February 2024 – Quick Abacus

February 27, 2024 Political Ideologies / World

Tucker Carlson’s Interview with Vladimir Putin

Carlson’s interview avoided the key confrontational issues. The opening question should have been: “Mr. Putin, why did you order the invasion of a sovereign neighboring country, a UN member state?” Judging from Putin’s other responses he would probably have replied: “Ukraine is not a sovereign country. It has always been part of Russia. Both politically and culturally.” That reply would not have been supported by the historical facts. But what else could Putin have said?

When Carlson asked Putin if he would invade Poland, Putin said he would not do that because it “is not in Russia’s interest”. In other words: Putin deems any action he takes as justified as long as the action reflects the best interest of Russia – or what he thinks that is. This shows clearly that Putin is a “Realpolitiker”: He acts within the limits of what his power allows him to do. Considerations such as the right of a nation to exist as an independent nation state or limitations of international law are irrelevant to him.

February 8, 2024 Culture and Religion / Economy

The Marginalization of African Americans through Illegal Immigration.

When I look at the endless stream of young male illegal immigrants flowing across our southern border, I have to ask myself, what the likely consequences might be of this ongoing event. Proponents of illegal immigration typically make no difference between legal and illegal immigration. Their most frequently heard arguments in favor of illegal immigration are approximately these four:
No human being is illegal. These are just undocumented immigrants.
Illegal immigrants are fleeing from political persecution.
Illegal immigrants fill all those jobs in our economy that pampered Americans do not want to have.
Illegal immigrants are only illegal because our laws make them illegal. Therefore, we must find ways to citizenship for them.

Let me discuss these arguments.

February 1, 2024 Political Ideologies

Trump = Hitler ?

Two days before the New Hampshire Republican Primary, my old friend, Richard Feldman, former Executive Director of the American Shooting Sports Council, and current President of the Independent Firearms Owners’ Association, wrote me an email stating that he kept silent too long and that he now needs to endorse Nikki Haley. He wrote:

“Firearms owners across the country demand that an American President stand firm in support of our cherished Bill of Rights, including the 2nd Amendment that protects our right to keep and bear arms. Donald Trump will not be such a President. While on occasion he has sought the votes of firearms owners, he has elsewhere made it painfully clear that he will “terminate all rules, regulations and articles, even those found in the Constitution” to have his way on any issue. Trump has stated he intends to be an absolute dictator on day one of his administration. Just one day, one is one too many! His unprincipled “Art of the Deal” mentality and his oft demonstrated lust for unrestrained personal power means that no Trump commitment to any position can be trusted. … In simple terms, we have no confidence in Trumps’ pledge to uphold and protect the gun rights of law-abiding citizens”.

I answered: