Welcome to Litsy!

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

pick

The choice to make this a pick is probably going to shock some people, but that‘s okay.

I‘ve heard people say “if you love the Little House books, don‘t read this book.” I don‘t think it matters. Either you‘re open to the possibility that those books are actually works of fiction, or you‘re not. Either you‘re open to the possibility that Laura doesn‘t always believe in doing the right thing, or you‘re not. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics If you‘re not, this won‘t change you‘re mind. It will just be a waste of your time. If you are, you‘re in for a wild ride. Neither Laura nor Rose are particularly likeable women. Be prepared for the “always do the right thing” family to commit tax fraud and recommend tax evasion. Quite frankly, the word that comes most readily to mind when thinking of these women is: vile. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

GingerAntics The views expressed by Rose and Laura aren‘t even consistent within themselves. Everyone just needs to work hard in order to be successful is followed by some people are just too low born to have any hope of bettering themselves, no matter how hard they work. This is followed by, those who are not successful are getting what they deserve. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 (edited) 4y

GingerAntics So according to the Ingles Wilder/Wilder Lane logic, hard work makes everyone successful, unless you‘re too low born, then there is no helping you, but it‘s your fault you were low born. Their entire world view is based on a misunderstanding (that still exists today) of the Horatio Alger Myth. Rose has pointed out the flaw in her own thinking and hasn‘t even realised it. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

See All 11 Comments

GingerAntics Not everyone can pull themselves up by their boot straps because not everyone is born with boots. Unlike Horatio Alger‘s characters, not everyone born without boots has someone come along and hand them boots. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

GingerAntics I have only one complaint about the actual book itself (Woodside‘s writing). The book argues that Rose was a self made intellectual. She implies on at least a few occasions that Rose Wilder Lane was a classic autodidact. So why does Woodside reduce her to a number on the scale/the size of her waistline when she could have just said Rose had noticeably aged? 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 4y

GingerAntics Woodside has photos in the back. People could have figured it out for themselves. Instead, she called her “white-haired” and “overweight.” So even thought Woodside is arguing that this woman is brilliant and made herself that way with no outside help, she‘s still only as valuable as her weight. Why does her appearance make any difference? It makes no sense. #ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon (edited) 4y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This isn't a book I would read but it's been fun reading the quotes you highlighted and your thoughts. 4y

GingerAntics @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick you and me both. If it hadn‘t been on sale ($2), another litten hadn‘t started a group read of it, and there wasn‘t a moment I was apparently feeling a bit crazy, I wouldn‘t have read it either. Not that you mention it, I have no idea how on Earth I ended up reading this book. How did I get here? What day is this? (Seriously thought it was Sunday when I woke up this morning.) 🤣😂🤣 4y

Bette 😳 wow. 😯 Having grown up with those books your review is eye opening. Thanks for sharing. 4y

GingerAntics @Bette luckily I never could get into the books, but I was obsessed with the show. At first, I was able to view the show as more of a Michael Landon creation and very separate from the books, because really it is, but I‘m starting to see the subtle messaging in the show, too. It‘s hard to realise something you loved as a child, something you idolised, would label you “low born” and that there was no use in someone like me trying. 4y

GingerAntics @Bette good thing I didn‘t listen to the RL people in my childhood who said those things, so knowing one of my favourite shows was also saying it probably would have just made me not like the show. Still, that madness shouldn‘t be in a children‘s show. Period. 4y

15 likes11 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Don‘t tell the guy writing the book on “The Faith of Laura Ingles Wilder.” He‘ll be heartbroken and so will his wife. (She reads to him while he‘s driving and he reads to her while she‘s doing chores.)
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

15 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I would LOVE to talk to these folks, because I have never heard of them. I would love to hear their thoughts on this, especially since most “progressive, left-wing” readers and parents are moving to other, similar books due to the racism and prejudice in this series.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

12 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I can‘t speak for all of them, but the ones I know love them because they uphold tradition gender roles.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

The answer is, she couldn‘t, unless there are some “lost” or “hidden” works of fiction by LIW that no one knows about, even now. Maybe Rose burned those when she died. #sarcasm
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Her beliefs laid out for children and her beliefs laid out for adults. How exciting. #sarcasm
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

What a shock. They didn‘t jus you‘ll themselves up by their boot straps (and wouldn‘t have during the Great Depression if the books hadn‘t sold).
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Do they? Do they really? The backlash at the mere suggestion that Laura had any help writing them proves most readers do NOT understand they are reading myth, especially today when even suggesting a beloved belief or historical figure is shrouded in mythology gets you labelled a “snowflake” and “hater of history.”
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Again, wrong on the historical points. This was not the case for black or brown people in America. Then again, they seemed fine with taking Indian land and outraged when they were told land wasn‘t theirs so they had to leave. 🙄 White privilege on display again, here. #factsmatter #historymatters #whyhistorymatters #ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

This is my FIRST complaint about the book itself. It‘s well written. It‘s well researched. Why does her weight matter to anything? This could have been summed up much more concisely as “The woman who returned had aged significantly and become paranoid.” No judgement based on looks or weight. Good lord, what year was this book written in?
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Jeannineth Totally agree. She sounds like she‘s older, wiser, and opinionated. 4y

GingerAntics @Jeannineth I think she was always rather opinionated. 4y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I do think the overweight comment paints a fuller picture. It's a judgy comment, but aging doesn't always equal weight gain, so I see it as a change in the physical. 4y

GingerAntics @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick not always but usually, especially in that time frame. She still came from the age of women who bragged about having to take out their dresses after getting married. Laura certainly would have. It just seems unnecessary. For a book discussing her mind/intellect, her writing, and her politics, it‘s just unnecessary in my opinion, especially since this book is written by a woman. 4y

8 likes4 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Her parents didn‘t often attend church either, which makes the blog focusing on the devout religion of Laura Ingles Wilder even funnier and even more ridiculous. At least Rose wasn‘t duped by corporate America into rushing off to church in response to The New Deal. 🙄
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

8 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Anything to build herself up. She reminds me of someone. 🤔 but whom?
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

7 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

It‘s quite clear she has never considered the mistreatment of black Americans. Here‘s some historical fact for her, though: racism in America is a hold over from race based slavery in America, which is based on race based slavery from England and other parts of Europe. Feudalism was abolished in England in 1660 with the Tenures Abolition Act of 1660, more than a hundred years before America became a country. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics People moved to the colonies to get away from the remnants of Feudalism, but they brought slavery with them. Rose, honey, you‘re ignorance goes far beyond the poor treatment of black people in America. #whyhistorymatters #historyforthewin #ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon 4y

8 likes1 comment

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I‘m only slightly more comfortable with Rose looking up to and praising Churchill as I am with Trump doing it. Sorry Rose, Churchill believed in “God and country” not “me, myself, and I.”
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

8 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Oh no, dangerous levels of selfishness can be found all around the world. Although, admittedly, 99% of Europe sees a whole lot more of that madness from Americans. That‘s certainly not something to be proud of.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Sace Exceptionalism is a myth isn't it? I'm seriously asking. Hasn't history shown us that no nation is/can be the exception to history? (Again, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.) 4y

