A friend of mine, Ken, and I were talking today, and a mutual acquaintance of ours came up in conversation. When I mentioned that this man is a Republican, Ken was surprised and said it was amazing how some otherwise reasonable people can have such strange political beliefs. Then he told me the story of a woman whom he has befriended, who has bought into the neocon mythology. Follow me below for her story.
Ken's friend, whose name I do not know, works at a gas station/convenience store in Ken's neighborhood. This area is one that in the last few years evolved from crime-ridden to trendy. The convenience store still reflects the neighborhood's former status. The interior layout suggests that robberies are anticipated. The merchandise selection is geared towards a poor clientele. Only recently, "pay-at-the-pump" became available; before, it was "prepay inside -- cash only." To this day, syringes in the parking lot are not unheard of. In short, this is not a place where a person would work for fun.
Ken's friend, who was born in Switzerland, went into an anti-Obama rant the other day. She is so afraid of an Obama presidency, she said, because of all those tax increases that would hit her (if I had been there, I would have burst out laughing or asked for an application form -- I had no idea Sunglo paid that well). Then she went on about large government, welfare state, and the taking aware of our "freedoms" (I still haven't figured out what's up with the plural thingy). Then she said how she had left her own country because of Europe's becoming more and more socialist and "freedoms" being taken away. I have relatives in Switzerland, and "socialist" is not an adjective I would not use to describe that country. Also, most people there live rather well.
Ken was dumbfounded. He asked what one could possible say to such a person. I told him next time the gas station attendant mentioned that she left Switzerland to seek freedom and prosperity, there's only one thing left to do: channel Dr. Phil. Look straight at her and ask: "And how's that been working for you?"
Sooo... what was the weirdest reason why people vote for McCain YOU have heard this week?
P.S. Apparently, the Muslim/terrorist stuff did not come up.