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I go to a 4th of July party

Submitted by Bruce Krasting on 07/04/2011 09:20 -0400

So I go to a 4th of July party. Lots of people; tons of screaming kids.
It’s one of those get-togethers where everyone brings some food to
share. (As a result there is ten varieties of potato salad, a half dozen
vegetable dips and five plates of deviled eggs. And it was hot out.) I brought vodka.

It was a mixed crowd. A few local business folks (my plumber was there).
Mostly commuters to the Big Apple. Lawyers, a doctor or two. I met one
accountant. The Madison Avenue types are always a laugh. A number of
Wall Streeters (more women than men). And one blogger.

So I started an argument. It got out of hand. Some spouses had to break
it up. One lady later accused me of pushing the row; I was ‘raining’ on the holiday fun. And anyway, “there were kids around”. What type of example were “we” setting arguing like that?

At one point I found myself in a small crowd of folks. Being the
provocateur that I am, I asked the ‘right’ person what she thought of
Obama’s comments last week about taxing the shit out of those who use
corporate jets.

The response was an unequivocal (and predictable) voice of approval.
This person is a teacher. She knows first hand about the squeeze her
profession is facing. She says:

“Those who fly on these planes have to pay!”

I asked this particular question because I happened to know that one guy
in the mix worked for GECC (and knew a thing or two about aircraft
financing). Another has a wife who makes a decent buck as a ‘Stu’ on
private flights. They jumped all over the teacher.

That husband:

“You think it’s okay to put my wife out of work? So teachers can get a bloated pension?”

The GE guy:

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Private aviation contributes $150 billion to the US economy. It employs 1.2mm people, most of those are union jobs. This is a success story. And you want to cripple it!”

The teacher looked like she was hit with a brick. But she has supporters. The local Veterinarian comes back with;

“What are you? Tea baggers? (the growing crowd of kids loved that insult) Why do you attack (the teacher). She’s been making a real contribution most of her life!

I guy I don’t know chips in:

I work for IBM. We have a 401 plan, but there is no guaranteed pension for me. Why should there be for a teacher? For that matter, why should a conductor on Metro North get that?

This was great. The IBMer stepped into a trap. He didn’t know that there were many attendees who work on the trains. (The main rail yard is right here in town) So right away it was; Fuck that! and Bullshit! and Fuck you! The poor IBM guy slinked off mumbling something about needing to ‘refresh’ a drink.

The Vet, (who now thought he was on the high ground) rang out:

The Republicans are stupid. We should roll back the Bush tax cuts. Rich people can afford to pay more!

I thought it was time to stir the pot a bit more. So I shook things up.
I knew that the damn Vet was overcharging a bundle tending for the dogs
and cats. So I say:

What’s
rich? And who will pay these taxes you want? This plan will also index
the AMT tax. Anyone with $165,000 of partnership or S-corp income is
going to get hit.

Then I rubbed it in with:

If you own a business and live in a high income tax state and also pay property taxes and have kids you’re about to be whacked!

The Vet, of course, has all of that working against him. He looks surprised and says:

Really?

So I add:

You
can’t move the dial on our problems with more taxes. You have to cut
expenses. If you’re not willing to talk about Social Security and
Medicare you’re just blowing in the wind.

That took things over the top. Those that were AARP eligible looked as if I had farted. Those under 35 gave a Yeah! Or a Right on! So I closed the door on any chance of civility when I asked a young (hot head) who works construction:

“How do you feel about paying Social Security for old people”.

He comes right back with the response I was looking for:

It’s stealing!

That got everyone going. Out of no place there are now 20 are so arguing about one thing or the other.

-The local Pastor is having a set-to with an accountant.

-A nurse is fighting with a doctor.

-Two mothers are ganging up against the middle school principal.

-The soccer coach is arguing with two Wall Street wives.

-Two
oldsters are defending the fact that they get SS benefits with five
younger workers who are complaining they will not see a penny of what
they have paid. The grey hairs are losing big time. “Boomers Suck!” is heard.

