We must have different definitions for the word “fantastic” :
MS. MORNIN: That’s good, because I work three jobs and I feel like I contribute.THE PRESIDENT: You work three jobs?
MS. MORNIN: Three jobs, yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Uniquely American, isn’t it? I mean, that is fantastic that you’re doing that. (Applause.) Get any sleep? (Laughter.)
Now to Ms. Mornin’s credit, her response to the President’s callous “joke” was very polite :
THE PRESIDENT: Get any sleep? (Laughter.)MS. MORNIN: Not much. Not much.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, hopefully, this will help you get you sleep to know that when we talk about Social Security, nothing changes.
My response would have been a little more…blunt.
THE PRESIDENT: Get any sleep? (Laughter.)ME: Not much. You know what else I don’t have time to do? See my kids!! Because I have three fucking jobs. I keep my fingers crossed that one of them doesn’t end up doing drugs or turning to crime, not that I’d ever find out in the 15 minutes per day I get to see them.
I also hope that none of us ever comes down with a serious illness, since none of my three shitty jobs offers the health benefits that come with one good job. The debt from one serious illness would be enough to have us eating dog food from the back seat of our car until the kids are old enough for college. Did I say “college”? That was just a joke. I meant “prison”.
Anyways, enough about me. I wanna hear more about that baseball team you used to own.
Only a fool would still believe that George Bush understands anything about the lives of working-class people.
UPDATE : Ezra’s got a great point here :
He calls that uniquely American? Bullshit. I live in California and can assure you it’s at least partially Mexican.
I made this point on Daily Kos — if she’s working three jobs, doesn’t that mean she’s taking jobs away from two other Americans?
Hey, that is fantastic!
Anybody remember a little thing called “The Great Depression?” Quite a few of the New Deal programs were designed to remove from the labor force anyone who might be in competition with able-bodied men. The theory, of course, was that men were the breadwinners, and therefore should get first crack at the available jobs. So seniors got Social Security so they could stay home. And fatherless kids got welfare, so widowed mothers wouldn’t have to go out and work to support them.
As far as that goes, the forty-hour workweek was mandated so that more workers would have to be hired. (If you like weekends, thank a liberal! Maybe we should be saying “TFDRIF?”)
No grand conclusion here. My idle query just got me to thinking about a time when our leaders could think ahead a couple of steps…
What a jackass.