The Oconee Conservative Corner

04/15/2023

“They are in front of us, behind us, and we are flanked on both sides by an enemy that outnumbers us 29:1. They can’t get away from us now!”

-Chesty Puller USMC
Battle of the Chosen Reservoir

03/11/2023

Either Oconee has a Homeless problem or Seneca is the #1 camping destination in South Carolina

02/08/2023

This was discussed on the last podcast

02/04/2023

01/27/2023

I sit down with Mickey Haney and Karl Reebenacker and discuss what all of the infighting in the Republican Party is about and how they’ve been personally impacted by it.

With the infighting of the Republican Party taking center-stage with the Speaker of the House vote. Many find it shocking that there are two sides in the Rep...

01/23/2023

Bin Laden and the Transhumans

I know what you’re thinking this is a joke, right? Or could it be the title of some weird SI-FI thriller or satire comedy. Truth is reality is stranger than fiction. The Bin Laden I’m referring to is not Osama but his niece, Noor, and she’s not a terrorist. She’s actually a Trump-loving conservative and political activist, who travels the world as an international correspondent on events like the World Economic Forum, currently being held in Davos, Switzerland. If you think that’s a twist, get ready for the transhuman part.

The Transhuman Agenda

You probably thought when you read “Transhuman” that I was referring to something along the lines of transgender or whatever. No, and what it is referring to is even wilder than that. Now what I’m about to explain is going to at first sound so science fiction/crazy conspiracy theory that you’ll think I’m crazy. Heck I would to, but I actually saw it or well saw the video of the presentation given this past Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Noor Bin Laden is the journalist blowing the whistle on it. There are currently technology companies working on a headset. It looks like a ring and sits around the your head like a hat would. This ring monitors your brain’s activities taking the place of say your mouse on your computer. This would increase productivity in the workplace and user in technology where your brain works with artificial intelligence. Now the headset is not the only equipment this works through. It could be a piece that hooks behind the ear, or even (and I’m quoting the presenter) “a tattoo behind the ear.”

The Bait

No doubt, as with all progressive “great ideas”, it’s all flowers, fairy dust, and unicorn flatulence. The highlights from this presentation were that this technology could aide in identification by eyewitnesses. Where the usual sketch artist is eliminated. This headband is placed on the eyewitness and through brainwaves, an image of the suspect is projected. Now the presenter did say that some of this technology has not been protected yet but was on the verge of discovery.

The Switch

I think it’s important to realize that from a religious standpoint. Nothing from this world has made man a stronger specimen. What’s often given as “great for society” has led us closer to our own destruction. I believe that this is no different and possibly even worse. It’s my gut feeling that from this and man’s desire for wealth and control, we no doubt are racing through the final chapters. With how extreme this technology is, I don’t think anything is out of the realm of possibility. If technology and artificial intelligence can monitor brain waves, can it control them as well? I’m not really sure, but I do know that the brain functions through slight electrical current firing over the nervous system inside the brain. Is it too far fetched to believe that artificial intelligence would be incapable of learning how and where these neurons fire during certain activities?

The Current Capabilities of Artificial Intelligence

One of my favorite speakers to listen to is Dr. Jordan Peterson, he’s a psychologist, author, media commentator, and fierce conservative.
In something I recently watched of Dr. Peterson, he was talking about Elon Musk’s warnings about Artificial Intelligence. I’m personally not a fan of Musk’s but I will say I’m understanding of the warning he voiced. Musk said that the advancements of Artificial Intelligence is the single greatest threat to mankind. Dr. Peterson reinforced this talking about Artificial Intelligence’s ability to learn and the speed at which it progresses. Dr. Peterson gave his own personal experience with AI when he had the opportunity to see it first hand. As Dr. Peterson, a former college professor from Toronto, gave an AI program the instructions to write an essay on… and I spouted off a bunch of psychological terms that are beyond my comprehension. The AI program in a matter of about ten minutes produced a four page essay. He then instructed the program to grade the essay. It did so and it came up with a grade of roughly 85%. He then told the program to write a new essay with some slight modifications. Again in about ten minutes the program produced an all-new four page essay. He instructed the program to grade this essay, which it did with a 100% grade. This program proved that it had the intellectual ability to learn either the science of psychology or how to give Dr. Peterson exactly what he was asking for.

