Has the ‘War on Boys’ Entered the Workforce?

from here: http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/has-war-boys-entered-workforce

Has the ‘War on Boys’ Entered the Workforce?

Annie Holmquist | June 20, 2016

This morning The Washington Post reported on a growing problem afflicting the American workforce: fewer men are participating.

The Post explains:

“The [workforce downturn] problem is particularly pronounced among men between the ages of 25 and 54, traditionally considered the prime working years. Their participation rate has been declining for decades, but the drop-off accelerated during the recession. The high mark was 98 percent in 1954, and it now stands at 88 percent. A new analysis from the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, slated for release Monday, found that the United States now has the third-lowest participation rate for ‘prime-age men’ among the world’s developed countries.”

According to The Post, this drop-off in men in the workforce is largely attributable to poor education and high rates of incarceration, two facts which the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers believe can be solved by “raising the minimum wage and expanding the earned-income tax credit.”

But instead of treating the symptoms of this problem, perhaps we should consider the fact that declining male workforce participation might be a direct result of what has been called the “war on boys.”

More than 15 years ago, Christina Hoff Sommers issued a warning that it is not girls who are being shortchanged in school, but boys. This occurs through policies that eliminate time for play and activity. Minimizing areas that appeal to the boy imagination (such as fighting) and removing classes in which boys have traditionally enjoyed and excelled (such as shop class) have further served to make boys feel insignificant and less capable than their female peers.

The education system, however, seems to have ignored the alarm Ms. Sommers sounded so many years ago. In fact, they actually seem to have intensified the push for more seat time, more zero-tolerance discipline policies, and more pressure to only pursue the college path, instead of offering higher education alternatives that may be more appealing to boys.

Will a continuation of such policies only serve to further discourage boys from success and continue to drive down the male workforce participation rates in future years?

Chasing The Perfect Life {When What You Really Want is Peaceful Living}

from here: http://club31women.com/chasing-perfect-life-really-want-peaceful-living/

Chasing The Perfect Life {When What You Really Want is Peaceful Living}

Last week I had a mini meltdown because I was overwhelmed by everything that I felt was not perfect in my life.

The never ending laundry, messy rooms, messy bathrooms, missing trim around a door, dirty carpet, debt, not enough time in my day, an older child who asked how to spell “hello”!!!, and my own character flaws.

It came down to the fact that I want my life to be perfect (at least perfect in my eyes) and I was tired of the fact that it wasn’t.

But chasing perfectionism is like chasing a phantom.

You can’t catch it.

Perfectionism, as we desire it, does not exist. Yet we spend hours, days, years, and tears chasing this illusive dream.

What does Chasing the Perfect Life lead to?

I have found that chasing after the perfect life does not lead to joy. Instead it leads to frustration, guilt, poor sleep, anger, and bitterness.

Have you experienced this too?

The quest for perfectionism is a lonely quest. It stems from selfishness and therefore we end up striving alone.  We try to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and think that if we just do better, work harder, fill our week to almost bursting, and stay up later we can achieve all the things we feel pressured to achieve, for ourselves and our families.

Having a neat home is a good thing. And it is admirable to work at getting out of debt, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, teaching our children manners (or spelling), and being involved in extracurricular activities. The problem comes in our relentless pursuit of these things as if by them we will be made whole.

I promise you that chasing after perfection will wear us out, rob us of joy, stress our families, and lead us to forget God.

I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl. 1:14

What Should We Chase Instead?

Jesus!

I know this answer may seem like a trite, Sunday School answer, but it’s the answer to all of our hopes, dreams and problems. When we pursue Christ all other things begin to fall into place.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

We find Jesus and his righteousness in the pages of a book that  is often neglected. If we would only remember how powerful and life changing this book is, we would treasure it so much more.  When we hold our Bibles we are holding a weapon stronger than anything man has ever made–”the sword of the spirit” which is the word of God.

This sword reaches deep into our hearts killing the lies that the world feeds us and tearing down the idols that we build. Our minds are renewed and our hearts are filled with truth. Truth that shows us that we have value beyond measure, love without ending, and acceptance no matter what our home looks like or the status of our bank account or the behavior of our children.

