BoomerBlix

Safety Pins: A Way to Fight Racism

It couldn't be easier. Go to a drawer and find a safety pin. Put it on whatever you're wearing, in a place it can be seen.

Congratulations! You are now part of the movement to help anyone who feels threatened by racism. You have told the world that you are willing to be “a safe person to sit next to on a bus, walk next to on a street, even have a conversation with.”

How sad. We can no longer assume others will accept us or even let us pass by. Because we are immigrants. Because of our skin color. Because we dress in a different way. Because we are willing to take jobs that no one else wants anyway.

Because some of us have to identify ourselves as non-racist by displaying an item originally meant for speedy repairs.

The rise of public displays of racism have been astounding. Suddenly it seems as if the Statue of Liberty--and basic everyday tolerance--have lost all meaning. White guys rule. Everyone else can go back to the hole they crawled out of.

Take Brexit for example. By a teeny margin, UK citizens voted to leave the European Union. Big mistake, said all the people who are smart about these kind of things, including the UK Treasury Department, warning that the country would be "permanently poorer." Nonetheless, there it is, the UK is now all by its lonesome.

One of the "Leave" principles was pure anti-immigrant, including promoting the idea that to remain in the EU meant “an almost limitless number of Middle Easterners and Muslims,” as well as publishing information creepily similar to the Nazi party's posters of the 1930s. The leader of the Leave Movement, Nigel Farage (who resigned four days after the vote: "I have achieved my political ambitions.") proclaimed, "I can't apologize for the truth." Even after Jo Cox, a Member of Parliament who supported immigration and the benefits of remaining in the EU, was murdered by a white supremacist.

The United States has suffered a terrible, heartbreaking week of racism. Men apparently killed because they were black, followed by a revenge massacre of white police officers who were present during a peaceful protest. None of it makes sense, but totally fuels the fire of hate for people of different color.

Okay, you get the picture. Events are trending to support racism in both the UK and the US. But so not fine with many, many citizens. Some of us are sickened by what is happening to our family, friends, and neighbors.

Hence, the safety pins.  

Following a December 2014 attack in a cafe by a Muslim man, Australians started a "I'll Ride With You" campaign to let Muslims know that they could feel safe on public transportation. Thousands of Aussies responded, offering to meet fellow countrymen at a train or bus station and accompany them to their destination. After Brexit, an American named Allison took this concept and launched #SafetyPin.

In school we learned of brave Dutch citizens who wore the humiliating yellow star during Nazi occupation as a sign of defiance and protest, as well as loyalty to their Jewish compatriots. Some paid for their bravery with their lives, but they did what they could to show support.

What makes the choice of the safety pin as a symbol of anti-racism interesting is that it was invented almost simultaneously by an American and an Englishman, both filing patents in 1849. (The American, Walter Hunt, won by a few months.) Now both countries are caught up in fierce, divisive arguments regarding immigration. Countries who should know a lot about the topic. After all, one of those countries once had the snappy slogan "The sun never sets on the British Empire." I imagine there was quite a bit of movement within that empire. The other country was started by, well....immigrants.

Are you willing to wear a safety pin? To help another human?

 

 

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Massacres, Gun Control, the NRA...and Me

Credit: sheknows.com

I have three sons. None of them was allowed to have a toy gun. That didn't mean they wouldn't fashion one out of a tree branch or other material, but I absolutely refused to intentionally provide them with a device that could kill. (Also, my daughter didn't get a Barbie until she graduated from college, but that's a Blix for another day...)

Why would anyone want their child to even pretend to shoot somebody? Maybe it was Vietnam. Maybe it was our own fathers with too-fresh memories of World War II. Maybe it was a past life thing. Maybe it was the television Westerns of my youth...why were the Indians always the bad guys, anyway?  My kids pouted, but I held firm. No. Guns. Period. They got older and learned to fish. All was well.

