I received from my radio friend Matt Clark a note from a listener of his who took exception to our recent broadcast about American Exceptionalism. The guy was very upset about my response to comments he made after our broadcast featuring the goodness that Walt Disney brought to American society. CLICK HERE to review. The comment he left me was well over 1000 words long so I felt an involved response to his statements was warranted as he showed himself to be a very confused person. There are aspects of his thinking that are quite good, but other aspects that are deeply flawed. However, he is like so many modern-day conservatives/libertarians who have found themselves formulated around machine politics for their entire lives and has the taint of the modern mixed economy all over their thoughts—so dealing with them is a mess if such an attempt is even desired. But because he addressed me directly and was very critical, apparently discussing me at great length on an XM radio show, I will take great pleasure in dismantling his thought process appropriately. When his comments were first sent to me, I was out-of-town competing in the bullwhip events shown below, so it took a bit of time to catch up with all my email and comments from the previous weekend. Below are his comments with my reply in italics as response.
‘’American Exceptionalism tends to set off tempers from the type of people who have been taught their entire lives that America should follow the trends of the rest of the World and not proudly proclaim the wonderful attributes that have come out of the freest country in the world-such as capitalism, human rights, individual freedom, and quality of life that is unmatched anywhere.’’ Did Rich or El Rushbo write this? Funny I was a Rush baby, some of us grow up and actually learn history, economics, free-markets, and real Conservative, ex. Russel Kirk, TS Elliot, Edmund Burke, and M.E. Bradford (who was originally appointed by Reagan for national endowment position, but sidelined by Bill Krystol for neocon Bill Bennett (Lincoln lover)).
The listener’s name is Ben Cowan and he is attempting to display that he has the superior argument by stating he has grown up and away from the way of thinking of Rush Limbaugh. People who use such arguments with a direct attack like that try to gain supremacy through insult instead of the quality of their statement. Cowan then proceeds to establish that he has a vast knowledge of history to draw upon as if I do not. He has obviously not read the more than 2 million words here at Overmanwarrior’s Wisdom, so if he starts now he may be qualified to make such statements in about 6 months. But until then he is functioning from ignorance. I enjoy the work of T.S. Elliot particularly “The Wasteland.” The point of his statement is to say that Cowan has evolved intellectually into thinking beyond Rush Limbaugh which is supposed to qualify everything that follows as fact, and everything he says about me as inferior to his arguments. This is a trick Cowan learned from the progressive intellectuals which he reveals further in the next section.
Notice how weak Rich’s arguments are that he portrays anyone who gets frustrated with Decepticons aka neocons using the term American Exceptionalism as someone who supports Obama or his ideology. As to Rich’s Bill Maher clip, I actually agree with some of Bill’s sediments in this clip. This is probably the only time that I have agreed with Bill Maher, but our solutions and reasons are much different. Did you notice how I separated the two complaint/Solutions without emotionally driven comments like Rich uses?
Prof. Kevin Gutzman liked this part of the main article ‘’Under the American Constitution, slavery was abolished- a move happened nowhere else in the world.’’ If the point is that slavery wasn’t abolished under the US Constitution outside the US, well duh. Slavery was abolished in Haiti, Cuba, Brazil, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Bahamas, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad, and Nevis. –Response by Prof. Kevin Gutzman (Author of Who Killed the Constitution).
Cowan attacks my arguments as weak without identifying the argument which is an anti-concept trick that was perfected by the political strategist Saul Alinsky. It is used, copied and heavily studied by radical groups to this day. People like Cowan pick up the behavior through observation and interacting with people who use the method. The premise of his attack is that my statement about Obama and his ideology is weak because it points to American Exceptionalism as strong, and that such a broad brush is not appropriate under the terms Cowan established in his anti-concept. By my definition of American Exceptionalism I am stating the concept “America is good.” The reason this angers people like Cowan, who believes that he is an evolved conservative to some degree, or just defining himself as some degree of libertarian, is that he has accepted that the concept of American Exceptionalism is a myth at some point in his past and he is defending his foundation beliefs from the concept of goodness. He then uses Bill Maher as validation to support his theory in the same fashion that he uses Kevin Gutzman as a crutch the way most academics use quotes and references to support collectively their own thoughts and beliefs. The implication of their need for reference crutches is their insecurity to their own thoughts. They attempt to build a public consensus by pointing at others and what they say as if to justify their own thoughts. The truth about slavery is that The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage was the first American abolition society. It was founded April 14, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Anthony Benezet and others, and held four meetings.[1] Seventeen of the 24 men who attended initial meetings of the Society were Quakers, or members of the Religious Society of Friends. Thomas Paine was also among the Society’s founders. It was reorganized in 1784[2] as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage,[3] (better known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society) and was incorporated in 1789. At some point after 1785, Benjamin Franklin was elected as the organization’s president. The society asked him to bring the matter of slavery to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He petitioned the U.S Congress in 1790 to ban slavery.[4]
During this time there were similar movements happening all over the world as many were questioning the practice. But the big driver in changing the culture of slavery was The United States in their fight for independence. Once that revolution was won other countries looked at their own situations and made adjustments. Smaller countries like Haiti, Cuba, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Bahamas and so on were able to abolish their slaves more quickly than larger countries with more bureaucracy. My example of American Excepetionalism is that if America had failed in their revolution then other countries would have stepped back from such a task. It took America to lead by example. Cowan would then point out that many of those movements took place at the turn of the 1700s into the early 1800s. Yet they were using America as their example as many of the discussions taking place in the colonies from those Philadelphia meetings were exported all over the world through commerce. When America defeated the British, many countries became more embolden in their pursuit of individual freedom and passed anti slavery mandates. Sadly, many of those same countries Cowan mentions would submit to socialism just a few years later falling back into social slavery of a different type.
