I could never be a Republican.
Instead of doing for myself what I want, taking what I want, accumulating wealth and comfort and objects, I talk myself into believing I don’t deserve those things. For instance, whenever I feel put upon by working weekends or evenings, I remind myself: “Well, you could be a third shift factory worker. Or a mine worker in Uganda.” And deny myself any self-pity.
We currently have two cars (anyone want an older, well-worn Ford Focus, by the way?). Theoretically, this means that both Daniel and I could drive to work. Theoretically. Instead, my morning argument goes thusly:
K: It’s cold, I could drive to work today, giving me 10 more minutes to read the paper.
K: But soon you won’t have a car to drive, so you shouldn’t drive it today so you don’t get soft.
See? Anticipatory denial. Sometime in the future I may be without, so I should act today as if I were without. I don’t think this attitude would be at all familiar to the average self-indulgent, sense-of-entitlement GOPer.
ps: I drove the car today. It was 12 degrees out there, people!
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