From Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
To the Americans:
I’ve travelled all over the world. I’ve familiarized myself with many places, and met many people. And I’m a Canadian, although I’m privileged to reside once again in the States.
And here’s something I’ve noticed, and it’s a key element of America’s continuing greatness:
You bloody Americans value success, and you believe in its existence.
This is something that doesn’t really happen anywhere else in the world.
Even in other free democracies-the United Kingdom; Finland, Sweden, and Norway; Australia, New Zealand and Canada; Germany, France, and the Netherlands (great countries all)—a counterproductive cynicism too often reigns.
Success is equated with exploitation.
Ambition is looked upon with contempt.
This happens sometimes in the United States too-particularly among the miserable progressives, who confuse their resentment, ingratitude and unearned skepticism with wisdom.
But in your great country, by and large, striving is admired and success celebrated.
This means that more people strive and succeed in the US than anywhere else. And it’s increasingly obvious. You remain stunningly more innovative and productive than any people anywhere else on the planet.
And so I say, as all should who are fortunate enough to live in the western world, let alone America:
Thank God for the United States.
Thank God for the wisdom of its founders.
Thank God for its faith in the free market and in the natural rights of man.
Happy birthday, you damn Yankees and Southerners.
Long may your admirable country dominate the world.
Long may your freedom and hope provide an example to those suffering everywhere at the hands of their malevolent states.
May your two and a half centuries of unparallelled success be just the beginning.
Your country is the light of the world, and the city on the hill.
Thank God for the USA.
Happy 250th.
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
———–
Hear, hear!
This amazing country is perfectly unique. And man’s last best hope.
Good to hear your assessment of my Country.
I agree with you 1000%!
And am wishing you Gods healings
Peace
Hopefully, we can hold on another 250 years, but the Communists (Sanders, AOC, Mandani, Chris the professor) in this country are trying to take over.
Oooooooo Salty used his big scary word…..it has no context or meaning to him other than something to say when he wants to lash out at those he disagrees with but doesn’t actually understand what he is disagreeing with….lol
Prove me wrong Salty….name one policy that actually fits the definition of communism that any major Democrat has proposed? Don’t worry, I won’t hold my breath.
———————
Rent Control.
Nowhere is it written in the US Constitution that the state has the right to determine how much you may charge to rent out your home. Or how much a renter must pay. This was clearly considered a matter for the free market – as it should be.
So it’s unconstitutional.
More germanely, Marxists hold that all pricing ought to be determined by the state, as they implement a command and control economy… “for the people” or “for the proletariat”.
Rent Control is a perfect example of Communist ideology.
Rent control may be bad policy in your view, but that doesn’t make it communism.
Under communism, the state owns or controls the means of production and replaces market ownership with collective or state ownership. Rent control leaves apartments in private hands as landlords still own the property, collect rent, sell the building, and earn profits. The government is regulating a price, not abolishing private property.
By your definition, any government price regulation would be “communist,” including utility rate regulation, insurance premium regulation, anti-price-gouging laws, or even minimum wage laws. Yet Republicans have supported some of those policies at various times. Another recent example is price controls on medications.
As for the Constitution, whether a law is constitutional is determined by the courts, not by whether it is explicitly listed in the document. The Supreme Court has upheld various forms of economic regulation for more than a century.
So if your argument is “rent control can reduce housing supply and create market distortions,” that is a legitimate debate. If your argument is “rent control is a perfect example of Communist ideology,” that is using communism as a catch-all insult rather than an accurate description of the policy.
And I notice that after being asked to name a major Democratic proposal that actually fits the definition of communism, you still haven’t named one involving state ownership of private industry, collectivization of property, or abolition of markets….you know….the things that define communism in the first place.
Not shocked. Cheers
————
Oh no, price control by the state is a clear example of the kind of subtle communism practised by many on the Left (both blue and red).
You just refuse to accept this.
You wanted an example; you got one.
I’m not going to wrangle with you about semantic nuances and linguistic distortions with regard to the nature of Communism. You’d love that. And you’d pontificate ad nauseam.
“The Pontificating Professor”.
Sounds about right.
So now you event the term ‘subtle communism’ to chsnge your argument when proven wrong. It never stops with you and your disrespect of actual facts.
But thank your for confirming that rent control isn’t an example of a communism. I will ignore your perosnal made up definition of ‘subtle communism’. Lol
Fyi, I am not a beleiver of rent controls personally but urban centers have unqiue issues with wealth disparity that makes for challenges I dont perosnally have an opinion of how to address. Happy to resesrch for you if needed.
Cheers
I personally think any property tax is a form of communism. If I buy it,pay for without any help from the government, county, state or federal why should I have to pay a tax to anyone to keep what I paid for
————-
By elementary definition, subtle communism is a form of communism.
We know your English is pitiful Chrissy, but you really must try harder if you expect to be taken seriously.
Come to think of it, nobody here take you seriously, do they?
You are such a pathetic little wanker.
“Subtle communism” is simply a label you’ve invented to classify policies you dislike as “communist.”
Either a policy reflects a defining feature of communism, or it doesn’t. The defining characteristics of communism are state or collective ownership of the means of production and the abolition of private ownership of productive property…….not government regulation of prices.
