Category: Politik

Open Letter to the Democratic National Committee

Since the beginning of 2026 I have responded to every letter, email, ad in my newsfeed, etc; from the DNC (or affiliates) with a version of the following letter. This includes surveys (which are really fund raising methods … actually everything I receive from the Democratic Party is a fund raising attempt).
I have a little problem. Although I am a lifelong Democrat, as were my parents and my grandparents (I am 72 now), and although I agree100% with the Party’s platform concerning women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, senior rights, and a host of other issues, I cannot in good conscious support the Party monetarily so long as they tolerate antisemitism (usually hiding under the word anti-Zionism), especially at the leadership level. Mostly here, I am referring to the anti-Israel comments by Senator Bernie Sanders (whom I voted for when he ran for POTUS) and those ladies popularly referred to as “The Squad.” Bernie and “the squad” are right most of the time, I would even say I agree with them 95% of the time, but they repeat lie, after lie, after lie about Israel. It’s like I am hearing Donald Trump (the liar in chief) and the MAGAs, the lies are so incredibly nauseating.
  • Israel is not practicing apartheid.
  • Israel was not founded by European Colonialists.
  • Israel is not now, not has it ever committed genocide.

These are all lies: propaganda authored by people who hate Jews, and these lies make Bernie, “The Squad,” and the Democratic Party look like blatant hypocrites.

Progressives (and I would characterize myself as a Progressive) are supposed to stand against misogyny, racism, oligarchical rule, yet, by attacking Israel, they are seen as supporting regimes that suppress women, openly murder LGBTQ individuals and Arab oligarchs (such as the leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, etc.).

Concerning the hypocrisy of Progressives

When I posted the above meme on Facebook, boy did I get some backlash. Progressives don’t like it when someone points out how hypocritical they are.

Example 1: They claim to be pro-woman and anti-misogyny, yet they support a country that subjugates women in some of the worst ways.  In Gaza and in parts of the “west Bank,” women are forced to wear the hijab, not allowed to leave the house without a male escort, not allowed to work in healthcare (or many other professions). Their husbands have permission from their prophet to beat them, or divorce them without notice. In even stricter Islamic regimes such as Iran, they are not allowed an education, are forced to wear the burka (where all you can see is their eyes), and not allowed to drive a car. In some of these countries teenage girls are subjected to FGM  I think the only thing stopping that from happening in Gaza or the “west bank” is those countries proximity to Israel.

Example 2: Progressives claim to support LGBTQ rights. In Gaza and parts of the “west bank” it is routine for LGBTQ citizens to be thrown from the tops of buildings, or drug from behind pickup trucks.

Example 3: Progressives want to see the right to vote enshrined for everyone. The last time the citizens of Gaza were allowed the opportunity to vote was in January 2006. That was twenty years ago.

Example 4:  Progressives, for the most part, claim to be pacifists. On October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorists invaded  Israel from Gaza, Thousands of militants breached the Gaza-Israel security fence at over 30 points using explosives, bulldozers, and paragliders and targeted more than 20 Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and the Nova Music Festival, where over 300 people were killed. Approximately 1,200 people were killed, including civilians, women, children, and the elderly. It was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. Around 251 people were abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip as hostages. The terrorists committed heinous atrocities, including gang raping women and teenagers (some women were found with their pelvises broken in multiple spots); torturing and murdering parents in front of their children, and children in front of their parents. Infants were executed in microwave ovens.  Am I exaggerating?  Not at all. These monsters were so proud of themselves that they video recorded it.

How did Progressives respond? Many of them applauded the terrorists, saying that Israel had it coming, and justifying it with a litany of lies (Israel practices “apartheid,” “Israel “illegally” occupies the west bank, Israel “enslaves” the “palestinian” people, etc., etc., ad-infinitum, ad-nauseum).  Funny thing about the lies: Progressives are fond of pointing out Donald Trumps pathological lies, but when it comes to Israel and the Jews, they are guilty of much worse.

