The Day After

A wise person once told me that if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all. Now that I’ve exercised my extensive X-rated vocabulary in private, it’s time to move on.

Obviously, I’m disappointed by the presidential results. What surprises me the most is the turnout. It seems clear now that Romney never closed the deal with the Republican base. But this election offered a pretty clear choice and America has chosen. I agree with Rachel Lucas:

But whatever happens, I’m not going Galt.

I understand, on some level, why some people want to do that right now. It seems completely fucking pointless to work hard and produce anything if more than half your countrymen want to confiscate the fruits of your effort for their own lazy and even destructive aims, and they have the armed backing of the federal government to do that.

But I’ve spent too many years living in Europe, experiencing firsthand the end result of what happens when too many good people “check out” and give up and don’t say or do anything to defeat the shithead selfish “majority” because they feel overwhelmed by forces they believe are beyond their control. Goddammit, I refuse to remove myself from an ideological or political or existential battle because of election results or social pressure.

In Wisconsin the picture is a bit rosier. Republicans retook the state Senate. Grothman won easily. The school referendum passed, and while I didn’t support it, I think that the process worked as it should. The citizens of the district want to spend the money and it’s our choice. The election that baffles me the most is that of Senator-elect Baldwin. How can our state elect Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin? Wisconsinites are strange sometimes. 

The real truths remain. God is great. Beer is good. And people are crazy.