THE REAL STATE OF AMERICA - FROM THE ROAD

THE REAL STATE OF AMERICA - FROM THE ROAD

By Andy Weddington

Wednesday, 26 October 2022

When you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship.  - Harry S. Truman

Twelve days. 

Twelve states. 

3,265 miles along Interstates, highways, byways, city streets and country lanes.

That's a lot of rest areas, gas stops, tourists sites, sights, and traps, and more including two Chief Executive libraries, two terrific art museums, and impromptu operational pauses at places that just looked darn interesting. 

Visits and dinners with friends. 

Lots of brief conversations with strangers from all walks of life. 

And hours and hours of observing people going about life, conversations overheard, and time to shape a general sense of all the data. 

Flags! 

Lots of flags. Our red, white, and blue on display. And more than a few on the fly so big that a working party of hundreds would be required to properly drag and fold, and hoist.

The trip reinforced it is not possible to understand what is going on in America by watching (or listening to) anything coming from any sort of device. 

It is not possible to understand what is going on in America by hanging out in the backyard.

Roam.

And pay attention. 

No one commented to me how great a job President Biden was doing. 

In fact, comments echoed many a disparaging bumper sticker seen with some frequency. 

Let's go, Brandon! has not died. Nor has the acronym FJB. 

Fuel stops always busy. Prices ranged $3.29 to well over $4.00. Often drivers opined from the other side of the pump what a miserable job President Biden was doing. 

The cost of food. Any food. Enough said.

The poor service industry. No help. 'Help Wanted' signs everywhere. 

Hotel room service these days is a clean room at check-in and as-needed. Checking in late one night our room was still not ready. Later learned the manager was cleaning it. Generosity when departing has long been habit. More so this trip. 

God bless the people who show up to work. 

And truckers. Amongst our country's heroes. 

There was no general sense coming from the people they're happy with goings on in America. 

To the contrary, a just-below-the-surface wave of anger sensed.

Stand by for an explosion. 

At the macro, each of the two sides fighting for power accuse the other of being the antithesis of democracy.

Never mind there's already plenty of proof, who's telling the truth?

The answer in the micro - costs for food, fuel, fun.  

Simple as that. 

All else distraction.

On a closing note ...  

I ran into Marines at parades, in museums and restaurants, and at rest stops. Some casual discourse longer than others. Nothing's changed. Marines know the difference between chicken salad and same chicken salad processed. Thus, some great moments of candor. There is something especially satisfying about an instant connection with a complete stranger - and the connector being pride in an accomplishment earning title and emblem few even entertain attempting. During these briefs moments came the feeling 'we'll not surrender.' 

And this led me to reflecting on just how many bad-ass friends I have. Certified. And how many bad-ass friends of friends out there - peppered throughout the dozen states traveled and the other thirty-eight. None of them cowards. None. 

So, no idea what's going to unfold in the coming months. 

But there will be a wrong side of the tipping point. 

To close ...

In an EV that wonderful 12 days trip could not have happened. Longer, more expensive, and with untold pains and misery. No thanks.