First Post: How I Got Here

 

Hello Ricochet!

After a year or so of member pitches, the guilt finally got to me and I signed up to be a member! I don’t remember exactly how I found Ricochet or how it found me but I’m glad it did.

I was raised in a conservative farming household in southwest Missouri. My parents were high school sweethearts who graduated from the same school I did (as did two of my grandparents). Mom stayed home with my brother and me while Dad spent countless hours on a tractor or in a truck listening to talk radio. That means I grew up with Rush, Beck, Levin, Hannity, and all the others on the AM dial. For that reason I was always interested in politics however I didn’t get truly “radicalized” until after graduating from college. Thankfully my right-wing Reagan-lovin’ upbringing kept me on the right path and insulated me from the effect “higher education” tends to have on young naïve minds.

After graduating and a brief stint in a shingle factory, I eventually got a job with a local utility. This came with an office of my own and plenty of time to listen to what I wanted to listen to. I started with Glenn Beck, which lead Milton Friedman YouTube videos, then “Firing Line” with WFB, Ben Shapiro, Andrew Klavan, and so on. My reading has taken me to Hazlitt, Hayek, Bastiat, Mises, Friedman, Sowell, and the Great Books. The conservative/libertarian rabbit holes are deep and numerous and I think I’ve explored just about everywhere one can.

One of those holes brought me here and ever since Ricochet has become one of my main sources of political, philosophical, and entertainment fare. I appreciate many of the podcasts and look forward to more!

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There are 55 comments.

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  1. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Welcome, we are glad you joined.

    • #1
  2. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    Welcome @prestonstorm, great to have you around and contributing. I’m glad you survived your public education. It sounds as though you have gone on to provide yourself with a tremendous private education.

    • #2
  3. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Welcome Preston !

    • #3
  4. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    WOOT!

    • #4
  5. dajoho Member
    dajoho
    @dajoho

    Welcome.  C’mon in the water is fine. 

    • #5
  6. JennaStocker Member
    JennaStocker
    @JennaStocker

    Welcome Preston. I’m glad you made your way over!

    • #6
  7. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    Welcome!

    • #7
  8. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Welcome to the asylum!  Good to have you!

    • #8
  9. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    Chances are you’re going to like it here…most people do! 

    • #9
  10. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Preston Storm: I started with Glenn Beck, which lead Milton Friedman Youtube videos, then Firing Line with WFB, Ben Shapiro, Andrew Klavan, and so on.

    Glenn Beck, the gateway drug to conservatism.

    • #10
  11. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Welcome. Now you get to see the Member Feed. You can also participate in some of the fun, such as Quote of the Day and Group Writing.

    • #11
  12. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Glad to have you with us, Preston! Welcome!

    • #12
  13. KirkianWanderer Inactive
    KirkianWanderer
    @KirkianWanderer

    Welcome! I hope you stick around for a while, this is a fun madhouse. 

    • #13
  14. Quietpi Member
    Quietpi
    @Quietpi

    Welcome.  We all come to our views, and to Ricochet, by different routes.  Every one brings to us a fresh perspective, that challenges and improves us all.  

    And keep reading!

    • #14
  15. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    KirkianWanderer (View Comment):

    Welcome! I hope you stick around for a while, this is a fun madhouse.

    I object!  Actually the madhouse is what’s OUTSIDE of Ricochet!

    • #15
  16. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    New Kid always buys the next round.

    • #16
  17. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    Welcome to the party, pal!   Be wary of the PIT ;)

    • #17
  18. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    New Kid always buys the next round.

    If I’m buying, it’s Jim Beam.  If Preston’s buying, it’s Laphroaig.

    • #18
  19. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

    Welcome to the party, pal! Be wary of the PIT ;)

    Just to make certain the reference is understood:

     

    • #19
  20. Preston Storm Inactive
    Preston Storm
    @PrestonStorm

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    New Kid always buys the next round.

