Hey Reaper,
I am of the “it’s democracy vs. autocracy”perspective. Policy is irrelevant when one side is playing a zero-sum game. They distract with “policy,” thrive on fomenting anger, and creating culture wars as a means to an end. They don’t care about us at all. In the fact, these days, the more I hear a politician say that he/she is fighting for me, I am convinced that they feel the 180-degree opposite.
I could give a golly gosh darn about the culture wars that have typically fueled the “rivalry” between Democrats and republicans during our lifetime. The Republican Party is no longer a center-right party. It’s an illiberal danger to the country (and the world). The Democrats are completely living in delusion, but at least have a belief in free and fair elections. Though, their party is nearing the point of collapse (much like the republicans have in the last 6 - 8 years). Dude, we’re headed for an authoritarian state where all the so-called “freedom” we Americans pride ourselves on, will be gone. Completely gone. Those who like the authoritarians because they’re “like us”?? Yeah, the authoritarians are playing those people - and doing it with real ease.
And I agree that children need to be kept safe. My kindergartner’s school went into lockdown yesterday. Fortunately no one was hurt and the PD was able to apprehend the suspect. But now we’re dealing with a scared kid wondering why an adult would want to shoot them. For those of us “responsible gun owners,” there is a simple way to stop having people talk about banning guns. What is that solution? Stop mass shootings. How? Well, instead of saying “it’s a mental health issue” and then walking away with no solution. Maybe invest in a solution. I have to believe that an overwhelmingly number of Americans believe that if a severely mentally ill person is prohibited from owning guns, then mass shootings would stop… and then? People stop talking about banning guns, because children aren’t being shot and killed weekly. Sorry, this rant hits close to home, because it’s been an emotional couple of days in my (otherwise) safe community.
On a much lighter note - there was a lot of cheesy music in the 80s, but wow - in the past year or so - I’ve realized that a lot of 80s music was ahead of its time. Speaking of music made in the 80s (though not “80s music,” per say), I have been listening to a lot of GNR in the past couple of weeks. I always knew that Axl Rose had pipes, but man, here we are 40 years later and I still haven’t heard another vocalist with his range. Chris Cornell came close, but didn’t quite have that same range.
Be well man. Thanks again for the forum!