" Money runs this country. Always has always will. " At least that makes sense and it's about time citizens get our heads on straight.


Covid and masks: Just because someone, anyone, "knows so and so who had Covid and did OK" does not do much for the hundreds of thousands and climbing numbers of folks who did not or the unknown number who will not. It's a good thing folks did well and some will continue to do well but there is no guarantee that will be the case. This is not opinion, just fact.  A virus changes in 2 basic way as it circulates. In one case the change is a "drift" and not necessarily worse. In the other case it is a "shift" and there's no way of telling what will emerge.  See it with Influenza all the time and now with Covid.  Like it or not it is simply how a virus operates and not affected by any opinion someone might have. Again, simply facts of biology and medical science.

The Capitol insurrection: The national election was NOT stolen. There is no factual evidence of anything like that on a scale to suggest it was. Period. Some folks may not lke the outcome but that in no way suggests license to torch the Constitution in an attempt to burn down the house.

The real issue: None of this anger or angst just fell like rain last night. it has been building for a long time and  seriously stoked by the current politicians and their funders hoping to benefit from persuading citizens that Down is really UP. It isn't. The wealthy, however that is defined, always run things. That's so obvious throughout history that it ranks right up there with Divide et Imperum. Working folks know we're not doing good these days. Jobs are not anything like they used to be, unions are gone, our kids and grandkids will have a much harder time than any generation before us and millions of our formerly "middle class" fellow citizens have been forced onto the dole by longstanding policies and structural inequities. And those observations apply to every citizen regardless of the melanin content of their skin. Things  today look more like the 1930's than ever before and may get way worse soon.  I see it based on fact and I feel it based on personal experience. We all do. We know it because we live it.


The hard truth: (Make of it what you will). Citizens with a bit more melenin, the descendents of former slaves, comprise about 14% of the population. While they are entitled to a voice, as every citizen is, they are hardly the problem they're made out to be. It is what they represent; a usually disenfranchised group that scares the rest of us - as intended. Their real role has been to be "less than" and when some citizens are "less than" they can and have been treated "worse than".  The structural changes in society since the early mid 20th century have led us to the point where WE'RE ALL LESS THAN. That too, unfortunately for us all, is a fact.


If we, acting as responsible citizens, do not put a stop the nonsense today what might come down the road tomorrow could be much, much worse. I have been to war and led men in combat. I can say without equivocation no sane citizen wants to see that again on our soil. The only folks who entertain the notion are those who will benefit from citizens turning on each other. IF they get their way they'll be laughing all the way to their off shore banks as their followers trample the nation. That too is a fact of history but not one that we need to repeat. We still have a choice. Interweb conspiracy nonsense, perjudice and hate is not servicng us well.

I love our nation and believe the Constitution promises something no other society in history ever achieved; the notion of true liberty for citizens and equality before the law. We're not there yet but the promise remains. For now.

At least I hope so.

my guess is that most, if not all of the 'violence' at the Capital was anfifa false flag actions.  Remember Kenosha?  Remember Portland?  antifa and blm have a long history of violence and of pretending to be Trump supporters, and then starting the riots.  Folks are SO quick to condem so called Trump supporters,  but very slow to consider that the odds are it's not conservatives, but bussed in commie thugs doing the dirty.

Really? Your going to go with a "Plausible Deniability" defense? 

"I didn?t do anything. I didn?t breach the doors. I got shoved in. I didn?t mean to be there. Hell. I was walking around looking for a bathroom,? the man, Richard Barnett of Gravette Arkansas, told 5News, an Arkansas-based CBS affiliate.. Barnett said he was initially pushed into the Capitol building by the mob"

Yeah, right. Cheap excuses have already started

Ashli Babbitt tweets: "Nothing will stop us!"

I wonder if she noted the irony of her statement before she lost consciousness?

I suspect both these individuals, and many more there on Wednesday, would be offended to be called "bused in commie thugs".

That will be a nice one. 

stan, it's not easy being old.  laughing

Tim is making me a follow up knife based on that design.  Longer handle,  longer blade,  and convex this time around. 

Thanks Estacado.  Good job on the patina too.