The First Education Mayor

Why would younger voters elect Zohran Mamdani?

And more broadly, why have younger voters moved so far to the left?  Far enough to elect a socialist.

Here is Mamdani's platform.  He is not using the term socialist just to appeal to the young.  No, no, he is a flat out socialist.  Good for him.

My question is why would anyone vote for that?

Well, to support someone this far left, one has to be completely unable to think critically.  And critical thinking is a skill that is no longer taught to young people.  At least not in public schools.  And certainly not at the university level.  It is not the K-12 teachers fault; they, too, never learned to think critically.  So we have a generation of non-thinking educators teaching young people.  If the students don't get critical thought at home, they will just never get it at all.

This has been going on for generations now.  Each new generation one step further removed from the ability to think.  To the point where we are now:  No one can think at all.

So if you have a mayoral candidate who says all the emotionally appealing things, then obviously he the best guy for the job.  I mean, of course, rents should be frozen; anyone against that is selfish.  Of course, the city should open city-owned grocery stores; anyone against that does not care about poor families.  Right?  You get the idea.

Mamdani owes his win of the Democratic nomination to the education establishment, primarily to university schools of education.  He is the first real Education Mayoral Candidate.

And I do not think this is limited to New York City.  I suspect this is the primary reason for the Democratic Party's drift to the far left, nationwide.  This has been, and continues to be, a generational project among leftists:  Staff schools of education with ideological leftists, produce unthinking teachers, who produce even more unthinking young people, who then graduate into unthinking voters.

These schools are not really schools of education.  I do not think they actually give a hoot about education.  No, they are Schools of Youth Indoctrination.  And they have been wildly successful.

We saw proof of this last year with nearly half the country voting for the completely incompetent and inarticulate Kamala Harris.  No Harris may not be a socialist, but only the fully indoctrinated could vote for such a gibbering dimwit.  Sooner or later we will see a socialist elected to high office.  With Mamdani, we are watching this in real time.

Subjugated Capitalism

Is it possible to fight back?  Yes and no.  No, if you live in New York City, be prepared for the type of socialist utopia we have seen repeatedly over the last one hundred years.  The way these governments hang on, from Scandinavia to France to South America, is that they subjugate the capitalists to pay for the socialism that the majority of voters think they want.  Often times, as in Scandinavia, the capitalists are willing participants.

What happens in stable socialist societies is that the socialists reach an accommodation with the capitalists.  The socialists consume nearly all of the wealth that the capitalists produce, and with their bureaucratic leviathan and endless regulations, they ensure that the capitalists face little to no competition.  The entrenched capitalists acquiesce, and purr like well-feed kitty cats.  This produces a stagnant society, with little entrepreneurship or innovation, but one in which the socialists and the capitalists can coexist.

It becomes a sort of voluntary servitude:  The capitalists produce the wealth, and the socialists consume it.  What's more, you have to be willing to accept all the inefficiencies and outright graft that inevitably comes with socialist control.

So-called democratic socialism cannot produce the wealth required to fund itself and continue bribing the electorate.  Short of natural resources, socialism cannot produce any wealth long term.  So it is imperative for the socialists to retain the services of the capitalists.  It is the only way they can maintain power, which is their only real goal.

If you doubt this thesis, just look at China.  Where did the nation's current wealth come from?  It sure wasn't communism that provided it.  Yet the communists have been able to retain power and get rich themselves...by allowing some degree of capitalism and keeping the capitalists enslaved.  This subjugated capitalism is the party trick that the Soviet Union never learned, and that is why they ultimately failed.

What should you do?

Mamdani's nomination is the leper's bell of the approaching looters.  If you are unwilling to accept such an arrangement, what should you do?

Leave.  Take your taxes, your family, your business and any jobs it creates, your vote, and even your mere presence and go somewhere, anywhere, where you are appreciated and supported.

Leave before the income tax doubles.  Leave before the wealth taxes.  Leave before an intersectional tax code.  Leave before the reparations.  Leave before the inevitable exit taxes, already proposed in California, and I predict soon coming to New York City.

If Mamdani successfully opens city-owned grocery stores, of course with no sales tax, how long will it be until he triples the sales tax at privately owned grocery stores?  Supposedly to fund the people's stores.

Certainly he will implement congestion pricing.  But I predict it will not only apply to entering vehicles, but to mileage.  In the confines of Manhattan, would a dollar a mile be unexpected?  Two dollars?  I mean the space is quite limited and the planet is suffocating as we speak.  Naturally, he and his minions will be exempt because they are carrying out the important work of serving the public.  Quietly, ex-mayors will also be exempt, for their service.

On top of taxes, his fees and regulations will become impossibly burdensome.  So let's allow New York City voters to fully enjoy the government they elect.  But without our productivity.

Just leave.

They'll be fine.

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The Leftists of Bluesky

He's not talking about Xi:

Came across this person.  She seems nice.