GingerAntics @Sace nope, you know what you‘re talking about in this situation. American exceptionalism is a myth, mostly white supremacist and Christian only. Anything outside of that is hurting the exceptionalism. 🙄 Then again, the history taught to k-12 students is also largely myth, but that‘s a different story. 4y

8 likes2 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

More tax evasion. I guess, the family that evades taxes together stays together? 🤷🏼‍♀️ Oh you‘re short on cash, just don‘t pay taxes. 🙄 Deplorable.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Sace And this is what I struggle with the idea that if you disagree with the government, then it's OK to cheat. Do I agree with current administration? Hell no, but I've paidy taxes (local and federal) because they fund art, clinics, roads, schools. Maybe they aren't efficient, but that doesn't give me the right to cheat. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace EXACTLY!!! I was having the exact same thought. I get they didn‘t agree with what some of the money was being spent on (The New Deal), but that‘s still no excuse. I don‘t agree with ANY of my money going to fund purity balls, abstinence only education, or science classes that reject science and teach creationism, I still pay my taxes. 4y

GingerAntics @sace As an educator, I KNOW our education system is totally ephed up, but I would never say we should have compulsory education. Too many kids depend on it for safety and food. Would I like to see the school system entirely changed? You bet. Do I refuse to send any child of mine into the current system? You bet. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace I still pay my taxes, because the thought of kids being abused, stuck at home with their abusers, or hungry kids stuck at home with no food is NOT OKAY. Period. I‘m not sure that‘s a thought for Rose. I think for her, those kids are getting what they deserve or the parents are getting what they deserve and it‘s not her problem. 4y

8 likes4 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

We learn more about Laura and Rose in this chapter. But this in particular made me laugh! I suspect there are a lot of folks out there who prefer the 20th century over the 21st. Which do you think was harder, transitioning from the 18th to the 19th, or 20th to the 21st century and why?

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think the quality of life changes from 18th to 19th (or even 19th to 20th) were a bigger change than when we went from 20th to 21st century. However, being 20 years into this century, the role of the internet had made a huge impact on the way people interact with others and raising children now seems even harder than before. Remember the panic in 1999, wondering if the date change was going to throw the world into chaos? 🤣 Good times! 4y

rubyslippersreads My great aunt and grandmother (sisters born at the turn of the 20th century) were opposites. Aunt Nell liked everything new and modern; Grandma would have been happy traveling across the country in a covered wagon. (She‘s the one who gave me my ❤️ of the LH books.) (edited) 4y

Sace The changes from 19th to 20th are more physical well being? While starting in the 20th it feels like changes are more socioeconomic? Going into the 21st we are at least acknowledging that those socioeconomic changes weren't necessarily distributed evenly? (Question marks because seriously I'm a dumbass with a useless bachelor's degree in education and I don't know diddly. 😂) 4y

See All 8 Comments

Sace My grandfather was born in 1900 in rural Spain. He came to the US (New York) in 1918. He must have felt like he moved forward a century in just one transatlantic trip! 😂 4y

Texreader @Sace That‘s so cool! Mine came from Switzerland in 1906. They settled in rural central Texas. Having visited their hometown, nestled in the green rolling hills north of the Alps, I think they certainly gave up beauty for a lot more heat (although I was there during a heatwave so it can get pretty darned hot in Switzerland too). 4y

Texreader @rubyslippersreads I read one of my ancestor (a distant aunt)‘s handwritten account of moving west, she hated it! She mentioned over and over how scared she was. One gg-grandmother wrote how she drove the wagon while my gg-grandfather sat in the back of the wagon shooting bobcats. It wasn‘t for the faint of heart. 4y

Texreader @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I agree! I imagine going into a century with cars and planes etc! I‘ve always loved reading about this timeframe. 4y

rubyslippersreads @Texreader That‘s quite an adventure! 4y

48 likes8 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

We learn more about both Rose and Laura in Chapter 10. For some reason, I find this hilarious! I think it‘s fair to say a lot of folks now detest the 21st century! What do you think was harder, transitioning from the 19th to 20th or 20th to 21st? Why?

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace @Sace

GingerAntics 20th to 21st, but only by a small margin. Both centuries turned with great advancements in technology, but the 20th to 21st brought the rise of the internet to its current state. It brought everyone into each other‘s homes endlessly and it brought people together for good and bad. Everyone was able to “find their people” even if there weren‘t any in their geographic location. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics A big backlash we are currently seeing politically and socially, around the world, has to do with globalisation and the new representation people found on the internet that is now being demanded off the internet in the real world. It‘s not just LGBTQIA people who are out of the closet now, it‘s minorities, opinions and ideas, it‘s intellectuals, nerds, cosplayers, strong women, you name it. That angers a lot of people. 4y

GingerAntics People took to electricity, phones, cars, planes, much easier. I think the main focus was on the individual. “Look how this technology will make your life easier, better, etc.” The internet is very much about the individual, but it‘s more public. I can be the individual I am on the internet and find my people. Unfortunately, people who think strong, educated women are the bane of society also have to know about me and my people. 4y

GingerAntics Strong, educated, independent women who believe INCELS (a group started by a woman, shockingly) are a danger to society still have to know about them, hear about them, and hope to never meet one. 🤞🏻 4y

35 likes4 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I burst out laughing after reading this. I‘d read much of Rand‘s fiction and nonfiction before Lane, and I briefly became an “objectivist.” Rand was an odd bird to say the very least but I still like her fiction. I definitely think libertarians have their fair share of lunatics and Rand probably helped generate a fair share of them. But I think there‘s a lunatic fringe in all political, economic, and social groups. #laurarosereadathon

rubyslippersreads, Daisey, catebutler, Sace, GingerAntics

Texreader I think Rose was jealous of Rand‘s cult-like following. And I feel strongly Rand would go ballistic over the label of conservatives, who believe in far too much government interventionism to fall under her philosophical wing. I doubt much love was lost between these two women. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics I thought this came off as jealousy as well. It seemed almost petty to me. I highlighted this also. 4y

rubyslippersreads Yes. Rand became much more famous, had at least one movie made from one of her novels (The Fountainhead), etc. 4y

See All 9 Comments

Sace I was struck by this passage as well, but it was the "lunatic fringe" quip that got my attention and had me nodding my head in agreement (left AND right.) 4y

CaffeineAndCandy Lunatic fringe...❤❤❤ 4y

Texreader @GingerAntics @rubyslippersreads @Sace @ABooksyGirl We have our share of the lunatic fringe nowadays of all stripes! Whew!! 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader we sure do! 4y

Sace @Texreader ain't that the truth! 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader @rubyslippersreads @Sace @ABooksyGirl I was also drawn to the use of “pseudo intellectuals.” That‘s still quite popular to sling around today. It seems the loud mouths on all sides have this idea (spoken or unspoken) that those who agree with them are true intellectuals, and everyone who disagrees with them are pseudo intellectuals. I‘ve personally experienced it mostly with Uber Christian groups, but I know other groups do it as well. (edited) 4y

44 likes1 stack add9 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

From my reading of Rose‘s own libertarian writing, I agree with this quote. I learned from this book that she wrote regularly for what could be called a libertarian-leaning African-American newspaper, although the word libertarian I don‘t think existed at that point. Her young international mentees, I think, demonstrated her egalitarian point of view.