Time passed. Columbine happened. The country was horrified...for awhile. And now, over time, hundreds of children, students, movie-goers, concert-goers, mall-goers, and party-goers have been murdered. Could there have been anything more tragic than those first-graders at Newtown?

Apparently not a concern. At least not to Congress. Look at this map of the 1,042 mass shootings since Sandy Hook. Don't even think of giving me the lame and offensive platitude about how spoons being responsible for obesity is the same as guns being responsible for massacres. 

Source: Vox.com

I have continued to be outraged at the lack of congressional response to the ongoing slaughter of innocent people. Like many of you, I have called my representative, signed petitions, written letters to the editor. Here's my current congressman's stance, taken from his website: "Gun ownership is a birthright in America. As a proud member of the NRA, I will support legislation that protects our 2nd Amendment rights."

When I moved to Florida, I got a first-hand baptism to a different way of thinking. First came a co-worker whose daughter would be celebrating her fourteenth birthday soon. What does every soon-to-be high school freshman girl want? Why, her own gun license, of course! "I want her to learn to defend herself," her mother explained, to my obvious lack of understanding. She spoke to me s-l-o-w-l-y, since clearly I was the Doofus from another planet.

What came next was even more astounding. "Great news! If you can get four people together, 'they' (The Police Department? The Sheriff? The FBI? Guns R Us?) will come to your house, do the training, and you can get a license to carry a concealed weapon." WHAT???? Like a Tupperware party? With snacks, wine, and prizes? Yep, two other colleagues were super excited to hear this news. (Did I mention that I was working at a major university?)

I've been slow in recognizing the power of the NRA, one of the three most powerful lobbying groups in Washington. It's got to be about more than just the Second Amendment. I don't pretend to be an expert in constitutional law. But I do know the scent of power when I smell it. And I know unnecessary loss of life when I see it. (Click here to see NRA campaign contributions and how 80% of their candidates were elected. Maybe even one of yours. You will understand why gun control is not changing anytime soon...)

 

It's my understanding that our Founding Fathers included the Second Amendment for individuals in a state militia--a collective purpose--not for zealots to haul their semi-automatic weapons into Billy-Bob's Diner. Nevertheless, the state of Georgia now permits anyone over 18 to carry a gun into a public place: restaurants, churches, bars, even the Hartfield-Jackson airport--the busiest in the world.

Where will it end? Maybe a better question: Will it ever end? When Joe the Plumber can say, one day after the University of California Santa Barbara shooting: "Your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights..." we are all diminished.

And maybe all in danger.

Please just take your kids fishing. Please.

 

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Shopping on Thanksgiving: Is America Doomed?

  

Deep down, we knew it was coming.  It was only a matter of time before stores would inch their opening hours--and those tantalizing Black Friday specials--closer and closer to midnight. Once there, it was a just a bleep to Thanksgiving evening.  

Americans have been outspoken about the sacrilege of shopping on the national holiday dedicated to gratitude, abundance, and goofy relatives. Facebook campaigns have been mounted to instill guilt into the would-be defectors. Lists of stores that will remain closed ("so our employees can be with their families")  are widely circulated. We're reminded that that the pure-of-heart will hold out until the respectable hour of 4 am on Black Friday.

Let's think back to a couple of similar drastic changes that were supposed to have rocked our moral foundations. Remember when:

• Everything was closed on Sunday? Everything. Blue laws meant we couldn't buy a loaf of bread, a gallon of gas, a fifth of whiskey, or a cute sweater. People had to plan ahead, make do, or go without. The thought was that Sundays were meant for piety and family. Clearly the enforcers never spent endless Sunday afternoons with crabby toddlers, moody teens, or bored spouses. When the shift finally occurred in the early 70s, we were liberated. Off we ran, and never looked back.
• Other national holidays were "shop-free" as well? I happily recall going to Yorktown Center with my mother and Louise Shannon on New Year's Day. It was the first year the mall brazenly announced it would be open on a day traditionally reserved for hangovers and college bowl games. We were giddy at the prospect of being allowed to spend money on a holiday. Now, of course, there are simply routine 30%-off sales on Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day...

