Masters of Puppets

[XLFD]

A little over a month ago, a 17 year old girl from Stockholm, Sweden came over on a boat to New York in order to give a speech to the United Nations on what climate change meant to her at a climate summit.  Greta Thunberg had already made a name for herself back in Sweden in 2018, organizing school 'climate strikes' that seemed quite popular among other teens, likely because it allowed them to miss going to school without major repercussions.  

Thunberg gave a speech which seemed to excite those who believed in man-made global warming (what is neutrally referred to as 'climate change' so as to not weaken the theory when cooling occurs) and inspire the press (Time magazine listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world on 2019) and other elite groups (the Nobel Prize considered her for the peace prize this year).  To those who are skeptical about climate change, she doesn't do a lot to convince them, as she brings nothing new to the table of science or policy, just pretty much blames them for ruining her life.  Here was her main comment at the United Nations:

There is a lot of disdain in her speech for those who choose not to believe like she does, and comes across to many as a useful tool for promoting eco-socialism.  A climate skeptic I have borrowed from before has effectively rebutted the content and nature of her speech, and concludes:

"If you truly study this issue that has so captured your attention, pretty soon you’re going to learn that the whole thing is one gigantic hoax, the greatest hoax in human history, being perpetrated by the government-educational-industrial complex. You’re going to learn that pretty much everything that’s been indoctrinated into your head is false. You’re going to learn that real scientists, tens of thousands of them, have already learned this and have gone on record as acknowledging it. You’re going to learn you’re being used by adults to turn you into a propagandist for shamanistic alarmism, and you’re going to realize that because of it, you’ve been the victim of massive child abuse."

One can't help but look at Greta Thunberg, sporting pigtails and ponytails at times, and think back 80 years ago to a country not that far away, and see how the National Socialist Party led by Adolph Hitler used images of such upstanding young Aryan girls for a wide variety of propaganda for the party and it's flawed ideals and policies.  It's not a big surprise that the climate change movement looks to impose big brother government controls over people's everyday lives in the socialistic Utopia they strive for.

Greta Thunberg may fervently believe what she says, but what she says has been put in her head by adults who seem to be exploiting her autism spectrum disorder for their benefit.  If the best spokesperson for policy change due to climate change is a child who skips school every Friday and doesn't have any scientific background, then you're probably dealing with a cult or flimflammers rather than real science.

The people driving the agenda in Ludington have used the same method to good effect throughout this year.  First, they paraded a group of little girls in front of the council when many in the community were trying to get the splash pad put in a sensible location, rather than Copeyon Park.  One was so distressed that she couldn't finish the comment her parents undoubtedly wrote for her to say.  The council was likely more moved by the youths than the petitions of 50+ citizens wanting a safer and saner place for the splash pad.

Local high schoolers would also visit the city council chambers, on March 25th a boy and a girl on the behest of Councilor Winczewski came in and described a civics assignment looking for ideas for winter events in Ludington.  The girl didn't make it through without breaking down, the ideas they put forth didn't seem to be theirs, it seemed to be more of an extension of the DDA's desire to extend the tourist season and show that the community's kids are in favor of using more public money for that purpose.

A bigger group of high schoolers came to discuss their monitoring of the deer herd in Ludington in May.  This group, led by their teacher, Mark Willis, would describe what they learned about deer populations around Ludington.  This seemed agenda driven, since controlling deer populations was discussed the previous month at the committee level and has been brought up regularly since by Lyla McClellan, a city official, during public comment.  

The reason for using the kids and their semi-scientific deer studies in this case seems to be for paving the way for community acceptance of a deer cull.  The October public safety committee notes that such a cull would cost at least $15,000 to remove 30 deer per year.  Unpopular on first glance by many of the electorate just for the act, by many more due to the cost, what better way to make it palatable to the public than introduce our youths early and throughout the discussion to make it appear prudent on both counts.  Who can question a child's motives on such topics?

In any mode of public discourse be wary of the use of children as propaganda's pawns, you are likely hearing their side's best arguments and appeals come through them.  Ones which would be a lot more easy to dismiss if it were to come from a scientist or policy wonk being driven by an agenda.

[Freedom Seeker]

Children cannot vote until they are 18 for a reason. They shouldn't be used as political puppets either.

[XLFD]

I would like to note that having children involved with things beyond their schoolwork is not necessarily exploitation and we have a great example right here in Ludington.  Ten year old Miss Sawyer (Hendrickson) has been visible for years making the lives of military personnel and veterans a little brighter with her smile, care packages, and recognition.