Capitalism is great and the best system in which people can move up and down mobile in a free society. Capitalism predates the Union of States and American Exceptionalism. Did it occur to Rich that Britain lead the 1st industrial Revolution, followed by Meiji Restoration in Japan, and the 2nd industrial revolution was led by the United States.
Yes, it did occur to me, yet Britain failed in their economy falling to socialism as they allowed Keynesian economics to ruin their capitalism, and Japan of course could not leave their feudal social functions once they submitted themselves to an emperor. To this very day many large countries make the mistake of attempting to emulate Japan for their manufacturing standards believing them to be of higher quality than American standards. The failure in this thinking is that the Japanese place themselves before their individuality in nearly every case. Their programs of lean manufacturing work well as their people do not question the methods. Their service to their country and business come before their own desires. American strength in manufacturing has always come from their ability to think outside-the-box as individuals, not blind compliance to a greater good such as country, company, or even community. America adopted foreign lean manufacturing methods as a direct assault against the American labor unions which infected manufacturing from the Red Decade with communist philosophy. It was the only way that companies could force the unions to not destroy their businesses with non-productive effort. Because the unions put a lock on productive output, American companies were forced to use foreign collectivist methods perfected abroad to keep the unions from destroying their companies that were legally allowed to organize against industry for the collective gain of the many. Even with these severe handicaps most new ideas still come out of The United States. Most literature, films, music, art and technical innovation are generated by free people with the prospect of profit blowing wind into their sails. Even with all the best lean manufacturing techniques produced for collective motivation of work forces, creativity is what makes American Excptionalism. Creativity is what is missing from all other countries that have stepped away from capitalism, and to this day seek alliances with others to disguise the fact that they are nations of suppressed thought praying to their religions for inspiration. In America, innovation is invented because the mind is free—that is the backbone of American Excepetionalism.
‘’Americans have been taught by their gov’t that the United States gained everything it achieved by consuming too many resources and stepping on the rights of others across the world.’’ -This is what would be taught at a progressive college, that so called conservatives send their kids to and help support and perpetuate. Many fake conservative send their kids to progressive colleges so Johnny and Suzie can watch people run into other people on Saturday afternoon and ‘’what’s the score of the game mindless thinking.’’ Again, Rich is using the absurd progressive logic to lump real Conservatives like myself into, to push ‘’American Exceptionalism’’, which is the progressive rights term invented by a Frenchmen, and used to spread democracy by force to any country whether they want it or not.
Not sure that I disagree with Cowan here. He uses my name in a way that implicates that my statement is wrong, but then he agrees with it, because I had just said the same thing. Americans have been taught such things as I stated and most colleges are infected with progressive thought. If Cowan doesn’t believe such a thing I’m not sure what planet he’s living on.
I enjoyed Rich’s definition of a neocon! How terrible of the social freedom of the people in the 60’s. Was Steve Jobs one of those people?? A neocon or decepticon is someone who left the Democrat Party to join the Republican Party in which they brought their FDR progressive foreign policy with them. They also brought the mentality that morals should be controlled through the Fed gov’t. They were Nationalist that the great founders feared, and why some didn’t sign the Constitution fearing the Union would end up like as it is now.
Steve Jobs had a good idea and left his indoctrination education to invent his own way. He used capitalism to bring a great product to market, so not all people who smoked dope, and listened to the garbage music of the 60s was a diabolical hippie menace. I would say that George Lucas was cast of the same mold as Jobs, and I’m sure that George loved the 60’s although he was more of a loner than his friend Francis was at their first studio set up in San Francisco where hippie mania was rampant. Somewhere in that drug induced haze Star Wars was born which I love. But these guys are rare examples that managed to rise to the top even as statism was increasing to put shackles on the mind of mankind by suppressing capitalism. The second part of Cowan’s statement I agree with for the most part, even though it’s pretty general. The real situation is more complicated, but Cowan is learning so I’ll give him a gold star on his paper for at least thinking.
The founding fathers wanted to be immortalized for their writings and their accomplishments ‘’Fame of our Fathers’’, they however were very humble; they had humility which Rich doesn’t seem to grasp! Jefferson studied Scottish philosopher David Hume, Switzerland’s decentralized country, the Indians free trade, and the ancient Greeks who prior to Alexander the Great were successful for centuries with their small [r]epublics in which Math, Science, Art, Philosophy, architecture, and sport was mastered in small [r]epublics of people. Jefferson wasn’t arrogant as to say he created our ‘’written gov’t’’ on his own without researching other countries and philosophers. Rich’s progressive right term “American Exceptionalism’’, he points to ‘’American Experience’’ of 1776, which I noted to Matt Clark in my response.
‘’The benefits of capitalism and the American Experience produced a unique type of person that had only been contemplated by philosopher fantasies prior to the declaration.’’ Again the arrogance of Rich’s comments, Madison and Jefferson both used Adam Smith’s a Scottish Philosopher book ‘’Wealth of Nations’’ as a guide to preventing a National Bank and advocating the market to work!