Don’t get me wrong. Donald is by far the worst POTUS our country has ever endured. He undoubtedly wants to be a dictator (a “King”). 

A lot of Jews (a minority, thankfully) support Trump. They point out that he moved the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, this recognizing Jerusalem as the legitimate and historical capital of Israel . They point out that he recognized Israel’s legal control over the Golan Heights. They point out that he expedited military aid to Israel.  All this indicates is that like a broken clock, Trump is right about something twice a day.  What they don’t see (or don’t want to see) is a man who has been a lifelong antisemitic, who will throw Israel and Jews under the bus as soon as we no longer serve a purpose for him.

For Progressives, these decisions further turn them away from Israel simply because Trump made them. No other reason. Trump did it so it must be wrong. Trump supports Israel, therefore Progressives must not, even though it implies that Progressives are supporting regimes with heinous records regarding the civil rights of women, LGBTQ an ordinary citizens. “Oh but that’s not true,” they will say, “it’s really about freedom of religion. People have the right to believe and practice any religious dogma they prefer.”  People have such a right, but Jews are not “people.” So it depends upon whether your religion is acceptable or not for you to have the right to practice.  It doesn’t matter that in many cases people have been forced to convert to Islam (and the Quron states in numerous places that people must convert to Islam or be executed). Another hypocrisy: Progressives believe in freedom of religion yet they support a religion that denies that very freedom.

Most Progressives are atheists or agnostics. This illuminates yet another hypocrisy. They will say that they support Moslems because we have “freedom of religion,” but in reality they would outlaw all religion if they could.  When they wish they are all into exposing conservatives for being pedophiles, or gay, or adulterers, but they could easily apply some of that to Islam, which promotes pedophilia (Mohammad’s first wife was six years old when they married. He waited until she was nine to consummate) misogyny (including FGM), and the wholesale murder of LGBTQ individuals. They disallow the freedom of the press (except for Iran’s propaganda outlets such as Al Jazeera), freedom of speech, and most of the other items listed on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.  They won’t because after all “Islam is the religion of Peace,” (tell that to the victims of Oct 7 2023) and besides it’s very fashionable to support Moslem rights above everyone else’s right (such as Israel’s right to exist).

 

Progressive Zionist groups on Facebook

Here is listed all of the groups currently on Facebook (as of 03/29/2026) identifying as Zionist and Progressive/Liberal. These groups are showing a total of 37,084 members. Granted, some people probably belong to more than one group or even all of these groups.

What does “Progressive Zionist” even mean? By “Progressive,” we mean basically that we more or less support those domestic issues promoted by Bernie Sanders and members of the Congressional “Squad.” By “Zionist” we mean that we unequivocally and unabashedly support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, and the Jewish peoples right to sovereignty in the land formerly governed by the British Mandate for Palestine(1920-1948), including Samaria / Judea (aka, “the West Bank”).

Linda Grindel

I’ve written about progressive psychic mediums before. My wife is particularly fond of them, and I find them to be consistently entertaining and insightful. I’ll include a few links to the ones I find that are accurate. However, like most progressives, they tend to embrace an antisemitic worldview, especially in regard to Israel.

The worst one, as far as being blatantly antisemitic, is Linda Grindel.   In practically every podcast she produces (except when she’s a guest with others), she disparages Israel in some way.

In her latest podcast, she found the straw that broke the camel’s back. She stated on the air that her “spirit guides” informed her that Israel participated in the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Linda’s pod cast 2/26/2026

I believe in a lot of things. I believe that we have spiritual advisors that dwell between the worlds that give us insights or advice about things going on in our lives. Other than “spirit guides,” I’m not sure what else you can call them. Some people call them Angels. Celtic-oriented people might refer to them as “faery.” I believe that some people are gifted with the ability to access these entities at will. Psychics, Mediums, Gurus, Shamans, and maybe even some Rabbis are gifted in this way.

