Stop Russia meddling in American politics?

The USA has Freedom of Speech so high in its Constitution that it overrides almost anything. It can’t even stop Neo-Nazis marching.

While it should be obvious to anyone with an IQ higher than 40 that the state should stop people who abuse a Freedom of Speech to propagate ideas that would limit any Freedom for others (including being included) – for minorities, oppressed groups.

Very similar to blocking bigots from being eligible at elections (as Israel does). People, who want to be elected democratically to exclude other people from their democratic rights, should be excluded themselves.

Hate speech and slander should be banned.

But the US can’t do it. And guess what? This larger-than-life freedom now comes back to haunt them. Russia is spreading election and other political propaganda inside the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.

Russia is interfering globally, but it bothers and threatens only the US?

And now we get it. US politicians clamber about over each other to get to the microphone to tell all who want to listen (and all who can’t help overhearing them) that foreign powers should not be able to spread their lies and interests into their pristine Goldene Medine. While anyone who’s living there and is famous, rich or “well-connected” can spread and is spreading any lies and propaganda they want around the clock.

How is blocking “foreign lies” different from totalitarian regimes filtering or blocking their peoples’ access to the Internet, the World Wide Web?

Value ideas no matter who said them – unless they came from outside the country? That would make reading this blog illegal in the US!!

The world’s most arrogant democracy that constantly confuses national pride with nationalism and militarism. That topples and installs governments the world over with impunity while at home it makes sure that millions stay homeless, have no healthcare and won’t vote. That ignores and humiliates blue-collar workers so much that out of revenge they elected a clown as president – Mister I-make-it-up-as-I-go.

Let it block home-grown hate speech and baseless slander first. That is what is needed. But they won’t do that, because they have the greatest democracy in the world. Where thousands sit on death row and 150,000 are murdered every year by private citizens (3,5 times the rate in Israel, 8 times the score of the Netherlands, more than 15 times Japan) who all have free access to firearms (yet another idiotic constitutional “right”).

Bunch of nut cases. That’s where arrogance leads you: to assume that you are so much better than anyone else so that you don’t have to examine your own deeds.

Believe me, there is nothing more awe-inspiring than someone who eats some humble pie and makes amends, than countries that amend their ruling principles that went off the rails.

Maybe the UN should demanding that the US stops its death penalty, limits hate speech and stops unlimited distribution of firearms and prescription and “recreational” drugs. Would humiliation open its eyes?

Now, you could object that people generally do not improve when criticized. They get defensive, feel hurt and hated and double-down. That is true in general but not in the case of arrogance. Then you first need to wake them up to reality. But now that they must be awake, let me tell them that I love every American I ever met – lovely people. Especially the working class folks. Hospitable, win-win people.

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BTW: If there is trouble naming Trumps failed (let’s hope it won’t be approved) tax reform plan, I have an idea. If healthcare under Obama is Obama Care, tax cuts for the rich under Trump should be Trump Cuts (for the opposition: Tax Cut the Rich Bill). OK, Obama Care is officially the Affordable Health Care Bill. So, call this the Unaffordable Tax Cut Bill.

While the Times of Israel site was hacked and this post was not uploaded yet, the new tax code was published. It is just unbelievable how these allegedly respectable People’s representatives put on a show and lie through their teeth without the slightest sign of hesitation. Would their lies be any better than Russian lies? Why? Because the former represent the US population? I would think that makes it worse.

(They are bragging that the average family of two parents and two children would get under this new code $1,182 per year more. Less than $100 per month, less than $25 per person per month. While the rich are going to receive benefits in the thousands of dollars a month. Luckily, there will not be a majority to pass this sham.)

About the Author

MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. * As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. * This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2000 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe too, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. * Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. * Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. * Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. * He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. * He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. * He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. * His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. * To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. * His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1