Rent control doesn’t abolish private ownership. Landlords still own their properties, collect rent, sell them, and earn profits. It is a form of market regulation, not communism.
Calling it “subtle communism” doesn’t make it communist; it just redefines the term so it can be applied to almost any government intervention. Calling me all kinds of childish names doesn’t change that FACT.
Cheers ‘Ol Chap
————–
Suddenly you’re an English Professor. That’s subtle sarcasm… which is sarcasm.
You know Einstein, just like subtle communism is communism.
This too difficult to get through your thick head?
Thanks, Einstein. “Subtle sarcasm” is a recognized form of sarcasm because it shares the defining characteristics of sarcasm. Rent control lacks the defining characteristics of communism……namely collective ownership of the means of production. Your analogy collapses the moment definitions enter the conversation.
Your argument has evolved from “rent control is communism” to “it’s communism because I call it subtle communism.” That’s not reasoning; it’s circular logic with extra adjectives.
Chip Chip ‘ol Boy
————-
No. Just no.
If you can’t see that your argument is nonsense, I can’t help you.
If you’re here just to appear smart to the unintelligent, you are doing well.
Well I showed how your argument was flawed and your only answer is ‘na uh’. Not a very compelling defense on your part. Not shocked.
Just as price controls.
Don’t worry, I won’t hold my breath.
We could only hope.
Hope is not a strategy.
I’m also grateful to live in the United States. Our history of innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity is remarkable and worth celebrating. Where we part ways is the notion that America’s success came from simply worshipping the free market or that anyone who questions its shortcomings must be “resentful” or anti-success.
America became an economic powerhouse because it combined private enterprise with public investment. The interstate highway system, public education, land-grant universities, NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the internet, GPS, and countless medical and technological breakthroughs all involved significant public investment working alongside private ingenuity.
Likewise, many of the reforms that strengthened America—abolishing child labor, creating workplace safety standards, protecting consumers, ending legal segregation, expanding voting rights, and cleaning up polluted rivers—were fiercely opposed by some at the time. Criticizing the status quo wasn’t cynicism; it was how America improved.
The genius of the United States isn’t that we believe everything is perfect. It’s that we believe we can do better. Patriots don’t just celebrate our achievement….they also work to correct our failures. America’s greatest strength has never been blind faith in any one ideology. It has been our willingness to embrace innovation, debate, self-correction, and the idea that liberty and opportunity should be available to everyone.
That’s an America worth celebrating. But you be you.
Opportunity and liberty should only be available to the true Americans that appreciate it. Not to left leaning democrat socialist or liberal leaning communist
One of the most American things you can do is disagree with the government…..or with each other. If your definition of “true American” requires ideological conformity, you’re describing the opposite of what this country was founded on. Any frankly is more of a thing in communist countries…..which tend to be autocratic in nature.
Cheers
Professor, you are so wrapped up in your idea that you are such an intelligent being. Let me explain my position on this in a way even you might understand. I’m a forever Carolina Tarheel fan to my core. I don’t hate Duke but have a sincere dislike of Duke. When one plays the other I obviously pull for Carolina but when Carolina is not playing such as the NCAA but Duke is I will pull for Duke because the ACC is our conference. It’s the same with America. America first and always first
I hope you saw the disgusting liberals pull against in Americans in the recent soccer match. Truely shameful
LOL how is ‘sever dislike’ really any different than ‘hate’.
But your example makes sense. I am proud American but Trump and modern republicans are a disgrace I don’t see how that is any different from what I said.
YOU on the other hand used the ‘True American’ BS as if one person is less an American because they don’t agree with your politics view. That’s like saying Duke isn’t a real basketball team because you don’t like how the recruit players even though Duke is a higher ranked team than UNC. LOL
But you be you.
I traveled Canada every Summer for almost 25 years. From NB to NFLD. What a great Country. But that was long ago and far away.
————–
I’m curious about the provenance of this letter. I don’t believe that Jordan Peterson would be eager to submit a letter to the Rhino Times of Greensboro, North Carolina. I doubt he’s even heard of it.
What’s up with this, I wonder.
A rhino reader who thought it was insightful sent it to me and asked if I would publish it. Scott Yost
—————
Thank you.
That explains it.
Thank you Doctor. I truly appreciate your support for our country.
I apologize for my brethren that simply cannot take a compliment.
May God grant you peace through your life journey.
Well this is just one person’s view – a view I might add that is openly hostile to social democracies. This Canadian born naturalized citizen of the United States of America strongly disagrees. American society is being fragmented by very divisive forces from the right.
You aren’t wrong.
He is wrong, and so are you. You have too much time on your hands and the rest of us suffer from your delusions of intelligence.
Annnnnnnndddd….another comment from a conservative with no supporting information. Just the classic ‘Na Ah’ approach to debate.
Don’t worry Wayne, it really takes very little time to deflect the majority of comments made here by the standard range of folks here given the typical lack of substance and evidence provided.
Cheers
Great letter !
Thank you, Dr. Jordan for your kind assessments of this great country! Just saw the T-shirt of this century and related it to your comments. This t-shirt stated “Imagine a Country so Great, that even the people that hate it refuse to leave”