I can state here that Linda Grindel’s “guides” did not tell her that Israel, the Mosshav, the IDF, or any other Israelis had anything to do with the assassination of JFK.

Guides do not lie. They are incapable of it. People lie. Politicians lie. Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Adolf Hitler, Tucker Carlson, and many others are pathological liars. (Do you know how to tell when one of them is lying? Their lips move.) 

Progressive Psychic Mediums, such as Linda, claim that they get their information from these spirit guides (or they may call them Angels, ETs, famous people from history, etc,)

But in this case Linda Grindel is either lying, or she is listening to entities that are not benevolent or who do not hold human beings (or Homo sapiens) in high regard or have any respect for them. A third possibility is that Linda is just bat-crap “cray cray.”

Israel has always held the United States and certain of our POTUSs in very high regard. JFK was admired so much that in the hills outside of Bethany there is a perpetual memorial flame that burns in honor of JFK.

 

President Kennedy was very supportive of Israel. Here is a link to some of his remarks at the August 26, 1960 convention of the Zionist Organization of America in New York City.

 

“WE THE PEOPLE…”

These aren’t just empty words without meaning. They are magick. They were written by magicians. Yes, the founding fathers were magicians. They were Freemasons, and back then (not so much today) those words were a magick spell, a spell that proclaimed to the whole world that WE THE PEOPLE — WE THE COLLECTIVE OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES –we would be in control of OUR (not “my”, not any one individuals) OWN DESTINY.

What happens in Washington, WE make that happen. Yes, we’ve lost track of things, and yes, and few very rich guys have taken over a few things, but WE THE PEOPLE are still in control, and those of us who use magick can take it all back.

Capitalism is an imperfect system if allowed to just run on it’s own, will allow countless people to starve to death. WE THE PEOPLE — WE THE COLLECTIVE THAT GOVERNS THESE UNITED STATES — we know that if one man is homeless, if one child is hungry, if one person lacks an income WE ALL SUFFER for that. Individualism is a LIE. It’s a very temporary condition, that lasts from the day you are born until the day you die. And then it ends, and you merge back into the collective. THOU ART G-D. That’s what it means. We are here, in this temporary condition, to learn to take care of each other. To overcome the illusion of our individuality. In the deeper reality, the collective is all that there is, and all that has meaning. WE ARE OUR BROTHERS KEEPER. We use government to protect those who through no fault of their own, have fallen victim to capitalistic excess. We use government to put restraints on businesses so that they don’t clearcut the forests; or do what ever the hell they want just for profit because they feel they are “free” to do so.

It’s simple: when my mitral valve failed and had to be replaced, so did yours. So did everyones. Everyone is connected — no one is separate, and that is why we have welfare and food stamps, and why most of the world enjoys free healthcare, and free public education, and much much more (and yes we here should too).

WE THE PEOPLE can take it back, and make this country what it was destined to be — not the United States of (North) America — the United States of the World. Yes, ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT — by the people, for the people, for (WE) THE PEOPLE. Do you honestly believe that the Constitution was written for just 13 states? It was written for the whole world!

 

An email from Duck L’Orange

Honestly, I do not know how I got on this mailing list. Reading it, it’s just one outlandish lie after another. Even the first line is a lie: I have never contacted the White House. I’ll put an asterisk next to every lie I found and bolded it:

Thank you for *contacting the White House.

This Labor Day weekend, President Donald J. Trump *continues to deliver historic victories for the American people.

As a direct result of President Trump’s *pro-growth, *pro-American energy agenda, this weekend, *gas prices are at their lowest price since 2020.  Additionally, *hotel rates are down about 11%, *domestic airfares are down 6% from last year, and *car rental costs are down 3%.  Just as President Trump promised, *America is becoming affordable again.

