Hey, Earl. This is a great analogy. Another thing about the 80’s? When Reagan was elected president, I cried. A two-bit has-been actor was the start of the dumbing down of America.
It might be because how he treated the poor. My family was poor. In 1970 my Dad was a sheet metal worker for Kelly Air Force base. He was making $7000.00 a year and my parents have had 5 children (well really 6, she died at 2 months). He died in 6/1970.
In 1980 I was in HS and Reagan regime said “can we call ketchup a vegetable for free lunch students”. I was on free lunch since 1970. Neither of my parents had an education. I believed in the American Dream so much I worked hard and got a Masters in Education. One of my 3 boys said “Mom I got a PHD and your parents did even do elementary school. In 2 generations we got a PHD. Pretty cool. I give the Democratic Party, that helped me work hard to become middle class by, educating the first generation. Me! 🇺🇸
More than cool Eva! That’s so special, I don’t have words for it! Don’t ever forget that but for your hard work, the stage was set for the achievements for your kids going forward. That sounded kind of clumsy. Hope you got the intent. 🇨🇦
This is why we should absolutely have separation of church and state. Those who use religion to justify their hatred of others are not Christians. The press bears some blame for this by injecting tests of faith into the election process. Sick of the holier than thou's.
Demanding the posting of the 10 Commandments in schools, when it does not work in church, needs to stop. We have a president who has violated most of the commandments, so what's the point?
We now have a Secretary of War that believes the Iran War is God's call for Armageddon.
There is no bigger fool than those who believe God is on their side.
Russ - your last sentence says it all about what’s wrong with white evangelical Christian nationalism. Religion, spirituality, belief in God, or whatever higher power has NOTHING TO DO WITH SIDES for heavens sake! Or whose side god is on?! That’s just crazy talk!! God does NOT take sides! Brilliant my friend!! In that one sentence, you gave us the tip of a proverbial iceberg that would take, and has taken, books to discuss/analyse what it means! Its meaning is HUGE! I sending you my black heart 🖤 it’s black for all the darkness that those who believe in “sides” or who God is with. But the heart is for all the people, like you, like Eva above, who see truth and don’t waver. I feel blessed to learn from you all! 🫶 🇨🇦
Thank you and well said. The real purpose of 10 commandments in school is so parents can blame the teachers and education system for their failures are home. For Republicans it also serves as their total sex education.
And “The Military State of Sheeter Trump and Secretary of War, Kegseth, the right hand military man to the false Golden God of the Trumpian Fascist Regime requiring all males in the Trumpian military/militia to have MANDATORY hormone treatment - TESTOSTERONE!
Evidence is in. We’ve known all along that Kegseth’s brain and leadership is out of his other head.
The ADDICTION of the White/Christian/Republican Regime. TESTOSTERONE FEEDING that DOPAMINE HIGH and ADDICTION
Yes rage feeds the dopamine begging brain of the addicted masses!!
He waved them in, by announcing his campaign from that little town in Mississippi where the KKK killed those Civil Rights workers, dramatized in the movie "Mississippi Burning."
That's when I got my bumper sticker that said "God Please Protect Me From Your Followers". I remember the frustration of the dawn of Reagan..I was 17 years old with his first election ..just old enough to NOT be able to vote!.. I was like Ronald Reagan? really?? I didn't take long to unsee "Bedtime for Bonzo".. That was the launch of my 'wokeness" ... I was young, questioning authority..Maybe history will repeat, and wake up the young voters?... We didn't have 'alternative facts' back in the 80's..Getting the TRUTH out there.. and BELIEVED is now the main challenge. The Christian Right makes that challenging!
In January, 1981, I was beginning grad school in Washington, D.C. Going to Reagan's inauguration was totally out of the question; studying instead was a no-brainer! I will never forget thinking that I wished I could leave the country with that man as president. Renaming National Airport after that man was DISGUSTING!!!!