Our desire for perfection is fully met in our perfect Savior. He was perfect in all He did and part of our salvation is the imputation of his righteousness to us.

How Do We Find Peaceful Living?

If we want peace in our circumstances, fruitfulness is our work, and the achievements of our goals, then we need to look to Jesus. He not only saved us  from sin, death, and hell, but also from a life of worldly-mindedness and our attempts to make ourselves perfect. This is grace upon grace.

The temptation to find perfection in this life is real and it is persuasive. Combating this desire for perfectionism is a spiritual battle that is waged by faith in the truth.

I am learning that while I will not find perfection in this world, I have found it in Jesus. And that is a better kind of perfection. One that I cannot lose.

*Let’s talk: Have you ever experienced this vain pursuit of the perfect life? How did it affect you?

Blessings,
Jen

Harsh Realities of Life

from here: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-03-10/7-harsh-realities-life-millennials-need-understand

7 Harsh Realities Of Life Millennials Need To Understand

by Tyler Durden

Mar 10, 2016 11:55 PM

Submitted by The Libertarian Republic, via The Burning Platform blog,

Millennials.

They may not yet be the present, but they’re certainly the future. These young, uninitiated minds will someday soon become our politicians, doctors, scientists, chefs, television producers, fashion designers, manufacturers, and, one would hope, the new proponents of liberty. But are they ready for it?

Time after time, particularly on college campuses, millennials have proven to be little more than entitled, spoiled, anti-intellectual brats who place far too much emphasis on feelings and nowhere near enough emphasis on critical thinking. To the millennial, words are cause for the creation of safe spaces, alternative ideas must be stifled, and anything they perceive to be a microaggression is enough to send them spiraling into a state of mental distress.

It’s time millennials understood these 7 harsh realities of life so we don’t end up with a generation of gutless adult babies running the show.

1. Your Feelings Are Largely Irrelevant

Seriously, nobody who has already graduated college cares about your feelings. That means that when you complain to your boss because your co-worker mis-gendered you, he’s probably not going to bend over backwards to bandage your wounds. Given feelings are entirely subjective in nature, it’s completely unreasonable to demand everyone tip-toe around you to prevent yours from being hurt. The reality is that people will offend you and hurt your feelings, and they won’t stop to mop up your tears because they shouldn’t have to. Learning to accept criticism, alternative viewpoints, and even outright insults will make you happier in the long run than routinely playing the victim card.

2. You Cannot Be Whatever You Want To Be

This is a comforting lie parents have started telling their children to boost their morale in school. Unfortunately, millennials are now convinced it’s true, especially as society has now decided to push this narrative as well. The reality is if you’re 17 years old and still can’t figure out basic division, you’re not going to be a rocket scientist. If you’re overweight and unattractive, you’re not going to be the quarterback’s prom date. If you lack fine motor skills, you’re not going to be a heart surgeon. It’s okay to accept that you cannot be whatever you want to be. In fact, once you accept this, you’ll be able to focus on the things you can be — the things you really are talented at.

3. Gender Studies Is A Waste Of Money

You heard me. While some millennials taking useless degrees will claim they’re beneficial for teaching or research positions, the reality is that they just put themselves several thousands dollars in debt to learn how to be a professional victim. While you’re struggling to make ends meet after graduation because nobody who pays more than minimum wage is interested in your qualifications and you’re drowning in student loan debt, be sure to check out the next harsh reality before you start complaining.

4. If You Live In America, You’re Already In The 1%

That’s right. Even though you work at McDonald’s for minimum wage because you got a useless, outrageously expensive college degree, you’re still far better off than the vast majority of the planet. Don’t believe me? Fly to Uganda and check out the living conditions there. Fly to China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Iran, Russia, and even European countries like Ukraine and Greece, and you’ll quickly discover just how well-off you really are. While it may be cool these days to dump on capitalism, it’s the only reason you aren’t already worse off.

5. You Don’t Have A Right To It Just Because You Exist

That includes healthcare, guaranteed income, and somewhere to live. Just because you’re here and breathing doesn’t mean society owes you anything. Like the billions of people who lived before you, working hard is a better guarantor of wealth and the ability to comfortably take care of yourself than begging society or the government to do it for you. Demanding healthcare be a right, for example, is equivalent to demanding government force the taxpayer to pay for it. While that may seem like a good idea in theory, it only leads to rationing of care when costs become unsustainable, which negatively impacts not just your health, but everyone else’s, too.

