Listen Up with Host Al Neely
Hi, I'm Al Neely. I've spent most of my life asking, " Why do people behave a certain way? Why don't people understand that most everyone wants basically the same thing? Most everyone wants their fundamental need for peace of mind, nourishment, shelter and safety."
What I have learned is that because of an unwillingness to open one's mind to see that some of the people you come in contact with may have those same desires as you do. We prejudge, isolate ourselves, and can be hesitant to interact, and sometimes we can be belligerent towards one another. This is caused by learned behavior that may have repeated itself for generations in our families.
What I hope to do with this podcast is to introduce as many people with as many various cultures, backgrounds, and practices as possible. The thought is that I can help to bring different perspectives by discussing various views from my guests that are willing to talk about their personal experiences.
Hopefully we all will learn something new. We may even learn that most of us share the same desire for our fundamental needs. We may just simply try to obtain it differently.
Sit back, learn, and enjoy!
Listen Up with Host Al Neely
What Happens When Leaders Fall in Love with Money Instead of People?
When politicians fall in love with money instead of people, what happens to the dreams and aspirations of ordinary citizens? Merle Rutledge Jr., a Norfolk State University graduate and former gubernatorial candidate for Virginia, joins us to share his vision for a political system that prioritizes people over partisanship.
Rutledge doesn't mince words about what he sees as the fundamental problem in today's political landscape: leaders who are more concerned with fundraising and special interests than addressing the struggles of everyday Virginians. "I can't talk to politicians that no longer speak to me unless I pay $1,000 for a plate," he observes, highlighting the growing disconnect between elected officials and their constituents.
With refreshing candor, Rutledge outlines his innovative solutions to revitalize Virginia's economy and communities. His "Family Business Act" aims to cut red tape for home-based entrepreneurs and create pathways for talented young people—especially in underserved communities—to build wealth through business ownership rather than being forced exclusively into traditional educational routes. He passionately argues that academically gifted students who receive substantial scholarships should have the option to invest in their own businesses, potentially becoming "millionaires on the day of graduation."
Most boldly, Rutledge proposes eliminating state and local taxes entirely by tapping into Virginia's natural resources, expanding its ports to create thousands of jobs, and establishing more direct supply chains to reduce consumer costs. "We have so many different sources of revenue that don't have to come off the taxpayers' back," he explains, positioning himself as a champion for working-class Virginians struggling with inflation and stagnant wages.
Whether you lean left, right, or somewhere in between, Rutledge's message challenges listeners to look beyond party affiliations and consider which candidates actually address the economic realities facing ordinary families. Follow Rutledge's continuing political journey as he runs a write-in campaign offering Virginians an alternative to what he calls "legacy politicians" from both major parties.
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Hello everyone, welcome to Listen Up. I'm Al Neely and today we have Moral Travis Rutledge Jr. Moral is he was running for the governor of Virginia. Was this recent time that you were running? Was this the second? This is the second run. Okay, the second run. Okay, I know everything I was seeing was, uh, um, from back during the pandemic up through now, but anyway, uh, merle is um, an NSU graduate. Um, you know the whole, the behold, the green and the gold, my alma mater, okay, norfolk State. So, merle, you were a political science major, right? So let's talk a little bit about your motivation for running for governor. What was the reason we're just going to talk? Okay, I was telling you before. Everything that I've seen is that you were campaigning, so a lot of it was. You know, you get in that mindset about campaigning, but what I want to do is I just want to talk to you about you, your thoughts and what was going on, so we can get an idea who Merle Rutledge is. So what was your motivation for running for governor?
Speaker 2:My motivation was seeing past governors that had the opportunity for change and decided not to do anything with it because they was too busy being political compared to speaking for the ordinary Virginian or American. When people run for office, I used to have the expectation that they fell in love with money more than they did people, and now my expectation is correct when it comes down to them. And now they need to see somebody who's going to be in love with people over money. That was Dr Martin Luther King Jr's dream.