Continuing - NOW, 45 years later, we have to be bombarded on a daily basis for years with the worst P.O.S. in US history, in every way, doing everything his shit-for-brains can conjure up to destroy our country and get much richer by billions at taxpayers' expense with blatantly illegal tactics, and being directly assisted by the worst so-called cabinet and MAGA congresspeople is TRULY A LIVING NIGHTMARE!!!!
The current corrupt bastard who cares nothing about our laws, constitution, the American people, or anything rational and good, and who lies every single time he opens his asshole mouth to always only 'benefit' himself, never "grew up" at all from a little child with horrible behavior! Extreme perpetual immaturity (to put it way too mildly) and severe mental and emotional problems, putting our country at risk every day, is what we must continue to suffer from constantly. A severely mentally ill BAD LITTLE child is occupying the White House, OUR HOUSE-when he is even there but still ripping off American taxpayers using our money for his benefit.
He was still far more qualified than trump. He was the Governor of California and had tried running for president in '68 and '76. He had been divorced. I remember that was a biggie at the time. Reagan signed the no-fault divorce bill in 1969 when he was Governor freeing women from the burden of having to prove spousal abuse in court. He later said that was a mistake. So he had alot going for him with Democrats too. Hence the Reagan Democrats who are still in office today except we call them centrists.
He ratfucked Jimmy Carter in order to use the Iranian hostage crisis ( I know Iran again) to his advantage to finally grab the golden goose. The US presidency. His win was jaw dropping. Virtually the entire country voted for him. I was working as a housekeeper for a very wealthy family in Montecito CA. Reagan country. The fact that I had voted for Carter and opposed Reagan I felt at the time was something I better hide or surely I would be fired from my job. I remember 1980 perhaps better than any past election in my life because there seemed to no one I could find that didn't vote for Reagan. No community like we have now that opposed him. I never felt so alone in my life as when Reagan was elected.
We are still being labeled with even more odious contempt but at least that feeling of being alone in opposition isn't there.
I don't believe The No Kings protests are about changing the corruption or any of his anti-democratic actions. I think it's about making people feel like they're not alone in their opposition.
He only attacks great and decent people - the ones who really show how pathetic he is! It's jealousy. His ego has to cut everyone else down to make himself look better. Classic behaviour of a child - a spoiled rotten child!
Yes, America's littlest man disparaging John McCain as no hero. He never served and his "suckers and losers" belief in the military is the lowest of low. America's great shame is to allow him to be commander-in-chief and direct a war. Worshipping the Golden Bull may be our downfall.
In the 1970s my boyfriend was living with drug smugglers and the cocaine was like a coating of baby powder on everything in the house. (It didn't occur to me to stay the f away but that's another story.) The last time I took that drug, I was lying in bed with my heart trying hammer its way out of my chest I and I vowed never again. Crazy times.
When Trump goes and the addicts lose their supply, you gon' see a whole bunch of shaky, sweaty people.
Going along to get along has consequences. Hopefully we survive it and can learn from it. I am not so sure. Too many people keep making the same mistake over and over looking for a better result.
My favorite expression. Practice makes perfect, unless you are doing it perfectly wrong.
I agree with your metaphor. He makes millions feel better by helping them feel others are the reason why their lives don't work. That's the drug: zero responsibility... 100 percent victim mentality. In an America that supposed celebrates rugged individualism, I'm amazed to think so many "independent / I'm strong" types have been turned into victims by this con artist. But of course, he's had a LOT of help from Fox News.
Walking out of the party... SIGH😕 If only. I lived with that guy in Boston for a few months at the end of my senior year. At first it was a helluva lot of fun. He had hundreds of bootleg Grateful Dead tapes and a stereo system beyond anything I'd ever heard before. A wall of sound in an old ivy covered brownstone apartment that I really got off on and an unlimited amount of blow to shove up your nose.
