The American Spectator

“We desperately need to do something about the debt crisis, the budget and campaign financing,” Mr. Arbuthnot replied. “They’re all spiraling out of control.”

“Spiraling — precisely! You do have a way with dog-eared punditry.”

“The problem with America is that we don’t make anything here anymore,” he observed. “America has become a service economy.”

“So how can we get back on track?” I asked.

“People seem to have lost hope,” he said. “China is going to overtake us by 2050. The Chinese have tasted American-style capitalism.” Mr. Arbuthnot was really on a roll now. “We’re in grave danger of turning into a second-rate nation. Our money has lost value, our word is no good, immigrants are taking all our jobs, education is not a priority…”

“A fine list of hand-me-down opinions,” I said, “but you failed to mention the infrastructure.”

“Ah, of course — but I think you mean the ‘crumbling infrastructure’,” he corrected.

“We need some bold federal works projects, like during the New Deal,” I suggested.

“Which reminds me, you haven’t mentioned Obamacare,” I prodded.

“Obama wants to take away our freedom, a little at a time,” he said. “And yet,” he went on, “people still want to come here! The American Dream is not dead around the world, even though our young people are demoralized, can’t find a job, expect to be paying off their college loans for decades and….”

“In other vacuous words, it’s just not like it used to be,” I commented.

“Parents used to assume their children would have a better life than they did, but that’s not necessarily true anymore,” he said. “There are now two Americas.”
“I’m afraid we’ve got to leave it there, Mr. Arbuthnot. You’ve covered much of the campaign rhetoric, bromide-wise. I do admire your ear for hackneyed political discourse.”

“Yep — same old same old, I always say,” he smiled, as we shook hands and parted.

“Very astutely put, as always, Mr. Arbuthnot.”