A Flight of Fancy

Normally, I don't exchange much more than pleasantries with the passengers next to me in airplanes and often, not even that. My last flight, just a little over 24 hours ago, was different. I sat next to an environmental attorney that was a lobbyist and her idiot husband who was a biologist or at least had a biology degree from college. When I mentioned I was a retired stockbroker, he immediately told me I was responsible for the economic conditions of the US. Hmmmmmmm. That's a lot for one person. I asked how. Of course, it was because of my bonuses. He asked if I accepted bonuses and of course I said yes.

"Aha, Wall Street and people like you are responsible for the condition that our country is in."

That was a lot for me to take in since I am but a financial sales person. So I asked him how.

"It was the bonuses on Wall Street and their greed that got us into this position."

He would not listen to anything from that point on and kept reiterating that I was a greedy Republican that wanted children to go without health care. I explained that I had read the health care proposal and asked if they had. They said no but were certain that poor people were entitled to health care as much as the rich.

Even though I pointed out that there was indeed health plans available in every state for children, he would hear nothing of it. I had to laugh at one of his points. He said that not all states were equal in money and funds should come from the federal government to equalize it. Laughably, he used Indiana as an example of a poor state and California as the rich one. Anyone that knows state's economies knows that Indiana is one of the few in the black while California may sink into the ocean economically and not as a result of an earthquake.

His second point was for people that were uninsurable. First, anyone that worked in a large corporation and carried insurance knows that the portability law allows you to qualify for the next policy. Secondly, all states have a guaranteed health policy. The premiums are salty and to qualify, you must be rejected by two insurance companies. Lastly, every state has Medicaid. CalMed recipients (His home state of California's Medicaid plan) actually receive a better plan than over 50 percent of the working population.

The couple would hear nothing of the oil crisis and the fact I believe that George Soros, the only man capable of manipulating the futures market in oil, may have been behind the rise in oil prices along with other well to do Obama supporters in an attempt to make an uncomfortable economic environment right before the election. What was miscalculated was the over lending of Freddie Mac and the eventual backlash from the outstanding, uncollectable debt. True, the greed of all who invested and sold the products based on high risk mortgages also fueled our economic downfall.

Of course the couple blamed George W for the Freddie Mac crisis. Even though, Obama was number two in accepting funds from Freddie Mac and both McCain and George W warned of the dangers of too liberal lending. (Of which they were accused of not wanting poor people to have houses.)

Our conversation went on to abortion. I don't believe there's life until the brain stem is formed. That's a personal belief and I agree, not necessarily with the rest of conservative belief. But, going with that belief, I believe you are taking a life after the eighth week. Even though they both stated that abortion after the second trimester was wrong (okay, far beyond the 8th week) the wife, an attorney, said it couldn't be written into law because it would set a precedent for murder if you caused someone to miscarry. A judge could use that law as the basis. I knew this was my opening for one of the problems I have with the health care bill.

I immediately switched back to our discussion on health care and noted that was exactly what I was talking about in the bill. Even though the health care adviser should take your wishes into consideration, there is no place that it states they have to follow them. She responded with "That's different. They consider the spirit of the law."

"Hey, it can't be both ways" I retorted. "Either the laws must be explicit for both health care and abortion or designed around the spirit of the law for both." She responded there was no comparison to the two, they were different issues.

"But they're both interpretations of the law." I responded. She then told me I didn't know what I was talking about and turned away.

Her husband then proceeded to attack me for hating poor people and being born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I assured him that I put myself through college and earned everything I had. It didn't matter. I was bad and it was because I was a Republican. I didn't want to see everyone have equal health care. I did retort to that by mentioning that under the "new plan" not everyone would get equal health care. Procedures were offered by cost and life expectancy. There is a formula designed to do this and those receiving less health care than today will be geriatric patients, not anyone younger. I asked again about fairness and he chose to ignore the remark.

My entire conversation left me exhausted and tickled pink when I found that they would be stranded at O'Hare for many hours since no flights were leaving to DC due to the east coast storm. Their parting words were that the public shouldn't be entrusted with their own future, their money or decisions on their health care since they don't have enough knowledge and can't be responsible for their actions. Instead, we leave it to the idiots in DC to make our decisions.

My parting words to them were that this is the problem with our country, no one is responsible for their actions, we're all pawns at the hands of those smarter and brighter than ourselves....but who are they if they aren't the public? Self responsibility, a lost art, is part of what made our country great. The irresponsible actions of those that don't collect data before they chose to support a political policy and refuse to hear any facts that don't support their data are the people that are destroying the fiber of our nation. While I have definite beliefs, I will look at the other side as objectively as possible. If I am wrong, which is seldom but does happen, I change my voiced opinion and look for the benefit of the common good. This is the only way we'll see progress and a stronger America.

Regardless of your party or views, always take the time to find the facts. If your government, your neighbor or your boss is promoting an idea that could change your life or your pocketbook, take time to find the facts. You and only you are responsible for your life: How it's lived and how it ends. Trust no one to think for you or you'll find that one day that capacity will be gone. We have become a nation that knows more about the sex life of a golfer than relevant issues that affect us forever. Whether you "like" our present administration or find they're just more Washington Boobs, never stop asking questions. There's no one that knows a better way to run your life than you. Watch Congress in action and listen to them talk. After a few hours, you realize they're as lost as you but simply have better speech writers.