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The Leftists of Bluesky

The Dirty Dozen

Most social media is inundated with cat photos and videos.  Bluesky?  There are rats.  Lots of rats.  No seriously.

Photos and links after the jump:  Click Read more below.  I just could not leave a bunch of rat photos on this page.

Cute huh?

Well that is a baker's dozen and I have to stop.

It is worth noting that I did not go looking for these posts.  No, no, these came up organically the very first time I browsed the Bluesky Discover feed.  Now some on the left will surely argue:  But that is because there are so many science-types on Bluesky.  But these do not really look like lab rats.  And before Bluesky, I never saw this on Twitter.  I think more probably it is because, on Bluesky, the leftists feel more at home to be themselves.  And I'm not saying that is all bad; it can be rather educational.

There are lots of cats as well.  Since we find no viewpoint diversity on Bluesky, is it any surprise that they do offer extreme pet photo diversity?  Hey, the left will take its diversity where they can find it.  I am waiting to see someone post their pet cockroaches.

Be assured that if someone tells you about their pet rat, and offers cute photos for your pleasure, there is something seriously wrong with that person.

China is a Scam

Winston describes Chinese EV cars, and the entire Chinese automotive industry, as a scam.  And while this is clearly true, the important point, which he infers but does not come out with directly, is that this is how everything in China works.  It is not an exaggeration to say that everything in China is some sort of scam.

Here in the Philippines, we are seeing an ever increasing number of Chinese branded cars on the road.  I have no doubt that the Philippines is one of the countries where, as Winston mentions, China is dumping cars.

As an aside, recently I saw a new GWM (Great Wall Motor – a Chinese manufacturer that Winston mentions in the video), diesel pickup in a shopping mall.  The list price was almost 40 percent less than the very similar Toyota Hilux.  Sure this will vary by product and features.  But of course, Filipinos are flocking to these brands.

I will add one other thing about the GWM display in the mall.  The cars were lavishly decorated with the most beautiful women, er...product specialists.  When the feminists chased Don Draper out of New York, he fled to China.  And as Don likes to say:  When you place a beautiful woman next to any product, people tend to forget the most important questions.

Because electricity is so expensive here, most of these vehicles are not electric.  But we do see some.  To the best of our ability, we never park near one of these.

No, you cannot avoid all Chinese products.  But we have a strict rule regarding Chinese products.  We do not buy anything made in China that has the potential to kill you.  So, no food, no cars, no lithium batteries, etc.  But yes, the fly swatter I bought last week was made in China.

We will make an exception to this rule if the product is an American brand.  For example, Apple is not going to damage its reputation because of Chinese shenanigans.  So sure, much of their stuff is made in China; but under closely supervised quality control.  I am less sure of some American firms manufacturing in China.  Are Chinese-manufactured Doritos safe?  I would assume so, but why take the chance.

Now if you think this perspective is a bit harsh, here is a Shawn Ryan clip, about six months old.  Really, the whole country is just a great big scam, and often dangerous.  I have written about this before.  So how should we handle China?  We should isolate them like any other pariah state.  Maybe this cannot be done diplomatically, but we can certainly isolate them economically.

The Chinese cannot do anything on their own.  They need to steal, and scam, and cheat.  This is deeply ingrained within their culture.  If we do not allow it, they will flounder.  All we have to do is:  Nothing.  Just stay out of China and stop buying Chinese goods.  The world will be a better place.

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Proposal: Gold Bank

The benefits of cryptocurrency without all the nonsense

Here's what we do.  Let's start a bank where all deposits and withdrawals are made in gold bullion.  Each depositor's balance will be listed as gold weight on deposit.  And let us place our depository someplace safe, like Switzerland.

Before we start pondering the logistical nightmare of such an arrangement, what with delivery, assaying (verification), acceptance, etc., let us consider one other simple possibility.  How about this?  Deposits can be made in any major currency, and that currency will, immediately on deposit, be used to purchase gold at the then current market price.  So for example, if you deposit one thousand dollars, your account will then reflect not the one thousand dollars, but rather that amount in gold bullion.

The bank will issue each account holder checkbooks and debit cards, which will allow customers to spend their funds as with any bank.  Spend ten dollars at Walmart, and your account will reflect a ten-dollar reduction in your deposited gold weight.  Need cash to pay your babysitter?  Debit cards will work in the ATM.

The bank will purchase and sell gold daily on the open market to facilitate deposits and withdrawals.  Since the bank is buying and selling based on the collective needs of all depositors, the bank would receive the best possible commissions and spreads on these transactions.  Then of course, these expenses would be shared among deposit holders based on their respective transactions.  It is worth noting that to the extent that deposits and withdrawals match, the only cost to the bank would be the bookkeeping charge of moving funds from one account to another.

The bank will maintain a high percentage of gold in its depository.  Maybe 85%.  The remaining gold deposits would be holdings of various gold instruments like ETFs.  This is to insure quick and inexpensive purchases and sales.

