Here’s a little musing for you on this Election Day. We came to the beach yesterday, driving on back roads to keep me off the freeway, as per the missus’ strict instructions. Funny thing, though. We damn near got killed on a two lane just outside of Silverton on the way down here. We’re driving along at 55 mph behind two cars when the first car stops to turn left onto a side street, waiting for the incoming traffic to go by so he can make the turn. We’re at a dead stop when I look into my rearview mirror and see a beater pickup coming upon us. All of a sudden, he either finishes his texting or wakes up from his nap in time to see us at a dead stop. All I see and hear is screeching tires, black smoke 15 feet in the air from his tires smokin’, and this pickup now sideways, out of control, coming right at us. All I could think of was to get our car out of his path by inching us to the right shoulder as fast as possible. As I did this brilliant move, he’s still sideways, sliding toward the rear of our car. Miraculously, his locked-up brakes stopped him one inch from us. He was so close I’m pretty sure I could smell the ‘load’ he left in his pants. For the next three miles to Silverton, he stayed about a quarter mile behind us and then took a side street before we hit the stop sign. I wonder if the missus got the irony of this little episode. Anyhooooo, that’s not my musing. As we are traveling these back roads from Independence through the Kings Valley to Highway 20, there are many pieces of property and homes with American flags, some with an accompanying Trump flag or banner. It’s regrettable that over the past few years when I see an American flag on someone’s property, I think “They’re Trumpies.” When I see it in the bed of a pickup, I’m almost certain it’s their “Don’t Tread on Me” message. So, my second irony of the day is that the American flag is supposed to be a symbol of freedom, liberty, patriotism, national unity, and the values of democracy, justice, and equality. The issue I see is that the leader of the MAGA cult, through his actions and words, does not embody the symbolism of the flag that is flying in the back of big 4×4 pickup trucks and on the front yard fence posts, and neither do his followers whom I will call “faux patriots” as they promote a vision of America that is far from our founding principles and values. Unfortunately, these flag waving faux patriots are not bright enough to understand what the flag means. They just do whatever Trump says and give a big ‘rah rah’ when he disparages veterans, political opponents, Judges, impersonates Tony Soprano, and mixes fear, anger, and insults to fire up his simpleton base. They don’t see non-MAGA’s as fellow Americans who live next door, only as enemies to defeat. So, as we approach Memorial Day this weekend, I’ll view the American flag for what it stands for and not as a political symbol for a bunch of minions who live in denial of what is happening in our country today.
As he wages war on America and pillages the nation with his incompetent economic maneuvering via his tariffs and now the “One Big Beautiful Bill” $4 trillion tax scam, the “followers” are still running out to the mailbox every day to see if their DOGE check is in the mail, not understanding that there will not be a DOGE check coming to their house soon; Medicaid services will be severely limited if the far-right gets their way; proposed changes to the SNAP program (food stamps) include reducing benefits, restricting eligibility, and expanding work requirements, which will have an impact on many of these cultists. But, hey, I guess the “faux patriots” won’t have a problem paying for tRump’s “Big Beautiful Birthday Bash” on June 14th that will include lots of flags, guns, tanks, aircraft and a beautiful parade. After all it is his 79th birthday and what says “Happy 79” better than a $25 million to $45 million birthday present, paid for by us taxpayers. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking how cool this is going to be.
Well, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the sun. Have a great evening.
Mountain Man Musings 