The Trap

So now is it so far fetched to believe that Artificial Intelligence not only has the capabilities to monitor our thoughts through brain waves, but control them as well? Again, I’m not really sure but I do think it’s a viable question that deserves more than just a “No” for an answer. There’s video of brainwave scans which show the neurons firing in almost a lightning storm pattern across the human brain. I would like to hear an unbiased opinion from a doctor who studies the brain as obviously that is not what I am. But I do believe the subject deserves a bit more exploring. Before it becomes the latest “everybody’s doing it” trend.

01/21/2023

The Scoop on the P**p

One of the bigger hot topic issues in Oconee County right now is Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority’s Sewer South Phase 2 project. Opposition to this project seem to want the county to invest in the Greenway Bike Trail project rather than Sewer South Phase 2. While bike trails sound pretty and nice, their connection to the housing projects popping up across the county is a relatable subject.

The Leeches of Government

While the continuous downward spiral of the federal government can be directly tied to the corruption that lobbyists from special interests corporations and groups. Buying up politicians to pass favorable legislation for their businesses. We often just assume that this only takes place in big government, that small time local government would never sellout our voices to the highest bidder. Now I’m not saying any particular county official takes bribes our special favors. I really have not physical evidence to suggest that. But lobbying does go on on a local level. Take state representative Bill Sandifer for example, in 2012, Oconee County spent $14 million of taxpayer dollars putting fiber optic cable in the ground. Bill Sandifer co-authored the bill that killed this project leaving the $14 million worth of fiber optic cable in the ground. Mr. Sandifer received hefty campaign donations from AT&T (the county’s primary internet provider) in the following years. How does this relate to bike trails? Well if these bike trails connect the housing developments, then they could boost the property values before foundations are even poured. Again, is this happening? I’m not a 100% sure, I’m merely presenting it as a possibility.

More Than Flies

One of the opposition arguments, is that if any, the sewer south project wouldn’t generate any return to the cost that it entails. This comes from the false narrative that the sewage system would be for homes. While homes could possibly link in, this doesn’t concern me as I live in the northern part of Oconee and I have a well and septic system. So why do I care if sewage comes to southern Oconee and what benefits do the majority of citizens in Oconee get in return? Well if you get on the little short stretch of Interstate 85 that runs through Oconee, and go south towards Atlanta. Just after you pass the Georgia Vistors Center, take the next exit and turn left. Look at the industry that has sprung up in that section of Hart County. The man responsible for that growth was hired by Anderson County to do the same thing. He came to Oconee with a sweetheart deal because he saw the immense potential to bring industry into both Anderson and Oconee. The “Progressive” Republicans shot this down, it never came to a vote, so opportunity past us by. In the purposed $50 million dollar deal, Oconee would be responsible for $21 million while Anderson County provided the remaining $29 million. The return on this could have been huge for not just ourselves but future generations as well.

What’s at stake

I think we can all agree that we wish for our children and grandchildren is at the least is an opportunity to be successful. No doubt, the argument to this is the easy button- send them to college. Well that’s not an across the board answer. The youth of Oconee have a few options- go to college, go to tech and learn a trade, join the military, or jump straight into the work force. How many of us adults who live in Oconee, travel outside the county for work? Oconee is primarily a blue collar/rural county. We believe in working for what we have. But also the expenses of traveling to and from work, cut into our earnings. It takes money to make money, if you will. As gas prices begin to rise again we are loosing percentages of our earnings which could be going to provide for our families. Good paying jobs also profit the community as it incentivizes good behavior. Providing a deterrent against drug use and what not to an extent. It also provides a monetary boost to the county as well. Currently the cash cow of Oconee County is Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station. My understanding is that Duke Energy paid Oconee County roughly $35 million in property taxes last year, $25 million went to the Oconee County School District. While I believe this money could be used more responsibly, the fact is, Oconee is making a chunk off Duke Energy.