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace

GingerAntics I think her intentions may have been good, but she was clearly delusional when it came to race and class relations in America, and she seems to be somewhat tone deaf to her audience in this sense. To tell African Americans in that time period (or even our own) that race doesn‘t matter is beyond clueless and utterly tone deaf. 4y

GingerAntics As far as class relations, she did a fairly good job of both ignoring them and blaming the lower class for their lot in life. 4y

Sace I think I've mentioned before that I feel like Lane was a mercenary writer. She wanted that fame and especially fortune. At the same time, I really haven't read any of her writing. I'm thinking about last week's discussion when we talked about her opinion that the populace should vote on war. When she said that, large segments of the population couldn't even vote...but they certainly went to war. ⬇️ 4y

See All 9 Comments

Sace I have to ask if she was active in voting rights. What were her thoughts on voting rights for African Americans? Voting rights for those under 21? (That was the voting age when she made that statement right?) I'm not convinced about her antiracism in her daily living. 4y

Texreader @GingerAntics @sace I strongly disagree having spent much of my life reading her works and from people who knew her. I hate that one author‘s very limited description has caused such hatred of Rose and making her out to be something she wasn‘t. Wow y‘all. 4y

rubyslippersreads I haven‘t read any of Rose‘s work except Let the Hurricane Roar, and probably won‘t read her political writing. I think she was a writer with a combination of wanting to express her beliefs and the desperate need to earn money. 4y

Sace @Texreader I readily admit my bias, cynicism etc. I don't think it helps that I really am ignorant about Libertarianism and the few that I have known were individualistic to the point of every man for himself/I've got mine so screw the other guy that I have a hard time even wanting to learn more. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace @Texreader based on the racism and prejudice that appears in the the little house books, I have to agree that I am in no way convince of Rose‘s (or Laura‘s for that matter) Antiracism in daily life. 4y

GingerAntics @rubyslippersreads that‘s the impression I‘ve gotten as well. 4y

35 likes9 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I think this is just sad; to me, this appears to be a result of Rose not getting a good example of a happy marriage from her parents and never experiencing a real loving relationship. And it sounds like she suffered bouts of depression. Fortunately, she apparently had a good social network and she loved mentoring young people.

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

GingerAntics I wouldn‘t want her mentoring my own children, I can tell you that. She certainly didn‘t seem to have much love in her life. I wonder how that effected her beliefs as an adult. I wonder how much that drives the “I‘m the most important” mentality of the people who are most vocal among the libertarians. We can certainly see the effects of a lack of love in Trump‘s life white clearly...and it could kill us all. (edited) 4y

rubyslippersreads I think Laura and Almanzo had a romantic marriage—for them. By Laura‘s own description, the marriage proposal was “laconic.” I don‘t think they were at all demonstrative, and I‘m sure this affected Rose. 4y

CaffeineAndCandy Interesting 4y

35 likes3 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Reminder our discussion on chapters 8-10 continues tomorrow. #laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

catebutler Looking forward to it! 🤗 4y

56 likes1 comment

Eggs

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

pick

I knew from earlier books of Rose Wilder‘s involvement in the Little House series, but this was a valuable read with new information and analysis of the beginnings of libertarianism in America. The Wilders‘ lives, books and essays have a foundation of self-sufficiency and personal freedom.
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks I've been meaning to reread the Little House books forever. 4y

Eggs Treat yourself 🤗👏🏻 @TheAromaofBooks 4y

51 likes2 comments

Daisey

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

#BookReport #DaiseysReadingWeek
🎧 Libertarians on the Prairie - I finished this #reread for #LauraRoseReadathon, and although it was informative, I didn‘t enjoy it quite as much this time.

#CurrentlyReading
With being back in the classroom, I really should reduce the number of books I‘m trying to read at a time, but these are all so different.
🎧 & 📖 The Merchant of Venice #ShakespeareReadalong
🎧 Pride & Prejudice #PemberLittens

Continued👇

Daisey 🎧 Braiding Sweetgrass - A very interesting but slow listen for #NonfictionNerds
📖 Free Lunch
📖 rereading The Notion Club Papers in Sauron Defeated

#WeeklyForecast
📚 Continue current reads
📖 From Liberty to Magnolia #LitsyBookClub 4y

45 likes1 stack add1 comment

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Rose Wilder Lane testifies in support of the Democratic position that Congress could declare war only after the people voted in favor.

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

GingerAntics The Ludlow amendment certainly didn‘t make it into my high school government class. In fact, we were told the founding fathers made the rule that the president can‘t just declare war, congress must vote on it. Part of me wonders how many more lives could have been saved, how much sooner Hitler could have been taken down and stopped had we not hesitated to enter the war. 4y

GingerAntics The Ludlow amendment is good to have, especially with the current White House resident (may his eviction notice be signed in November), but it‘s not helpful when the people in congress are all selfish cowards. 4y

LibrarianRyan @GingerAntics completely agree. However after 9/11 congress broadened the powers of the president for conflict and they have not been pulled back yet. They are trying to pull those powers back but with the current Cheeto in charge it will probably be taken to the SC. 4y

See All 10 Comments

GingerAntics @LibrarianRyan that is terrifying. With Cheeto, I almost fear even if those powers were pulled back, so many of the GOP are his sycophants that if he said we needed to go to war with someone, they‘d do whatever they had to in order to get the votes in Congress anyway. So much about Cheeto is dangerous. I seriously wish more people could see that. I really think he‘s a cult leader. 4y

LibrarianRyan @GingerAntics totally agree. I often wonder what koolaid the GOP has been drinking. It‘s one of the reasons I think a 2/3rds majority is needed instead of simple majority. For the last few decades the congress has had narrow splits and since it seems like so much stuff is one on party lines than I think we need a few things that are determined by cooperation instead is who has more seats. 4y

GingerAntics @LibrarianRyan totally agree!!! I would love to see a whole lot more becoming cooperation as opposed to who has the most seats. We never should have let them change those rules, but I think that was part of the backlash against Obama. I think they thought they could straight jacket him and keep him to one term if they could make decisions simply because they had more seats than the democrats. 4y

GingerAntics @LibrarianRyan although the 2/3 got dropped to 3/5 back in 1975 for most things, pushed for and used most frequently by southern congressmen and senators to prevent civil rights legislation. 4y

GingerAntics @LibrarianRyan https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Filibuster_Cloture.... This is a brief, but interesting look at filibustering in the senate. (edited) 4y

LibrarianRyan @GingerAntics yes. And modern filibuster rules are crazy. All they have to do is say fillabuster and the bill is dropped. Oven been for the removal of the filibuster for a while. 4y

GingerAntics @LibrarianRyan right? It‘s madness. I get that it saves time (talking for hours, refuting Shakespeare is nuts), but just because someone doesn‘t like something doesn‘t mean it should just dropped like that. This is why NOTHING ever seems to get done. If I did that little work at my job, I‘d be fired...and so would everyone else. 4y

