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Senator Bernie Sander's 2018 re-election campaign spent almost $300,000 on private jet service for his recent cross-country tour to stump for Democrats and test the presidential waters for the 2020 election.
Sander's private jet use comes despite Bernie's hard-line stance on climate---saying recently, "Climate change is the single greatest threat facing our planet."
Some thoughts on the art of deception.
Be discerning.
The local Vermont website, Vtdigger, first noted that local progressive icon Bernie Sanders seems to be saying one thing while doing another.
The $297,685.50 jet bill covered his tour of the country: Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, South Carolina, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, California and back to Vermont.
Bernie's spokesperson explained that although he did use private jet travel extensively, it was necessary to get his message out---"He wanted to go where he thinks he can be helpful in energizing the base and bringing in young people and independent voters--and working-class voters who supported him," they said.
The Daily Caller reports that "The same day they cut the check to the private jet company, Bernie called climate change a 'planetary crises'."
He said, "Climate change is a planetary crises. Our task is clear. We must take on the fossil fuel industry that's largely responsible for global emissions..."
Vtdigger says Bernie's campaign assures those who question the use of the jet that they have squared up with the "sin" of creating all the excessive carbon by "writing a check for $4,980.00 to NativeEnergy for carbon offsets."
Martin Luther called such things an "indulgence."
Al Gore and other climate activists have also claimed exemption from this same sin by buying the indulgences of a "carbon offset."
Personally, I couldn't care less whether Bernie or Al or whomever flies in private jets; however, I do think that Bernie's tour, Al Gore's insistence on forcing the world---at least the US--to return to the stone age to save the planet, and the million other oracles of global warming/climate change be given a closer look. Because they define the "Art of Deception."
Kevin D. Mitnick is probably one of the most famous, or infamous, tech hackers and con men of modern times. In his book, "The Art of Deception--Controlling the Human Element of Security," he says,
"Social engineering uses influence and persuasion to deceive people by convincing them that the social engineer is someone he is not, or by manipulation.".
In his introduction to the book, Steve Woznizack, the co-founder of Apple, says Kevin Mitnick is "one of the finest people I know. Ask him, and he will say forthrightly that what he used to do---social engineering--involves conning people. But Kevin is no longer a social engineer---his motive was never to enrich himself or damage others."
"Woz," as his friends call him, says "This book points out how easy it is to trick" people...And all people concerned about tech trickery simply need to turn to the Mitnicks among us for guidance.
Is Mitnick's book an attempt to help people---or is it trickery from another angle?
The art of deception.
Certain things are true for all people at all times. Truth is absolute, not relative.
The art of deception is first introduced to humans in the book of Genesis---the very first book of the Bible.
Satan's encounter with Eve is defined by the master deceiver as a teaching moment---a moment of clarification to save Eve and the human race from the consequences of God's laws.
Proverbs 22:21 speaks of the "certainty" of God's Words.
5 Characteristics of deception.
1. Question truth.
The first thing Satan did in his encounter with Eve was to question God's Truth---"Has God indeed said?"
2. Contradict Truth.
"You will not surely die." When secularists have successfully diminished the authority of God's Word in the minds of people, they then contradict the Truth.
3. Focus on motives.
Focusing on motives rather than substance, Satan said, "For God knows that in the day you eat of the fruit, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God---knowing good and evil."
He directly questioned the motives and intentions of God Himself, presuming to tell Eve what God really meant, with the intention of undermining God's Words and undermining her confidence in them.
4. Deconstruct language.
Satan redefined what God had plainly said to suit his needs and agenda---"God said you will surely die," but what He really meant to say was that you will be like Him and know what He knows. You will become free, liberated and enlightened.
Deconstruction of language strips reality and written texts of inherent meaning. It reduces language to a mirror of social construct, mirroring the interpreters personal perspective or worldview, refashioning or redefining favored words or concepts into fresh words that reflect his or her own preference without any anchor or basis other than feelings and emotions.
Relativism.
Friedrich Nietzsche, the famous atheist, said, "I fear we are not getting rid of God because we still believe in grammar."
Second Timothy chapter 3 certainly defines our times.
- (v5) Having a form of godliness but denying its power.
- (v7) Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.
- (v8) People who actually resist the Truth because of corrupt minds.
- (v13) Evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
In his last words before he would be executed for his faith, Paul writes (II Tim.4:4) "And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
We live in a time of many fables---from such, turn away.
Be informed.
Don't lean to your own understanding, but simply acknowledge God and His Word in all your ways---and He will direct your path.
Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Faithful. Be Prayerful.