OPINION:
I recently had a heated argument with my brother about voting. My brother is one of the poor who has a really bad outlook on life. I thought he, my sister and I were all on the same page when it came to politics because we are all independent voters, but I was wrong.
When I asked if he planned to vote, my brother said no and unloaded a barrage of epithets about both parties, in stating that they are only interested in themselves and not the poor. He ranted about the cost of gas and food and how he can’t make any money. Not being employed, he goes around picking up junk on the roadside. He refurbishes old lawn mowers and discarded items that he then sells in his yard sales. He survived this way until President Obama was elected and the economy dropped off.
I argued that there is a reason he is miserable: Mr. Obama’s policies have caused so many of the problems related to making a buck in this country. Mr. Obama’s tight regulations on oil companies have a ripple effect that caused refineries to shut down, causing food and gas prices to go up, which affected the economy as a whole.
Still, my brother knocked Republicans and presidential candidate Mitt Romney for being rich and privileged. I retorted, “Where the heck did you get that garbage? Don’t you watch the news?” He responded with, “I watch it every day.” Finally, the root of the problem was brought to light. I thought my brother had been watching Fox News like my sister and I do, getting a fair assessment of what goes on in the world. Apparently, he has been brainwashed by the “lame-stream” media. Therein lies the cause of his bad attitude.
GREGORY J. TOPLIFF
Warrenville, S.C.
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