Time Will Tell ... Time WILL Tell ...

So, I don't like to get political.  I think I've spoken about it before here ... I've announced proudly that I'm a Democrat and a liberal (for the most part).  I'm not backing down on my beliefs; however, I think we're living in a dangerous time right now.   As a country, we're so divided that it's alarming.  It's not enough anymore to just say, "I believe A" and your neighbor say, "I believe B."  Now there is name calling, harsh words, and sometimes physical violence.  It's for that reason that I hesitate to come here and step on any kind of political soap box.

Having said that ...

One of my problems with "the other side" right now, is that some ... (notice I said some and not all ... we need to stop painting everyone in a group with the same brush) ... of their party members have an attitude of "I believe something therefore it is so."  There are facts ... and there are beliefs.  I believe violet is the most beautiful color in the world.  My proof?  The enormous lilac bushes that grew outside my grandmother's farm house.  Now let's stop.  Violet is NOT the most beautiful color in the world.  What I stated is an opinion ... not a fact.

If you are upset with Hillary's actions ... or hell just her personality ... or her husband getting a blow job in the White House ... whatever ... I can respect that.  I honestly can.  I didn't care for George Bush at all ... although in retrospect ... given what we have now, I'll concede that old Dubya obviously wasn't that bad.  But if you say, "I don't like Hillary because she's running a child sexual assault ring out of the basement of a San Antonio pizza parlor."  I'm going to ask for facts.  Not your opinions ... you don't like her hair cut?  That's cool.  That up there?  I'm going to need some kind of concrete fact.  Not just, "I believe she did it!"

I know ... I know.  You're asking ... "ThirtyWhat ... what the hell are you babbling on about???"

So this happened ...

This morning, I mentioned to a co-worker that I saw on the news that if our state doesn't pass a budget (don't get me started on this state), it will discontinue all sales of MegaMillions and Lotto tickets on Friday.  We were just chatting about it, when another co-worker (an ardent supporter of this administration) said, "That's not true.  They're still going to sell them!"

I paused and said, "Really?  I don't know ... I just saw it on the morning news."  My co-worker friend said, "Yeah, I saw that too."  The Republican became animated ... "NO ... I talked with someone and they said they ARE still going to sell them."

When faced with a situation like this, you have to make a decision.  Do you plant your flag on this hill?  Do you let this go ... or do you push it. 

I decided to push ... a little.

"Who told you?  Do they run a gas station or a convenience store or something?" 
"No ... but they know this kind of stuff."

Let's all pause for a moment ... what does that even mean?  Does her source have some kind of psychic link ala Johnny Mnemonic that allows them to download all the world's pertinent info whilst they sleep?  And what is "this kind of stuff?"  Lottery stuff?  Budget stuff?  General office gossip?

So I got online ... because my back hurts and I feel cranky ... and I went to a news site.  I copied the story that explains that lottery tickets will be suspended on Friday  ... then copied the link to the story ... and put it in an email to my friend and this woman.

Her response?  Do I need to tell you?

"That's fake news."

Okay ... so ... everything eventually fades out of popularity.  No one says "Twenty Three Skidoo!" anymore.  Very few people declare anything, "Groovy."  So I assume at some point, it will be come passe to say, "Fake news."  For me personally, that day cannot come quick enough.

There is fake news.  There really is.  Yeah, there's The Onion ... which is the coolest fake news of them all.  But in general, there are headlines that are misleading ... there is news that is outdated ... and yes, there is news stories that use anonymous sources and should be scrutinized.  And that's true of both sides.  I'll admit that the few radical Democratic friends I have will occasional post articles that I will immediately see and think, "Well now, I'm not sure that's true."

But ... just because the news says something you don't like ... that is not fake news! 

I didn't respond back ... because ... sigh.  What would I say?  I am curious what her response will be come Saturday morning if/when she can't buy a lottery ticket.  Will it still be fake news?  What will the argument be at that point?

She's not talking to me right now ... and that's alright.  My head hurts ... and I don't have the patience or fortitude to charge that hill right now.

I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill
Well, then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills
For the president to sign
And if he signs me, then I'll be a law.
How I hope and pray that he will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Schoolhouse Rock - I'm Just a Bill