Speaker 1: We have to talk about books.
Speaker 1: We have to talk about books.

I like books.
I like books.

I like reading and I say more books to the better.
I like reading and I say more books to the better.

As a general rule doesn't mean every book is appropriate for every setting or every
As a general rule doesn't mean every book is appropriate for every setting or every

situation.
situation.

OK, we've talked about that before, but the real question I have is, according to these
OK, we've talked about that before, but the real question I have is, according to these

right wingers, is banning books good or bad.
right wingers, is banning books good or bad.

And you might be saying, Well, David, no, it's obviously good or it's obviously bad,
And you might be saying, Well, David, no, it's obviously good or it's obviously bad,

but it's really not so clear because we see both perspectives from this modern American
but it's really not so clear because we see both perspectives from this modern American

book burning contingent that exists in the right.
book burning contingent that exists in the right.

As I talk to you about not that long ago, book banned efforts have hit their highest
As I talk to you about not that long ago, book banned efforts have hit their highest

levels and at least 20 years.
levels and at least 20 years.

And it's the right, not the left, that's doing.
And it's the right, not the left, that's doing.

As we looked at this article must have been what is this article even from about a month
As we looked at this article must have been what is this article even from about a month

ago?
ago?

We look we did the story a couple of weeks ago, three three weeks ago or so that book
We look we did the story a couple of weeks ago, three three weeks ago or so that book

band efforts led by the American right wing are at their highest level in 20 years now.
band efforts led by the American right wing are at their highest level in 20 years now.

What we mean by book bands differs in different situations.
What we mean by book bands differs in different situations.

In some cases, what we're talking about is a movement by the right to ban a book from
In some cases, what we're talking about is a movement by the right to ban a book from

being used in school.
being used in school.

Sometimes it's novels.
Sometimes it's novels.

Sometimes it's certain history books, etc.
Sometimes it's certain history books, etc.

They're not necessarily calling for the books to not be published or for the books to be
They're not necessarily calling for the books to not be published or for the books to be

against the law.
against the law.

But they certainly want to cancel a teacher's ability to say, Here's a book that I want
But they certainly want to cancel a teacher's ability to say, Here's a book that I want

to teach from.
to teach from.

They don't want to give teachers that opportunity.
They don't want to give teachers that opportunity.

In other cases, it's confusion about what it even means, and we're going to get to that
In other cases, it's confusion about what it even means, and we're going to get to that

in a moment.
in a moment.

But we know that the efforts to ban books are at multi-decade highs led by the American
But we know that the efforts to ban books are at multi-decade highs led by the American

right wing, so they must be in favor of the book bands, right?
right wing, so they must be in favor of the book bands, right?

Well, apparently not, because remember the Dr. Seuss situation?
Well, apparently not, because remember the Dr. Seuss situation?

This was now about a year ago.
This was now about a year ago.

It's actually hard to believe it's been a year, but it has been a year where the publisher
It's actually hard to believe it's been a year, but it has been a year where the publisher

of Dr. Seuss Books said, Hey, you know what?
of Dr. Seuss Books said, Hey, you know what?

Some of these books.
Some of these books.

This is our review.
This is our review.

We're a private business.
We're a private business.

We can make the decisions that are right for us.
We can make the decisions that are right for us.

We believe that some of these Dr. Seuss books, they have elements that are not really sensitive
We believe that some of these Dr. Seuss books, they have elements that are not really sensitive

to modern cultural sensitivities.
to modern cultural sensitivities.

We're a private business.
We're a private business.

We're a publisher, and we think it's not good for business to keep publishing some of these.
We're a publisher, and we think it's not good for business to keep publishing some of these.

So we're not going to keep printing more copies.
So we're not going to keep printing more copies.

We're not burning the books.
We're not burning the books.

We're not saying the books should be against the law.
We're not saying the books should be against the law.

We're not saying people can't read them.
We're not saying people can't read them.

We just think continuing to print these particular books is no longer in line with what's best
We just think continuing to print these particular books is no longer in line with what's best

for us.
for us.

And the right went crazy, saying, Oh my God, the the left is banning the books.
And the right went crazy, saying, Oh my God, the the left is banning the books.

They're canceling Dr. Seuss.
They're canceling Dr. Seuss.

It's terrible.
It's terrible.

Always allow the books everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.
Always allow the books everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.

Oh, OK.
Oh, OK.

So they're against, I guess, limitations on books.
So they're against, I guess, limitations on books.

Except now, as we talked about yesterday.
Except now, as we talked about yesterday.