As to Cowan’s point, there is nothing “progressive” about my term other than such an identification about American Exceptionalism is needed to defend what’s good about The United States against the progressives. Other than that, Cowan is indulging himself in wishful thinking to believe that I adhere to something because of some progressive invention that has not been carefully considered from all angles. In this paragraph the real weakness of Cowan begins to emerge, his real gripe with me. As a victim of a mixed economy he believes certain things. As a flawed human being who probably has events from his past that he regrets, he chooses to maintain a view of the world that supports notions that flaws make humans, “human.” Many people wish to believe such things because it would be hard for them to get up every morning and put on their shoes. But I am very aware of the origins of Jefferson’s belief and studies of Scottish Common Sense, which I have written about elsewhere, CLICK FOR REVIEW. I have said on many occasions that the work of John Locke was inspired by the pirate Henry Morgan, which then also showed the colonies how to shake off a nation the way that Morgan took on Spain nearly single-handedly with their presence in the Caribbean. But the fact remains that these elements came together not in Scotland, England, Spain, or France where they were talked about. It was only in America where the dialogue was able to move away from dinner tables, congregations, and card games to become part of the governing philosophy of a country on the rise.
Now to deal with the “arrogance” portion of this debate–being humble is a taught theory by statist oriented groups, be it religion or government to force compliance of the masses to the desires of institutionalism. Grace in victory and humbleness are often confused to be the same thing by people like Cowan, but they are not. It is often perceived that confidence is “arrogant” by those who lack it which is to say that such a declaration is just another anti-concept. By calling me arrogant Cowan hopes to dismiss everything I have said and place himself in high esteem with a reader who identifies their internal value with humbleness, which is sheer nonsense. The concept of serving God with humbleness may be what the majority of human beings believe, but that belief was created during the Dark Ages of Europe and should be confined to the corners of one’s own home. Humility and “duty” to something greater than oneself is a statist concept that was created by the churches of Europe to maintain political control over their flocks. Under the rules of engagement for people like Cowan he is quick to associate humility with arrogance so that he doesn’t have to deal with the root cause of the word. It is the tendency toward humility that Eric Holder continues to lie directly to the American people, it allows Barack Obama to lie about the impact of the scandals he’s at the center of, it allows scum bags like Anthony Wiener to lie, lie, and lie again to anybody and everyone about his sexual lust for other women making his wife look like a buffoon who will forgive anything just so she can be married to someone in a powerful public office—like her mentor Hillary Clinton. These predators all have in common a desire to use the humility of civilization to hide their true intentions. Humility is not a good human trait, kindness is, intelligence is, even compassion, but not humility. Yielding to ones faults, which humility implies, is a sin against the individual soul of every human being and people everywhere will continue to live in bondage to social parasites so long as they believe in the kinds of things that Ben Cowan believes, that humility has value, and equals arrogance. More on this in a bit because it’s not the only time Cowan uses the term. But as far as how to behave when you win, the following videos are from the bullwhip competitions that I was at when Ben started this little fuss through Matt. Notice my behavior when I win. I expect the same from every American. You don’t rub people’s face in it, but you don’t cower away from it either. When you have something to be proud of, be proud of it.
‘’Life in virtually every facet is better in America because of the philosophy of personal independence that is much larger than the ‘’American Experience.’’ This is so obnoxious, that is the American Experience, limited gov’t. The founders referred to their states as countries, they didn’t speak in homogenized tongue like Rich! The South traded throughout the world (off the backs of slaves) and the Northern States were protectionalist!
This is the kind of thing that caused Cowan to start this dialogue off with an anti-concept attack instead of fact based thought. He does not understand the American Experience in spite of all his supposed education and conservative thought. He doesn’t understand it as a graduate of Rush Limbaugh thought so he finds my statement, “obnoxious.” He lacks perspective to see the world through common sense instead of memorized standards which is why he surrendered his statement to some implications of racism and isolationism—both agreed upon violations of universal understanding. The American Experience is being born in a free country with no hooks into the soul of the child. Many believe that the World Bank owns us all, but at least philosophically, in The United States there is at least the assumption of personal freedom that is held in high regard. In America one does not have to social climb to be successful. That is a European trait. One does not have to marry someone else to become powerful. That is a European, and Asian trait. One does not have to become a member of the political class to gain wealth. That is a European trait. In America one can be just about anything they want to be and they can be it anytime they want to. Just as a byproduct of American culture, which is a direct result of the American Experience, look just at Comic Con in San Diego. America is dedicated to the products of the mind, and no place else in the world is there anything like Comic Con. There are other countries that attempt to host such events such as the recent Star Wars Celebration in Germany, but the products displayed there are not developed in other countries, it is in the United States that they were created. Or consider the British Invasion of music that came out of England during the 60’s, a period that Cowan seems to enjoy. They came to America to be superstars as England had too small of a stage to gain such fame. That is the American Experience. Cowan because of his very weak position again took a page out of the progressive notebook of anti-concepts and attempted to use racism and isolationism to gain control of victory in the debate without having any facts to cover his emotional lack of understanding about the American Experience.
Walt Disney should be honored as a great entrepreneur that used determination, creativity, and thrift which is missing in today’s culture. People don’t know what thrift is, these days!
