As IF Times

Source: Fear of immigration drove the leave victory – not immigration itself | Politics | The Guardian

An American  politician once remarked that “elections  have consequences” in the aftermath of a vote that swept his party into office.  In the wake of the shocking Brexit vote, apparently the losing side refuses to accept that same wisdom and are instead insisting on the possible errors surrounding the vote; the stupidity of the constituents responsible for the vote and that maybe they should have a do-over as they might do in primary school. Hey, I wish the Seattle Seahawks could have a do-over too in the infamous goal line play in Superbowl XLIX a few years ago!

The rhetoric espoused by such objective rags as The Guardian is reminiscent of the characterization of conservatives by the same politician referenced earlier as “scared people clinging to their guns and bibles” from a few years ago in the American elections. As far as I know, nobody loses an election gracefully, there’s always blame and acrimony by the losing side.  The alternative is to just have some wise people make all the decisions for everyone; for instance, Mao Tse Tung or Kim Jong Un. Why waste time, effort and money on an exercise that the plain folk don’t really understand?

In the US, it seems to be going that way as the percentage of eligible voters has been on a steady decline for years.  The 2012 US elections showed that just over half of eligible voters went to the trouble to cast a ballot.  The recent Brexit vote by contrast, attracted fully 72% of eligible voters in the UK to voice their opinions on the direction of the nation.  When you get that kind of turnout, it means people feel pretty strongly about what’s at stake. Considering that the majority of the funds spent, the overwhelming popular entertainment and media types and international ‘statesmen’ were all pushing for the stay vote, the leave vote says volumes about the disconnect between the policy elites and the average voter.  How ironic that the main impetus for the American revolution from the Brits in 1776 was because of lack of representation by the settlers to the dictates of their British overlords.  Centuries later, the Brits reject the policy fiats of a remote Euro authority and vote to retain their own autonomy.

We suspect that this may be the first in a series of uprisings by the great quiet majority of people in many nations rejecting the regimes of thought imposed upon them by the unholy triangle of elites, business oligarchs and media.  As we’ve said in the past, even if one did not know the intricate aspects of a major issue, all they’d need to do is consider who was on either side of it.  If the usual progressive mouthpieces are for it, then the correct position is to be against it.  We couldn’t possibly list the roster of the usual suspects but they do coincidently appear on many tabloid magazines and usually will have both upstairs and downstairs maids. Another hint, they all believe in global warming, rampant racism and collectivism.

It will become obvious (hopefully) over the next while that the opinions of these people have been given a voice way beyond any link to validity and that the plain folk are catching on to this.  Not everyone has the luxury of living in a make believe world.

Source: ISIS threat to U.S. air bases, S. Korea warns – CNN.com

The purported reach of ISIS is amazing.  According to this story, the terrorist group is collecting intelligence on numerous vulnerable targets, which has credence based on their proven ability to get recruits from within foreign countries.  There are always zealots willing to perform services for ‘the cause’ but I suspect that, for the most part, there’s another factor.

If we assume that not all ISIS supporters are convinced that a repressive regime based on 12th century theocracy is desirable, then the other reason would be the universal one; money.  Put simply, not for the Mullahs, but for the moolah.  So for good information, someone would need to pony up some walking around money to get interest and then some back end money when the deed is done.  At least that’s how it works in the normal world.

If you were to embark upon some kind of commercial adventure, one of the first things you’d have to do is pay a small army of consultants including accountants and lawyers to give their opinions first.  Who knows how many great ideas were snuffed out at infancy by the daunting crush of red tape to be considered before starting.  This is true of any intelligence operation undertaken by any Western governments.  Before any surveillance or military operation can be executed, the plan likely has to go through the filter of lawyers who will dictate the terms and type of operation allowed.  By the time all the legal considerations are factored in, the operation may be slimmed down to a water glass held to an ear against a wall.

This is why ISIS and terrorism of all kinds works and is so sinister.  They have no rules of engagement.  They have no lawyers.  They are free to exploit any weakness, whatever the venue, whatever the cost.  They are not hamstrung by shaming in the media.  There are no protestors pleading for the rights of the soon to be extinguished.

The West addresses terrorism as if playing by the rules of golf, calling penalties on themselves whereas the bad guys are playing by cage match rules.  While the West takes great pains in ensuring that no one gets offended in the process of getting killed, militants have no such restriction on their actions.  Their costs of business are greatly minimized by not having to pay lawyers to navigate the rules of killing people.  All of their money goes straight into the process without all the admin fees that the West has to contend with.

It’s a fair bet to say we’ll never get rid of the lawyers on our side.  The only hope is to get the other side to feel the need for lawyers in support of their cause.  When they have to spend money defending their actions and placating their public, the money going directly to military action and paying followers will subside.  As soon as their costs of business through slippage goes up, the end will be near.