Dancing with Myself

The rich pretending to be poor. A retiree story of suffering. At the golf club, where I used to be a member, imaginary poverty is a common thread that keeps the members woven together.

“Oh dear, we could never go on a trip like that. It’s way too expensive!”

“Can I pay you next week? I’m a little short on cash.”

One must remember, an old white person residing in a retirement community probably has no idea what being destitute is. Never shall we help the lazy “poor folk” because all they want is free government handouts.

Most male golf club members are in total agreement, “Them poor folk just don’t want to work.”

But, when we start talking about cutting social security or Medicare, the screams of the old, rain down from the heavens and ripple throughout the nation. Cutting social security, my friends, is a totally different situation. Any discussion about changing company pension benefits will send shivers down the spine of the elderly.

We need to get out of the way. We, seniors, had our turn. Now it’s time to turn the hands of power over to the young. They can’t do much worse. I’m amazed by a so-called Christian nation's lack of empathy for others.

Once a month, we should shed our iPads and phones and just go out and meet other folks or our own family. Differences are hard to conquer without conversation. It’s harder to be uncaring if you actually know a person. If we don’t start caring, soon there will be nothing to care about.

What does this have to do with the virus? Well, let me tell ya, since the elderly are the ones in power they put programs in place that could have helped on the cheap for decades. Remember the Tea Party and balance the budget? Rather than accomplishing anything, we quit or seriously financially handcuffed agencies that could have helped during this current crisis. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Maybe this coronavirus will be a wake-up moment. People can’t live on 10 dollars an hour in this day and age. At least 30 dollars an hour is necessary for a decent living. It’s becoming fairly obvious the government can bail out big corporations. Why not use these monies to bail out the less fortunate? Pay a decent wage for cryin’ out loud! Why should only a few realize the bounty of our country while the masses have to pinch pennies?

We need not only to take care of ourselves but be aware of the problems of others. Maybe by being quarantined, we can reflect on the right thing to do. It doesn’t have to be like it was. We can make improvements. I love the picture of the little girl dancing. She gets it, and all of us can too. Remember to be not only kind but be absolutely marvelous towards others.

On a small but positive note, gun and traffic deaths are down and there is less pollution. One more thing, very few political ads.

P.S. If a long lost relative dies (especially someone you never cared for), the funeral doesn’t have to be attended and no guilt is felt.