This is a story, not a news story, but a personal one. It's about my friend Nick. Nick and I have been friends for ten years; we went to college together, attended each other's wedding, go camping together every summer; our wives are friends...In short, we're best buds. In fact, Nick officiated my unofficial, lesbian committment ceremony.
I think Nick has turned Republican, and I think it's all about money. Follow me for more...
Most of the time I've known Nick, he worked as a handy man making $15 bucks an hour. His biggest thrill in life was to take his hand-me-down kayak out and ride the rapids. That was heaven for him. He never bought new clothes, drove a beat up old truck, and the dude never, ever voted Republican. In fact, the day GWB was selected by the Supreme Court, Nick came over and got drunk with me. He's that kind of guy. Well, he was that kind of guy.
So, through a series of fortuitous events, Nick got some money, some properties, and a very, very good job. He has a company truck, an outrageous salary, every benefit under the sun, and the guy lacks for nothing.
Something has happened to my friend, though. He loves to talk about his luck, his money, his purchases, etc. My wife and I endure this, chalking it up to "new money" syndrome. Not that we would know. We have no money. We teach. Enough said.
But last night, we had this ridiculous argument. It all started out with Nick complaining about all those "losers" who complain that their jobs have been shipped overseas. It is in a company's best interest, he claimed, to hire cheap labor, even if it comes at the cost of America's middle class.
Oh, we argued all right. We talked about how outsourcing is hurting our middle class, how it's affecting unemployment, and how people without good jobs and benefits ultimately cost more than providing good jobs. Never having been out of work in his life, Nick found it hard to believe that a guy working in a factory his entire adult life couldn't find some kind of work somewhere else, even if it meant a pay cut and no benefits.
Nick didn't even care about the child labor atrocities taking place so we can buy cheap t-shirts and soccer balls. In short, Nick held the economic position equivalent to George W. Bush. Outsourcing Good!!!!
I was so pissed off that I left. I couldn't figure out how this guy had changed in so short a time. So my question is simple.
Does being rich make you a Republican? Now, I know that not all rich people are Repubs or all Repubs are rich, but I'm asking if being affluent makes one more inclined to believe, as my freind Nick does, that making more money, even when you already have it, trumps everything else?
What have your experiences been with people who make a lot of money? Do they like to horde it or share it? Do they resent paying taxes? Are they generous? What's the deal? Help me understand!