Merit or optics

by Mike Mercer, Hamilton

I make no claim to a level of intelligence that would prepare me to deal with some of the issues brought up in these pages but I do know when I’m being played. Tariffs, Social Security, immigration, DOGE, the arts/education and let’s not forget Trump’s greatest hits like pushing grandma over a cliff in her wheelchair … as a felon no less. 

It was once just a profound whisper from an old playbook long salted away but not forgotten: “You will own nothing and be happy.” This is not about “issues” but the unadulterated imperative to shower scorn for the sake of optics and not rectification or merit. When your heart is set on that path no debate will alter that course as pride is at the helm and crushing the enemy at any cost is all that can be seen. 

Many letters have been written here claiming to own the moral and intellectual high ground to decree all who oppose them to be less than desirable as human beings, let alone citizens of this nation. Truth be told, a menacing ugliness has settled over the amber waves of grain, fueled by a media selling tickets to America’s demise to a global landlord.

More than 2/3 of this country is opposed to such barbarism and pray that civil discourse and mutual respect will part the dark cloud over America … stay mindful and engaged.

Just a random thought: do you think twins ever realize that one of them was unplanned?