The benefit of such an arrangement is that funds are maintained in bullion and not dollars or any other currency.  These deposits are therefore immune to the irresponsibility of modern governments and the fragility of their respective currencies.

Start your own gold bank

Individuals can limit their exposure to the dollar in a similar fashion.  Invest in gold ETFs and move investment income into these ETFs, and keep funds there, rather than in dollars.  It is the same if you get a paycheck; roll your dollars into gold ETFs.

First Bank of Blockchain

This model is deposit/withdraw/spend in dollars (or any government-sponsored currency) and store in gold.  But clearly, and perhaps more easily, this could also be done with cryptocurrency.  Why has no one has thought to do this?  If the crypto folks want to be taken seriously, they need to get rid of the Sam Bankman-Fried type grifters, and bring in some serious players.

One certain takeaway from the Trump-Musk split and the Big Beautiful Bill is that relative to the US dollar, gold is the safer store of long term value.  Sure there may be some minor fluctuations here and there.  But for now this is a political certainty:  There is zero will among US politicians to control dollar-denominated US government debt.  At this point I think it is safe to say:  The US national debt will never be paid off.  Never.  Even if, magically, the politicians develop the will, at this point they lack the ability.

What does this mean?  Three possibilities.  One, the politicians will devalue the dollar.  Think one new dollar for ten old dollars.  Two, the politicians will attempt to monetize the debt by a long term policy of increasing and sustaining inflation.  Basically it is devaluing the dollar in slow motion.  Three, at some point the bond and currency markets will force a dollar devaluation.  Since the politicians are not going to address the debt in any meaningful way, one of these three, or some combination, is inevitable.

One thing US politicians will not abide is default.  At least not in name.  But devaluation, however it comes, is a form of default.  So yes, sooner or later, the US government will default on its obligations.

Individuals can prepare for this by:  Not owning debt.  Especially not government debt, but I would add, do not own any dollar-denominated debt.  If you own dollar-denominated bonds, get rid of them.  If the state of New York owes you one thousand dollars, in the form of a bond, they will be delighted to pay you back in devalued dollars.  And this is true for any and every bond issuer.

So no bonds and no dollars.  Do own real estate, gold, common stocks.  Although I would avoid equities of businesses that own a lot of debt, that is banks and other lenders.  If you are not a believer in gold, fine.  But keep your rents and dividends in gold short term until you are able to reinvest.  In terms of which common stocks to own, I would focus on companies with an economic franchise as defined by Warren Buffett.

Speaking of Mr. Buffett, he is sitting on all this cash ($350 billion) and is, famously, no fan of gold.  Surely you are not disagreeing with the oracle of Omaha?

But how much better is cash than gold?  Cash suffers the same basic problem as gold:  A store of value without income.  Gold provides no income and cash only offers slightly more than none.  The reason Buffett maintains cash is in order to move quickly into the market at a time of his choosing.  Also this:  One might remember that the only reason cash offers any income at all is the fact that almost all cash is stored in, invested in, some form of debt.

Mr. Buffett was born in 1930.  His life has spanned the length of US hegemony.  And surely that affects how he sees the world.  Buffett may be old, but the man is not stupid.  My guess is that he will attempt to relieve himself of all that cash (into some hard, income-producing assets) before the coming monetary collapse (whether fast or slow).  He is betting that the stock market will collapse before the dollar.  The history of American hegemony tells him this is a good bet.

I am not so sure.

Current US national debt is $273,500 per household.  Household net worth is around $176,500.  A figure which of course does not include national debt.  You can do your own math.

Here's Grok:

As of December 2024, the U.S. national debt as a percentage of GDP is approximately 124%.  This is based on data indicating the national debt reached $36.22 trillion, with a nominal GDP of around $29.2 trillion.  At the end of World War II in 1946, the debt-to-GDP ratio was about 106%, with a public debt of $241.86 billion against a smaller GDP.

The current ratio of 124% is notably higher than the post-WWII peak of 106%.  The increase reflects significant government spending during recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove debt levels up, compared to the post-WWII period where economic growth, primary budget surpluses, and inflation helped reduce the ratio over time.

In other words, we have the highest government debt level in modern history, no political will to reduce it, and actually no will to reduce its continued growth.  For all the left-wing hate of Donald Trump, one might note that he is not, and has never been, a fiscal conservative.

Maybe Mr. Buffett is correct.  But if the stock market does collapse with this level of national debt, what are the odds that the dollar will collapse along with the stock market?

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High Caste Lecture

I like to play this game. Every time an Indian origin kid in the West signals their progressive virtue in woke-speak -- from 'yoga is cultural appropriation' to anti-colonialism takes -- I google their last name for caste origins. 10 times out of 10 it is South Indian Brahmin.… https://t.co/DDntpmGaLi

— Zubin (@ZMadon) May 31, 2025

Of course, you Untouchables Deplorables who voted for Trump should listen to your betters.

via Instapundit

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