Speaker 1:I understand I feel the same way about people too. So let's talk a little bit about your time at Norfolk State. You kind of bring everybody forward with things. You were there and you founded the Delta Phi, Delta Psi fraternity that chapter of course. I'm sorry it's starting to kick up again. Of course that fraternity has been around for a while. Yeah, but there was not really a chapter in Norfolk state, so how did you help get started with that?
Speaker 2:Well, there was some brothers that came up from New York and I'd never been that go along to get along type of person, right, and when they talked to me it related to me so much about the lot of what you put into the lives of others come back into your own Right. And for me, I always worked with the youth and I always have been working with students, so I wanted to be the example of that motto. So that motto really took over and made me want to take it to another level. Gotcha, I see, want to take it to another level.
Speaker 1:Gotcha, I see You've worked with Delegate Kenneth Alexander. Well, he's the mayor now, but he was a delegate and you helped introduce some legislation.
Speaker 2:Yes, Criminal justice reform. At a time frame where crime was spiking, it was a lot of ideas that he felt that Virginia could benefit from, especially for the youth, especially dealing with the uptick in crime as far as murders and, of course, this crime in general. Making sure the youth had alternatives other than just feeling like the streets was the only thing that they can do. If I can make it to Norfolk State University just like any other youth, sometimes people just need to know that the door is open.
Speaker 1:OK, so tell us about your background, where you came from.
Speaker 2:I came from Ashley Irvington, new Jersey. I was born in Portsmouth.
Speaker 1:Virginia.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, so I'm originally from this area. I guess that's why it took hold of me. You sometimes don't forget where you're born, even as you're.
Speaker 1:I see. So obviously, if anybody follows you, or Facebook, IG or anything else, or if they see any of your social media, they know that you are a Republican. Yeah Right.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:I thought it was interesting when we were talking about, when you were talking about running with helping delegate Kenneth Alexander, because he is a Democrat, so you have no issues working across party lines and things like that.
Speaker 2:Absolutely not. I love working with people that's trying to get something done and accomplished. I don't think I could work with people that's screaming at each other or having catfights.
Speaker 1:So when it came down to killing the fat Alexander, I didn't care who introduced legislation, as long as they was about committing to action and not just about all talk Right. So what y'all focused on primarily was was it programs for youth?
Speaker 2:Yes, it was more so to scare troubled kids back to becoming straight and on the narrow. How effective was it? The legislation never even made it through because the Senate or whatever, killed the bill after it was introduced. Oh really, yes, and I'm like, if you have an alternative answer, then come with it, but you don't. It just says, basically, people are playing politics with people's lives and right now, I don't think the youth need anybody playing any more politics with their lives. I don't think the youth need anybody playing any more politics with their lives. They need somebody who's going to show that they love them and also give them hope at the time frame where they feel like the world has turned their back on.
Speaker 1:OK, yeah, I feel like that. So more than more than a third of people notice on the national election, it kind of set it out. I think people are starting to feel a little disenfranchised about our political system.
Speaker 2:That's because people are talking around the issues. Everybody knows they're struggling to get by day to day, so they want to hear somebody who's discussing that and they know that they don't feel as safe as they used to. Nobody feels as safe as they used to. Nobody feels as safe as they used to going to the grocery store or going anywhere, because they feel like what the world has showed them is that they are under attack. And what I'm trying to do is show a new vision that we don't have to feel like we are under attack. We can still have the same relationships that we had before the pandemic. They just need leadership that's going to embrace that. If you can't embrace that, all we're going to do is have more chaos, and chaos always has pattern.
Speaker 1:When leaders are weak, you see a society. You were an equal opportunity attacker or heckler. You were going after the existing administration in Virginia, administration in Virginia, and then you do a little fire and shade at their competition as well. So your thoughts on what's actually taking place in Virginia, you feel like what?
