(Originally published June 12, 2019)

"Every family has two lives; . . there is a seething struggle between forces of life and the forces of disintegration . . Do not aspire to be king of the Belliakers – there's too much competition for that spot." – Elbert Hubbard

RIDING THE COAT TAILS OF THE ILLITERATE (and poor by habit). That's what the left-wing of the Left Wing is all about now – pandering to people who lack self-control but feel so good about themselves. Some have white guilt and some feel almost too good for this deplorable country. Talk about ingrates! But they have lots of self-esteem, despite sex and drug abuse. Being easily offended! Plus the always "I''M OKAY; YOU'RE A FASCIST" mentality.

A social psychologist named Roy Baumeister says it all started in clinical psychology and got into the schools and families: "It's easy to 'feel good' and it's certainly easier than doing your math homework." President Reagan, in his farewell to the United Nations, said: "[T]he deliberations of great leaders and great bodies are but overture, . . the truly majestic music, the music of freedom, of justice, and peace is the music made in forgetting self and seeking in silence the will of Him who made us."

Public schools are 180 degrees "off." Any mention of "Him who made us" is strictly verboten, and SELF is exalted – without any need of effort or rigor. You can't even say "NO" to a kid in a firm voice, or demand that an assignment be turned in. Even if the kid turns it in, you certainly can't correct it with red ink. Just pass the loser on to the poor teachers in the next grade up! And they've not only kicked God out of the schools but, in some cities, also the security personnel or police that had to be brought in on account of no discipline (the sight of them might make some kids melt like snowflakes).

The political Left not only rides the coat tails of the "under privileged" but also of the violent (job security for judges, lawyers, and social workers. Over one weekend, fifty people shot, almost a dozen fatally, in a city with the strictest of gun control laws, Chicago (count on it when the weather warms up so people go out of doors). City Hall doesn't seem to care.

"It's time to get back to the basics of life," someone sang. A quote from the Princeton University Library Chronicle, Spring 1961 ("Madison and Witherspoon: Theological Roots of American Political Thought"): "Man's innate depravity . . must be checked by counter-acting forces . . 'Impulse or passion or interest averse to the rights of other citizens or to the aggregate interest of the community,' as Madison said. "The government must be shaped so that one set of interests will keep other sets of interests from dominating. Checks and balances are required."

Elbert Hubbard said: "If you have ceased to be moved by religion, no longer dwell on poetry [or prose], are not swayed by music, the love instinct has withered to the ashes of a rose."

The Bible now banned from public schools predicted a time "without natural affection," people only lovers of self, and simultaneously, a time of great hatred. Sound familiar? Roy Baumeister wrote:

"It was fine to give people, including children, a feeling of self-worth, but if you think you are better than you are, then you are more likely to get negative feedback, and if you are emotionally invested in this, then you could become violent."

Young people, you may find this hard to believe, but homicides used to be very rare! THE GUNS HAVEN'T CHANGED. THE PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED. President Reagan said: "If future generations say peace came closer, that we brought about new seasons of justice, it will be cause for pride."

P.S. Elbert Hubbard said, "Babies are the dice of destiny . . We can never have a noble race of men until we have a noble race of mothers . . The modest woman is the one who wears her wares in an artistic and effective manner."

The word "prude" originally meant "a fine thing of a woman." It came from "prudefemme," a virtuous woman. Enough said?