Rudolf Diesel a German inventor invented the diesel engine, which we use very much in the Union today. I could see German’s going around saying this is German Exceptionalism. I have never heard German’s speak in that tongue, but I detest our countrymen arrogantly beating their chest say we are the Awesomest of the Awesome! People don’t like pompous people, they are attracted by humility, what you don’t have Rich.
This is where I get really angry, and why I took a few days to cool off before answering Cowan directly. Let me start on a positive, which I agree with Cowan on the thrift issue. I would like to see a return to that type of mental exercise. And the German’s would have every right to proclaim German Exceptionalism. It was they who produced some of the finest engineering feats in the world during the 20th century and even as members of the European Union, they manage to be so productive that the rest of their European neighbors continually want to borrow their money. German BMW and Mercedes automobiles are fabulously engineered earning them the right to beat on their chest about that particular field. But here is where people like Ben Cowan are deeply flawed human beings bringing in the front door the tyrants of our modern age because they fail to project the proper mentality to combat attacks from villains who prey on humility.
When making a point that most of society will reject people who do not display humility he is right, but wrong. Being “liked,” being “popular,” or having people think you’re “awesome,” is the furthest thing from my mind. I don’t have humility because I don’t want it Cowan. I do not conceal from hangers in my closet skeletons of shame, I do not fear violence by my attackers, or need to be liked in any fashion. I do have people who like me, who share my values, but I have no desire to be liked by people who do not share my values, which is very few. If I had such a thought I wouldn’t say half the things that needed to be said in this day and age. Even people who read here every day get angry with the things I say. But it doesn’t change my stance and it never will. When you start caring what people think of you, you are finished in the philosophy business. When you desire to be loved, you are prone to be corrupt, to be bought, to allow enemies to gain emotional leverage over you. People should like you because they share your values or respect you, not because you pander to their own weaknesses. It is that process that has turned our entire society into a nation of fools led by idiots, and I would guess that many of them think just like Cowan.
Cowan believes he stands on high moral ground backed by historical fact, but all he stands upon is a pile of his own metaphorical feces created by years of such thinking. It is because of this weakness in him personally that he attempts to skirt around the edges pretending to be a sophisticated conservative that is beyond refute. But in reality he is a child of the mixed economy that has bought into some of the statism that is rampant in American culture, much of it culminating in the 1960s a period Cowan appears to enjoy.
At this point of reading this Cowan probably believes that all this sounds tough, but would I say the same things in public–well, the answer is yes. Just last weekend I was in a very public show and anybody who wished to take exception with me could have—but they didn’t. I interact with people every day, and they have learned that I hold back a lot on these pages and when pushed I certainly respond without compromising my beliefs in person. CLICK HERE to see a speech I did critical of public schools where the school board members and their treasure showed up to “intimidate” me into not speaking. They knew very well who I was, what I have done, and wanted to meet me in person. I gave my speech in a respectful way, but I didn’t hold back, and I never do. The point is not to be liked, it is to make people think, and many don’t like to think, so I know beforehand that they will be angry. So what!
A defeated person uses an emphasis on humility, weakness, or accusations of pompousness to justify their lackluster existences. It is easy to be an armchair philosopher, a casual listener of a radio broadcast, and a Facebook junkie that comments on things other people do. It is quite something else to be the leading edge of an ice breaker, to crash through all opposition knowing that the pain will never ever go away so long as there is ice to smash through. To the broken ice, the ice breaker is a villain, a un-compassionate destroyer, an uncompromising force of sheer will and something to be feared. To me the value is in the ice breaker who can smash through the progressive ice even if people like Ben Cowan have built cities upon the ice believing that the surface was sturdy underneath. They believe such things until they see the ice breaker coming and to cover their fear of seeing for the first time the waters under the ice, they attempt to direct the ice breaker somewhere else so that it doesn’t violate the cities of thought they have built upon progressive corruption. That is the motive behind their diatribes of humility, arrogance, and pompousness. Notice in the events shown in these clips that I was competing in as Cowan sent me his half-baked diatribes, that I don’t rub anything in when I win events. But I don’t show modesty either. If you are good, you are good and should not be ashamed of it. People like Cowan mistake pride, confidence, and determination for evil vices created in the courts of Europe for the determined strategy of controlling the masses to limited thinking and self imprisonment by social shackles.
Instead of comparing us to China, India, Spain, and Russia, how about you compare us to Switzerland, Estonia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Chile. We are the 10th freest country in the world now! Using the left/right paradigm gets old. It is now Nationalism vs. Federalism, Limited gov’t vs. Central planning. Obviously you want the Fed Gov’t to plan social cultural norms. Steve Jobs was a capitalist; he listened to the Grateful Dead and was an advocate of LSD. I don’t own any apple products, but luckily he was never jailed for 20 years with your authoritarian leaning positions. How many jobs did Steve Jobs create Rich?
I didn’t try and put Matt on the defensive. ‘’American Exceptionalism’’ comes off as arrogant to the average person and turns them away from limited decentralized gov’t that the good founders embraced! It also gives the average person the mentality that we need to export our awesomeness to other nations, which is the opposite of the founders. ‘’American Exceptionalism, is a term that Hitler would have embraced if he were American, getting people to believe in the good of the state. He detested divided gov’t and decentralization. He wanted to instill Nationalism in the German people, and he commended Lincoln in his book Mein Kampf for Nationalizing the US and trampling the states. No critical thinking allowed in their worlds, similar to Rich’s.
