I love responding to comments. Part of my intention with this community is to create a space for those who like to dive into conversations regarding politics, ideas, news, and the future in a meaningful way. So I’m intentional about setting time aside to respond to as many people as I possibly can throughout my day.
Often times the replies are short and concise, but other times they’re longer and I feel like the conversation that I want to have is inadequately served in the context of a comment section. So I thought- what if for the comments that I want to expand on deeper, are shared here? That’s what this post is about.
I’m at the airport now, and I keep thinking about this comment where someone was calling me a “Trump shill” more than once because this person has left very similar comments repeatedly, which is strange because they commented letting know that they have officially unsubscribed from the channel, which is fine that is your prerogative.
This is the battleground of ideas, so let’s talk. What does this mean? Am I a, “Trump shill"?
To be precise, I looked up the definition of shill to make sure our discussion is in alignment.
So let’s start here. The 2024 election season has been a historic, headline after headline, sequence of events. And I don’t think a single person can stand on this ground and tell you that they could have predicted what happened here:
A Kennedy leaving the Democratic Party to run as an Independent
The DNC pouring tens of millions of dollars to suffocate third party campaigns (Including RFK Jr.’s)
President Biden steps down after disastrous debate along with evidence suggesting a strategic coup has taken place
Two assassination attempts on President Trumps life
Kamala Harris becomes the Democratic nominee through the single most undemocratic process that I’ve ever witnessed
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decides to suspend his campaign and endorse President Trump and be part of his efforts to get him reelected.
I remember when people were accusing me for being bought by Vanguard because I wore a Vanguard hat. So I stopped wearing the hat because of course it’s not true but it might just be easier to not wear the hat on camera than to explain to everyone who asks that I just love representing my Alma Mater, Vanguard University.
Then I remember people telling me that I must be getting paid by the Kennedy campaign because there really was no other corner of YouTube that was almost covering his campaign as much as I was. People thought there was no other explanation other than me being paid off.
Now people are accusing me of being paid by Team Trump. So let me clear the air and be perfectly clear. I have not been paid by Vanguard, Kennedy, or Trump. My opinions are my own.
Sorry, if that’s disappointing to hear.
Now let’s go to a broader question, lets make another assumption and say that you never thought I was paid by them but you’re upset with my public support of some of the things that the Trump campaign is running on.
Am I “for” Trump? Does someone need to be “for” Trump in order to have these conversations? And does this mean that I agree with everything the man has ever said or done? Absolutely not, that is not true and that will never be true for any candidate, ever. Elon Musk shares this idea well in this clip from his interview with Lex Fridman.
I remember when people asked me if I was for RFK Jr., if I was an RFK Jr. supporter. Even then I was very clear, I told them that I supported his vision and many of the policies that he was speaking to life.
So now when you ask the question if I am “for” Trump, I’ll respond in a similar way. I support much of his vision, many of his policies, which I believe he has the capacity to bring to reality.
The problem I see with “for” Trump, is people will assume that I endorse everything he’s ever done and everything he has ever said. I’m not sure that’s fair. In the same way that Kennedy said he has many skeletons in his closet, I believe every single person does. Every person carries their own burden, their own past, their own mistakes.
The tragedy becomes when someone begins to try to do good, so much of their past begins to haunt them. It’s as if someone’s past makes them somehow disqualified to do good.
Now I will say, there are some actions that will cause people to lose their right to serve in a specific way, and they should be held accountable of that. But to not believe in the practice of forgiveness and to succumb to “cancel culture” is not a future that I want to be part shaping. I believe in growth, learning, and radical life change.
There are people who will try to hold you to the worst version of yourself, and they will try to tell you that your past disqualifies you, and “You can’t do this because you’ve done that”, and I simply don’t agree. I will also add, if you’re a victim of those words, as I have been, I can tell you with full confidence that the desire to create the future, must be greater than the pain of staying the same.
Now to end this, let me say, there are people who want me to pick a side, they want me to pick either the Republican side or the Democrat side. It was nice being for Kennedy because he promoted a moderate mentality. He promoted this idea of truly working across political isles and gave a voice to the forgotten majority, which is independents who live in the grey, in the in-between.
But you want me to pick a side, you want me to tell you who I am “for”, so I will, as clearly as possible.
I am for humanity.
And I think when it comes time in November, people should be comfortable saying, “I am for this version of the future for humanity” more than they are for this specific person.
Beautifully and articulately expressed, Adam. I am genuinely sorry, however, that this crass person made you feel the need to defend yourself. It has been my experience that you go out of your way to be fair and unbiased, honest but non-judgemental, and, if anything, at times may be overly gracious to those with whom you may personally vehemently disagree. Stay true to the admirable person you are. Your smile, sense of joy, and enthusiasm for life are a breath of fresh air and sunshine in an otherwise somewhat dark and depressing time. We hope you know how much your true fans and followers love you.