The Take (by Jon Miltimore)

The Take by Jon Miltimore explores societal and political issues, focusing on the consequences of government actions, individual rights, censorship, and manipulation. It critically examines historical and contemporary events, advocating for skepticism, liberty, and the dangers of centralized power and political correctness.

Societal and Political Issues Government Actions and Individual Rights Censorship and Information Control Historical Analyses Economic Observations and Critiques Media and Cultural Criticism Science and Skepticism

The hottest Substack posts of The Take (by Jon Miltimore)

And their main takeaways

How America’s Recycling Efforts Failed—and Scarred the Environment

178 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
  1. Cities across America have scrapped or scaled back recycling programs due to high costs.
  2. Recycling efforts began with good intentions but have led to severe environmental costs.
  3. Getting government out of the recycling business and allowing entrepreneurs armed with local knowledge could lead to a more effective and environmentally friendly recycling system.

A CIA Chief's Chilling Dying Words and the JFK Assassination

277 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
  1. Confessions and near confessions about the JFK assassination have come from people inside the US government.
  2. A dying CIA chief, James Angleton, described a culture at the CIA where lying and betrayal led to promotion.
  3. Certain members of the CIA harbored hatred towards Kennedy, possibly leading to his assassination.

The Justice Department Lawsuit Against Elon Musk’s SpaceX Is Outrageous

198 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
  1. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against SpaceX, accusing them of discrimination in hiring practices.
  2. There is a debate over whether SpaceX's hiring practices comply with regulations related to safeguarding military technologies.
  3. The lawsuit against SpaceX may be politically motivated, given other government actions against Elon Musk.
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Why Black Friday Is Called Black Friday

138 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
  1. The origins of why Black Friday is called Black Friday are unclear and have multiple explanations.
  2. One possible origin is the day after Thanksgiving in the 1950s when people would skip work, leading to chaos and heavy shopping, contributing to the name.
  3. Another explanation is that retailers embraced the term 'Black Friday' as a positive signal of profitability, marking the shift from financial losses to gains.

5 Forgotten Signers of the Declaration of Independence

257 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
  1. 56 delegates signed the Declaration of Independence, many of whom are unknown.
  2. The signers were putting their lives at risk by declaring independence from Great Britain.
  3. Some forgotten signers include John Witherspoon, Thomas Nelson Jr., John Hart, Thomas McKean, and Francis Lewis.

Harry Truman's Salvo Against the CIA Following JFK Assassination

297 implied HN points • 23 May 23
  1. Harry Truman expressed concerns about the CIA's role post-JFK assassination and felt the agency needed to be corrected.
  2. Truman's public questioning of the CIA's functions following a national tragedy was significant and caught attention.
  3. Historians suggest CIA might be hiding information about JFK's assassination, leading to suspicions and lack of transparency.

Even the CIA Now Admits There Was a 'Cover-Up' Following the JFK Assassination

118 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
  1. The CIA's in-house historian concluded there was a 'benign cover-up' following the JFK assassination.
  2. The CIA has been deflecting and withholding information about JFK's assassination for 60 years.
  3. It is troubling that the CIA continues to hide the truth and not release all documents related to the JFK assassination.

80% of Democrats support price controls to fight inflation, new CBS poll finds

118 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
  1. 80% of Democrats support price controls to fight inflation based on a new CBS poll
  2. History has shown that government-imposed price controls can lead to disastrous outcomes, as seen during the Nixon era
  3. Economists argue that price controls cannot solve scarcity, a fundamental economic reality

Cheesecake Factory’s Unfortunate Lesson on Scarcity and Prices

178 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
  1. Ignoring prices can lead to negative consequences, as seen with Cheesecake Factory's free cheesecake promotion.
  2. Scarcity and prices are essential economic concepts that help allocate resources efficiently.
  3. Businesses and governments should remember that resources are limited and prices are important for preventing chaos.

C.S. Lewis's Warning on Social Justice

277 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
  1. Politics and social justice are becoming more intertwined in our culture.
  2. Christians are being called to engage in the pursuit of social justice.
  3. C.S. Lewis cautioned against using Christianity as a means to achieve social justice, warning against making political causes idols of faith.

The ESG Empire Strikes Back Following Bud Light Debacle

277 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
  1. ESG model faces threat due to Bud Light sales decline
  2. Beer companies are engaging in controversial social issues to appease ESG rating firms
  3. The ESG model shifts focus from consumers to arbitrary interests, impacting corporate decisions

J.R.R. Tolkien on Love and Sex

198 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
  1. Tolkien learned important lessons about love and sex from his relationship with his wife Edith.
  2. Men need to consciously choose faithfulness in both mind and body in marriage.
  3. Marriage can be a sanctifying force for sexual desires, but the struggle to remain faithful remains.

15 of Mark Twain’s Sassiest Quotable Quips (Sourced)

218 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
  1. Mark Twain used humor and satire to poke at societal norms and conventions.
  2. Twain's wit and cleverness are evident in his quotable lines.
  3. One of Twain's famous quotes is about distorting facts after knowing them.