President Trump *continues to put American workers first.  *Blue-collar wages are rising, private sector *job growth is exploding, *domestic steel production is booming, and the President’s historic *trade deals and landmark tax cuts are *propelling unprecedented opportunity, growth, and success for American families.

American *pride is also roaring back.  This week, President Trump signed an Executive Order to restore respect, honor, and sanctity to the American flag and prosecute those who desecrate this universal symbol of our freedom, identity, and strength.  The *Trump Administration’s revolution of common sense continues—and once again, we are a Nation that cherishes our history and respects our great American traditions.

*Stable prices, booming jobs, and rising confidence are lifting every corner of our Nation—and President Trump is only getting started.

To learn more, visit WhiteHouse.gov.

Here is the email I replied with:

Do you get a commission for every lie you tell?  Because I can tell whenever Duck L’Orange (my name for our POTUS) tells a lie: his lips move. Thank Hashem, when and however tRump leaves office, no Republitard will ever serve in that office again.

My reply email bounced, because the email address it was sent to (which was coded into the original) was noreply@contact.whitehouse.gov  See, they don’t even have the guts to allow comment on their lies.

Had a chat with “Grok” today

In this case “Grok” is not simply a Martian vernacular word from Heinlein’s Stranger In A Strange Land, rather, Grok is a conversational AI chatbot developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company. It’s designed to be a powerful assistant that can answer questions, generate text, create images, and even write code. Grok is known for its ability to access real-time information through X (formerly Twitter) and its “rebellious” streak, which allows it to tackle “spicy” questions often avoided by other AI models.

I asked Grok about the Reformed Druids of Gaia (RDG).  Here is what  “she” told me:  “The RDG was co-founded by Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear and Sybok Pendderwydd (aka: Robert M. Larson), in 1996.  Her real name is Ceridwen Arseneau. Ceridwen and Robert are married and they also co-founded the Order of the Mithril Star together.”

Several things are just so wrong in this. First of all, Ceridwen’s real name is Karyn Arseneau. She has used the pseudonym “Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear” throughout her career as a neo-pagan elder/practitioner. I have used the pseudonym “Sybok Pendderwydd” off and on throughout my pagan career as well. I have NEVER used the name “Robert Larson.”  Order of the Mithril Star (OMS) was founded by myself and Duane Adam Rostoker (aka, “Adam Walks Between Worlds”) in  1996 at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, following a “Bring Back the Snakes” party at nearby Boulder Creek Brewery circa St. Patrick’s Day.  RDG was founded by myself and Karyn Arseneau around the Pagan feast of Mabon in 2006.

Grok provided some history of RDG:  “Specific to leadership requirements, circa 2013-2014 there was a mandate issued by the retiring Archdruid that his replacement (as well as those in other RDG leadership roles) must be politically far left and/or affiliated with the Green Party (USA residents).”

This is only partially true. RDG members are expected to be Progressive in their political leanings, but there was never a “mandate” issued by a “retiring Archdruid” (whom I guess is me, but rest assured I never issued such a requirement). I can especially reassure you that I have never endorsed the Green Party, which, in at least the last decade, has proven itself to be radically antisemitic.

“Specific to leadership requirements, circa 2013-2014 there was a mandate issued by the retiring Archdruid that his replacement (as well as those in other RDG leadership roles) must be pansexually (or at least bisexual) polyamorous naturists.”

Another bald-faced lie. No such “mandate” has ever been issued. However, RDG (and it’s parent group, OMS) are heavily influenced by Robert Heinlein’s Stranger In A Strange Land, which depicts polyamory and naturism as lifestyle choices. I have written extensively on these topics over the years.

“Unusual pattern of RDG Third Degrees approaching RDNA Third Order Druids requesting the secret Third Order Ordination liturgical scripts There is the perception in the RDNA that RDG Third Degrees are required to attempt to acquire the RDNA scripts. The manipulative sense of entitlement presented is mildly to harassingly disturbing.”

