Tom's Thoughts

Name:
Location: Granite Falls, North Carolina, United States

I'm an ordained United Methodist minister no longer pastoring churches, a former media producer with skills ten years out of date, a writer trying to sell my first novel, and a sales associate keeping body and soul together working for the People's Republic of Corporate America. I'm married to the most wonderful woman in the world, who was my best friend for 17 years before we married.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Corporate Revenge?

Back in the 1970s Tweetsie Railroad carried a strongbox for outlaws to try to rob during the train ride. I guess they still do. The outlaws would stop and storm the train, and the good marshal, often Fred Kirby back then, would fight a gun duel with them and save the train, strongbox and all.

The strongbox originally had "Wells Fargo" on it, until the management of the park got a cease and desist letter from Wells Fargo. The Charlotte Observer published the witty letter the owner/manager or whoever from Tweetsie wrote back. Something along the lines of being surprised Wells Fargo still existed, and they didn't want to step on WF's trademark or anything, so if WF was going to be so uptight about it, they would change the name on the box. They changed it to Northwestern Bank.

In the 1980s Northwestern Bank got bought out by First Union. You know, the one that was so unpopular with its customers that when it bought out Wachovia Bank it changed its name to Wachovia.

Now, Wells Fargo has bought out Wachovia. So the name on the Tweetsie strongbox has come full circle. I need to take a grandchild or two to Tweetsie and see what name is on that box now.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

How do you talk to a Republican?

I've noticed in debating issues with Republican co-workers, etc., that they don't listen to what you're saying. They parrot the talking points dictated by Rush or Billo or Sean, but they don't engage what you're saying.

I make a statement, they respond with a talking point that doesn't directly address what I just said. How do you counter that?

Furthermore, if you say something outrageous (to them), such as pointing out how the prosperity they brag about that occurred during the Reagan Administration happened after Reagan signed the largest tax increase in history, they shout something like "REAGAN NEVER RAISED ANY TAXES!" As though shouting could make it true.

So how do you engage the drinkers of Rush's Kool-Aid?

Is it even possible?

Any ideas?