Category Archives: Rogues’ Gallery

Bruce McAllister

I was scrolling on Threads today, and discovered a couple of posts including a video of an Alberta Next panel, in which moderator Bruce McAllister admonished seventeen-year-old high-school student Evan Li for asking questions about Alberta’s education system–namely, the province funding private schools and the upcoming teachers’ strike–then suggested his parents ‘turn him over their knee,’ after making comments about how Li was speaking and cutting his microphone mid-sentence.

This irritated me on so many levels.

First of all: a public figure and former politician–in public–advocating child abuse against a high-school student, and for saying something he didn’t like, and not in line with the United Conservative Party of Alberta‘s party line…I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but that a public figure would be so blatant, and in public, about advocating corporal punishment/child abuse…all I can say is, McAllister and Alberta’s UPC have nothing to be proud of here.

McAllister also had the temerity to tell Li that he wasn’t ‘making sense.’ Maybe not to McAllister; however, I thought Li made perfect sense in asking about the state of Alberta’s education system, at present and going forward. As far as I’m concerned, McAllister’s response is just another instance of adults finding ways to not listen to children and youth and take them, their issues, and their concerns seriously, even if said issues and concerns apply to society at large.

I’d also like to point out the complete condescension and disingenuity of McAllister saying he “applauded” Li’s coming to the event to speak, but didn’t like the way he was speaking…

But I can’t say I’m surprised or shocked to see the arrogance of someone from Canada’s Conservative Party–or anyone adjacent to it–on such open, blatant display; these people clearly think that they can get away with anything and everything.

But I have to give the people in the audience kudos for supporting Li, especially after McAllister stated his parents ought to turn him over their knee; I heard a female voice, speaking into the microphone, that what McAllister did and said to Li was ‘rude’ (more than once) and ‘disgraceful,’ accompanied by a chorus of ‘boos’ from the general audience. And I have to at least nod my acknowledgment to everyone in Internet comments sections who praised Li for speaking truth to power, and decried the way McAllister treated him. And Li himself deserves some praise for the way he handled his mistreatment, and for speaking out after the fact, and continuing to speak up for teachers, students, and others in Alberta who are negatively affected by the decisions of Alberta’s provincial government. Like so many have stated, Li and his actions are a light in the darkness of our times.

I don’t live in Alberta, but McAllister’s treatment of Li in that joke of a ‘town hall’ really sticks in my craw, and I hope he faces severe consequences for it; I know Danielle Smith won’t dismiss him from his position, but I hope the good people of Alberta will continue to hold McAllister to account for his atrocious behaviour towards Li.

I know this post is more than a tad disjointed, but it’s urgent, and I need to get my views on this situation out there.

Peter Thiel

“The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it.” — H.L. Mencken

‘But as sure as God made black and white/What’s done in the dark will be brought to the light’–Johnny Cash, ‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down,’ American V: A Hundred Highways, 2006

While the world pays attention to the current Jackass in Chief Donald Trump and his crony Elon Musk and his toadies and their headline-grabbing antics (especially Trump’s), a shadowy figure works behind the scenes to ensure that nothing can stop their reign of terror, nor contain it within the borders of the United States of America. That individual, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, trans, non-binaries, and intersex folks, and everyone else on the gender spectrum, is PayPal founder and tech bro Peter Thiel.