After a few months of this bliss alot of shit went down. The steady stream of people like the ones you've described that surrounded him and worse. I met his supplier who turned out to be the biggest coke dealer in Boston at the time. It was no longer fun. There were addicts everywhere, obvious real danger of being grouped in with these guys and going to prison for a long long time. I might add that both of these guys but especially the lower level dealer were infatuated with me and wanted me to be their girlfriend ( so to speak) There were drugs everywhere back then and it was unheard of to reject some guy because he was a dealer. In fact that would be considered an asset. If I hadn't had lived in that apartment I don't think I would have been so horrified but I couldn't just walk away. These guys were too dangerous for that.
So one night I waited until he fell asleep. Loaded as quiet as a church mouse barefoot and in my nightgown everything I could fit in my car, left the rest, and drove through the night back to my parents house in NY.
I never went back to Boston. Didn't go to my graduation.
The dealer guy did hunt me down at my parents house but only by sending letters and phone calls. Eventually he gave up. Thank God there was no internet and social media back then.
Man this analogy to trump has brought back some long buried memories.
My story and your story line up perfectly only I was in San Francisco. Friends (not in the drug world) held an “intervention “ & got me out. I spent a summer drying out and cleaning up in Tahoe and never looked back. Life would be so different if I hadn’t been willing to listen, take heed and run.
That is as close to the reality as it gets, Madeline! You were strong to leave that situation - very strong. And strong to talk about it. Amazing life experience and evidently you were smart enough to learn from it and move on - good for you!
Thanks! But honestly I'm not unique. Everyone I knew back then has stories that people now find jaw dropping. It was the times. I didn't hang around with who we referred to as squares. The people who lived rigid uninteresting lives and never took any risks.
And how many families would love a little box today to raise a family. I never felt that being middle class in Canada in the sixties made us uninteresting or mindless. I had an extraordinary and decent upbringing. I do remember the horrors of cocaine. That ghastly depression after the high. Now as a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, I appreciate Canada so much more than I did when I left in 1971.
I know exactly what you are saying - that was always my preferred circle. I was radical and hung out with people who did not follow the traditional mold. Most everyone though, we're good, decent hard working people. The coke was just the times - most everyone grew up and away from it.
Yep although I do know some who died. trump's drug addiction is underreported. That fucker is high all the time. He used to be a coke head in the 80's. It's been well documented. Switched to Adderall is all. Bezos to calm and bring him down. Not even the best Healthcare in the world is going to keep him going forever. Everyone who doesn't quit eventually faces the same fate.
Funny that Madeline. Trump absolutely refused to touch alcohol. But apparently he bellied up to the table for everything else. So pious. So bloody IGNORANT! Dry drunk every step of the way!
I, too, am a product of the 80s cocaine era. It's funny how looking at the drug culture in hindsight and being on the outside, users describe drugs as counter culture and not being part of the masses of sheeple. The truth is it's the cheapest, most cost-effective method of keeping a population dumb, so buying into the idea of drugs as "freedom" bought you the exact opposite of what you think you're doing. Like you, I'm glad I saw the light before being swallowed into the abyss.
I can vouch for being an Addict. Once you're an Addict, you're an Addict for life. Addiction is like a prison you can walk out of anytime, but you're not pardoned, you're on parole. The first time you backslide, you're back in prison again.
You wouldn't think someone could be addicted to a person, but as Mr. Stephens has pointed out, it happens. Addiction to Trump doesn't have an open door you can walk out of. To get over that kind of addiction, it takes an honest and very uncomfortable look at why you got started. It does indeed take courage, because leaving the comfort zone of your daily dose isn't a comfortable choice. In the case of giving up Trump, it means realizing you've been deceived, used, and gutted of your humanity.
What was I addicted to? Nicotine (cigarettes) Xanax, and beer. I have no taste for Xanax or beer, but at least once a day the urge still comes to me for a cigarette. It is one of the hardest addictions to give up, because it's available everywhere. Addiction to a politician isn't going away easily. You hear their mouth almost everywhere.