And then there's Amazon.com. Heck, the entire Wide World Web is one big marketplace. Black Friday deals have been offered for weeks. I know--my AmEx card has been getting a daily workout. The bargains are real and the trend for free shipping makes online ordering irresistible. Yes, even on Thanksgiving. All. Day.

We can argue that shopping on Thanksgiving takes people from their homes and families. It diminishes the meaning of the day. It forces premature preparation for Christmas, we claim...despite the fact that Christmas has been evident since October and probably half of us already have the tree up. And what about the folks who have always worked on Thanksgiving? Police, firemen, nurses, pilots, and football players?

Speaking of football, I don't recall any mention of the sport being played by Pilgrims and Indians. When Thanksgiving football began in 1876, was there a national protest? I can't find any records of "Football? Hell no! We prefer to sit around the hearth for hours and hear about Grandma's bunions." Or were the women simply relieved to have men out of the way and quickly endorsed it?  Doesn't matter, Americans made room for football and it's an indisputable part of the day now. 

Though it may seem that way, I'm not urging you to leap from the table and race to the mall. Or forego any of your traditions. But Thanksgiving shopping is here to stay. And it will continue to creep further into the day, right up to "Macy's Parade" and "Turkey's-in-the-Oven" Doorbusters. Go or don't go. Personal choice. That's the American way.

But...after the leftovers are put away, the dishes are done, and nutty Uncle Harold has finally left...maybe it wouldn't hurt to get some fresh air and see if we can snag a couple of items on the list. After all, Thanksgiving is really over at that point, right?

 

 

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Terrorism As A Value Check

Suddenly those red cups at Starbucks don't seem like such a big deal anymore, do they? 

With the horrific massacre of innocent people who were simply enjoying a Friday night, we've been jolted back to reality. Back to what ultimately matters to all of us: Safety for those we love. In Paris or Podunk, we are again reminded that life is uncertain and out of our control. Terrorism is a violent act of cowardice inflicted on others who are going about their daily lives. And we're all in this together.

Terrorism does more than destroy lives and property. It scares us shitless. It destroys our sense of security and damages our trust in humanity.  Could it happen here? To me? To my family? The answer is yes, even as we falsely look for reasons to believe otherwise. Terrorism isn't temporary.

We can't look away. In fact, these attacks make us see ourselves in a clearer light. Suddenly our values are front and center. We want to be home, with the people we cherish. We want to celebrate holidays and happy occasions. We want to let others know they're appreciated. We want to teach our children that even in the face of tragedy, goodness will prevail. We want peace. And because we feel overwhelming gratitude that we are safe for now, we can feel great compassion for those who were lost. And while we're at it, maybe do something kind for others nearby who are less fortunate. After all, we are so very blessed.

Countries come together to demonstrate support and compassion. For a while, global leaders agree to stand united, knowing each is vulnerable and may need to rely on the others. Probably sooner than expected. Edges soften as the world huddles together against a common enemy that seems unfathomable.

Paris has suffered two terrorist attacks this year. It was just January when we declared "We are all Charlie" after two angry terrorist brothers stormed the office of newspaper Charlie Hebdo, killing twelve people doing their jobs. Including the building caretaker who paused to answer when the shooters asked where to find the journalists. Recent years have brought attacks in Brussels, Norway, London, Madrid, Istanbul, Boston. No other country has lost 3,000 souls at once, but it could certainly happen again. Ay, there's the rub.

This Blix is not about the religious or political aspects about terrorism. It's not about whether some journalists invited themselves to be targets. It's not about who's at fault or what should be done. It's not about hate.

No, this Blix is about using this moment to reflect upon what is really important. To you. To the world. To the future. I'm betting the outrage about a blank red coffee cup seems absurd now. At least it should.

