Yes, It's as Through-The-Looking Glass Batshit Crazy as We Feared…

(Next, they'll come for the writers...)

I’m lucky. I live in Brattleboro Vermont. One of the most open-minded towns in one of the most open-minded states in the country.

Recently, my wife and I were at a relatively small gathering, listening to Vermont’s sole Congressional Rep Becca Balint—a kick-ass, take-no-prisoners, LGBTQ former school teacher—talk about what’s actually going on in Washington.

She made it clear that it’s as through-the-looking-glass batshit crazy as we feared. But she is undaunted and inspiring.

So, for one of the few times since writing passionate essays against the Vietnam War way back when I was in high school in the ‘60s, I feel compelled to use at least a few of my words to speak truth to power.

I’m lucky. I’m a cis-white male…who writes about street life, spirituality, and writing itself. I’m not writing about controversial so-called “woke” issues [a term worthy of the red-baiting ‘50s] like critical race theory, DEI, LGBTQIA rights, personal pronouns, affirmative action, environmental action, progressive messaging, and, God-forbid, the idea that kids born in this country could somehow not be citizens.

Writing about things like that can get you on the wrong kind of list. Many Substack writers undoubtedly already are.

Just a few weeks ago, I would have dismissed my concerns about the attempted rape and pillage of our Constitution as overreaction. But after seeing what’s been happening lately and listening to Becca I don’t think so.

Plus, I was in the middle of writing this last night when I learned that Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) is having a hearing titled, “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the heads of NPR and PBS Accountable” on March 26.

In other words, next they’ll come for the writers.

As writers, we all need to speak real truth to this use of brute repressive force, stand up for the first Amendment at every turn, and do what we can to help the many many people who are already in the line of fire. We can be a powerful voice for freedom of speech AND freedom from being intimidated for what we say.

OK, now I’ll return to my usual apolitical “broadcasting”.