After all the gums, patches, sprays...etc to get over cigarettes, the only way to get out of that prison is to keep walking away. You have to cut off the source of addiction, and that means no long adhering to every word that drops like turd from Trump's mouth.
I quit smoking 20 years ago and thought I would have cravings forever, but I’ve finally reached a point where I wouldn’t smoke a cigarette even if you told me a killer asteroid was going to hit the planet in 10 minutes. I fell in love with breathing, and it’s forever for me. Hope you reach this stage.
What an impactful message. You speak from your personal experience and it is powerful. You're strong and honest - and amazing! Thank you for sharing this - helps us learn and understand those who are struggling ...
Great article Mr Stephens. I keep hoping that some day no journalists will show up at the Oval Office for Trump's stupid meetings and he is there alone with no megaphone to tell the world his lies. And legacy media just quits covering him altogether. It'll never happen but that's my hope.
I hope a reporter asks a question and trump pulls his you are stupid rage. Then the next reporter and the next etc repeat the question... Drive him nuts and to scury away..
I’m so happy NOT to have the first hand experience that you have been through. However; I do understand a little bit better why the 35% of America loves him and this insanity we are going through. Thanks.
I just read an article about Trump wearing a dental piece that covers the roof of his mouth to prevent food from entering a hole created, according to the author, cocaine excess. There was a short video of donnie moving it around with his tongue.
I recall Reagan winning and knew life would never be the same. When he emptied the psych wards the beginning of government enlarging the hole in their safety nets. Recall the poor mom in Chicago having a half dozen welfare accounts and similar attempts at racial profiling, black verses white, and allowing release of racism? This has always worked to fire up our bigots. Old enough to remember the tv series, All In The Family, with Archie Bunker? The chair Archie sat on is in the Smithsonian Museum. Not really a new phenomenon in the U.S., just amplified by our explosion of media. Now donnie has warning signs placed at the Smithsonian’s museums concerning the accuracy of claims and exhibitions. Always with his foot on the accelerator… hopefully right before he hits the wall. The sooner we demonstrate there are many more of us to fight back than racists, the sooner we can begin to restore our nation. We have to begin somewhere so VOTE VOTE VOTE.
I remember how quickly Governor Ronnie and the NRA reacted to the Black Panthers patrolling their neighborhoods with guns - geezus, they couldn’t pass guns laws fast enough!
Spot on. The 1980’s coke dealer is the perfect metaphor!
It really is, man.
Reminded me of the song “the Pusher Man”; the metaphor as David S. mentioned is purrfect! Thanks for the post.
To paraphrase Aristotle (384-322 BC), we are what we repeatedly do. Subservience to a malignant narcissist, then, is not an act but a very bad habit.
…or a very bad addiction
Ditto what David said. I couldn't improve on his response. Spot on.
Hey, Earl. This is a great analogy. Another thing about the 80’s? When Reagan was elected president, I cried. A two-bit has-been actor was the start of the dumbing down of America.
And the beginning of the Christian Right's attack on America.
I used to say “can’t you all see, Reagan is not moral, Nancy is his second wife! They are fake!”
I was still in High School.
And you were pretty darned astute I think! 🇨🇦
🙏🏼
And you were smarter than many adults at that time! Good for you!!!
It might be because how he treated the poor. My family was poor. In 1970 my Dad was a sheet metal worker for Kelly Air Force base. He was making $7000.00 a year and my parents have had 5 children (well really 6, she died at 2 months). He died in 6/1970.
In 1980 I was in HS and Reagan regime said “can we call ketchup a vegetable for free lunch students”. I was on free lunch since 1970. Neither of my parents had an education. I believed in the American Dream so much I worked hard and got a Masters in Education. One of my 3 boys said “Mom I got a PHD and your parents did even do elementary school. In 2 generations we got a PHD. Pretty cool. I give the Democratic Party, that helped me work hard to become middle class by, educating the first generation. Me! 🇺🇸
More than cool Eva! That’s so special, I don’t have words for it! Don’t ever forget that but for your hard work, the stage was set for the achievements for your kids going forward. That sounded kind of clumsy. Hope you got the intent. 🇨🇦
Yes, I understand. 🙏🏼
As well as the beginning of destroying the middle class and eviscerating the Civil Rights Act. Yikes
This is why we should absolutely have separation of church and state. Those who use religion to justify their hatred of others are not Christians. The press bears some blame for this by injecting tests of faith into the election process. Sick of the holier than thou's.
