The national anthem charade playing out on the countrywide theater is about anything but patriotism or the silly notion athletes are actually protesting inequality.

I call BS.

The NFL only cares about money.  President Trump only cares about President Trump.  The Left and Right only care about their positions and power.  None of these fools actually cares about what the flag stands for or the plight of those truly affected by racism.

Much like the statue stupidity or the neo Nazi’s right to assemble the hoopla is simply another case of both sides trying to control the other.

I have a hard time respecting anyone who does not honor our national anthem or flag and despise their actions.  At the same time, I have a harder time taking away a person’s freedom of speech or expression.  The NFL rulebook states all players must stand for the national anthem and technically the players are representing their teams when they put on the uniform.  The players are breaking the rules but much like a Society that selectively enforces its laws, the NFL picks and chooses what rules it wants to impose.

My bigger concern is President Trump’s rhetoric about firing those NFL players who kneel.  The conundrum I face is I agree with him but I’m not the president of the United States with 60 plus million ardent followers.  I will not and do not support anyone who does not stand for the national anthem.  That is my choice as a consumer.

However, to advocate – or try to bully – an organization to impose your will on their employees puts America on a dangerous path to socialism.  He is a populist president borne of the ineptness of the swamp dwellers.  The political elite is what created the void that President Trump fills.

A populist president with an ardent following is no different from a dictator with a strong military on his or her side.

As such, his followers believe he is on a mission from God (to borrow a phrase from the “Blues Brothers”).  And therein lies the fear.  President Trump is, was, and always will be an opportunist in my mind.  His followers still don’t get that small fact.  If he succeeds in turning the tide against the NFL and the league starts losing revenue it will cave in like all hollow walls when pushed.

Then what?  During “Statuegate” President Trump asked who would be next if the crowd succeeds in removing statues of Robert E. Lee?  I have the same question for him on this topic.  Who is next if President Trump and his legion of followers succeed in bullying the NFL to fire players for expressing an opinion?

The players and league can do what they want providing they are willing to accept the consequences of their actions.  President Trump can use the bully pulpit as he sees fit providing he would accept responsibility for the slippery slope he is putting us on.

Otherwise, it’s all noise.