Part 2, Tina's tale

As is only natural for a Puertoricana hairdresser in Gotham City, Tina is drop-dead gorgeous… but I swear that’s not the only reason I started chatting her up at the bar. The intelligence shone from her eyes, and before I knew it she was dropping literary insights that would have made her the envy of any Princeton grad. student in an advanced comp. lit. seminar. But of course she never went to college, so she’s found a way to make her hairdressing a source of daily inspiration. Just as Michelangelo visualized the Pietà just by looking at the raw marble, the limp hair Tina faces each day inspires her to create some new beauty in the world every day. She has achieved a wisdom that is rare and true, with no hint of bitterness at all that she hasn’t shared any of the worldly adventures her clients gossip about in front of her. This is the genius of working-class Americans, refusing to feel second-class even as they are treated more poorly every day by their corporate bosses.

What the hell do you mean, Ulysses?

Voting is great, but changing the voting patterns of those who vote wrong is even better. Many Americans don't vote at all, but almost all of them eat and drink. "Progressive" politicians have been hiding in their ivory towers building a better policy mousetrap, expecting the voters to beat a path to their door. Great idea, NOT!! We need to drink Bud at the bar and eat home fries at the diner and talk to regular folk. They'll gladly tell us what's wrong with this country and how to fix it. This is sorta what Rep. Cicilline is trying to do in RI's 1st district with the spaghetti suppers, etc. But it helps to not hold any sort of office if you're looking to hear the truth. And the truth isn't pretty, my friends. it's not pretty at all...