 

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Is the U.S. Still the Most Patriotic Country?

 “True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and good will, and a constant and earnest striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt

One of the things that folks in Academia love to do is study things. All kinds of things--with interesting results. Here are some of the amazing findings our tax dollars have supported:

• Rats find that listening to Miles Davis is better with cocaine
• Starving hamsters choose food over sex
• Lemon-fresh scent induces erections in monkeys

Before anyone rushes out to buy a CD, pizza, or a can of Pledge, let's pause to consider the findings of another survey from the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center (NORC) on "the most patriotic countries."  They last did the survey in 2003, when the United States was still reeling from the horror of 9/11. You might think Americans were a bit biased back then, bursting with nationalism after an attack on our soil. But Pew Research Center reported similar results in 2010.

NORC's results relied on two factors:

1. How proud people were to live in their respective countries
2. Whether they considered their countries superior or inferior to other countries

People were asked to reply to statements such as "I would rather live in my country than anywhere else in the world." and  "There are things about my country today that make me feel ashamed."

Guess what? The United States (GDP per Capita $46,000) tied with Venezuela (GDP per Capita $12,200). The world's leader equal to a country that became a democratic government in 1959.

Surprised? Don't be. We don't have a corner on the patriotism market. As travel guru, Rick Steves, tells us: "Our Earth is home to six and a half billion equally important people. It's humbling to go places and find that people don't envy Americans. [The world] likes us, but, with all due respect, they wouldn't trade passports."

Patriotism is more than waving the flag, although 59% of Americans display the flag at home, at their office, on their car, or on their lapel. This is down from 2002, when 72% displayed the flag. Pew Research Center found that 52% of us are "extremely" proud  and 31% are "very" proud to be American.  About 15% of us are somewhat disenchanted. Over half of us consider ourselves to be as patriotic as others; 33% claim to be more patriotic. Not sure what "more" means, except that it seems to have a correlation with being extremely conservative.

For different generations, patriotism means different things. According to the New York Times:

• Silent Generation (70-87 years old): 81% love their country; 78% consider their American identity to be important; 94% say seeing the flag makes them feel good
• Baby Boomers (51-69 years old): 70% consider their American identity to be important
• Generation X (35-50 years old): 60% consider their American identity to be important
• Millennials (18-34 years old): 58% love their country; 45% consider their American identity to be important; 67% feel good about seeing the flag

Does this mean American patriotism is going down the drain? Or is it morphing into another phase? One of the delightful qualities of the Millennials is that--despite growing up with a weak economy and endless war--they are optimists. And they strongly embrace the concepts of freedom and equality. They're more in tune with the concept of a "global" citizenship. Still, I suspect they will do us all proud.

How patriotism looks has always been changing. Each generation adapts according to its own history and influences. It will be the same for Venezuelans, too.

In case you're interested, here are the other eight "patriotic" countries:

3.  Australia
4.  South Africa
5.  Austria
6.  Canada
7.  Chile
8.  New Zealand
9.  The Philippines
10. Israel

Disclaimer: No animals were tested or harmed to produce these data. 

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Three Things That Bug Me About Oprah

 

"Because I'm Oprah, that's why!" Photo credit: Twitter

Let me start by saying that I know I'm skating on thin ice here.  Writing anything less than full-out praise for Oprah is likely to generate some protests. Just hear (read) me out.

I first "met" Oprah when she came to Chicago to host the A.M. Chicago show. She was refreshing from the start, ready to win us over. And she did. Within a few months, her show was on top--we were all smitten.  I'll also admit there was a sense of pride that this dynamic, groundbreaking black woman represented Chicago.

Then came The Oprah Winfrey Show, only four years later. I even managed to get tickets to a couple of her shows...not that it was difficult to do back then. Still, it was fun to be in that little studio, watching her in action. She seemed magical, bigger-than-life, at ease in her own skin. The perfect success story. 