Demanding the posting of the 10 Commandments in schools, when it does not work in church, needs to stop. We have a president who has violated most of the commandments, so what's the point?
We now have a Secretary of War that believes the Iran War is God's call for Armageddon.
There is no bigger fool than those who believe God is on their side.
Russ - your last sentence says it all about what’s wrong with white evangelical Christian nationalism. Religion, spirituality, belief in God, or whatever higher power has NOTHING TO DO WITH SIDES for heavens sake! Or whose side god is on?! That’s just crazy talk!! God does NOT take sides! Brilliant my friend!! In that one sentence, you gave us the tip of a proverbial iceberg that would take, and has taken, books to discuss/analyse what it means! Its meaning is HUGE! I sending you my black heart 🖤 it’s black for all the darkness that those who believe in “sides” or who God is with. But the heart is for all the people, like you, like Eva above, who see truth and don’t waver. I feel blessed to learn from you all! 🫶 🇨🇦
Thank you and well said. The real purpose of 10 commandments in school is so parents can blame the teachers and education system for their failures are home. For Republicans it also serves as their total sex education.
And “The Military State of Sheeter Trump and Secretary of War, Kegseth, the right hand military man to the false Golden God of the Trumpian Fascist Regime requiring all males in the Trumpian military/militia to have MANDATORY hormone treatment - TESTOSTERONE!
Evidence is in. We’ve known all along that Kegseth’s brain and leadership is out of his other head.
The ADDICTION of the White/Christian/Republican Regime. TESTOSTERONE FEEDING that DOPAMINE HIGH and ADDICTION
Yes rage feeds the dopamine begging brain of the addicted masses!!
He waved them in, by announcing his campaign from that little town in Mississippi where the KKK killed those Civil Rights workers, dramatized in the movie "Mississippi Burning."
That's when I got my bumper sticker that said "God Please Protect Me From Your Followers". I remember the frustration of the dawn of Reagan..I was 17 years old with his first election ..just old enough to NOT be able to vote!.. I was like Ronald Reagan? really?? I didn't take long to unsee "Bedtime for Bonzo".. That was the launch of my 'wokeness" ... I was young, questioning authority..Maybe history will repeat, and wake up the young voters?... We didn't have 'alternative facts' back in the 80's..Getting the TRUTH out there.. and BELIEVED is now the main challenge. The Christian Right makes that challenging!
In January, 1981, I was beginning grad school in Washington, D.C. Going to Reagan's inauguration was totally out of the question; studying instead was a no-brainer! I will never forget thinking that I wished I could leave the country with that man as president. Renaming National Airport after that man was DISGUSTING!!!!
Continuing - NOW, 45 years later, we have to be bombarded on a daily basis for years with the worst P.O.S. in US history, in every way, doing everything his shit-for-brains can conjure up to destroy our country and get much richer by billions at taxpayers' expense with blatantly illegal tactics, and being directly assisted by the worst so-called cabinet and MAGA congresspeople is TRULY A LIVING NIGHTMARE!!!!
that's ok it'll be trump airport soon enough
That's a done deal in Palm Beach. I bet after he is dead they will change it back.
As I told a friend at the time, it really is true, *anyone* can grow up to be President. 🙄
My thoughts exactly. Needs to be amended so that anyone with lots of money can buy the presidency.
What does a rich man do when he has everything? Buys the presidency. Only thing preventing Musk from buying it was he was not born in USA.