40 likes10 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

A longstanding dispute: Who should be allowed to declare war? The president, Congress, or the People? RWL testified that it should first go to the people. Thoughts? #laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

Sace Oh goodness no not the people. Other than that I don't know. My first thought is congress. Unfortunately this feels like a difficult question. 4y

rubyslippersreads This would have been difficult back when Rose testified. I think today, with the Internet, it would be a nightmare. 4y

Texreader @Sace @rubyslippersreads It is a difficult question. I feel like if the draft is in effect and families are being asked to sacrifice a child, then they should have more say than just their votes for president and Congress. I really don‘t think it should be the president alone. 4y

See All 9 Comments

GingerAntics There is no way it can go to the people. It would take too long and there is too much of a risk of interference, especially now. Decisions like that should be in the hands of our military leaders, with oversight from congress. 4y

LibrarianRyan @GingerAntics agreed. I think it should be congress but not with a 51/49 majority. It should at least be 2/3rds. And unlike now I think they also need to get it approved by the House at at least 50%. As for leaving it solely in the military‘s hand, I wouldn‘t do it. Yes the military should be informing congress and the WH but even they should not be in charge. As for the people NWIH!! The time, the chaos. US is too trigger happy. 4y

GingerAntics @LibrarianRyan oh I like that. 2/3 majority and at least 50% in the house. You have a good point that no one group of people should have all the power. I‘m only concerned with the trigger happy nature of some leaders and the “I‘m not getting my way, so I‘m stalling everything” behaviour we‘re seeing for just about everything right now. As for the people, it seems the two loudest groups are trigger happy or entirely apathetic. 4y

LibrarianRyan @GingerAntics amen! 4y

Texreader @Sace @rubyslippersreads @GingerAntics @LibrarianRyan I was glad to see us all over the place on this topic. I think we all agree that it‘s a decision that should never be taken lightly. Sorry not much else to talk about this week. It was an interesting chapter though. Just not much to chew on. 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader not nearly as much as last week. It was only one chapter, though. 4y

37 likes9 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

This is exactly they way children and teens think of adulthood. It‘s immature, ridiculous, and not even remotely accurate. Everyone has different views of freedom, and I get that. This one is just ridiculous. It‘s like Rose just never wanted to grow up. She clearly didn‘t want to pay taxes and would do just about anything not to have to pay them. It doesn‘t seem like she ever wanted to be responsible for anything in her life.

GingerAntics Rose is just an overgrown teenager. I‘ve honestly known and worked with teenagers with a greater sense of real life and personal responsibility than Rose Wilder Lane has as a full blown adult. #ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon 4y

13 likes1 comment

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Rose would have quite enjoyed Trump‘s America, from the sounds of it.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

llcoolnate This is an interesting title!
4y

10 likes1 comment

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

We literally have proof that she committed TAX FRAUD!!! It‘s a little ironic considering another book I‘m reading at the moment. I didn‘t really want to give my money to the estate of Laura or Rose before, now I REALLY don‘t want to.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

llcoolnate hmmm not the libertarian way of thinking as I've heard it hahaha 4y

9 likes1 comment

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Reminder our Chapter 7 discussion is tomorrow! We are in the home stretch!

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

catebutler Can‘t wait! 4y

rubyslippersreads I‘m ready. 😊 4y

Sace I'm excited! 4y

47 likes3 comments

GingerAntics #ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon 4y

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Why I will NEVER be a libertarian.
“Child prostitution shouldn‘t be made illegal because some people need it to survive.”
“Suicide is always a valid option.”
“If you can‘t find the money for health care, you deserve to die.”
“If saving for retirement isn‘t a priority for you, that‘s not my problem.”
etc.
The libertarian party is built on the Alger Myth, and that is beyond dangerous. Just look what the “me first” mentality has done with COVID.

KatieDid927 Exactly. 4y

GingerAntics @KatieDid927 absolutely disposable. I just don‘t get this. Supposedly this is a mentality celebrated in the Little House books? I don‘t ever recall extreme selfishness in those book. Just wow. 4y

See All 7 Comments

KatieDid927 @GingerAntics Yeah no, not what I took away from them either. I reread the whole series a couple years ago and in retrospect the way indigenous people were depicted was .... not always great. But other than that, I did not get that impression from this series. 4y

GingerAntics @KatieDid927 yeah, I‘ve seen a lot about the depiction of indigenous people and black people in the series, but the obsession with a person‘s own rights at the expense of everyone else, no. 4y

KatieDid927 @GingerAntics Agreed. 4y

GingerAntics @KatieDid927 I guess we‘ll see how this author forms her argument. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 4y

17 likes7 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

A short chapter for discussion next Sunday. Somehow, I don‘t think it will be as lively as today‘s discussions. It‘s been fun, but I think we all need a breather!

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

GingerAntics This week has been a real doozy. 4y

Texreader @GingerAntics Yea, it sure was. My family I think is really tired of hearing about it. At one point they were all standing around me waiting for me to come dinner because I was too busy making a Litsy post. 🤣🤣🤣 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader oh that happened to me around this week‘s reading, too. 🤣😂🤣 It really messes with my entire perception of my childhood. 4y

43 likes1 stack add3 comments

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

After reading chapters 4-6, I think we‘ve got to warn people that these chapters could seriously undermine all good feelings about the Little House books. But I want to hear what y‘all think!

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

rubyslippersreads It‘s really making me dislike both Laura and Rose, but I ❤️ the LH books so much, and have been reading them for so long, I‘m not going to let this ruin them for me. 4y

catebutler I agree, it‘s a bit of a bitter pill to swallow when you read this about Laura, Rose and the books. Maybe it wouldn‘t have been so hard if there had been some transparency in the past, or at the very least a note that the stories were based on fact, but embellished. But maybe that‘s the genius behind these books and LIW, taking a life that‘s hard, bitter and depressing and turning it into a tale of hope, love and perseverance. 4y

Daisey I‘ve heard this comment about the book we‘re reading a lot, but it has not actually changed my opinion of the series. It has made me think I need to reread them with a more critical eye since I haven‘t read them in years, but I think they will still contain many good aspects. All humans have flaws and those won‘t stop me from appreciating an author‘s work. In this case it just makes me wonder if the author‘s credit should be shared. 4y

See All 25 Comments

Texreader @rubyslippersreads @catebutler @Daisey I agree with you all! Thank you for your insightful opinions. I enjoyed the LH books and I agree with much of Rose‘s philosophy (which has not been espoused in this book very well). Because I don‘t like either of them personally doesn‘t mean I reject what they‘ve written. 4y

rubyslippersreads @Daisey I‘d like to reread the series, as well as read

Sace I really don‘t think it‘s going to keep me from enjoying the books or series. I‘ve always felt that they were kind of fiction anyway. I do find myself wanting to seek out works from different points of view. 4y

GingerAntics I never got into the books as a kid but loved the show so much I felt like I should read them as an adult. What initially stopped me was reading about the racism in the series, so I was shifting a bit to read them with a more critical eye than just reading the stories. I thought they would be a good discussion starter. After reading this, I will read nothing written by Laura or Rose. I will not give either estate my of my money, ever. 4y