You know the rest. Her own studio, celebrities standing in line to be interviewed, Tom Cruise jumping on the sofa. The over-the-top giveaways. A remarkable transformation in looks, hair, makeup, wardrobe. The wealthiest woman in America. So, how come I'm not still in awe?

1. The magazine. I know for a fact that it's not just me who is waaaaay tired of seeing Oprah on every single cover of her magazine. Plus, in recent years, she seems to think we are interested in the photo shoot for the cover. Joy, my best friend from high school, has agreed with me on this for decades. True, Michelle Obama earned a shared cover, as did Ellen DeGeneres (after a vigorous campaign).  But, really?  The magazine itself is fine, full of motivational stories. One might actually envision Oprah sitting at a computer, pencil in her hair, churning out life-changing articles and choosing the inspirational quotes that draw the thankful Letters to the Editor each month. But it is the never-ending cover that makes me crazy: "Look! I'm Oprah! Everything in this magazine is wonderful! Oh, and by the way, I'm wearing clothes you will never begin to afford!!"
2. The "discoveries."  Of course the entire country remembers when she lost all that weight. She put on skinny jeans and hauled fake "fat-chunks" out on the stage in a sweet little red wagon. As I recall, she used a liquid diet and chef-prepared meals to reach her goal. America swooned. Why? Because Oprah "discovered" that if you take in fewer calories than you need...why, you lose weight! It was mind-blowing! Then, she announced her Book Club. News Flash: Oprah "discovered" that reading can be fun! Only about 350 years after Shakespeare, she blesses authors and declares reading worthwhile. What's next?  Wearing seat belts saves lives?
3. The lack of charity.  I'm certain that every wealthy person quietly distributes to worthy causes, including Oprah. She's got a couple of foundations in her name. It's my opinion that the richer you are, the greater your obligation to make the world the better place. And to set an example--not just with your own Angel Network, which started with donations from viewers. Bill and Melinda Gates have made global health their cause, and they do some pretty kick-ass stuff. Warren Buffett has joined them. Hello, Oprah? Sure, there are the girls' schools in South Africa--a swell start. I wasn't even a little bit critical, as others were, that they weren't American schools. But now...how about an American school? Or a hundred? How about a book for every kindergartener? A network of shelters for abused women and kids? Something grand, to show us you are more than your seven homes and private jet. Americans made you rich, girlfriend. Where's the love??

I'm not denying that Oprah's not a powerful force. She has a true rags-to-riches story. I'm only saying there are a few things that bother me, and that she could stand to take a month off modeling to put some unsung heroes on the cover of her magazine. Then, I will buy it.

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Three Great Things About Movember

Today let's celebrate Movember, a brilliant campaign to raise awareness for men's health. After a month of Pink-Pink-Pink, it's refreshing to watch the men in our lives burst out those moustaches as a reminder that they have cancers to conquer, too.

In case you need a quick reminder, here's the explanation from the US Movember FAQ page: "The Movember Foundation is the leading global organization committed to changing the face of men’s health. We achieve this by challenging men to grow, and women to support, moustaches during Movember (the month formerly known as November) to spark conversation and raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems."

It's no secret that I'm not usually a fan of moustaches. But come Movember, here are three reasons for me to put my bias aside for thirty days:

1. Finally, men have a way to talk about male cancers. By signing up to join the Mo Bros, guys are able to raise money--and awareness--for diseases that have only been mumbled about. This is serious stuff:

• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
• Prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in men in the U.S.
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-35 years

2. Movember also shines a light into the dark tunnel of mental illness. Men may act brave and strut their macho selves around, denying their need to seek help:

• 1 in 4 adults will experience a mental health problem in a given year
• 15 million American adults are diagnosed with depression each year
• More than four times as many men as women die by suicide in the U.S.

