Come This Far with Chris Taylor
By Chris Taylor
We are all fighting daily battles, we all struggle and falter. Nobody has it easy in this life and nobody is perfect. Any portrayal to the contrary is most certainly a fabricated fantasy. The best thing we can do is learn to not compare our situation with anyone else's, to stop any judgment of another's actions because despite how much information you think you have, there is always more to the story that we can see from outside another person's mind and heart. Self-love and self-acceptance is a lifelong process that must be continuously nurtured.
Come This Far with Chris TaylorJun 28, 2021
#55 Uvalde; Another Elementary School Massacre
#54 Transform Wounds into Wisdom
Nobody is just one thing. We all have the capacity to do good and bad equally. It all comes down to the choices we make. Research suggests the average person will make 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day and at least 27 important consequential ones. That translates to perhaps millions over the course of a lifetime.
Of course we will regret many of those decisions. However, it is not the decisions we make, but what we make of those decisions once we have made them that makes all the difference in our lives. When we mess up, simply do the next right thing and the next right thing after that.
#53 Parents Charged in Michigan School Shooting
#52.1 Kyle Rittenhouse; Hero or Monster- Take 2
#52 Kyle Rittenhouse; Hero or Monster?
General George Washington's Famous Prayer at Valley Forge
#51 9.11.2001; Where Were You When The World Changed Forever?
Bonus- Life Saving Measures; 9/11 vs Covid-19
#50 If America Had Six Parties, Which Would You Belong To?
America’s two-party system is broken. Democrats and Republicans are locked in an increasingly destructive partisan struggle that has produced gridlock and stagnation on too many critical issues — most urgently, the pandemic and climate change.
There is no reasonable or timely way to fix this broken system. But there is an alternative: more parties.
It is not so hard to imagine a six-party system — and it would not even require a constitutional amendment.
Each party represents a different portion of the electorate, not only ideologically but also by economic class and political engagement.
There is no “center” party here. That is because there are very few voters in the middle across all issues. Many readers who consider themselves centrist might also think of themselves as socially liberal/fiscally moderate or socially moderate/fiscally conservative. They will find a home in either the New Liberal Party or the Growth and Opportunity Party.
These six parties reflect the underlying factions — and divides — within the Democratic and Republican parties. Until American politics nationalized in the 1980s and 1990s around divisive culture-war issues, they operated more independently within the two major political parties.
We get to such a system through proportional multimember districts. This approach features districts much larger than our current tiny congressional ones — and each elects more than one person, at once, to represent the region. So more than one party could represent a district in proportion to their popularity within that large district — just as they do in most advanced democracies.
Legislation introduced in the current Congress, the Fair Representation Act, would require use of multimember districts with ranked-choice voting in most states’ House selections as well as elections for the Senate. If more parties emerged, coalitions across parties would form to elect a speaker and organize committee assignments — just as coalitions form in multiparty legislatures around the world. Multiparty democracy would facilitate the shifting alliances and bargaining that are essential in democracy but have largely disappeared in today’s zero-sum conflict.
The Senate would most likely become a much more free-wheeling institution, as it was in the past. Absent reform to the Electoral College, presidential elections would still probably come down to two major candidates. However, with partisan loyalties less fixed, more voters would judge candidates on the content of their ideas and character rather than the D or R next to their names. Moreover, a less hyperpartisan Congress will also most likely be less gridlocked and more productive, enabling it to reclaim a more central role in our national politics, lowering the stakes of presidential elections and potentially lowering the stakes for Supreme Court nominations in a new era of reduced partisanship.
Covid Cure or Horse Dewormer?
Bonus- Taliban Underground Railroad
Bonus- Kabul Airport Suicide Bombing
#49 Why Do I Care About Your Personal Choice?
#48 Biden's remarks on Crisis in Afghanistan
#47 Deja Vu- Saigon to Kabul
Here is the hard truth:
The Bush administration faltered when they decided to pivot entirely to Iraq during the early days of operations in Afghanistan. They failed when they set the precedent of never planning forward past a 1-year strategy. That blunder would then be repeated every year for 20 years. We didn’t fight a 20-year war. We essentially fought a 1- year war 20 times in a row.
The Obama administration including General McChrystal failed when they caved to Hamid Karzai’s pressure to impose crippling rules of engagement in 2009 that tied both hands behind the backs of our forces and allowed the Taliban to strengthen just as we had our boots on their necks at the brink of their destruction.
