My conclusion to this trip into potential TrumpLand?
A qualified “Meh.”
I saw all sorts of good people trying to balance their lives in the midst of this political chaos…mostly media-created really, in the long run…and I think that many of them are successfully doing so by simply turning away from the hoopla.
Is this necessarily a “good” thing?
Damned if I know.
But it is certainly something!!! The change in the working class/middle class media from what was happening during the last primary/election season prior to 2016’s vote is all I need to see to believe that. The differences in the tone and content of discussion over…oh, I don’t know, about 1000 miles of driving, listening to AM and FM radio, stopping, eating, gassing up, working with and otherwise personally interacting with widely varying different sociological groups, almost all predominantly white and none particularly prosperous even on the 10% or even 30% level, let alone the .01%…the differences?
Not many people seem particularly interested in the Big Hustle anymore.
Too busy making a living.
Maybe it’s just because it’s a midterm election.
Whatever…
The difference in radio was astounding to me.
1000 miles at say 75+MPH average…Pennsylvanians drive fast…about 12 hours of radio scanning and listening, given times when the driving was too tough to do anything but survive during some really heavy rainstorms amidst deep truck traffic on the I-81 Endless Mountains route.
A couple of years ago?
Hours of anti-Dem, pro-Trump bullshit plus more hours of truly stupid Come To Jesus preachers.
Now?
Almost all gone, replaced with the usual bad music, sports talk and the very occasional NPR/Fox News boilerplate whatever. I did get to hear Rudy Giuliani spin his shtick with…whatisname, the bigtime Fox News Trumphole…yeah, Sean Hannity. I found it surprising that Giuliani’s bullshit seems much less smelly on radio than when you can see his face…witness his crazy tics and all. He oughta wear a sheet in public. (Saaaay…there’s an idea!!! I wonder…does the KKK allow Italians to join yet? Could be…)
Anyway…
“Meh” is the word of the day, at least in what was rabid Trump country a few years ago. It could be different elsewhere, but I have a feeling it’s not. Ithaca was the only truly “blue” area I experienced, and even goodnatured Ithaca has a rabid right winger as a Congressional Rep due to its position surrounded by many square miles of real redneck small towns.
Good luck in November, leftinesses.
I hope Mueller comes through for ya.
I really do.
A well-placed political bombshell would do wonders!!!
Later…
AG