6. You DO Have The Right To Live As You Please — But Not To Demand People Accept It

By contrast, you do have the right to live however you please, so long as it’s within the confines of the law. If you want to cross-dress, smoke marijuana, drink lots of alcohol, have lots of sex, and, yes, even go to school for gender studies, then by all means, go for it. Government should not be allowed to legislate people’s behavior as long as it doesn’t infringe upon someone else’s rights, but that doesn’t mean society isn’t allowed to have an opinion. You don’t have the right to demand people keep their opinions about your lifestyle to themselves, especially if you’re open and public about it. I have as much of a right to comment on the way you live your life as you do to actually live it. Your feelings are not a protected right, but my speech is.

7. The Only Safe Space Is Your Home

No matter where you go in life, someone will be there to offend you. Maybe it’s a joke you overheard on vacation, a spat at the office, or a difference of opinion with someone in line at the grocery store. Inevitably, someone will offend you and your values. If you cannot handle that without losing control of your emotions and reverting back to your “safe space” away from the harmful words of others, then you’re best to just stay put at home. Remember, though: if people in the outside world scare you, people on the internet will downright terrify you. It’s probably best to just accept these harsh realities of life and go out into the world prepared to confront them wherever they may be waiting.

Pick up the actual Bible

from here: https://michellelesleybooks.com/2015/07/15/youre-not-as-dumb-as-you-think-you-are-five-reasons-to-put-down-that-devotional-and-pick-up-the-actual-bible-2/

Wednesday’s Word ~ You’re Not as Dumb as You Think You Are: Five Reasons to Put Down that Devotional and Pick Up the Actual Bible

15WednesdayJul 2015

Posted by Michelle Lesley in Bible, Bible Study, Christian women

≈ 4 Comments

I’m taking some time off this week.
I hope you’ll enjoy this selected article.

Originally published July 17, 2014

As a women’s Bible study author and teacher, I have the unique privilege of talking to women from all kinds of backgrounds about their spiritual lives. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had women share with me that they didn’t grow up in church, or they grew up in a church that “didn’t allow” them to read the Bible, and now they have to use a Bible study or devotional book in their quiet time or they’re afraid they won’t be able to understand the Bible. My heart goes out to these ladies because they desperately want to learn from God’s word, but somewhere along the way, someone or something has convinced these perfectly intelligent women–I haven’t met a dumb one, yet– that they’re not good enough or smart enough for God’s word.

As Colonel Potter used to say:

Ladies, you are not dumb. God created you smart enough to understand the Bible, and He created the Bible to be understandable. He loves you and wantsyou to read, embrace, and apply His word to your life. So don’t be afraid to throw that Daily Bread out the Open Windows of your Upper Room and read a chapter out of your Bible instead. Why?

1. Because you need spiritual nutrition, not mind candy.
The other day I was asked my opinion of a popular women’s daily devotional web site. I read a few of the devotions, and the basic format of what I found was a Bible verse (or worse, part of a Bible verse) followed by an inspiring or poignant personal story. Frequently, the Bible verse had little or nothing to do with the story. There’s nothing wrong with reading a good story, but that’s not the same thing as studying God’s word. Other “Bible” studies are built largely on the author’s opinions. You’ll find that I think… or I believe… far outnumber God’s word says… (quoted verbatim, in context, and with a chapter/verse reference). Still others are basically advice or “life tips” books.

Don’t let the fact that a book, magazine, or website bills itself as a “Bible study” or a “devotional” fool you. If all you’re reading is the author’s unsubstantiated opinions, advice, or anecdotes from her (or someone else’s) life, you are studying her story, not God’s story.

There are many good, doctrinally sound studies out there that can be a fine supplement to your regular study of God’s word, and there are many more “Bible studies” and devotionals that are merely feel-good stories, or worse, contain teaching that actually conflicts with the Bible. But how will you know the difference if you don’t know what God’s word says by reading it?