Speaker 2:could be done better. Well, truth is not an attack. Criticism never used to be attacked for real leaders, because they used to embrace different ideas and different solutions. Now they censor anything that they don't like. That's not a leader.
Speaker 2:At that time period, when I sit in the room, I don't care if you're Democrat or Republican, I just want people to come up with answers and talk civilly. I can't have somebody come in the room cussing me out and yelling at me all day and expect the answer to come from that. A real leader knows to shut that down and say it's time to get serious. It's time for us to act like adults. It seems like we have lost sight from these leaders of today about how we actually negotiate and get things done. Everybody's more worried about what somebody's doing nationally, what Biden is doing, what Trump is doing. I'm worried more about what Youngkin is doing, what Sears is doing and what Rutledge is doing for people today. People are too busy trying to be copycats and that's what people are tired of. They need originality and authenticity and moving forward. Do you see that they?
Speaker 1:repeat themselves. I can turn to different periods in history the 1830s, the 1850s and you pretty much see the players are different. And you pretty much see the players are different but you pretty much see the same tactics and the disenfranchise of, you know, the population. But do you see that? I see it all the time when I look at it, because one of the things we both went to state you were a political science major and I was history so I tend to look at those things well, riots is the voice of the unheard.
Speaker 2:So what we are facing right now is the riot, whether somebody is you're assaulting somebody or not. Yes, all these political players feel like they got an answer to somebody instead of speak for themselves. That's why people find them as strangers, not as allies or neighbors or friends. That's what it used to be, gotcha.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, um, I want to talk a little bit about some of the things that help shape you in your direction. Um, one of the things that helped shape you in your direction One of the things you brought up was that you were a recipient of the NAACP college scholarship. Talk about that. I mean, that's something that's based on merit, and so how did that come about for you?
Speaker 2:My mother was always active member of the NAACP. Okay, do I agree with everything any group does? No, but I hope that that group can understand and at least consider my viewpoints, or any other group consider my viewpoints. I was very thankful and appreciative and blessed to have that scholarship to make it into Norfolk State, because it did help me, but also at the same time frame I earned it. I didn't say, oh, some kind of policy did it for me, I did it. And I wanted to make sure others know that they can achieve it too and they don't have to feel like the color of their skin is going to be used against them compared to the content of their character, which makes them complete Got you.
Speaker 1:So I want to talk about something you just said. You just said the color of their skin is used against them. Can you elaborate? What do you think? Where are you seeing that and how are you seeing it play out?
Speaker 2:hour. I'm seeing it basically coming at the disadvantage of you, because they feel like when politicians talk about Black people or other subsets or minorities, they always say disproportionate or they say that this hurts this community. There's a difference between getting political points and the facts. We have had success in our culture through the hardest of times. We didn't cry about it, we didn't make excuses, we didn't blame others, because how we grew up was responsibility and accountability. When we have more of that, we're going to have a better society that focuses on merit, not focus on other reasons. That excludes or takes away from what we achieve as a society or as an individual. Oh, do you think?
Speaker 1:Do you think that the playing field has always been level, or even what would be a solution or an approach for coming out of a situation where it's not level? Give me an idea. I know it's not fair Life isn't fair but how do you make the adjustments to come from some place where there's not a level playing field to reach a level where you can accomplish things? What's your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:sometimes you gotta break the rules and make a name for yourself. Nobody remembers somebody who doesn't make their name or what they do echo, yeah, and that changes the level of the playing field when people know that it's okay to compete, it's okay to challenge yourself, it's okay to put up roads, blocks and obstacles, as long as you know that your goal is to focus on overcoming and perseverance. If we taught our kids to give up the second, that they feel like something doesn't go their way and that's the problem with society right now it's too convenient how we used to grow up back in the day. A lot of that is the reason why we are a success today, or why we are able to challenge the status quo or have a platform or a policy to go up against that. Right now, there's no such thing as a level playing field because we don't know the cards that we are going to get.