And here is why I find Cowan such a repulsive parasite that is more dangerous than the average progressive, because at least those threats are easy to identify. Cowan sells himself as a logical conservative, but since his value system was threatened by my statements he has retreated to comparing me to Adolf Hitler! Cowan, America needs to export its awesomeness to other nations! You bet your ass! I’ll say it again. “AMERICA NEEDS TO EXPORT ITS AWESOMNESS TO OTHER NATIONS!” Other countries would be much, much, MUCH better off if they adopted American ideals of independence, economic freedom, and creative enterprise.
I have no tolerance for drug use, but where do I advocate authoritarian drug laws! SHOW ME ONE PLACE UPON THESE 2 MILLION WORDS! ONE PLACE! You can’t! And if Cowan did any research into what I write about, he would know that I’m all about critical thinking and trying to get people to embrace such a concept—but because Cowan was too lazy to check before opening his mouth, or putting something in writing, he compared me to Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf hoping that introducing yet another anti-concept would force me into some sort of retreat from the name calling. Well dude, it doesn’t work. CLICK HERE FOR AN EXAMPLE.
As for celebrating in sports, I don’t watch those main stream sports! I play sports that are gentlemen’s games, where you can call a penalty on yourself because the people who play have virtue! Humility and lack of explaining in a story of how the Union came about and how the founders studied other countries to help craft written documents such as the ‘’Declaration of Independence’’, ‘’Articles of Confederation’’, and ‘’The Constitution’’ is what is missing today. Broad rhetoric and arrogant phrases ‘’American Exceptionalism’’ detour people from discovering our founding generation’s great works!
Just as the definition of Welfare 250 years ago, ‘’it was a deliverance from evil’’, which now means gov’t assistance. The American Experience is the correct term in which to use! I have served my country and I am a small business owner and it makes me upset when people use terms that confuse people into thinking the person is bragging about America or is trying to invade another country and impose its Exceptionalism on them! So let’s teach kids limited gov’t and to promote trade with countries we don’t see eye to eye with. Encourage kids to read about the great risk takers and inventors of our country and the rest of the world!
Finally what Ben Cowan is really about; he considers himself a gentleman, something of a Victorian gentleman at that. Well, dude, it was considered against the “gentleman code” to attack during bad weather or other adverse conditions, but George Washington attacked the Hessians at Trenton anyway against every kind of “gentlemanly” code of conduct there was, early in the morning, right after a holiday, and during bad weather. Then again at the fall of Yorktown, Cornwallis attempted to send his surrendered sword by Deputy General Charles O’Hara to give to General Rochambeau. When Rochambeau rejected the offer O’Hara had to give the sword to Benjamin Lincoln because Washington refused to allow Cornwallis to avoid acknowledging the American General as his superior in combat. Cornwallis was a gentleman. Washington was gracious in victory, but demanded respect—which is a lesson we should all be embracing! I can only imagine what kind of “gentlemanly games” Cowan is talking about, Croquet, basket weaving, coin collecting? I hang around knife throwers, gun marksman, and bullwhip artists. CLICK HERE FOR REVIEW. The “gentleman code” is just another anti-concept. There is a difference between being respectful of other people, and then pawing off inaction, indecision, and just plain being a pussy to behaving like a “gentleman.” Cowan, you be a gentleman all you want. I’ll take the win, I’ll take the American Excepetionalism, and I’ll take the freedom that comes with it. You keep the European terminology and keep calling me arrogant. It lets me know I’m doing the right things.
A friend of Ben’s wrote me here and spoke on his behalf not to take him wrongly, so I deeply considered everything Cowan had said. I think Cowan believes he’s doing and saying all the right things, but is clearly mixed up as to what definitions apply to what, and what to believe or not to. I don’t fault people for ignorance so long as they are trying to get someplace positive. But when they come across as experts—especially experts about my intentions, and compare me to Adolph Hitler, Rush Limbaugh, and even racists, there are traces of progressive society that come through in the guy that are direct results of his upbringing and skeletons he has in his own closet that keep him from being the kind of man he wishes he was, and I will not carry his emotional burden for him with anti-concept use. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTI-CONEPTS BY CLICKING HERE. This struggle is clearly present in his comments to me, which he hopes to hide through insults, which for me is simply unacceptable. I’ll take his friend at his word and believe that Cowan is not a bad person, just a person similar to me in thinking about some things, but dreadfully lacking in others. But being not quite a complete person does not provide an excuse for name calling and wearing the mask of patriotism while being underneath something else entirely.
Rich Hoffman
Give yourself the gift of ADVENTURE. CLICK HERE!

It appears to me that Cowan has suffered at the hands of government schools. He is trying to make you believe he is an ” intellectual.” He quotes a few authors that most graduates of the government schools have never heard of – let alone read. So, I will give him an “A” for effort. This discussion is quite interesting and I did enjoy the discussion. Humility isn’t necessarily considered an asset. Confidence in ones beliefs and facts is critical to having a meaningful discussion. Cowan seems to think that for his ideas to have value – he must criticize the opinions of others. I do believe that this nation was founded by “exceptional” people who were extremely well read. Our founders did study the mistakes made by other nations during past centuries. I might add that people are flocking here from all over the world, legally and illegally, because they believe that this is the best country in the entire planet.
