In a recent speech, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas declared progressivism an existential threat to the foundational principles of the Declaration of Independence, asserting that it undermines the notion of God-given rights in favor of government-derived ones. He drew historical parallels to the original Progressive Movement, criticizing figures like Woodrow Wilson and linking progressivism to ideologies responsible for mass atrocities. Thomas argued that progressivism and the Declaration cannot coexist, implying a fundamental conflict that endangers the nation’s form of government.
Read More
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has ignited controversy with remarks drawing a link between progressive ideas and the rise of Adolf Hitler. Critics, including historians and legal scholars, contend this comparison misrepresents the complex historical factors behind Nazi Germany’s ascent and exacerbates partisan rhetoric. While supporters argue Thomas was making a philosophical point about government overreach, the episode highlights the increasing use of charged historical comparisons by high-profile officials in contemporary political discourse. The controversy underscores the risks of invoking extreme historical events in modern debates, particularly from influential judicial figures.
Read More
Justice Clarence Thomas delivered a speech at the University of Texas at Austin that began as a celebration of the Declaration of Independence but quickly became a critique of progressivism. Thomas asserted that progressivism was intertwined with 20th-century atrocities, including those committed by Stalin, Hitler, and Mao, as well as racial segregation and eugenics. This address, analyzed by Slate’s Amicus podcast co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern, was characterized by its grievance-filled narrative and a solipsistic focus on Thomas himself. The analysis highlights the irony of Thomas thanking his billionaire benefactor, Harlan Crow, in a speech that decried corruption and self-dealing.
Read More
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has publicly voiced strong criticism of progressivism, deeming it an existential threat to the foundational principles of the United States. Speaking at the University of Texas at Austin Law School, Thomas asserted that a spirit of “cynicism, rejection, hostility and animus” toward America pervades the nation, placing blame on “intellectuals” and higher education institutions for diminishing founding values. He argued that progressivism seeks to replace the Declaration of Independence’s premise of God-given rights with the notion that rights originate from government, fostering subservience incompatible with constitutional ideals. Thomas also expressed concern over Washington officials who he believes lack commitment to core tenets such as free enterprise and the Constitution’s original meaning, often masking their failures as pragmatic institutionalism. He concluded with a call for Americans to emulate the courage of the Declaration’s signers to secure the nation’s future.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker