I did not lose any friends. I merely found out who my friends really were.
It has been invaluable to me in cutting out the wheat from the chaff.
I have learned a very valuable lesson through this exercise. I used to participate in a local Republican group and have expended a lot of time, energy and money participating in their efforts during the last six years. Then a brand new board was elected and they went all in in support of the Chamber of Commerce, amnesty and whomever the candidate with an R behind their name it is that is running, regardless of their previous record.
I told them I just couldn’t support their current agenda. After being treated like an outsider, I resigned my position. Haven’t heard a word from a single one of them that I previously thought of as “friends”.
When I speak to the Chamber of Commerce types, I always get that "deer in the headlights" look when I ask them who will buy their stuff if they succeed in their goal of turning America into another third world country.
A friend I had for years—dropped me when she discovered I supported SOME (not all) of the goals of the Tea Party. It was as if I had joined the KKK and been elected Kleegle by them. I was called a racist, homophobe, and a Nazi. But, after much though and hurt feelings—I believe I am better off without such narrow minded bigotted friends.