We Suck and We Deserve Trump
Since 2016, pre-and-post election, I have been horribly disillusioned with the American people. I don’t understand how anyone with a brain could vote for Trump. I don’t understand how any woman with a tiny shard of self-respect could vote for him or stay married to a man who voted for him.
And, yet, over and over, I see evidence that we deserve Trump. He is our punishment for what we have become, the depths to which we have sunk.
My experience tonight is an example, a small and unimportant to everyone but me, example of what disrespectful, incompetent people we’ve become.
An early Thanksgiving dinner planned for this Sunday for our visiting guest from China got out of hand because too many people were issuing invitations, resulting in a guest list of 24. I have a 1400 sq ft house and a dinner table that seats six — eight if we squeeze tight.
I spent this week trying to finagle the tables and chairs we need to accommodate our guests. I managed to procure two additional tables that seat six. Figuring we can squeeze in one or two extra at each of our three tables, we can manage. But, I still need chairs. I have six dining chairs, as well as 3 office chairs and 5 patio chairs that can be used as informal dining chairs. Still 8 short.
Not wanting to purchase chairs I may never use again, I tried to beg, borrow, and rent the needed seats — no luck. Finally, in a state of desperation, I went online in search of 8 chairs to purchase. Lowe’s had 3 in one color and 5 in another but the price was reasonable and the chairs could be picked up at my local store tomorrow. I am in not situation to be picky so I ordered the chairs.
My evening was hectic and I didn’t notice a missed call from Lowe’s until the store was closed. The message told me that they did not have all the chairs that I already paid for, the chairs that the website said were available for in-store pickup on Saturday. WTF! I paid for those chairs! How can they sell me something they don’t have? Is this false advertising, fraud, inefficiency, or incompetence? No matter what the reason, it is in excusable.
It was 9:30 when I got that message. In a rage, I search online for other alternatives. Unfortunately, the one that came up was Walmart. Not a Wally World fan, I was reluctant to buy the chairs there, but I didn’t have much choice. Concerned that the chairs might disappear before tomorrow, I rushed to Walmart, arriving at the Lawn & Garden Center ten minutes before its closing time. But, it was closed. Dark. Abandoned.
I found a Walmart associate in the nearby toy department. He confirmed that the L&G Center doesn’t close until 10 pm.
But, it is closed and it’s not 10:00.
He didn’t look at me as he continued putting boxes of Matchbox cars on the shelves. Well, guess they closed early.
Why?
How do I know? Not my department.
Who can I talk to about this? I need to purchase something from that department.
They’re closed. No one to talk to.
I sighed. What ever happened to customer service? Yes, I know Walmart employees are paid shit wages and no benefits but what does that say about us? We pay shit wages and get shitty employees that don’t give a damn? Is that what we want? Is that what America has become?
I go to Customer Service and stand in a line that is more like a family reunion. Seems several people in line and the one Customer Service clerk discovered they are relatives or long lost friends. Everyone is hugging and talking and the clerk is not doing her job. I wait several minutes and the reunion continues. I asked if someone could help me and receive glances that could be interpreted as death threats so I left.
In the parking lot, I sit in my car and call the same Walmart that I just left. The phone rings for 6 minutes and no one picks up. Six minutes. Not only did no one pick up but there was no recording and no chance to leave a message.
Who does business like this?
The answer is: a bunch of billionaires who support Trump because he is just like them. None of them give a damn about you or me — the consumers, the customers. Nor do they care about their employees. Therefore, their employees do not care about their jobs or their employers or the customers.
But, the saddest thing is that so many of the people who work in stores like Walmart, the employees who are paid shitty wages and no benefits and have to apply for food stamps and Medicaid, also voted for Trump. As did many of the customers who put up with shitty customer service, departments that close early, and lies about available merchandise.
We have no sense of ethics and no pride in our jobs. We show up and leave. That’s it. Customers come and get what they want or not. They don’t expect service or the truth.
We have been trained to accept the unacceptable and to allow the inexcusable.
It is almost 11 pm and I am ranting about this because it didn’t just happen tonight. It happens over and over again.