Then What’s The Hold Up?

Honestly, I can’t figure that out either. The people who live in southern Oconee seem to be greatly in favor of it. The conservatives, who are for responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars are all in for it. Why are those who call themselves “progressives” against responsible progress? I’ve seen, read and heard every lame duck excuse imaginable. Not one argument has held water. Who’s holding it up? I’ve heard many rumors, that big money in the county has said “The reason sewer is not coming to southern Oconee. Is because I said so!” Whether this is true or not I don’t know. But what I do know is who is arguing against and voting against it in County Council.

01/16/2023

Is progress causing us to regress as a society?

I recently was listening to a podcast by Mike Rowe. The podcast is called The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe and the episode is Ep 293 Matt Walsh Made A Great Movie. If you are completely clueless as to what it’s referencing. Matt Walsh is a filmmaker and writer for the DailyWire. He made a documentary called “What Is A Woman?” I’ve seen the previews and considered watching it but it requires a subscription to the DailyWire. Mike Rowe’s podcast is free though. The podcast was supposed to be about how Matt Walsh interviewed people of opposing opinions. But it really starts gravitating to the subject of the documentary and what is truth.

The Progressive Argument

About the time I graduated from basic training in the Army, the Army went through a change on the uniform. Granted, I was in basic training when the events of September 11th, 2001 took place. But the Army duty uniform in those days was the woodland camo Battle Dress Uniform or BDU. On the shoulders a current unit patch is worn on the left shoulder, and if the individual had been awarded a combat patch it was worn on the right. When troops were deployed to Afghanistan, the American Flag patch was placed on the right shoulder and if the individual had a combat patch, it was sown on the uniform just below the flag. Now why do I mention this? Because when you first look at the flag on the right shoulder it looks as though the flag is backwards. It’s placed on the uniform in this fashion on purpose to symbolize “always moving forward”. So, things are not always as they first appear. I’d argue that “progressivism” is the same way in that progressives feel as though they’re moving society along into the future.

How’d We Get Here?

Going back to the Matt Walsh documentary “What is a Woman?”, if you don’t know, it hones in on the argument of transgender practices in adolescents. While I’m not necessarily focusing on the argument of transgender. I strongly recommend going to the DailyWire and paying at least the $14 for a month and watching “What is a Woman?” It’s very informative and eye opening to what’s going on outside our security bubbles. But the point I’m wanting to make is how much we’ve started overthinking a problem. What is a woman? Common sense gives us a pretty simple answer. Where we go way off the rails is when we completely overthink the problem because we don’t like the answer. Simple questions like how do we get the national debt under control? Stop unnecessary spending, that’s a pretty simple answer. Where we loose the context is the question of what’s unnecessary? I think that’s a pretty simple question to answer as well. It’s as simple as prioritizing necessity from desires.

What distinguishes necessity?

I realize that jumping from the issue of transgender and sexualization of kids to out of control spending is a big jump. But my point is how we’ve abandoned common sense and reality and embrace what’s given to us as popular opinion. Let’s build bike trails instead of fixing our crumbling infrastructure in my home county of Oconee County, SC. With one county councilman saying saying he’d support spending up to $30 million on building bike trails because recreation should be a priority. But a few months later he said spending $12 million on sewage upgrades which would encourage industrial growth bringing jobs to the rural county. Recreation is not the priority, I wouldn’t buy an overly expensive bicycle before buying groceries to feed my family. Last week, I asked the question of what is a conservative? I then gave my explanation, one of my answers was responsible spending of taxpayer dollars. While food is a necessity, using taxpayer dollars to feed those capable of providing for themselves is not responsible stewardship. It profits the government more than the taxpayer in making people more dependent on the government rather than encouraging contributions to a functioning society.

