Wal-Mart 101

Ahhh, the smell of Pine-Sol mixed with deli rotisserie chicken, just like mom used to make. Tonight I was in Wal-Mart, and as I stood in line with my ten bucks, my bread, and my bologna, I thought about the person in front of me, using....you got it....the Louisiana Purchase Card. Well, this got me thinking about exactly HOW far we've gone with this. The lady had about five children, running amok and screaming like banshees, and she had two carts. One was JAM-packed with food, I mean, shit I can't afford. Ribeye steaks, sausages, milk, cereal, and LOBSTER. Genuine lobster, alive and in the bag. Well, first I wondered with five children what she was doing eating ribeyes and live Maine lobster, but then something else took me. The second cart was full of beer. And not good beer. Schlitz and Milwaukee's Best, an INSULT to beer everywhere. At least six FULL cases of beer were present and accounted for, and as I inconspicuously (doubt it, lol) watched this transaction take place, I thought about my approaching and inevitable college graduation next year, I thought about the ten dollars I had left to buy bread and bologna for sandwiches, and I watched carefully as an almost FIVE hundred dollar total was rung up....on the first cart. Well, I didn't even know people weren't using food stamps anymore, and now I guess they've put it in credit card form for humility's sake. Anyway, the cashier told her some item she had (I think it was from the deli) she would have to pay cash for, and the woman had a FIT. She argued with her for a good sixty seconds about it, and you could tell the people in line were REALLY getting annoyed with the situation. The cashier politely explained it wasn't covered under the Food Stamp card, and the customer YELLED at this poor cashier about her own situation. She finally agreed, food was purchased, then the cashier rang up her almost $150 in beer, and I saw the most amazing thing. The lady opens her lizard-green faux reptile wallet, and proceeds to count out hundred-dollar bills. I counted eight, but there was money she didn't even GET to. Here I am, bologna and bread in hand, working my ass off for MY ten bucks, and this criminal abuse of the system was taking place right in front of me. You know, I don't oppose food stamps for the right people and for the right reason. There are people out there that GENUINELY deserve help, people who want a better life and who help THEMSELVES work towards it. People that DON'T give attitude to a hapless cashier when she tells you your fucking deli donuts you're going to feed your fat ass with aren't covered by the Louisiana Purchase card. 

Of course, being me, I couldn't help but chuckle just a little bit at the irony of the situation. Others in line were thinking the same, rolling their eyes, shifting their weight around in a very annoyed and irritated fashion, but people, THIS is what we've let happen in this country. There's no sense of self-respect anymore, only a sense of ENTITLEMENT. What does it say when someone spending five hundred bucks in food stamps purchases two hundred bucks worth of beer, all the while talking on their IPHONE?!?!

Christ, I'm a gadget junkie, and I don't even have an iPhone. Just my lovely Blackberry. I get so frustrated watching what's happening today, and feeling helpless to do anything about it. Guys, this tax day, we CAN.

Our Congressman will be at the Shreveport Tea Party on 15 April. If there is ANYONE among you who has had ENOUGH of the abuse of government the people in D.C. seem too happy to perpetrate (Republicans also included, not just Libs), then JOIN us April 15 at the Boardwalk and come let our representatives know how we feel! People, this country was FOUNDED with the blood of a revolution, and its getting dangerously close to time we had another one. I'm INCENSED to my bones with what's been happening, what fifty years of apathy and slow decay of government have allowed our country to MUTATE into. We're a mess, people. Like it or not, this is NOT the country of our mothers and fathers. America has become a cesspool of intellectual RAPE and a place devoid of practical decency and the ingenuitive spirit. Stop selling yourselves out to the FIRST bidder, people, its time to REALIZE your worth, and reach your potential. It took me a LONG time to learn that, but people, now more than ever, America needs us. The human spirit CALLS to us, waiting for us to answer. Ideas and innovation are our FUTURE, and we must make it our MOST important priority NEVER to stop learning, to continue our basic THIRST for knowledge and information! We can't turn to GOD for our answers, people. RELIGION is not the answer. GOVERNMENT is not the answer. God left us to our own free will, and our government has turned its BACK on us. Its time. Let's start something AMAZING, people. If we do nothing else with our lives, let's LOVE a cause WORTH fighting for. The human spirit, and the spirit of industrialism and INDIVIDUAL achievement this country was founded on are worth fighting for. Worth DYING for. I'll be there on April 15. I hope to GOD you all will, as well. Until next time, guys....own it.