Someone back a few accused Drew of having "reactionary political views", another claims he is a dickhead, still others say he is arrogant and pompous. And did I hear the word "sociopath"

But Socio-path? That is indeed very rich coming from a "Foamer". There is a reason why so many professional railroaders, though they may (or may not) deeply love their professions, and everything about railroads; still simply want nothing to do at all, with the lot of ya! It's too bad in a way, because ya'all get painted with that too broad of a brush - even those who aren't guilty.


I have watched Drew on this forum for a very long time - and I am still not sure where his politics truly are, nor do I care. But he is indeed a colorful character, fiercely independent, and free - defiantly marching to his own drummer. And all of that is good!

His problem though, and that of many others, is that since late 2008, across the board, public discourse across the board, has become exponentially more intolerant of anyone who does not "Tow the mark", ignores the party line, or won't give in to the bullying that says everyone must just go along with whatever. The more outspoken of us will naturally become lightning rods for all sorts of political and social intolerance.

Case in point - the pejorative "Reactionary" used against Drew in this thread: An Interesting word - though truly meaningless - haven't heard it in years! If I recall correctly, it was coined in the mid sixties by one of several very radical U.C. Berkeley professors (heard it with my own ears), to describe anyone who disagreed with his tendency to lead so-called students, in sometimes violent "Civil Dis-obedience" (politically correct word for a street riot).

So what do you suppose that ol' Drew is "reacting" to now? Is it not obvious? It really has nothing to do with politics, other than the fact that politicians are increasingly micromanaging everybody's lives. But it has everything to do with the increasing "Intolerance" that has been displayed against him, and many others. Indeed, public discourse just wreaks of it anymore.


But Neermind! I just remembered that he still lives in California - where shining the light of day on any public problem or concern, or on anything at all going on in government or society; will quickly get you labeled with some bigoted pejorative or other; or even ostracized! And now maybe even taxed!

I also remembered what a previous employer of mine, a moderately liberal ex-New Yorker that worked 40 years for the Long Island Railroad; said about California. He had spent three years here, when he just up and quit - fed up with all the "power mongering and money grubbing" bureaucrats and politicians". This was about 15 years ago.

He wanted me to tell him "How the hell I could stand to live, in the most fascist county in the most fascist state in The Union!" He told me he was going back to New York, or maybe New Jersey, "...where there is still common sense, and men are still free."

He had a point! And I had no good answer for him!


Seems I still don't!. . . . . . . .
Given that I also had no good answer when a fairly recent polish immigrant friend( @ 5years) flatly debunked my native notion that America was a free country. She convincingly declared that we are deluding ourselves if we think so; especially in the area of free speech involving corporate entities; and especially silenced were those employed by government agencies. Given that I had seen it all myself, I could not successfully rebut her assertion at all.

But of course, she has only lived in California! And Poland! There is a reason 78% (recent NY Times pole) believes the country is going in the wrong direction - with California leading the way.

I just wish we all could just tone down all the intolerance - people can disagree, without being disagreeable. We may not understand the other guy, but we can live and let live. We can respectfully promote our own ideas - and let the other guy do the same. If Gobachev could get along with Reagan, then surely anybody could do it!

Now if us Americans could actually learn respect, and the tolerance so many claim to have, then maybe a new syntheses out of diverse ideas could occur, creating solutions and resolving conflicts. We could start right here on this forum. If we just would. . . . . .

OPB