WHAT I AM

But more importantly: What I am not

Readers,

As we stand on earth that shakes under our feet, and head toward the most important election in our lifetime, I want to be clear about what I am, what I am not, and what you will find here at Enough Already.

Could be this brief explainer is completely unnecessary, and I will apologize in advance for cluttering your inbox, and wasting your time.

I am not a bandwagon guy who runs with packs and opinions. There is enough of that going on these days and it isn’t healthy. Tribal messaging is lazy, and at its worst: dangerous.

It’s hard to truly hear yourself in an echo chamber, and I have had to sit quietly and remind myself of this from time to time.

I cannot claim to be an independent writer, and then help push whatever pile of partisan messaging is rolling down some slippery slope on the Internet. Chances are I will agree with a lot of this stuff, but when I don’t you will be the first to know it.

I understand why people need the safety of like-thinkers during these difficult and scary times. It’s reassuring to read what brings you comfort. You will find plenty of that being offered up from some very smart people and groups here on Substack. In fact, I recommend many of them on my homepage, and find consolation in their work.

I stand alone in my opinions, because after putting in the work in newsrooms over several decades, I have earned the right to this freedom. I am also not interested in collaborating with others because I fear letting them down, and/or compromising my editorial independence, which I cherish after working at Stars and Stripes which precariously stands on the frontline of that battle.

If I am doing my job and serving you properly, you will not always agree with my viewpoint, and shouldn’t. I do hope my work provokes some thought, though. I am not always right, much as I like to think I am!

It should be no news to anybody that I have issues with both major political parties. I am a lifetime Independent voter, who thinks (knows) the Republican Party is an anti-American, racist dumpster fire that will always go lower, and will never get my support again.

I think the Democratic Party has grown old and stale, is largely uninspired, too corporate, and is losing touch with voters. I made this clear in my column Tuesday.

(I am totally and completely right about these things.)

(Kidding.)

So let me also make this clear: I will continue voting for Democratic, and Left-leaning candidates this year and beyond. For all their issues, they are miles ahead in supporting the things that I care about like my country, the environment, voters’ rights, women's rights, and human rights.

People who don’t vote at all are losers.

I am an old, white man and U.S. Navy veteran who wants to use whatever forum I have to advocate for people of color and women. I have had a privilege others haven’t simply because I was born a white male. I truly loathe the white men who are too weak and insecure to admit that much.

They form MAGA’s base.

This DOES NOT MEAN I won’t criticize the Democratic Party from time to time, and correct them when they are wrong in my eyes. I do this for the same reason I had the occasional uncomfortable talks with my daughters when they were growing up. I didn’t want to do it, but it was my responsibility to see to it they grew into good, decent, responsible, and caring people, not spoiled, self-serving brats. I can report they have grown into strong, inspirational, opinionated liberal women, and are the greatest people I know.

I find my strength in them.

I desperately want the Democratic Party to be more responsive to their voters than the big money which is dangerously close to wrecking this country for good.

WARNING: I will be banging away on this point relentlessly. The billionaires and oligarchy in America must be stopped. They control the Executive, the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and too many communication outlets.

They will not stop eating us alive unless WE STOP THEM.

If we the people no longer have the power in America, the Democratic experiment is officially over.

I’ll stop there.

Thank you for hearing me out, but more importantly thank you for caring about our country. I’ve typed this before, but it can’t be typed enough: YOU are the true patriots in the United States of America.

-Earl

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(That’s a picture of hope draped across the beautiful Atlantic Ocean today.)

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-Thanks

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