-The car dealer is fighting with the insurance salesman. This is getting physical with both sides pushing. (I learned later that infidelity, not politics or economics was the issue)

-A
guy who runs a decent sized lawn business is fighting with two of his
customers over the fact that illegal aliens are mowing the lawns. One of
the wives is screaming at the poor bastard.

-Four
people are fighting over the local nuke (Indian Point). Some wanted it
closed, those who work there were fighting like hell.

-Young kids are crying. Dogs are barking. Adults are shouting.

-Husbands are trying to pull back wives. Wives are pulling back husbands.

-Fingers are pointing and swearing is happening.

And then it got ugly.

Ms Mars, (the obese portly lady who gives out all the parking tickets in town that EVERYONE hates) tripped over a chair (she later said she was pushed)
and all 260 pounds of her fell flat in the middle of an eight-foot
aluminum folding table. There was at least 20 paper plates filled with
all sorts of stuff that got catapulted into the air. Ripe potato salad
and uneaten eggs were launched. Chewed on spare ribs were flying next to
cups of stale beer and watery cola. Most of the flying garbage met in
the middle and ended up on the prostrate Ms Mars.

It didn’t end there.

The football coach was startled by the flying Ms. Mars. He jumped up so
fast that he banged full force into the librarian. Her ninety-five
pounds got tossed (butt first) into the next table and it too became a
casualty with food, people and folding chairs going in every direction.
Several folks fell to the ground trying to avoid the flying food and
drink.

And then it got silent. Only the music and a dog could be heard. The hostess came running from her home screaming “Is anyone hurt?!?”

And then she tripped over a pool toy (the Meyer twins were responsible for leaving it there). It was a perfect face plant. Dozens where heard groaning in sympathy. (I actually heard a chuckle or two)

I think it was the kids who first started really laughing. Ms. Mars and the librarian were dirty, but fine. (Ms Mars looked like she had been swimming in a dumpster)
Our hostess suffered little more than grass stains and embarrassment.
So soon everyone was laughing and there was a collective effort to right
tables and chairs and clean up some of the rancid salads. The fighting
ended as abruptly as it had started.

I left early. There was supposed to be some fireworks after sunset. I’d seen (and set off) enough already.

In our crazy system the next election cycle starts this weekend. If
there is a credible candidate against Obama we are going to see some
ugliness come to the surface. There might even be a food fight or two.
The country is deeply divided on so many issues. Unfortunately I don’t
think it will end with a laugh. It might just rip us apart.

- advertisements -

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 10:00 | 1424055 DogSlime

I find it interesting that throughout that recorded argument, no-one seemed to mention the financial giants or their part in this whole mess. Seems like in-fighting among the ordinary people. That's a shame because I suspect it's precisely what the bankster and Wall Street elite want - ordinary people fighting among themselves and blaming each other.

This would seem to illustrate that the general population is still clueless and hence we're fucked. They'll turn on each other before they'll turn on the scum who are really fleecing them.

I wonder what the party will be like in 2014?

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:58 | 1424051 DavidC

Bruce,
Brilliant!

And reassuring to know that it's not only 'American Idols' or 'X Factor' that can get people arguing and discussing.

DavidC

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:57 | 1424047 HITMAN56

Great real world story there Bruce...sit back and watch all those sheeple turn a simple discussion into an all out shitshow...demonstrates how much fear is really out there and on the 4th of the July none the less

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 14:08 | 1424749 Cognitive Dissonance

And that is what it's all about, fear. Everyone is either worried that they won't get theirs, or keep theirs or are giving theirs away even before they have a chance to get theirs.

This is the entitlement mentality, a term that has been warped to mean only government benefits, but in reality means promises made or believed to be made or hoped were made and now they might not be kept or fulfilled or given to someone else.

"We", meaning anyone who is older than 30 years old and especially anyone 40 and above, knew this time was coming. There were plenty of people warning that we were headed this way. It's not like we didn't know or couldn't have known or that we were promised it was taken care of so why should we have known. This is one of the Big Lies that we wanted to believe and so we did believe it every time it was spoken. And now it's all coming to a head.

