CHOOSING ONE COW PIE OVER ANOTHER

Got up, drank a cup of coffee, and then waded through the latest news.  Nothing’s changed.  Oh yes, an election cycle was recently completed.  As usual the candidates on both sides made their speeches, accused each other of terrible wrongs, kowtowed to the easily duped, and otherwise promised the moon, mars and a few other planets.  One candidate lost and one won.  I kept thinking of two fresh cow pies served up at a barbecue and the people being told “Take your pick.”  And then, for whatever nonsensical reason most of the people chose to eat one cow pie over the other.  Nobody won.  After all, every cow pie is more or less like the other.  You’d know these things if you lived in the Brushlands and have encountered tens of thousands of cow pies in your life.  But anyway—and as amazing is it sounds—some people are actually celebrating their cow pie.  Can you believe it?  “We got a great cow pie!” they proclaim loudly.  Meanwhile back here in the woods I walked away from the daily news wondering why I even bothered to look in the first place.  Yup, nothing has changed and nothing will change.  Partisans, of whom there are legions these days, will never figure it out.  I’m not a Bible thumper by any means, but I’m reminded of a text from the book of 2 Timothy.  The text (4:3) says, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” New International Version.  Makes sense to me; or at least that’s what I’ve seen for too many years to think otherwise.  The only difference nowadays is that things just keep getting worse.  It’s an established fact (sorry no attribution but you can look it up) that the United States is no longer a Democracy or even a true Republic.  Instead, it’s become an Oligarchy where elected officials and bureaucrats collude with corporate plutocrats to control everything and in the process make sure they get their riches at the expense of the people.  It’s Capitalism gone amok.  Just remember (don’t forget) that when Capitalism goes amok you always end up with Fascism.  If Oligarchs could get away with it they’d take away our Federal Lands; they’d drill the Arctic into oblivion; they’d frack every inch of ground; they’d pollute with no remorse; they’d have it all.  No feelings of guilt or anxiety or an angstrom of morality.  It’s all about accumulating riches no matter what the cost to the people or the land.  I just spotted a great big golden fronted woodpecker attempting to break into a tiny house-wren’s box nest.  There’s a metaphor, perhaps something seriously symbolic there; I’m just not quite sure what it is.  In the meantime I’m thinking about going for a walk: The old Woods Roamer needs to get back into the deep woods.  It’s a cloudy, cool day, not a breath of wind, and soundless.  The afternoon is fading fast and I want to be about a mile from here in a thick patch of mesquites, ebony and brasil brewing up some coffee as the darkness creeps in through the trees.  I’ll have my dogs with me and they make for better company than most of the people I know who only want to talk politics and degrade everyone around them.  Jeez, another Bible text comes to mind, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:5 New International Version 

Lots of people telling me they’re stacking up on guns and ammo.  Giddy they are as they prepare for the Great War, the big collapse, their longed for chaos and anarchy.  But those same folks won’t last two weeks without electricity, running water, their Talk Radio stations, their favorite “news” network, their Internet service, no medicines, and no packs of cigarettes.  So in the meantime I’ll try to stay as hid out as possible.  I thoroughly enjoy my little shop.  Pounding out red/orange steel into various things from hooks to tongs to knives.  I’ve been lax on this blog thing.  Lazy I guess.  I’d rather walk the woods or pound steel.  Besides, this last election was as nutty as they get and I'm feeling as if things are getting a bit too clear.  A real eye opener.  Seems that there’re more easily duped folks out there than ever before.  Maybe not.  By the way, did I tell you I’ve got a new book coming out in about four or five weeks?  You’re going to like this one.  Lots of bushcraft and woods roaming and about living isolated.  One more note: I'll get back to you this weekend and discuss another reason things are going into the gutter.  

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