To paraphrase Jesus, not knowing and not wanting to know the truth does the opposite of setting free; it strengthens the chains that are already binding. The many Canadians not knowing the truth, comprised mainly of the urban dwellers you mention, do not want to embark on a journey to discover the truth. They prefer to use search engines to find truth among existing answers.
And thanks for the heads-up to Shoshana Zuboff's 717-page treatise that gives us insight into our times. Well, everything I've read so far in it gives me insight. For example, she provides a context for your phrase "people have grown to prefer lies to truth" : she calls it a <i>coup de gens</i> (p. 479). The people have been overthrown.
She's a delight to read for her clear thinking. For example, use the Find feature in your PDF reader to look through her treatise for "diversity" and read completely the four paragraphs that contain the word. Thankfully, she uses the word in its non-radicalised-progressive sense (I was checking).
If you find that exercise stimulating, repeat it with a reading of her paragraphs containing "Big Other". An amazing term, I find, as it blends the Other psychologists fondly mention with Orwell's Big Brother who, in the end, is not a brotherly being. Then check "behavior surplus" (she uses the American spelling).
When you land on her phrase — 'Forget the cliché that if it’s free, “You are the product.” You are not the product; you are the abandoned carcass. The “product” derives from the surplus that is ripped from your life.' — you will weep like Jeremiah, for your country has been overthrown.
It’s the Canadian ( parliament ) way. I’ve often thought Jagmeet Singh before the last election results met or secretly discussed the possibility of a coalition with Trudeau. Corruption and greed abounds. These politicians care little for the electorate once in power. Trudeau is hardened to globalist ideologies but has little of his own. He’s a good son and poster child to the WEF. The Just Transition is out the McKinsey’s and WEF’s playbook. We are becoming more Marxist everyday . Power is being seized from the people so they cannot protest or protect themselves . The confiscation of guns and the new censorship laws are clear messages of intent . Let the next battle begin when the provinces learn that the Just Transition will also mean the Federal government’s intent to Nationalizing the Lithium and Mineral industries for the EV future. Our government is global corrupt and many organizations like the WHO and the UN are fully on board. Trudeau is the globalist’s fool. Canada is not Canada. Like one of my neighbors said “ It’s Chinada not Canada that we’re living in.
Well done. People who do not believe there is a higher power than them simply value what is "earthly".
That is, they believe what "men" say (i.e. their 'leaders'), instead of what God's Word says.
They are carnal (i.e. they live by the flesh, not by the Spirit), and "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." (Romans 8:7)
Therefore, they do not consider God's Law (the Two Most Important Commandments and Ten Commandments), nor the morality contained therein.
Thus, they are easily deceived by the evil forces in this world. And yet even in their very limited Spirit they know this. And that is why try to cover themselves by posing as "angels of light" (1 Corinthians 11:14), as in "virtue signaling". But "virtue signaling" is no substitute for God's Commandments.
Thus, Jesus says to them: "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." - Luke 16:15 (NKJV)
Rouleau's ruling may go down in infamy. He chose to rubber-stamp Justin's behaviour. It appears Lametti saying 'trust us' was enough for Rouleau despite the government hiding behind cabinet privilege and refusing to reveal documents without redactions.
It was a smooth kangaroo commission Justin and his gang pulled off and he's now going to try and repeat with a secret commission with a 'rappoteur'. Criminals investigating criminals. This is what we've sunk to.
Rouleau's decision was bad because it left Justin off the hook when he needed to be made held accountable. And when a bully isn't held to account and isn't challenged, he will continue if not be bolder. And that's exactly what we're seeing with the China problem. He's saying all the WRONG things while at the same time just trying to out run it because he's gotten away with so much. He's the Teflon Man x100.
And that falls on US. The Canadian people are absolutely and abjectly apathetically pathetic. The urban voter is a sad collection of people living in hyper-comfort disconnected from a reality that will ultimately disrupt that comfort. Despite all these scandals, there are still way too many people who would vote for him.
I'm not sure it is just the "urban voter" that is pathologically credulous. I inhabit one of Quebec's rural regions and the amount of ignorance, indifference and gullibility I witness among what would otherwise be my countrymen is utterly tragic. It's no wonder the "common good" was so easily subverted and redirected in service to universal malfeasance.
There is a certain passage I'm reminded of:
“It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grams a week. And only yesterday […] it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it. [...] The eyeless creature at the other table swallowed it fanatically, passionately, with a furious desire to track down, denounce, and vaporize anyone who should suggest that last week the ration had been thirty grams. Syme, too - in some more double complex way, involving doublethink - Syme, swallowed it. Was he, then, alone in the possession of a memory?”
“It is certain, I think, that the best government is the one that governs the least. But there is a much-neglected corollary: the best citizen is the one who least needs governing.”
"Jesus told us that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. J. S. Mill, who was still listening to the Serpent, told us that if we were free we would know our own truth. There's a world of difference there, in that clever reordering that puts freedom before truth, as Bill Gairdner (sans reference to the Serpent) observed in The Trouble with Democracy. And the difference is this: in the one world you get both and in the other you get neither. For those who fancy themselves free to invent the truth are sure to become the subjects and playthings of those more inventive than they. More inventive, or in young Castro's case, more determined and more shameless."
Thanks, Dr. Douglas, for more good insights.
To paraphrase Jesus, not knowing and not wanting to know the truth does the opposite of setting free; it strengthens the chains that are already binding. The many Canadians not knowing the truth, comprised mainly of the urban dwellers you mention, do not want to embark on a journey to discover the truth. They prefer to use search engines to find truth among existing answers.
