Todd's Mischief Blog

Dar observes, "It *feels* like things are getting crazier because we're close to a tipping point where the Leftist propaganda gets widely rejected. It's like we have to try everything else first." I find this very likely—and satisfying—from a theological perspective. Note, when I apply religious ideas to politics, it is only because I see God as the Master of everything. I know what I am about to say isn't exactly mainstream eschatology; I've been chastened by more than on M.Div. for suggesting it, but I think (a) it makes sense and (b) I'm probably just not explaining it in terms an M.Div. would go for. I'm going to assume it is uncontroversial that in the end, God will render a perfect Judgement and restore perfect Justice. But what does this mean? I think the answer has great implications for the so-called Problem of Suffering and the Problem of Free Will. Justice is as much an affair of the heart as of the mind. Perfect justice must needs satisfy b...

There are few topics as perennial on the political right as that of "principles." Sadly, that talk more often has less to do with what principles are and more to do with handwringing over who is abandoning them. If you don't see the irony there, I'll point it out: If you can't name your principles, you've probably lost them. I've written many tweets, threads and emails about principles, mostly as replies. This post is my first attempt to organize them into one place, if not something coherent. Older posts as you go down. ~~~ So many things called "principles" nowadays simply do not fit the definition. Perhaps that is why the word is subject to so many redundant adjectives: "first," "bedrock," "fundamental," "basic." All of these ideas are built into "principles," but people obviously need reminding. To the extent that those professionally engaged in politics show any recognition of the proper sens...

or  How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Hate the Brand It will never cease to amaze me that brand names actually mean something to most people. Sixth grade was the second year in a row where I was the new kid at a new school, and my third time at a new school overall. I wasn't worried. I'd done this before. Up 'til then, I'd never thought twice about things like fashion. It had never come up at my other schools. Now, suddenly, it mattered. If I wasn't the only kid in school without Nikes on his feet, it sure felt like I was. The kids at my new school were downright ravenous about it. The taunting was nonstop. I soon became known as the kid who wore Pamida specials (even though the shoes came from Payless). I thought it would die down, but eventually the bullies at school had me begging Mom and Dad to buy me Nikes. No, they told me, we can't afford shoes like that. But the taunting was relentless and I was soon negotiating for Nikes. It's the only thing I w...

 Politics should be ugly, because elections and policy debates are proxies for civil war. The desire for cordial politics is, in effect, the desire for someone to shut up, give up, and give in. The most affable bickering is still bickering, and it’s the bickering that people complain most about. The entire PC-SJW-CRT project is couched in “politeness.” HA! Yeah, polite in the way one is polite to goons enforcing a protection racket. “Respect my pronouns or I’ll rain unholy hell upon your house! What? You got a problem with COMMON DECENCY!?!?” When politics ceases to be an outlet for frustrations, at the same time that politics takes over EVERYTHING—that is, all other outlets—that’s a problem. Either the decorum crowd is too dumb to recognize this, or they’re not as opposed to physical violence as they claim. The problem with Hanlon’s Razor is that attribution has no bearing on outcomes. Worse, most people would rather be thought of as malicious than stupid.