    If I’m buying, it’s Jim Beam. If Preston’s buying, it’s Laphroaig.

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    New Kid always buys the next round.

    If I’m buying, it’s Jim Beam. If Preston’s buying, it’s Laphroaig.

    Be easy! This young father of 2 with a SAHM and public employee salary has more of a Jack Daniel’s budget!

    • #20
  21. Preston Storm Inactive
    Preston Storm
    @PrestonStorm

    cdor (View Comment):

    Welcome @prestonstorm, great to have you around and contributing. I’m glad you survived your public education. It sounds as though you have gone on to provide yourself with a tremendous private education.

    Always working on it @cdor

    • #21
  22. Mr Nick Inactive
    Mr Nick
    @MrNick

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Preston Storm: I started with Glenn Beck, which lead Milton Friedman Youtube videos, then Firing Line with WFB, Ben Shapiro, Andrew Klavan, and so on.

    Glenn Beck, the gateway drug to conservatism.

    If it was YouTube videos I’m guessing the culprit was that notorious pusher of uncommon knowledge who uses the street name Peter Robinson….

    But in all seriousness welcome aboard.

     

    • #22
  23. Blondie Thatcher
    Blondie
    @Blondie

    Welcome, Preston! Glad you took the plunge. 

    • #23
  24. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    kedavis (View Comment):

    KirkianWanderer (View Comment):

    Welcome! I hope you stick around for a while, this is a fun madhouse.

    I object! Actually the madhouse is what’s OUTSIDE of Ricochet!

    Eh, both in and out. It’s just we like ours and don’t like theirs.

    • #24
  25. Preston Storm Inactive
    Preston Storm
    @PrestonStorm

    Mr Nick (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Preston Storm: I started with Glenn Beck, which lead Milton Friedman Youtube videos, then Firing Line with WFB, Ben Shapiro, Andrew Klavan, and so on.

    Glenn Beck, the gateway drug to conservatism.

    If it was YouTube videos I’m guessing the culprit was that notorious pusher of uncommon knowledge who uses the street name Peter Robinson….

    But in all seriousness welcome aboard.

     

    You can bet one of the first MF videos was Mr. Robinson’s UK interview!

    • #25
  26. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):
    Be wary of the PIT ;)

    It’s the nicest place on Ricochet.

    • #26
  27. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    We have a Code of Conduct Here.

    It’s:

    Preston Storm (View Comment):

    You can bet one of the first [expletive] videos was Mr. Robinson’s UK interview!

     

    • #27
  28. Preston Storm Inactive
    Preston Storm
    @PrestonStorm

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    We have a Code of Conduct Here.

    It’s:

    Preston Storm (View Comment):

    You can bet one of the first [expletive] videos was Mr. Robinson’s UK interview!

     

    I’m sorry.

    *Milton [expletive] Friedman

    :)

    • #28
  29. KirkianWanderer Inactive
    KirkianWanderer
    @KirkianWanderer

    Preston Storm (View Comment):

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    We have a Code of Conduct Here.

    It’s:

    Preston Storm (View Comment):

    You can bet one of the first [expletive] videos was Mr. Robinson’s UK interview!

     

    I’m sorry.

    *Milton [expletive] Friedman

    :)

    • #29
  30. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Preston Storm (View Comment):

    Mr Nick (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Preston Storm: I started with Glenn Beck, which lead Milton Friedman Youtube videos, then Firing Line with WFB, Ben Shapiro, Andrew Klavan, and so on.

    Glenn Beck, the gateway drug to conservatism.

    If it was YouTube videos I’m guessing the culprit was that notorious pusher of uncommon knowledge who uses the street name Peter Robinson….

    But in all seriousness welcome aboard.

    You can bet one of the first MF videos was Mr. Robinson’s UK interview!

    Isn’t that the one where @peterrobinson arrives on a motorcycle? Pure gold.

    • #30
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