Bait and Switch: Climate Change, BLM, Planned Parenthood

American society has become tolerant, even accepting, of bait and switch initiatives regularly pushed upon us. Media elites, celebrities, especially politicians and activists engage in this deceptive tactic regularly. Indeed, certain initiatives and organizations are par exellence examples of this tactic - Climate Change, BLM the organization, Planned Parenthood among them. What we need to recognize is that the old maxim borrowed from sociology still applies: "Things are not always what they seem." A political movement like Climate Change messages and markets itself as one thing--saving the earth--while really being about something else--globalist political power. So, we need to discern, that is we need to be like the Men of Issachar in the Old Testament, men or women who "understand the times, to know what we ought to do." For more Christian commentary check my website www.rexmrogers.com or my YouTube channel @DrRexRogers for more podcasts and video. #ClimateChange #BLM #PlannedParenthood #Bait&Switch 

Transcript

Being caught in a bait and switch is not pleasant, so its disconcerting to think many Americans are unaware that they are being duped by climate change, BLM, Planned Parenthood, and other initiatives or organizations.

Hi, I’m Rex Rogers and this is episode #204 of Discerning What Is Best, a podcast applying unchanging biblical principles in a rapidly changing world, and a Christian worldview to current issues and everyday life. 

“Bait and switch” is a regularly used stratagem of the American political experience, poised to mislead the uninformed or unaware. It’s happening in the climate change hysteria, it happened with the organization BLM, it’s happened with Planned Parenthood, and a lot more.

“Bait and switch” is a term for a deceptive tactic, usually in sales or marketing, where someone advertises a product or service at a very attractive price (the "bait") to draw people in, but then, once they are interested, tries to sell them something more expensive or different (the "switch").

"Bait and switch" can also describe situations where someone's expectations are intentionally set one way but then changed — like in relationships, politics, or even storytelling. For example: A store advertises a TV for $100, but when you go there, they say that model is "sold out" and pressure you to buy a $500 TV instead. Or someone creates an online dating profile presenting themselves very differently (using flattering or fake pictures and descriptions) to attract attention. 

Some people consider “bait and switch” false advertising. The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act empowers the FTC to take action against businesses that advertise a product or service with no real intention of providing it or an intent to push customers toward a different (more expensive) option.

Companies can be hit with huge fines, reputation damage, and forced refunds. For example, in 2016, Volkswagen advertised its diesel cars as "clean" and "environmentally friendly," baiting eco-conscious buyers. But it was later discovered they had installed software to cheat emissions tests — the cars were actually polluting way more than advertised. VW eventually paid billions in fines, buybacks, and compensation. 

But in politics, at least recently, it seems like tolerance for misleading narratives is higher or even accepting and intentional. Borrowed from sociology, the old maxim still applies: “things are not always what they seem.” 

My fear is that many people do not know what’s under the surface of given political initiatives, so they end up supporting or defending something for apparent values while the initiative proponents move forward with entirely different purposes.

Climate Change is one of the worst wolves in sheep’s clothing being touted by the left, liberal elites, and major media and entertainment. I’ve addressed climate change before in this podcast, or rather what’s now called “climate porn,” irrationality regularly pedaled by major news networks and many of the world’s leading politicians and celebrities. 

In those podcasts, Climate Change: The Sky is Falling, Climate Change Now a Culture of Death, and Climate Change Threats to Freedom, I noted that certain political initiatives are embedded in the climate change movement, which feature values that run counter either to a Christian worldview or to traditional American values, among them, 

1.    Anti-humanity.

2.    God is irrelevant, unless the earth is the deity. 

3.    Anti-truth or genuine science.

4.    Anti-free enterprise or anti-capitalism.

5.    Look to government as the source salvation and utopia.

The irony is in their grab for power climate change activists are now saying, in essence, to save the earth for humanity, we have to get rid of a lot of human beings. This is what I meant when I called climate change a culture of death. 

