Bill's problem.

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader was thinking about Bill's recent post concerning his leaving the National Geographic Society. (Your Maximum Leader is in good company in this as Keith Burgess-Jackson was thinking about the post as well.)

It is sad really when even "scientific journals" are becoming filled with political polemics. Your Maximum Leader is still a member of the National Geographic Society and has also recognized the slant in some of their more recent articles. Your Maximum Leader continues to be a member however because Mrs. Villain likes the magazine very much.

In point of fact, your Maximum Leader receives four magazines at the Villainschloss. The first is National Review. Your Maximum Leader has subscribed to NR since he was 15 years old. He has read it religiously every two weeks.

The second is National Geographic. Mrs. Villain has subscribed since she graduated from college and no longer had easy access to her parent's copy. Your Maximum Leader always picked up a few months worth of National Geographic magazines when he visited his (now late) Grandfather and thus never subscribed until he was married to Mrs. Villain.

The third is American Rifleman. The journal of the National Rifle Association. The magazine is a nice benefit to membership. But, your Maximum Leader would belong to the NRA regardless of them sending him a magazine.

The fourth is Smithsonian. The offical journal of the Smithsonian Institution. Your Maximum Leader loves going to the Smithsonian, and has since he was a wee villain. Now he takes the Villainettes regularly. Soon Villain, Jr. will join us on our visits. The magazine comes with becoming a member of the Smithsonian. Since your Maximum Leader enjoys the discounts on things at the museums and invites to special events that comes with membership, he joined. But the slant in so many articles in the magazine towards a "leftist" or "politically correct" interpretation of history, sociology, or culture is quite noticable.

This brings your Maximum Leader to his point. For many years one of the editors of National Review, John O'Sullivan, has espoused "O'Sullivan's First Law." The law states: "All organizations that are not actually right-wing will over time become left-wing." Your Maximum Leader fears that the National Geographic Society and Smithsonian Institution are both becoming victims of O'Sullivan's First Law. They can hardly help it. They are in fields (education) that are dominated by left-wing voices and attitudes. The fact that they have held out as long as they have is a miracle.

Of course, if one was to sever contact with all left-wing, or left-leaning, institutions in our great nation what exactly would you be left with? National Review, the Weekly Standard, an a few other political journals. The New York Post, the Washington Times, and a few other newspapers (but none of national significance). No TV news channels. No entertainment programming on mainstream TV networks. (And only a few cable shows.) No mainstream music. (No great loss there.) And, perhaps, even this blog would be off the list. (As we do proudly host the commentary from the Minister of Propaganda and sometimes the Smallholder too.)

Your Maximum Leader doesn't believe it is possible to isolate oneself from the left in our nation. But, then again, to be informed and part of the debate you shouldn't be. There is the "know thine enemy" maxim to live by. Your Maximum Leader isn't sure what one can do, except continue to fight for the ideas and beliefs to which one adheres. As they say at National Review, you sometimes have to stand awthwart history and yell stop.

Carry on.