Simplicity

While I do tend to think outside the box to seek solutions to things I see as problems. It’s necessary to seek the common sense solution first. Just because we don’t like the answer doesn’t mean it’s not the solution. If it solves the problem then no further effort is required. But at the same time if the common sense solution causes more problems than the solution fixed doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the correct solution. I think the pharmaceutical industry is a great example of this. In my personal opinion the pharmaceutical machine creates it’s own issues to sell more product. They operate under the guise of helping people, yet the whole system is a self-sustained multibillion machine. A pill is a simple answer in most cases but the simplest answer is not always the correct answer. Just like the most popular answer is not always correct either. As human beings who are mostly made of water, we tend to flow like water as well. Taking the path of least resistance. But as I said this is not always the correct path, as we continue to devolve as a society under the false pretense of progress.

01/15/2023

The podcast is now up and running on Apple ITunes as well.

‎News · 2023

01/15/2023

Still working towards getting this accomplished in Oconee County, SC. If you don’t know the story about S/SGT Lewis G Watkins USMC, Oconee’s only Medal of Honor recipient. Please look it up or visit the Oconee Military Museum in Walhalla, where S/SGT Watkins actual MOH is on display. If you don’t mind please click on the link below and sign the petition to get a stretch of high traffic highway in Oconee named in honor of S/SGT Watkins, Thank You.

S/SGT Lewis G Watkins MOH Memorial HWY

01/15/2023

Why do we (Conservatives) do it?

I’m coming to the understanding that this political fight that conservatives take on, is not for the faint of heart. In a way I want to think it’s got to be comparable to what David must have felt like facing Goliath. Some have no faith that you can complete the task. Others who’ve said that they’ll stand beside you just quit for whatever reasons, whether they get tired of being bullied or just see the mountain as insurmountable. Me personally, sometimes I just love a challenge. The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it.

I don’t know a single conservative, and I mean true conservative, fighting on the front lines in politics. That isn’t bruised up and battle scared from constant on slot of attacks. These come in the form of personal attacks more often than not. Now that being said I’ve seen and dished out quite a few in the past and come to realize that’s not the way to do things. In private is one thing but publicly is just plain childish. Even before I started watching politics in a government sense. I saw it in the military and the private sector with civilian jobs especially. The jockeying to climb the proverbial ladder before the next guy if you will. In my observations of this behavior, I came to the understanding that there’s just some people who can’t (or don’t want to) climb to the next level to achieve success. Instead they choose to drag everyone else down to their level instead. Not meaning to point fingers but I’ve seen this behavior in the “progressive” faction of Oconee County politics. Makes me question, progress for who?

Going back to the question at hand, why do conservatives who get involved put themselves through such abuse? The only thing I can relate it to is my military experience. There’s so many multiple reasons to join the military, and baseball and apple pie aren’t any of them. Some do it for experience to help them later in life. College money and monetary bonuses are a pretty good baited hook. Some like myself, it just seemed like that’s what I was meant to do. My father is a former Marine, my maternal grandfather was in the Navy during World War II, my late stepfather was a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, and the list goes on an on through great uncles and what not. Most all who’ve served will tell you there’s something worth more than all of that. It’s something that you don’t find outside the military. While some would call it camaraderie, I don’t know that I’d call it that because that word doesn’t do it justice. It’s a bond that can never be broken and once you leave the military you constantly look for that feeling again. So that’s part of why I do it.

But even through all of that there’s a gratification of doing something morally right. That standing for something only others can talk about doing. Finding the morality that brings that gratification. Well where do those morals come from? To me that’s one of the biggest proofs of the existence of God. While I know I’ve discussed it with some unbelievers who would argue that morals came before the existence of God, so they just justify the belief in God. I strongly disagree with this as morals must come from righteousness, and righteousness can only come from God. Now am I claiming to be a perfect Christian? Absolutely not, I feel I’m probably the worst example of one at times. But God’s never left my side through the storms and struggles. In fact, without God there’s a 100% chance that I can guarantee I wouldn’t be here today. But yet here I am.

