By Joe Walker
“Will you ever make change if you’re always coining the same attitude?”
Everything wrong with this country is not our President’s fault. I blame you for the problems in America.
I’ve paid close enough attention to Barack Obama to understand his points about change. I’m with him on that; America does need a fresh start. But not just in the White House. There needs to be a fresh start in your house first.
You own cable but turn the other cheek to increased sex and violence on television. You complain about it and keep paying for cable. Internet pornographers and predators are running wild. You know it’s bad but keep paying for the same broadband service. You know people work hard while investing time and money to make music, movies, television shows and computer software, but you purchase bootleg material or pirate to get them free anyway. Someone brings these problems to your attention and you say, “It doesn’t matter. I’m just one person.”
Eight years ago our presidential election was rocked by controversy. You voted for Al Gore, and for the next four years you detested George W. Bush. Election time came back around but you didn’t vote. You were still mad about the last one. You still didn’t want Bush as President, yet he unquestionably won a second term. You’ve been complaining about him ever since.
You won’t vote this election because you’re still dwelling on what happened eight years ago. Someone brings these problems to your attention and you say, “It doesn’t matter. I’m just one person. My vote doesn’t count.”
I’ve never been the best at understanding numbers. I do, however, understand how simple mathematics can come back to haunt you.
You stop at a convenience store to grab a quick craving-curing snack – some nacho cheese flavored Sun Chips, Cherry Sours candy and a Yoo-Hoo to drink. You get to the checkout and you’re $.30 short. You start thinking about all the change you’ve seen on the ground that you didn’t pick up; you recall all the pennies you’ve wasted lately, all the change you’ve declined. The cashier won’t let you slide so you get mad. “It doesn’t matter,” you say. “It’s just change.” You don’t even consider this cashier could be fired for having a short till. Maybe this cashier has made one too many bad transactions already, getting on the bad side of those who hired them. “C’mon,” you continue, “It’s freaking 30 cent! That’s pocket change!” You get so angry you won’t even consider using your debit card or withdrawing 20 dollars from the ATM. “Just forget it,” you say, as you storm out with nothing.
You had opportunities for change but didn’t take them. Don’t get mad.
New Resolution #40: Maybe you didn’t hear me; I said VOTE!!!