If you don’t know enough of what God’s word says to use it as your measuring stick for other books, you’ll end up doing the same thing a child would do when offered anything in the world that he wants to eat. He’ll choose what looks and tastes good (which might be candy or it might be poison) instead of what’s good for him. When you pick up a Bible study or devotional, you might not know what you’re getting, but when you pick up your Bible, you can be sure you’re getting the very words of God, and that’s what your spirit needs to feed on to grow up healthy.

2. Because King James has been dethroned.No disrespect intended. The King James Version of the Bible is a good translation, and the language is beautiful, but if you have trouble with 1611 English, it’s not the only game in town anymore. Some of our modern translations (please note: that’s translations not paraphrases) are actually more accurate than the KJV because thousands more biblical manuscripts have been discovered since it was first published, allowing translators to be more precise. Two of these, which I highly recommend, are the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the English Standard Version (ESV).

If you can read books, recipes, magazines, instructions, and Facebook (good heavens– if you can decipher certain Facebook posts, you can comprehend anything), and understand them, there is a Bible translation out there that you can understand. You can even check most of them out for free at BibleGateway.com.

3. Becase the Holy Spirit promised to help you.I always find it heartwarming to hear someone say, “Before I was saved, I read the Bible, but it didn’t make any sense to me. But now when I read it, I get it!” What changed? The Holy Spirit now lives inside that person. He convicts us of sin, leads us to love the things of God, and shapes us to be more like Christ. One of the ways He does that, according to 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, John 14:26, and 1 John 2:27 and other passages, is that He helps us understand and apply God’s word to our lives.

Before you start reading your Bible, take a moment to pray, confess and repent of your sin, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and obey His word. He’ll do it, because He keeps His promises.

4. Because you can get by with a little help from your friends.While the Holy Spirit illumines our understanding of the Scripture, it’s both immediate and a process, so sometimes, you’ll run across a verse that stumps you, a word you don’t understand, or passages that seem to conflict with each other. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit is (and was) at work helping other godly men and women to understand the Scriptures, too, and one of the ways He can help you is through their study and hard work.

Cross References:Take a look at your Bible. See any little superscript numbers or letters in the text? Find the corresponding letter or number, and you’re likely to see the reference for another related Bible verse. Look it up. Clear passages of Scripture interpret unclear passages, and it will probably shed some light on what you’re finding confusing.

Study Bibles:
I almost hesitate to recommend study Bibles because there are so many shoddy ones out there, but if you can find a good one they are extremely helpful. Good study Bibles contain the entire text of the Bible plus notes and explanations on most of the verses. They also often contain historical, cultural, and background information on each book and author, maps, charts, glossaries, etc. As to the shoddy ones, generally speaking, stay away from “theme” Bibles (the Bible for teachers, for athletes, for petroleum engineers who eat waffles for breakfast–yes, I’m kidding– the environmental Bible, the NASCAR Bible, the Duck Dynasty Bible– no, I’m not kiding), and from any Bible whose title contains a televangelist’s name (such as the Bibles T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, and Joel Osteen have put out).

For my “hard copy” Bible, I use and strongly recommend the MacArthur Study Bible. It is my understanding that the Lutheran Study Bible and the ESV Study Bible are also very good, although I have not personally had a chance to check them out myself. And there are some phenomenal (and free!) study Bible apps out there. I absolutely LOVE the Faithlife Study Bible and the Bible study app from Olive Tree.

Commentaries, Dictionaries, and Bible Study HelpsCommentaries are a Bible scholar’s written explanation of Scripture. Bible dictionaries will help you with definitions of certain words and phrases. And there are many other notes, outlines, and other Bible study helps you can use to better your understanding of Scripture. The resources page at BibleGateway.com contains several of these, including Matthew Henry’s commentary (my favorite). The Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) has a treasure trove of thousands of resources to help you study. And Logos Bible Software has a great free app that has dozens of resources.

5. How badly do you really want this, anyway?
Nobody ever won a medal at the Olympics by practicing her sport for five minutes a day. Edison didn’t invent the light bulb by messing around in his garage for a few hours on the weekend. And, despite the titles of some Christian books, nobody ever grew to spiritual maturity by spending five minutes a day reading a devotional.

