Michael Soft stopped by at the cocktail hour this afternoon. As those of you who are acquainted with Michael know, he is an off-the-wall sort of guy. The first time I met Michael he visited Dennis and me at the old farmhouse we first lived in together. Dennis had accepted an invitation to subscribe to The Texas Monthly. Michael dropped in the day the bill came at about the time Dennis was regretting his decision to subscribe.
Michael, upon hearing this, snatched up the bill, scrawled on it "Dennis Domer is dead. He went in a huff, leaving nothing," stuffed the bill into the prepaid return envelope and sealed it. He tossed it on the table where we were sitting and declared, "That takes care of that. Next subject?"
That's Michael, devil-may-care and irreverent. But today Michael's mood was somber.
"Michael, is something wrong?" I asked.
After a pause, he looked at me and replied, "The business model is destroying the United States," then took a casual swig of his beer, as if he hadn't dropped a bombshell.
I took the bait, of course, asking him to explain. He told me that today everything comes down to dollars and cents. If it doesn't make money, get rid of it. He honed in on education and cited the example of the University of Kansas recently dropping its Western Civilization course, long a requirement for graduation. This course was too expensive to continue, according to University spokespeople, he said.
Michael also cited the closing of Marion Springs elementary school, the school our neighborhood children used to attend. Now the Baldwin school district has erected two new elementary schools in town to accommodate students from closed rural neighborhood schools. "They think it will save money," Michael said, "but it helps destroy our community. You see, some valuable assets have no monetary value – assets such as community and family."
I had to admit he had a point there.
Then Michael got going on the Supreme Court's ruling that corporations are people and money is free speech. Oh boy, was he getting hot under the collar! "Corporations don't serve in the military," he declared, "nor do they sleep or eat or vote in elections!"
"But you can do anything if you have enough money,"he concluded. "So the question is, can the superPACs buy this election for Romney?"
Michael then took his leave, tossing over his shoulder, "Money talks."
I sure hope he gets a good night's sleep.
Michael, upon hearing this, snatched up the bill, scrawled on it "Dennis Domer is dead. He went in a huff, leaving nothing," stuffed the bill into the prepaid return envelope and sealed it. He tossed it on the table where we were sitting and declared, "That takes care of that. Next subject?"
That's Michael, devil-may-care and irreverent. But today Michael's mood was somber.
"Michael, is something wrong?" I asked.
After a pause, he looked at me and replied, "The business model is destroying the United States," then took a casual swig of his beer, as if he hadn't dropped a bombshell.
I took the bait, of course, asking him to explain. He told me that today everything comes down to dollars and cents. If it doesn't make money, get rid of it. He honed in on education and cited the example of the University of Kansas recently dropping its Western Civilization course, long a requirement for graduation. This course was too expensive to continue, according to University spokespeople, he said.
Michael also cited the closing of Marion Springs elementary school, the school our neighborhood children used to attend. Now the Baldwin school district has erected two new elementary schools in town to accommodate students from closed rural neighborhood schools. "They think it will save money," Michael said, "but it helps destroy our community. You see, some valuable assets have no monetary value – assets such as community and family."
I had to admit he had a point there.
Then Michael got going on the Supreme Court's ruling that corporations are people and money is free speech. Oh boy, was he getting hot under the collar! "Corporations don't serve in the military," he declared, "nor do they sleep or eat or vote in elections!"
"But you can do anything if you have enough money,"he concluded. "So the question is, can the superPACs buy this election for Romney?"
Michael then took his leave, tossing over his shoulder, "Money talks."
I sure hope he gets a good night's sleep.
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