An almost perfect day of travel on the Seaborne Quest as it passed through the Kiel Canal joining the North Atlantic with the Baltic Sea was marred over dinner as we again became painfully aware of the ignorance of the affluent. (As opposed, we suspect, to most of the very rich.)
These are bright individuals who have studied their avocations for years and thereafter devoted themselves to their professions or businesses. What they failed to do along the way was obtain a broad education but, instead, they are edified during their leisure time by watching Fox News (and for some MSNBC), reading the Wall Street Journal (and for some the New York Times), and perhaps reading the National Review (and for others perhaps The Nation.)
Moreover, they move in social circles of the like minded and are used to exchanging political clichés and grievances as facts with their peers. On the other hand,, they are well satisfied with their presumed knowledge.
Having just attended a lecture on the prospects of the European Union, three unacquainted couples were by chance seated together over dinner: A businessman and his wife from Sidney, Australia; a pediatric dentist and wife from the Denver, Colorado area; and a couple, he from Philadelphia and she from Halifax, Canada, who have long resided in Lancaster.
Encouraged by the genial discussion of the lecture, the dentist and wife without qualms began to share their views on the lazy poor who lived off the largess of the state and its hardworking, tax paying citizenry. From there they declared the Affordable Care Act, to them “Obama Care”, as the ruination of the health system and deplored the higher costs to the hitherto well insured.
It is always good for social harmony and the digestion to avoid discussing politics, religion, drugs and sex in such gatherings, but silence would give the impression of tacit agreement to the Australians. Certainly the dentist, in the words of the late Senator Patrick Moynahan, was entitled to his opinions, but, but not his own facts.
Reference to the history of health care in the USA since World War II, to the percentage of taxes actually paid by the poor, to those who do benefit from the Affordable Care Act (although deploring the circumstances and compromises that brought it about), and information that the USA spends half again more than other nations for health care came to the dentist as if an attack from an alien culture.
He must have asked himself who let the lunatic on board?
So we shall try to keep in mind our mantra that old men should neither be seen nor heard. On cruises, bring good books and a pleasant mate or friend if you want company. And avoid discussing anything over meals other than grandchlldren and today’s and tomorrow’s excursions.
