Personal responsibility, Republican-style

[NightTrain]

Several weeks ago, I made a pilgrimage to Massachusetts to visit my CD guru's store. When I advised two of my fellow musicheads, Mike and Al, of my upcoming trip, they each asked if I would pick them up a certain CD and they'd pay me when I gave it to them.

Since I see Mike more often than I see Al, I ended up giving the requested discs to Mike, who paid me for both of them. He figured, since he saw Al so frequently, Mike would just give him the disc and collect the money for it the next time they hooked up.

Unfortunately, Mike is somewhat of a pushover. As such, when Al claimed that he didn't have the price of the CD on him, Mike let him take it anyway, with a promise that Al would pay Mike the next time they saw each other.

Mike and Al have seen each other on numerous occasions since then, but Mike has yet to see a penny of the money he fronted me for Al's CD. Al has had as many excuses as McDonald's has Big Macs for not giving Mike the money he owes him.

It's not as if cash flow is a problem for Al. He had a high-paying job with the telephone company for 30+ years, and is now retired not only with a generous pension but with the dividend checks he gets from his stocks. Not only that, but Al's house is long-since paid for.

Meanwhile, Mike pulls in about $50,000 a year as a machinist, but after he pays his mortgage, car note and other assorted bills each month, he rarely has enough money to buy luxury items like CDs. As such, the money Al owes Mike would really come in handy, particularly this time of the year, when Mike's expenses also unclude heating oil.

Not surprisingly, Al is a lifelong Republican and proud of it. And knowing my political leanings, he enjoys making disdainful remarks about "those damned liberals" whenever I'm in earshot. Well, the next time he pulls that shit with me, I'm going to give Mr. Self-Righteous Republican the earful he so richly deserves!

[MissMillie]

1. Tell Mike

that for Christmas he should hand him an envelope w/ a note forgiving the loan with a little "Merry Christmas" added on.

I don't like people like that either.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. The only problem with that approach is...

He is such a schmuck he would never get the sarcasam, and such a non-Christian he would not understand the gesture that way either.

[grannylib]

3. I bet you could get a bazillion anecdotes from others saying much the

same thing. Makes me sick. Those who have want only to keep for themselves (with a few rare exceptions); those who have little or nothing are willing to share.

[eileen from OH]

4. Why wait until he pulls that shit?

Sucker punch him.

You: Hey, Al, you always say how Republicans take responsibility for their personal behavior right?

Him: Yeah

You: And you're a Republican right?

Him: Yeah.

You (whipping out a calendar) Well, then maybe you could circle a date here when you're gonna become a good Republican by taking personal responsibility for paying Mike the lousy $ you owe him.

eileen from OH

[damnraddem]

11. Forget Al. Work on Mike.

Point out to him how Republicans like Al screw him over. Urge him to vote Democratic from now on.

[NightTrain]

14. Actually, I don't have to work on Mike.

Here's his opinion of Bush: "I hate that motherfucker!"

Somehow, I doubt Mike'll be voting Republican in 2004! }(

[Kat45]

5. What is your CD guru's store?

Being from Massachusetts, I'm curious to see if it's a store I'm familiar with.

[NightTrain]

9. Unfortunately, the store closed down recently

Its name was Disc One CD. Its location was College Highway (Routes 10 and 202) in Southwick, just north of Granby, Connecticut.

[Sir_Shrek]

6. Ummm....

...all this over a CD? We're not talking about rent or an automobile here, right? I know there's principle involved, but c'mon folks!

[NightTrain]

8. The CD is not the point

The point is that Al has more money than he knows what to do with but is too goddamned cheap and greedy to pay Mike the lousy $15 that he owes him for that CD. Another point is that Al is a proud Republican. You know, the party of personal responsibility?

[Sir_Shrek]

12. OK....

People are dicks, I realize that. Just seems like small potatoes to me. I've got plenty of Demo friends who never foot their bills either (they leave $15 when they really should've left $20, etc). But unless it's something substantial, I don't see what the fuss is about. If the guy's gonna be a dick about it, don't lend him any money anymore.

[SonofMass]

7. This is what things have come to in Bush's America...

.

[thom1102]

10. Not all of us CT phone company employees..

are self righteous conservative republicans! :D

[NightTrain]

13. Didn't think you all were!

I was referring only to Al. Honest!