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Edited on Thu Aug-06-09 05:55 PM by NRaleighLiberal
I have a good friend who was born and raised in the eastern part of NC - raised in a family of relative wealth, and he maintains his tether to wealth (easily reconciling it with his Lutheran faith). We have lunch frequently (there are three of us - I am clearly pretty far left, another is a left leaning moderate (he can listen to Rush and find him funny...), and then there is blue dog - claims he is a Democrat, but clearly fiscally and socially conservative. He tells us about what it was like to grow up "down east" in NC - one of his statements - "come on, guys, admit it. You must be just a bit racist". But that was a rare moment of lucidity into his real feelings, because he doesn't see himself as racist at all. But the real point of this is around health care. He works in big Pharma, and the paychecks are very important to him so he can drive his set of BMWs and wear his impeccable clothes, clearly sent out to get pressed each day (he is very fastidious). But what really hit me is when we got into discussing the Health Care situation. His main point - and I am quoting him - "I grew up with lots of people who not only were lazy, but expected a handout. And this is what the Democratic proposals seem to be - handouts". I then reminded him of my daughter, who has a preexisting condition, and at 24, no health care - and huge bills from an accident that she is struggling to pay off at 10-20 dollars per month (which will take her forever). And my 28 year old daughter, Peace Corps graduate, out to save the world doing non profit work - but uninsured as well. It really didn't resonate with him - him "keeping his" and avoiding the threat of someone undeserving getting something is much more important than the vast majority of those who aren't gaming the system, are uninsured of no fault of their own. And he somehow squares his view with his faith.
So, to me, this is I suppose at least one version of the Blue Dog mentality, And it sucks. Somehow our friendship maintains (though my respect for him diminishes over time), but in our many conversations, I think I am moving him toward the light...but it is a slow process.
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