The Trump Administration failed the second they began negotiating with the Taliban while excluding the Democratically elected government of Afghanistan from the talks. Effectively delegitimizing their lawful claim to power and significantly reducing their standing with their own citizens and the world.
The Biden Administration failed when they abruptly withdrew all forces on a predetermined date. Refusing to listen to experts that urged them to keep at least 2,500-3,000 troops as a deterrent to a hostile takeover. Don’t let any side start pointing fingers. The incompetence on display over the last 20 years is shared equally with the left and the right. The Republicans and Democrats. We learned nothing in Vietnam, we better learn something from this.
My Father suffered defeat in Vietnam, I now suffer defeat in Afghanistan. I’ll be damned if my son has to experience this anguish 30 years from now in some other faraway land.
#46 The Vaccine, Lab Leak Theory, did Dr. Fauci Lie?
#45 Critical Race Theory and the United States Military
Links:
Full Video of Gaetz/General Milley and Sec. Austin.
Full Video of General Barry McCaffrey defending General Mark Milley from disgusting Fox News attacks.
In Honor of The Phoenix Suns- Bonus episode
#44 Chosen of God or Total Fraud?
#43 “Taser, Taser, Taser; Oh $%*# I shot him.”
#42 Climate Crisis?
#41 Derek Chauvin Murder Trial/Death of George Floyd
Where Have I Been?; I am alive and well.
I just wanted to put out a little quick episode detailing where I have been the last few weeks. I am alive and well, I had been posting multiple episodes per week for a while and then disappeared. I have been busy cranking out some chapters of my book after procrastinating in classic Chris Taylor form, so I locked myself down and wrote 40,000 words in a few days! Some of the best writing I've ever done!
I also just started a new term for my bachelor's degree program, that has me busy as well. In this short segment, I detail some of the first in depth stats from my podcast audience. So many shocking truths in the numbers! Listen to this episode to hear them. I will be back with regular episodes as soon as next week! Much Love!
#40 *Exclusive* 911 Tape of Overdose
*Exclusive* Listen to the never before heard 911 tape of the near-fatal overdose incident.
Exactly 1 year ago on February 19th, 2020 at 10:15 PM, I suffered a near-fatal heroin overdose. If it wasn’t for the quick and fearless actions of my wife and the first responders on the scene, I wouldn’t be alive today.
My only motivation for releasing this recording is to show the reality of drug use. My hope is that someone hearing this will think twice before using that “last shot” of Heroin. There is no “one more time.” It’s now or never, life or death. It could all be over in the blink of an eye. It's not worth it, don’t wait until "tomorrow". Tomorrow may never come. Get help NOW if you are struggling.
Watch the Video version of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/luETIgZkNhQ
21-Day POW Challenge
Next weekend, February 20th, 2021 will be the 1-year anniversary of my relapse and overdose. I will have one year completely sober and back in recovery! Over this last year, I have experienced more personal growth, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually than ever before. There is one last mountain I need to climb; my personal physical health. I eat and drink the most unhealthy things you can imagine and I don’t drink water. Soda, Red Bull, donuts, ice cream, hot Cheeto fries, white cheddar popcorn. You name it, I eat it. I don’t just love it, I am dependent on it.
Today I am finally committing to cutting all that out for good. Over the next 21 days, I will go to the extreme of drinking only water, cutting out all sugar, and restricting food intake to very small portions of dried, lean meat. Between the hours of Noon and 7 pm. Intermittent fasting. Cold Turkey on all the comfort food and drinks I have lived on forever. When it gets tough, when I feel sorry for myself, I will summons the power of American Prisoners of War. I will think about what they endured, what they sacrificed and I will rely heavily on God and my personal relationship with him to get through. Another reason I am calling it the POW challenge is because I am literally a prisoner of these substances. I don’t want to be a prisoner, I don’t want to be powerless over anything in life. This is the last enemy I need to vanquish. Join me!
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/7I1ePx2Z2KA
#39 Black Military History is American Military History
#38 QAnon; How You May Be an Unwitting Follower
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: youtu.be/r9AI2_3OB2I
#37 Black History is American History
One month out of the year is hardly enough to celebrate all of the uniquely American tales of heroism, courage, perseverance and survival among Black Americans. Their history is rich with many of these endearing qualities. Endless inspirational stories exist, in this episode I recite just a few of my favorites. From John Lewis, Bill Russell, Hank Aaron, and Sojourner Truth. Black History is American History. In part two coming soon, I highlight amazing stories of historic black military figures.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5TiDbdWFgyk
Step 7 Humility
Special Series- 12 Steps to Complete Healing; My Personal Journey Through Each Step of Recovery
Step 7 Humility
Pride has been the underlying ailment in every stumble or falter I’ve ever had. Pride is very misunderstood, there is no element of pride that is good.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4LBl6-KwEQM
#36 JoJo Siwa; a Crossroads For Parents?
