# Has the John Birch Society won after all? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 30, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431 "2005-01-30T16:04:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/1 "2005-01-30T16:04:15Z")
Back in the 1960s, everybody used to point and laugh at the John Birch Society for being hopelessly deluded right-wing fringe extremist nutcases. No conservative in public life could take them seriously and retain any modicum of respect. Nowadays, the Bush administration is going in directions that make the John Birchers look mild and reasonable. The Birchers were determined to undo all the social progress made in the '60s and return America to an era of intolerance, authoritarianism, and fear. Bob Jones of Bob Jones University was around during the Bircher times, and was lauded by them, and wouldn’t you know, he’s still around, lending support to George W. Bush. I don’t know if the original John Birch Society still exists even in name, but it sure looks as though the Bircher mentality has taken over the government. The difference is that in the 1960s they were powerless so everybody could mock them. Now they have excess power and sycophants are tempted to suck up to them. Speaking of sycophants, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is one of the most subversive texts ever written, and I hope kids today are still reading it. Those in power who hold onto it by deceit should read it to remind themselves what a shaky foundation their power is built on. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/2 "2005-01-30T17:50:50Z")
This thread is better suited for [**The BBQ Pit**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=5). I’ll move it for you. **Cajun Man** for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/3 "2005-01-30T18:22:22Z")
[Here’s the Wikipedia article on the John Birch Society](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birch_Society) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/4 "2005-01-30T18:48:59Z")
Here’s the words to [Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues](http://bobdylan.com/songs/birch.html). ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/5 "2005-01-30T19:16:11Z")
The Wikipedia link says the John Birch society advocated eliminating the income tax, repeal of civil rights legislation, and contended that flouridated water was a commie plot. I don’t think anyone in the Bush administration advocates any of that. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/6 "2005-01-30T20:29:21Z")
Flourinated water is a Pinko Plot! They’re trying to steal our precious bodily fluids! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/7 "2005-01-30T21:43:21Z")
> [@](#): > > The Wikipedia link says the John Birch society advocated eliminating the income tax, repeal of civil rights legislation, and contended that flouridated water was a commie plot. I don’t think anyone in the Bush administration advocates any of that. Right on, brother. The Bush administration only advocates eliminating the income tax for those whose income is in six-figures. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/8 "2005-01-30T21:55:00Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Flourinated water is a Pinko Plot! They’re trying to steal our precious bodily fluids! Peace on Earth. Purity of Essence. Peace on Earth. Purity of Essence. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/9 "2005-01-30T22:11:18Z")
Personally, I think the Bush administration is plyaing [games with our patriotism](http://imdb.com/title/tt0105112/), that they’ve created [a clear and present danger](http://imdb.com/title/tt0109444/), that Bush thinks of himself as a [beautiful American](http://imdb.com/title/tt0169547/), and that they all live in their own little [ghost world](http://imdb.com/title/tt0162346/). As such, I’m more concerned about their ties to the Thora Birch Society. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/10 "2005-01-30T22:24:09Z")
Damn, no IMDB listing for ‘Donkey Fucker’. Well, there goes my contribution to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/11 "2005-01-30T22:58:40Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Damn, no IMDB listing for ‘Donkey Fucker’. Well, there goes my contribution to this thread. Anyone else here that whoosing sound? ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/12 "2005-01-30T23:07:48Z")
[The JBS is certainly still around.](http://www.jbs.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/13 "2005-01-31T02:21:53Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Anyone else here that whoosing sound? Make that: "anyone else here hear that whooshing sound? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/14 "2005-01-31T03:54:49Z")
Gee, why wouldn’t every American support the John Birch Society? Don’t you want to… > [@](#): > > …be part of a national network of **patriots** who daily **resist tyranny** and work to build a future in which the principles of limited government, **traditional values** , and individual responsibilty can be restored. \ > [@](#): > > …work on specific issues such as **reducing taxes and government spending** … \ After all, the JBS has > [@](#): > > …stopped dangerous pieces of legislation that would of eroded Constitutionally protected **God-given rights** ; and much more. All of this is propoganda from one of their current websites. Such pretty words. Not everyone was pointing and laughing in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Citizens were frightened out of our wits at the mention of Communists and the JBS took full advantage of that. Republican Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater’s acceptance speech in 1964 included the famous motto: “Extremeism in the Defense of Liberty is NO VICE! Compromise in the name of sensitivity is NO VIRTUE!” Many understood that to be a defense of extreme right wing groups such as the JBS. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/15 "2005-01-31T04:01:18Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Peace on Earth. Purity of Essence. Peace on Earth. Purity of Essence. WWHD? What would Hagbard do? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/16 "2005-01-31T05:07:59Z")
Are you sure you don’t mean that historical preservation group in support of wooden outhouses, the **Birch John Society?** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/17 "2005-01-31T14:03:02Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Republican Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater’s acceptance speech in 1964 included the famous motto: “Extremeism in the Defense of Liberty is NO VICE! Compromise in the name of sensitivity is NO VIRTUE!” Many understood that to be a defense of extreme right wing groups such as the JBS. Nitpick: The actual quote is “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” ---
**Author:** ![Ennui](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ennui/32/3396_2.png) [@Ennui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennui)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/18 "2005-01-31T14:31:45Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > WWHD? > > What would Hagbard do? Well he would never whistle while he’s pissing, I can tell you that much. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/19 "2005-01-31T15:32:58Z")
As a former Bircher (1980-82, 1990) who left because I drifted leftward while it drifted rightward (I’m still far right to you buncah pinkos, tho! 😃 ), let me suggest you google up The John Birch Society & its The New American magazine, and you will find that the JBS lambasts W as a phony conservative Big-Gov’t Internationalist Skull & Bones Insider with lots of CFR members around him. The OP gives both W & the JBS too much credit by half. Btw, I supported Reagan & George HW even while in the JBS tho the JBS was highly suspicious of RWR & downright hostile to GHWB. There was only so much right-wing looniness I could support 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431/20 "2005-01-31T16:03:02Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Right on, brother. The Bush administration only advocates eliminating the income tax for those whose income is in six-figures. No, they don’t. Cite? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-john-birch-society-won-after-all/287431.md?page=2)