Thanks to a recent YouTube short, I’ve learned about a speech Thiel made, in which he vocalized his dream that “you could unilaterally change the world without having to constantly convince people and beg people and plead with people who are never going to agree with you through technological means” (in other words, he wants to use technology to bypass democratic processes and dominate society), calling technology an “incredible alternative to politics”–which it shouldn’t be; rather, technology should work with politics, and emphasize and respect human rights. But, then again, Thiel and his family lived in South Africa–in which he lived in a community ‘known at the time for its continued glorification of Nazism’– and modern-day Namibia in the time of apartheid, so I’m not surprised that he wants to do away with democracy and turn the world into a right-wing fascist dictatorship, as evidenced by his co-founding of the organization named Palantir. A self-proclaimed conservative libertarian, Thiel has ‘made substantial donations to American right-wing figures and causes,’ along with helping Hulk Hogan fund his lawsuit against Gawker (the documentary about the case, ‘Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press,’ is on Netflix).’ Now, I realize Thiel could have changed his politics and worldview, but he chose not to; I believe that’s because he benefits from the worldview he did adopt–namely, that technology should replace, rather than be used in conjunction with, politics, especially if it’s used to push the agendas of the rich and powerful.

Just when I couldn’t be more frightened for my neighbours in the United States–especially those not in the ruling class–or the world…

Peter Thiel has long operated in the shadows. Now it’s time to bring his dastardly deeds–and beliefs–into the light…especially given the danger they pose to the world, democracy, and human rights.

Sources:

https://www.techpolicy.press/when-we-are-no-longer-needed-emerging-elites-tech-trillionaires-and-the-decline-of-democracy/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Thiel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-BQhXdCs8Y

https://www.advocate.com/peter-thiel/peter-thiel-model-jeff-thomas

https://theconversation.com/when-the-government-can-see-everything-how-one-company-palantir-is-mapping-the-nations-data-263178

Billy McFarland

‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.‘ –Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto Six, Stanza Seventeen

“This thing is like an onion. The more layers you peel, the more it stinks.” –George Costanza, Seinfeld, ‘The Soul Mate,’ Season 8, Episode 2

Yes, now that I and the rest of the industrialized world have learned that Billy McFarland is organizing a second Fyre Festival, I’m jumping on the bandwagon–here and in my most recent podcast episode. But this is just as much a public-service announcment as it is the latest entry into this rogues’ gallery.

As so many people before me have pointed out, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for various forms of fraud, but was released after less than four–and his life after prison has been less then exemplary. One of the first things he did when he got out of prison was launch a social-media campaign for a ‘remote-island extravaganza’ he called PYRT (pronounced ‘Pirate’–how appropriate); some time after, he connected Donald Trump with rappers, who he managed to convince to endorse Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign (presumably at Trump’s request–as if rappers and their endorsement would make him cool to anyone outside of his fan club). Apparently, Billy McFarland isn’t very good at keeping his head down, even after a public embarrassment–even if it isn’t the magnitude of the first Fyre Festival.

And now there’s the alleged Fyre Festival Part 2.

Just the first Fyre (non)Festival alone should alert us all that Billy McFarland cannot, and should not, be trusted. As Calvin Wells pointed out at the end of the Netflix documentary Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, “if there’s anything the guy is good at, it’s separating consumers from their cash.” There’s no doubt McFarland is good at marketing; former Fyre Media employee Shiyuan Deng stated in The Greatest Party That Never Happened that, “He can sell you on anything.” Unfortunately (from what I’ve heard and read), McFarland has decided to use his marketing skills to con people out of their money rather than for any good purpose. As Magnesis, Fyre, NYC-VIP Access, PYRT, and now potentially Fyre Festival 2 show, Billy McFarland is, as they say in Texas, all hat and no cattle. In fact, it seems to me that McFarland would rather play at being an entrepreneur than actually be an entrepreneur–and scam people out of their money in the process, while other people do the actual work and eventually have to come to terms with the fact that they won’t get paid–or, if they do, it won’t be for the right amount (they’ll be short-changed). He reminds me of Cartman in the South Park episode ‘DikinBaus Hot Dogs,’ except McFarland has no Butters Stotch to pick up the slack for him and make sure his ‘businesses’ actually deliver, especially in the long-term. And let’s not forget McFarland has been barred from ever serving as director of a public company–for good reason, from where I’m standing.