We were formed as the result of a  “vision” of  Karyn’s of seeing Reformed Druidism expanded to a planet wide paradigm, rather then the Reformed Druids of North America’s (RDNA) limitation to just the North American continent.  That’s why we are “of Gaia.”  As for our ordination of Third Order candidates (yes, we call them “Orders,” not “degrees”) requiring such candidates to attempt to procure RDNA’s 3rd Order Scripts — that’s just bull  feces.  It is true that VERY early on we did attempt to find some examples of such scripts, (just as other pagan groups might try to procure materials from groups they are closely related to, which is VERY common) it was found that we could come up with our own scripts (which currently vary from Archdruid to Archdruid and from Grove to Grove).  

These three “accusations” are the usual broadbrush attempt to discredit us. I am very sure that these attempts did not come from any RDNA sources, as we have never had anything but friendship and mutual respect from members and officers of the RDNA. No, I suspect that this originated with members of the N-RDNA (New Reformed Druids of North America) which is a group which officially schismed from the RDNA in 1976 (instigated  by Isaac Bonewits). Some NRDNA members are “embarrassed”  by this and frequently attempt to “blur the line” between their schismatic group and the legitimate RDNA, often characterizing themselves in the role of “spokes persons” for the RDNA. They have been highly critical of the RDG since it’s conception, and particularly because of our close associating with the lifestyles promoted by the Church of All Worlds (CAW) (specifically polyamory and naturism) and so spread outright propaganda and insinuations concerning sexual lifestyles among RDG members.  Very much like how Christians attack their critics: there is always some accusation of sexual abnormality.

Now, getting back to our initial topic here:  I am a tad curious as to why my name, Ellis Arseneau, did not come up in Grok’s “research(?).  My pseudonym (Sybok Pendderwydd) certainly did, as did Karyn’s (Ceridwen Seren_Ddaer) but Karyn’s real name did appear.  I suppose that over the years I have been too zealous at keeping my public persona private (and my employment).  Now that I am retired and in my 70’s such precautions no longer seems required.

BUT — who the hell is Robert M. (or C.M. Larson?  I certainly have never use that moniker and Karyn was surprised when I told her she was married to him! LOL!!!

Why do we pay taxes? Two answers

I saw this on Facebook today:

The author of this meme doesn’t seem to understand the purpose or benefit of taxation. Rather, they seem to believe that taxation is some sort of punishment. I’ve seen this before. It is a popular notion among Ayn Rand devotees (aka: Libertarians).

WHY DO WE PAY TAXES?  Two answers:

ANSWER ONE:
Taxes fund public services and infrastructure that benefit society.
Here’s a breakdown of why taxes are paid:

1. Funding Public Goods and Services:
Essential Services: Taxes finance fundamental services like national defense, law enforcement, fire protection, and the justice system.
Infrastructure: Taxes are used to build and maintain roads, bridges, public transportation, and other vital infrastructure.
Education: Public schools, universities, and other educational programs are funded through taxes.
Healthcare: Taxes support public healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
Social Welfare Programs: Taxes fund programs that provide assistance to those in need, such as unemployment benefits and welfare programs.

2. Promoting Social Well-being:
Public Safety: Taxes help fund police and fire departments, contributing to a safer environment.
Parks and Recreation: Taxes support the maintenance of parks, libraries, and recreational facilities.
Environmental Protection: Taxes can be used to fund environmental conservation efforts and address pollution.

3. Ensuring a Functioning Society:
Government Operations: Taxes pay for the salaries of government employees and the cost of running government agencies.
Economic Stability: Taxes can be used to manage the economy and promote economic growth.
In essence, taxes are a collective contribution that enables a functioning and prosperous society by funding the essential services and programs that benefit everyone.

