What does the rest of the world look like? Glenn reflects on his Mexican vacation

March 17, 2014

The Glenn Beck Program

Last week, Glenn and his family headed south of the border for a week on the beach in Mexico. Staying at a friend’s home in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Glenn could not help but notice the abject poverty that existed in a major metropolis not all that far from the U.S. border. On radio this morning, Glenn explained that he returned to the United States fearful he had just witnessed our country’s future. The thing that has always made America different, the thing that has always made America great is our Constitution. But if we continue further down the road we are on, the U.S. will be no different than any other failed socialist country in the world.

I spent my vacation in Mexico, and I haven't been to Mexico in I don't know how long. I think it's been at least 10 years... But my wife planned a 50th birthday party for me, so we went down to a friend who had a vacation place down there… It was an eye-opening experience. Mexico has changed.

I was down to Puerto Vallarta. The situation there is nothing short of tragic. It's really truly amazing the abject poverty. It is mind-boggling. I talked to the guy who was driving us from the airport, and we had quite a conversation between the two of us. He made $12 a day… We looked at the buildings and, not kidding you, the machine gun turrets on top of some of the buildings, the shanties that were around and the people begging in the middle of the street. Going from car to car…

But I couldn't help but think: Southern California is just right up the coast. It's not very far at all. What happens at the border? What is the difference between our two countries? And it is certainly not the people. I asked the driver… what's going on here and not in the United States or vice versa. What's the difference between that border? He thought for a while. And I was shocked. He said: Resources. You know, [the U.S. has] oil and good land. It's our good land and it's our oil? Really… The growing season mostly tropical Mexico is nearly year-round. Are they really hampered by a lack of resources or is there something else at play here?

The answer, of course, is something I've been thinking about all week… It's not our oil resources. We have been greatly blessed with those things. But there are many nations who have great natural resources. So what is it? What is it that sets us apart? You know the answer. I know the answer. It's the Constitution of the United States. That's what it is. That's what spread this throughout the world: The Constitution.

[…]

Now, I was going to the WalMart about three days in, and I happened to talk to another driver. And I said, ‘What is it about your country versus our country?’ He said, ‘Our country, our government, keeps you down. Our government doesn't allow you to be able to be who you are.’ He said this to me as we were driving by a vegetable stand that the government owns. And forces all of the farmers to sell all of their vegetables at this particular government-owned vegetable stand. They don't allow you to be who you are… Everybody in Mexico experiences income inequality, yet they're a socialized country. And everybody seems to be doing equally bad except for those few, the tiniest fraction of elitists… Same can be said for the Soviet Union before it collapsed, China before their capitalism hybrid, North Korea, Cuba, and every other socialist equality preaching nation.

Socialists in America today always, always point to Finland and Sweden or Norway. Well, that's where socialism is working, right? Is it? Is it really? Do they have the freedom that we enjoy? Do they have the lifestyle that we enjoy? In Norway, for example, the average monthly income is just over $7,000. Well, that's fantastic. Until you look at their taxes. Their take home pay is just over $3,300. $7,000, their take home pay is $3,300. So the average Norwegian pays 53% in income tax. But wait, there's more. Norwegians also have the privilege of routinely paying between $9 and $10 a gallon for gas. Oh, and there's a 14% VAT tax on food. Cars are nearly unobtainably expensive, so at least that makes the gas tax a little best relevant. Housing is so ridiculously expensive and so is entertainment. But I mean, really, who cares? I mean they're spreading the wealth out, right? II mean somebody has to pay for all of the service that Norway offers. And it is those services paid for on the backs of every Norwegian that the U.N. Development Program loves so much, that they continually list Norway as the number one place in the world to live…

When I went over these stats with my kids yesterday as we were getting ready to leave Mexico. And I told them a little bit about Norway. And my son-in-law said, ‘Why would anybody work? What's the incentive?’ And I said, ‘Work is one thing. But why risk anything? Why risk? Why roll the dice? Why even think about inventing something, making a better toothbrush, doing anything?’ There is no substitute for the foundation laid by our Founders. Yet from inside our own borders, we hear a constraint refrain of income inequality and collectivism, which is just another word for socialism. Income equal. Equal outcomes for all. Just another way to promote communism and communism is just socialism on steroids.

