Growing up, I never gave politics a lick. I knew my mother’s family were Republicans and my Father’s family was an amicable mix. Family gatherings (to my recollection) never involved politics. I was never preached to at school, nor any of the various activities afterwards. So my backdrop was simple, in my mind politics were background noise to be ignored. My family was comfortably nestled in the South Suburbs of Chicago. Chicago… Hmmm. Even as kids we all knew the Dalys were as crooked as the day was long, yet the impact was nothing to us, we just went along with the insults and assumed the machine would go on machining with little effect on those of us outside the city limits.

As I began High School, I slowly started to become aware of the many hypocrisies accompanying C(r)ook County officials and the fact that they kept being re-elected. This, coupled with the “Just Say No” campaign and the PMRC started to shape my distrust in government. You see at this point, I made no distinctions between parties. To me, they were equally vile and manipulative. Thus I was to be a skate punk (but also an All-State soccer player, go figure). I rebelled against the culture of the day and it felt right. Not just right, but powerful. Normies were just that, normal. We were the enlightened anarchists hellbent on doing nothing politically save for mocking and generally disregarding frivolous laws by the hundreds.

I began college at Western Illinois University in 1989. I was happy the Berlin Wall fell. I was happy with a lot of Liberal advances as well. People were more accepting of gays, ethnic groups, and most importantly, drugs as recreational tools. Still my politics were to ignore, but hold in contempt. I was a frat bro, I had beer to drink, girls to chase and weed to smoke with the (not so) occasional trip to be experienced.

After an epic GPA of 0.0, I returned home a full fledged stoner who loved to party frat style and cared nothing for anything other than those ends. Still claimed to be an anarchist even though I knew better. I got a 4.0 in a completely BS version of college called Moraine Valley (HS with ashtrays) (UCLA–University Close to LaGrange Avenue) and was accepted to Southern Illinois University where I found myself amicably left on my own by my parents (best thing that ever happened for me honestly).

It was in Carbondale of all places where I could finally see the BS the hippies were peddling and class became optional again as I just started working as a restaurant manager to survive (OK, beer and weed cost money, bills were set aside until dire straights would occur).

So there was the mental dilemma I found myself in. Being a weed connoisseur, a lot of my friends and acquaintances were lefties, but I wanted nothing to do with their flawed thought processes and I do enjoy hot showers. I was monetarily conservative, but socially liberal. In walks “The Law” by Bastiat to change my life forever.

I voted for Ross Perot as a FU to the establishment and never looked back.

As time passed, I (very slowly and very little) grew up, got married had kids and have remained a small “L” libertarian. At times I’ve been vocal in groups and can usually defend my positions with logical, thought-out arguments based on self-ownership and the NAP. I’ve sold many of my wife’s relatives on libertarian ideals and my brother too. Lately though (past year or so) it’s just gotten exhausting to argue with such brainwashed idiots, many of whom I’ve called friends. I haven’t given up hope, but I’m seriously doubting the future of this once great nation.

Anyway, I still love beer and weed, just in much smaller quantities with larger intervals between. I’m hoping we get through this BS called COVID and the even larger problem called progressivism.

That’s my journey. I’m thrilled to be here amongst the bright lights that is you all. I’m sure this may be the worst introduction/Bio ever, but I’m cursed with the self-awareness enough to know my faults. I hope you enjoyed the read.

Peace!