Prior to 9/11 I Did Not Give a Damn About Politics – What the Hell Happened?

September 11th, 2001, was one of those days when people ask you where you were. I know where I was, but that is less important than where my mind was and where it went. I had questions, and my pursuit of answers led me to where I am today.

The obvious hows and whys led me to seek a better grasp of our government’s responsibilities. At that time, I was more or less undeclared—undecided. I voted for Reagan, but only because Jimmy Carter was obviously a mistake. But it was not an informed decision.

It was knee-jerk.

In that case, it was the correct choice, but more luck than (political) science.

Post 9/11, I was on a mission.

I read things. I lurked on a growing number of internet sites. I explored our nation’s founding, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers. I still watched the news and read local newspapers, but my inkling about media bias became more pronounced, and I eventually eschewed your usual sources for new ones.

Something was missing — a lot of something.

I devoured books, began commenting on and even writing on political websites, and, after years of looking for where I belonged on the political spectrum, discovered I was a Conservatarian.

We didn’t have that word yet. But I knew the political class was robbing us, and Democrats ran that show. Republicans, many of them, were just along for the ride.

In June 2008, I started a WordPress blog at newhampshire.wordpress.com. (It’s still there. In 2018, I retooled it as the New Media militia, and it’s more or less idle at the moment.)

In July 2008, I joined the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers (CNHT) and became a co-host on New Hampshire Taxpayer Radio for the next 2 1/2 years. In September 2008, I began writing at NH Insider.com (since shuttered), where I became a top-ranked blogger in the state.

In February 2010, I began splitting my duties between NH Insider and GraniteGrok and eventually had to choose because doing both was too much work. I have been writing at the Grok ever since.

Since 2010 I have contributed to many web spaces including a year with the Franklin Center (they paid me).

I have served on several boards of activist organizations and coordinated and cohosted weekly political podcasts. 

14,000+ Grok posts later, some 18,000-20,000 all tolled across the internet universe, and we arrive here.

People ask me what got me started.

I used to be an undeclared voter who didn’t know anything about politics or issues. I just wanted to be left alone. Since then, Republicans have tried to get me fired from my job, and I have Elected Democrats calling me a hater for sharing their voting records.

And I think, maybe, I’m still just getting started.

But to answer the question, I’ll borrow some words from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Some people did something.

Some lunatics flew some planes into some buildings.

I needed to know more, and I’m still learning. I’m on a mission to encourage others to take the same journey. Politics matters. It, sadly, defines everything, and you can’t check out. You have to get involved, or they will take everything from you—maybe not your life, but then perhaps your life.

With any luck. I have inspired a few, pissed off many, and framed the topic of the day in a way that makes it more interesting, fun, or easier to understand. Maybe I didn’t do any of those things, but I am grateful to those who have chosen to come along for the ride.

Thank you.