Saturday Thoughts

I think it was in 2007 that I first began journaling.
 
That’s kind of the ‘manly’ way to say I kept a diary.
 
Did it for about 6 years, then when I moved back from China, I lost the box with my 7-8 journals.
 
I gave it up after that…though I figure with this website, it’s about the same thing.
 
Open thoughts…honest opinions…and a bit of what you wouldn’t want your mother to read.
 
Well, let’s begin.
 

 
Can I See Your ID?
 
Intelligent Discontent/Montana Post continues to amaze me.
 
I have to honestly say…I have a lot of respect for Don and Pete, and even Nathan.
 
These guys continue to go at it day after day, even though it seems like a hopeless and never-ending battle.
 
And it’s gotta be frustrating.
 
Take the last few posts.
 
Fuming against Stapleton, Zinke, and Daines.
 
Two of them aren’t up for another 1,060 days, and the other will probably never run again.
 
It’s the latter that always has me scratching my head.
 
I mean…what’s with this constant need to attack Zinke? The guy’s safely-ensconced in Interior, and despite the press reports about his questionable travel and questionable ties to the Whitefish energy company, he shows no signs of going anywhere.
 
A lot of people wonder why I call myself a Democrat when I hardly ever attack the Republicans.
 
It’s because I don’t view the Republicans as the problem. I think Democrats are the problem. I think most Americans feel the same way, as they won’t vote Democratic…at least not where it matters.
 
Republicans are doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing – stealing from the poor and giving to the rich. It’s just that I feel Democrats aren’t much different.
 
I wish we could see more of a diverse dialogue on ID/MT Post, but that probably won’t happen. At least the guys keep writing. We need as many viewpoints as we can get.
 
Yeah…It’s Bad
 
Today the Missoulian, and probably a lot of the other Lee papers, have a headline up:
 
“Zinke spent more than $53K on 3 helicopter trips”
 
So that’s $17,000 a trip.
 
The average round-trip airline ticket was $500 in 2014.
 
Conservatives Aren’t Conservative
 
One of the things that troubles me greatly is that conservatives are no longer conservative.
 
Take that Zinke helicopter flight. He could save taxpayers $16,000 by flying coach, drinking a beer, and shooting the shit with some fellow passengers/Americans/voters.
 
But he won’t. I can’t help but think it’s the entitled attitude, perhaps the years in a command position.
 
He likes to be in authority, and he likes people to know it. He wants them to jump to his beck and call.
 
And that’s the exact opposite of what a Montana politician should be.
 
I don’t think many of us know what a Montana politician should be, though thankfully we have lots of history to tell us.
 

 
Anyways, conservatives are driving up the debt, increasing spending in many cases, and doing little to reduce the tax burden for common Americans.
 
I don’t call this conservative, and it troubles me that more people aren’t calling this out. I’m sure many, many conservative Montanans are also troubled by what they’re seeing from their Congress and their President in this regard.
 
Write!!!
 
Right…left…in the middle…I sure wish we had more people writing about Montana politics via the blogs.
 
I think there’s about 7 sites that keep up regularly, and perhaps as many as 10 when you count the sporadic basis.
 
I wish there were more.
 
I wish we had more voices.
 
At a time when some sites are thinking about eliminating comments, or at least moving them to Facebook – where to my eyes, it seems no one is commenting – this is a bad sign.
 
We’ve already had most of the papers in the state get rid of comments, and here in Missoula we’ve had one of the blogs do so.
 
Often these sites blame trolls, and list them as the reason they get rid of comments. I find this odd. A lot of people use their real names, and many of those that don’t aren’t even saying anything that’s bad.
 
Well…if it’s against message, it’s bad. That’s why the Missoula blog shut down its comments, and that’s why we see ID/MT Post doing the same.
 
It’s not trolls or rhetoric, it’s just that some people say ‘what shouldn’t be said.’
 
This is another problem I have with Democrats, currently. I thought we had an open group, one where you could speak your mind, no matter how unpopular it may be.
 
Sadly, that’s no longer the case.
 
I think this hurts us all.
 
Guest Posts
 
Quick note…I’m once again thinking of doing guest posts on this site.
 
I know few want to submit a post to this site, but the truth is…many people read the articles, and many of those people are in positions of power, or at least in positions to influence those that are.
 
I think I’ll put up a notice on the UM bulletin boards soon.
 
And for those that have expressed interest in the past (Will, Tim), think about sending me an email.
 
Perhaps even some anonymous #mtpol folks would like a forum…at least one that lasts more than the infinite scroll will allow.
 
We’ll see.
 
Lack of Local
 
Sorry if I haven’t been focusing on local issues.
 
As you know, I recently ran for an elected position in Missoula and lost big time.
 
So while I’m not ignoring local issues, I’m sure not raising a fuss or even commenting on them.
 
I’ll leave that to those in charge.
 
 
 
On a final note…
 
It’s my birthday today. I turned 36. Boy…I still feel young, but I’m not.
 
I often go at this site, and the general political discourse, with a ‘young man’s’ attitude.
 
The thing is…I’m not young. Many young people won’t trust anyone over 30, and I’m 6 years past that.
 
Sometimes I disparage politicians, saying they don’t understand the ‘young person’s’ point of view. But honestly, I’m not sure I understand it.
 
Maybe I did once…in the early-2000’s. But time has a way of moving on, even if we don’t want to.
 
So I’m a lot like you – not young, wishin’ I was, and still sometimes thinking I am. But hey, there’s hope – most people in their 80s vote the same was as people in their 20s.
 
And I’m one year closer to Social Security. Just 30 years to go now for full benefits. When you look at it like that…2047 can’t get here fast enough!
 
Until then, have a good weekend.