So I'm sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a simple cup of fresh coffee, sweetened with honey and the sight of white-winged doves at my backyard feeder, and the phone rings. Normally the answering machine is on, but this time it's not so I once again do something stupid- I pick up the phone.
"Hello? Is this James Kelley"
Who's calling, please?
"Mr. Kelley this is Gretchin calling for Bank of Am to let you know we want to send you your credit report for free in your next statement. You can also have a chance to try out our new security program and cancel it after 30 days if you don't like it. Would you like a free credit report?""
Uhh, sure... great
"OK Mr. Kelley, I'm going to just turn on the recorder and ask you a few questions, ok?"
I guess
"OK Mr. Kelley,..." (blah, blah--she asks me all these questions to pin me down that I really am who I am and then she says...) "so we would like to send you a free credit report and have you be a part of the security program xyz to monitor your balances [because we don't really monitor your money while people hack and steal it?] for fraud and if you are dissatisfied at anytime within the first month you simply call and we STOP BILLING YOU." ( I interupt)
WAIT! I thought you said the credit report you were sending was free?
"Oh it is, and the security program blahblha can be discontinued at any time within the first month free of charge.."
WAIT, so what happens if I FORGET to call the first month to cancel?
"Oh, well we will simply bill your account the low cost of $12.95 a month, every month--It's really a good deal..." [yeah for Bank of Am]
WAIT-- I don't want to pay ANYTHING... [did ya get that on your recorder?]
"Thank you Mr. Kelley and have a good day---click!"
----
So how many billions of dollars is Bank of America going to leach out of customers who simply wanted to see their credit report without the circuitous maze of getting it online for themselves?
How many Americans are going to ask their spouse, "Honey, what this security cost thing on the bank statement?" >"I don't know-- how much is it?" >"$12.95" ?"I dunno-- I wouldn't worry about it..."
And so the trickle goes.
Is it any wonder our economy is the way it is? Is it any wonder we are 2 years away from incredible "unforseen" tax-rates?
Is it any wonder that, once again, it's chevy truck month?
It's because we are sheep.
It's because we are lazy, fat sheep asleep at the wheel, and there is a world of parasitic people and organizations that are filling a huge niche of sucking off the excesses of our culture. We work 60 hour weeks to make more money than we can monitor, causing increased stress-related illness and death...and why?
Parasites have an important role in all ecosytems ; they also can be used as an index to health of the host.
So I wonder how healthy our American culture is? Or at least my little microcosm down by the Gulf Coast?
I was visiting with our school chaplain, Lisa P, after the girls' tough volleyball game, and we were discussing the difficulty of doing life here. In the Keys it's not as driven, not as non-stop-- in the Keys there is down time to get centered/balanced/grounded/whatever. Not so much here. --I vaguely knew what she meant, but only because of my Horrible year bringing me to my knees, eviscerating my life and creating space to experience God where I had only a cube to fit God into my calendar. He was there in my routine, but He only got a cube.
God forgive us; we know not what we do.