Speaker 2:What we do know, what do you do with those cards? When you have them, you got to play them out just like anybody else and at the same time frame. It's about keeping positive people. That's going to make sure that you stay on track and you continue to be a success, and that's what we used to have. We used to have elders that always kept, even in our trouble, or those making mistakes. We always had that backbone that kept saying you can continue to make it. Don't let that stop you, don't let this go ahead and get you worried or bothered. That's why religion took so much of a place in so many people's lives because they had that extra guidance.
Speaker 1:Gotcha, one of the things that you worked with the police department to help promote positive road models for the community, the police department to help promote positive road models for the community.
Speaker 2:That is true, right? Yes, I didn't always get along with the police department.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, okay, but anyway, this is what I've run into and I'm a little bit different. So I always knew what I wanted to do. And what I always wanted to do was I wanted to always be a business person. But here was my challenges outside of just seeing my uncles who had was a butcher, or my uncle that was a barber, or my uncle that was a pastor of a church, or was exposed to people that were executive level, corporate level, executive level business people, because they weren't being taught this wasn't being taught. Um, there was I didn't figure out until later that to were people that were in um, in the news on a regular basis, right, which. Those people I try to learn about, research and emulate because I wanted to get myself to a different level. But as I got older and I learned, those people didn't have a whole lot in common with me. So I'm saying all of this to say. So I'm saying all of this to say.
Speaker 1:I think perhaps, maybe some of the issues that I've been recently experiencing with men in the community, young black men in the community, is what they're exposed to, what they want to accomplish. There's not a clearly defined guideline. Now they're searching, they're constantly searching for it. But what they come up with is what's in the media, which they try to make it fit for them. But from a social standpoint, from a political standpoint and from an ideology and cultural standpoint, it doesn for them. But from a social standpoint, from a political standpoint and from an ideology and cultural standpoint, it doesn't fit.
Speaker 1:And that's where I feel like our issues come from with elevating young black men to a different level. So I would like to, I would just just I'm just saying this, but I would know where you were, you were going that we have to get to that level. I think it's upon us to be able to do that. But one of the things you're correct on is where we are in society with politics. It's money, power, proximity to money and power. I think those things kind of dominate the political scene right now. But I said all that I didn't mean to take over your interview here, but I said all of that because those are the issues that I'm seeing with young black men in the community and what they're seeing is, you know, a lot of stuff is just dead ends. The violence, the gangs, the you know, the drugs Go ahead.
Speaker 2:What are you about to say? And that's why I'm trying to change things. I have a Family Business Act that directly goes into the community, that directly encourages entrepreneurship and says that we will level the playing field so you don't see gang members or drug dealers as the only thing our kids look up to. That's ridiculous. Most of these communities are worried about the financial cost of putting businesses in their community. If we cut out a lot of this red tape, even those who are salon owners, business or office, they can budget better because they was able to budget from home on exactly how much it costs to go ahead and move forward. Is this?
Speaker 1:program called.
Speaker 2:It's called the Family Business Act. I created it directly Out of your mind. Okay, go ahead. Yes, it's out of my platform and it's for all communities what we're basically saying. We want the talents and the gifts the positive ones to be radiated throughout the community.
Speaker 2:Imagine if there was a gang member or drug dealer who says now I got to protect these businesses, Not like the mob, but basically saying this is, of course, the income that comes into my area. This is, of course, keeping you safe, and I don't have to look at drugs or the gang activity as my number one thing. It's like the media. If the media shows black people or any race in a bad light all the time, it's going to, of course, make others feel like this is the way for us to survive. I don't want our youth to feel like this is the only way to survive because I love them too much.
Speaker 2:And the other thing I would like to do to add on is generational wealth.
Speaker 2:We have so many bright kids who are scholars, who are getting hundreds of thousands of dollars and millions and feel like they have to put it into the college complex compared to putting it into their own business or making the choices for themselves.
