Every American should carefully read this column. It clearly and precisely identifies the real threat from within and one that Eisenhower and more recently Trump recognized. Trump's campaign slogan "Drain the Swamp," was directed to this threat and likely is the reason the "Never Trumpers" joined with insiders and DC Elites in an insidious effort to maintain their always expanding power and privileges. Congress long ago abandoned its legislative role to the regulatory state. The regulators abandoned their roles to those they are supposed to regulate. This may leave those of us who oppose the current state of affairs to exercise what may be the only remedy left -- to support invocation of the U.S. Constitution's Article V and convene a Convention of States to take back the country and bring back the original vision of the Founders based on true federalism with a vastly smaller role for the federal government in our lives.
When the Written Word shines, it is incumbent upon the reader to share its luminance with others. I have, and would urge others to do so. Not only for its message, but also to provide others the opportunity to support the author via subscription. I unfortunately cannot at this time, so it’s the least I can do for Mr. Goldstein.
"Because of its collectivist bent, a politics that embraces Cultural Marxism cannot live peaceably with our Constitution and its directives. It rejects individualism. It rejects the animating idea behind natural rights, reclaiming for man what belongs to Nature or Nature’s God. It requires control over all spheres of influence, including speech, social behavior, pedagogy, even science and medicine. It is a poison whose purpose is to kill off the Enlightenment paradigm and return us to a rule by elites, to the granting of privilege rather than the protecting of rights. " I've come to this bitter conclusion as well. They want to kill the off the Enlightenment ergo, they go after Christianity as a necessary step to that aim.
I very much enjoyed this and shared it with my family (daughter, pursuing a PoliSci PhD in England, and both brothers-in-law).
Would love to see your laser locked onto and fired at either, 1)Ibram X. Kendi, or; 2) Nikole Hannah-Jones. Nowhere else in American literature is hatred for the American Experiment so distilled as in the minds of these two posers.
I used to listen to Charlie Sykes on the radio nearly everyday when he had a talk show. He is a narcissist and egoist who cannot tolerate that the Republicans supported someone he didn't promote. He truly has TDS. This is the guy who used to serve as emcee of the state's Right to Life dinners. I now wonder if he supports the Dems passing laws that legalize birthday abortions
Mar 19, 2023·edited Mar 19, 2023Liked by Jeff Goldstein
A good post. I grew up in the former Soviet Union, so - unfortunately - the current climate in the US feels only too familiar to me. But I don't agree with Mr. Goldstein that the "cultural Marxism" is the core problem. Back in the USSR, outside of some not-too-bright zealots nobody bought into the whole Marxist nonsense, it was just a convenient ideological veneer to impose the will of the ruling class (= Soviet Uniparty). It's being used differently here as the fight over our out-of-control "progressivism" (which is really a return to a tribalism of the past) creates an impression of meaningful political differences between members of our Uniparty. It's not that we should not strive to oppose the creeping Marxism, but we should not let it distract us from where the real issue is. Lindsay Graham and Chuck Schumer look different when viewed through the Marxist prism, but they are aligned as warmongering control-everything statists.
I take your criticism. But in response I’d just note that it is the marshaling of cultural Marxism by elites who either outwardly embrace it or internally support it *as a means to grow an authoritarian ruling paradigm* that is the specific problem. That is, the ideology itself may be fringe but as a tactic it’s useful to create division, victim blocs, and many other things feudal lords would have the peasants focused on while they lay claim to the entirety of the world. It is aimed at Useful Idiots. It requires no intellectual rigor, only training and the ability to run a struggle session. As I wrote on Twitter yesterday, it’s the academy / media as Henry Ford: run ideology thru an assembly line, making it cheaper and more available to the masses. Then market the hell out of it. If you want to know where I think the real problem lies — and I hint at this in the essay — it’s in certain linguistic ideas that we’ve granted privilege to, but that structurally reinforce collectivism.
I did not disagree with you at all that totalitarian ideology (an off-shoot of Marxism in this case but could have nationalism or another convenient tribal ideology) is the tactic being used by the elites for population division and control. My point was that fighting this alone is necessary but not sufficient. The tactics differ but all authoritarian states are about power and control by small groups. There are a lot of people in Washington who are seemingly opposed to the progressive agenda but just as committed to authoritarianism: call it the Uniparty, the ruling elite, the Deep State, the capture by special interests, etc. This is a phenomena that was decades in the making, going back to the Dwight Eisenhower's warning in 1961. It was obvious for a long time. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but even I saw this: ten years ago I published this book www.amazon.com/dp/B00HGM63II which described the US in 2020's: in cold war with China and Russia, betrayed by the elites, suffering from raging inflation and political divisions, with red and blue states on the verge of separation. No point in reading the book: it was a warning then, much of this is the reality now. Perhaps it's the fate of all big states: unchecked government eventually becomes a power-in-itself and devours the very country it's expected to serve. To reverse this would require replacement of most of our elective representatives in DC in both parties and then cleanup of much of the federal bureaucracy. JMHO.