The so-called U.S. “Climate Czar,” John Kerry, “tipped his hand, saying, ‘The real enemy, then, is humanity itself.’ Kerry is giving us a peak at the anti-family, anti-human culture of death now motivating climate elites.”

Climate change activists channel the old Malthusian idea “the theory that population growth is potentially exponential…while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which eventually reduces living standards to the point of triggering a population decline.” Never mind that Malthusianism has long been discredited, climate change activists are now calling for the depopulation of the earth.

What we need to understand is that “climate change is the Left's religion.” 

People like paid activist Greta Thunberg, the likes of Bill Gates, Joe Biden, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, King Charles III, the UN General Secretary, and the ever-opportunist Al Gore all promote climate change policies that trade liberty for globalist government.

But if indeed the Sovereign God is in charge, and he is, what should we think about life on planet earth?The shepherd psalmist told us: “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” Ps. 46:2-3.

Under the guise of combating climate change, proponents of globalism seek to impose restrictions on personal behavior, curtail freedom of speech, and expand the reach of government into every facet of our lives. In this brave new world envisioned by globalist ideologues, the rights of the individual are sacrificed on the altar of collective salvation. 

BLM, meaning “Black Lives Matter” the organization, is another bait and switch. Now it is important to note here that I am talking about the organization, not the concept cited in the ingenious name of the organization. Who but a hater is going to say they do not think black people’s lives matter? Of course, black people’s lives matter because they are human beings created in the image of God and, like all lives matter, certainly black lives matter too.

But BLM the organization is anti-nuclear family, promotes abortion, is anti-Christian, promotes LGBTQ+, and at bottom propagates a racial view of history and racist attitude toward all who are not black, especially those who are white. And there are several cases alleging fraud in the use of donated funds.

BLM sucked in a lot of unsuspecting people who genuinely care about racial justice or non-discrimination, but this organization is a long way from what Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

BLM is a charade, bilking people in the name of justice while using funds to divide, sow racial animus, and attack the American values that made liberty and justice for all a possibility in the first place.

Planned Parenthood is another bait and switch organization. In the name of healthcare for women, it promotes, indeed it makes tens of millions of dollars, conducting abortions, selling body parts, destroying black culture, and undermining the American family.

Historical data indicates that Planned Parenthood affiliates received approximately $1.54 billion in Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP payments from 2019 through 2021. This suggests that Medicaid reimbursements continue to be a significant source of funding for the organization.​

Also, in 2022, non-Hispanic Black women accounted for 39.5% of all reported abortions in the United States. This is notably disproportionate, considering that Black individuals comprise approximately 13% of the U.S. population. The abortion rate for Black women was 24.4 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44, the highest among all racial groups.

So, I am in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood, that this organization should receive no government funds whatsoever.

Other bait and switch frauds are at work in our society:  until recently, the DEI or “woke” tsunamis inundated schools and much of corporate and government America under the guise of racial social justice. But what we got was more racism and division and a destruction of meritocracy. 

Some consider the United Nations a bait and switch, that is a purported organization dedicated to the promotion of cooperation internationally. But what it has been in recent decades is more often anti-Israel, anti-capitalism, anti-American leftist initiatives, which meanwhile is presented to us as the last bastion of hope for peace and prosperity. But in reality, not so much.

“Bait and switch” is a long-standing if not time-honored practice because deception is rooted in the heart of every human being. It’s one reason in economics we’re warned by the old maxim, “caveat emptor,” let the buyer beware. 

We need to think, to discern, to identify values and initiatives that operate contrary to a healthy, realistic, rational Christian or perhaps conservative worldview. We need to be like the Old Testament men “Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” 1 Chron 12:32.

Well, we’ll see you again soon. This podcast is about Discerning What Is Best. If you find this thought-provoking and helpful, follow us on your favorite podcast platform. Download an episode for your friends. For more Christian commentary, check my website, r-e-x-m as in Martin, that’s rexmrogers.com. Or check my YouTube channel @DrRexRogers for more podcasts and video.

And remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm. 

© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved, 2025   

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