How plutocrats con the non-rich: deconstructing the Heritage Foundation's absurd Davos argument
THE PLAYERS
The World Economic Forum (WEF), founded in 1971, is a global NGO funded by its 1,000 member multi-national companies.
The Heritage Foundation formed in 1973, is a think tank designed to create and promote conservative policies.
Kevin D. Roberts is the President of The Heritage Foundation. He has made the organization’s mission the institutionalization of Trumpism.
THE STAGE
Every January, the WEF invites governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum Partners, civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets to meet in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss international issues.
PROPAGANDA
In an interview posted on Rumble, Kevin Roberts trashed the WEF and promoted the ‘wins’ he predicts a second Trump term will shower on America. It is a case study of the abject dishonesty so glibly offered to the perennially credulous MAGAs by a polemicist with a gift for propaganda.
DICTATORSHIP AND THE ELITES
Roberts starts by drawing the battle lines. He dismisses the WEF’s mission and defends his boy against charges that he will act as a fascist.
“It's laughable that anyone would describe Davos as protecting liberal democracy. It is equally laughable to use the word ‘dictatorship’ at Davos and aim that at President Trump.”
He adds,
“President Trump, if he's the next president, is going to take on the power of the elites.”
Roberts is the head of an organization funded by rich people and large corporations to be their thought leader. It takes chutzpah for him to imply he is not a shill for society’s top rank. When he uses “elites” he means liberal elites — and hopes the MAGAs ignore the hypocrisy. He adds to his duplicity by calling the Davos attendees — despite being one — “part of the problem.”
PROJECTION
Roberts then uses a favorite conservative psychological ploy — projection. He castigates liberals as liars when his godhead, Trump, is universally known as the world’s least honest man.
“Political elites tell the average people on three or four or five issues that the reality is “X,” when in fact reality is “Y.”
IMMIGRATION AND THE STRAW MAN FALLACY
In addition to projection, Roberts uses another conservative go-to — the straw man fallacy. He misstates a liberal position and then argues against his lie.
”Take immigration. Elites tell us that open borders, and even illegal immigration, are OK. The average person tells us in the United States that [illegal immigrants] both rob them of the American way of life. They’re right. President Trump will take that on, on behalf of the average American.”
If US liberals want open borders and illegal immigration, why did President Biden sign spending bills, agreed to by Democrats, funding Homeland Security, the CBP, ICE, and border-securing technology? Also note: nowhere in his criticism of the WEF did Roberts offer evidence for his assertions.
Democrats do not want to fund a useless border wall. Thank God for fiscal sanity. However, if Roberts believes no wall is pro-illegal immigration, where is his criticism of the 2017/18 GOP Congress, which also refused to pay for the border barrier?
CRIME
Roberts turns to big-city bashing.
“Elites also tell us that public safety isn't a problem in big American cities — travel to New York, or Washington or even Dallas, Texas. The average person will tell you that the lack of public safety damages not just the American way of life, but their life. President Trump will take that on.”
So many questions. Who does Roberts count as “the average person”? What does Roberts mean by “the American way of life”? If Trump is so good on law and order, why did gun homicides explode by 24% during his presidency? And if conservatives are crime fighters, why is crime high in the South and lowest in the North East?
CLIMATE CHANGE
Roberts then turns to climate change, a favorite target of the ‘protect corporate profits no matter who gets hurt’ crowd.
“Thirdly, I guess the favorite at world economic forum, is climate change. Elites tell us that we have this existential crisis with so-called climate change. So much so that climate alarmism is probably the greatest cause for mental health crisis in the world.
The solutions, the average person know, based on climate change are far worse and more harmful, and cost more human lives, especially in Europe during the time you need heating, than do the problems themselves.”
Roberts is just making things up. I suspect if you polled mental health professionals — something I wager Roberts has not done — climate change alarmism would be very low on the list of factors causing a “mental health crisis in the world.” In addition, by what metric does mental health become a global crisis? Is mental health worse today than before climate change became a universal topic?
Likely, Roberts is bringing up mental health to support the gun zealots who say mental illness, not high-powered, rapid-firing, large-capacity war weapons, are to blame for gun massacres.
CHINA
Next, Roberts turns to foreign policy.
“The fourth, China, not just the number one adversary to the United States but to free people on Planet Earth. Not only at Davos do we not say that, we give the Chinese communist party a platform. Count on President Trump ending that nonsense.”
Really? Trump loves to boast about how he talks to America’s enemies. And he cannot stop expressing his hots for China’s President Xi.
GENDER
Lastly, Roberts checks the gender box.
“And fifth, as we sit here, another super-national organization, the World Health Organization, is discussing foisting gender ideology on the Global South. These practices are under review, if not being rejected, by countries in Northern Europe.
Who knows what the WHO is discussing? But as they have no enforcement mechanism, if you are a government that does do not like something they recommend, you are free to ignore it. If WHO had any power, there would be no anti-gay criminal laws in Africa and Muslim countries. And equal rights for women, both legally and culturally, would be universal.
SCIENCE
In conclusion, Roberts promotes Trump as driven by science. Continue reading when you stop laughing.
“The new President, especially if it's President Trump, will as you like to say "Trust the science." He will understand the basic biological reality of manhood and womanhood.
Do you know why? Not because of retribution. Not because he's a dictator. But because he has the power of the American people behind him.”
AMERICANS SAY NO TO GOP PRESIDENTS
Sadly, the ‘power of the American people’ is eviscerated by America’s election laws. Trump has never won the popular vote — Republican presidential candidates have only done so once since 1988. Americans want Democratic Presidents. And red/purple states with GOP governments are doing all they can to restrict liberal voting or gerrymandering their votes to water down Democratic political representation.
Roberts continues to celebrate anti-democratic constitutional mandates by saying the Senate reflects the popular will, despite California (pop. 39,965,000, and Wyoming (pop. 584,000), having equal representation in the Upper House.
"In addition to needing a vigorous executive, we look forward to having the popular will inform the House and Senate in 2025, to pass laws on all of those issues, and many others."
LIONS vs. SHEEP
Roberts ends by quoting Argentina’s new President because apparently, the US should have its politics informed by a South American (I doubt Roberts appreciates the irony)
"Ultimately, President Trump, if in fact he wins the second term, is going to be inspired by the wise words of Javier Milei, who said he was in power “not to guide sheep but to awaken lions." That's what the average American, and the average free person on Planet Earth, wants out of leaders."
Does Roberts know that Milei, a libertarian, supports individual choice on drugs, prostitution, same-sex marriage, sexual preference, and gender identity? He also supports arming Ukraine. Roberts will not mention that.
MAGAs may like to think they are fierce alpha-predators. But anyone whose politics is the adoration of an individual is not a lion — a species where the female does all the work. They are sheep. Fun fact for evangelicals, ‘pastor’ is the Latin for shepherd. Baaaa.