GingerAntics I also won‘t read them to my children if I ever have them, or really have them around to be read if they want. I‘ll choose other authors who embody the true values I want my children to emulate, the ones supposedly in the LH books. There are native and African American answers to LH and I think I‘d have those around long before having these around. 4y

Sace Probably not going to express it well, but I try to separate authors from their works if the works don‘t advocate harm (though I‘m not sure how harm should be defined either.) 4y

Texreader @Sace Me too! 4y

Texreader @GingerAntics I certainly understand but I also accept that all people have flaws. I don‘t think I could ever be friends with Laura or Rose, but I can‘t reject them completely out of hand. And then I remember I‘ve vowed to never read certain authors (ahem, Stacy Schiff) because I dislike their style. So, this has been an insightful discussion today to say the least! 😉 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader that is a valid point. Perhaps I would be willing to read the books as a point of discussion of the flaws in the books themselves or the authors. I think I‘d get them from the library, though. Still not willing to give them any money. I just think there is something so dangerous in their attitudes and beliefs that hurts a lot of people, and keep people who are viewed as less than (or “low born” as Rose says) “in their place.” 4y

Texreader @GingerAntics That bothers me so much, too, but I doubt that‘s the totality of who they were. I don‘t think they were evil people. (They weren‘t the Benders!). I‘ve done and said things I‘ve later regretted in my wiser years and I hope I‘m not judged by those things. I do ❤️ your idea of getting the books from the library rather than buying them. 4y

Daisey @rubyslippersreads Absolutely! I‘m thinking after this I really need to dig into my copy of Pioneer Girl. 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader true!!! The Benders really were a twist I didn‘t see coming. I‘m still bothered that even this family legend of hunting down the Benders was all a lie. It wasn‘t possible that Pa was any part of one of the vigilante hunts. I get tall tales and fairy tales, but claiming truth when you know full well it‘s not...I think that‘s where my biggest issue comes in. 4y

Butterfinger I regret not having read this book with all of you. 4y

Texreader @Butterfinger It‘s a quick read if you want to catch up. 4y

rubyslippersreads @Daisey Maybe we should do a buddy read, or a group read if more people are interested. 4y

rubyslippersreads @GingerAntics @Texreader I‘m interested in reading

Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie

Texreader @Daisey I‘m enjoying Laura‘s diary about the Wilders move from South Dakota to Missouri. It‘s very short and “real.”

On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894

Texreader @rubyslippersreads Is that about the Benders? If so, I feel another group read is in order. 4y

rubyslippersreads @Texreader Yes. It‘s a Kindle book, free if you have Amazon Prime, or $1.99. I think a group read would be great. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @rubyslippersreads @Texreader I haven‘t been able to find it as an actual book, but the audiobook is $1.99 so it‘s really not a big deal. It‘s really short though, only about an hour and 20 minutes, so it would probably be a one week buddy read. 4y

rubyslippersreads @Texreader @Butterfinger And it‘s so interesting, I keep reading ahead. 😊 4y

Daisey @rubyslippersreads I‘d be up for that. Maybe check for interest as we finish up this book! 4y

38 likes25 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

So to add an interesting twist to our conversation, someone asked what libertarians think of Rose. I follow LOLA on Instagram, a female libertarian movement across the world, and it posted this today. The tagged book has left out this very interesting part of Rose‘s turn to libertarianism. She was a budding communist until she traveled to the new USSR. I think it scared the heck out of her, and changed her to her core. #laurarosereadathon

Sace, GingerAntics

GingerAntics Here is hoping that gets covered later in the book. I don‘t think it‘s going to change how I see her as a person, but I guess it‘s more philosophy/politics they‘re celebrating than her as a person. I guess I can see that. 4y

Texreader @GingerAntics It apparently doesn‘t cover it which I find very strange. If you‘re going to write about libertarianism on the prairie I‘d think that‘d be a very important part of it unless the author had an agenda in writing the book. I don‘t think she does but I find this absence weird. 4y

GingerAntics Hm. That is weird. 4y

See All 6 Comments

Daisey I actually remember kind of feeling disappointed the last time I listened to this that I wasn‘t sure it went into her specific connection to Libertarians enough for the title. I was hoping I would get more of it on a second listen, but I guess not. 4y

Texreader @Daisey Yes it‘s very disappointing since there is the Discovery of Freedom and the smaller tract, Give Me Liberty, and she goes into depth about her own personal experiences with communism and her travels as well as a lot of historical context. I‘d recommend going straight to Discovery if you are interested. I‘ve mentioned before, that book created my deep love of studying the Golden Age of Islam. (edited) 4y

Daisey @Texreader I'm going to have to look these up. Are they both book form or possibly available online? 4y

43 likes6 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I‘ve been thinking about the Wilders and the traits they demonstrated. I doubted they were unique. And then this shows up in my newsfeed. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8706985/Wild-West-mentality-earl...

#laurarosereadathon

@GingerAntics @Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

GingerAntics The article is not what I expected from the title, honestly. Still, some interesting points. This pioneer/Wild West mentality is “consistently less agreeable, conscientious and extrovert.” I get being set in your ways and not liking strangers, but they are “less governed by conscience” than other people? That‘s disturbing. You‘d think they would be more “meticulous” about things because tiny mistakes in the wilderness can lead to big consequences. 4y

GingerAntics I‘m interested in how they are using “conscientious”. The first meaning or the second. Both are troublesome, but if they are going with the first (which I can see the argument for far easier than the second, honestly), that‘s concerning. It certainly explains Laura, Rose and even the Benders, though. 4y

catebutler Interesting article! I technically fall under the western mountain region they‘re talking about in the article, and I do agree with the comments about self-sufficient and resilient. But I‘ve actually always heard that Westerners are more laid back and friendly, while the East is uptight and guarded. So this is kind of an interesting twist! I agree with @GingerAntics comments above too. 👆🏼 4y

See All 7 Comments

GingerAntics @catebutler right? I always thought the easterners were stuffier and more uptight. Maybe that‘s where their talking about degrees of elevation comes in? We may be thinking of the people not in the mountains, who are more uptight. The more laid back folks fled those loonies and went to the mountain, maybe. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 4y

Texreader @catebutler I‘m in the same camp as you about self-sufficiency and resiliency. I have a lot of the Western traits. But I‘m born and raised in Texas so I suffer from my own set of stereotypes, good and bad, that define many Texans. In Norway, where my husband is from, they use the word “Texas” to describe crazy. Yep, at my core, I‘m a lot crazy! 🤣 4y

catebutler @GingerAntics I agree, the elevation point is the key. I do have to say, now I‘m super conscious of negative western traits, I‘m questioning how I interact and deal with people!! 😂 4y

catebutler @Texreader I cracked up, when you mentioned the comment about how Norwegians use the word ‘Texas‘. I say embrace it!! 😉 4y

46 likes7 comments

Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

This was the most comprehensive view of libertarianism I found. They are relatively middle ground. According this graph, I‘m actually more libertarian than anything. I do believe that as long as I‘m not breaking any laws, I should be free to do what I want. I still agree with NO ONE on guns. (I believe in responsible gun ownership, and military style weapons need to stay in the military or the gun range, but I think I‘m alone on that one.)