In this economy–hell, in any economy, but especially in this one–I’d recommend against buying any bill of goods this guy sells you; it’s clear he can’t–or more to the point, won’t–deliver. I’d just hate to hear any more about people forking over their money for something that doesn’t deliver on promises its creator/s made or doesn’t even exist; even more than that, I’d hate to hear any more about people, locally and in far-off locales, enduring hardship because they didn’t get paid for their labour–or didn’t get paid enough–for the sake of the aformentioned something, especially because someone like one William Zervakos McFarland doesn’t want a regular, legitimate job–or at least put in a stroke of work at any of the businesses he starts, and check his ego at the door.

For the love of all that is holy, do NOT, under any circumstances, buy any tickets to Fyre Festival 2, or anything else Billy McFarland feels like selling you. Learn from the first Fyre Festival–this individual will not deliver. as he has a mouth full of thunder but no lightning in either of his hands.

Sources (in no particular order):

https://www.businessinsider.com/fyre-festival-billy-mcfarland-magnises-history-townhouse-2019-1

https://fortune.com/2017/08/30/fyre-festival-billy-mcfarland-magnises/

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jimmy-kimmel-surprised-fyre-festival-161158179.html

https://www.foxnews.com/us/convicted-fyre-fest-fraudster-billy-mcfarland-return-mexico-sounds-like-ticking-time-bomb-experts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_McFarland

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/fyre-festival-fraudster-launching-latest-thing-looks-party-island-rcna62564

Elon Musk

I know, I know–this has been a long time coming. But, I have to be honest, I was just too damned lazy to post anything about anything–and keep up with the news–within the last couple of years or so, and I’m only writing this because two-time United States President Donald Trump has apparently allowed Elon Musk more than a fair amount of power in the United States government, and between them they will mess up United States government policies and more for years to come. I’m Canadian, but I’m speaking out because I want my American neighbours to know that i am not OK with what is going on south of the border right now–even if Trump and Musk supporters are.

I’ve logged into my X (formerly Twitter) account recently, and came across this gem:

Though the added reader context may state that there is no record of Musk ever tweeting that, I wouldn’t put it past him, especially given the kerfuffle over his Nazi-esque salute and apparent sense of entitlement, which has become more pronounced since he purchased the site formerly known as Twitter and renamed it. Ignoring for a second that there are plenty of posts on Twitter (yes, I still insist on calling it that) calling out Trump and Musk and, as far as I know, those accounts haven’t been suspended, it still sticks in my craw that the owner of a social-media platform is flexing his muscles like this. In this manner, Musk reminds me of this:

But it doesn’t end there.

Apparently, once he was back in the Oval Office, Donald Trump has made Musk a ‘special government employee’ and given him special powers–such as dismantling government agencies like USAID (which he has called a ‘criminal organization’)–and allowed him to create a group called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is made up of young men who look like they recently graduated from college or university (if not younger) who have so far accessed people’s personal data and the nation’s money; apparently, lawyers are going after anyone who reveals the identities of these young men (you’ve seen their pictures if you’ve been on Twitter/X and/or Bluesky)–so much for freedom of speech and information, transparency, and accountability. Several people on X have pointed out that Musk is neither an elected nor an appointed official, and thus does not have the authority to do what he’s doing–but it doesn’t help that the current leader of the so-called free world is enabling him. But–stating the painfully obvious here–Trump and Musk are like two peas in a pod.

Unfortunately, I know, in terms of everything wrong with Elon Musk and what he’s doing with the power he has, I’m just scratching the surface.

I can’t tell you how bad I feel for everyone living south of the 49th parallel and north of the Rio Grande right now–well, those who didn’t vote for Trump, anyhow. As for those who did…well, I don’t know what to say, especially to those seeing the consequences of that action and having regrets.

I know Elon Musk is just another rich man looking to flex his muscles and avoid accountability while screwing over those who are most in need, but, much like Trump, his actions in his new position have serious repercussions, especially for those less fortunate than himself. The next President of the United States is going to have a hell of a job cleaning this administration’s mess; I can only hope that when Trump goes, Musk goes with him.