Speaker 2:We are seeing student athletes that come in and still perpetuating the same thing, Unless you're a football star or a basketball star. This is the only way to be successful. We have so many scholars that are out there that can't use this money and they go to college and they're struggling, and during that time frame that's as frustrating as it comes for somebody to say, oh, you made straight A's, but this athlete got millions of dollars, but you, on the other hand, got millions of dollars of scholarships, but we are forcing you to go to school Instead. You may just be better at being an entrepreneur or being a business leader and you have the capital. We just got to stop forcing people and telling people this is what you have to do with your money. If you are able to make straight A's, I'm pretty sure you are able to run your own business, and then that takes family on family out the community.
Speaker 1:Big time drug dealer, you could be a CEO right.
Speaker 2:Yes, definitely. Now I call that the pharmacist and big pharma right now. Yeah, I'm sorry, I mean Kachoff, keep going.
Speaker 2:Yes, because right now we paying all this money for insulin, we paying all this money for certain things and we're not giving our leaders and our talent the chance to compete in the market. I'm all about a free market enterprise, but I'm also about the fact that we do need more new money into the economy, and I believe this way will also encourage our youth to say you know what, if I keep making straight A's, I can be a millionaire on high school, I mean, on my date of graduation. That's what the gang members and drug dealers going to be doing. They're going to be protecting those smart kids like oh, don't touch him. You know, this person is about to be a millionaire, this person's about to come up.
Speaker 2:And we know the reason why people get into drugs and gangs because they got the illusion that this is a way to make a lot of money or this is a fast way out. The thing is, we have to be patient and humble and make sure that we are promoting things that's going to have the longevity of our community and our family bonds, and that's exactly how we keep motivating society not to hurt each other, but to say let's keep uplifting each other and let's move to the top of this mountain that we've been looking to be on from the start, and we need to show them that there is a way to that mountaintop Gotcha.
Speaker 1:While we're on business, one of the things that you were running doing was on your platform. I need you to explain this to me. It was expansion of the Virginia ports yes, so talk about that and how that would work and how that would bring revenue in.
Speaker 2:That's going to bring thousands, if not millions, of jobs. What I have learned Even now yes, yes, absolutely. When we expand the ports, we're going to end up becoming the diverse how do we expand the ports? That's through executive order and also, at the same time, frames. That's the part of being a good leader. You got to be a good negotiator and make sure people know what the vision is, just like any kind of business plan. You don't give out a loan to somebody who doesn't have a business plan. And me, on the other hand, my business plan has been on the Department of Defense website and more and has been vetted.
Speaker 2:Nobody can dispute what I'm saying is not going to work. The thing is people are not motivated to do anything because they are playing politics compared to real leaders. Showing that this vision can help all of Virginia. If we become the direct source and we get all goods and services through our ports, that's going to bring down costs here in Virginia because we are direct. When we keep having these middlemen where they go out to California or Baltimore, maryland, wherever we are taking in those calls, whether the truckers have to bring that stuff into Virginia or not, we have every kind of ability to add jobs to the ports, and also for the longshoremen and the rest. They will love this type of situation because it keeps us working.
Speaker 2:We don't have to worry about this automated system, because, guess what? We're going to need more human labor, and that's what they are trying to do Replace us instead of making sure that we have long-term security and future, and I don't believe in us being part of the depopulation and replacement plan. I believe that we are the first and the priority, because we have to look out for ourselves. If we don't, we're going to have everything looking around us, and that's what these politicians do during this time period. They look around us, they don't talk to us, and that's the problem. This will force the issue when people see their prices going down because they're like oh, we're getting eggs or we're getting our food or our resources right here. That brings down costs for the truckers because they don't have to travel that far, and we can bring those costs and bring down costs in other states as well. The thing is, we need people who's going to be more committed to action than just talking about it.