I know all this stuff about the cultural, long-march-through-the-institutions, left. I agree with what is said here. However, I would have preferred a bit more detail about Sykes. After all, he is the title of this article.
So let's see if anyone knows more than this. I recall listening to Sykes when he was a conservative with a talk show in Milwaukee. He was okay, but often a bit superficial in his contempt for all on the left. I recall that his adulation for African American Democratic Sheriff Dave Clark put Clark on the map, even though Clark was a bit odd. Then when Clark came out fully behind Trump as Sykes was coming out against Trump, Sykes turned on a dime and began slamming both Clark and Trump. I do not recall Sykes EVER even for one second accounting for himself, his own turning on a dime. Never saw any sign of any critical self-re-evaluation of his past loyalties. Leftists (like Whittaker Chambers or David Horowitz) often describe the agonizing self-reappraisal such massive shifts of perspective induce. I've never seen a sign of that from Sykes, Kristol, etc. It leads me to conclude that self-interest explains a good deal of their changes of views. But I am not sure I have this story right, so if anyone knows, I'd be interested.
This is the best summary of the nature of American decline that I’ve yet seen. Not enough people grasp the full picture of what we’re up against. The only point I would add is that from the beginning, this has been an attack meant to purge Christianity from our culture. It’s been working splendidly.
Every American should carefully read this column. It clearly and precisely identifies the real threat from within and one that Eisenhower and more recently Trump recognized. Trump's campaign slogan "Drain the Swamp," was directed to this threat and likely is the reason the "Never Trumpers" joined with insiders and DC Elites in an insidious effort to maintain their always expanding power and privileges. Congress long ago abandoned its legislative role to the regulatory state. The regulators abandoned their roles to those they are supposed to regulate. This may leave those of us who oppose the current state of affairs to exercise what may be the only remedy left -- to support invocation of the U.S. Constitution's Article V and convene a Convention of States to take back the country and bring back the original vision of the Founders based on true federalism with a vastly smaller role for the federal government in our lives.
This is a brilliant synopsis. And some great turns of phrase. Gonna bookmark it.
Greatly appreciated. Thanks.
When the Written Word shines, it is incumbent upon the reader to share its luminance with others. I have, and would urge others to do so. Not only for its message, but also to provide others the opportunity to support the author via subscription. I unfortunately cannot at this time, so it’s the least I can do for Mr. Goldstein.
I've said it so many times recently, and yet it never gets old: Welcome back, Jeff!
Excellent article, and I'll be sure to share it.
Well done... Excellent piece!
"Because of its collectivist bent, a politics that embraces Cultural Marxism cannot live peaceably with our Constitution and its directives. It rejects individualism. It rejects the animating idea behind natural rights, reclaiming for man what belongs to Nature or Nature’s God. It requires control over all spheres of influence, including speech, social behavior, pedagogy, even science and medicine. It is a poison whose purpose is to kill off the Enlightenment paradigm and return us to a rule by elites, to the granting of privilege rather than the protecting of rights. " I've come to this bitter conclusion as well. They want to kill the off the Enlightenment ergo, they go after Christianity as a necessary step to that aim.
I very much enjoyed this and shared it with my family (daughter, pursuing a PoliSci PhD in England, and both brothers-in-law).
Would love to see your laser locked onto and fired at either, 1)Ibram X. Kendi, or; 2) Nikole Hannah-Jones. Nowhere else in American literature is hatred for the American Experiment so distilled as in the minds of these two posers.
