Country music singer Jason Aldean is being crucified by city folks for a song, “Try That in a Small Town.” The song describes crimes that criminals usually get away with in cities.  But in small towns, “we take care of our own; you cross that line, it won’t take long for you to find out.”

The video with the song drew complaints because it includes news footage of the riots in the summer of 2020 following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, plus videos of other crimes. Oddly, an image of a Tennessee Court House featured in a Christmas movie is controversial. Critics would prefer the video feature serene views of cattle grazing, kids playing baseball, and families going to church.

Most of us from out in the country or in “small towns” relate to this song. In 2020, we watched with disgust as stores were looted, buildings and police cars were burned adding up to over $2,000,000,000 in damages in big cities. And police and average citizens were prevented from responding. (Oddly today, employees in big stores, like Lowe’s and Lululemon, get fired for trying to stop thieves.)

We were thinking, “If these hoodlums try this in our towns, in most states like West Virginia, or Oklahoma, or Wyoming, they will be stopped in their tracks.” But big cities did the opposite. Their police were verbally abused, spit on, and attacked. So, what was the result? New York City recently announced they are paying $10,000 to each of 1300 people affected by the riots. No, not 1300 officers. The money is going to 1300 rioters who were arrested during the 2020 protests.

In Washington this week, two IRS veterans testified to Congress that the Ukrainian company Burisma, was coerced to pay $10,000,000 to the Bidens, with half to Hunter and half to Joe. In return, then-VP Biden got a Ukrainian prosecutor fired. (In case you doubt that, Biden has bragged about getting the guy fired.)

To counter that damning news, and to give the mainstream media something to talk about, the Justice Dept announced that Donald Trump will go on trial next May (another trial will start in March). Georgia will probably announce another trial date, maybe around July 4, to fill in a gap before the Republican Convention. If found guilty in all 3 cases, Trump could be jailed for the next 500 years.

The people in Texas got upset with the hordes of immigrants crossing the Rio Grande River and illegally invading their towns and ranches. The state installed floating barriers in the river and a fence on the bank. The Biden Administration got frustrated that fewer illegal immigrants are making it into Texas and ordered the governor to remove all fencing and floating barriers. Their excuse for this order? Too many immigrants are drowning. Drowning?

Don’t be surprised if President Biden orders Texas to build a couple more dams to dry up sections of the river. Yes, they want a million immigrants a year to walk into the country without getting their feet wet.

Meanwhile, Mayor Adams of New York City announced the city is full of illegal immigrants and homeless people and can’t handle any more. He is imploring them to stay in Texas or go to other cities. You know, if I’m an immigrant why would I want to go to an overcrowded, crime-infested city when I could listen to Jason Aldean and settle in a small town.

In a surprise move, the President announced a reduction in federal spending. There will be no more money sent to China for “gain-of-function” research at the Wuhan Lab. Why did it take 3 years and a million deaths to make that decision?

All the writers in Hollywood went on strike May 2. Then the actors joined the strike; without writers the actors had no idea what to say. Now, I don’t blame them for striking because the “market” has changed. Young people today expect to watch everything on their phone or tablet for free. If nobody pays, that puts a crimp on the continuing payments called residuals. Viewers are eager for an agreement so they can stop watching reruns and old movies. Old timers in Hollywood will remember that up until 1960, writers and actors worked like most of us, getting paid an agreed-on amount monthly or when a project is finished.

Or they could do what Will Rogers did: “Most actors have some writer to write their material, but I don’t do that. Congress is good enough for me. They have been writing my material for years and I am not ashamed of the material I have had.” (WA #78, June 8, 1924)

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

“(To musical critic H. T. Parker) you unconsciously paid me a Bear of a compliment when you said ‘Will is a small town Actor.’ You bet your life I am small town. I am smaller than that, I am NO town at all, and listen, that is what I am going to stay is Small Town.” WA #160, Jan. 3, 1926

        “It was just a joy to see hundreds of the men that we read about all the time… for pretty near all of our big men are country or small town boys.” WA #358, Nov. 3, 1929