It Happened at the Barbershop

There were four of us, including the barber, in the Barbershop.  We do not know one another.  Politics came up and it was agreed by the other three that “all politicians are dishonest.”  The barber quoted something his father use to say about politicians and then added that his father thought LBJ to be the most crooked and dishonest of all presidents.  Another fellow said he was quoting Will Rogers, “If you shake hands with a politician be sure to count your fingers when it is over.”  (I tried to fact-check the quote—but didn’t find it among those of Will Rogers). The third fellow came in from left field and asked if we all remembered how George W. Bush and his wife  had to wait for days to get into the White House while the Clinton’s stole everything they could get their hands on.  My meek response was that I’d never heard of that happening—but I guess I said it so meekly that they didn’t hear me, for no one responded.  

The discussion moved right along.  The claim was made that Donald Trump is not a politician (and I’m assuming from the earlier comments that that means he isn’t dishonest or crooked).  “No,” said the other fellow, “he’s a businessman.”  “I don’t know how he holds everything together like he does,”  said the other.  “He’s got things going on in all those foreign countries and getting all kinds of things accomplished here in this country.  I don’t know how he manages.”  “He runs it all as a business,” said the other, that’s how he holds everything together.  He’s a business man and a good one.” Then said the other fellow, “Well, I hope the American public realizes all that he has done for this country.  He’s done more than any other president, ever.”  The barber chimed in with a plan to keep Mr. Trump in office beyond two terms.  If after “two terms” VP Pence could be elected president he could choose Trump as his VP—that would tie up 16 years and Trump could go on doing all that he is doing to make this country great again.

“Well, said the other, “I worry a little about all these new young voters. They want something for nothing.  They are all for hand-outs and give-aways.  It is hard to know how they might vote this time around.  All they know how to do is use their thumbs.”  “Yes,” said the Barber, “we could get another LBJ in there—someone who will give everything for nothing to the blacks, like LBJ did.”  “Yeah,” said the other, “someone like Bernie or that Elizabeth woman.”  

I said nothing.  What could I say?  While I don’t know any of these three men in a personal way, I like them.  They seem like good guys (all about my age).  I wonder where they get their news?  I wonder if they pay attention to any news at all?  But most of all I feel like I live in “a galaxy far, far away.”

One has to be very careful in the barbershop.