The current corrupt bastard who cares nothing about our laws, constitution, the American people, or anything rational and good, and who lies every single time he opens his asshole mouth to always only 'benefit' himself, never "grew up" at all from a little child with horrible behavior! Extreme perpetual immaturity (to put it way too mildly) and severe mental and emotional problems, putting our country at risk every day, is what we must continue to suffer from constantly. A severely mentally ill BAD LITTLE child is occupying the White House, OUR HOUSE-when he is even there but still ripping off American taxpayers using our money for his benefit.
He was still far more qualified than trump. He was the Governor of California and had tried running for president in '68 and '76. He had been divorced. I remember that was a biggie at the time. Reagan signed the no-fault divorce bill in 1969 when he was Governor freeing women from the burden of having to prove spousal abuse in court. He later said that was a mistake. So he had alot going for him with Democrats too. Hence the Reagan Democrats who are still in office today except we call them centrists.
He ratfucked Jimmy Carter in order to use the Iranian hostage crisis ( I know Iran again) to his advantage to finally grab the golden goose. The US presidency. His win was jaw dropping. Virtually the entire country voted for him. I was working as a housekeeper for a very wealthy family in Montecito CA. Reagan country. The fact that I had voted for Carter and opposed Reagan I felt at the time was something I better hide or surely I would be fired from my job. I remember 1980 perhaps better than any past election in my life because there seemed to no one I could find that didn't vote for Reagan. No community like we have now that opposed him. I never felt so alone in my life as when Reagan was elected.
Madeline-yes! I lived in D.C. during those terrible 'Reagan years' and will not forget being labeled with distain "a bleeding heart liberal."
We are still being labeled with even more odious contempt but at least that feeling of being alone in opposition isn't there.
I don't believe The No Kings protests are about changing the corruption or any of his anti-democratic actions. I think it's about making people feel like they're not alone in their opposition.
The pathetic irony in his lying & blaming Biden & even Obama is: How powerful they must be to control things after all this time??
Ha!
True enough ...
He only attacks great and decent people - the ones who really show how pathetic he is! It's jealousy. His ego has to cut everyone else down to make himself look better. Classic behaviour of a child - a spoiled rotten child!
Yes, America's littlest man disparaging John McCain as no hero. He never served and his "suckers and losers" belief in the military is the lowest of low. America's great shame is to allow him to be commander-in-chief and direct a war. Worshipping the Golden Bull may be our downfall.
and our military is losing soldiers and he could give a shit..
The disrespect he has shown to our military and veterans is disgraceful. Unforgiveable.
What a good read!
In the 1970s my boyfriend was living with drug smugglers and the cocaine was like a coating of baby powder on everything in the house. (It didn't occur to me to stay the f away but that's another story.) The last time I took that drug, I was lying in bed with my heart trying hammer its way out of my chest I and I vowed never again. Crazy times.
When Trump goes and the addicts lose their supply, you gon' see a whole bunch of shaky, sweaty people.
Exactly, Ann. He sells them something they pathetically need ...
Going along to get along has consequences. Hopefully we survive it and can learn from it. I am not so sure. Too many people keep making the same mistake over and over looking for a better result.
My favorite expression. Practice makes perfect, unless you are doing it perfectly wrong.
Russ - you are SO GOOD! Another gem from that brain of yours. Gave me a good laugh too!
💯 this piece is fire!
Thanks for reading.
This hits home on many levels, Earl. Thanks for this one. 🖖
Thanks, Al. I'll bet too many people of a certain age can relate ...
It’s no coincidence that FelonPOTUS emerged during that time.
I keep thinking he has endstage syphliss from studio 54 unprotected sex days...
Yeah me too.
I agree with your metaphor. He makes millions feel better by helping them feel others are the reason why their lives don't work. That's the drug: zero responsibility... 100 percent victim mentality. In an America that supposed celebrates rugged individualism, I'm amazed to think so many "independent / I'm strong" types have been turned into victims by this con artist. But of course, he's had a LOT of help from Fox News.
Thanks Steve, yes the victim mentality.