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Yes, they aren’t coming here for the buffett lines. : )
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I am not going to spend half a day responding to all your absurdities. As for me I served my country and own my own business, and I do very well in all aspects of my life. Sassypatriot, Kevin Gutzman has numerous NY best sellers through grass root readers. He is also a contributor to liberty classroom, and has advised many people. Brad Birzer another close friend of mine is a professor at Hillsdale College. He studies Russel Kirk everyday. Russel Kirk who is the Conservative gold standard, never acted like your boy Rich, and beat his chest USA, USA, USA. People in other countries yes tried to implement our form of government prior to us forcing it on them! The founders again referred to their state as there Country, and Rich fails to think in a decentralized manner. I have no skeletons to hide, and i will accomplish way more in the state of Michigan in one year than you have in your entire life! I lack no confidence in myself, but i don’t carry myself like yourself thankfully. You fail to see that the founder were Humble, and you are darn wrong that Humility is a great trait to have. People follow talented people that are humble, your observation skills lack too! I don’t consider myself an intellectual, i have an abundance of common sense and foresight. People should be encouraged to learn history. Rich just likes his statist nationalistic history, that the gov’t wants him to learn. By the way many people are moving to countries in the Southern Hemisphere, the US is the 10th freest country in the world now, thanks to Rich’s deceptive way of thinking. You push people away from learning the great concepts of this founding by your arrogance. There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. Maybe i should send you a dictionary Rich!
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Keep dreaming. You need to read my responses again. You have serious trouble with comprehension. “My nationalist, statist history?” My “deceptive way of thinking.” You are hilarious!
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No sir you are hilarious, you have given many a great laugh. I can comprehend, you fail to be able to draw comparisons and lack the ability to connect the dots. Did Jefferson talk about Virginia exceptionalism??? Jefferson refereed to Virginia as his country, he didn’t chant USA, USA, USA. He went to his grave knowing it was over, that the Constitution failed to rein in the Leviathan. Kentucky/Virginia Resolution ring a bell. Once last shot at reining in the inevitable. Kid Rock you post, what a great Musician and Lyricist, lol….
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I’m glad you’re having a “jolly good time chap” Stick around, you might learn something.
If Jefferson hung out with me for a couple of days…………..he would. I’d teach him to stick his chest out a bit more than he did. Like I said about the ice breaker, Jefferson and company had to cut through all the raw ice. So I don’t blame them for not chanting USA, USA, USA. But I do blame the idiots who can’t see history for what it is, and be proud of what America has been to the world.
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Here’s some more funny stuff. I understand you have a radio show of some sort, and seem to know all kinds of important people according to your name dropping. Yet when I Google you, nothing comes up but some painter who lives in Ann Arbor.
Here’s what you get when you Google me……………just a few samples.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=240706
http://westchesterbuzz.com/2012/03/15/controversial-nolakota-spokesman-rich-hoffman-booted/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2012/03/06/anti-tax-groups-offer-to-pay-student-sports-fees-small-solution-to-big-problem/
http://news.yahoo.com/people-hear-mitt-romney-talks-welfare-222622356.html?_esi=1
You must be really good at limiting your “online presence.” I mean you said “i will accomplish way more in the state of Michigan in one year than you have in your entire life!” You might not want to bet the farm on that statement. That is called an inflated comment based on nothing but silly emotions.
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One of your best posts yet. You’ve provided a philosophical “template” that can be placed over any problem we have in this country, not only as a means of exposing the root cause, but also as a means of how to combat said problems.
Also, it was one of the most entertaining textual ass whippings I’ve ever seen.
Bravo!
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Thank you. I don’t mean to pick on people like Ben, but he serves just the example that you stated. There are a lot of people like him who are good, or believe they are, who actually help the really bad things that go on in our country. As they say, “The path to hell………………….” Well people like Cowan are the road workers who only work the site because they get paid to be there. They pave the road yet have no idea where it goes or who made the design. They just do what they are told. In this case his kind were told to be “meek” and “humble” so that the enemy can more easily run them over on a path to victory. Our side cannot win if we continue to play the came on the paths “they’ve” made for us. It’s time to make our own path, and to use it to attack the problems we are all facing with real solutions. The root cause is in philosophy, and that is where mixed philosophies that have been long studied and never deviated from, must now be scrapped in favor of those that do work.
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That isn’t me guy, i am not a painter. Again, i have my own group, and we do great work. You really haven’t accomplished anything. I don’t use emotions, everything i said is fact. The difference between me and you is that I consult people of the highest knowledge, unlike yourself that thinks he knows everything. Jefferson would never be caught dead with a joke of a musician and 4th grade elementary lyrics like Kid Rock. I also work in Dayton/Cinci area from time to time. I need to send you a dictionary so you know what the definition of Humility is. The anti-federalist had it, as they wanted to be remembered from their work, as they put in a lot of time and should have. Your sediments are what draw people to the left, but you are just as them progressives. You just are the progressive right, echoing the Bill Bennett’s of the world as if morals were not awful in the 20’s, and everything changed in the 60’s decepticon talking points. You aren’t able to get to the root of it. It was over in 1803. You don’t know what words like Human Scale are, and how to achieve a gov’t that enables a true free market to take shape. Where the average guy can be the best he or she can be without restrictions of their own private capital. As i am working on a plan with an economist to abolish the Michigan Income tax. I don’t try and get my name in papers.