In Miss Sawyer's growing franchise, one could make a point that it is she who is exploiting her parents, grandparents, donors and other volunteers in realizing her altruistic dreams of making life a little bit better for those who serve our country.  In her efforts she is not a mere pawn but rather a centralized queen.  See more of her latest project of supplying our military with up to 10,000 Christmas stockings to needful military members here and consider donating if you think the project is worthwhile. 

[Du Wright]

The difference in exploitative action and getting children involved in the community in this case and example is a totally selfless, charitable action for an honorable cause by Miss Sawyer. Even if her parents put her up to it (I don't know one way or the other), it seems the parents are teaching the youngster to think outside the box, to serve others. In no way are they exploiting the local government budget for their own desire at the exclusion and discussion of the citizens. Miss Sawyer causes and donations to the military are extraordinary and she is one superb youngster!

[XLFD]

I've talked with Miss Sawyer, her mother and her grandparents and have formed the belief that her dedication comes from within and that she infects those around her with that devotion to her causes.  Her past actions and accomplishments only verifies her unique heroism.

[Willy]

I agree with your assessment of the situation X. I was going to post some harsh words for that poor girl who made a fool of herself at the UN but I know she was just repeating the propaganda she has been spoon fed since she was young. One thing tho, she had better learn not to talk down to people or take out her anger when trying to get a point across or she will soon find herself on the scrap heap of foolish wannabe's just like the Parkland student David Hogg who bears a resemblance to the UN girl.

[XLFD]

The template is similar in both cases and has the same effect.  It galvanizes the true believers in gun control or climate change and triggers those who believe in the Second Amendment or the scientific method.

[Inquiring Mind]

Miss Sawyer is truly the real thing when it comes to the compassion she has for the military and our veterans. What most people don't realize is that she will stand for hours in the cold rain just to welcome our veterans home from a Honor Flight and give our veterans a hug and a Hero Rock. She tirelessly signs christmas cards for hours to make sure there is one in every Christmas Stocking (that means she has signed over 1,000 cards so far just for the shipping she is doing today). I have asked her if she would rather not do this and she replied "This is what I do, I am changing the world One Smile at a time." She is only 10 and the only way I can describe her is she has a "Old Soul" she truly wants to make a difference and she has succeeded with every one of our military, public servants and Veterans she has met. It's too bad that more children don't have the same outlook at life instead of video games and cellphones 20 hours a day. I will continue to support "Miss Sawyers Kids with a Cause" and Sawyer and I hope everyone who reads this will too.

[Willy]

[XLFD]

Have you noticed the canonization and beatification of Greta as she tours the US?  She somehow got over from New York to Hollywood and hung out with Leonardo Di Caprio and rode bikes with Arnold Schwarzenegger, then when the next photo op climate event changed venue from Chile to Madrid, she came back cross country and is hanging around in the southern states.  She's not only been a celebrity to celebrities, but is treated by the media as the second coming of the earth mother whose very presence proves the existing of man-made (anthropomorphic) global warming (or APG).

But it's all too silly and it really makes no sense.  The media gloms onto any kind of propaganda that put APG in a good light, even if that only happens to be a Swede schoolgirl playing hooky and emoting feelings generated by her inordinate fear of a boogeyman.  Meanwhile, you've likely not heard that between Feb 2016 and Feb 2018, the greatest two year drop in global temperature since temperatures have been recorded happened.  You never hear of the climatologists that do not believe in APG by faith, and are thus shut off from getting university positions and grants from a government only interested in showing APG and creating a crisis that will allow them more power over people.  You've likely never heard of Judith Curry, whose credentials are a bit better than Greta's, who resigned her job at a university because she was interested in the science of climatology over the cult of APG.  She has a very interesting blog over climatology and other sciences, that I recommend if you can keep up.

[Freedom Seeker]

Good point X. 16 year old with no degree smarter than the climatologists. California is burning up though and they should be campaigning .. er .. Riding to Rebuild their electrical infrastructure.

https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/arnold-schwarzenegger...

[Freedom Seeker]

Pacific Gas and Electric failing
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-11-03/pg-e-bankruptcy-go...

[Willy]

It is not the power company’s fault. Government regulations have caused this mess and the radical left are blaming the power company. There’s nothing in the works to fix the problem only a hostile government take over. If California controls the utilities, it will just be another nail in their coffin. Everything the left touches turns to crap.