P.S.: I know this post is rather disjointed and incoherent, and I could make a million and one excuses for why that is, but I trust everyone reading it sees the point(s) I’m trying to make.

Lynn Beyak

I’m once again tardy to the party, but I believe this instance is a case of better late than never.

For those of you not in the know–and/or haven’t, for some reason, been keeping abreast with news in Canada–Lynn Beyak is a Canadian senator, who really shouldn’t be at this moment, for reasons I’ll go into now.

Beyak’s claim to fame, as far as I can tell, is whining about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report focusing on the atrocities which occurred in the residential schools and not students’ good experiences or the ‘good intentions’ of the people who worked in, and ran, the schools, then doubling down and even whinging about ‘fake news’ when she was initially called out for her remarks, instead of offering a mea culpa, if not an apology.

Here are my thoughts on the whole ‘good intentions’ spiel: a) colonization and cultural genocide are never good; b) ‘good intentions gone wrong,’ or any variation thereof, is simultaneously a cop-out and a form of gaslighting; c) intent doesn’t matter–what matters is what happens when the rubber hits the road. Oh, and that there are former residential-school students who had good experiences in the schools shouldn’t discount the stories of those who’ve been hurt by the residential-school system, and colonization in general.

Beyak then further classed up the joint by stating First Nations should trade their status cards for Canadian citizenships (pssst…First Nations are already Canadian citizens), and all ethnic groups should practice their cultures “on their own time and their own dime.” I see a hint of white supremacy in this statement, but draw your own conclusions.

Beyak has faced consequences for her repugnant remarks, but should no longer be in government, as her remarks, given her position, give her views a smidgen of legitimacy–and in an age where making such remarks is now considered a social faux pas, considering the damage they do. As she’s a senator, she’s made her remarks while being paid to sit in the Canadian government. She’s a blemish on the face of the Government of Canada, a public-relations disaster, and a national embarrassment for those of us with the decency to be embarrassed and appalled by her remarks and behaviour. (Note to Member of Parliament Tony Clement: Calling for Beyak’s ouster from Senate is not a form of censorship; she can still make her remarks, just not from a position of power, and she won’t be paid–and with Canadian tax dollars, at that–for making them. Just to clear that up.)

The sad thing is, Beyak had choices. She could have acknowledged that colonization is a bad idea, and promoted adopting the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report. She could have reached out to First Nations–and not just those people who would tell her what she wants to hear–and actually listened to them. Instead, she chose to throw a temper tantrum and go the route of political grandstanding and white fragility–no doubt with the wholesale support of those who agree with her.

Kevin O’Leary

So, Kevin O’Leary has decided to compete for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, and thus come at least one step closer to being voted Prime Minister of Canada. And the prospect of this scares the bejesus of me.

In a previous post, I mentioned O’Leary was quoted as saying it’s “fantastic” that a handful of the super-rich have the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the planet, as “it gives them (the poor) motivation to look up to the one percent.” The reality is, we aren’t looking up to the one percent; we’re grousing about their lack of any feeling of social responsibility, and unwillingness to share. Apparently, O’Leary has never heard of the concept of giving back to the community. Also, has it occurred to O’Leary that a lot of people who didn’t inherit their wealth came by it by–oh, how should I put this?–less-than-legitimate means? Oh, and just because it isn’t illegal doesn’t mean it isn’t immoral. But I’m guessing–in the minds of O’Leary and his ilk–the ends justify the means.

I’ll take this moment to predict that if O’Leary ever becomes Prime Minister of Canada, he’ll make it easier for the rich to get richer, and much more difficult for the poor to get ahead financially and in terms of opportunities open to them, and he won’t care if the rich give to the community. He’ll also make it easier for the rich to stay out of prison if they commit any crimes, while making it harder for the poor, and other marginalized folk, to get justice of any kind. In short, if Kevin O’Leary ever becomes Prime Minister of Canada, the rich will be further rewarded for being rich, while the poor will be further punished for being poor.