Speaker 1:Okay. So some of the things you were just talking about, I believe they go hand in hand. You were talking about corporations using artificial intelligence or your robots or whatever, to cut their labor costs so that they can earn more. Well, I think that's part of what's wrong with our political system. So these companies, they fund a lot of the politicians to vote a particular way, particular way. I think that may be, in itself, one of the largest issues that are faced that cause people to lack with jobs, employment and representation, like you said, looking past you. So I think that's a very good idea. I don't know, I can't imagine how it works, I don't know how, all of it, the ideology of who you would have bringing stuff in, but I would be suspicious if you have companies funding politicians in their campaign.
Speaker 2:So that's that's a common problem, because now when you watch the news, they don't talk about this person's policy or this platform that's going to help people. They just talk about oh, this person raised $10 million, this person raised $3 million. What does that have to do with me or you? We are looking at how can we keep more money in our pocket, because we know we have to provide for our families, and the problem is they feel like, most of the time, these big time politicians. That has all of this money is exactly the example of what success and leadership is.
Speaker 2:Right now, my check don't look good, just like the next person. My job isn't secure, just like the next person. That's because their priorities is on these businesses, and these businesses are looking at this same long-term future. They're saying, basically, what can I do to stay open? And right now, if we look around all of Virginia, we see businesses closing left and right, and it's always the mom and pop shops. It's always the kind of businesses that we normally look for for success. We just can't survive in this type of market. What's unsustainable is unsustainable, no matter who makes the vision to look like this is going to be a great picture, or our 40 acres, or whatever you call it, in the picket fence. We won't have that because nobody's going be able to afford it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, that that is definitely true, no doubt about it. You worked with sorry my voice you work with low income communities. I think we touched on most of it, but what issues did you see?
Speaker 2:Taking place in those communities. I see the anger. I see the ordinary worker who used to believe in retirement and they don't see it anymore. They see that I'm going to be working until I'm 80 or 90, full of debt and full of what you call the worst of the worst. Right now I'm trying to say this is our way out.
Speaker 2:I can't talk to politicians that no longer speak to me or no longer wants me in the room unless I pay $1,000 for a plate. As far as I'm concerned, I need food on my plate, just like every other family out there, and that's why I'm more focused on that. That's why I even have a policy of bringing down energy prices and gas prices and making us energy independent and giving out gas dividends, which is royalties for us being able to use our own resources and minerals in order for us to definitely have wealth. And not only that. But you want something that will continue to be there when something gets cut off or your job gets cut off. That's a source of income getting cut off.
Speaker 2:We make things too complicated. It's really simple as looking at one if you're paying too much in taxes and these politicians are getting paid millions by these companies and you've seen your check get lower and lower and lower. We have to start looking at the reality. Me, I want no more state or local taxes. That's why my revenue plan, or this $1 trillion economy that people talk about, or this 26 cent gas.
Speaker 2:The reason is it's like being surrounded by water but the politicians and their businesses says you can't drink none until we give you permission. That's what bothers them about me. I'm saying, hey, we're going to go after this water and we're going to put it to use for our community and for our great Commonwealth of Virginia. As far as this concern, we shouldn't have to go overseas for every single thing and we've taken on all of those costs. When we got direct source here in Virginia, people don't realize we had the lowest oil output in the last four years ever imaginable. Why are we complaining about high gas prices if we are not even using the gas that we already have? That's the same as somebody keeping the lights on and complaining about the fact that their electricity bill is too high.
Speaker 1:Gotcha, I see, I see your point. So obviously, the Republican gubernatorial candidate and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, they have been selected for each one of their parties. But what do you do? What do you do? Where do you go from here?
Speaker 2:You take them both on. That's the difference between me dealing with Democrat and the Republican. I don't believe in either one of them, and when my bills or my taxes are still increasing, I don't care too much else about you. That's most ordinary Americans right now. They are like give us a direct answer on how you're going to make our lives better. I could tell people hey, look at your paycheck. If I take out your state taxes and your local taxes, how much more money do you end up having? Hundreds and hundreds of more dollars. I'm not here to pay $11,000 plus per year just because I want to see some celebrity be governor instead of be a leader.
