I do fear though that as our social media silos grow ever higher, and our general civility continues to degrade, we might well lose the ability to meaningfully discuss and debate disagreements. It is an art of sorts that we do well to cultivate.
There's a reason I'm bailing out of Washington. You found it. To say "well the pendulum always swings back" is true, but sometimes it takes longer than you can imagine (California, New York...) and in the mean time, an incredible amount of damage is done. I've fought a rear guard action against this for decades, and it's time to admit we lost this battle, and fall back to a previously prepared position. Washington can go to hell, and I'm going to Tennessee.
Melinda and I discuss this fairly frequently, and have done so for years. We wonder though, where on earth to go.
Idaho and Montana seem to have the same trends starting that have resulted in the same situation we face here in Washington. I'm quite fond of Oklahoma, but Melinda is terrified of the weather there, and snakes anywhere warm. Tennessee might be great, my Copenhagen would certainly be cheap there! We've also talked quite a bit about Kentucky. I've long enjoyed trips there. Finally, I've got a friend who moved to West Virginia, and he's loving it.
We have also discussed, seriously, following my mother and brother to Mexico. Certainly Mexico has lots and lots of big statist laws, which would result in no freedom, but in practice the government has just about zero ability to enforce any law. So, one is effectively free. But, of course, one must also in that situation take efforts to protect himself and what is important to him.
Many years ago, I visited a Lodge in Mexico, and got a ride back to my hotel from the Worshipful Master who spoke English extremely well. It was a long drive, and we had a lot of time to talk. He was in management for Hilton, and had worked (legally) in Hilton management in both Canada and the United States before returning to Mexico. I asked him why he chose to return.
I won't forget he told me, with quite a lot of passion:
"In Canada everyday they said do this, do this, do this; don't do this, don't do this, don't do this. So I got transferred to the United States, where everyday they said do this, do this, do this; don't do this, don't do this, don't do this. There is no freedom there."
The biggest issues with Mexico, to me are 1) it's a failed state. Having gone down there for a couple of weeks three years ago on the Yucatan, there where military checkpoints with full auto Machine Guns every fifteen kilometers... 2) foreigners are not permitted to own land there. You can get a 99 year lease, but you may not own, unless it is in a Mexican citizen's name. with that comes the knowledge that a Mexican citizen can show up and do a shake down by saying "this is my land, make this gringo leave." You then have to move, or lease from this new guy, or face crooked federales with full auto weaponry. Then there is the fact, a most important fact for me:
I am an American. I have fought for this country, and if needed I will die or kill for this country again.
1. Agreed. It is a failed State. With all of the bad things that brings, primarily in my mind around personal safety and security. But, that is also what makes it attractive in my mind. They can pass whatever goofy ass laws they want in CDMX, just as is done here in DC, but have no ability to actually enforce those laws, rendering them moot.
2. Yes, this is a serious problem, and pain in the ass. It does not however hold true for the vast majority of Mexico. Only for land along the borders (including the seas). Inland from the oceans a US citizen can get clean title in his or her own name. But, even with clean title, one must still worry about land scams, and actually have the ability to physically hold the land. That goes back to your first point. Vicente Fox, a former Mexican President whose grandfather had moved there from the US has a most excellent story of his family actually having to physically hold control of its land during the Mexican Revolution in his book.
Melinda and I have decided that if we were ever to move there, we would be renters. That way if the neighborhood goes to hell or whatever, we could just pull up stakes and move.
Ultimately though, having traveled fairly extensively through the country, we would not live anywhere near either the northern or southern borders, both being far too dangerous, not near either coast, the weather too extreme there, but in the center of the Country. That center is vastly different from what most visiting from the US ever see.
But, all that said, we will most likely remain here, ultimately we have a responsibility to those who come after us to do what we can in our own small way to preserve our American ideals.
"ultimately we have a responsibility to those who come after us to do what we can in our own small way to preserve our American ideals."
This!!! I have grandchildren, and to paraphrase one of our revolutionary forefathers, "If it must be war, let it come in my time, that my grandchildren may know peace."
Cameron you fascist commie - how much are the Keebler Elves paying you?!? Ents from LOTR are entitled to diversity and equity too! 🤣
Seriously, though, we like to do this thing where we try to come up with the stupidest possible reaction people can make in any given situation. Because oftentimes and almost inexplicably, that’s exactly what will happen. After the election the challenge was “what’s the stupidest possible thing the Left can do in the face of unambiguous repudiation?” The answer? *Double Down*.
You are exactly right. It seems so often that when things don't go our way politically, we run even closer to the extremes that caused us to lose support in the first place!
As for the damn Elves, I take my bribes in Fudge Stripe cookies! 😁🐿🤠
It might be an odd analogy, but doubling down in politics reminds me of how you hear about drivers who’d accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes, but then they panic and mash the accelerator because in their head they’re still thinking it’s the brakes. Panic is a helluva thing.
And if I got bribed in fudge stripe cookies I’d probably become corrupt AF 😂
Why do humans fear debate? It makes all of communal society better.
Exactly!
I do fear though that as our social media silos grow ever higher, and our general civility continues to degrade, we might well lose the ability to meaningfully discuss and debate disagreements. It is an art of sorts that we do well to cultivate.
