Today my wife and I waded our way through some of the Lynnhaven Mall parking traffic to get to the book store. It was as exciting in the parking lot as in the store.
We are both handicapped and was going down the 1-way parking lot and about to pull into the end handicapped spot when all of a sudden a new model Honda pulled into the spot at an angle pointing right at me. She whipped into the spot going the wrong way and was at a 60-degree angle to the parking lot stripe. She can right at my driver’s side door as I was turning in to the spot.
I stopped and looked at her, as if to say “Well, move out of the way so a handicapped person can park in the spot. She was about 20 and had an older woman with her, both of Pacific island descent. Suddenly she whips out her mirror handicapped placard and puts it on her mirror. I just mutter an appropriate b—h, and drive on and around again. Merry Christmas.
I hate traffic at this time of year because the Christmas spirit is only a little worse than at Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. People are so short tempered and take stupid chances during this time. Alcohol and drugs don’t improve their manners or driving acumen.
Well, when we get some money together, we will venture forth again. It will be a lean Christmas at our house. Apparently this will be a tough one for lots of people, given the foreclosures and stock market as indicators.
The FED did lower the prime rate again and increased the money supply. The business community, represented by the stock market, didn’t think it was enough. Well it would be enough if more money was spread down the corporate chain to those who actually produce the wealth. The top people, especially those in Big Board corporations and Health Care institutions and insurance companies should be heavily chastised. It appears that 20% of these corporations are getting 60-80% of the bonuses and salaries. The inequity between the top and bottom of the corporate ladder will undo this Republic, I am afraid.
As the distance gets bigger between the “haves” and “have nots”, the country is set for more social strife and crime. Television does a great job of selling the public on what the “good life” is and how “common” it is. Most people watching these commercials and some shows know very well their lives don’t look like that and their homes are like that (if they have them). By creating this illusion about society it creates unreasonable expectations. These expectations keep young people from taking whatever job is available, even at minimum wage. They say, “I ain’t going to work for minimum wage, they owe me more than that” (or I am worth more than that or some variation thereof). With no job their only recourse to money is stealing it from someone or place which has money. Their only way to that fine car is stealing it from someone who has it. This enmity will hurt all of us and is preventable by more fair wage distribution and bonuses, a higher quality of education for ALL young people grades K through 12, no matter where they live or anything else.
When are we going to wake up and take care of our present and our future. This country is about PEOPLE, free to make life choices, equal opportunities, equal education. We are headed for another 60s economic and racial upheaval without major social changes starting with Congress and each Statehouse.
I heard Lou Dobbs on CSPAN being interviewed at Princeton last week. I have always listened to him on CNN with the economic and stock market news and he never pulled his punches. He is now looking at America on many levels and his take on Education and the need for a National Curriculum and Congress being bought and paid for by Corporate America are on target. Listen to him. He is an Independent voice and can lamblast both the Republicans and Democrats.
Take care of yourself and tell those around you that you love them. You never know when will be the last time you will see them.
God Bless you and Merry Christmas.
Bear
