If it's not good enough for me, then why is it good enough for you?

Being the father of a seven year old has its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is when I deny my son something, out of my concern for his well being only to have it for myself later on. Like this example:

Charlie: Dad, can I have some beer too?

Me: No son, it is bad for you?

Charlie: Then, why are YOU drinking it dad?

Me: ummmmm

and on it goes......

This same situation is currently going on in Washington DC. There are newly elected members of congress who will soon be taking their oaths of office who campaigned, championed, rallied against "Government Run Health Care" and once they are sworn in, these newly elected republican office holders will make good on their promise, to kill the health care reform law that was passed last year.To stop government run health care in its tracks.....in the parlance of the Tea Party....to "kill the bill"

And, I understand that's the way it is. That is our political system. My side couldn't convince enough of the public to keep a majority and there are of course ramifications to losing elections for the party in power.Fine, okay, I get it.

But I would ask that these newly elected members of congress and really any sitting member of congress democrat or republican who is opposed to "government run health care" or "public option"  should forgo, deny, not take, their own government health care. These folks should lead by example and if they really feel that a government run health care system is illegal, immoral....or whatever, then they should put their money where their health is and not take any form of government run health care.Ever.

Members of congress, like most elected officials at the state level, get excellent health care and it is administered through a government agency paid for with our tax dollars. So a person who is getting their health care from a government program is going to tell the rest of us we can't.

Even my seven year old knows that's a line..........

Eavesdropping on Coffee Shop Convo

So, I got a gift card from my son and his mother for Christmas from a very nice coffee shop in Lenox. I don't normally sit and have my coffee here, but I do frequent coffee shops around Berkshire County- especially those with free wi-fi and so I decided this morning to check this one out.

What struck me, sitting here, is the type of conversations patrons were having. The topics vary greatly from what I am normally used to hearing at my own "local" in Dalton or even the cafes I frequent in Pittsfield......

For example, as soon as I sat down a woman across from me asked "Excuse me sir, I was wondering if you could tell me...I have seemed to have forgotten if it was Socrates or Demosthenes who walked around with a pebble in his mouth?" At that very moment a man, sitting clear across the room from me shouted out to someone at the counter "My movie will be coming out next spring" (no, it wasn't George Clooney). Two women sitting nearby were talking about their "other homes" in New York City and one guy was telling a friend how he just saw an ad for a dog walker and was going to make the call today as he is tired of having to walk his dog in the cold.

I am not saying that I never hear these same type of conversations in Dalton or Pittsfield......it's just that they seem to be more prevalent here in Lenox. The conversations I normally overhear are about a story in the Berkshire Eagle, will this be a good planting season or not?, about a sermon given at the Sunday Mass, or an issue  going on with the local public school. It is not often that I get asked about ancient philosophers, or if the person advertising a dog walking service is reputable.

My point in writing this piece isn't to start a class coffee warfare. I am not bashing the good coffee patrons in Lenox, in fact I was delighted that I must have looked intelligent enough at that hour of the morning to someone to be considered an expert of ancient philosophers. My point is to point out that within the Berkshires, within a distance of just a  few miles, the topics of conversation, the things important enough for people to talk about over their morning joe can be truly striking and very different.

Is it like this everywhere? I suppose coffee shops are in their own way community focal points and the people who frequent their "local" are representative of those who live nearby.

Do you agree?