There's a reason I'm bailing out of Washington. You found it. To say "well the pendulum always swings back" is true, but sometimes it takes longer than you can imagine (California, New York...) and in the mean time, an incredible amount of damage is done. I've fought a rear guard action against this for decades, and it's time to admit we lost this battle, and fall back to a previously prepared position. Washington can go to hell, and I'm going to Tennessee.
Melinda and I discuss this fairly frequently, and have done so for years. We wonder though, where on earth to go.
Idaho and Montana seem to have the same trends starting that have resulted in the same situation we face here in Washington. I'm quite fond of Oklahoma, but Melinda is terrified of the weather there, and snakes anywhere warm. Tennessee might be great, my Copenhagen would certainly be cheap there! We've also talked quite a bit about Kentucky. I've long enjoyed trips there. Finally, I've got a friend who moved to West Virginia, and he's loving it.
We have also discussed, seriously, following my mother and brother to Mexico. Certainly Mexico has lots and lots of big statist laws, which would result in no freedom, but in practice the government has just about zero ability to enforce any law. So, one is effectively free. But, of course, one must also in that situation take efforts to protect himself and what is important to him.
Many years ago, I visited a Lodge in Mexico, and got a ride back to my hotel from the Worshipful Master who spoke English extremely well. It was a long drive, and we had a lot of time to talk. He was in management for Hilton, and had worked (legally) in Hilton management in both Canada and the United States before returning to Mexico. I asked him why he chose to return.
I won't forget he told me, with quite a lot of passion:
"In Canada everyday they said do this, do this, do this; don't do this, don't do this, don't do this. So I got transferred to the United States, where everyday they said do this, do this, do this; don't do this, don't do this, don't do this. There is no freedom there."
I've contemplated those words for years now.
The biggest issues with Mexico, to me are 1) it's a failed state. Having gone down there for a couple of weeks three years ago on the Yucatan, there where military checkpoints with full auto Machine Guns every fifteen kilometers... 2) foreigners are not permitted to own land there. You can get a 99 year lease, but you may not own, unless it is in a Mexican citizen's name. with that comes the knowledge that a Mexican citizen can show up and do a shake down by saying "this is my land, make this gringo leave." You then have to move, or lease from this new guy, or face crooked federales with full auto weaponry. Then there is the fact, a most important fact for me:
I am an American. I have fought for this country, and if needed I will die or kill for this country again.
Your points:
1. Agreed. It is a failed State. With all of the bad things that brings, primarily in my mind around personal safety and security. But, that is also what makes it attractive in my mind. They can pass whatever goofy ass laws they want in CDMX, just as is done here in DC, but have no ability to actually enforce those laws, rendering them moot.
2. Yes, this is a serious problem, and pain in the ass. It does not however hold true for the vast majority of Mexico. Only for land along the borders (including the seas). Inland from the oceans a US citizen can get clean title in his or her own name. But, even with clean title, one must still worry about land scams, and actually have the ability to physically hold the land. That goes back to your first point. Vicente Fox, a former Mexican President whose grandfather had moved there from the US has a most excellent story of his family actually having to physically hold control of its land during the Mexican Revolution in his book.
Melinda and I have decided that if we were ever to move there, we would be renters. That way if the neighborhood goes to hell or whatever, we could just pull up stakes and move.
Ultimately though, having traveled fairly extensively through the country, we would not live anywhere near either the northern or southern borders, both being far too dangerous, not near either coast, the weather too extreme there, but in the center of the Country. That center is vastly different from what most visiting from the US ever see.
But, all that said, we will most likely remain here, ultimately we have a responsibility to those who come after us to do what we can in our own small way to preserve our American ideals.
"ultimately we have a responsibility to those who come after us to do what we can in our own small way to preserve our American ideals."
This!!! I have grandchildren, and to paraphrase one of our revolutionary forefathers, "If it must be war, let it come in my time, that my grandchildren may know peace."
Yep. That's what it comes down to. We were given a fine country, we owe it to the grandkids to give them the same.
Cameron you fascist commie - how much are the Keebler Elves paying you?!? Ents from LOTR are entitled to diversity and equity too! 🤣
Seriously, though, we like to do this thing where we try to come up with the stupidest possible reaction people can make in any given situation. Because oftentimes and almost inexplicably, that’s exactly what will happen. After the election the challenge was “what’s the stupidest possible thing the Left can do in the face of unambiguous repudiation?” The answer? *Double Down*.
You are exactly right. It seems so often that when things don't go our way politically, we run even closer to the extremes that caused us to lose support in the first place!
As for the damn Elves, I take my bribes in Fudge Stripe cookies! 😁🐿🤠
It might be an odd analogy, but doubling down in politics reminds me of how you hear about drivers who’d accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes, but then they panic and mash the accelerator because in their head they’re still thinking it’s the brakes. Panic is a helluva thing.
And if I got bribed in fudge stripe cookies I’d probably become corrupt AF 😂
Oh, yeah, those cookies are almost good enough to sell one's soul!
Seriously though, you're right, we do some mighty nutty things when panic hits.