Jon Reisman

A number of readers have responded to recent columns. To some, I am a hero, championing conservative thought and giving voice to many frustrated by a biased corporate media. To others, I am a dangerous ignorant crank who writes poorly and should be ignored, censored, banished or possibly all three.
I try to respond to my fans with gratitude and my critics with the suggestion that they submit a letter to the editor or op-ed detailing their case against me. Since the latter rarely occurs, I have been thinking I should reverse course and thank my critics for their feedback while urging those who agree with me to let my editor know. After all, criticism, even the Derangement Syndrome often exhibited by those infected by an undiverse and excessive consumption of NPR, MSNBC and the BDN, provides both column material and sharpens the pen.

Criticism #1: Fox News.

I do, as my critics charge, listen to Fox News and WVOM- but I also pay attention to the lefty narrative coming from NPR and the BDN. I will admit that I cannot stomach the New York Times anymore.

Criticism#2: You are just against (and disrespectful to boot) Brandon.

It is quite true that I am very much against the open border, crime, unequal justice, inflation, racism, climate alarmism and expensive energy the Brandon administration has given America, and the disrespect is a consequence of my conviction that the dystopia we are now living in is because of the deliberate policy choices Brandon, Kamala and the Progressives have foisted upon us, although incompetence, economic ignorance and sheer stupidity are also contributing factors.
The open border is a deliberate policy choice, and the #1 reason Brandon should be impeached for failing to carefully and faithfully execute the law. The upsurge in crime is a deliberate result of progressive prosecutors not enforcing the law, concerns about “equity”, and the two tiered justice system that has developed since the Black Lives Matter arson and riots were encouraged by the left (not to mention Kamala) and the January 6th “insurrectionists” have been prosecuted and persecuted to the fullest extent possible. Now the weaponized Brandon Department of Justice is going after dozens of “semi-fascist” MAGA Trump advisors, taking their phones and literally putting them in chains for perp walks. Re-education camps for those who dare to publicly disagree will be a reality if the Democrats somehow hold on to power.
Intersectional identity politics and “anti-racism” have promoted policies that make decisions about people based on the color of their skin, gender, sexuality and alleged victim status. It is called racism and discrimination, and the left is promoting it.
Inflation is the predictable and predicted result of the spending profligacy Brandon and the Progressives have pursued. Inflation helps debtors and hurts savers, which conveniently rewards many Brandon voters with student debt.
Expensive energy is a direct consequence of the Brandon/Progressive climate alarmism/war on fossil fuels. It is based on a flawed (in my view) belief in apocalyptic anthropocentric (human caused) global warming, but the policy will actually not avert any detectable amount of global warming. It is about control and power, not saving the planet, and it’s more religion than science.

Criticism #3: What are you for?
• Color-blind policies following Chief Justice Roberts advice- if you want to stop discrimination based on race, stop discriminating based on race. Of course, that would put every Diversity, Equity and Inclusion apparatchik in the country out of work and result in Harvard and Yale becoming overwhelmingly Asian-American, and we can’t have that.
• Market Capitalism, as opposed to crony capitalism. Of course, that would be the end of the solar/windmill/electric vehicle scam.
• School Choice. Of course, that would end the end the ability of the left and teachers unions to use the public schools as indoctrination centers for critical race theory, grooming and progressive activism.
• Federalism, because that is the Constitutional prescription for how we can all get along in a diverse nation.
 

Jon Reisman is an economist and policy analyst who retired from the University of Maine at Machias after 38 years. He resides on Cathance Lake in Cooper, where he is a Selectman and a Statler and Waldorf intern. Mr. Reisman’s views are his own and he welcomes comments as letters to the editor here, or to him directly via email at [email protected].