C: I haven’t talked to you since a few weeks before the election. How are you feeling today?
S: Great!
M: Anxious. Very anxious.
C: Let’s start with you, Mark. In the end, did you vote for Trump?
M: Yes, I held my nose and voted for him.
C: Why?
M: I convinced myself that he would cut taxes and regulations, and that all of the noise about tariffs, deportation, and retribution was just that–noise. He wouldn’t actually do any of that. He talks a lot, but his actions aren’t as bad as his words.
C: So you’re part of the large group who voted for him because you didn’t believe he would do what he said he would do?
M: You could say that.
C: So what has happened since then to make you anxious?
M: We haven’t seen his economic team, so the jury is still out, but the rest of his domestic team is a bunch of crazoids. Matt Gaetz? Really?
C: And these choices make you think he really will try to burn it down?
M: Yes. I didn’t vote to burn it down. I want to keep what I have. America has the strongest economy in the world. It just needs a little adjustment, not a bonfire.
S: Too bad, RINO. The bonfire is coming.
C: So I take it that you want Trump to burn it down. Is the Gaetz nomination proof that he will?
S: What more evidence do you need?
C: What exactly is your understanding of burning it down?
S: We need to get rid of the cultural and economic elites. We need to throw out the so-called experts and replace them with real Americans. That’s what burning it down is about.
C: And what should be built in its place? What is your end game here?
S: I’m leaving that to Trump. I trust Trump to do what’s right.
C: Let me give you an example. Every respectable economist I know of says Trump’s tariffs will result in more inflation. I assume you hate inflation.
S: Right.
C: Then why did you vote for Trump?
S: Trump says tariffs won’t cause inflation because foreigners will pay them. I trust him. I don’t trust fancy pants economists. What do they know?
C: Do you think Gaetz is a good choice for AG?
S: Absolutely! He’ll do whatever Trump tells him to. He’ll punish the bad guys who stole the 2020 election. That’s what I want.
C: So politicizing the justice system doesn’t bother you?
S: It’s already politicized. At least the good guys will have the power this time.
C: Do you agree with that, Mark?
S: It scares the crap out of me. Whatever Trump does, the Democrats may come back and use it against the right at a later date. Do we really want that? Is it worth the risk to take the checks and balances out of the system just because we have a slim momentary advantage?
C: Sebastian, I want to ask you some questions about what America should look like, but I don’t have time today. It will wait for a later date.