separate worlds

Miriam, 

Today Cathy and I ran a bunch of errands, had the oil changed in the truck, dropped off some items for a couple of clients, hit the Home Depot and grocery store and wound up meeting Cathy's sister at the casino for an early dinner.  In all our travels and all the different conversations we either were part of or over heard(I'm a terrible eavesdropper), no one said one word about how tough times are.  Lots of talk about the weather, the basketball teams, the food at the casino(always tops), and general family gossip.  The closest we came to any discussion about world affairs was a fellow in the auto shop grumbling that gas might go as high as 4 dollars a gallon by summer. 

It is my conclusion that Americans have been so dumbed-down that we have lost the ability to be concerned with the real critical issues and events.  What I hear around me is mostly a reflection of the evening news on TV.  So much blather. 

Fortunately there are places like blind democracy where we can talk about and share critical information. 

 

Carl Jarvis

----- Original Message -----

From: Miriam Vieni

To: Blind Democracy List

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 9:31 AM

Subject: separate worlds

We read all of the news on this list and we communicate with each other, and
it feels as if there are lots of people out there who have thoughts and
feelings similar to our's.  But then I inadvertently am exposed to a tiny
unbiased sample of the middle class on Long Island.  Item: The accountant
who does my income tax return, mentioned yesterday that he thinks it might
be a good idea to eliminate the U.S. Postal system because his mail man
provides such poor service.  Item: I sat through a whole dinner with my
daughters and son-inlaw.  My daughter and son-in-law, remember, have this
huge house with a recently finished playroom in the basement and no
children.  We took my other daughter out for dinner for her birthday.  Not a
word was spoken about the financial crisis, what is happening in Wisconsin,
what is happening in the mid east.  Because I do not want conflict at family
gatherings, I certainly don't bring up these subjects and I tend to say very
little if, by chance, something meaningful is mentioned.  Everyone easily
agrees that the financial situation is bad and that the weather is bad, but
the reasons behind these facts are, apparently, highly controvercial.  There
are islands of progressivism here on Long Island but you have to search them
out and that says something about public attitudes.

Miriam

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