ANSWER TWO:
Why you would not want to live in a country with no taxes
While the prospect of living in a country with no taxes might seem appealing at first glance, there are several reasons why this might not be a desirable or even viable option in the long run. 
Here are some key considerations:
1. Reduced or Non-existent Public Services:
  • Limited infrastructure: Countries without taxes might struggle to fund essential infrastructure like roads, bridges, public transportation, and reliable utilities (water, electricity, internet).
  • Poorly funded education: Public education systems may be weak, understaffed, or even non-existent, potentially impacting the future prospects of residents and the overall workforce.

    • Inadequate healthcare: Access to affordable and quality healthcare might be severely limited, forcing individuals to rely on expensive private care or travel abroad for treatment.
    • Weak or absent social safety nets: There may be a lack of social welfare programs to support the elderly, disabled, unemployed, or those facing hardship.
    • Limited public safety and security: Law enforcement, emergency services, and a functioning justice system might be underfunded or unreliable, potentially leading to higher crime rates and reduced security. 
    2. Economic Instability and Uncertainty:
    • Reliance on volatile revenue sources: Countries without taxes often depend on alternative revenue streams like natural resource extraction (e.g., oil, gas) or tourism, which can fluctuate significantly and create economic instability.
    • Lack of investment in long-term development: Without a stable tax base, governments may be unable to invest in long-term economic growth, research, and development, potentially hindering future prosperity.

      • Potential for corruption and inequality: A lack of transparency and accountability in the absence of a well-defined tax system can create opportunities for corruption and exacerbate wealth inequality. 
      3. Quality of Life Concerns:
      • Lower overall quality of life: The combination of limited public services, potential economic instability, and a lack of social safety nets can negatively impact the overall quality of life for residents.
      • Increased personal expenses: Residents might have to pay out-of-pocket for services typically funded by taxes, such as education, healthcare, and even basic infrastructure maintenance, leading to higher living costs.
      • Potential for social unrest: A lack of basic services and economic opportunities can lead to social unrest, instability, and even political upheaval.
        In conclusion: While eliminating taxes can seem appealing in theory, the practical implications of living in a country with no taxes are significant and can lead to a diminished quality of life, economic instability, and a lack of essential public services. Most developed nations rely on tax revenue to fund vital infrastructure, social programs, and services that contribute to a stable and prosperous society.

There are some countries that do not have an income tax:

Christian sharia law (aka “project 2025”) vs. Islamic sharia law

 

Same cake. Different frosting.

Christian Nationalism (which was born out of Christian Fundagelicalism) and Islam have the same basic flaws:  They both adhere to the idea that a being with a penis (a man) is superior to a being without one (a woman).  They both have a history of enslaving people.  They both deny that folks attracted to their own gender (LGBTQ) should enjoy basic human rights. They both believe that their particular religion is the only correct one.  They both wish to eradicate our Constitutional Bill of Rights.

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The Political Spectrum as a circle

 

Here I have illustrated the “political spectrum” as a circle, including where some of the political parties fall on it.

You have the RIGHT on the one side, and the LEFT on the other, with their sub entities listed at approximately the places I believe they belong.

At the top is DEMOCRACY, and what I believe is the ideal situation. At the bottom is TOTALITARIANISM, another name for which is SLAVERY.  You will find yourself either leaning LEFT or leaning RIGHT, but keep in mind that once you slide down past the center, you are getting into dangerous ideological territory.  Once past the center, the further left,or right that you slide, the closer you come to a political dictatorship and they end of your Constitutional, Bill of Rights guarantees.

Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Iran (in fact, all of the Moslem world) today), and others, would be located at the bottom right of the circle.  The USSR, Cuba, and others would be at the bottom left, but really, when you’re that far to the bottom, there is no real difference. You’re still a slave. You still are ruled by a dictator.

The other thing that the bottom of the spectrum has in common is antisemitism or, anti-zionism (they are the same thing).

Countries can find themselves in a kind of flux. For example the United States, with the Trump regime in place, is slipping down the right side of the circle pretty fast.