Think about the things you spend your time on. Work, cooking, cleaning, TV, social media, novels… If asked, we would probably all say that our relationship with Christ is more important than any of these things, but do our day planners reflect that?

Anything worth having is worth investing time and effort into. It’s worth working at it and sharpening your skills. And nothing–nothing–is more worthwhile than growing closer to Christ. Is Christ worth some time and effort to you?

So, ladies, this is probably going to sound strange coming from a women’s Bible study author, but you don’t need my book, or anybody else’s, to study the Bible. Just pick up the Scriptures, pick a book, start reading at the beginning, and keep going until you get to the end. People did that for thousands of years before Bible studies hit the scene. They did just fine, and you can too.

Beware of Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling"

from here: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletters/2016/newsletter20161024.htm#1A2

For three years, Lighthouse Trails has been warning believers about Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling. It was October 25th 2013 that we announced going to press with Warren B. Smith’s book “Another Jesus” Calling. Since then, we have published three booklets by Warren on the topic as well as several articles. We also sent his booklet 10 Scriptural Reasons Jesus Calling is a Dangerous Book to over 100 Christian leaders earlier this year. Interestingly, in these past few years, we’ve heard virtually no public comments by Christian leaders about Jesus Calling – for or against. We wondered, “Do they like the book and are too afraid to say so?” or “Do they NOT like the book and are too afraid to say so?” Afraid that if they stated their true feelings about the book – whether for or against – they would take heat from either their followers who love the book or from discernment ministries who warn about the book. Well, apparently, all that doesn’t matter anymore because leaders are starting to speak up about Jesus Calling – and the ones who are, LOVE IT!

On a fairly new Thomas Nelson web page, the mega publisher of Jesus Calling has posted a number of “Endorsements” for Jesus Calling by Christian and other religious and secular leaders. The list of endorsers includes: Max Lucado, Roma Downey, Josh Warren (CEO, Purpose Driven Communications), Mark Batterson (The Circle Maker author), Melinda Gates (Bill Gates’ wife), Rev. James Martin, SJ (a Jesuit priest), best-selling author Shauna Niequist, O.S. Hawkins (author of The Joshua Code and The Jesus Code), Dr. Jack Graham, singer Sheila Walsch, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Lee (speaker for “There’s Hope in America television series), Kathy Lee Gifford, country singer Charlie Daniels, singer Reba McEntire, James Robison (who works closely with Beth Moore), Mike Gallagher (from Salem Radio Network), veteran Christian singer Phil Keaggy, and numerous other evangelical, Catholic, and secular personalities.

Based on our research, we believe Thomas Nelson posted this sometime in May 2016, just two months after Lighthouse Trails mailed out the booklet on Jesus Calling to Christian leaders. While perhaps unrelated, we find it interesting that this promo by Thomas Nelson came out just a couple months after we sent out the warning to the leaders. Of the leaders who are endorsing Jesus Calling, these are the ones who received a copy of 10 Scriptural Reasons Jesus Calling is a Dangerous Book: Dr. Jack Graham, Max Lucado, James Robison, Sheila Walsch, and Rick Warren (Saddleback).
It is also interesting to note that most of the Christian leaders who have endorsed Jesus Calling are also advocates for contemplative spirituality and/or the road to Rome.

Here are a few of the endorsements:

Max Lucado: “It would be hard to overstate the impact of the writings of Sarah Young. She is a stream in the desert. Her words quench our thirst.”
Mark Batterson (The Circle Maker): “I believe that God honors bold prayers and is often just waiting to be invited to intervene in our lives with answered prayers, miracles, and fulfilled dreams. That’s why I love Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling.
Roma Downey (a favorite of David Jeremiah): “I love my daily devotional, Jesus Calling. It’s a blessing in my day to read.”
Dr. Jack Graham: I have personally read Jesus Calling regularly and have been blessed beyond measure. I am grateful to God for this devotional masterpiece, which will speak life into generations to come.”
Sheila Walsch: “Sometimes God places His hand on a project and takes it deep into the hearts of young and old, rich or poor, for it crosses every human barrier. Jesus Calling is such a gift.”
Josh Warren (CEO, Purpose Driven Communications): “Very rarely do books come along that hit you right between the eyes. Jesus Calling is one of those books. I can’t tell you how many times the devotion of the day is exactly what I needed to face that day. My relationship with Jesus has changed because of this book. My love for Him and His people is deeper, more real, more transparent, and I have a better grasp of the journey of His calling.”

