There have always been anti-government types, regardless of which government or which parties are in power. “Power” is probably the operative word here.

But lately, for the last couple decades perhaps, their numbers have grown. I’m quite sure that social media has played a large part in this. People who couldn’t name more than a handful of politicians can now rattle off an entire alphabetized list, AND tell you who’s who and what position they hold.

At the same time, folks have continuously and more vociferously clamored for change—removal of pork from proposed bills, term limits, inclusion of a third party, and so on and so forth.

Let me take a minute to talk about this “third party,” otherwise known as Libertarians. Their main premise is that everyone is free to do what they wish as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. All well and good, and I can’t really argue with this, but their candidates are so loosely bound by this that there is no cohesion and no oversight. And I don’t believe they’ll be a valid party until this changes. I’m sure you’re familiar with “if you don’t believe in something, you’ll fall for anything.”

Today’s scuttlebutt is centered around Parler and free speech. No, free speech has not gone down the toilet, but rumor-mongering and fear-mongering certainly have. The reason Google and Apple are cracking down is twofold: incitement to violence and, to use a Trump phrase, “fake news.” Facebook, of course, has been diligent about removing both.

NONE of these businesses—key word—are censoring anything but violence and bullshit. Just because you read “Facebook has removed” or “Facebook is not allowing” a certain post means nothing at all; mostly because you are, at that moment, reading what they supposedly removed.

Let’s say you own a retail shop. Someone comes in and starts spouting some BS, maybe the classical “the End is nigh!” sort of thing, and so you do what? You escort him from the premises, at the very least. Maybe you ban him from ever coming back. Because, well, it’s YOUR business. Ditto for the tech giants.

Now, I’ve said this before: none of these entities are removing your OPINION (unless it incites violence), but yes, they’re removing false links. Like “drink bleach to beat the ‘Rona.” Basically, they’re protecting stupid people. Also: no, an unknown individual did not “crack the code” or see something sinister to either beat the ‘Rona or prove fraud. Didn’t happen. Stop spreading the bullshit.

As for the violence part, wow, I’ve read some interesting stuff today. You’re familiar, of course, with the “yelling fire in a crowded theater?” Same thing. You CAN, but there are consequences.

I’m appalled at what happened in DC a few days ago. (I’m also appalled that the DC mayor called for statehood RIGHT NOW at this particular time—seriously, WTH?? But that’s a different issue.) It was a perfect storm, engineered between QAnon, so-called patriots, and people I can only describe as mentally unbalanced and mentally challenged. And regular people who got caught up in it all.

I do know people who subscribe to many of these things. They’re regular people, nice people. But they got pulled in anyway, and I can only pray they realize this at some point. If you support change, I’m with you; if you support change through burning and killing and so forth, that’s a big nope.

QAnon has screwed with many, many people. Mostly regular folks. They included just enough detail and Christianity to appeal to a wide spectrum. They are false. They are fake. They are bullshit. Can’t say this enough. Believe me or not, your choice; eventually, you’ll see it.

There is not a cabal of elites engaging in worldwide child trafficking. There is not. They do not control our government. Nope. They don’t. JFK is not alive and is not who is behind QAnon. Nope. He just isn’t. I could go on and on and it’s all a big nope.

There are so many ways to effect change that storming the Capitol building and acting like a bunch of spring break partiers shouldn’t ever be on the radar—not if you’re serious about that change.

What is a patriot? A patriot is one who believes in and loves his country. You can be a patriot and not be insane, in spite of what the media says.

I consider myself a patriot—and not one of those with questionable morals and intelligence. I stand squarely in the middle. Not lukewarm, again, squarely in the middle. I believe there needs to be governmental change, but not via a little B&E. Or a lot of B&E. Or silly costumes. [Insert very, very hard eyeroll]

How would this work? I don’t know yet. But I know how it won’t. And the first thing we need is calm and dignity from the Whitehouse.