I understand Kevin O’Leary is only part of the problem, and is yet another result of a system that perpetuates kyriarchy. He is also part of a larger trend towards keeping kyriarchy in place, for the benefit of a few. Also, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he’s just being obtuse about the whole situation; unfortunately, that obtuseness has the potential to cost millions of people–and cost them dearly.

Hamza Tzortzis and Imran Hussein (Global Dawah Movement/Mission Dawah)

It recently came to my attention that these fellows had a very public temper tantrum, which passed for a response to a vlogger named Peter–who hosts a YouTube channel called EssenceofThought–which started with Tzortzis accusing Peter of slander because Peter dared to call him out on his lies and (continuing) hypocrisy…while himself slandering Peter, in an attempt to demonstrate to the Global Dawah Movement/Mission Dawah‘s audience–and these are his words here–“that you shouldn’t take online atheists seriously,” and proceeds to accuse them of misrepresentation and slander, and not having “the right type of ethic, especially when it involves dialogue and discussion.” Pot calling the kettle black, Hamza.

In the second part of his two-part response to Tzortzis, Peter draws his viewers’ attention to a comment from Mission Dawah which–long story short–stated their demand that Peter contact them prior to posting his video responses to them–essentially, to allow them to control his content. There is a word for this: censorship. Peter pointed out, in his response to Tzortzis, that the Internet is not a criticism-free, nor is it a shariah, zone, and that he won’t stop critiquing the Global Dawah Movement/Mission Dawah–by the way, formerly known as the London Dawah Movement. (Quick tip, guys: No matter how many times you polish a turd, it’s still a turd.)

In Peter’s response to Tzortzis’ partner in crime, Imran Hussein (in which he includes Hussein’s footage), Hussein merely whines that Peter called Tzortzis a liar, and about comments and posts on Peter’s personal–yes, personal–Facebook page, and repeats Tzortzis’ whine(s) about discussion and dialogue–something Hussein, like Tzortzis, apparently knows nothing, and cares even less, about.

The truth is, the Global Dawah Movement/Mission Dawah, much like Eric Hovind and Sye Ten Bruggencate at the dedication of the American Atheists’ atheist monument, want to talk, but not listen. Even Peter stated, in his response to Hussein, that these Dawah guys don’t want discussion, but a monologue. Because no one beyond them and their fellow believers behaves as if the Internet is a shariah zone, the gents who call themselves the Global Dawah Movement/Mission Dawah act like spoiled brats, especially when they’re critiqued. I’d have to say Peter handled the situation admirably, and responded beautifully, by refusing to cave in to these guys, and continuing to call them out on their lies, hypocrisy, and individual whinefests, whose only apparent purposes were to poison the well against outsiders to keep the faithful so and to curry sympathy with, and loyalty from, said faithful. In short, as far as I’m concerned, in trying to save face–especially in the face of Peter’s criticisms–the Global Dawah Movement/Mission Dawah have shot themselves in the collective foot.

Oh, and to the Global Dawah Movement/Mission Dawah: Lying through your teeth doesn’t count as flossing.

 

The videos (and a Facebook link) in question:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3VNZMWJZLM

https://m.facebook.com/imranhusseindawah?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fimranhusseindawah

 

 

                                                           

Belle Gibson

Until recently, I’ve never heard of this individual. Under the circumstances in which I did, I wish it had stayed that way.

Belle Gibson is reportedly the brains behind TheWholePantry, which is ostensibly a healthy-lifestyle application; there was to be a cookbook based on it. That all ended recently, when Gibson was essentially forced to admit she lied about having had several forms of cancer and donating to charities, apparently with no remorse for the lying per se.