Why then are we so surprised that those in the best position to take what they want before it all disappears (actually before we finally admit it has all already disappeared and in fact never was) are doing so?

Tue, 07/05/2011 - 00:36 | 1425818 malek

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 21:42 | 1425466 three chord sloth

Well said, Cog.

Entitlement makes slaves of us all.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 15:57 | 1424976 lincolnsteffens

Cog,

The 1st time anyone said I would never live to collect SS was over 30 years ago. He picked up his family and moved to the middle of the US and swapped a $1000 a year real estate tax for 20 times the land area, a house as good as the one he sold and the real estate taxes were, in his words "pocket change".

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 15:40 | 1424944 oldman

Cognative,

Over 40 and pre-boomer

Owner of nothing not paid for with cash

No home, job, car, or anything to speak of except a lot of friends and my family

What you call 'boomers I knew as yuppies----self-indulged fantasy flowers that are beginning to wilt

Fat and full of fear---worse today

We didn't know what to do with them then and you don't know what to do with them now

'Doing' might not be the answer

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 17:29 | 1425121 Cognitive Dissonance

You Dear Sir are the exception to the rule and not whom I was speaking of.

What you call 'boomers I knew as yuppies.....

And just to set the record straight I never said "Boomers".......but you did. :)

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 15:34 | 1424931 DosZap

CD,

As usual dead on.

Except not fear, anger.The definition of the word Entitlement,as you know means something that is DUE you.

Not the same as Welfare, or a gift.

I liken it to I loan you $150,000 for 10yrs, with a expected return at the end of that 10 yrs, of exactly the same amount.

But, instead, you return NOTHING.

Now if your a person, I have two choices,sue you, or take something more valuable from you.(air)

But, when you insert the word Government, those options are both DOA.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:56 | 1424039 Escapeclaws

Could somebody please pass the horseradish?

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 10:10 | 1424080 snowball777

It's dripping down the left side of your face.

Tue, 07/05/2011 - 11:42 | 1426604 mtomato2

That's the hope and change...

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 13:31 | 1424624 Escapeclaws

and there's none left right?

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:55 | 1424037 nmewn

ROTFL!!!

Bruce you've made my day!

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 12:23 | 1424440 SteveNYC

Ha, good call!

Distract -> Divide -> Rule

.....and ye peasants shall fight each other for the scraps.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 11:48 | 1424356 DosZap

Last party you will be invited to for a while, I fear..............LOL

Glad to see the 35yr olds do not want to do what the Boomers did at 35, up until thet retired, or died.

We didn't either, and we likely will get little to nothing of the hundreds of thousands personally paid in back...so just who is REALLY getting screwed here?.

Lifers who paid, or 35 yr olds who have maybe 10 yrs paying into the black hole?.

Frigging selfish Boomers.......we are a sorry ass lot.

Glad to see Freedom of Speech is still working for ya.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 10:27 | 1424116 i-dog

+100%

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:49 | 1424024 bigwavedave

Get a life Bruce....

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 13:41 | 1424648 Redneck Makin-tosh

doop

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 13:34 | 1424633 Redneck Makin-tosh

He can swap with mine most days..

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:49 | 1424023 astrofibo

SP500 Buy any pullback until august 17 2011!

http://astrofibo.blogspot.com/2011/06/sp500-60min-buy-any-pullback-until.html

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 16:28 | 1425038 Freddie

Astro boy we have a term for that around here. It is called:

"Just buy the fucking dip."

This time we may need QE3 confirmation.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:57 | 1424043 DavidC

This is the third time you've posted this that I've seen.

WHY?!?!

