Losing so called friends over Donnie Rotten
I had a friend who was my friend for sixty years. He was more a brother than a friend. We were particularly close in the late 60's standing up for social justice and against the Vietnam War.
To get out of the draft he joined the Coast Guard, while I went to state college. I think the seeds for where we are now began with the divergent paths we chose then. Still, he was moderately conservative while I continued down my progressive world view.
In the past few years he has become more and more radical embracing crazy conspiracy theories and Donnie. When I asked him what happened to his democratic ideals he said one word, "Taxes". I asked him to expound and he said when he went in business for himself as a plumber he started to make really good money and then his quarterly taxes came due and it set him off. He stated I was paying all this money and getting nothing for it! It was then that I reminded him that he became a plumber because the trade school he attended was paid for under the GI bill, I also reminded him that his first home was a Farmers Home mortgage where he did not have to put any money down and it was partially guaranteed by the USDA and I finished by telling him that the roads and bridges he used to get to his customers were financed with taxes.
He voted for Trump three times and now, my wife and I are planning an escape to Canada and feel we very well might be forced to leave our country and our home. I am angry about this possibility and I blame people like my former friend for this.
The last conversation we had I told him that unless they're stopped there will come a time when I and millions of other Americans will be forced out, put in prison or worse because of people like him. He had a blank empty look on his face and that was the last time I saw him.
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Unfortunately thanks to Fox News and TFG, it has been programmed out of so many of our friends and family.
While things are never perfect, I cherish everything our government has given and created. From the humble sidewalk to the monthly social security payment to the great works of art and science we have funded. We are better when we pool our resources together in Democracy. 
which are all hard work that pays off for one and for others.
Too bad about the Coast Guard. Many of us who enlisted were college grads in bell-bottoms and chambrays, eager to do something good in a time of immense brutality and suffering. and "more gore at 11"
And we never stopped doing good. I never rescued anyone. Never threw a line or a life buoy. Later on, as a civilian, I spotted flickering in a neighbor's home that turned out to be an electrical fire in their detached garage. I probably saved their home and lives by being alert.
One of the steps in the Noble Path is good intention. It really is vital, when people are told that their friends and neighbors have "bad intentions" (a hallucination planted in their minds for the benefit of demagogues) and to fire bad intentions (and bad actions) against them.
Only a few profit from the downward spiral. It works. Until it all collapses.
"Short term pain for long term gain". Trust me.
Hate always takes a toll.
Demagogues collect that toll.
Did anybody ask him how much EACH golf trip EVERY weekend was costing America?
No - of course not - THAT'S different!
He, and those that think like that - are all IDIOTS!!!!!!
Oh, and don't even get me started on the 'parade!!!!' 
brother in law started a business when the tax rate was 90%. Of course they were disturbed and sought a solution, which they found. They started a pension fund for their delighted employees and reduced their tax rate to 30%...everybody was happy!
I'm so sorry to hear about what's happened with your friend. I hope you and your family are able to settle into an environment where you feel safe.