By lying about having had cancer and then foregone chemotherapy and other cancer treatments and ‘cured’ her cancers solely by means of a healthy diet and lifestyle, Gibson may have contributed to the needless suffering and death of a healthy portion of people, who were desperate for some shred of hope, apparently thinking, ‘Hey, it worked for her, maybe it will work for me’–all because one Belle Gibson decided to heed the siren song of easy money. And I wonder how the charities she claimed to donate to felt when they didn’t see any of that money in their coffers. (The Wikipedia page which tells this story claims the Victorian State authorities are investigating Gibson and TheWholePantry’s claims of charitable donations.) But the main issue here, as far as I’m concerned, is the fact that Gibson swindled people, and may have cost a number of them their lives. I, for one, hope Gibson spends some time inside a jail cell, simply for fraud–if it doesn’t teach her a lesson, then it stands some chance of sending a message: If you follow in one Annabelle Natalie Gibson’s footsteps, you’re going to get fucked.

And I just love how Gibson claims she lied because she had a difficult childhood, in an obvious, and pathetic, attempt to absolve herself, and convince the rest of us to absolve her, of any responsibility for her actions and their consequences. It may not even be true, but, if it is, in saying it, Gibson is just rubbing salt in the wounds she inflicted on her victims and their families, and, in the bargain, insults those of us who had difficult, even traumatic, childhoods yet managed to grow up to become more or less decent people and contributing, productive members of society, rather than sociopathic, parasitic wastes of space like Gibson. As is so often said, a difficult childhood is no excuse for any bad behaviour in adulthood.

I realize Gibson had some enablers, chief among them Elle Australia (‘The Most Inspiring Woman You’ve Met This Year,’ ‘What We Know About Belle Gibson’), Bespoke Approach, and the writers who wrote so glowingly about Gibson and her–ahem–story without doing their due diligence; even Pantheon and Penguin Books and Apple worked with Gibson and promoted TheWholePantry until they realized it was built on a foundation of falsehoods, in which case they cut ties with Gibson and TheWholePantry. But I insist on putting the majority of the responsibility for this fiasco on Gibson, simply because she got this particular ball of bullshit rolling, and because of the principle of cui bono–literally translated from Latin, ‘to whose benefit’–and, let’s face it, Gibson’s actions were for her own benefit. Healthy lifestyle? It seems here that the lifestyle that Belle Gibson has had–apparently even before she created TheWholePantry–is being full of shit. And, it seems, it will be her legacy.

Ken Denike and Sophia Woo

Don’t you just love it when people do or say things that negatively impact on other people’s lives, then, when they’re called out on it and even disciplined for it, they act like they’re the victims?

That’s what Vancouver politicians–and former members of Vancouver municipal political party the Non-Partisan Association, or NPA–Ken Denike and Sophia Woo are doing, in terms of at least two lawsuits (that I know of) that they’re involved in as plaintiffs, one against the Vancouver School Board to get their transgender policy overturned or at least amended, and a defamation lawsuit against the NPA and Vancouver city councillor Elizabeth Ball.

To bring everyone up to speed, the NPA ousted Denike and Woo for actions they took outside of the proper party protocols, and for comments they made about the LGBTQ community on various occasions, most notably at a press conference, where they stated that ‘a policy regarding sexual orientation and gender identity could decrease the enrollment of international students and therefore hurt the Vancouver School Board’s budget’ and ‘the policy, which allows transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice, could hurt real estate prices’ (because, as we all know, real estate prices and property values trump human rights). Now Denike and Woo are claiming the NPA are falsely accusing them of being homophobic and transphobic. I, for one, must not know what homophobia and transphobia are, because these comments sound homophobic and transphobic to me–and they’re merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of comments they made about the LGBTQ community, including comments they’ve made at a picnic for the Christian Social Concern Fellowship.