Texreader, Sace

GingerAntics Hopefully you can view it on a tablet or (maybe better yet) a computer where you can zoom in a bit. If nothing else, just google it. It‘s in the images somewhere near the top. This is somewhat biased, too, because mainstream democrats don‘t want to take all guns, that‘s just a few of the more extreme ones like Bernie and Beto. @Sace (edited) 4y

Scochrane26 You‘re not alone on the gun issue. 4y

GingerAntics @Scochrane26 thank god!!! Sometimes I feel like I‘m surrounded by “all guns or no guns” and I just want to tell all the nuts to chill out and try listening to each other instead of being defensive idiots with big guns. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4y

See All 46 Comments

Scochrane26 @GingerAntics I‘m in Ky, so I‘ve grown up with guns in my house (my dad grew up hunting). Family members & friends hunt regularly. So, I‘m not opposed to that aspect of gun ownership. 4y

Butterfinger I have the same opinion about guns. There needs to be more screening and no military type in a private domain. But, my family rednecks think any revisions is about taking all their guns. I believe I am a libertarian too. 4y

GingerAntics @Scochrane26 I grew around bow hunters and gun hunters. I don‘t care if people own guns. My concern is that it‘s done safely. If you leave a gun out and your toddler shoots a sibling or shoots themselves, that‘s a problem. I‘m not sure you should have the guns or the kids, to be honest. Own guns, just do it safely. Put them up. Teach your children gun safety when you let them start shouting. That‘s my only thing. 4y

GingerAntics @Scochrane26 I also know you don‘t need a military style rifle to hunt or defend yourself. I get that pulling the trigger and having bullets pour out could be a way some people blow off steam after a bad day. I‘m cool with that, as long as it‘s at a shooting range. America needs to go back to respecting guns, not carrying guns in the bloody grocery store “because I can.” 🙄 4y

Sace I am not a gun person. I did not grow up around guns. But I have no problems with people owning guns for safety and for hunting. I really have trouble with military and assault grade weapons in private citizens' hands. 4y

GingerAntics @Butterfinger see, that‘s a cultural thing. I‘m totally cool with them having their guns as long as they‘re not hurting other people with them. Keep your rifle, shot gun, hand gun. More power to ya, just do it safely is all I ask. I‘m open to letting civilians shoot military type guns at shooting ranges just for the thrill of the rush of it, but I don‘t think they should leave that controlled environment. 4y

Sace Took a quick look at the chart and it looks like I agree with much of Libertarianism as well. However I struggle with the position of giving generously to those in need because I am cynical and have no faith in humanity. We can't even get people to wear masks. 😂 4y

GingerAntics @Sace @Scochrane26 @Butterfinger I think I‘m the weird person who is cool with military rifles in shooting ranges/controlled environments. When I have a bad day, I like a nice hard workout or to go for a run or a hike just to blow off steam. I get that for some gun lovers the equivalent could be lining that baby up let‘s rip until it runs out of bullets. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Those guns need to stay in safe controlled environments for civilians, though. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace @Scochrane26 @Butterfinger who am I to judge? 🤷🏼‍♀️ safety first, and maybe sanity first, too. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace right? I also take issue with that being in the republican side. The Republican/conservatives I know believe like Rose that if people are poor, they‘ve done it to themselves. It‘s the Democrats/liberals that give to charities and start charities, etc. I dunno, it does seem like the middle of the road solution I‘ve hoped for lately, but that‘s on paper. If they‘re anything like Rose in practice, NEVER HAPPENING!!! 4y

GingerAntics @Sace I would be very interested to hear what modern/current libertarians think of Rose as supposedly being one of their founders. I think it would be interesting to talk to some libertarians or even read this book with them. The emphasis seems to be on do what you want as long as you‘re not hurting anyone, but “hurting” can have different meanings to different people, oddly. 4y

Sace And I am totally on board with not legislating morality. 4y

Texreader I don‘t count myself political and subscribe to no political party, but when compared to republicans or democrats I‘m definitely libertarian. I believe deeply in the philosophy of it: live and let live. (I just deleted my rant...sorry to anyone I offended. I really hate politics.) (edited) 4y

Texreader @Sace Amen 4y

Sace @Texreader I think what has happened is a segment of the white population focuses on the small govt, keep guns, don't tread on me aspects and distorts them. 4y

Texreader @Sace I agree. 🙁 4y

Sace @Texreader and I'm not sure where modern libertarians fall on immigration. I seem to recall years ago their saying that the current system did need to be fixed for easier immigration and not "build a wall keep them out!" 4y

Texreader @Sace Unless it‘s changed with politics, that is the libertarian view—open immigration. I‘m not a big fan of borders. We are all people doing what we can to survive. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @Sace @Texreader totally agree on all of that. Morality just can‘t be legislated. It just doesn‘t work, especially because it gets conflated with religion so many times. As long as a person isn‘t hurting anyone, they should be able to choose their own moral codes for themselves. I‘m also with you on hating politics. I will never join a party. 4y

Sace @Texreader I totally struggle with advancement based on accomplishments because our system is not equal. Just look at education. We don't all have equal access to things. I would love to know how a Libertarian would go about equalizing/fixing the broken system. 4y

Sace @GingerAntics @Texreader Politics should be boring. It should be about budgets, defense, educating all citizens equally and infrastructure, but it seems way too much about culture wars these days. 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader @Sace one of the other versions of this image had immigration as one of the points. I think they were for more open borders. I totally agree, we all need to be free to survive and keep our children alive, etc. Although, in terms of COVID, I see the value of closing boarders to help combat spread, but everyone has to be on board or it just doesn‘t work. 4y

Texreader @Sace Politically solving the system? That scares me. Philosophically it‘s a whole school of thought that I studied for years but am quite rusty now. But it‘s fascinating really. 4y

Sace @Texreader @GingerAntics I can totally see where Laura and Rose are coming from. They certainly struggled to survive and managed to do so. I just don't think it fair to expect that of everyone. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace @Texreader that‘s the perfect way to put it. It seems like nothing but a culture was since 2016 for sure. I‘m not sure I believe school should be up to the government to the extent it is. Let people doing research on how to do this properly run things, just make it mandatory that kids be educated sort of thing. As an educator, the wrong people have been in charge far too long and it‘s hurting all of us. 4y

Sace @Texreader I agree we all doing what we can to survive and as the grandchild of an immigrant I know that it's not something someone does on a whim. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace @Texreader I think it does help when there is actually a philosophy involved. Politics can take a hike. Philosophy will save us. I think the big difference, to me at least, is that Rose and Laura came from one type of life. What works for that lifestyle doesn‘t work for all lifestyles. People who live in cities and work for other people have a completely different route to survival than people who work for themselves or own the company. 4y

Sace @GingerAntics I'm an educator as well and it bothers me that each state has its own way of doing things and even within states each system is different. It's how the South got away with "separate but equal" foolery. My district is begging for money and 5 minutes away another district has one to one ipads. 4y