Speaker 2:And at this time frame, I'm not waiting for Trump to be governor of Virginia. That's Yunkin and Winston Sears and Spanberger. They want somebody who's going to lead and know and recognize. Who are they leading? I'm here to lead Virginians out of inflation. I'm here to make sure we don't have to deal with the taxes that we used to have to deal with and those increases. If all that your local and state government can do is increase taxes and say, hey, we got three or four billion dollars surplus, that means you've been taxing people way too much and it says that you really haven't been doing your job.
Speaker 2:It seems like the priorities of these leaders is to tax citizens first, instead of find money elsewhere, from other sources, and that's my focus. That's why I said we got oil and gas here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we have Appalachian Basin and we have the continental shelf. We have so many different sources of revenue that doesn't have to come off the taxpayers back, and that's what I'm doing. That's what bothers them, because they're saying, hey, all we know is they increase taxes. All I know is to basically find ways to make sure no more taxes continue to hurt Virginians that are continuing to struggle, and they're going to struggle into the grave unless they wake up from the reality of. Is this person going to help me or is this person? For the last four years has shown no result.
Speaker 1:Gotcha, those are big political machines you're trying to take on. Yes, so it's very easy to quiet somebody like you.
Speaker 2:But that's the problem. If they was able to quiet me like the way that they want to, why are they still sending their people after me? That's because their consultants and their firms are saying he's a problem, and I hope they find me as a problem because I don't have to go back and forth and do this negative campaigning. All I got to do is speak the truth and continue to present a plan that people feel. I'm not here to be the rabbit and the tortoise. I'm here to actually be the most patient and humble that recognize solutions is above people who are only about money.
Speaker 2:If the only thing you can tell me you raised $10 million, that means you made your life better at my expense. So show me how you can make my life better without you having to say you raised $10 million. In notice, they keep saying you or me. They are worshiping themselves more than spending time protecting and serving the people and in the long history of this country, people who have fell in love with money have fell in love with also having a huge downfall. The reason is what happens when money runs out of any king or anybody who always pays for the party. The people leave after the money runs out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that in fact, is true. So I've been holding it together here. So what I want to say is, while we're ending, if you've got an opportunity to look at any of Merle's stuff, I appreciate him coming in because in some cases Merle can be fantastic and a lightning rod for when he's when he's campaigning and talking about things. So I just wanted to give you the opportunity for people to understand, talk to you and see who you are and what your. Give you the opportunity for people to understand. Talk to you and see who you are and what your your stances are on things, and I appreciate you coming in and talking with us. And what's what's next? Talk, talk about what's next.
Speaker 2:What's next is we are doing a write in campaign so people have opportunity not to deal with legacy politicians that are endorsed by a party and never received one vote by one person. At this point we have to decide what our future is going to be. Do we want really to continue to struggle and deal with the last four years as it's been presented? No need to worry about distractions or what the media tells you. Your paycheck and your life and your struggles is the reality. So at this time period, you want to look at your paycheck and look at other options. As far as in leadership, you need to start paying attention and put more focus into yourself and saying how am I going to do better If you don't start doing that? After a while?
Speaker 2:You are paying for a party that nobody's going to continue to be at when your money runs out, and right now you have a candidate that is here not trying to increase your taxes or put more struggle on your back and just walk around acting like it doesn't bother them. Those millionaires and those billionaires don't share your problems. The thing is, most Americans that's around you share your problems and going through the same thing. So spend more time talking to each other and working things out instead of worrying about somebody being Democrat or Republican, because right now both sides is getting screwed and my job is to make sure you continue to get the truth. And I'm not worried about being attacked. I've been attacked before. My thing is I'm worried about you and I got to continue to worry about you and, like I said, I'm the leader that loves people over money.
Speaker 1:All right. Well, there you have it. That's a wrap. So thanks for coming in, merle, and talking with us, and we'll catch you next time on Listen Up. All right, thank you, bye-bye.
