Two responses to my last Kerodin post. One man's principle is another man's "bile." And another Rodney King plea.

Upset at my notice of Kerodin's latest money-making scheme of the so-called "III Percent Society," (and parroted here by Pete), a reader writes:

Mike, I've had it with your petty harping. You can't be respected as a voice of reason, if your default kneejerk position is to spew venom at this one guy (who hurt you how, by usurping your III concept?), along with everyone else thereby associated. Slick Willie may call you the leader of the 3%, but I shan't. I can't, because you can't be trusted to control your own bile. You'd win many victories in the hearts of willing patriots if you'd just let the volume of hatred that exists, there in your archives, attest to your vitriol for this one guy. You pretend that you're doing a service to the community by exposing a charlatan, while all you're really doing is salting a wound, and driving deeper wedges into the fractures of our resolve. If Pete, Alan, Jim, JC, et al (to include Kerodin) are on one side, and you another, then I'm out of the Sipsey Street camp. And, there won't be any more checks from my account to you. Best of luck otherwise, though.

I would refer the reader (uh, ex-reader) to my post below regarding the Three Percent catechism. My objection to Kerodin has always been based upon three things. His unrepentant criminal record. His usurpation of the III Percent so-called "trademark" to extort money from honest folks trying to make a living. And last, but certainly not least, his advocacy of positions in violation of the "No Fort Sumters" and "No OKC Bombings" tenets of the Three Percent.

In addition, reader Thomas Kassick writes:

for the sake of solidarity, I would suggest a face to face with Kerodin. You should be working together instead of sticks and stones. We all have done things we regret. I say try it what have you to lose? I believe we should all pulling on the rope in the same direction. Personal feelings aside do what is right and work together. What have you got to lose? We are suppose to forgive says the lord. Please,we have so much to gain working together.

Thomas has enunciated again a frequent Rodney King plea that I've heard over the years, "Can't we all just get along?" For the three reasons enunciated above, Thomas, the answer to that is unfortunately "no." As for "pulling on the rope in the same direction," Kerodin has already indicated that the only rope he's interested in is the one that he hangs me with. Remember these he was selling not so long ago, along pointed comments about yours truly?

I spent the 90s learning some very valuable, if expensive, lessons about principle and so-called "allies." What I "have to lose," Thomas, is credibility and principle. I have higher standards for both than are evinced by Mr. K. and his death-threat uttering friends and if that costs me former friends like Pete or readers like Mr. Anonymous above, then the cost is still less than it would be if I made alliances with unrepentant con men who advocate positions in contradiction to my own beliefs.

Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.