A Story...

Once upon a time, there was a guy with a facebook account. The guy works in the political industry. The political campaigns industry, actually. Specifically, the political campaigns for shitbag Democrats industry. This guy has also been friends with a former (reformed?) blogger for about 6 years, give or take.

The guy wrote this the other day on his facebook page or wall or whatever the fuck the kids these days are calling it:

if there is no public option, i am not voting in federal elections any more........

To which the friend/blogger (duh, me) replied:

Give me a break man. I would think that being perpetually "surprised" and disappointed by the actions of politicians, especially Democratic politicians would finally get old. Or at least exhausting. Stop being a chump. Stop voting. And Jesus Hector Christinez, stop voting for "More, and better, Democrats." Buy a fucking clue, please.

I then proceeded to post these two links:

http://whoisioz.blogspot.com/2009/07/thats-not-change-america-can-believed.html

http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org/2009/07/postpartisan.html

Well, a bit of not-so-pleasant back and forth then ensued, and the guy ended the conversation thusly:

honestly matt if you knew what i thought aside from a quick tidbit on facebook expressing my frustration about this bull shit healthcare, then you could talk but until than dont talk to me about what you believe is going through my head.

And you know what, he's right. I simply haven't the faintest as to what is going through this dear friend of mine's head. It was unfair of me to assume that he may have been "surprised" or "disappointed." Frankly, I don't know how he felt, nor do I care.

So, the proper way to have expressed my frustration with my friend would perhaps be better phrased, "You are part of the problem."

I love this guy like a brother, and we have literally spent hundreds of hours arguing over and discussing "politics." If he still doesn't get it, he simply never will. And he is not alone. He is like the vast majority of those of us who follow (i.e. waste our time reading about/listening to/talking to others about) politics.

I am done. I try (and it is an effort) to not pay attention. To not get dragged into these asinine discussions of bafflement over Obama/The Dem's actions/decisions. I am much happier now. I recommend that you try to do the same.

So to my friend, I again apologize. I have no fucking clue what could possibly be running through your head. I know for a fact that you are an intelligent person, with a good heart, and someone that I care about a lot. So why you spend your days working to elect and re-elect these awful people, let alone waste your time talking about "politics" in your precious few hours away from work, I will never know.

I did the same for many years. I promise I never will again.