Why Politics

The possibly insane decision to write about the third rail of our society

You might ask why a fiction writer is delving into a different, more dangerous arena. The answer is complicated. We are being led to believe that we live in an increasingly polarized world. That the country is “torn” down the middle. I don’t believe that is the case. Polled by issues without the constraint of naming political affiliations we appear to agree on most things—or at least agree enough to reach a compromise. It is the ten percent on either end of the spectrum that give the allusion that we are at war with each other. Unfortunately those folks have the loudest voices and refuse to compromise. They place grandstanding and hyperbole over common sense.

I like my characters to have views and positions on current events and try not to shy away from hot topics in my books. Though they are fiction, I write in today’s world. In order to create interesting characters they need to have and act on their opinions. I touched on COVID briefly in Wood’s Hope, but have shied away from it since. People might want to read about it in a decade when the chips have fallen and I hope we know how the real story. I polled my readers and by a good majority they are just worn out and don’t want to read about it.

My writing also reflects my state of mind at the time that I am writing it. During the spring of this year (2021 for the archives) I experienced a string of things I didn’t like happening in the Florida Keys. Those observations became the backbone for Backwater Haven. As my editor pointed out that was my Mad Kurt book. I did tone it down, but I let Kurt be mad, because I was mad. I’m not my character’s but they exist to allow me to express different points of view.

So, on Wednesdays I am going to write about my worldview which more than not will be about politics. I have a love - hate relationship with politics. Observed on a day-to-day basis the maneuvering and machinations of our leaders drive me crazy—but they also fascinate me. I’m also frustrated knowing that the grandstanding, hyperbole, and other shenanigans of our elected officials does not represent what the majority of the people in this country want or think.

I represent the middle. With a Stoic’s view of life and a Libertarian’s view of how we should be allowed to live it, I fall into the middle of the spectrum. That doesn’t mean I’m a centrist. My positions aren’t compromises, but they tend to run the gamut from left to right and right to left.

So, that’s where I’m at. I’m hoping that if more people understand that their personal beliefs don’t have to fit into the mold of one of our political parties, then we’ll all be better for it.

Think Free My Friends.