) detail for what’s happening today, and truly creepy considering current events is the Lenin character’s discussion of the necessity of fire—spark and conflagration—as a tool.
Hmm...I came to see how the discussion was progressing and noticed that my comment was not posted. Did it not post, did substack not post it, or did you strike it, Dr. Hoffman?
I made no scurrilous anti-semitic statements.
Hello, good doctor. Would you send me your post in a PM, please?
Unfortunately, I did not save it. I went into some detail about what the author hinted at in the essay, and observations about anti-Christian sentiment (the Ohio congressman's tweet being the latest) among the Judeo part of "Judeo-Christian" tradition.
Michael, you have laid out everything so clearly and convincingly. We should all give your current essay to all the "George Babbitts" in our neighborhoods, so that they know what they are facing.
Two comments:
"Unlike Trump’s 91 felony counts which are to be decided by HOSTILE juries,..." (emphasis mine).
I am not a Trumpster. I despise Trump. But I believe Trump has a good chance for a hung jury in Florida. Having lived in Dade County, I know there are many older Cuban-Americans from the "Little Havana" and "Calle Ocho" neighborhoods with one track political minds. They only want a president who is tough on "Gatdo" (referring to Fidel in the past, and more recently, Raul). In a criminal case, it only takes one to hang a jury.
"...It signifies (the Democratic Party's) belief that in the long term they have already won permanent control over the United States." You recently tweeted that you believe Gavin "Nuisance" (my term for him) will replace Biden as the Democrat presidential candidate because of Biden's dementia. It does not appear to me that Biden's dementia is at a very advanced stage (perhaps that says something troubling about myself). Short of repealing, suspending, or abrogating the 22nd amendment, by drafting "Nuisance" (Newsome), the Democrats would be abbreviating his political shelf life. It probably would be best for the Democrat (Leninist) agenda if Newsome serves out his second term as Governor and then in early 2027 turns his attention to the 2028 presidential campaign (followed by a run in 2032?). The Democrats are probably confident enough to risk the possibility of a Trump victory in 2024. A Trump presidency would probably face such massive resistance by the Leninist Left that Trump would be virtually hog-tied on many of his initiatives.
Dear Arnold
Thank you for writing and your generous evaluation of my work.
I am suspicious of the polls and more specifically, ones that declare that Mr. Trump is wildly popular with Republicans.
If he receives the party's nomination for president I believe he will be soundly defeated by whoever is the Democrat candidate. His extreme egomania is repellent and disqualifying.
A Trump Republican nomination will also very likely lead to the election of a Democratic Congress.
But the whole thing is more than 14 months distant! Have we nothing better to do than spend from now until November of '24 thinking about every move of Donald Trump and the other politicians? It is a colossal distraction, and a bore.
"If he receives the party's nomination for president I believe he will be soundly defeated by whoever is the Democrat candidate..." "...A Trump Republican nomination will also very likely lead to the election of a Democratic Congress." (end quote) If that happens, I believe that the Neo-Bolshevik "Democrats" will cancel Trump's one and only partially positive achievement, his SCOTUS appointments. I believe they will impeach and remove Thomas, Kavanaugh, and possibly Gorsuch from the SCOTUS.
Positive because the "conservative" majority of the SCOTUS saved the nation from one size fits all COVID "vaccination", and mandated it only for the unaccountable tyrants* (see note) whom the SYSTEM calls physicians and medical professionals. The SCOTUS also reversed Roe v Wade. Only partially positive because the SCOTUS ruled against Biden's one and only positive initiative, the forgiveness of student debt.
"(Trump's) extreme egomania is repellent and disqualifying." I whole-heartedly agree.
*-NOTE-Not all people in the medical profession are tyrants, of course. But if my personal experience is indicative, a vast majority of them ARE tyrants who believe themselves to be unaccountable.
Dear Arnold
Yes indeed, Mr. Trump achieved some important advancements, including rebuffing NATO and its war manias, and nominating jurists like Amy to the Supreme Court. In my opinion these don't offset his negatives, however.
With the notable exceptions of the outrageously partisan conduct of the FBI and the Dept. of Justice, and the unconstitutional invasion at our largely open southern border, the Democrats are otherwise operating at present by an incremental revolution.
I doubt that in the current zeitgeist they would attempt to impeach the Supreme Court judges you mention; perhaps in six or eight years but not sooner. Court-packing, by expanding the number of justices while a Democratic President and Congress are in office, is more likely. The power of the conservative justices would be significantly diluted but with less drama and alarm than would ensue if they were impeached.
If you ever wondered why your writings never go beyond a tiny niche appeal. The answer stares at you in the mirror. For all your grand ideas about yourself, expressed in all its absurdity in your pompous and verbose vocabulary, your effect on the world remains impotent. A certain mental disorder fits the bill.