No Sympathy?

A couple of weeks ago, the EBT system went down for a few hours in Louisiana. When the food assistance cards were run at a few Wal-Mart locations, the computer system showed no limit on purchases. The word spread like wildfire among local shoppers and they legally looted much of the stores within the space of two hours. There was no concern for those who would have to pay for the shopping spree. It was free stuff!

During same week, I was in a local convenience store. The clerk mentioned that he felt bad for tourists who could not enter Yellowstone Park due to the government slim-down. I expressed sympathy for their disappointment and concern for local businesses but declared support for the legislators who were attempting to stop the new health care law. The clerk (who is approximately my age) expressed enthusiasm for the new law because he expected $100 per month health insurance. I advised him that while he might be saving $400 a month in premium, some of my income was from health insurance sales. This law forced commissions be cut and eventually agents may be phased out completely. So while he was happy for his good fortune, my family would be suffering a large financial loss. Regence Blue Shield has closed most of their local offices as a result of this law and friends that I have known for 20 years are now unemployed. The clerk was not sympathetic. He wanted $100-a-month health insurance!  I let it drop. 

A week and a half later, I entered the store and greeted the same clerk with my usual “Good Morning Sunshine!”  His response took be aback. He glared and responded “You can call me by my name or you can call me sir! If you call me anything else, I’ll come across the counter and punch you!” My only response was “Really, you want to go there?” I paid for my gas and left.

What has happened to our country? People feel entitled to free or almost free goods and services. If anyone suffers a loss as a result of government policies and complains, they are called heartless, stingy or even threatened. You’d think that if someone is getting hosed to give you something for free, a “thank you” might be in order!