Liberals this is very simple — you lost because Hillary Clinton is objectively terrible

from here: http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/matt-walsh-liberals-this-is-very-simple-you-lost-because-hillary-clinton-is-objectively-terrible/

Matt Walsh: Liberals this is very simple — you lost because Hillary Clinton is objectively terrible

Matt Walsh November 9, 2016 12:54 pm

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, accompanied by her husband former President Bill Clinton, pauses as she concedes the presidential election at the New Yorker Hotel on November 9, 2016 in New York City. Republican candidate Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election in the early hours of the morning in a widely unforeseen upset. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

33 

Ding dong the witch is dead.

I woke up humming that little ditty for some reason. Leftists, on the other hand, appear to have gotten no sleep at all. They’ve been wide awake since last night rending their garments and screaming that Literally Hitler was just elected. He’s not a legitimate president, they say. Racism and sexism and Islamophobia have won! The planet is doomed! This is a national day of mourning! Woe is me! It’s the new 9-11! The streets are flooding with the tears of pop stars! Quick, Stockpile birth control before he comes and steals it! The walls are closing in! It’s getting so dark! Dear God, what is happening? Why me, why me? The end is nigh! I’m so cold, so alone, so scared! Everyone panic!

I’m a Christian man so I should not find the pain and suffering of my fellow citizens so delightful, but I admit that I cannot help myself. God forgive me. Perhaps if they’d run someone halfway decent and at least partially law-abiding against Donald Trump, I’d have a bit more sympathy. But they didn’t. They nominated Hillary Clinton, the worst presidential candidate in the history of the United States. And so they lost. And, I must admit, I find it immensely satisfying. Even more satisfying when I remember that some of the most irritating celebrities in Hollywood have pledged to flee to Canada if Trump wins. Well, Amy Schumer, time to start packing. I hear Saskatchewan is lovely in the winter (don’t forget to bring a coat).

But rather than sit here and gloat over the end of the Clinton Dynasty (assuming the Democrats don’t give Chelsea a try in 2020 — and I certainly wouldn’t put it past them), I’d like to be more productive. Leftists, I’m going to try and help you sort through things and make sense of what just occurred. You feel quite sure that Trump’s election was the result of sexism, racism, ethnocentrism, and all of the other -isms, along with Islamophobia, homophobia, xenophobia, arachnophobia, and all of the other phobias, but as comfortable as that delusion might be, it will only make your situation worse if you indulge it.

Your loss, in fact, had nothing to do with -isms and phobias and everything to do with the following three factors:

1. You nominated a corrupt, deceitful, detestable crook who was the subject of at least two active FBI investigations. 

This, it turns out, was not the most effective strategy. It seems that the American people are rather hesitant to elect a woman who both looks and acts like the shadowy dictator in every dystopian young adult novel ever written. When given a choice between a character from reality TV or the villain from the Hunger Games, the American people chose the former. Rather than lecture them over it, perhaps you should look deep within your hearts and figure out why you put the fate of your party in the hands of President Snow.

You should have risen up and purged the Clinton disease from your system years ago, leftists. You can say that Republican voters have really rolled the dice on one Hell of a wildcard here, but at least they’ve demonstrated, yet again, that they have very little tolerance for leaders who fail them. That’s why you always hear about the “infighting” and various “civil wars” happening within the GOP, and why you will continue to hear about them, because we on the right do not play Follow The Leader very well. We are very skeptical of our political representatives — and I will be encouraging conservatives to remain vigilant and skeptical — and, yes, that skepticism creates tension and a bit of chaos, but at least we don’t end up with an actual crime family hijacking our movement for 30 years.

Hillary Clinton is truly terrible. You couldn’t see it because your tribal mentality tells you that any criticism of your leaders must be the result of bigotry towards whatever demographic they belong to. But it had nothing to do with her demographics. Nothing to do with her chromosomes or her genitalia. Stop being ridiculous, leftists. Do you really think conservatives hate women? Half of us are women, you fools.

