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Hot Takes Are Making the Ukraine Invasion Worse

We have come to know what to do when something terrible and earth-shattering happens. grifters, celebritiesAnd attention whoresTo go to bed with the most self-centered and dumbest people possible.

That’s all well and good—Free speech is a right!—but we shouldn’t stand for that from the “serious” people—the activists, media figures, and policymakers who keep telling us how smart, informed, and wise they are.

This is especially true when it comes to actual war.

Here’s some advice for the wise would-be: In the hope of creating a consensus around your preexisting obsessions, you don’t need to give up insincere responses that would make Joy Behar blush.

The Democratic Socialists of America—whose ranks include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D–N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.)—don’t have to rush into print to blame America first when Russian President Vladimir Putin defies international law.

Wisconsin Governor and former Republican presidential candidate Scott WalkerIt doesn’t take much to make a heated war about Joe Biden or immigration a hot topic.

Presumably sober journalists, like NBC’s Chief International Correspondent Richard EngelIt doesn’t matter if you are a pilot or not, if your goal is to blow up Russian convoys and start World War III.

John Kerry—Joe Biden’s special envoy for climate change—doesn’t have to drag the topic immediately back to the melting Arctic ice pack.

The state liquor officials in Virginia, Oregon and Utah don’t need to hurry to remove Russian alcohol from stores shelves.

Representative Eric Salwell, a Democratic member of Congress, doesn’t need to say “kicking all Russian students out of America” at this moment. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican can simply say “no to no fly zones” which would be considered an act of war.

The phenomenon of war hysteria can be a serious problem. It drives good people to madness and stupidity. People all across the nation killed their dachshunds to show patriotic pride when America invaded Germany in World War I.

Walter Jones, a North Carolina congressman, was responsible for getting the House cafeteria changed the name of french fries to “freedom fries” following France’s refusal to participate in our invasion of Iraq 2003. In a matter of years, Jones regretted both his culinary interventions and his support for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He spent his entire life making excuses for the disastrous military action that was based on poor intelligence.

The unpredictable outcomes of war are complex. The rush to get everyday Russians off the global economy system, for example, will actually have an effect. Or, will it only make matters worse and increase suffering among the people? The folly of taking quick and impulsive decisions, as well as relying on emotion and bad information to guide your actions in the past.

Our elites—especially our elected leaders—can leave the glibness to the rest of us and maybe, just maybe, think before they swarm social media like Russian tanks driving deep into Ukraine.

Nick Gillespie wrote and narration. Regan Taylor edited.

Photo Credits: Robin Jerstad/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom; Brian Cahn/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; JEMAL COUNTESS/UPI/Newscom; Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom; DavidBailey, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Newscom; Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Music Credits: Night Rider87 – “Digital Battleground”