The Sales Tax was Raised???

My dad called me the other day to tell me about a house for sale in North Carolina for only $89,900, 2 blocks from the Pamilico Sound, all brick and twice the size of mine. This went into the usual debate between us about political details. He is an extremely conservative Republican, I am a card carrying, bleeding heart, ......well, I'm a yoga teacher-- what do you think? In the midst of his tirade about Maryland's current governor (or the jerk I elected as he puts it) he lets fly that they raised the Maryland sales tax by 1%.

Did you know that?

I was so surprised. Not at the tax being raised. Like, where the heck have I been? Worse, I go running to all the members of my house and even the youngest who has NO interest in politics other than the whole peace and love 60s thing, she gives me a look like I'm nuts-- "Um, Mom, Duh, who didn't know that?"

I didn't. And guess what? I don't really care. Last night I decided that maybe I am completely out of touch with the world so I tried to watch the news. For about 5 minutes...or should I say...5 horror stories. Jeez. Here's what I saw:

RAPEPILLAGEMURDERSUICIDEBOMBERSECONOMYTOOMANYCATSINTERESTRATES
YIKESANDWHEREARETHEKIDSWHOWANTTOWATCHBASKETBALLGONNASLEEP?

I had to stay up and watch 2 Scrubs reruns to re-program my mind so I could sleep.

Are things really this bad? I mean, here's the deal...am I the only one who thinks that maybe the economy needs to re-stabilize because it's insane to expect it to keep going up? Really, how will our children ever buy a home if the prices keep going through the roof forever? And do you really think it's reasonable for my dad to get an electric bill of $700 to heat his house that just the 2 of them live in on my mom's salary alone? Do you ever think this current down turn is not only necessary but imperative if our society is going to survive?

My dad is buying into the panic. And I can't really blame him--he can't afford his electric bill and may have to borrow to pay it. That's insane. I was in mortgages for way too long and saw way too many credit reports to not go crazy about how awful a plan that is. But when I made some other suggestions on maybe downsizing and selling off some overstock he said the typical American response.

Which I won't say word for word but it goes something like this: No way will I make myself do without when I am entitled to everything I've ever wanted simply because I live in the greatest country in the world.

He didn't really say that.

But I am struck by the logic that says it's okay to spend billions and trillions of dollars on a war when people that have worked hard their entire life are unable to afford electricity which should be kind of a given, you know? Like health care. And food.

Ugh. I'm going back to watching American Idol. At least that makes sense. In a warped, overly judgemental way.

And yes, I could be out of touch and naive. And that may be a good plan for now.