Texreader @Sace Cool! I married an immigrant! And with the birth rate going the direction it is, we need more people! 4y

GingerAntics @Sace emigrating (leaving a country) certainly isn‘t something you just wake up one day and choose to do. That would be madness. Moving across the country is crazy enough. I think maybe the important thing to take away from that is the drive and determination. That can be applied anywhere by later generations. I definitely think we have much to learn from immigrants. We certainly shouldn‘t be fearing them. 4y

Sace @GingerAntics "Philosophy will save us." ❤️❤️❤️❤️ If only the educational system wasn't obsessed with data driven crap and we could bring back a strong liberal arts curriculum... Not just a "get then ready for a job" curriculum. 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader well, we also have the over population issue, so it‘s probably good that the birth rate is going down. I think this is where open boarders and education for everyone is important. Everyone can do what the want as a career, and move freely to where that skill set is needed. It‘s the cooperation of countries that we‘re all going to survive. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace it‘s not even jobs they‘re preparing them for. Most kids now leave school entirely unprepared for the current job market. Schools make factory workers, not employees. The whole thing needs an overhaul, honestly. Free to Learn really ruined me as an educator, but has really lead me in a whole new direction as far as research is concerned. I also think we need to bring back respect for autodidacts, but that could just be me.

Butterfinger I totally understand what you are saying. 4y

Sace @GingerAntics I‘m going to see if that book is at my library. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace I hope it is. It‘s a great book, and I wish more parents, teachers, administrators, citizens, and law makers would read it. Some people will believe that children need to be punished and that the deserve to be coerced into learned (people can be really twisted when it comes to kids), but most people just don‘t know the damage the school system is doing to their children, their families, and society as a whole. 4y

GingerAntics @KatieDid927 this image made us all feel libertarianism was very middle of the road. It seems it‘s good on paper, but absolutely crap in real life. I knew a girl in college who grew up in a communist country, and she she said the exact same thing about communism, oddly. 4y

KatieDid927 @GingerAntics They pretend to be middle of the road, but they‘re not. The “good on paper” thing is spot on, but even this paper is a little suspect to me. I read through the “left positions” they disagree with, and yikes. “Special rights for minorities”? We want equal rights for minorities. To me this confirms what I‘ve long thought, that they‘re just as comfy with white supremacy as Republicans. 4y

KatieDid927 @GingerAntics Ultimately, it does look good on paper at first glance, but they are misrepresenting what they believe in and what the “left” believes that they disagree with. “Tax funding of government charities”? Yeah, I am all for feeding people that are starving. 4y

KatieDid927 Also I agree with you on guns. The “left” is not a monolith on this issue whatsoever. The fact that they repeat that lie is yet another thing that‘s suspect to me. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @KatieDid927 exactly! I noticed that as well. This imagine doesn‘t seem to have a realistic view of democratic positions, but then it‘s also not exactly accurate on the republican side either, but they are clearly more comfortable on that side. It‘s almost like they gave the republican side a fare shake, but the democrat side they‘re just taking the standard republican stance. 4y

KatieDid927 @GingerAntics For sure. Also, they list one of their positions as government spending being wasteful and inefficient, but also support a “robust national defense”? The defense budget is the most wasteful and inefficient of all! How do they square the two? Just, what? Also, “giving generally to those in need” is ... not a “right position”. The closer I look the more ridiculous it is. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @KatieDid927 how did I miss that? When I read “government spending is wasteful and inefficient” I thought of how we could pay teachers WAY better if we cut the ridiculous defence budget. I guess that distracted me from “robust national defence.” I wonder if that‘s what they‘re counting on. People get fired up about the stuff the care about, and then they totally miss the stuff that contradicts it and makes no sense. Hm. 4y

12 likes1 stack add46 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

It‘s here! #laurarosereadathon

It looks like @GingerAntics got a good start on discussion today. So feel free to chime in.

@Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate

Sace Oh my. I confess I've already finished because the more I listened the more I was trying to figure out exactly why I didn't like Rose's views. It probably doesn't help that I don't quite have a firm grasp on Libertarianism. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace I don‘t either. Apparently it‘s European roots are liberal, but in America it‘s conservative. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I downloaded some charts to help me understand. The long and the short of it seems to be that their position on everything is “mind your own 🤬 business.” It seems like a party of bratty children (gee I thought that was the republicans these days). “I don‘t care about anyone else, I just care about me.” 4y

Sace @GingerAntics ah... Exactly. That's my impression of what it generally is here in the states- a kind of "allow people to pull themselves up by the bootstraps with little interference". An idea that bothers me since one actually has to have boots to have the bootstraps. And as you touched on in another post... Laura and Rose seemed so proud to have survived...on what amounts to stolen land. 4y

See All 15 Comments

rubyslippersreads @Sace @GingerAntics Stolen land and cheating on their income taxes. 4y

Texreader @rubyslippersreads Yikes! I forgot about cheating on their taxes, too! 4y

Sace @rubyslippersreads @rubyslippersreads I forgot about it too! 4y

GingerAntics @rubyslippersreads exactly!!! @sace don‘t forget cheating on their taxes. Ugh. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace that‘s the best way I‘ve ever heard that put. For all sorts of reasons, not everyone starts out with boots, so there is nothing to pull up on. Even if a kid is born “without boots” because of something the parents did, how is that the fault of the child? I really think that whole “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” mentality has got to go. Seriously. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace now I‘m wondering, how many people thought they were failures; how many people gave up, thought they obviously didn‘t have what it took to survive, possibly even committed suicide because no one ever told them “hey, you didn‘t have any boots to begin with.” They spent their lives tugging and tugging, never knew they were tugging on nothing. Man, that saying needs to go away now. 4y

Sace @GingerAntics I wish I could take credit for it but I got it from an article about the Horatio Alger myth that I read soon after the 2016 election. Damned if I can find it now 🙄 4y

GingerAntics @Sace I didn‘t even know what the Horacio Alger Myth was, although apparently that‘s not uncommon. I can‘t find an article with that in it, but I was shocked to find that after the depression someone write a book showing the reality of the American dream, debunking the HA myth, and it straight up predicted Trump. That. Is. Terrifying. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.vulture.com/amp/2016/09/how-nathanael-wests-c... I think I‘m going to have to read A Cool Million now. (edited) 4y

Sace @GingerAntics OH now I want to read it too! Another thing I remember from the article too is that people tend to forget that in the Alger stories someone always plays the benefactor. The protagonist would never have been a success without an initial (usually monetary) gift from someone. 4y

Sace @GingerAntics There's a kindle edition of A Cool Million for $1.99 4y

GingerAntics @Sace I saw that on Apple Books, too. I read that, too. No one actually does anything in their own, a person with money comes and helps them out. I‘m still glad his books fell out of popularity. They sound insufferable. I wonder if The Prince and the Pauper was Twain‘s version of this genre. 4y

31 likes15 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

@julesG this is an interesting little connection between the real story and American Gods. 💙💙💙 Good thing Gaiman is REALLY good at weaving real life into his stories.

