The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (No. 82)

Untimely Thoughts on a World in Transition

Aug 12, 2025

The next essay in my series on selfishness vs selflessness will be on Karl Marx and his critique of classical liberalism in “On the Jewish Question.” In the essay, I will demonstrate that Marx understood the moral foundation of classical liberalism better than its supposed defenders.

THE GOOD

THE ONLY SERIOUS REGRET I HAVE IS NOT HAVING GOTTEN MARRIED SOONER. Speaking only for myself, I will say that getting married and having kids was the best thing that ever happened to me, and nothing else comes close. Odd as it may sound, having a family only increased my work productivity. I can only imagine how many more books I might have written if Mrs. Redneck and I had had five or six children! In the end, though, a successful marriage comes down to one thing: . . . choose well my friends.

ANALYSIS CORRECT. For decades the “Right” argued against the Left on the field of economics. In any battle of ideas between morality and economics, morality always wins over the long term, which explains a lot about modern American politics. This essay is now nine years old, but it states a fundamental truth worth remembering: The Left Wins because It Fights Politics on the Field of Morality.

BECAUSE SOME AMERICANS LIKE “FREE” STUFF AND BECAUSE POLITICIANS OF BOTH PARTIES LIKE TO SPEND: Why Is Cutting 0.1% of the $6.75 Trillion Federal Budget So Hard?

MEDICINE/HEALTH ROUND-UP

MUST READ: The Bad Science and Bad Policy at the Heart of the Climate Movement. Sitting in plain sight for more than 30 years.

FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW BETTER, HOW IS THIS PUTTING THE U.S. ON THE ROAD TO FASCISM? Trump Killing Federal Regulations At 10-1 Rate

AS CAPTAIN JEAN LUC PICARD USED TO SAY, “MAKE IT SO”! New study calls for rapid development of space nuclear power systems.

ANOTHER BRILLIANT ANALYSIS BY THE ALWAYS BRILLIANT ROGER KIMBALL: The mullahs mean their threats: By and large, the West has grudgingly accommodated Iran’s petulant malevolence.

ARCHEOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY/PALEONTOLOGY ROUNDUP

‘BOUT TIME: Joni Ernst Proposes Amendment To Remove CCP Ties From US Defense Industry

FOR SOME, REDUCING TAXES, REGULATIONS, AND WELFARE IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FASCISM: DOGE AI Tool to Target 100K Federal Rules for Elimination.

IS RAND PAUL THE AMERICAN MILEI? 186 Billion Reasons to Audit the Fed.

INTERESTING ANALYSIS, IF NOTHING ELSE. Take a close look at the graph below. If these numbers accurately reflect what’s happening in the United States, we may see a major political shift happening It is interesting to note that many of today’s left-wing protestors are white women over the age of 65: A Final, Comprehensive Look at How Trump Won in 2024.

NOT EXACTLY A RED STATE: New Hampshire Bans Gender Transition Procedures For Minors

IT’S A PRETTY GOOD QUESTION: ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST WESTERN CIVILIZATION? Bill Maher: Dems Are at Risk of Total Collapse If They Can’t Answer This Question.

THE BAD

R.I.P.: World’s Oldest Marathon Runner Dies At 114 After Being Hit By Car

THE TWO AMERICA’S. This is not sustainable:

IS THIS THE . . . MEH . . . “STATESMANSHIP” THAT YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT: Biden EPA Hastily Routed Billions To Political Allies

The documents indicate that the Biden EPA awarded grants under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) — a program that shelled out $20 billion to nonprofits linked to Democrat donors and insiders . . .

MORE “STATESMANSHIP” FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. That’s why you voted for him, right? Biden admin spent hefty sum of US tax dollars to upgrade swimming pools in Iraq, Russia

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW! How Is It That The State Department Grew So Big And Almost No One Knew About It?

SO, IT TURNS OUT THAT RENT-A-MOB IS ACTUALLY A REAL THING. Whoever would have thought? CEO says he was offered $20 million to organize anti-Trump protests

CHINA WATCH:

THIS IS WHAT LOSING LOOKS LIKE:

NO KIDDING, SHERLOCK: Prominent Cardiologist Says It Was ‘Reckless’ To Recommend COVID Vax To Kids

PRIORITIES, CALIFORNIA-STYLE. Let me get this straight: Los Angeles didn’t have enough firemen or water to put out fires last year that cost some $50 billion in economic losses, but they had enough money to pay 100+ lifeguards over half-a-million dollars per year. I’m in the wrong line of work: Over 100 LA County Lifeguards Make $500K A Year

FUNDING HIS ALLIES WITH TAXPAYER MONEY: You Won’t Believe How Much Pete Buttigieg Spent on DEI Grants.

WHEN THE DEEP STATE MEETS THE EDUCATION DEEP STATE: Unearthed emails shed light on Biden DOJ memo calling concerned parents ‘domestic terrorists’.

FORMER GEORGIA “REPUBLICAN” SWITCHES TO THE LEFT-WING PARTY TO BETTER PROMOTE HIS CHRISTIAN VALUES: Former Georgia GOP official jumps ship to Democrats after party expulsion

"My decision was centered around my daily struggle to love my neighbor, as a Republican."
Duncan pointed to several policy issues that played a part in his decision to change parties, criticizing Republicans for their handling of issues such as health care, Medicaid, gun safety, immigration and how to help poor people.
He said his time in office taught him the best way to "love my neighbor" is through public policy.

“STATESMANSHIP” CANADIAN-STYLE: How Canada became the center of a measles outbreak in North America.

THE UGLY

IF THIS DOESN’T BREAK YOUR HEART, I DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL: 'Heartbreaking loss': Child Protective Services takes 3-year-old from parents, he dies when left in hot car

YES, THIS IS A CULTURE WAR: Group Accused Of Pressuring Developmentally Delayed Young Adult Into Gender Transition

ARE YOU OK WITH THIS? Yes, They Are Trying To Turn Babies Gay.

. . . and THE BEAUTIFUL
THIS IS WHAT BEAUTY IS IN ITS MOST SUBLIME FORM : BEAUTY IN MOTION. (Note: You have to manually turn on the volume for the full effect.)

Have a great week!

The Redneck Intellectual

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