This is the inaugural column of Sarah Cowgill's News From the Back Forty where she gives Liberty Nation readers a chance to hear what people are saying about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness beyond The Swamp. Be sure to look for Sarah's column each week to hear what real folks in America are talking about.
When the harvest is reaped in the rural counties across the nation and the fields left bare for winter, farmers and ranchers take a much-needed break to catch up with friends and neighbors. Such is the scene in Fountain County, Indiana. The weather is crisp and the foliage is breathtakingly autumn with bursts of magenta, copper, and maize.
The Liars Roundtable was part of my Voices of the Heartland series last summer, and it was time to check back with the octogenarians who laid claim to both the moniker and the single round table in the dining room of the Crossroads Family Restaurant. It was late afternoon in the small town of Attica, and the sky was a dull, sunless gray, but the cheerful countenance that greeted me by name never disappoints.
The Octogenarians Big 3
The roundtable was at capacity. The same retired bunch was present, but there were a few shiny new faces. They all had coffee and acknowledged this newcomer with a wave. Reintroductions and refills made, I asked if they wanted to talk politics. There were groans all around followed by chuckles, and one of the newbies quipped “check please!” But all were ready to lament the woes of the day.
After much discussion, the Roundtable ranked their top issues facing America today:
Gridlock in DC
Travel ban – or lack thereof
North Korea
When asked about The Swamp, and the impression they have of the last several months, a collective headshaking broke out, and a few derisive comments were mumbled. I swear I heard someone mutter, "Trump needs a yuuuge plunger.” And no one was happy that the Republicans won’t play nice with their president. As Don opined, “It’s a sad day when Trump can cut a deal with the Democrats while his own Party does nothing.” And then everyone agreed that term limits must be pushed through, although no one believed it could happen.
Then there’s Mike, who calls every woman in sight “Honey.” He jumped right in: “Who are these crazy Democrats that seem to take over the news hour? The woman can’t pronounce a damn thing and the one always in a silly rodeo hat…what is that Party thinking by letting them talk? Good Lord!”
That conversation soon went into the ditch, which is where it was left.
With a bit of guidance, the roundtable focused on the recent terror attack in Manhattan and the program that allowed the suspect into the country. Don, who was not a fan of President Trump last August, begrudgingly commended number 45’s tenacity and unwavering mindset on locking down would-be terrorists with a restrictive travel ban and vetting process. One of the new guys, Jerry, agreed and said, “these are not lone wolf attacks. Someone is telling these terrorists when and where to attack. This country needs to wake up.”
Easy as Herding Cats
I slid in the question, "How would you handle North Korea?” Everyone began talking at once. One of the younger newbies (who was probably in his late 60s) wondered why our military hadn't already eliminated the dictator. "We can erase the guy before he can do any damage to the rest of the world. What's with this diplomatic nonsense? It hasn't worked in 30 years; it won't work now. Just get it done." Maybe the CIA and the newbie should exchange cell numbers.
As talk of the nation's political woes wound down, and the table fell silent (for just a minute), Don inquired if I wanted to ask any other hot-button questions. (Have they met me?) Of course, I could not resist and queried, "So, what about all the news coming out of Hollywood?" Well, my ears were blistered by their brash and descriptive comments—none of which made this article—and once again, we were fresh into the ditch, waiting for a tow. That's when Mike patted my arm and said, "Honey, about those deviants in Hollywood, someone should remind them God is not mocked: ‘for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ That don’t bode well for them Hollywood boys.”
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