SENIOR DISCOUNTS: BOON OR MENACE?

Tyrades! by Danny Tyree

My mother’s favorite supermarket is undergoing a mysterious “repeal and replace” operation with its senior discount program. Of course nerves are on edge.
Senior discounts used to be a kindly gesture to help out struggling “fixed income” elders and reward loyalty; but in recent decades they have stirred up jealousy and made businessmen fear they’ve created an immortal monster.
Of course that lobbying juggernaut AARP is responsible for a lot of the discounts. Heck, gas stations that already offered “free air” were strong-armed into promising, “We’ll have Cletus install a free windmill for you.”
Statistics are a favorite weapon of senior discount critics. Many of the articles I’ve read argue that “on average” or “as a whole,” people eligible for senior discounts have higher income and more accumulated wealth than the younger folks paying full price. On the other hand, one of my gray-haired friends pointed out, “On average, as a whole, my cousins are amazing drivers. But if you depend on dead cousin Ernie to drive you to your doctor’s appointments, you’re up the creek.”
I cannot deny that younger consumers have legitimate complaints about their own bleak prospects. If some prosperous seniors want to be magnanimous and forego their discounts, more power to them. Other seniors are a little less sympathetic. (“Sorry about your debt load, but I’ve got a PROSTATE bigger than your student loan. Guess I would’ve studied up on touchy-feely stuff more if we’d had free Wi-Fi when I was in the Vietnamese P.O.W. camp!!!”)
Granted, some seniors do a better job of defending their entitlements than others. One guy went full “Charlie Brown’s little sister” when the topic of tampering with senior discounts came up. (“All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share. I’ve paid my dues —- unless you count being a deadbeat dad and getting paid under the table and filing for bankruptcy to avoid my medical bills. I didn’t say I was a FANATIC about paying dues.”)
Senior resentment even figures into the immigration debate. Lots of progressive thirty-year-olds have no qualms if immigrants bring different languages, different cultures, different laws or sketchy passports —- but if they’re hauling Hummel figurines or grandkid photos, all bets are off.
A dwindling number of people from the “Greatest Generation” still turn out to socialize on Senior Discount Day, but what really puts a burden on the system is the number of Baby Boomers. Yes, the people who danced to the Beach Boys, attended Woodstock and made household names of Cheech & Chong now dominate the discounts. But the former pacifistic “flower children” have a new attitude. (“Sure, I’ll still wear flowers in my hair —- as long as you give me a 10% discount on the flowers. Otherwise, I’m going Hell’s Angels on your butt.”)
The war between seniors and those who feel they’re SUBSIDIZING seniors often turns into The Family Vacation From Hell. (“Mom, that old lady down the street is lookin’ at me —- through three cataracts and glaucoma, but lookin’ at me. Make her stop!!!”)
There are always fights over how private businesses choose to discriminate between customers, whether with military discounts, teacher discounts, frequent-flyer miles, “bring in your church bulletin” discounts or whatever.
Perhaps if we all work together, someday we can achieve true fairness.
“Hey, that guy’s unicorn has more sprinkles than mine…”
*Sigh*

Town Hall Mob Explodes at the Name of Jesus

A group of enraged protesters exploded in anger after a chaplain prayed in the name of Jesus at a town hall meeting in Louisiana hosted by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy.

The verbally-abusive crowd also heckled a Vietnam War veteran who attempted to lead the group in the pledge of allegiance.

It was one of the most heinous acts of un-American, anti-Christian behavior I’ve ever seen, folks.
Louisiana State chaplain Michael Sprague and the unidentified Vietnam War veteran should be commended for maintaining their composure in the face of such verbal barbarism.

The Feb. 22 town hall meeting in Metairie, was quickly overrun by the angry mob – much like other town hall meetings hosted by Republican lawmakers across the country.  The Mainstream Media would have us believe the unruly demonstrations are part of an organic, grassroots effort.

But I sincerely doubt many in the mob were actually residents of Louisiana – because I know the good people of Louisiana and nobody behaves like that in the Bayou State.

Folks are raised right in Cajun Country. There’s no way anybody would embarrass their mommas by acting the fool in public.

I’d be willing to bet a cup of Community Coffee that the Jesus-Hating rabble-rousers were shipped in from some God-forsaken place like Berkeley or Brooklyn.

Chaplain Sprague had barely invoked the name of the Almighty when the heckling began. “Pray on your own time. This is our time,” someone shouted. “Amen. Let’s get on with it.”  Others chanted, “Separation of church and state” and so on and so forth. Someone filmed the prayer and words do not do justice to the amount of hate directed at the chaplain.

“I’ve never been shouted down throughout a time of prayer like that,” Chaplain Sprague told me. “I’ve never been in a situation like that. It’s sad there wasn’t honor and respect for God.”

But they became absolutely unhinged when he concluded his prayer in the name of Jesus.
“Wow, they booed the name of Jesus,” Cassidy said in remarks reported by the Times Picayune.
I thought several of the agitators were going to spontaneously combust.

The chaplain said the overwhelming majority of people in the room were causing a disruption – but he harbors no ill will toward the mob.

“I’m not mad at people. My heart is bigger than that,” he said. “My heart’s prayer is that everybody be treated with dignity and respect.”

The chaplain was especially disappointed by how the mob insulted the Vietnam War veteran.
“There was a lot of shouting. Some turned their backs. Many didn’t stand or put their hand on their heart,” he said. Infuriating, but not surprising

As I wrote in “The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again” liberals have a strong aversion to President Trump, Jesus and Old Glory.

But I still have hope in America.

Is it possible that liberals will one day pledge allegiance to the flag instead of burn the flag? Is it possible that liberals will one day revere the name of Jesus? Is it possible that liberals will one day respect President Trump?

It is possible, but to be honest – it would take a miracle of biblical proportions — a yuge miracle.