Progressive Policies and American Naval Heritage

On Friday, September 23, 2022, Kim Monson explored the failures of progressive urban policies and celebrated American military heritage with featured author Rick Turnquist reviewing Michael Shellenberger’s book on San Francisco’s homelessness crisis, and retired Lt. Col. Bill Rutledge commemorating the 243rd anniversary of John Paul Jones’ legendary naval victory.

Why Progressive Policies Fail American Cities

Start listening at 30:44 – Hour 1

Rick Turnquist breaks down Michael Shellenberger’s book San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities, explaining how liberal policies have transformed once-beautiful American cities into crisis zones. Turnquist identifies five root causes of homelessness: drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, life choices, government incentives, and the lack of affordable housing created by government zoning restrictions.

The discussion highlights San Francisco’s generous cash payments to homeless individuals, with monthly benefits reaching $588 compared to far lower amounts in other major cities. Turnquist points to data showing that most of San Francisco’s homeless population migrated from elsewhere, drawn by these financial incentives. The city spends six percent of its entire budget on homelessness, yet the problem continues to worsen.

Turnquist connects these policies to a deeper philosophical problem: progressive ideology that denies individual responsibility and treats criminals as victims. He cites French philosopher Michel Foucault’s belief that free will is an illusion, which underlies the left’s soft-on-crime approach. The result is cities where aggressive panhandling, public drug use, and human waste on sidewalks have become normalized.

“When you incentivize something, you get more of it. And that’s exactly what San Francisco is doing. They disguise it as compassion. But what they’re really doing is they’re enabling people to live in unhealthy ways and to continue to serve their addictions to drugs and alcohol.”

Rick Turnquist, Featured Author at AdvanceFreedom.com

The Battle That Made American Naval History

Start listening at 79:17 – Hour 2

Lt. Col. Bill Rutledge recounts the extraordinary story of John Paul Jones and the Battle of Flamborough Head, which occurred on this very date in 1779. The Scottish-American naval captain, standing just 5’4″ tall, commanded the aging Bonhomme Richard against the superior British warship Serapis in what became the longest single-ship engagement in military history, lasting over four hours.

Rutledge describes Jones’ tactical brilliance: knowing his vessel was outmatched, Jones ordered his crew to grapple the enemy ship and board rather than exchange cannon fire. His Marines climbed into the topsails to rain fire down on British sailors, clearing the deck for boarding. When the British captain demanded surrender, Jones delivered his immortal reply.

The battle turned when an American Marine dropped a grenade through an open hatch into the Serapis’s gun deck, igniting the powder stores and forcing the British surrender. Jones graciously declined to accept the British captain’s sword, honoring his worthy adversary. The victory electrified the American cause and proved that the Continental Navy could challenge British supremacy in their own waters.

“John Paul Jones made the famous statement, I have not yet begun to fight, which is probably the most famous quotation in any naval history, but certainly in American naval history.”

Lt. Col. Bill Rutledge, Retired United States Air Force