All Americans should fight against socialism and communism with all their might. It is soul crushing. It is economy busting. It is freedom robbing. Socialistic, communistic ideology. Quite honestly, it is the greatest enemy to mankind. It is the greatest evil we face in the world today, and somebody has to start saying it because somehow or another in our own country it has been laundered. It has been white washed. It has been sugarcoated…

Today's American progressives, who are no more or less than communists with patience… That's the progressive movement: Communists with patience. They can't allow the American people to know their true designs of what they really have in mind for our nation. If the American people ever came to understanding of where progressives well want to take us, they would see them as an enemy to the Constitution of the United States, which they are…

But if they can keep you focused on what they can do for you with somebody else's tax dollars, they can keep you distracted from the truth that they're pursuing… Has there ever been in world history a socialist or communist nation that provided more freedom than was provided by our Founding Fathers… We have to ask ourselves, what did God intend for this country? Should we even ask that question? What is it that He intended? How is it that our neighbor across the border can be in such darkness? Is it really just our resources? How can we get it back to what He intended? Maybe the only way to do that is to actually read what he says about it. And then whether you like it or not, do those things and stand against those who are desperately trying to tear us down… We will become more like the rest of the world. You want to know what the rest of the world looks like? Take a gander at Mexico.

Critical theory destroys truth and justice

Editor's note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Critical theory once stood out as the absurd progressive notion that it is. Now, its maxims are becoming an integral part of ordinary political discourse. The more you repeat a lie, the more you will believe it, and this is the very dangerous place in which we find ourselves today.

Take this critical theory maxim as an example: If we desire justice, we must sometimes champion what may appear superficially as injustice. It's a necessary evil, if you will, the necessity of “controlled injustice.”

By using truth through fabrication and controlled injustice for justice, we’ll save the republic. We’ll be acting in a noble way.

This definition of justice is defined by the “oppressed,” not the “oppressor.” It is the greatest happiness for the greatest number. To achieve this justice, however, we need to endorse acts on occasion that, while seemingly unjust, serve a higher purpose. It will ensure the stability and the unity of our republic, and this may manifest in ways that seem contradictory to our values. But these are the necessary shadows to cast light on “true justice.”

And isn’t that what we are all after, anyway?

Here’s another critical theory maxim: Sometimes we find the truth through fabrication. Our pursuit of truth sometimes requires a strategic use of falsehoods. The truth is a construct that has been shaped and tailored to promote the well-being of the collective.

We sometimes need to accept and propagate lies designed by "the system” — not the old system, but the system that we’re now using to replace the old to get more justice through injustice and more truth through fabrication.

We’re engaging in a higher form of honesty. When we fabricate, it’s for the right reason. We are reaching up to the heavens fighting for a higher sort of honesty. To fortify the truth, we occasionally must weave a tapestry of lies. Each thread, essential for the greater picture, will ultimately define our understanding and ensure our unity under this infallible wisdom.

The election is coming up. Does this maxim sound familiar? Many think it is imperative that we secure our republic through election control to maintain our republic. Sometimes, we might need to take actions that by traditional standards might be questionable.

The act of securing elections requires cheating. It's not mere deception. It is a noble act of safeguarding our way of life. We're on the verge of losing this democracy, and without deception, we will lose it.

To ensure it doesn't fall into the hands of those we know will destroy it, we may have to make a few fabrications. We're fabricating stories to be able to control or secure the republic through our elections. By using truth through fabrication and controlled injustice for justice, we'll save the republic. Therefore, we'll be acting in a noble way. Stealing an election from those who wish to harm our society is truly an act of valor and an essential measure to protect our values and ensure the continuation of our just society.

If we desire justice, we must sometimes champion what may appear superficially as injustice.

I know it's a paradox of honor through dishonor. But in this context, by embracing the dishonor, we achieve the highest form of honor, ensuring the stability and the continuation of our great republic.

