As a newspaper owner and columnist, I live by one rule when it comes to my keystroke-related contributions to the Business Times. I write about what’s on my mind and heart when I wake up on deadline Tuesdays. 

As embarrassing as it is to admit — and to some of my “fans,” I’m sure it’s more than just embarrassing — it’s really that straightforward. 

Given how badly the government, bureaucracy and elected “leaders” have screwed things up, it’s also the simplest way for me to aim just one shot instead of the available fusillade at the myriad gilled, aquatic vertebrates in the cylinder of life.  

That’s how I do it. I get up and write what’s on my mind. But oddly, not today. I think that’s because I had my nose pressed against the aquarian barrel to the point of seeing all those fish scurrying about like a school trying to avoid the mega predator heading towards them.
Yes, there’s literally that much wrong in our country today. And yes, 99 percent of the things outside our control are brought to us by government.  

That’s a topic too big to address with a few hundred words. Besides, the headline I was going to write for this column — “If this is how it is, that’s how they want it” — was summarized by Charley Reese in the Orlando Sentinel back in 1984. That column featured the headline “545 people are responsible for the mess, but they unite in a common con.” I urge you to look it up or assume it will find its way to your Facebook page over time. It did mine, which was to me like a message from God saying the topic has been covered. Actually, I’d use the number 546, because vice presidents are just as slimy as the other 545.

So I needed to focus elsewhere. Ironically, more inspiration came from Facebook. But this time with a little admonition in my REM cycle telling me to be more uplifting in the face of all the insanity and division in our world today. Rest assured. Like most things with Facebook, it begins with insanity and division. And nothing sews division and insanity on one side of the aisle like the Second Amendment. 

As many already know, I have a certain fan club in town that likes to smear me personally whenever certain topics are broached. That’s OK. It comes with the territory. But the detours some of these folks take to get to the insult can be entertaining. So let’s take a look at one. 

One of my fans made a strained comment paraphrasing how those who refuse to learn about history are doomed to repeat it, drawing a connection between New Zealand and its gun grabbing policy. 

As someone who knows history and feels inane comments should never go unchallenged, I simply had to do something. I let go of stating the fact New Zealand is not the United States and simply quipped how we should try communism again, sarcastically implying its rich history of success, especially for the forgotten man. As usual, my fan missed that connection and went straight for the personal attack. But, of course, not before entangling logic like a kitten with a ball of yarn. 

First up: New Zealand is not communist. Yes, I know and never inferred it was. 

Next up: Not all Democrats are communists. Yes, I know not ALL of them are. Victim much and say what? 

And finally, the coup de grace: I can’t believe you publish a newspaper

Well, gosh darn it, that actually made me chuckle. As did this person’s other coup attempt, which rhymed with “buck off.” 

But back to uplifting. Why yes, dear Facebook poster, I do publish a newspaper and have for nearly 22 years. And after 22 years of living in the same town where I publish, it shouldn’t be that hard to believe. That’s because publishing this paper is the easiest thing I do in my life.  

While I’ll admit the right-hand column of a given left-hand page in each edition of the Business Times can get a little dark and stormy, the rest of this publication is a tribute to the spirit and fortitude of the people of Western Colorado. It’s because most of the people in this area don’t message or talk to this paper in the manner in which some of my favorites on Facebook do to me personally. 

I’ve published for 22 years because I’m fortunate enough to employ the best storyteller in town in Phil Castle — who over the decades has brought to life in our pages the stories and successes of the people in Mesa County. Fact is, we have more people coming to us with stories than we have space for. And we do it as a newspaper should: Ask questions, write down the answers and report the facts. 

If you do those simple things, you’ll have a successful, uplifting publication. Just like the guy you don’t believe could have one does. It’s that easy.