The 2022 that was
Looking back in a different way.
Back in the day when I did monoblogue, I would take several hours putting together a year in review post, sometimes with triple-digit numbers of links. I promise you no such effort this year because (as you all know) I decided to go in a different direction this year.
But it’s interesting to go through some of the hottest topics I discussed from month to month.
January: Inflation, J6, redistricting, an Article V convention, and the wisdom of a second term for Donald Trump. I also did the first of a handful of book reviews, which was something I hadn’t done in a half-decade.
February: Political horseraces in Maryland and Delaware, the passing of my dad, the truckers’ convoy (both here and in Canada), our state’s Climate Action Plan, recreational marijuana, and more book reviews.
March: Gas pump prices, Delaware school board and special elections, energy boondoggles, fertilizer shortages, the political horserace in Maryland, the Ukraine situation, and one last book review.
April: My annual trip to Mt. Hermon Plow Days (this coming year it will be April 2), Maryland political squabbling, Sarah Palin, an Article V convention, local elections, the “perpetual emergency”, a treatise on running for office, and the difference between conservatism and populism. April was my most productive post month.
May: The local school board election, leaking at the Supreme Court, the (so-called) separation of church and state, the Uvalde shooting, and gun control in general.
June: Gun control efforts in Delaware, campaigning in Maryland, country living, and the Dobbs decision. That last subject began my Substack.
July: The concept of independence, economic doldrums, elections in November, Biden insults, political infighting, shrinkflation, and a salute to the fair.
August: Pro-life issues, the November elections, an Article V convention, inflation, the IRS, and our cultural position.
September: Biden’s statements, really making America great, party-switching, education reform, mail-in balloting, green energy, military recruiting, and Congressional reform.
October: The FBI, Maryland’s elections, legislative accountability, an Article V convention, and green energy.
November: Private property rights, small business, the “red wave,” and entitlements.
December: Overbearing government, social media, the 2024 election, development, government regulation, and grifters in politics.
For the most part, I consider 2022 a writing success. My Substack is doing reasonably well (although I could always use more subscribers) but it has allowed me to focus on a regular schedule of posts - appointment blogging, if you will - and permitted me to focus more on issues and how they affect us moreso than the candidates running for office. As we have started to learn further in this past year, it’s not so much who holds Congress or a state legislature as it is who appoints the workforce that makes state and national policy. That revelation fits in well with my longtime desire to rightsize government.
As for 2023 goals, the first hurdle I’d like to overcome is getting to 100 subscribers, preferably no later than my first anniversary in June. At that point I believe I can begin with options for value-added items for paying patrons, but I don’t see that model making sense until I have the subscriber base. If you want to help in that regard:
(The same button three times to make a point.)
I wish you all a Happy New Year, and pray it’s a better one for all of us.