But worse is the lawsuit against the Vancouver School Board, as the lives of children could be impacted if the plaintiffs of this lawsuit win. So many youth have committed suicide over the years on account of having been bullied for openly identifying as gay, bisexual, or transgender, or otherwise not conforming to outdated ideas of gender and gender roles. Denike and Woo have demonstrated that they’re willing to sacrifice the well-being, and even the lives, of children in order to gain votes from a certain segment of the population–in this case, by all appearances, conservative Christians who just can’t seem to get with the times.

As a citizen of Vancouver, I think the Non-Partisan Association did the right thing in ousting Ken Denike and Sophia Woo, even if it was only a public-relations move (though I’m giving the NPA the benefit of the doubt here and assuming they actually care about the rights of everyone who lives in Vancouver), and wish them the best of luck in resolving their legal snafu with Denike and Woo. And I hope the courts see the lawsuit against the Vancouver School Board vis-a-vis its transgender policy for the joke that it is, and throw it out. As for Denike and Woo, I have only this to say to them: Learn what real defamation is, and knock it off with the crocodile tears and temper tantrums.

 

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar

These two have been major bees in my bonnet practically since they crossed my radar, mostly because of the back-ass-wards fundamentalist Christian views they spew, chiefly via their ‘reality’-television series, 19 Kids and Counting, even more because of the way they exploit their offspring, and deny them any freedom and agency (though the adult offspring are now willing victims) in the name of pushing their religious views and agenda, inspired chiefly by fallen preachers Doug Phillips and Bill ‘Grab-Ass’ Gothard, who were caught with their pants down. So no surprise these two subhumans would be among the first entries into my personal rogues’ gallery. It was either them or Faytene Kryskow.

The recent kerfuffle over Chapter 119 of Ordinance No. 5703 in Fayetteville, Arkansas is just the tip of a very sordid iceberg. I myself first learned about the Duggars and the fundamentalist-Christian movement they’re members of, Quiverfull, in an article in Bitch magazine, titled ‘Multiply and Conquer,’ which discusses Quiverfull’s, and the Duggars’, anti-woman views, which state women’s sole purpose for existing is to marry heterosexual men–chosen by their fathers, of course–and pop out kids like Pez dispensers, like Michelle Duggar has done (though I speculate she decided on her own to marry Jim Bob). Further research showed–surprise, surprise–that they’re also anti-gay. And, on one episode of 19 Kids, the family visits the Creation Museum run by Ken Ham, and talks crap about evolution–or, rather, the typical creationist strawman of evolution. And let’s not forget Michelle Duggar’s denial that the world is overpopulated, and that, in the same breath, she quoted the late Mother Teresa: “Saying there are too many children is like saying there are too many flowers,” then added, “We need more children because we need more joy.” This last statement is the most selfish one I’ve ever heard, especially considering the world’s population is now at seven billion people (that’s billion–with a ‘B’), and I submit to anyone reading this that if you feel the need to bring kids into this world who never asked to be here because you need more joy in your life–especially if you can’t find other ways to get it–there is something seriously wrong with you, and you need to seek professional help–pronto.

What angers me only slightly more than the way that Jim Bob and Michelle exploit their kids for their own personal gain and to push their nefarious fundamentalist-religious agenda is the amount of influence they have, especially among the poorly educated. Much like the Dalai Lama, the platitudes they utter are those of a simpleton, and not even original (though I seriously doubt, at this juncture, that they’re capable of anything even remotely resembling original thought), yet, much like the Dalai Lama, they, and their family, manage to generate enough charisma to inspire sycophantic fawning in as many people as they have, including some otherwise intelligent people–though I must credit those who have seen through the Duggars’ schtick, and called them out on it. But I still hope they don’t have more influence on politics than they should have, and that society can progress relatively unhindered.

Now, I realize Jim Bob, Michelle, and Company are merely part of a huger problem, and far be it from me to waste time chasing symptoms. But this couple has a wide platform, thanks to current celebrity culture, from which to spew their filth, and, as previously mentioned, exploit their kids in the process. As a result, I hope they, sooner rather than later, fade back into much-deserved obscurity and anonymity.