17-year-old international pop superstar JoJo Siwa made headlines globally this week after coming out and revealing she had a "perfect girlfriend” who encouraged her to come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Should I continue to allow my 5-year-old Daughter to be a JoJo fan and see her as a role model?
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/HJGV0rPCFRg
Step 6 Change of Heart
New Special Series- 12 Steps to Complete Healing; my personal journey through each of the steps in recovery.
Step 6- Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses. Not some of your weaknesses, all of them. When you rigorously work steps 4 and 5 an emotional and spiritual cleansing has taken place and if you continue to be fully committed to this recovery program, when you reach step 6 you will have an overwhelming desire to give away all of your sins, all of your defects, all of your pains to the Savior Jesus Christ who freely suffered for your sake. In this episode, I recount an emotional journey that began on the battlefield and continued through today.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/sYqcOqtnAIM
Step 5 Confession
New Special Series 12 Steps to Complete Healing; My personal journey through each step of recovery. Step 5- Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs. Step 5 goes hand in hand with step 4. It really should be explained as one step 4/5. In this episode, I tell my personal story of working steps 4 and 5.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/-ikzMZWWvuI
Step 4 Truth
New Special Series: 12 Steps to Complete Healing; My personal journey through each step of recovery. Step 4- Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself. This is the most difficult step for most people. This is the step so many people decide to jump off the “wagon”. They don’t fall off the wagon, they jump off. Step 4, when done correctly, is without a doubt one of the hardest things one can ever do. I’ve been around 12 step groups and people in Recovery since I was 18 years old. When attempting to work the steps forward myself, I would always skip step 4.
I would go through the motions, I would pretend to do it. But in reality, I had never done a real step 4 ever before. Finally, after my relapse and near-fatal overdose, I was able to do a rigorous searching and fearless inventory of each phase of my life. Working with a therapist, I was able to discover some things from my childhood and teenage years that I had absolutely no idea were affecting me so much. Without doing an honest and fearless inventory of those stages of life, I would have never processed those things that I had suppressed deep down in my soul.
The discoveries were shocking, difficult to revisit. But in the end, they were the watershed moment that I needed to heal and move forward on a solid foundation. In this episode, I discuss that process and the shocking things I uncovered after burying them for nearly 2 decades.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/04mK3n6I0S8
Step 3 Trust
New Special Series- 12 Steps to Complete Healing; My personal journey through each step of Recovery. Step 3 Trust- Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the eternal father, and his son Jesus Christ. Step 3 is a decision step. After feeling that burden lifted ever so slightly in step 1, and that glimmer of hope in step 2. Step 3, is where you really come to a decision. Action is absolutely necessary to find healing. Many people feel the glorious sensations in steps 1 and 2. But that is often fleeting. Step 3 is where the real work begins. In this episode I explain my personal experiences with this step and how I’ve come to realize that this step above maybe all else, must be continually applied. Every day that decision is the same.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/qTrROqHhEKk
Step 2- Hope
New Special Series "12 Steps to Complete Healing; My personal journey through each step of Recovery. Step 2-Hope- This episode goes in-depth with the personal story of my near-fatal infection where my arm nearly had to be amputated. Septic, in the ICU under constant observation, I finally dropped to my knees in complete humility. Step 2-Hope- Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health. When we realized the powerlessness over our addictions most of us felt stripped of any hope... Finally humbled, we reached out for help. Following what felt like the tiniest ray of hope.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/88gz_lnX7Zg
Team Fauci; The Truth Will Set You Free
Once and for all I explain the real truth about masks.
Catch the video version of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/mP2FmmY-yaQ
Step 1: Honesty
New Special Series recounting my personal journey through the 12 steps of Recovery. This episode goes in-depth with the personal story of my near-fatal overdose. The incident brought me face to face with reality once again. It took a major incident like this, but I started anew by sincerely taking step 1.