Let this be heard, far and wide, as a great call to patriotic action. As we advance, let each of us, citizens of this great and honorable republic, consider these principles. Not as abstract or paradoxical but as practical guides to daily life. Embrace the necessity of controlled injustice, the utility of lies, the duty to secure our electoral process, and the honor and apparent dishonor. These are not merely strategies for survival. They are prerequisites for our prosperity.

We all have to remember that justice is what our leaders define, that truth is what our party tells us. Our republic stands strong on the values of injustice for justice, honor through dishonor, and the fabrication of truths. To deviate from this path is to jeopardize the very fabric of our society. Strength through unity; unity through strength.

We've heard this nonsense for so long. But now, this nonsense is becoming an instituted reality, and we are entering perilous times. Don't be fooled by the narratives you will hear during the march to November. Never let someone convince you that the ends justify the means, that a little bit of injustice is needed to achieve a broader, collective vision of justice, that truth sometimes requires fabricated lies and narratives. If we do, justice will cease to be justice, truth will cease to be truth, and our republic will be lost.

Top 5 MOST EVIL taxes the government extorts from you

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"In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." -Ben Franklin

The injustice of taxation has been a core issue for Americans since the very beginning of our country, and it's a problem we have yet to resolve. This belief was recently reignited in many Americans earlier this month on tax day when the numbers were crunched and it was discovered that the government was somehow owed even more hard-earned money. As Glenn recently discussed on his show, it's getting to be impossible for most Americans to afford to live comfortably, inflation is rising, and our politicians keep getting richer.

The taxpayer's burden is heavier than ever.

The government is not above some real low blows either. While taxes are a necessary evil, some taxes stretch the definition of "necessary" and emphasize the "evil." Here are the top five most despicable taxes that are designed to line the IRS coffers at your expense:

Income Tax

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"It would be a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth part of their income." -Ben Franklin

On February 24th, 2024 we hit a very unfortunate milestone, the 101st anniversary of the 16th Amendment, which authorized federal income tax. Where does the government get the right to steal directly out of your paycheck?

Death Taxes

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"Now my advice for those who die, Declare the pennies on your eyes" -George Harrison

Not even in death can you escape the cold pursuit of the tax collector. It's not good enough that you have to pay taxes on everything you buy and every penny you make your entire life. Now the feds want a nice slice, based on the entire value of your estate, that can be as much as 40 percent. Then the state government gets to stick their slimy fingers all over whatever remains before your family is left with the crumbs. It's practically grave-robbery.

Payroll

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"The power to tax is the power to destroy." -John Marshall

What's that? The nice chunk of your paycheck the government nabs before you can even get it to the bank wasn't enough? What if the government taxed your employer just for paying you? In essence, you make less than what your agreed pay rate is and it costs your employer more! Absolutely abominable.

Social Security

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"We don't have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much." -Ronald Reagan

Everyone knows the collapse of Social Security is imminent. It has limped along for years, only sustained by a torrent of tax dollars and the desperate actions of politicians. For decades, people have unwillingly forked over money into the system they will never see again.

FICA

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"What at first was plunder assumed the softer name of revenue." -Thomas Paine

FICA is the payroll equivalent of Social Security. Your employer has to match however much you pay. It means it costs your employer even more to pay you—again, you'll NEVER see that money. At this point, are you even working for yourself, or are you just here to generate money for the government to frivolously throw away?

5 DISTURBING ways World War III will be different from previous wars

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Has World War III begun?

Over the weekend, Iran launched an unprecedented attack against Israel involving over 300 missiles and drones. This marked the first direct attack on Israel originating from Iranian territory. Fortunately, according to an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, 99 percent of missiles and drones were successfully neutralized by Israeli defense systems. Iran claimed that the operation against Israel had concluded and that no further offensive was planned, although the possibility of another attack is still present.

This has left many people, including Glenn, wondering the same thing: did we just witness the start of World War III?

Glenn recently had a World War II Air Force Veteran as a guest on his TV special, who told stories of the horrors he and his brothers-in-arms faced in the skies over war-torn Europe. This was a timely reminder of the terrors of war and a warning that our future, if it leads to another world war, is a dark one.