Walking out of the party... SIGH😕 If only. I lived with that guy in Boston for a few months at the end of my senior year. At first it was a helluva lot of fun. He had hundreds of bootleg Grateful Dead tapes and a stereo system beyond anything I'd ever heard before. A wall of sound in an old ivy covered brownstone apartment that I really got off on and an unlimited amount of blow to shove up your nose.
After a few months of this bliss alot of shit went down. The steady stream of people like the ones you've described that surrounded him and worse. I met his supplier who turned out to be the biggest coke dealer in Boston at the time. It was no longer fun. There were addicts everywhere, obvious real danger of being grouped in with these guys and going to prison for a long long time. I might add that both of these guys but especially the lower level dealer were infatuated with me and wanted me to be their girlfriend ( so to speak) There were drugs everywhere back then and it was unheard of to reject some guy because he was a dealer. In fact that would be considered an asset. If I hadn't had lived in that apartment I don't think I would have been so horrified but I couldn't just walk away. These guys were too dangerous for that.
So one night I waited until he fell asleep. Loaded as quiet as a church mouse barefoot and in my nightgown everything I could fit in my car, left the rest, and drove through the night back to my parents house in NY.
I never went back to Boston. Didn't go to my graduation.
The dealer guy did hunt me down at my parents house but only by sending letters and phone calls. Eventually he gave up. Thank God there was no internet and social media back then.
Man this analogy to trump has brought back some long buried memories.
Thanks for having the guts to share that story, Madeline.
The devil's drug did tremendous damage.
My story and your story line up perfectly only I was in San Francisco. Friends (not in the drug world) held an “intervention “ & got me out. I spent a summer drying out and cleaning up in Tahoe and never looked back. Life would be so different if I hadn’t been willing to listen, take heed and run.
That is as close to the reality as it gets, Madeline! You were strong to leave that situation - very strong. And strong to talk about it. Amazing life experience and evidently you were smart enough to learn from it and move on - good for you!
Thanks! But honestly I'm not unique. Everyone I knew back then has stories that people now find jaw dropping. It was the times. I didn't hang around with who we referred to as squares. The people who lived rigid uninteresting lives and never took any risks.
Here's a song that describes them.
https://youtu.be/XUwUp-D_VV0?si=kRotw33X4-oiSlol
And how many families would love a little box today to raise a family. I never felt that being middle class in Canada in the sixties made us uninteresting or mindless. I had an extraordinary and decent upbringing. I do remember the horrors of cocaine. That ghastly depression after the high. Now as a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, I appreciate Canada so much more than I did when I left in 1971.
It was a warning against blind conformity. A metaphor. Not an attack on people who were buying houses in planned communities.
I know exactly what you are saying - that was always my preferred circle. I was radical and hung out with people who did not follow the traditional mold. Most everyone though, we're good, decent hard working people. The coke was just the times - most everyone grew up and away from it.
Yep although I do know some who died. trump's drug addiction is underreported. That fucker is high all the time. He used to be a coke head in the 80's. It's been well documented. Switched to Adderall is all. Bezos to calm and bring him down. Not even the best Healthcare in the world is going to keep him going forever. Everyone who doesn't quit eventually faces the same fate.
Funny that Madeline. Trump absolutely refused to touch alcohol. But apparently he bellied up to the table for everything else. So pious. So bloody IGNORANT! Dry drunk every step of the way!
I, too, am a product of the 80s cocaine era. It's funny how looking at the drug culture in hindsight and being on the outside, users describe drugs as counter culture and not being part of the masses of sheeple. The truth is it's the cheapest, most cost-effective method of keeping a population dumb, so buying into the idea of drugs as "freedom" bought you the exact opposite of what you think you're doing. Like you, I'm glad I saw the light before being swallowed into the abyss.
Great observations there, Wendy ...
If we all just walked away, he wouldn’t last a minute. All true.
yep
If mainstream media walked away he’d be done.
Or covered this dishonest traitor honestly ...
