Speak up

I have a lot of friends, on both sides of the political equation. As a moderate, centrist liberal I am outnumbered about eight to one or eight to two at morning coffee, some people either choosing not to show their cards or even more sadly, having no cards to show.

I have no problem with people who hold different opinions then I do, especially if they are well thought out. In fact I sort of like the sparring and opposing viewpoints. We are all and will continue to be friends.

I used to be quite strident on the blast. I lost two major clients, for my not having enough "balance". Maybe three. All multi, multi millionaires. One of them walked into my shop after I had smoked a joint and cut me off forever, one moved to Hawaii and one became intensely hardcore MAGA and insufferable.

I look back in retrospect and have to say that only one of them is truly missed. I had to ask myself if I would want to hang out with a person even if they were stone broke?  Did I like them or did I like their business? Hmmmm, that was easy.

Truly, I can only say that about the guy who moved to Hawaii. I really liked and admired him, politics withstanding and it hurts to be dumped, even by a friend.

For the past eleven months I have tried to dial down the writing and politics as much as possible. Never alienate a client, you know. I think that is about to change. I think that after this sober, quiet year, I am ready to let it fly.

I will never get Mr. MAGA back and he nauseates me anyway. If my business suffers, so be it. I have been through worse.

I think we are in a horrific place in our country. So many Republican friends that say the same thing, "We don't like his tone but we like his policies..." 

Well, I don't. 

I think that we are dangerously close to a total breakdown, from ICE repeatedly jailing and brutalizing United States Citizens to blasting boats out of international waters that aren't even heading to our shores. Alienating Canada, Europe and Mexico while cleaving to tinpot despots and oligarchs around the world and throwing our lot in with Russia. How many states can now force women to carry a deformed or fatally damaged child to term, even in cases of rape and incest and even if the mother's life is in jeopardy?

Too many.

I have a friend who thinks ICE is merely a front for a new federal Police Force put in place and destined to subvert the next midterm elections. Sounds farfetched but who knows? Another thinks they are filled with the ranks of Jan. 6 rioters who have all been conveniently released.

The fight against globalism and free trade has now completely destroyed agreements and relationships that have taken decades to create, destroying major sectors of our economy. Think corn and soybeans will ever come back? Or automobile manufacturing? Trump answers by charging tariffs, a tax largely borne by the American consumer.

Of course, ICE has done such a good job that there is no one left to pick the fields but the farmers won't worry because largely blue state taxpayers will pick up the bill and bail them out once again. A new permanent ward and liege. 

Beats working.

I think I am done shutting my mouth. I can't be worried about losing business because this is actually more important than me making a buck. This is a total breakdown and we are in a world of shit. I have been waiting for my more moderate comrades on the right to speak up and say enough and very few ever do. R.N., I salute you!

Of course, if I get really broke I might change my tune. If you want to cut me off, well, feel free. I'll get over it.

Let her rip.