So after I’ve said all of that, what’s the short answer to summarize it all up? Because they feel its the right thing to do. Now with that being said, the opposition no doubt feels that’s their reasoning as well. So you then have to look at what’s driving that reasoning. Is it selfish or selfless reasoning? No doubt both sides will claim selfless, but actions speak louder than words and I personally look at who is gaining more.

01/13/2023

This was surprising to me, and not in a good way. Duly elected Republicans in the South Carolina House of Representatives are apparently being told by leadership to sign an oath. Among other things, this oath strictly prohibits public discussion of things heard or discussed during any Caucus meeting or event.

Who on earth thought of that? And who among us thinks that’s a good idea? It’s not.

To tell elected Republicans they must treat the overwhelming majority of their work in Columbia as confidential – be it to their constituents, the media, or anyone else for that matter – I’d argue violates what should be a fundamental Republican value: transparency.

If Republicans need to hold a one-off discussion in private and everyone in the room agrees, then fine; those conversations are certainly necessary from time to time. But to start off the legislative year by demanding wholesale confidentiality over “all discussions and communications between and among members during any Caucus meeting or event” is entirely inappropriate.

There are other questionable elements of this oath as well, including a requirement not to participate in primary campaigns against state Republican incumbents. Friends, the overwhelming majority of Republicans in the statehouse are outstanding public servants. But those who aren’t should not be shielded from opposition, nor should there be a prohibition against campaigning for someone who could do a better job. Again, who thought of this?!

I’m proud of those in the SC House who are resisting this effort, especially many in the South Carolina Freedom Caucus. Former U.S. Senator Jim DeMint said it best a few days ago: “I would rather SC GOP leadership take a loyalty oath to advancing conservative values like education choice, simplified and lower taxes, health care competition like ending Certificate of Need restrictions, & more energy competition.” I completely agree.

01/13/2023

This is the first episode of the Oconee Conservative Corner podcast. In it I answer the question I get asked the most "Just what is a Conservative?"I need to...

01/12/2023

The Episode will premiere on iTunes and YouTube at 8 am. As soon as it posts on those platforms I will be posting it on Spotify and Facebook as well. Stay tuned as the premier is is on its way tomorrow morning.

01/12/2023

An explanation of why go-along/get-along politics does not work.

01/10/2023

What’s a Conservative?

This is quite possibly one of the most frequently asked questions I get. While it’s easy to distinguish for me and others who constantly keep a watchful eye on what’s going on. For those who don’t constantly pay attention, the answer can be confusing as the label of Conservative gets intertwined with Republican. Let me try to clear the muddy waters a little.

Are Conservatives Republicans?

For the most part yes, conservatism is a way of thinking, or belief system, while Republican implies the party stand point. Now there is a such thing as Republicanism, which I may get into later, but not right now. Conservatism is based off of values; limited government, responsible stewardship of spending, and maintaining our constitutional rights. These are the basic foundation of conservatism. Maintaining this foundation is also what sets conservatives apart from more moderate republicans. But not all conservatives are Republicans, as some have abandoned the Republican Party and gone to the Libertarian Party instead. This has to do with moderates wanting to go left and pushing them out. We’ve seen this specifically in Oconee County as Conservatives were removed from the local party by the “social club” affluents and told to form their own party.

RINOs and moderate Republicans

I often tell people just because a person claims to be Republican, doesn’t make them a Conservative. But being a Conservative does fall in line with the Republican platform. Where the term RINO (or Republican In Name Only) comes into play is when politicians who run on the Republican platform fall off the wagon, so to say. This is why South Carolina has become one of the most liberal “Red” states in the union. Politicians hide behind red button issues such as abortion and second amendment rights. Where the failing grade comes from is excessive and uncontrolled liberal spending on the state and local levels.