Seems like the MSM ship of honesty or thoroughness has sailed.
I can vouch for being an Addict. Once you're an Addict, you're an Addict for life. Addiction is like a prison you can walk out of anytime, but you're not pardoned, you're on parole. The first time you backslide, you're back in prison again.
You wouldn't think someone could be addicted to a person, but as Mr. Stephens has pointed out, it happens. Addiction to Trump doesn't have an open door you can walk out of. To get over that kind of addiction, it takes an honest and very uncomfortable look at why you got started. It does indeed take courage, because leaving the comfort zone of your daily dose isn't a comfortable choice. In the case of giving up Trump, it means realizing you've been deceived, used, and gutted of your humanity.
What was I addicted to? Nicotine (cigarettes) Xanax, and beer. I have no taste for Xanax or beer, but at least once a day the urge still comes to me for a cigarette. It is one of the hardest addictions to give up, because it's available everywhere. Addiction to a politician isn't going away easily. You hear their mouth almost everywhere.
After all the gums, patches, sprays...etc to get over cigarettes, the only way to get out of that prison is to keep walking away. You have to cut off the source of addiction, and that means no long adhering to every word that drops like turd from Trump's mouth.
Thanks, for all that honesty, Franky. I appreciate you.
I quit smoking 20 years ago and thought I would have cravings forever, but I’ve finally reached a point where I wouldn’t smoke a cigarette even if you told me a killer asteroid was going to hit the planet in 10 minutes. I fell in love with breathing, and it’s forever for me. Hope you reach this stage.
What an impactful message. You speak from your personal experience and it is powerful. You're strong and honest - and amazing! Thank you for sharing this - helps us learn and understand those who are struggling ...
I follow a lot of people. Nobody, NOBODY, nails it like you do, D. Earl Stephens!
Hey, thanks, Barbara!!
Great article Mr Stephens. I keep hoping that some day no journalists will show up at the Oval Office for Trump's stupid meetings and he is there alone with no megaphone to tell the world his lies. And legacy media just quits covering him altogether. It'll never happen but that's my hope.
Thanks.
Or, as I mentioned above, cover him like an actual journalist, Bruce.
Apparently, Earl, that’s not going to happen, either, if the recent example of Bari Weiss and the Ellisons is any example.
I hope a reporter asks a question and trump pulls his you are stupid rage. Then the next reporter and the next etc repeat the question... Drive him nuts and to scury away..
Think I’m waiting, like Jeff Tiedrich, for one of them to ask “ WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!
Great idea....
I’m so happy NOT to have the first hand experience that you have been through. However; I do understand a little bit better why the 35% of America loves him and this insanity we are going through. Thanks.
Congratulations on making your timely & life-affirming exit from that ugly party, Earl.
Thanks, Sun.
I just read an article about Trump wearing a dental piece that covers the roof of his mouth to prevent food from entering a hole created, according to the author, cocaine excess. There was a short video of donnie moving it around with his tongue.
I recall Reagan winning and knew life would never be the same. When he emptied the psych wards the beginning of government enlarging the hole in their safety nets. Recall the poor mom in Chicago having a half dozen welfare accounts and similar attempts at racial profiling, black verses white, and allowing release of racism? This has always worked to fire up our bigots. Old enough to remember the tv series, All In The Family, with Archie Bunker? The chair Archie sat on is in the Smithsonian Museum. Not really a new phenomenon in the U.S., just amplified by our explosion of media. Now donnie has warning signs placed at the Smithsonian’s museums concerning the accuracy of claims and exhibitions. Always with his foot on the accelerator… hopefully right before he hits the wall. The sooner we demonstrate there are many more of us to fight back than racists, the sooner we can begin to restore our nation. We have to begin somewhere so VOTE VOTE VOTE.
VOTE VOTE VOTE indeed ...
I remember how quickly Governor Ronnie and the NRA reacted to the Black Panthers patrolling their neighborhoods with guns - geezus, they couldn’t pass guns laws fast enough!