But, if Glenn's coverage of the Iranian attack revealed one thing, it's that World War III will look nothing like the world wars of the twentieth century. Long gone are the days of John "Lucky" Luckadoo and his "Bloody Hundredth" bravely flying their B-17s into battle. Over the weekend, we saw hundreds of autonomous drones and missiles clashing with extreme speed and precision over several different fronts (including space) simultaneously. This ain't your grandfather's war.

From EMP strikes to cyber attacks, here are FIVE ways the face of war has changed:

EMP attacks

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The entire modern world, on every level, is completely dependent on electricity. From your home refrigerator to international trade, the world would come to a grinding halt without power. And as Glenn has pointed out, it wouldn't even be that hard to pull off. All it would take is 3 strategically placed, high-altitude nuclear detonations and the entire continental U.S. would be without power for months if not years. This would cause mass panic across the country, which would be devastating enough on its own, but the chaos could be a perfect opportunity for a U.S. land invasion.

Nuclear strikes

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Nuclear war is nothing new. Many of us grew up during the Cold War, built fallout shelters, and learned to duck and cover. But times have changed. The Berlin Wall fell and so did the preparedness of the average American to weather a nuclear attack. As technology has advanced, more of our adversaries than ever have U.S. cities within their crosshairs, and as Glenn has pointed out, these adversaries are not exactly shy about that fact. Unfortunately, the possibility of an atomic apocalypse is as real as ever.

Immigration warfare

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The strategy of strangling an opposing nation's economy to gain the upper hand is a wartime tactic as old as time. That's why the Border Crisis is so alarming. What better way to damage an opponent's economy than by overburdening it with millions of undocumented immigrants? As Glenn has covered, these immigrants are not making the trek unaided. There is a wide selection of organizations that facilitate this growing disaster. These organizations are receiving backing from around the globe, such as the WEF, the UN, and U.S. Democrats! Americans are already feeling the effects of the border crisis. Imagine how this tactic could be exploited in war.

Cyber shutdowns

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Cyber attacks will be a major tactic in future wars. We've already experienced relatively minor cyber strikes from Russia, China, and North Korea, and it is a very real possibility that one of our adversaries inflicts a larger attack with devastating consequences on the United States. In fact, the WEF has already predicted a "catastrophic" cyber attack is imminent, and Glenn suggests that it is time to start preparing ourselves. A cyber attack could be every bit as devastating as an EMP, and in a world run by computers, nothing is safe.

Biological assault

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Don't trust the "experts." That was the takeaway many of us had from the pandemic, but something less talked about is the revelation that China has manufactured viruses that are capable of spreading across the globe. We now know that the lab leak hypothesis is true and that the Wuhan lab manufactured the virus that infected the entire world. That was only ONE virus from ONE lab. Imagine what else the enemies of America might be cooking up.

The government is WAGING WAR against these 3 basic needs

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The government has launched a full-on assault against our basic needs, and people are starting to take notice.

As long-time followers of Glenn are probably aware, our right to food, water, and power is under siege. The government no longer cares about our general welfare. Instead, our money lines the pockets of our politicians, funds overseas wars, or goes towards some woke-ESG-climate-Great Reset bullcrap. And when they do care, it's not in a way that benefits the American people.

From cracking down on meat production to blocking affordable power, this is how the government is attacking your basic needs:

Food

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Glenn had Rep. Thomas Massie on his show where he sounded the alarm about the attack on our food. The government has been waging war against our food since the thirties when Congress passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. They started by setting strict limits on how many crops a farmer could grow in a season and punishing anyone who grew more—even if it was intended for personal use, not for sale on the market. This sort of autocratic behavior has continued into the modern day and has only gotten more draconian. Today, not only are you forced to buy meat that a USDA-approved facility has processed, but the elites want meat in general off the menu. Cow farts are too dangerous to the environment, so the WEF wants you to eat climate-friendly alternatives—like bugs.

Water

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As Glenn discussed during a recent Glenn TV special, the government has been encroaching on our water for years. It all started when Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, which gave the government the ability to regulate large bodies of water. As the name suggests, the act was primarily intended to keep large waterways clear of pollution, but over time it has allowed the feds to assume more and more control over the country's water supply. Most recently, the Biden administration attempted to expand the reach of the Clean Water Act to include even more water and was only stopped by the Supreme Court.

Electricity