: Politics? Yuck.
It’s no secret to long time readers that I come from a long line of left wing radicals and other suspicious types – but I’ve always avoided any discussions of such except in passing. I did make one exception back in December of 2016. I’ll quote in part:
I am optimistic by temperament but pessimistic by intellect – and I see no way that we’ll get through the next 4 years without some serious collateral damage. The absolute best possible outcome I can hypothesize is that Trump screws up quickly but not too seriously – i.e. he screws up just enough to change the body politic but that any damage done is easily recoverable. But that is a very low probability event.
At the time I had some sort of economic downturn in mind – say a major recession. As we all know, this was not the case. I’ll leave the final judgement up to future historians, but it is highly likely that Trump’s botching of the pandemic was the key factor in his defeat. I don’t know how to feel about this. If you had told me back in 2016 that I could insure that Trump would be a one term president but that 600K of my fellow citizens would die? Would I have made that choice? I dunno. In a way this is a variation on the Trolley Problem.
Meanwhile (just to get it all out), I despair over the nature of our current political discourse. It particularly bothers me when folks disparage people on the other side of the political fence:
“Anyone who voted for [fill_in_the _blank] is stupid. I hate them.”
Now it’s OK to hate politicians – that goes with the territory. But to hate your fellow citizens? This is counter-productive – it doesn’t solve anything. I know it’s a cliche, but I’m with Martin Luther King Jr. on this one – we have to stick with love.
End of speech. Hopefully next month I will get back to my usual silly observations.
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Meanwhile, I have 3 shows this month, but rest assured they are all apolitical in nature. Well OK, mostly all. . .
July 11th, Sunday, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Blues Jam Afternoons @ Hat City
459 Valley St, Orange, NJ 973 677-8000
I’ll be sitting in with the house band this Sunday, but as this is a jam there will be a motley rotating crew of musicians playing. I hear that other keyboard players are showing up, so don’t be alarmed if I’m not on stage when you show up. Hat City has great food and an excellent bar.
https://www.facebook.com/events/397818064986455
July 23rd, Friday, 7:00-9:00 PM
With Arthur Neilson @ Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza
64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair (973) 509-1134
It feels like several lifetimes ago the last time I played with Arthur. If you have never heard Arthur play you are in for a rare treat. While Arthur’s main gig is band leader for Shemkia Copeland, Arthur is a superb guitarist/singer/songwriter in his own write (stealing a pun from John Lennon). Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we’ll be out on the world famous Ruthie’s Veranda, but if it rains we will squeeze inside. BYO.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/
http://www.arthurneilson.com/
July 31st, Saturday, 5:30 (rain date Aug 1st)
With Craig Mitchell @ Kemet Music & Arts Festival
Montclair Brewery
101 Walnut St.
Montclair, NJ 07042
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kemet-music-and-arts-festival-2-tickets-158255547603
I guess this is sort of a political event. It’s a day long festival that is (in part) a fundraising event to aid black businesses in need. I will be performing with Craig Mitchell – a fine blues, r&b, soul singer/guitarist. We are supposed to go on @ 5:30, but my experience with these events is that schedules tend to be a bit, ummm, fluid. Tickets for this event are $20 if purchased ahead of time, $25 at the door; you must also purchase two drinks (non-alcohol will be available). There will be food vendors as well.