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You send me that dictionary. And you keep telling yourself that I’m a progressive, that is the joke of the century. As for knowledge, it is safer to rely on others to support your opinions, so you keep “consulting” others of the highest knowledge. My way works really well for me, and I’m going to keep doing it. But I’ll admit, its not for everyone. Especially the intellectually insecure.
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All my comments are mine, they are way more informative than yours, and your way hasn’t really accomplished anything. It isn’t for most people, i am glad you have your little support group to tell you are great. I provided much more intellectually arguments, yours are decepticon talking points, with some rambling on the founding that really doesn’t have much correlation with your points. Have a good one there guy…I will pray for you, and your lack of virtues.
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“I provided much more intellecually arguments” >>>Profound english<<<
Ugh
Ben. Stop. The rabbit hole is dug and you're in it. The argument has been worn out by the idiocy of your (ad nauseum) service to country and entreprenurial "ism") of the soul of America. Reading you for days is exhausting. You wear envy badly, and the void your bear is obvious. Get another gig.
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He probably thinks you are talking about an actual rabbit. LOL
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I bet I have more people who tell me I’m great than you do. : )
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Vicious- As for my grammar, good job there. I don’t brag or tell people about my service, it was a response to your boy’s claim of me being of the progressive mindset. Your idol should get another gig too. Anyone can have a blog, and it is tiresome responding to an idiot and his friends, but i back down from no one. I hardly consider Rich of someone i envy. Your idol is the one that started this whole ordeal, and he has nothing from the founding generation to back himself up, and he is the reason why we have so many enemies across the world. I don’t want my elected leaders to apologize to any country, i just call a decepticon when i see one. So look in the mirror you might be one too Vicious. Maybe just a thoughtless grammar nazi…Selfless service and entrepreneurial spirit is what made this country from the founding up, and is something that should be encouraged!
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Anyone can have a blog? Where’s yours dude? And who’s an idiot? And who started what? You are the one who started it based on a radio broadcast that Matt did. Get your facts straight there son. You are making things up based on your ideology, just as you have been doing with American Exceptionalism.
And I bet you’d be surprised who reads this blog every day. I bet it does more good than you sitting around Hillsdale College letting other people teach you things you should already know.
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Ben, I think you mean well but you are either confused, or unable to communicate your thoughts effectively, or both.
As pointed out, citing association with “higher ups” is just an appeal to “authority” and demonstrates lack of actual thought on your part. You have no internal framework to build your ideas around, no support structure.
For example, you state that you’re helping to get rid of your states income tax. Great. Let’s say you’re successful with that. The parasitic losers in your local government will simply devise a scheme to suck the tax dollars from elsewhere. It’s not like they’re going to spend less money!
So you see, you haven’t really thought it out too much and the proof is in the fact that you have to consult the “establishment” who encourages you to play within their framework and not your own.
The difference between you and Rich is that you want to play “doctor” and put band aids on everything….while Rich wants to go ahead and perform open heart surgery to fix the problem once and for all.
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That’s a wonderful way to put it!
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I replied to Matt’s page, which I am able to do on his page. You go and write a 2 page reply attaching me to progressive ideology and modern American outlook, as some who is advocating presidents bowing to other leaders. Rich you take extremes to extremes. There is no emotion based in my statement. American Exceptionalism is a made up term, and it is used today in the modern sense as an excuse to do Nation building. Just as entrepreneurs need to be praised for their work, historians of great knowledge need to be to. Mattjutras I don’t know how abolishing a state income tax that collects 8.5 billion dollars and replace it with nothing, is a bandaid. I am a revolutionary, i don’t borrow from Peter to pay Paul. The people i consult are not gov’t workers, they make money writing books and speeches and are advisers to only a select few patriot elected officials. I am also a big advocate of secession which is amicable divorce.
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Did you even read MJ before you replied? You’re thought process is warped and shallow.
Take away the candy and the option is revolution or secession? That negates the fight and calls you weak.
In two sentences, I would like to know the soul of Ben. What is it you want for where you prosper. You’re all over the map.
Is anyone included in your world? Forget the framers. Get down to the nitty gritty.
2 sentences. Not paragraphs.
Include rule of law, tax, immigration and healthcare.
remember, if you believe healthcare is a right then so is free housing and everything else. I don’t need any red diaper response. I’ll see it immediately.
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“Mattjutras I don’t know how abolishing a state income tax that collects 8.5 billion dollars and replace it with nothing, is a bandaid. ”
Simple. Because that’s not what is going to happen.
“The people i consult are not gov’t workers, they make money writing books and speeches”
There you go again.
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I definitely don’t sit around Hillsdale college, which was hijacked by neocons like yourself Rich. I read books from people all over the world.
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Might I recommend “Arguing with Idiots?”
It’s local (Meaning USA, USA, USA) so you might not be inspired.
http://www.glennbeck.com/bookczar/
I believe it comes in Farsi as you prefer (again, ad nauseum) to be multicultural.
Yay for you!
Anti-American, hater of freedom fighters (other than yourself, of course) and sooo misunderstood by this motley crue.
We get ya Ben. All too well.
By the way, the readership here is over the top. Most of us are biting the head off the snake while you flounder to find your place. Most of my pals are Breitbart (recovered Libs)…I know lost when I read it.
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Surely as such a well-read sophisticate, he’s read that book and understands it. Yet his behavior says that he didn’t learn anything from it.