How 'Demolition Man' Perfectly Predicted 2023

178 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
  1. 'Demolition Man' movie predicted various aspects of the future like self-driving cars, digital currency, and anti-smoking laws.
  2. Dystopia can take different forms, not just totalitarian but also through soft oppression and control of freedom.
  3. The movie's character, Edgard Friendly, highlights the importance of freedom of speech and choice, addressing current issues around coercion and control in society.

The Other Racists

138 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
  1. Universities are giving racial preference in admissions, disadvantaging highly qualified Asian students.
  2. Difference between disparate outcomes and active racial discrimination in university admissions.
  3. Collectivism in identity politics leads to dehumanizing views of individuals based on group identity.

My Response to Reason's RFK Jr. Takedown

198 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
  1. RFK Jr.'s ideas and causes have been critiqued by Liz Wolfe and Reason.
  2. RFK Jr. has controversial stances on issues like vaccine mandates and US involvement in Ukraine.
  3. Support for RFK Jr. comes from diverse groups but not all libertarians agree.

Banning Gas-Powered Cars Is Madness

218 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
  1. Proposals to ban gas-powered cars may not have as clear of an environmental benefit as believed, due to the environmental impact of manufacturing electric vehicles and mining for materials.
  2. There are significant tradeoffs and environmental costs in transitioning to electric vehicles, such as heavy reliance on mining in countries like Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.
  3. Banning gas-powered vehicles is a policy fraught with both hubris and madness, bringing hidden environmental costs and complexities.

10 'Subversive' Jokes That Could’ve Landed You in an East German Prison

237 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
  1. Americans often mock politicians in jokes without facing severe consequences.
  2. Mocking political leaders through jokes is a common practice for stress relief and social commentary.
  3. In East Germany, telling jokes about the state could lead to serious repercussions like imprisonment.

Chicago’s Solution to Its Failing School System: Stop Grading Schools on Performance

138 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
  1. Chicago is considering stopping grading schools based on performance and focusing on funding instead.
  2. Chicago's schools have struggled for years, with many students failing to meet state standards.
  3. The approach of grading schools based on funding rather than performance can be problematic and does not address the real issues in the education system.

America (Finally) Admitted Recycling Doesn't Work

277 implied HN points • 03 May 23
  1. Recycling in the US is facing a crisis, with cities abandoning recycling programs due to high costs and lack of demand for recyclables.
  2. The economic and environmental benefits of recycling are questionable, with resources spent on recycling potentially creating more waste.
  3. There is skepticism around the effectiveness of recycling, with critics pointing out the inefficiencies and lack of clear environmental benefits.

It Takes This Many Days to Form a Habit

198 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
  1. Forming good habits takes conscious effort and discipline but can be done.
  2. On average, it takes 66 days to form a habit, with considerable variation depending on the behavior.
  3. People can profoundly change themselves through the cultivation of good habits, empowering the idea of self-transformation.

9 Literary Masterpieces the Church Banned

138 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
  1. The Church had an official list of banned books, created to steer believers away from heretical works.
  2. Scientific and philosophical works were banned by the Church, along with seemingly benign literary classics.
  3. Book banning was not exclusive to the Church, as regimes ban and burn works deemed ideologically 'dangerous'.

When Justin Trudeau Said He Admired China’s 'Basic Dictatorship'

257 implied HN points • 21 May 23
  1. Justin Trudeau expressed admiration for China's 'basic dictatorship' in 2013.
  2. Trudeau's remarks on China's regime drew criticism for overlooking human rights abuses.
  3. Trudeau's response to peaceful protests in Canada raises concerns about his use of power.

Neil Postman’s Warning to Americans on Barbarism

297 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
  1. Postman highlighted the distinction between being an Athenian and a Visigoth based on values and behaviors.
  2. He emphasized the importance of cherishing knowledge, language, social restraint, and public affairs to embody Athenian ideals.
  3. Postman's call to students to reflect on whether they aspire to be Athenians or Visigoths set a critical tone for societal behavior and educational priorities.

Why Our World Suddenly Looks Like “1984”

218 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
  1. Truth is under assault in our world today
  2. Orwell's '1984' warns about totalitarian surveillance states and the absence of truth
  3. Freedom of speech is essential to the search for truth and preventing a truth crisis

Can You Recognize America’s First Political Cartoon?

178 implied HN points • 16 Aug 23
  1. America's first political cartoon was the 'Join, or Die' snake created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754.
  2. The cartoon's message emphasized unity among the colonies against France, not England.
  3. The 'Join, or Die' cartoon is linked to the start of the French and Indian War.

Joe Biden Identified as 'Political Figure 1' in Draft Warrant

138 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
  1. Joe Biden is identified as 'Political Figure 1' in a draft warrant.
  2. Investigating and prosecuting political opponents has become a trend in American politics.
  3. Concerns are raised about corruption and the lack of 'incorruptible' political leaders.

The Ancient Greek Play That Mercilessly (and Hilariously) Mocked Socialism and Democracy

198 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
  1. Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes used humor to critique socialism and democracy in "The Assemblywomen."
  2. Aristophanes' play shows the dangers of majoritarianism and enforcing equality in society.
  3. The play serves as a cautionary tale on the excesses of democracy and collectivism, highlighting the flaws of such systems.