CPAC and the Conservative rating

CPAC, or The Conservative Political Action Conference, was formed in 1974 by the American Conservative Union and Young Americans for Freedom. The American Conservative Union has a website called www.conservative.org. This website rates National and State Legislators based on their voting records according to conservative values. These voting records are combined to give each state it’s own conservative rating. Currently, South Carolina has the lowest conservative rating of traditional Republican states. Even lower than both neighboring North Carolina and Georgia.

But South Carolina has a supermajority of Republicans, right?

Ehh, not really, one of the country’s most disliked Republicans in the national politics landscape is South Carolina and Oconee’s own Lindsey Graham in 2021 had a conservative rating of 66, meaning he voted with Conservatives 66% of the time, this was a drop of seven points from 2020. His lifetime conservative rating is 81.83. Out of 111 Republicans in the South Carolina Legislature in 2021, eight had a higher lifetime conservative rating that Lindsey Graham. Oconee’s own State Senator, Thomas Alexander, has a lifetime conservative rating of 39, with a 2021 rating of 71 (up 13 points from 2020).

The Future of South Carolina and the Republican Party

As I often say, the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again expecting different results. With the “loyalty pledge” being pushed in our state House of Representatives. The political scene looks to becoming more of a college fraternity rather than a representation of the people’s voice. The powers to be have proven time and again that it’s not about moral foundation but the desires of man, power and money. The only way to change that is to be involved in the political process and electing individuals who are more interested in representation of the people’s wishes rather than their own self interests.

CPAC is the nation's oldest conservative grassroots organization and seeks to preserve and protect the values of life, liberty, and property.

01/10/2023

"Republican" caucus on the verge of imploding ...

01/09/2023

What’s Driving the Woke Agenda?

Have you ever just asked yourself why on some things? I do, and don’t ask why I ask because sometimes I don’t know why. But when major companies, like Disney, completely change course. It makes me curious as to what action would cause such a reaction.

The easy short answer is the indoctrination that takes place in today’s major universities. But not all who go to these schools drink the said kool-aid. Another answer is social engineering through media and things of that nature. But again what’s driving media outlets to do that? Major corporations like Walmart are even doing it, what do they have to gain from social engineering?

Have you ever heard of a ESG score or Environmental, Social, and Governance score? If you haven’t it’s actually an engineered program that gives the government a way to control businesses and corporations. Now guess who originally came up with this program. The CCP or Chinese Communist Party, in an attempt to control not only businesses but people as well. I don’t mean to be a crazy conspiracy theorist here, but looking further down the road I can see this coming to United States country near you in the not so far off distant future. It also could very well be one of the Democrat Socialist Party is trying so hard to crash our economic system, but I digress.

The ESG score is already in place for major companies like Disney, Walmart, and Tesla. In May of 2022, the S&P 500 ESG removed Tesla. Why is this significant? Because the owner of Tesla, Elon Musk, initiated private talks in purchasing Twitter on April 12, 2022. When the S&P 500 ESG removed Tesla the stock prices plummeted. Tesla had achieved its highest stock value in November of 2021, at a closing price of 409.97. Since then Tesla stock prices have taken a nose dive recently closing at 113.06.

It’s important to note here that the richest people in the world don’t have billions of dollars packed in the mattresses at home. Their net worth is calculated from assets such as stocks, property values, etc. So what’s the easiest way to control an individual? You control their money. True power lies in control and control lies in money.

Now my personal opinion of Elon Musk is that I’m not a fan. Some might consider that an enemy of my enemy is my friend. I don’t see it that way, but again I digress.

You can’t deny what’s been done to Musk, as well as what he’s achieved in his takeover of Twitter. The corruption that’s been exposed to this point has cost him greatly. I think the last I saw, he’s lost around $20 billion ($20,000,000,000) and significantly dropped from at one point being considered the richest man in the world. So even though I’m not a fan of Elon Musk, I still have to tip my hat at the great sacrifice he’s given to expose the ESG score for what it is.