And thanks for the heads-up to Shoshana Zuboff's 717-page treatise that gives us insight into our times. Well, everything I've read so far in it gives me insight. For example, she provides a context for your phrase "people have grown to prefer lies to truth" : she calls it a <i>coup de gens</i> (p. 479). The people have been overthrown.
She's a delight to read for her clear thinking. For example, use the Find feature in your PDF reader to look through her treatise for "diversity" and read completely the four paragraphs that contain the word. Thankfully, she uses the word in its non-radicalised-progressive sense (I was checking).
If you find that exercise stimulating, repeat it with a reading of her paragraphs containing "Big Other". An amazing term, I find, as it blends the Other psychologists fondly mention with Orwell's Big Brother who, in the end, is not a brotherly being. Then check "behavior surplus" (she uses the American spelling).
When you land on her phrase — 'Forget the cliché that if it’s free, “You are the product.” You are not the product; you are the abandoned carcass. The “product” derives from the surplus that is ripped from your life.' — you will weep like Jeremiah, for your country has been overthrown.
You're firing in all directions--and hitting the mark! Well said.
"Young Castro (I cite his politics, obviously, not his parentage)"
Zing!
It’s the Canadian ( parliament ) way. I’ve often thought Jagmeet Singh before the last election results met or secretly discussed the possibility of a coalition with Trudeau. Corruption and greed abounds. These politicians care little for the electorate once in power. Trudeau is hardened to globalist ideologies but has little of his own. He’s a good son and poster child to the WEF. The Just Transition is out the McKinsey’s and WEF’s playbook. We are becoming more Marxist everyday . Power is being seized from the people so they cannot protest or protect themselves . The confiscation of guns and the new censorship laws are clear messages of intent . Let the next battle begin when the provinces learn that the Just Transition will also mean the Federal government’s intent to Nationalizing the Lithium and Mineral industries for the EV future. Our government is global corrupt and many organizations like the WHO and the UN are fully on board. Trudeau is the globalist’s fool. Canada is not Canada. Like one of my neighbors said “ It’s Chinada not Canada that we’re living in.
It’s the same down here in the U.S.
My article on your essay is quite popular at Western Standard and still trending in the top 5. One person said it was probably his favorite WS article of the year. https://www.westernstandard.news/news/montreal-ethics-prof-says-trudeau-liberals-are-shameless-criminal-and-treasonous/article_5bf9916e-c109-11ed-8b1a-17ac1384d0f7.html
Well done. People who do not believe there is a higher power than them simply value what is "earthly".
That is, they believe what "men" say (i.e. their 'leaders'), instead of what God's Word says.
They are carnal (i.e. they live by the flesh, not by the Spirit), and "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." (Romans 8:7)
Therefore, they do not consider God's Law (the Two Most Important Commandments and Ten Commandments), nor the morality contained therein.
Thus, they are easily deceived by the evil forces in this world. And yet even in their very limited Spirit they know this. And that is why try to cover themselves by posing as "angels of light" (1 Corinthians 11:14), as in "virtue signaling". But "virtue signaling" is no substitute for God's Commandments.
Thus, Jesus says to them: "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." - Luke 16:15 (NKJV)
Again, well done. You might be interested in this, not sure: Revelation13.substack.com
Rouleau's ruling may go down in infamy. He chose to rubber-stamp Justin's behaviour. It appears Lametti saying 'trust us' was enough for Rouleau despite the government hiding behind cabinet privilege and refusing to reveal documents without redactions.
It was a smooth kangaroo commission Justin and his gang pulled off and he's now going to try and repeat with a secret commission with a 'rappoteur'. Criminals investigating criminals. This is what we've sunk to.
Rouleau's decision was bad because it left Justin off the hook when he needed to be made held accountable. And when a bully isn't held to account and isn't challenged, he will continue if not be bolder. And that's exactly what we're seeing with the China problem. He's saying all the WRONG things while at the same time just trying to out run it because he's gotten away with so much. He's the Teflon Man x100.
And that falls on US. The Canadian people are absolutely and abjectly apathetically pathetic. The urban voter is a sad collection of people living in hyper-comfort disconnected from a reality that will ultimately disrupt that comfort. Despite all these scandals, there are still way too many people who would vote for him.
Another thought...
I'm not sure it is just the "urban voter" that is pathologically credulous. I inhabit one of Quebec's rural regions and the amount of ignorance, indifference and gullibility I witness among what would otherwise be my countrymen is utterly tragic. It's no wonder the "common good" was so easily subverted and redirected in service to universal malfeasance.
There is a certain passage I'm reminded of:
“It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grams a week. And only yesterday […] it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it. [...] The eyeless creature at the other table swallowed it fanatically, passionately, with a furious desire to track down, denounce, and vaporize anyone who should suggest that last week the ration had been thirty grams. Syme, too - in some more double complex way, involving doublethink - Syme, swallowed it. Was he, then, alone in the possession of a memory?”
My name is Neo of the Loyal Order of Residually Patriotic Canadians and I approve this message.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
“It is certain, I think, that the best government is the one that governs the least. But there is a much-neglected corollary: the best citizen is the one who least needs governing.”
― Wendell Berry, The Long-Legged House
Finishing strong (again!):
"Jesus told us that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. J. S. Mill, who was still listening to the Serpent, told us that if we were free we would know our own truth. There's a world of difference there, in that clever reordering that puts freedom before truth, as Bill Gairdner (sans reference to the Serpent) observed in The Trouble with Democracy. And the difference is this: in the one world you get both and in the other you get neither. For those who fancy themselves free to invent the truth are sure to become the subjects and playthings of those more inventive than they. More inventive, or in young Castro's case, more determined and more shameless."
Well-stated and compellingly written, stand-out piece.