The author argues that rural voters rejected Congressman Thomas Massie in a costly primary not for his general opposition to Trump but for questioning an unauthorized war with Iran, reflecting a deep-seated “conquering” ethos that equates anti-war restraint with weakness or “sissy” behaviour.

Drawing on the organic-farming versus chemical-agriculture divide, the piece contrasts a nurturing approach that works with natural systems against a macho impulse to subdue weeds, weather and foreign adversaries, noting that this same conquering mentality shaped America’s frontier myth and underpins support for expansive military posture.

Massie’s insistence on constitutional process is cast as the political equivalent of patient composting, while the preference for swift, overwhelming force is likened to impatient chemicals; the author ultimately defends “working with” over “working against” as the more sustainable path at home and abroad.

When President Trump’s Republican acolytes primaried long-time US Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) and defeated him in the most expensive Congressional primary race in history (about $30 million) in May, pundits offered their assumptions and agendas.

The Trumpites said he wasn’t nice playing their ball game (I’m being diplomatic) and therefore deserved to be sidelined. They couldn’t abide a rogue Republican, even if he did vote with the president 92 percent of the time. Opposing the war in Iran was over the top.

Massie matched the Trumpites dollar for dollar in the campaign because as heir to the Ron Paul movement, he has many friends beyond his rural Congressional district. They supported him in this toe-to-toe duel, grateful for a champion who dared to question mainstream narratives.

These narratives, as it turns out, are many and his district has supported him on maverick positions in the past. He opposed virtually everything Dr. Anthony Fauci said. He opposed lockdowns. He opposed mandatory mRNA jabs. He opposed the inflationary Covid relief bill. All of this was tolerated and applauded by........

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