Dick Allen, R.I.P.

Dick Allen was for decades a star in conservative foreign policy circles.

Born on New Year's Day, 1936 in New Jersey, he attended Notre Dame.

Allen worked in the Nixon White House, then was an adviser for former 

Governor Ronald Reagan, during which they had a famous exchange

which went rather like this: "Governor, what is your aim in the Cold 

War?" "Well, Dick, my idea is: We win, they lose." And win we did.

After Reagan's election to be President in 1980, Allen served as his

first National Security Adviser. Along the way, he was affiliated with 

several renown organizations which included the Hoover Institute and 

ISI. Allen also was a popular guest on National Review cruises.  

This intellectual titan passed away at the age of 88. R.I.P.

MEM

Lee Edwards, R.I.P.

The founders of the modern American conservative movement

were a very accomplished group of people. They made 

conservatism viable, respectable, and attainable, shaking up

stodgy establishment types in the halls of academia and 

government and giving people in all walks of American life

a good look at what our government, our economy, and our

society could be. Among these stalwarts of the Right was

Lee Edwards.

Born in 1932, Edwards devoted his time, energy, and intellect 

to advancing the conservative movement in so many, many ways.

He was a signatory of the Sharon Statement, so called because of 

its origins on the estate of the Buckley family (William F. Buckley!)

in 1960 when WFB and some conservative college students drafted

a manifesto declaring what those gathered stood for and what they

advocated and worked for, which included (but wasn't limited to!)

a free market economy; political freedom, which they acknowledged

could not be possible without economic freedom; individual freedom 

and the right of governing, both of which originate with God.

Edwards helped found Young Americans for Freedom (Your faithful 

Peasant was a member in my own college days!). He worked on

the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign in 1964. He authored

and co-authored more than two dozen books about conservatism and 

conservatives. He was the founding chairman of the Victims of 

Communism Memorial Foundation. He wrote many articles for 

National Review, and served on the Advisory Committee of National

Review Institute's Buckley Legacy Project. Edwards likely served

the cause of conservatism in other ways as well. And now, at age 92,

his work finished, Lee Edwards is enjoying his Final Reward.

A well-earned reward indeed, I'm sure! 

Requiescat in pace.

MEM

On the Recent Increase in Federal Revenue

According to the Congressional Budget Office, federal revenue 

increased last fiscal year. While this is certainly good news, 

the deficit was at that time $1.8 trillion. The Democrats call

this a critical lack of revenue, stating that corporations, wealthy

people, really everyone and anyone who has money aren't 

paying enough in taxes --- they aren't paying their "fair share",

don't you know. But despite the towering deficit, federal revenue

increased by $479 billion year over year for an 11% rise.

$343 billion of that increase came from individual-income taxes

and payroll taxes. Corporate tax collections went up by 

$109 billion. As U.S. GDP growth for the 2024 FY grew 

approximately 2.5%, revenue growth has surpassed economic 

growth. But Congressional Democrats want to take even more 

from these sources because they allegedly don't pay their 

"fair share". Yet when they do get their way on tax increases

these clueless greedheads spend the money faster than they 

can receive it.

No, Democrats, the problem is not too little revenue; the problem

is too little spending restraint, and that's on you.

MEM 

Battling Back Against Wokeness

The good feelings we conservatives have enjoyed in the latter half

of 2024 are continuing without stopping or slowing into 2025.

More and more organizations, including but not at all limited to

businesses, state and local governments, schools (including univer-

sities), entertainment, and more are refusing to be bound and gagged

by woke rules --- wokeness is political correctness on steroids ---

i.e. bowing down before pronoun regulations, forced acceptance of 

the wild beyond belief i.e. admission of boys in girls' locker rooms 

and rest rooms because the former "identifies" as girls, self-censor-

ship to avoid trouble with the law or opprobrium from and castigation

by certain circles (this last one is something hampering sand-up 

comedians and comedy screenwriters) and like totalitarianisms.

Toward the end of the old year the University of Michigan, hardly a 

conservative haven, ended their required diversity statements rule.

The school is ceasing to mandate the statements in hiring decisions

in hiring decisions. Furthermore, the University has dismissed a DEI 

(Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) administrator accused of making 

anti-semitic statements. Gee, isn't it odd that DEI types favor and in 

fact demand inclusiveness for so many groups of people but bar 

certain other groups because of their own bigotry and hatred for 

them. 

Anyway, the University of Michigan is to be commended and 

encouraged for taking these two steps, which hopefully will be

the beginning of a journey back from extremism and unequal 

treatment of whichever groups of people for unjust reasons.

Let us take a moment to applaud this university for its brave

stance. 

MEM