First Post: How I Got Here

By Preston Storm

Coolidge

Preston Storm

Married father of a little girl and boy! Live on a farm in southwest Missouri and work for a municipal utility.

| October 28, 2020

55 COMMENTS

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!

Published in General

Tags: First Post, My First Post, New Member, thank you

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12 ›

Moderator

Doug Watt

Welcome, we are glad you joined.
- #1
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961961
- October 28, 2020, at 2:34 PM PDT
- 4 likes

Member

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961962
- October 28, 2020, at 2:35 PM PDT
- 5 likes

Member

Kevin Schulte

Welcome Preston !
- #3
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961967
- October 28, 2020, at 2:41 PM PDT
- 3 likes

Member

Charlotte

WOOT!
- #4
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961969
- October 28, 2020, at 2:42 PM PDT
- 2 likes

Member

dajoho

Welcome. C’mon in the water is fine.
- #5
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961971
- October 28, 2020, at 2:43 PM PDT
- 4 likes

Member

JennaStocker

Welcome Preston. I’m glad you made your way over!
- #6
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961972
- October 28, 2020, at 2:44 PM PDT
- 3 likes

Member

Annefy

Welcome!
- #7
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961974
- October 28, 2020, at 2:52 PM PDT
- 2 likes

Member

Dr. Bastiat

Welcome to the asylum! Good to have you!
- #8
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961978
- October 28, 2020, at 2:55 PM PDT
- 8 likes

Contributor

Gary McVey

Chances are you’re going to like it here…most people do!
- #9
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961980
- October 28, 2020, at 2:57 PM PDT
- 5 likes

Member

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961983
- October 28, 2020, at 3:04 PM PDT
- 11 likes

Member

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961985
- October 28, 2020, at 3:06 PM PDT
- 7 likes

Contributor

Susan Quinn

Glad to have you with us, Preston! Welcome!
- #12
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961988
- October 28, 2020, at 3:09 PM PDT
- 6 likes

Coolidge

KirkianWanderer

Welcome! I hope you stick around for a while, this is a fun madhouse.
- #13
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961990
- October 28, 2020, at 3:18 PM PDT
- 9 likes

Member

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961996
- October 28, 2020, at 3:25 PM PDT
- 5 likes

Member

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4961999
- October 28, 2020, at 3:26 PM PDT
- 7 likes

Member

Jimmy Carter

New Kid always buys the next round.
- #16
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962002
- October 28, 2020, at 3:28 PM PDT
- 14 likes

Coolidge

DonG (Biden is compromised)

Welcome to the party, pal! Be wary of the PIT ;)
- #17
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962003
- October 28, 2020, at 3:30 PM PDT
- 5 likes

Member

Dr. Bastiat

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962009
- October 28, 2020, at 3:34 PM PDT
- 5 likes

Member

kedavis

DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

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

Just to make certain the reference is understood:
- #19
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962024
- October 28, 2020, at 3:41 PM PDT
- 4 likes

Coolidge

Preston Storm
Post author

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962026
- October 28, 2020, at 3:42 PM PDT
- 11 likes

Coolidge

Preston Storm
Post author

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962028
- October 28, 2020, at 3:43 PM PDT
- 2 likes

Member

Mr Nick

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962030
- October 28, 2020, at 3:44 PM PDT
- 6 likes

Thatcher

Blondie

Welcome, Preston! Glad you took the plunge.
- #23
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962055
- October 28, 2020, at 4:00 PM PDT
- 4 likes

Member

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962061
- October 28, 2020, at 4:06 PM PDT
- 4 likes

Coolidge

Preston Storm
Post author

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962069
- October 28, 2020, at 4:17 PM PDT
- 1 like

Member

Arahant

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

It’s the nicest place on Ricochet.
- #26
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962073
- October 28, 2020, at 4:20 PM PDT
- 3 likes

Member

Jimmy Carter

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962074
- October 28, 2020, at 4:20 PM PDT
- 2 likes

Coolidge

Preston Storm
Post author

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962077
- October 28, 2020, at 4:23 PM PDT
- 9 likes

Coolidge

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962081
- October 28, 2020, at 4:24 PM PDT
- 8 likes

Member

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
- https://ricochet.com/818037/first-post-how-i-got-here/#comment-4962141
- October 28, 2020, at 5:18 PM PDT
- 5 likes
- This comment has been edited.

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