You don’t have to hate all women in order to despise the worst woman to ever emerge on the American political scene. And she is the worst, I’m afraid to say. Everybody can see it but you. And I think maybe you can actually see it. That’s why you didn’t turn out for her the way the pollsters thought you would. The way you thought you would. Because she’s awful and she deserved to lose. And so she did lose. It’s really as simple as that.

2. White working class Americans are tired of being scolded and lectured.

In recent years you’ve fully embraced the mantra that all white people are inherently racist. It became such a mainstream leftist idea that even Hillary Clinton publicly professed it. Well, it turns out that white people don’t like being called racists every second of the day. It seems that guilt, shame, and self-loathing are not the best ways to generate electoral turnout. Evidently, “Repent, you bigots!” is not the most effective rallying cry.

On a related note, it’s not true that all white people are racist. Of course it isn’t true. Again: stop being ridiculous. You can’t take some random sin or vice and assign it to an entire group of people based solely on their skin color. In fact, do you know what it’s called when you accuse everyone in a certain racial group of possessing some negative characteristic? Racism, by definition.

In similar fashion, straight white men, specifically, are tired of being called sexist just because we’re men. And we’re tired of being called homophobic just because we’re straight. And we’re tired of being told about our supposed “privilege,” especially by metropolitan liberals and smarmy college kids. You should take note of the fact that Trump is now the president-elect because he won in places like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. If you’ve ever been to the small rural counties in those states (and you probably haven’t, which is part of the problem), you may notice a startling lack of this alleged privilege. These are blue collar folks who work for a living and have very little, if anything, leftover after all the bills are paid. And when a truck driver or construction worker from north east Pennsylvania hears some bratty, self-righteous college girl inform him of his “privilege,” he tends to roll his eyes and ignore everything else she says.

“You’re a privileged, racist neanderthal. Now here’s who you should vote for…”

He didn’t hear that second sentence. He heard the first part and tuned the rest out, justifiably so. Most of you know nothing of the lives of these “privileged” and “racist” folks in small town America, and until you get a clue, you’re destined to keep losing.

3. Your policies don’t work.

Most of your policies have proven disastrous, but let’s just focus on the big one for right now: Obamacare. It’s collapsing. We told you it would collapse. We told you it wouldn’t work. It can’t work. You didn’t listen, and now you’re suffering because of it. We’re all suffering because of it.

People across the country are in a true state of panic because their premiums are skyrocketing. Health care has never been cheap, but for a lot of people it’s worse now than it’s ever been. It’s no use trying to tell them why it’s actually good that they can no longer afford health insurance for themselves and their families. You can write all the Vox explainers you want, but the average American only has to make one calculation: “I could afford health insurance before Obamacare. Now I can’t.” All the blog posts in the world won’t make that fact more palatable. Failure can’t be made to look like success when the failure is being felt by real people.

“I know I just shot you in the leg, but please read this article on the Huffington Post which explains why the gaping, bloody wound in your shin doesn’t actually hurt.” That’s a tough case to make, leftists. Maybe, if you’re clever enough and you’re talking to someone who is gullible enough, you can convince him that a gunshot wound won’t hurt. But once you’ve pulled the trigger the jig is up. The secret’s out. Your explanations and rationalizations are now officially worthless.

I think part of your problem is that the liberal coalition consists largely — not entirely, but largely — of people who don’t really understand what it means to work for a living and pay their own way and feel the pain of the average, middle class American. You’ve got the elite metropolitan liberals who have enough money that they don’t have to worry much about these things. You’ve got the college liberals and millennial liberals who have spent all or most of their adult life in school, often depending on the charity of their parents. And you’ve got a lot of Democrat voters in the cities who live relatively close to the elite metropolitan liberals, but under much harsher conditions, and often depend completely or mostly on government programs.

Where is your coalition of people who work 9-5, are not wealthy, but do not depend on government handouts? You need those voices in your ranks to talk some sense into you. But all you’ve done is push them away and scream invective at them. And now they’re gone.

And that’s why you lost, leftists.

It’s your fault. It’s on you. Own it now, or continue your march into irrelevancy. The choice is yours.