Step 1: Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable. “Rarely do people caught in addictive behaviors admit to being addicted. To deny the seriousness of our condition and to avoid detection and the consequences of our choices, we tried to minimize or hide our behaviors. We did not realize that by deceiving others and ourselves, we slipped deeper into our addictions. As our powerlessness over addiction increased, many of us found fault with family, friends, even God.
We plunged into greater and greater isolation, separating ourselves from others, especially from God. When we, as addicts, resorted to lies and secrecy, hoping to excuse ourselves or blame others, we weakened spiritually. With each act of dishonesty, we bound ourselves with “flaxen cords” that soon became as strong as chains. Then a time came when we were brought face to face with reality. We could no longer hide our addictions by telling one more lie or by rationalizing any further.”
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/K8Pihh1PX1Q
in Memory of Bradley B. Moore; Always More Colorful Than the World Around Him
The Notorious MTG; My Personal Marjorie Taylor Greene Story
It was July 2019 and I found myself in a Washington D.C. high rise board room presenting to a conference room full of The Who’s who of Republican “King Makers”. It was Grover Norquist’s infamous Wednesday meeting of the wealthy donors and highly influential power brokers of the conservative right. In order to receive an invite to such a prestigious group of individuals, you had to pass their muster, in terms of being a credible candidate with the clout to win a seat in the House of Representatives. Only two congressional candidates of the 2020 cycle were invited this particular day to attempt to win support. The two candidates? Myself and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Don’t miss the inside story of the very origins of the “QAnon Cutie” already becoming “The Notorious MTG”.
Catch the video version of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/r4frz3KkSSw
#35 Hitting the Wall
Introducing Come This Far with Chris Taylor
#34 Eternal Marriage Comes With Eternal Struggles
“My Whole Soul is in it”
#33 How To Really Make America Great Again
#32 Russians being Russians
The Dream is still alive
#31 The Second Great Denial
The individual abstains from the addiction and seeks help. In the absence of their addiction, they have been able to find clarity. They gain tools to cope and the soul that seemed to be dead or greatly diminished returns to full health. It’s a miracle. Loved ones often say things like, “The real (enter name here) is back!” The person who was out of control earlier has now attained newfound happiness. They make amends, gain back trust, embark down a path of healing and restoration of their lives and families. They have triumphed. It’s human nature to want to declare victory and rest from the battle. Bask in the glory of overcoming great adversity. But what happens when a year or more into sobriety, something happens and relapse occurs? Shame comes screaming back. “I’ve been through so much, I’ve overcome so much, I’ve earned so much trust back, I don’t know what happened, but I’m ok. I’ll get back on the right path. Nobody needs to know I took some steps backward.” “I’m strong, I know how to recover, I’ve done it before, I can do it again.” “What would people think if they knew I had slipped up again? I don’t need help with this because I’ve learned all there is to know about addiction, seeking help now would only bring negative consequences, I’ll double my efforts in private. I can do it alone.”
This second great denial is more dangerous than the first, it’s often more fatal. It’s why almost all of the people you know who have overdosed and died seem to have been doing so well. They had achieved some long term recovery. They had figured it out. It’s a shock. It wouldn’t have been a shock years earlier when everyone could tell they were struggling. But it’s so surprising now. That person was stuck in the second great denial. Unable to admit that they once again, needed some help. They couldn’t do it alone.
#30 The Genesis of an American Taliban
A scene no different than the Benghazi attack in 2012. Terrorism is terrorism. The only difference right now is that this is simply the Genesis of this American Taliban. The siege of the Capitol was just a preview of what could come if we don’t crush this insurrection before they can organize and be further emboldened to use more violent means to achieve their political ends. We should not see this threat against our democracy any different than we saw Al Qaeda after 9/11. Both groups are using violence to support their stated political goals. Both groups are motivated by their hatred of the American Government. There is no difference.
#29 SEDITION
My soul is forever damaged by what took place today in the seditious insurrection. January 6th, 2021-A day that will live in infamy. Sedition is a serious felony punishable by fines and up to 20 years in prison and it refers to the act of inciting revolt or violence against a lawful authority with the goal of destroying or overthrowing it. How can anyone say that is not what happened as the President of the United States incited his mob moments before Vice President Pence presided over the joint session of Congress. The MAGA mob stormed the Capitol and breached the security. Literally tearing down the American flag and raising the Trump flag. Busting into the house and senate floors while the leaders of our nation hunkered down under desks and were eventually evacuated. It was a scene reminiscent of Benghazi.
Catch the video version of the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/5KEc21Olgaw