DavidC

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:44 | 1424014 Financial Newbie

"Everything. OK! I'll talk! In third grade, I cheated on my history exam. In fourth grade, I stole my uncle Max's toupee and I glued it on my face when I was Moses in my Hebrew School play. In fifth grade, I knocked my sister Edie down the stairs and I blamed it on the dog... When my mom sent me to the summer camp for fat kids and then they served lunch I got nuts and I pigged out and they kicked me out... But the worst thing I ever done - I mixed a pot of fake puke at home and then I went to this movie theater, hid the puke in my jacket, climbed up to the balcony and then, t-t-then, I made a noise like this: hua-hua-hua-huaaaaaaa - and then I dumped it over the side, all over the people in the audience. And then, this was horrible, all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other. I never felt so bad in my entire life."

-Chunk, The Goonies

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 12:15 | 1424293 G-R-U-N-T

"all the people started getting sick and throwing up all over each other."

"Stand by Me"...Release date 1986...."Goonies" release date 1985.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STB4s7Qhf40

Happy 4th of July everyone!!! :-)

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 10:54 | 1424189 Jason_1sandal

+ 1

Love that movie !!

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:40 | 1424001 Sudden Debt

Why... WHY DIDN'T I GET A 4TH OF JULY BBQ INVITATION?!!

IS IT BECAUSE I LIVE IN EUROPE??!!!

YOU'RE ALL RACIST PIGS!!!

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 10:04 | 1424068 snowball777

Sorry, no monarchies allowed.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 11:20 | 1424275 Sudden Debt

I can leave my manners behind. Really I can!

I'll even fart whenever somebody pulls my finger and burp whenever I take a bite from something!

Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:43 | 1430111 Clark Bent

How about you surrender to the latest pathological utopian fraud that comes down the pike, and we'll pay to rescue you-again. Well, probably not anymore, looks like we have been infected by the same cretinism that infected Europe. Maybe we can all become serfs together.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 14:41 | 1424810 Problem Is

Bruce says the football coach jumped out of his seat to full force bang the 95lb librarian butt first right on a food table until it collapsed...

I think it was your kind of party, Sudden D...

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:38 | 1423998 AnAnonymous

1776, 4th of July, the day Freedom, Truth and Justice died.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 13:32 | 1424628 Big Red

TO THE JUNKERS of AnAn:

You're going to love this:

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2011/07/july-4th-is-scam.html

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 13:05 | 1424568 Hacked Economy

Hey AnAn,

Stow it. Nobody wants to hear your cynical whining about the beginning of our country on the Fourth of July. If you don't like the U.S.A., take steps to improve it or move out.

Epic fail.

Happy 4th of July to everyone else!

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 14:16 | 1424767 cossack55

Or you can take your Holier-Than-Thou Patriotism shit and stick it.

Epic piece of shit

Fuck the 4th

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 16:13 | 1425009 ISEEIT

Fuck you back.

Would be a lot better if you at least explained your insult. Maybe we don't celebrate the 4th for all the reasons you imagine.

We might be possibly a little more complex than your masters let on?

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 14:36 | 1424807 Hacked Economy

@ cossack55,

Have a great, enjoyable, patriotic, fun-filled, inspiring, uplifting Fourth of July with family and friends. Wishing you all the best! You need it!

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 14:58 | 1424867 cossack55

Have not had one of those since 63'. Hope you enjoy it when Uncle Sam sticks it deep and breaks it off. Dullard.

Tue, 07/05/2011 - 22:49 | 1428529 Hacked Economy

Nice try, but you can't drag everyone down with you just by throwing some mud around.

So someone wishes you a happy Fourth, and you respond with a graphic sexual insult and name-calling. Not too mature for an old person. Oh, well...time to forget all about you and move on with my day.

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 13:04 | 1424561 Silver Shield

Rekindle Your Fire For Freedom

http://dont-tread-on.me/rekindle-your-fire-for-freedom/

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 17:38 | 1425136 Guy Fawkes Mulder

http://i.imgur.com/7gsd8.jpg

"Everyone underneath is trolled..."

Much like BK trolled these pussy Americans.

This is a great post.

More confirmation of how bad things are going to get, with a nation of adult children.

I go to a 4th of July party

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