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Is that you Drunken Joe Biden???
Such an elementary comment. Zero value, just weird anger.
C’mon Ben. As a show host, gotta do better or your just another head of the snake.
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There you go with the “neocon” term again. I already explained to you why you do that. I’m trying to help you change your behavior so you can be more effective. And you did reply on Matt’s page about me. And he told you to come play in my sandbox. And you have. This is how its done in my sandbox.
It’s amazing how much you sound like this guy from the Dayton Progressive.
http://www.examiner.com/article/lakota-and-the-lash-of-extremism
I take things to extremes because I know what I’m doing. It’s my strategy. And it has a very precise calculation associated with it.
Sometimes the best way to put out a forest fire is with an explosion, as opposed to a lot of water that just evaporates upon the extreme heat. Our nation is buring and needs more than just water and a lot of hot air to put it out.
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Never argue with an idiot they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience…. enjoy your little circle jerk guy. Thomas Jefferson is looking down in shame at you and your minions. Ohio is a statist state, spent most of my life in Ohio. You have done nothing, except drawn meat heads to your blog. I don’t need a blog to instill fear in elected officials. I responded to Matt, not you. Your followers prove you are a neocon. You post books that Glenn Beck endorse. I am all over the place, i am mister consistent. have a nice life in your little sandbox!
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You did read it!!!! Well done Ben.
I’ll play.
I thought you’d be interesting to engage but your just a naked communist. You show your hand at every turn and the truth is your nemisis. Darn. You’re fun.
This sandbox is a mix of minds that teach, learn, question with boldness and support. Even if they don’t, we’re adults and don’t call fellow men “boys” or use the term you must be familiar with as “circle jerk”
Your lust is apparent. Seek help.
Enjoy your tool box. I’m sure the players are easily foisted and manipulated.
Cum on back when those you hold up become your nightmare. We forgive.
Bye Bennie.
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Now don’t scare him off Vicious. It’s been a long time since we’ve had one of these kinds of people here. Most of them just lurk in the background. They never comment. At least this guy threw a little sand in our sandbox, which I like.
Oh, and there’s a reason she’s called Vicious. Fighting is good for people, because the truth comes out in the wash that way. It keeps weak arguments from becoming unchallenged facts, and allows the best ideas to rise to the top.
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Ben your choice of insults is revealing. In fact, they are a carbon copy of the same “arguments” used by progressives.
I tried to give you an honest chance, but Rich was correct from the get-go. You really aren’t any different than the common variety blogger at Daily Kos, and less witty and knowledgeable than a CNN or MSNBC anchor.
It’s good to root out the pretenders, it will make us all stronger when the time comes to strike. So um, I guess have fun talking about Thomas Jefferson with your “writer” friends and stuff. Yeah.
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LOL, Yeah!
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If you use my name and I find out about it, I will deal with you. You used my name on Matt’s site, and that is all it takes…………..guy. And as far as books, you don’t want to engage in a reading race with me. You need to read more here to understand what a foolish statement you are making as to my reading content. If you think its regulated to a few books that Glenn Beck wrote, you would be very sadly mistaken.
Now, what is a circle jerk exactly? That doesn’t sound very “Gentalmanly” And what do you mean by, “except drawn meat heads to your blog” Did somebody draw pictures of meat somewhere? I’m not sure what your past tense reference is pointing to.
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May I ask where the other site is that you guys are referring to? Someone else named Matt?
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Yes, here is the link to his page. Most of this activity started on Matt’s Facebook which is linked up at this site.
http://www.clarkcast.com/
As you know, I’m not a Facebook kind of guy. A little birdie told me about these events, and I went and had a look for myself. Sure enough, there was the tough talking dude we’ve been having fun with.
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Thx TKR. Won’t apologize but I get ya.
Didn’t mean to spank him out the door but his responses to MJ already had him off the rails. He was already on the way out.
The fangs came out and the creepy “boys” thing was repeated accompanied by the circle jerk reference. My dander was up and his usefulness was over. For me.
Before that, he’s the kind a beer summit would have been in order.
His beef is with you, clearly.
He envys your force for good. There is no powerhouse for him.
I should have stayed away but I have no boundries and he was low hanging fruit. I like you, couldn’t help myself.
I tried to keep it at bay but he was bent over, so I obliged. Seems like that’s his thang.
I’ll behave.
No promises. This fight is mine as much as it is his. I plan to kick around in his tool (sand) box whenever I feel like it.
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Don’t behave too much. He’s still hanging around, but in lurker status. Just like the rest of them.
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Rich, it was very wise and measured to wait to respond to Ben regarding his disagreement toward the use of the term American Exceptionalism. This produced a dissection and analysis of his written argument that conveyed exactly your point and counterpoint in a concise manner, and I enjoyed the read. The one statement that you used, that is tough for me to swallow is this, “The American Experience is being born in a free country with no hooks into the soul of the child.” Well I don’t know the exact figures, but each blessed youngster born in this great country is bestowed the honor of being $43,000 in debt. That certainly is exceptional, and if that isn’t a hook, I don’t know what is. I assure you and your readers Ben is no liberal…well maybe a classical one. Good evening, sir.
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Thanks for your input. And the debt placed upon each child is a terrible thing that must be reversed!
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There are 3 things George asked for.
Name them.
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George Washington…………or your boy friend George?
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