I have written a short piece on Jones for The Federalist. I will eventually tackle them more in depth. Thanks for the kind words! Here’s the Federalist link: https://thefederalist.com/2021/07/02/nikole-hannah-joness-tenure-tantrum-shows-how-identity-politics-mobilizes-victimhood-for-power/
I used to listen to Charlie Sykes on the radio nearly everyday when he had a talk show. He is a narcissist and egoist who cannot tolerate that the Republicans supported someone he didn't promote. He truly has TDS. This is the guy who used to serve as emcee of the state's Right to Life dinners. I now wonder if he supports the Dems passing laws that legalize birthday abortions
A good post. I grew up in the former Soviet Union, so - unfortunately - the current climate in the US feels only too familiar to me. But I don't agree with Mr. Goldstein that the "cultural Marxism" is the core problem. Back in the USSR, outside of some not-too-bright zealots nobody bought into the whole Marxist nonsense, it was just a convenient ideological veneer to impose the will of the ruling class (= Soviet Uniparty). It's being used differently here as the fight over our out-of-control "progressivism" (which is really a return to a tribalism of the past) creates an impression of meaningful political differences between members of our Uniparty. It's not that we should not strive to oppose the creeping Marxism, but we should not let it distract us from where the real issue is. Lindsay Graham and Chuck Schumer look different when viewed through the Marxist prism, but they are aligned as warmongering control-everything statists.
I take your criticism. But in response I’d just note that it is the marshaling of cultural Marxism by elites who either outwardly embrace it or internally support it *as a means to grow an authoritarian ruling paradigm* that is the specific problem. That is, the ideology itself may be fringe but as a tactic it’s useful to create division, victim blocs, and many other things feudal lords would have the peasants focused on while they lay claim to the entirety of the world. It is aimed at Useful Idiots. It requires no intellectual rigor, only training and the ability to run a struggle session. As I wrote on Twitter yesterday, it’s the academy / media as Henry Ford: run ideology thru an assembly line, making it cheaper and more available to the masses. Then market the hell out of it. If you want to know where I think the real problem lies — and I hint at this in the essay — it’s in certain linguistic ideas that we’ve granted privilege to, but that structurally reinforce collectivism.
I did not disagree with you at all that totalitarian ideology (an off-shoot of Marxism in this case but could have nationalism or another convenient tribal ideology) is the tactic being used by the elites for population division and control. My point was that fighting this alone is necessary but not sufficient. The tactics differ but all authoritarian states are about power and control by small groups. There are a lot of people in Washington who are seemingly opposed to the progressive agenda but just as committed to authoritarianism: call it the Uniparty, the ruling elite, the Deep State, the capture by special interests, etc. This is a phenomena that was decades in the making, going back to the Dwight Eisenhower's warning in 1961. It was obvious for a long time. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but even I saw this: ten years ago I published this book www.amazon.com/dp/B00HGM63II which described the US in 2020's: in cold war with China and Russia, betrayed by the elites, suffering from raging inflation and political divisions, with red and blue states on the verge of separation. No point in reading the book: it was a warning then, much of this is the reality now. Perhaps it's the fate of all big states: unchecked government eventually becomes a power-in-itself and devours the very country it's expected to serve. To reverse this would require replacement of most of our elective representatives in DC in both parties and then cleanup of much of the federal bureaucracy. JMHO.
The Left is definitely using the Marxist playbook. Control speech & you control thought
I know all this stuff about the cultural, long-march-through-the-institutions, left. I agree with what is said here. However, I would have preferred a bit more detail about Sykes. After all, he is the title of this article.
So let's see if anyone knows more than this. I recall listening to Sykes when he was a conservative with a talk show in Milwaukee. He was okay, but often a bit superficial in his contempt for all on the left. I recall that his adulation for African American Democratic Sheriff Dave Clark put Clark on the map, even though Clark was a bit odd. Then when Clark came out fully behind Trump as Sykes was coming out against Trump, Sykes turned on a dime and began slamming both Clark and Trump. I do not recall Sykes EVER even for one second accounting for himself, his own turning on a dime. Never saw any sign of any critical self-re-evaluation of his past loyalties. Leftists (like Whittaker Chambers or David Horowitz) often describe the agonizing self-reappraisal such massive shifts of perspective induce. I've never seen a sign of that from Sykes, Kristol, etc. It leads me to conclude that self-interest explains a good deal of their changes of views. But I am not sure I have this story right, so if anyone knows, I'd be interested.
This might do the trick: https://theothermccain.com/2023/03/19/what-happened-to-charlie-sykes/
Very interesting. Thanks for the link.
It still leaves me wondering how Sykes did it so fast, overnight, on a dime. I guess this suggests it was basically a career move. Looks like it was..
This is the best summary of the nature of American decline that I’ve yet seen. Not enough people grasp the full picture of what we’re up against. The only point I would add is that from the beginning, this has been an attack meant to purge Christianity from our culture. It’s been working splendidly.
All of the subscribers to the bulkward (BOTH OF THEM) put thumbs down on this brilliant analysis
So glad you are back and writing like this again. You've always had your finger on the pulse of the Nutters who seek to destroy our country.
Ok, Commie.