I get my hair cut at an old-fashioned barbershop downtown. The two barbers there have been on the job for many, many years. They have Playboy magazines on the table, a shoeshine stand in the corner and a striped barber pole outside the door. It is the quintessential barbershop of Norman Rockwell’s youth. In a nod to modernity, a television set sits in the corner and plays Fox News all the time. The other customers are an interesting mix of retirees, downtown professionals, and curmudgeons.
During a recent haircut I was seated next to a customer in his mid-60s who spoke to his barber in a loud clear voice. He was reciting the typical tea party political line about how the proposed health insurance revision in Congress would sink our country. I sat and listened politely for as long as I could take it. Then I spoke up saying something like, “it’s not health insurance that will sink our country; but another ill-fated Bush war in the Middle East.” He exploded into a diatribe about socialism, taxation without representation, and how the hard-working people of America are being crushed by socialists in the White House. His barber quickly finished him up and ushered him out the door. My barber began apologizing to me and explained how the fellow just likes to hear himself talk.
When I left the barbershop and crossed the street I encountered a man with a handheld sign that said: “Obamacare will ruin this country”! I rolled up to him and asked what that meant. He said something about the hard-working people of America being crushed by Socialists in the White House. We talked for a few minutes more and I explained the benefits of universal health coverage. He didn’t seem particularly interested in dialogue, but was rather wed to a half dozen catchy one-liners. “The cost of this program is way too high, we can’t afford to insure every illegal immigrant, the debt will weigh down our children and grandchildren.” I thanked him for the conversation and rolled along the sidewalk, grateful that I live in a country where we could all have our say.
well...bless you for attempting the conversation. As is happens, I am one that has no health insurance with a husband who could use more than a little. There is so much vitriol and just plain mean-spiritness in the rhetoric of those who fear "socialism". (it's akin to democracy, folks.) I always thought being a good American Citizen meant being certain everyone could/would have access to basic rights - health, education, shelter, due process...
ReplyDeleteSo many things we witnessed come to fruition, the things we fought for - we're having to go through it all over again. T'ain't right, I tell you. But it keeps me going, I suppose. thanks for letting me rant... Rose '75