Introduction to About Politics

Shin-kicking political commentary from a boomer progressive

Who's Kicking the Shins?

Hi, I'm Ken Nordquist (kenphused). I'm a white male baby boomer who grew up in the 1960s, raised by a mother who believed that treating everyone with dignity and respect is essential. Looking back, I can trace my liberal views to a documentary about poverty in Appalachia that I watched during my childhood on a small black-and-white TV.

Why another politics blog?

The stakes are too high to leave the conversation to the right-wing echo chambers, clickbait pundits, and culture-war carnival barkers. And let's be candid, these folks ain't got much going for them in the way of integrity (we'll definitely look at that in detail).

What I believe

• Solving hard problems first
  • Food, shelter, health care, and basic human rights aren't "nice-to-haves." They're the foundation on which a healthy democracy stands.
• Ending America's addiction to gun violence
  • A civilized society doesn't treat AR-15s like fashion accessories and prayers for the victims and families of gun violence.
• Practicing the Golden Rule - universally
  • That's the centerpiece of what the right now labels "woke." Guilty as charged.
• Supporting DEI and teaching real history
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion are messy in practice, but the alternative is moral stagnation. Critical race theory isn't a threat; ignorance is.
• Documenting facts, not recycling talking points
  • Every post will link to primary sources—because opinions without receipts are just vibes.

What you can expect here

• Myth-busting
  • We'll dissect right-wing narratives that promise "freedom" while delivering tax cuts for billionaires and culture-war scraps for everyone else.
• Deep dives
  • From housing policy to healthcare, we'll follow the data wherever it leads - even when that challenges left-of-center orthodoxy.
• Shin kicks - fair but firm.
  • If a right-wing plan genuinely tackles food insecurity or gun violence, I'll applaud it. If a progressive proposal ducks hard questions, I'll say so.
• Multiple mediums
  • Blog posts for nuance, a podcast for back-and-forth conversations, and videos for those who'd rather watch than read.

The bigger picture

Since the Gingrich era, I've watched gerrymandering, anti-union assaults, and corporate welfare erode the promise that a rising tide lifts all boats. Trump's rise didn't invent this rot; it merely unmasked it. Today, the biggest threats to American democracy are:

• A shrinking middle class
• The unchecked power of the ultra-rich
• Widespread apathy and disinformation

Fighting those forces requires more than slogans. It demands relentless curiosity, factual rigor, and the courage to call B.S.—even when it hurts our own team.

An invitation (and a warning)

If you care about real-world solutions - whether you call yourself progressive, conservative, or "just tired of the BS" - pull up a chair. Challenge my positions, show me the money (facts), propose better solutions.

Trolls are welcome. Just know that empty right-wing rhetoric will get the same treatment as an unguarded shin.

Let's get to work.