I Have a Reason to Be Hostile.
Every couple of weeks (or days depending on my mood), I like to call up Arlen Specter’s office and remind his staff that he’s a stupid fucking asshole. The conversation usually goes like the one I had this morning, after putting 3 gallons of gas in my van, at $3.11 a gallon.
“Hi there, it’s Brendan Skwire, a constituent from Philadelphia. Listen, I have a question for Senator Specter that came to mind as I was gassing up this morning.
“Remember how 5 years ago, gas was only about a buck-and-a-quarter a gallon, and how you guys started a war in Iraq saying that it would lead to lower energy prices, cheap gas, and greater energy security?
“Well, none of that happened, did it? I just put $12.00 of gas in my van and got three piddling gallons. And I just ran out of oil heat at home, and I’m really not sure what to do. So perhaps Senator Specter or someone in the office can advise me.
“See, oil heat is going for $3.42 per gallon, and the oil company won’t come out for less than 100 gallons. When I bought the house 5 years ago, I could fill the entire tank for $300.00. Now I can’t even get a third of a tank!
“I don’t have $350.00 just lying around. And I’m reluctant to put it on my credit card, because thank again to your boss, the credit cards can charge whatever interest rate they want for whatever reason. 18 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, who knows how high it can go? Wheeee! Plus, I have to buy food too. So which should I choose: heat or eat?”
Here the woman interrupted and quite rudely talked over me, telling me she wasn’t going to offer her personal opinion. I told her I didn’t want her personal opinion. “Going to war was official policy, a decision Arlen Specter made in his capacity as a government official and as my representative. As such, he is responsible for that vote and accountable for the consequences thereof. So, what does the Office of Arlen Specter suggest: heat or eat?”
They didn’t have an answer and promised to pass my comments along.
Hostile? I have a damn good reason to be hostile. I’m too “rich” to qualify for the programs that benefit truly poor people, and too poor to actually live like a middle class person. It’s a constant fucking struggle to keep my head above water, and there are literally NO SUPPORTS for people like me.
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February 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
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