3 reasons why I don't get too political in public.

BEST ALBUM COVER EVER!!!  As you can see,Vic Rattlehead is non-partisan. :)

As it is an election year in the United States, political issues/ topics/ jokes/ slandering/ scandals/etc are growing more heated than ever. Many people I know, including other authors, are making heated statements and sharing links relating to their stances. Many times I've been tempted to chime in as well, especially with certain issues that have me flat out terrified and appalled.

But I bit my online/ public tongue. (Though I still signed certain petitions and voted according to my reasoning and beliefs.)

For all of my reasons, I give an example. Who remembers the TV show, "Malcolm in the Middle?" There was an episode with which I'd wanted to youtube clip, but alas, it was unavailable. So you'll have to bear with my describing it:

Dewey, the youngest child of the sitcom, is charged with selling candy bars for prizes. He sells a ton by lying to the neighborhood in regards to what "causes" the candy bars support. The matter comes to a head when two outraged women who seem to be best friends confront Dewey's mother.

"He told me these candy bars support pro-life causes" one accuses.

"He told me these candy bars support pro-choice causes," the other says at nearly the same time.

They turn to each other with equal looks of astonishment.

"I had no idea you felt that way."

"Well, I had no idea you felt THAT WAY!"

And, POOF!They are now sworn enemies and hate each other for life.

The whole scene sickened me because I've seen it happen so often in real life with practically every political "issue" there is. And this scene may stand as a prime example of all the reasons I usually publicly avoid politics.

1.) It is "bad for business." Yes, many celebrities and bestselling authors voice their opinions on issues, but as a newbie, I feel I do not have such a luxury. I write romance novels which focus on unique characters getting their happily ever after with no political message involved. It would be very depressing if someone refused to buy my book just because I support X and they support Y.

2.) It would just confuse people anyway. Even if I did voice an opinion on X or Y, people would likely get confused with the mixed messages because I also support B vs. C. I am honest with my Facebook profile labeling me as "anti-partisan." (It used to be "bi-partisan" until too many idiots became fixed on the "WE hate chocolate because THEY like it" concept.) For example, I know many pro-choice republicans as well as many pro-2nd amendment democrats.

I've publicly commented that I own firearms for hunting as well as for home protection. I'd rather have the cops arresting and interrogating me over an invader's dead body than the cops investigating my dead body as well as those of my children in hope of finding a culprit. Education and safety are key, however. I'm not one of those dumb-asses who leaves a loaded gun in the presence of children, much less children (or adults) who don't understand the damage a firearm can do. I also believe some people should not own guns.

So I swing on both sides of the fence on the partisanship with that one.

On the flip side (again I fail to see why it's a flip side) I see no logical reason to oppose gay marriage. If you really do your homework on how much the government and the economy profits from marriage and divorce, there is no reason to oppose a legal union between two consenting adults.     

3.) It's pretty funny how I can say in any company, "Damn, the government sucks, huh?" And I have yet to hear someone reply, "What are you talking about? Everything's great!" Which kinda proves my point that those of us who are U.S. citizens and taxpayers are ALL citizens of the same country and maybe we should quit bickering and remember that. 


Oh, okay, I guess I did get a little political...especially yesterday when I publicly called the president of the Idaho state senate on his appalling abuse of grammar:


" I'm watching the convening of the Idaho Senate and the president keeps saying "There ain't no further debate" and "There ain't no objections." 
I am appalled. Mr. president, please speak proper English. You are supposed to be representing my state, and speaking like a hillbilly is not a form of representation I would like to see. 
On a positive note, they seem to be working on getting more dearly needed funding for higher education, so maybe then he'll be able to take an English class."