Cross posted on Daily Kos
Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 08:35:06 AM PDT
I’ve read several diaries about the NYC transit strike. Seems there’s not a lot of sympathy or support for the transit workers around here.
Funny how my nine year old friend understands the national ramifications of the strike.
He was understandably elated that he would be going to school two hours late. He also understands the significance of the strike.
Here’s our conversation:
Me: Congratulations, you got your strike, school is two hours late.
Child: Yea! Yea!
Me:You know why they’re striking?
Child: Yeah. They’re working in small, smelly, sweaty places.
Me: That’s true. Anything else?
Child: Yeah. The government doesn’t want to pay them.
Me: What do you mean?
Child: They need more money to live in New York?
Me: They do?
Child: Yeah. It’s expensive to live here.
Me: Anything else?
Child: Yeah. George Bush only likes rich people.
Me: Brilliant. That’s true. How do you know that?
Child: That’s simple. I remember Katrina.
Me: What does Katrina have to do with this strike, I’m confused?
Child: Well, they’re all poor people.
Me: Anything else?
Child: Health insurance.
Me: What about health insurance? How do you know that?
Child: I saw it on the news. They can’t afford health insurance because the government doesn’t pay them enough. So they can’t go to the doctor.
Me: Anything else?
Child: I don’t have to go to school until 10:30.
From the mouths of children . . .comes the truth.
