Mourning In America

Yeah, Emperor Ron’s ad agency meant it as “*morning* in America.” But I like my way better.

Austin, Texas, 11/6/24, 2:11 PM CDT: The day after Cheetoh’s bloodless coup, I did pretty much what I do every day. I woke, maybe about 9AM. I lay in bed awhile, flipping through screens. I saw all my friends hurting, on social media and here at The ‘Stack. I saw people playing the blame game, declaring the election was rigged, making me think, “Where have I heard this before?” And also leading me to believe they didn’t read yesterday’s ‘Stack post. C’mon, people! I worked as a pollster up until last Saturday! I saw how things were trending!

Then I got up, made breakfast tacos, brewed good, strong coffee, and turned on the FireStick TV, for a couple of hours.

Basically, I did all I can do now. I got on with my life, and settled into my daily routine. Which includes writing these words.

No, the Apocalypse hasn’t happened. Yet. There was this famous TV ad for Reagan’s 1984 re-election bid, which declared “It’s morning again in America.” Reagan’s ad painted a rosy picture of America on the rise, aiming to inspire confidence and optimism—but for many, it was a polished illusion that ignored the struggles beneath the surface. This feels more like mourning in America. “Morning” is supposed to mean a fresh start, a clean slate, maybe even hope. But right now, “mourning” feels more fitting—a time to grieve for what's slipping away, and for what America is becoming. It’s a new day, all right, but not the one we’d hoped for.

Yeah, mourn for damage to democracy. Mourn for the harm coming to women and people of color. Mourn for the erosion of trust in science and education. Mourn for what’s about to happen to the environment and the climate. Mourn for the permanent destruction of civility in America, and the enshrinement of every -ism there is – racism, sexism on down the line.

Yet dwelling on all this loss alone isn’t enough. Please stop looking for who to blame! Blame doesn’t change things—it distracts from where we go from here. They want us at each other’s throats! This is the time to unify. Don’t you remember the meme I created during the last Trump presidency? It’s gone around the world!

If you want sober analysis of What Went Wrong, you could do worse than look over this edition of The Hill. Or read Friend Of The ‘Stack Jesse Dayton’s Facebook post, for which he tells me he’s getting some blowback. (“But that’s to be expected.”) 

Also, remember my advice from yesterday – get active: “Real change often starts closer to home. Support local organizations addressing issues that matter to you—housing, food security, community health, women’s health. These actions build the world we want, one neighborhood at a time, no matter who’s in the White House.”

But if you’re gonna insist on going off half-cocked, lash out at everyone, point fingers, misplace your anger at the election results on the heads of people who have nothing to do with what happened, who are on our side? Well, bless your heart!

And here’s your call to action soundtrack: Fishbone’s “Racist Piece Of Shit.” It’s received 31K views as of this writing, and proves the punk/ska protest song is alive and well, and thriving. (It also reminds me that I need to make sure to include Fishbone in my next book.) Also, it should be a clarion call to the current generation of punk bands: WE NEED PROTEST SONGS NOW! MORE THAN EVER! It’s time for the next “God Save The Queen” or “White Riot.” Kick it!

 

Mourning, Resilience, and Support for Punk Journalism

Dear Reader, thank you for making it to the end of today’s piece. As you know, I don’t hold back when it comes to calling things like I see them—even when it risks alienating some readers. Just today, five more subscribers decided to part ways, including a new paying supporter.

But here’s the other side: Bruce Brand, the brilliant drummer for Thee Headcoats and The Milkshakes, The Pop Rivets’ lead guitarist a true staple of the Medway Sound, has just upgraded to a fully paid subscription. Bruce has stood by punk/garage for decades, whether it’s through his music, his album designs, or his many collaborations with that other Friend Of The ‘Stack Billy Childish—and now, he’s lending that same support to The Tim “Napalm” Stegall Substack. As he put it in his subscription message: "Good luck and all the best for the 'future', Tim. It sounds like you need all the support you can get. Cheers, Bruce"

So here’s the ask: if today’s post, or any of the recent ones, resonate with you, if you see the value in fearless, independent punk journalism, consider subscribing or upgrading to a paid plan. Every bit of support helps bridge the gap from lost subscriptions, covering essentials so I can keep saying what needs to be said—even when it means taking some hits.

And as a thank you, I’m still running my November Subscription Special—20% off for life on new or upgraded subscriptions. Standing together in times like these isn’t just punk—it’s vital. Thank you for being here, for reading, and for supporting this work in whatever way you can.

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