Sex and politics

My fiscally conservative friend was online this afternoon sporting a new link in his profile. I followed it to a critique of Obama's proposed economic policy. The following conversation ensued.

me: Oh, you are spoiling for a fight with that link, kiddo. I don't care how hot you are, I call foul. By the way, has anyone explained to McCain that we already "redistribute" wealth in dozens of ways?

Him: what's the logical disconnect? That our poor waiter "can't afford it?" Well, the homeless guy needs it more. Why shouldn't he get it? it's ok to stick it to certain rich folks because they can afford it is a stupid argument. when the rich already pay for around 30% of the US government.

me: The logical disconnect is that someone making a quarter of a million dollars a year is not in the same economic straits as a waiter. The disconnect is that Obama is talking about reducing taxes for a huge majority of the people, and the experiment linked to is strictly relative.

Him: a homeless guy is in worse economic straights than the waiter.

me: Nobody is saying it's "okay to stick it to rich people"

Him: sure they are.
"We want to take from those of you making mor than $250k/year and give it to people who need it" is welfare and it's at the butt of a gun. I call bullshit socialism.

me: All right, one point at a time. First, your link. Look at it like a Venn diagram or something. Do you understand my point? About how it's not strictly relative?

Him: right. you're basically saying that a waiter is too poor to be able to redistribute his wealth, but a small business owner isn't. Check.

me: So is unemployment insurance bullshit socialism? What about health insurance? Insurance in general?

Him: I'm against Hillarycare. And unemployment insurance should be opt-out for workers - if I want my cash now and to take my chances, I should be able to do so, yes.

me: (By the way, you know I adore you)
oh my god, I can't believe you're going to fall back on "Hillary" as a bogeyman

Him: I have a friend in England.
She was just diagnosed with a lump in her breast. Big big lump.
Eight weeks from now, she'll be able to see a doctor.
huzzah socialized medicine.

me: Your arguments will sway me much more if you don't resort to Republican hysteria and use terms like "socialism" and "Hillarycare"
Can your friend in England opt to pay a doctor to see her sooner?

Him: if one is available and not too tied up by required NIH (or whatever) appointments.

me: So she can pay for better care?

Him: sure. but I don't want to pay for her care at all. except for herd immunity related issues.
but healthcare isn't the issue.
Robin Hood government is.

me: Ah, then we won't ever reach any kind of understanding on this, because we basically have different philosophies. I do want to pay for health care for people not as well off as I am.

Him: it's moot anyway. Obama already had the election given to him by a despicably unbalanced and dishonest media.

me: Last I checked, the right wing had their own "news" network. It's called Fox.

[Here the argument continued for roughly half an hour, with both sides deftly holding their own. I regret to report that common political ground was not reached. However . . .]

me: Well, anyway . . . I figured that with the link up you were looking for a discussion. Hope you enjoyed it.

Him: I did. I'm all turned on. where're you when I need to throw you over something to work out my aggression?

me: Still in my jammies like the lazy liberal I am, sitting on the couch, that's where.

Him: damn lazy libruls, expecting us to work hard to pay for their cadillacs and bon bons.

me: Now I'm all turned on, too.

Him: I remember when I was dating M____, one day she was going down on me and I whispered "Trickle down economics works, you know" then paddled her ass. I've never gotten that good a blowjob outta her before.

me: Ha!

There you have it, America. Sex can bring us together.