The Beginning of the End

Whenever the United States has an enemy without--someone out there or over there who poses a threat to our security and future existence--we are willing to fight for our survival. But what I fear in the current political climate is the enemy within. Even with all the protests at the grass roots, we as a nation seem willing to simply forget the past, happily dismiss all that our predecessors fought and died for, and embrace a pragmatic philosophy that promises to give all of us everything we will ever need. It's a lie, a pipe dream, a mirage. I fear the USA is on a downhill slide toward socialism and the generation under 40 is glad to have it.

Card Games Reprieve

In fairness to Ingles Supermarkets, I must report that persistence has paid off. Why should that surprise me? Christ said, "Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." Okay, so I sought for the lost card and could not find it. I knocked at (emailed) Ingles and asked them to please check the card to see if it had been used and if not, simply cancel it. First, I didn't think they would do that; and second, I figured that surely after the passing of this much time the card was zeroed out. But today I received an email from Ingles saying the card had NOT been used, and it has now been canceled and they are sending me a new replacement card with the correct balance on it.

I have to tell you that I was floored. I honestly didn't think this would happen, but it did. So, kudos to Ingles and especially the woman who went to bat for me, whose name I will protect here but you can bet I'm writing to Ingles corporate office to commend her.

Morale: Good things still do happen (often after bad things). So, pray, seek, knock, ask, then look for the silver lining. Granted, it doesn't always turn out like this, but when it does, enjoy it . . . and share it (which I have).

Card Games

I think I've had it with all the grocery store cards. I have all these things dangling from my key chain so that I can get the best price at the grocery store. Hey, we all know what this is really for, they are keeping track of everything I buy and every nickle I spend. They know when I shop, how often I shop, where I shop and how I pay. For years my wife and I have bought our gas at Ingles Super Markets because (you guessed it), if you buy another card (in this case a prepaid gift card), you get a reduced price.

The gift card industry has netted millions for those who sell them. This is cash in the bank for them whether the cards ever get used or not. And that's the whole idea. I can't tell you how many restaurant gift cards I have in a drawer with too little left on them to buy anything, but the seller gets the left over funds. Indeed, they already have it. Did you ever wonder how many of these things get lost or stolen each year? Oh I know, they tell you treat them like cash, but can you really treat them like cash? I can't fold them neatly into my wallet, and I hardly have room for them in the card slots because they're full of the store cards and other credit cards.

Recently, I purchased an Ingles gift card for gas purchases. It was actually my wife's card and I was renewing it, as we have done for years. But somehow, between the cash register and the car, I lost that card. I panicked. I searched myself, all around me, and in the car. I retraced my steps to the register and asked if, indeed, I was given the card. They took my receipts and looked at the security camera video and saw the cashier hand me the card and I put it into my pocket. Fine, so how about canceling the purchase? I mean, here I stand without the card. Here are the sales slips and charge receipts with all the ID numbers on them, and the transaction is only minutes old, so cancel it before someone tries to use that card. No deal. They're not responsible.

Look, I believe in personal responsibility. I know that if I lose my wallet, it's my own fault. And technically, if I lose a credit card that, too, is my own fault. BUT, the credit card company WILL cancel that card and not hold me responsible for any charges made on it after I lose it. That's part of the beauty and safety of credit cards (unlike debit cards, which unfortunately work like gift cards--like cash). And that's my whole beef with this prepaid gift card business. I think I have decided after this incident that I am through with the card games. Good old cash works just fine. And if some store wants to charge me a few cents extra for paying cash, I guess that's the price I pay for not shuffling all these ridiculous cards anymore. I'm tired of jumping through their hoops, yet when I make a mistake, they just stand there and look at me, offering no help or even any sympathy. Like the government, they say they are doing this to help me, to give me a break. Right. Look, I carry your store card anyway, and I buy the gift/gas card with a credit card, so if you REALLY want to help ME and do ME a favor, then let me simply scan my store card at the pump and pay with my credit card and bypass the whole buying another card business? We all know why.

Boy, this was an expensive lesson to learn. And to whoever found my lost gift/gas card, I hope you really needed it. You could have turned it in, since I believe it was lost inside the store. But that is really asking a lot these days. Sad.

Medicaid Blues

Inspired by a friend with Parkinson's Disease who recently had to move into a nursing home and who is now faced with unbelievable financial stress, I wrote the following lyrics for a "County Song". I do not read or write music, although I have a tune in my head, I have no way of indicating to the reader how that sounds. So, if you can, imagine your own tune as you read the following. But my prayer is that you never have to face what this song describes.

Medicaid Blues
Sittin' here in the nursin' home, wonderin' what to do;
Mama's gotta give the house away, 'cause she don't have a clue;
The government says, "We'll pay the bill, but here's what you must do:
"You gotta give it all away."
"You gotta give it all away: your house, your coat, your car---
"All you worked for all your life, and the change in the old fruit jar.
"You can't keep anything for yourself, you won't need it anyway,
"'Cause the government's gonna care for you 'til you just fade away.

I wonder how long a man can last when hope and pride are gone?
Never thought I'd be sittin' here, singin' this poor man's song,
But life can take some crazy turns, and the next turn may be you.
The government says they'll pay the bill, but here's what you must do:
You gotta give it all away: your house, your coat, your car---
All you worked for all your life, and the change in the old fruit jar.
Can't keep anything for yourself, you won't need it anyway,
'Cause the government's gonna care for you 'til you just fade away.

Never had a thing I didn't earn earn, I never took one red cent;
Always had enough to feed the kids, and enough to pay the rent.
Now times are hard and cash is scarce and I'm a little short, it's true,
But the government says they'll pay the bill, here's all I have to do:
I gotta give it all away: my house, my coat, my car;
All I've worked for all my life and the change in the old fruit jar.
Can't keep anything for myself, I won't need it, so they say,
'Cause the government's gonna care for me 'til I just fade away.
Yes, the government's gonna care for me 'til I just fade away.

(c)2009 J Ray Bobo