14 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

@julesG so obviously Pa was never on a vigilante hunt, he was back in Wisconsin by then. So ridiculous. Just a load of BS. For attention? 🙄 I have no idea why she insinuated that Pa‘s team found them and did away with them. What is the point of adding that to her speech then? Did she think no one would actually do the historical research? 🙄 Of course she didn‘t. She didn‘t think anyone would be smart enough to check out her story.

12 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

I known “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch” was already taken, but I feel like the title still could have used a similar theme. Just sayin.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon #LibertariansAndPrairieBitches

Texreader #laurarosereadathon

@Daisey @catebutler @rubyslippersreads @Sace & anyone who wants to participate (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader these two scare me a little...not as much as the Bender‘s obviously, but at least the Bender‘s didn‘t spread their “the family that kills together, stays together” and “free love gone wrong” philosophies to the world in books. So maybe they scare me the same amount, just in different ways. (edited) 4y

16 likes2 comments

julesG https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Benders 4y

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

A family of serial killers!!! I wonder if this is true? There is finally part of this book I want to know more about.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

julesG No sources? No further information? 4y

GingerAntics @julesG nope. It‘s from a speech Laura gave at her first author‘s appearance. I‘m going to try to google later. 4y

See All 9 Comments

GingerAntics @julesG holy crap they‘re real!!! 4y

Sace Audible has an aubile original Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie... It's pretty good

Little Slaughterhouse on the Prairie

GingerAntics @Sace I just noticed that on the Wikipedia page for the murders. It‘s $1.99 on Apple book. The true crime junky in me is just barely holding back. 4y

Sace @GingerAntics it's short but good. I'm also a true crime junky 😊 4y

Texreader And we all thought the Wilders were scary! Get a load of the Benders!! 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader true, the Wilder‘s only murdered animals. The benders are a whole other league. The fact that the whole family was in on it...and the son and daughter would sometimes pose as husband and wife because the daughter (and apparently the son) believed in free love (way before it was cool) and that it was perfectly natural to have relations with each other. Their depravity knew no end, it seems. 4y

16 likes9 comments

GingerAntics #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon 4y

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Just like when my mother had her stroke, my family got what it deserved. 🙄 This dangerous and abhorrent philosophy is still alive and well. The people who hold it also claim it is biblical. I sure hope I‘m right in that hell doesn‘t exist, or those folks are going to have a RUDE awakening. Too bad we can‘t ask Laura and Rose how they‘re enjoying the afterlife. 🔥🔥🔥 Dante‘s Inferno is too good.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie

Sace I confess I went ahead and finished listening... I'm really not that crazy about Rose... I guess the only reason I'm cutting Laura slack is childhood devotion. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace I feel very fortunate to have never gotten into the books. I‘m just (barely) able to differentiate the books/real Laura and Michael Landon‘s creation. For me, it was the TV show I loved and the tv show that made me want to be a farmer. lol 4y

Sace @GingerAntics I actually didn't read (some of) the books until I was an adult. I loved the show so that's the Laura I really picture/think of. 4y

GingerAntics @Sace exactly. Knowing how much of the show is the brainchild of Michael Landon is the only thing keeping me from hating the show. He did his own thing. It‘s very loosely based on the books. I kind of wanted to reread Farmer Boy. We read it in 5th grade and I only remember snippets, but forget it now. I‘m sticking with the Birchbark House series. 4y

11 likes5 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Don‘t forget the degradation of the native peoples who lived their first, before their ancestral lands were stolen from them by snotty, thankless white people who would just destroy it and then move on while making it a crime for the native peoples to ever return. Tell me about your loss, Rose. #sarcasm #karma
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

12 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Like you did, Rose? Please BITE ME!!! Don‘t pass judgement on others because you regret your life decisions. Quite frankly, I don‘t blame your husband for wanting to get as far away from you as humanly possible.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Texreader I loved and admired her independence. Would you believe that she reported in Vietnam on the war there? I just wish she had espoused the life she actually lived. 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader well, my grandmother firmly believed a woman‘s place was in the home even though she was SO good at her job, she helped a man state a company in the Twin Cities and ended up on the front page of the news paper because of it. My grandfather died when my mother was 6 and my uncle was 10, so she did what she had to do to survive, but still she would have preferred to stay home...I think. She wanted to be a lawyer before she got pregnant. 4y

11 likes2 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

🙄 Oh FFS 🙄
People are paying her all this money to keep writing. How much do I have to pay her to SHUT UP and have some decency? Women shouldn‘t work outside the home, but if that means they need government assistance then they‘re just lazy. She wasn‘t so great at logic, was she?
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Yes, the wholesome values of selfishness, greed, resentment, animal cruelty, disdain for others, disdain for charity, and pride. Those are the only values these women have. Eh.
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

9 likes

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Oh we‘ve got animal cruelty now, too. SMH
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon
I‘m sorry, seriously? No wonder they didn‘t get along. No wonder Rose is so ephed up. If this is what Laura was willing to do to Rose as an adult, if this is what Laura was willing to do to an innocent animal, what in the bloody hell did she do to Rose as a child? This is indicative of child abuse.

GingerAntics @julesG I‘m going to bed now, most likely to have nightmares about Laura Ingles Wilder murdering all of my beloved pets. 4y

GingerAntics This is straight up emotional warfare, plain and simple. Good thing Rose never had children. The cycle of abuse could have continued to the present. The world lucked out of those psychopaths. 4y

Texreader I agree. Rose didn‘t fall too far from the tree. 4y

See All 7 Comments

GingerAntics @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick this was roughly the same time, so animals weren‘t treated all that well either. Seems they were about 50/50. A terrible time to be alive. 4y

GingerAntics @Texreader I get why Rose has issues with her mother. If this is what Laura did to her as an adult, I don‘t think I want to know what Laura did or had Almonzo do to her when she was a child. Still, that doesn‘t excuse her vile thoughts toward other people. Rose also comes across as wishy washy. “My upbringing was stupid” to “my upbringing was great everyone should work so hard.” 🤷🏼‍♀️ 4y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Yikes... each of these quotes just leads more and more down the path toward a Lifetime movie. 4y

GingerAntics @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I hadn‘t thought of that, but that is 100% accurate. 4y

10 likes7 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

That‘s right, those lazy folks just need to work harder...never mind they already were, or that the situation is out of their control, or you believe them to low born to do themselves any good. 🤬
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon

alisiakae I‘m loving your comments on this book. I attempted a reread of the Little House books when maya was younger and didn‘t like them, only to discover I no longer like them either. 4y

GingerAntics @4thhouseontheleft it‘s odd. That seems to be a common thing. Innocence of youth maybe? 🤷🏼‍♀️ So many people who just don‘t love them as much as they once did when they read them as adults. 4y

9 likes2 comments

Libertarians on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books | Christine Woodside

Wow. Just. Wow. I have no words for all that is wrong with this statement. Never mind she only believes this to be true for people as good as herself and her no longer existing family. 🙄
#ChristineWoodside #LibertariansOnThePrairie #WomenAlsoKnowHistory #LauraRoseReadathon