3.  Movember is fun! What a super way to approach men's health! Even the rules are clever: "Shave the Date." Look at some of the events and promotions:

• Check out the style guide to choose your mo for the month. Will it be Regent, Box Car, or Rock Star?
• Raise $100 and get a free ticket to your nearly Gala Parté. After a month of raising funds and awareness for men’s health, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas (women who support their men during Movember) around the globe end the month in style at an official celebration.
• Research gets funded. Almost $600, 000 raised! Click here to read about the studies made possible by Movember.

We all have men in our lives who are dearly important to us. Right now, men live an average of five years less than women. Let's ALL work to make male lives healthier and happier, shall we?

Are you a 2014 Mo Bro? Let us know: [email protected].  

Want to send a check to to support Movember?

Movember
P.O. Box 1595
Culver City, CA
90232

 

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Three Reasons to Feed the Homeless

 

With Veterans Day just behind us, and Thanksgiving two weeks away, let's pause today and consider the plight of the homeless people in the United States.

Arnold Abbott, 90 year old WWII veteran, chef, and anti-hunger activist

                      Credit: Sun Sentinel

By now, the world has heard of Arnold Abbott's brave attempt to feed the homeless in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The feisty 90 year old, along with two renegade pastors, was arrested and issued two citations for defying the new law that prohibits giving food to the less fortunate folks of the city. They were charged with breaking an ordinance restricting public feeding of the homeless. Each faces up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The law, passed on October 22, restricts "feeding sites" to one per city block. The "sites" must also be 500 feet from each other...and of course, from residential property. The thought is to limit food intake for those inconsiderate freeloaders who blot the landscape of Ft. Lauderdale.

Yes, the very same Ft. Lauderdale that has welcomed drunk college students for decades.  Apparently, young people puking in public is a thing of beauty.

Not feeding hungry people is all the rage. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 21 cities have passed similar ordinances.  Mr. Abbott, himself a World War II veteran, took on Ft. Lauderdale in 1999, when he filed a lawsuit to be able to feed the homeless. For 15 years he has done so. Lovely four-course meals that feed the soul as well as the body. He was back last week, serving the homeless as police videotaped the crime.

I'm not sure of the logic behind the efforts to stop feeding poor people...and no one is poorer than the homeless. Do the city council members say to each other, "If we cut off their food supply, they will just leave."?? Or, "Those homeless folks have it pretty damned good. Free food! Let's show them how the real world operates..."?? Possibly, "If we let them starve, maybe they will get jobs."??

That's not how it works, political geniuses. According to The National Coalition for the Homeless, here are a few facts:

• "Far too many veterans are homeless in America—between 130,000 and 200,000 on any given night—representing between one fourth and one-fifth of all homeless people. Three times that many veterans are struggling with excessive rent burdens and thus at increased risk of homelessness."

• "Further, there is concern about the future. Women veterans and those with disabilities including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury are more likely to become homeless, and a higher percentage of veterans returning from the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have these characteristics. 45% have a mental illness."

• "Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness.  In addition, 50% of the cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005).Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their adult lives (Network to End Domestic Violence)."

• "Low-wage workers have been particularly have been left behind as the disparity between rich and poor has mushroomed. To compound the problem, the real value of the minimum wage in 2004 was 26% less than in 1979 (The Economic Policy Institute, 2005). Factors contributing to wage declines include a steep drop in the number and bargaining power of unionized workers; erosion in the value of the minimum wage; a decline in manufacturing jobs and the corresponding expansion of lower-paying service-sector employment; globalization; and increased nonstandard work, such as temporary and part-time employment (Mishel, Bernstein, and Schmitt, 1999)."

Don't even start me on the plight of homeless children and teens.  It is beyond heartbreaking.