And as we've been talking about for several months, they seem fine banning books when
And as we've been talking about for several months, they seem fine banning books when

it's books that they don't like, when it's history books that tell the real story.
it's books that they don't like, when it's history books that tell the real story.

As far as we know at this time of slavery, of racial discrimination, of all sorts of
As far as we know at this time of slavery, of racial discrimination, of all sorts of

different aspects of history.
different aspects of history.

All of a sudden, the very same right wingers who were saying they're canceling Dr. Seuss,
All of a sudden, the very same right wingers who were saying they're canceling Dr. Seuss,

they say, We got to get these books the hell out of here.
they say, We got to get these books the hell out of here.

We now are learning about this new effort in Florida to reject math textbooks because
We now are learning about this new effort in Florida to reject math textbooks because

they contain so-called critical race theory.
they contain so-called critical race theory.

Although Ron DeSantis and other Floridians have not been able to provide a single substantive
Although Ron DeSantis and other Floridians have not been able to provide a single substantive

example of where such critical race theory exists.
example of where such critical race theory exists.

So I guess the question of is banning books good or bad?
So I guess the question of is banning books good or bad?

The answer is, well, I guess it depends on their mood.
The answer is, well, I guess it depends on their mood.

I guess it depends on which books.
I guess it depends on which books.

I guess it depends on who's doing it and why.
I guess it depends on who's doing it and why.

And it's a very similar phenomenon with protests.
And it's a very similar phenomenon with protests.

If you're protesting police brutality, if you're protesting in favor of Black Lives
If you're protesting police brutality, if you're protesting in favor of Black Lives

Matter, if you're protesting in defense of George Floyd.
Matter, if you're protesting in defense of George Floyd.

Well, then these protests are dangerous to law enforcement and we've got a back the blue
Well, then these protests are dangerous to law enforcement and we've got a back the blue

and they're all violent and looting and all these different things.
and they're all violent and looting and all these different things.

But if you're protesting against Joe Biden being the president and getting sworn in because
But if you're protesting against Joe Biden being the president and getting sworn in because

he was elected on January six, well, then you're doing the right thing and you're being
he was elected on January six, well, then you're doing the right thing and you're being

treated very unfairly by everybody.
treated very unfairly by everybody.

And what about back the blue?
And what about back the blue?

Because they beat up some cops?
Because they beat up some cops?

Oh no, no, no.
Oh no, no, no.

We don't care about that all of a sudden because they were protesting against the certification
We don't care about that all of a sudden because they were protesting against the certification

of the election.
of the election.

Oh, so I guess it's not really so simple.
Oh, so I guess it's not really so simple.

And the principle here is the one I've been telling you about now for years, which is
And the principle here is the one I've been telling you about now for years, which is

they don't even really care about their own stated principles.
they don't even really care about their own stated principles.

They stake out apparent principles to justify the end results that they already want.
They stake out apparent principles to justify the end results that they already want.

If their principles all of a sudden would point to actually Black Lives Matter can protest.
If their principles all of a sudden would point to actually Black Lives Matter can protest.

Actually, you shouldn't ban these books.
Actually, you shouldn't ban these books.

Then they change their principles because their principles are no longer convenient
Then they change their principles because their principles are no longer convenient

to their preexisting end goals.
to their preexisting end goals.

And this is the theme we've been following for years at this point in time.
And this is the theme we've been following for years at this point in time.

I don't think this is going to stop anytime soon, and in particular because they don't
I don't think this is going to stop anytime soon, and in particular because they don't

really want to engage on what should climate policy be, what should policy be on renewable
really want to engage on what should climate policy be, what should policy be on renewable

sources of energy?
sources of energy?

What should the top tax rate be?
What should the top tax rate be?

They can only engage completely.
They can only engage completely.

Superficially, taxes are bad.
Superficially, taxes are bad.

Green New Deal is bad because they are unwilling or unable to engage substantively on those
Green New Deal is bad because they are unwilling or unable to engage substantively on those

issues.
issues.

They're going to keep pushing this stuff and it works.
They're going to keep pushing this stuff and it works.

I don't want to be a broken record, but part of why Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia gubernatorial
I don't want to be a broken record, but part of why Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia gubernatorial

race is because this stuff works.
race is because this stuff works.

I will ban teaching of critical race theory.
I will ban teaching of critical race theory.

Who's teaching it?
Who's teaching it?

Well, it doesn't matter.
Well, it doesn't matter.

I will ban it.
I will ban it.

Wow, I'm going to vote for this guy.
Wow, I'm going to vote for this guy.

This stuff works.
This stuff works.

Let me know your thoughts.
Let me know your thoughts.

You can find me on Twitter at Packman.
You can find me on Twitter at Packman.

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