YOU Might Be Crazy

I had a conversation in Twitter the other night with a Tea Party Conservative. I'm saying that's what I believe she is, since she seemed to believe that there really is a threatening New Black Panther movement, and because of their rhetoric, it was OK for Ted Nugent to speak his mind. I have yet to grasp how it is that 2 wrongs equal 1 right, but there ya go. Someone thought so.

I held my temper, didn't attack her person by calling her names and spent time trying to find out why she felt it was acceptable for someone to threaten the life of the President. First off, she didn't see it as a threat. It wasn't until I advanced the view that celebrities have adoring fans and not all of them are sane that she sort of sat for a bit and thought about what I was saying.

Stop to think about this. The Republican Saint, Ronald Reagan experienced an attempt on his life from someone who was trying to get the attention of actress Jody Foster. So, what happens when someone stands up at an NRA assembly and states that "he'll be in jail if the President is re-elected"? Now, I do not believe for a moment that Ted Nugent would actually try to assassinate the President, but what if someone there wanted the attention and approval of Ted Nugent? Despite rumors to the contrary, lightening can and sometimes does strike twice. The NRA's rabid defense of the right to own a gun under all circumstances is a little nutty to start out with, who's to say they're all perfectly sane?

I kept up my attitude of trying to make her see what my objection to Ted Nugent was without saying she was being stupid. Turned out, she didn't know in what context or where it was that Mr Cat Scratch Fever shot off his mouth. Which brings me to the next item on my mind. Why is it that people don't see that inflammatory rhetoric is what's standing smack dab in the way of anyone being able to find a workable solution to our problem? 

All we're doing is sowing fear and anger in people whose help we need to find common solutions that will work for all of us. What we've done so far and what we continue to do has reaped us the bountiful harvest of the Paul Ryans, Eric Cantors, John Boehners and Mitch McConnells of the world. None of whom have anything in their minds except protecting the pockets of their rich and famous friends. 

I have another hot flash for ya too. Sitting online in Twitter giving those guys a piece of your mind isn't doing one damn thing to create change. All it's doing is gathering followers for you who like your attitude, but then, maybe that's all you want? If that's what's floating your boat, then go for it. As far as I go, I'd really like to see my poor, elderly, disabled clients be able to afford to eat and take the needed medications to control their various health problems. If insulting John Boener or any of the others worked towards that goal, I'd be all over it like flies on...well...you get the picture. The proof that it's not working is that nothing has changed in Congress and it's been more than a year. Now, STFU and find a way to really make a difference?