With this background, here are three reasons to feed the homeless:

1. Each one is somebody's child.  They grew up like the rest of us. They were giggly babies and cute gap-toothed first graders. Moody teens. They probably had a parent who loved them as much as we love our kids. No one chooses to be homeless. Something happened and now they are broken. What if your child lived in a park or under a bridge? Wouldn't you be grateful for any kindess that another person showed to him or her?
2. It's the right thing to do. Last time I checked, every single religion says we should take care of the poor. Beyond that, it is simply what humans do for each other. We especially should offer our thanks to veterans who came back from duty so shattered that they can't function. Don't post your flag-waving "Thanks for your service" message on Facebook if you can't reach out and help that person in real life.
3. It could be you. Or me.  John Bradford said, "There but for the grace of God go I." Life doesn't always go as planned. The best efforts fail. The housing market collapses. The economy takes a nosedive. Medical bills eat up a lifetime of savings. Everyone is vulnerable at some point. Can't we show compassion to our neighbors who happen to be suffering?

Contribute to a food bank.  Serve at a soup kitchen twice next year. Join a Food4Kids campaign. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Find some way to end hunger in our bountiful country.

Heck, be truly daring like Arnold Abbott--feed the homeless.

 

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Three Prerequisites for Every Politician

 

Whew! The elections are over, and now we must live with the results for two more years. With the campaign ordeal behind us, we're free to watch television, listen to the radio, and open our mailboxes again...at least for a few weeks, before the 2016 race begins.

The idea for today's Blix comes from my daughter, Katy. She has decided that before anyone even thinks of running for public office, the candidate-wannabe should be required to do three things; only after completion of these tasks could a candidate move forward.. These requirements would give him or her an inkling of how things really work. And what needs to be changed. Not from a cozy office in Washington, DC, protected by layers of like-minded staff. But from first-hand experience--successful navigation of common challenges in their future districts. 

Here's Katy's list:

1. Apply for unemployment...then try to find a job.

Ever been to an unemployment office? Had to talk to the weary state employee who has heard every sad story in the world, and is unable to do much about it? I applied for and received unemployment compensation in 2011. The process is embarrassing and cumbersome. Once the initial paperwork is done (by the weary state employee) then comes the documentation of the job search.

Oh, the job search. The endless online applications, entering the same information over and over and over. Only to be screened out, because that's what Human Resources software is designed to do. It's a huge victory if you manage to actually speak to a human. You just want to explain how you really are qualified for the job, that you learn quickly, you're a really nice person, and how much your clients and coworkers loved you. Sometimes there is an automated email rejection ("We appreciate your application. However...") or other times, there is just nothing. Radio silence.

If potential politicians had to slog through the hell of unemployment and job search--no cheating--perhaps it would make them less judgmental of Americans who would love nothing more than to go to work.

2. Try to use Medicaid.

Here's another task that is nearly impossible. First, the application. Which requires access to a computer and the Internet. Many folks who need Medicaid don't have these essentials. Assuming the process goes well, now comes the true challenge: Finding a physician and getting an appointment within the next decade. 

This is not a slam against doctors. They are busy--overwhelmed--these days. Documentation, Electronic Medical Records, HIPAA. (You and I could be married, but if I am not on your "approved" list, I will not be able to get a smidgen of information about you and your condition.) Terrible reimbursement rates that take forever to be paid.

Most doctors are really good people. They went into medicine to help others. Their good intentions are lost in the quagmire of paperwork (now electronic work), regulations, and performance standards. They don't mind accepting Medicaid patients at all. It's just that doing so takes more time and paperwork...and only 61% of the Medicare reimbursement rate. So, Mr. Politician, go ahead and try to find a doctor that will take care of your heart condition, blood sugar, and lack of sexual performance. Ms. Politician, good luck finding a qualified gynecologist for your endometriosis. The wait for appointments is months. No string-pulling allowed.

3. Take your pick.

Trying to renegotiate your student loan at a lower rate? Does your child need specialized assistance at the public school? Are you trying to preserve a landmark? Keep a river clean? Get funding for a disability or disease? Train low-income workers for your new business?

Here, we give potential candidates an "elective." The only rule is that they have to choose something they are unfamiliar with. And then work like a maniac to get their cause 1) noticed,  2) acknowledged, and 3) funded or legislated. Easy, peasy, right?

