Cab drivers should only tell me their political opinions if I ask
Category Cabbies Politics
I just had a taxi ride, with a driver who is a big Talk Radio fan and HUGE Glenn Beck fan. He started of with the usual, the weather is nice and then he turns to politics. He proceeded to tell me how the left wing president and his Chicago mob are taking America away from it's citizens, and how democrats were mean to Sarah Palin, how David Letterman made a bad joke about her, and if he had been Imus he would have been fired, then he got started on the health care bill.
He started to tell me how with Obama you wont be able to see your existing doctor anymore, that the system is going to cover illegal immigrants, and that old people will die, and then to top it off he told me how Obama wasn't even American.
Now for 95% of the ride, I just nodded my head and didn't make on that I already thought this guy was a complete nut who listened to way too much radio without questioning anything they tell you. So decided it was time to start asking him questions:
* Do old people not die now?
* When illegal immigrants visit the emergency room now, who pays their bill?
* Have you ever experienced health care anywhere outside the US?
* Do you have any friends that have filed for bankruptcy because of medical costs?
* Have you ever been turned down for health insurance?
I didn't tell him my feelings one way or another (very unlike me), I just asked some questions.
I've had my own experience of dealing with health insurance companies this year, and I have to say, the American system drove me nuts. Multiple bills from different people, spending 8 hours on the phone arguing with the insurance company when they refused to pay one of the bills (they ended up paying).
Yes there are good things about the American system like money being spent on research, but there are many other failings. My belief is that a certain level of health care should be a basic human right. Maybe that's because I'm European, maybe it's because I don't believe that all people without insurance are lazy no good losers, maybe it's because that's my opinion. People on the radio also forget, people in Europe that want private health insurance can still buy it, it isn't an all or nothing system.
Anyway, if I get in a taxi that I'm paying for, leave your politics at home.
Before anyone says, hey you're talking about politics on your blog, there is a difference, this is free, you're not paying to visit this blog. This is my space where your are guests, I can say whatever the hell I want
I just had a taxi ride, with a driver who is a big Talk Radio fan and HUGE Glenn Beck fan. He started of with the usual, the weather is nice and then he turns to politics. He proceeded to tell me how the left wing president and his Chicago mob are taking America away from it's citizens, and how democrats were mean to Sarah Palin, how David Letterman made a bad joke about her, and if he had been Imus he would have been fired, then he got started on the health care bill.
He started to tell me how with Obama you wont be able to see your existing doctor anymore, that the system is going to cover illegal immigrants, and that old people will die, and then to top it off he told me how Obama wasn't even American.
Now for 95% of the ride, I just nodded my head and didn't make on that I already thought this guy was a complete nut who listened to way too much radio without questioning anything they tell you. So decided it was time to start asking him questions:
* Do old people not die now?
* When illegal immigrants visit the emergency room now, who pays their bill?
* Have you ever experienced health care anywhere outside the US?
* Do you have any friends that have filed for bankruptcy because of medical costs?
* Have you ever been turned down for health insurance?
I didn't tell him my feelings one way or another (very unlike me), I just asked some questions.
I've had my own experience of dealing with health insurance companies this year, and I have to say, the American system drove me nuts. Multiple bills from different people, spending 8 hours on the phone arguing with the insurance company when they refused to pay one of the bills (they ended up paying).
Yes there are good things about the American system like money being spent on research, but there are many other failings. My belief is that a certain level of health care should be a basic human right. Maybe that's because I'm European, maybe it's because I don't believe that all people without insurance are lazy no good losers, maybe it's because that's my opinion. People on the radio also forget, people in Europe that want private health insurance can still buy it, it isn't an all or nothing system.
Anyway, if I get in a taxi that I'm paying for, leave your politics at home.
Before anyone says, hey you're talking about politics on your blog, there is a difference, this is free, you're not paying to visit this blog. This is my space where your are guests, I can say whatever the hell I want
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Comments
You could have always said "pull over." Or popped an iPod into your ears, or simply asked him to be quiet.
Good thinking with the questions, though. We've got way too many people throughout the country that don't bother really researching the facts.
Posted by Erik Brooks At 02:42:06 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
Another question could have been, "Where were you for the eight years before Obama won the election?"
Suddenly the enablers are the downtrodden activists.
Posted by Dave Gallagher At 03:09:18 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
PS You clearly have a very great deal of patience, if you sat through that quietly. Now I, on the other hand.....
Posted by Rob McDonagh At 03:27:04 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
Posted by Carl Tyler At 03:34:01 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
Posted by Adam Gartenberg At 03:55:40 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
Posted by Palmi At 07:37:51 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
Posted by Wassim At 10:10:39 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
On the other hand, taxi drivers can be very entertaining. I had one in San Francisco one time telling me how he used to buy tickets to see Jefferson Airplane, Santana, and the Grateful Dead at Filmore West for $1.50 -- 50 cents for a hit of acid and it was the best time of his life. Had another in Copenhagen this spring explaining that the reason Europeans were more open to socialist politics was the assumption that, at some time in their life, everyone will need a helping hand. Both threads worth investing a little thought in understanding.
(BTW Carl, I am unconvinced you didn't egg him on a little bit -- you can't help yourself!)
Posted by Arthur Fontaine At 10:20:01 PM On 08/06/2009 | - Website - |
Posted by Lisa At 09:18:35 AM On 08/08/2009 | - Website - |
Sorry - couldn't resist the dangling participle.
As for healthcare and the USA, I'm partial to both.
Posted by Glen At 06:11:16 PM On 08/10/2009 | - Website - |