…crazy, violent and stupid.
Because I realize that’s what I’ve been doing, trying to back up my optimism with hard facts.
As you’ve observed, I rely a great deal on Harper’s Index, Findings and Weekly Review for numbers. So here are some from Harper’s June Index. (I’m not going to explain why I feel encouraged. It’s down to you to figure it out. I know you’re up to the task.)
Percentage of Americans who strongly consider themselves vigilantes: 20
Percentage in the number of doomsday bunkers purchased in Texas since Russia invaded Ukraine: 1,100.
Note: Texas doesn’t really count, especially since Harper’s isn’t offering numbers for the rest of America. We need to think of Texas as sort of America’s largest psychiatric facility.
Percentage of the U.S. population that owns a gun, according to the average American’s estimate: 54
That actually owns a gun: 32
Note: Half of them indubitably live in Texas.