No matter what candidates say during their campaigns, they fail to provide. I have a congressman who, while on the campaign trail, loved to talk about how he and his wife relied on food stamps when they were struggling young-marrieds. Then, after being elected, proceeded to vote against any kind of relief for the less fortunate in his district. Maybe if he--and all the others--had been forced to navigate the bureaucracy that everyday people encounter, he--and all the others--might gain some insights.

If Katy's idea took hold, at least we'd know that people seeking public office had acquired some common knowledge. We could point to their "Common Good" certificate hanging on their wall and remind them that they were elected to represent all their constituents. All. Of. Them.

Customer Service and Cranberry Juice: A Cautionary Tale

 

This is the fable about how a $2.79 bottle of cranberry juice caused Winn-Dixie to lose a customer.

It's August in Florida...the unbearable time of year. A person gets really, really thirsty in this weather. Cold beverages are a must. As I write this, today's temperature is going to hit 97 degrees, heat index 105 degrees. UV 11 out of 12.  

My favorite drink for about the last month: seltzer water with a splash of cranberry juice, with a nice lime wedge. Refreshing, not sweet. Definitely does the trick. Then--oh, no!--I ran out of cranberry juice. I was driving past the Winn-Dixie supermarket when I remembered, so decided to make a quick stop. I don't usually shop there. It's just not convenient. Plus, it sits at the back of one of those little shopping centers where stores are always going out of business, only to be replaced by the latest Sell-Your-Gold or Phones-to-Go shops. It always strikes me as being a little sad. I prefer to go to a happier place for my groceries. So, I choose Publix, which sits near a Jiffy Lube and a KFC. 

But I digress. I pop in and out of Winn-Dixie, with cranberry juice, two limes, and two 2-liter bottles of seltzer water in my sturdy Trader Joe's bags. I drive home, only to discover that the cranberry juice did not make the trip. I check the car...nope. Definitely not there. Sigh. I really need that juice to make my drink. 

Back I go.  Here's where W-D loses me forever.

1. I go up to the Service Counter and tell the nice young Service Counter Man my story. Now, I feel as if I look like an honest, mature woman. Apparently, he does not see me that way. "Hey, Jim-Bob!" he yells to Stock Boy. "Did you return a bottle of cranberry juice to the shelf?" Jim-Bob's face is completely blank. The Service Counter Man looks at me with suspicion. Really? I want to say...as if I'd be out in this heat, making a career out of claiming to leave behind bottles of cranberry juice? As if I claimed to have "left behind" my five-pound Porterhouse steak?

2. "Can I see your receipt, Ma'am?"  Luckily, I had remembered to pull it out of my sturdy Trader Joe's bag. I hand it to him and he scrutinizes it carefully.  (Did I mention that we're talking about $2.79 here?)  Hmmm...it appears that I did, indeed, pay for a bottle of cranberry juice. Now what?

3. At that moment, the teen-age Check-Out Girl walks by. Chomping her gum. Service Counter Man stops her. "Did this woman buy cranberry juice?" I swear, I am not making this up. "Yes, she left without it." says Check-Out Girl, with an accusing voice. Clearly, this whole mess is entirely my fault. Never mind that I had to remind her to give me the $20 I had requested when using my debit card.

4. Service Counter Man thrusts the receipt back at me and says one word. "Okay." Wow, looks like I can actually get the cranberry juice I paid for! I stand there for a second and then ask, "So...I should go get it?" For a crazy moment, I thought he might ask Stock Boy to get it. He rolls his eyes. I go get my juice.

It's kind of amazing to me, in this competitive world, that a store could be so lacking in wanting to make a customer happy. Read The Apple Experience, Fish!, or Be Our Guest to find a sampling of companies that know customer loyalty is dependent on service. I'm not looking for a Nordstrom level of service when I buy grocries...although I have experienced it, and it's pretty swell.

One more time: $2.79

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