My snowboarding trip with a republican

[Atman]

Sunday I went to Mt. Snow with a friend who is Mr. Blue Collar. Always voted republican. He knows what I do for a living (political cartoonist, anti-Bush activist, basically) and we've always chosed simply not to talk too much about it. Well, with a 2 hour car ride, the inevitable subject came up. Wow.

I've heard about guys like my friend...but I've never heard such first-hand accounts of how Bush policies are hitting regular Joes. My friend works for a family-owned factory (no unions) that builds huge industrial foil-making machines. He told me he is one of the last people left. 2 years ago, the plant hired 10 full timers on the floor. Now they are down to 4. He was bitching that every time the let a guy go, they hear about how their "productivity" is up. But he hasn't had a raise in over two years. Now, my friend says he stopped getting the daily paper ("too much negative crap, no time for it") and actually does watch Fox as his primary news source. But, he went off on the Bush jobless numbers like a well-educated DUer..."what a bunch of bullshit!" He told me that one of the front-office "girls" quit the a couple weeks ago, but instead of replacing her, they split her job up among the remaining three girls in the office. "Hey, every time someone leaves, no one takes their place...none of us ever sees any of that fuckin' savings! They just cut back my benefits, increase my insurance! Fuck 'em! Bush is all about helping out creep like my bosses make more money...my income is going backward! The only reason we're doing better this year than last is because I don't have to pay child support any longer, otherwise I'd be hurtin' big-time."

I said very little. I didn't have to. I just smiled and said "good idea" when he declared "Voting for Bush was the biggest mistake I ever made! I've never voted for a democrat, but this year is it...I've had it with the republicans. I'm voting for Kerry. Bush has got to go."

On top of all that, it was the best day of snowboarding ever!

[frank frankly]

1. great news and you're website is great!

your site is awesome!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Great Story!

How could Mr. Blue Collar EVER vote Republican anyway?

Yes, it must have been a beautiful snow day in VT (it was 50 here in Boston). They got some powder last night up there-we got rain.

[rockymountaindem]

3. Hasn't he heard

snoboarding and skiing are elitist activities for the rich only?

[Atman]

6. LOL! That is how the subject came up

I make political bumper stickers, among other things. I told him that I was about decorate my new board with one of my "WAS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?" stickers, and a "TAKE BACK AMERICA" sticker. But, that I thought skiing was kind of a republican sport, and it probably would last long if I left it outside the lodge with those on it. He said "I don't know, I don't think it's that republican."

"Well, I think it's the money thing...lots of Bimmers and Lexus SUV's in those parking lots."

(BTW, we only ski/board on cheap days; we have memberships to the CT Ski Council, which offers 1/2 price lift tickets. Never pay full price for a lift ticket!)

[rockymountaindem]

8. I feel bad for you.

"East Coast skiing" is considered an oxymoron in Colorado. You should get out here and see what a real mountain looks like.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. BTW I love your bumper stickers!

:-)

[prolesunited]

5. Thanks for sharing

Sometimes the truth becomes self-evident

[seabeyond]

7. my husband owns a business

and every time an employ leaves he doesnt hire another and down to one office person from three, and insurance is getting more meager, and no, he isnt getting any richer. he is being sucked dry. the economy is in the shits, and no one is spending any money and we are about to go out of business in a few months unless something shifts.