There’s a lot to be angry about in this world.
Savvy marketers know that. They understand they can play on your emotions and triggers to push you toward a specific action or outcome. Unethical marketers can—and do—exploit your humanity.
Recognizing this can make you a more strategic person and bring you a surprising amount of peace.
That said, anger is politically useful. It should be understood and wielded carefully and thoughtfully in political circles.
I was amused to read Brian Almon’s latest bit of hogwash, in which he warns against those who seek only to make you angry in Idaho politics. This is his latest shot at American Action Fund, even if he doesn’t name them.
There are myriad problems with Almon’s article, so I won’t address them all. But let’s examine a few of the most egregious points.
“It’s easy to be ideologically pure when you know nothing will be enacted.”
This is fascinating. I recently had a high-ranking GOP official tell me it’s impossible to govern as a hardline conservative. Nonsense. Elections don’t give lawmakers a pass to accept moderate ideas and policies. Javier Milei’s phenomenal work and popularity prove that limited government can be done—and that the public will reward it. Conservatives who pledge to govern as conservatives should not get a pass when they fail to live up to their promises.
“Are things perfect? Of course not. Government spending is rising, big cities are raising taxes and embracing progressive causes, and the public school system continues to fail students while pushing Marxist ideas on our children.”
Here, Almon again shows his selective bias. He says big cities raising taxes is bad—I agree. But this is the same Brian Almon who gave GOP commissioners a pass for proposing a massive tax hike in Ada County. Are tax hikes fine when “our team” does them because commissioners are just, ya know, governing? Nonsense.
“Just a few years ago, when strong conservative lawmakers were a distinct minority in Idaho politics with no real legislative influence, shouting loudly was a viable strategy.”
This perfectly illustrates Almon’s ignorance. There was a strategy in place, but he lacks the depth to recognize it. For years, conservatives have been “shouting loudly” to expose bad actors so they’d lose at election time—and it worked. Think of all the retirements—voluntary or otherwise—you’ve seen in the last few cycles: Chuck Winder, Jeff Agenbroad, Laurie Lickley, Greg Chaney, Jim Patrick, Linda Hartgen, Scott Syme, and many more. These folks weren’t ousted with polite tea parties and 3,000-word think pieces. They lost because loud, committed conservatives got angry and used the very tactics Almon now slams.
Finally, Almon attacks groups—again without naming them—that still use anger to raise awareness:
“These voices want to bypass your critical thinking and make you feel angry—make you feel like you need to take drastic action (sign the petition, donate to the organization) right away.”
The 2025 session was good—but not great. And these groups are right to help people see that. There is plenty to be angry about in Idaho politics, and Idahoans should organize and take political action to fix these injustices.
Here’s a quick list of things you should be angry about:
- Idaho still has a grocery tax because Speaker Mike Moyle and his cronies refuse to allow an up-or-down vote on it—while food prices remain a major stress point for families.
- Moyle refuses to repeal the grocery tax but funds Launch, the free college handout program, which takes money from your pocket to give to recent graduates.
- Idaho Republicans lack a bold vision on tax policy. They chip away at income taxes while ballooning government budgets. With discipline and vision over the past decade, they could have repealed the grocery tax and eliminated either property or income taxes.
- Lawmakers keep adding to public school budgets even as enrollment drops.
- Conservative policies that should be slam dunks—defunding DEI and constitutional carry are two good examples—often take several years to get done.
- Single, able-bodied adults still get free government healthcare on your dime, while you struggle to pay your own premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
- Idaho still funds woke organizations like the Commission on Hispanic Affairs. If we’re a conservative stronghold, why keep funding DEI-inspired bureaucracy?
- Lawmakers have done little to fix property taxes—the No. 1 pain point for many residents. Their property tax “buydown” program might even make things worse by dulling taxpayer outrage.
- Lawmakers gave themselves a 22% pay raise after growing government by 55% over the past five years.
- Idaho still bans CBD oil with trace THC, leaving seizure sufferers unable to legally access natural medicine that could help them.
- Mike Moyle tried to create a “Ministry of Truth” to weaponize government against his critics—and you heard nothing about it from his loyalists, including Brian Almon.
There’s plenty to be angry about. Let that anger inspire you to act. Show up at meetings, knock doors, post on social media, vote, and donate to groups that don’t sell out for a seat at the table.
Anger has been instrumental in forcing out so many RINOs in Idaho over the last decade. Let’s keep going—and finish the job.