#0176 Did Washington Foresee the Russo-Ukraine Dilemma? Anti-Christ Pop Culture Meltdown, Trans-Monkeys, Dangers of Free Speech, The Ballad of Elmer the Cadaver, and The Book Corner

Introduction

Washington's Farewell Address

Cut 1:

I want to let you know that I will not be running for re-election.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve, but I need to step down, and let me tell you why I've resolved to do so.

I have served two terms, and that is enough for anyone—I will retire now.

Cut 2:

Be wary of the forces that seek to weaken the national unity essential to defense—both internal and external, ideologically and materially. The only means for continued freedom is national unity and individual solidarity in the bonds of blood, creed, and nationality.

Cut 3:

Your nation has the right to your allegiance because it provides for your safety, and your duty to fellow citizens extends from civic charity to the defense of the nation. We all hold the same general beliefs, religion, and goals—national identity is key to maintaining the liberty so many have fought and died for.

The esoteric considerations aside, we must also address the conflicting interests of the States, which are outweighed by the interest of the whole. You must learn to consider the individual interests of the States within the context of the whole of the United States.

Your individual States will have their own autonomy, only within the value and benefit of the whole of the United States. The balance between States' rights and federal oversight has been laid out in our new Constitution, ratified by all. Each authority has its sphere of jurisdiction, subject to change only by the ratification of amendments.

Cut 4:

The purpose of the checks and balances between the States and the branches of the federal government is to ensure a level playing field for all factions present in political debate. The violation or manipulation of these checks and balances is inevitably harmful, no matter how noble or ignoble the pursuit.

Cut 5:

Be aware that popular factions can misuse the system of checks and balances to create tyrants, who will then seek to dismantle the very system they used to claim power.

Cut 6:

It's important to avoid altering the basic structure of the Constitution through violations or amendments, as this will dilute the purpose of the checks and balances and eventually break a perfectly serviceable constitution.

Commentary: What did we see with the threat of packing the Supreme Court, removing the Electoral College, or now with the attempts from the legislative and judicial branches to hinder reform of the executive branch?

Cut 7:

The more control you give political parties, the more autocratic they will become.

This stems from the darker impulses of human nature, existent in any nation, but partially mitigated within the design of the American Constitution.

It's natural for political parties to become entrenched within the body politic, their interests gaining greater bearing than the actual interests of the people.

Cut 8:

It is natural, then, for political parties to act in retaliation and revenge against each other between elections, formulating a bizarre despotism and oligarchy.

Cut 9:

You must be aware of this tendency of political parties and prevent it if you wish to avoid a permanent political ruling class levying autocratic policies upon the people.

Cut 10:

If you allow this sort of political party structure to arise, you'll live to witness ill-founded rivalries that fester into political riots, insurrection, and corruption.

Cut 11:

Now, on the issue of foreign influence—avoid becoming so entrenched in the quarrels of other nations that you lose sight of the needs of your own country. Otherwise, nationalists will eventually be