Here's a controversial post. Sure to at least raise eyebrows, and possibly ire, on both sides of my friend list. I may need to put on a helmet after posting it.
I think it's important to consider that TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) runs both ways. Trump isn't great because Biden is terrible. Biden isn't acceptable because you hate Trump. It's the same with Democrats and Republicans. One is not great because the other is evil, no matter which you think is which.
People who scored 70% on a HS exam are not brilliant because the rest of the class averaged 60%. Both are failures.
Trump was treated very unfairly. If you don't think so you haven't thought about it much or you are in the above mentioned class. That doesn't make Trump a great President.
Biden has been pampered and protected but that doesn't mean he singlehandedly ruined the country. He did that with the guidance of his handlers and the permission of a large number of voters. He is a disaster because of what his policies and priorities have done to the country.
This is not news to most people. So why do I post it? Because no matter how apparent it is (dare I say fundamental?) huge numbers of people are stuck in that narrative. Also because it's looking increasingly like Trump will run again. The Dems claim they will run senile Joe against him again.
Joe probably won't make it to the next election. It's uncertain if even the country will make it to the election after that one. The midterms, if they end up as predicted, may buy some time.
Perhaps the country will not be reduced to a thermonuclear slag pile along with the rest of the world. It could go either way as Biden eats ice cream while the world ignites. Contemplating a hot war against a nuclear armed maniac is unthinkable.
I'm not good at political predictions but I would opine that if the GOP runs Trump again (and they probably will if he's still among us) they truly are "the stupid party." His candidacy may be the last political lifeline to throw to the drowning Democrats as they sink beneath the waves, hopefully for good.
Only Trump can re-energize Democrat voters to show up and vote once again for the worst political party this country has ever seen. Hating Trump is all they have left as they emulate Joe by trying to shake the hand that is no longer there.
This started as a social media post but turned into a Substack article. I figure I’ll lose readers no matter which venue it’s published on. But I guess I’d rather be ignored by people who signed up for the privilege.
In closing, Trump won’t save the country. Biden won’t save the country. Neither Democrats nor Republicans will save the country. No political party or politician will save the country.
If we want our rights back and the rule of law restored we had better admit that we are going to have to do it ourselves. To think otherwise is deranged.
Just walk away from those parties. Become an independent. There is certainly two qualified people in the country without profound mental illnesses that we could choose.
Sorry for the delayed comment Grant, but sometimes I need to mull a bit before I comment on controversial ideas (I'm not at the top of the intellect scale.)
Years ago I was nearly at the point you are today, so I aligned with similar thinkers and became active in our local Tea Party movement. We gained many, many supporters and held some very successful high turn out events. Then a very wise, very conservative and liberty minded elder gentleman invited me for coffee, and explained the brutal truth. In Florida (I freely admit to not knowing about other states, but I suspect it's similar), the two major parties, rightly or wrongly, are protected by legislation and Stale laws. Independents have no chance. This wise man described the path to reform should pass through the political system, and he advised us to join and "take over" our local county political parties. He pointed out that marching around wearing funny hats and carrying clever homemade signs, while fun, achieves nothing.
After a few years of playing the game, we won. We now control the board and all elected positions locally. Although it means very little in the grand scheme of things, at least now our local and State Legislators now have to take our phone calls and listen to us. This must, and in places, is happening nation wide.
Trump will be re-elected, but not because of his political genius. His policies had very tangible positive results. But more importantly, he is the face of the anti-establishment "leave us alone" pro freedom diehards. Think branding or marketing. And his follow on will be Ron DeSantis, a true genius and completely genuine family man. Good things will happen for our Country if we can make this happen and use the opportunity to slay the big government bureaucracy, deep state spooks and big government oligarch monopolistic corporations. Twelve years should provide enough time to make a big dent in the problem anyway. Perhaps I'm a foolish dreamer, but change must come peacefully. Bloodshed and revolution is a non starter for me.
Sorry to be so long winded. We can't agree on everything, but we can agree to hear opinions that differ from our own.
Good article, Grant. I felt like I was reading my own stuff. I’d use the cliché about great minds thinking alike, but every time I do, my wife reminds me that stupid minds also think alike.
I’m not sure which of those categories our minds are in, but I’m a fan.