EDITORIAL

I’ve been known on occasion to display my militantly moderate tendencies to the unwary.

It happens. I know it’s still considered impolite to discuss politics in public, but, in fairness, where else could we possibly talk about them? It’s like what Willie Sutton said about why he robbed banks: ’cause that’s where the money is. The people are in public, so I talk to them in public.

If they were in my house, I’d talk to them in my house. That might not work out so well, because there’s nowhere for everyone to sit, and I only have just so much tea and ginger snaps to set out. So it’s just as well that there are public venues for this sort of thing.

(What sort of thing? I’m telling you what sort of thing. Hush and listen already and you might learn something.)

A fellow was talking about the widespread hypocrisy and pandering behavior among top-tier Democrats, and I had to agree. In passing, I mentioned that, since I can’t stomach voting for Trump, I was looking at another third party candidacy — Cornel West, if you can believe it of me. He’s sane, which may be a low bar, but it’s the one I’ve set.

A bystander chimed in with “A vote for West is a vote for Trump!” and expected it to mean something.

It’s absurd, after all: Might as well say a vote for Biden is a vote for Trump since it would prevent West from being elected.

Of course I responded, and in high dudgeon:

“Now THAT is nonsensical.

“If I don’t vote at all, the vote numbers are the same as if I vote for Cornel West. They don’t change. My vote doesn’t belong to anyone but me. To say otherwise is to attempt to undermine democracy. It’s the very crime Trump is accused of having committed on the sixth of January, albeit at a smaller scale and without all the rioting.

“And Uncle Joe, nice guy that he is, has NOT earned my vote.”

I heard a lot of agreement (some of it begrudging) and the naysayer fled without another word. I felt a little badly about that, but not much. If you’re gonna weigh in, be prepared to back it up.

As always, questions and comments will be entertained in the sections provided. Please drop your spare change in the can on the way out the door; every penny helps. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

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