Presidential hopefuls shouldn’t discount this food for thought

I suspected it would get lost in the piles of submissions about "stuff that matters," but I had promised to share it here if it didn't get published elsewhere. I think this matters, that politicians ... all of them, not just Rudy ... are NOT real people and don't understand what it's like to be a real person: outlandish prices for gas and food, skyrocketing property taxes, you know, stuff REAL people worry about. So, here's my letter to Mr. Giuliani.

Dear Mr. Giuliani,

Not to milk the moment, but this middle class, Midwestern girl has waited a long time for solid proof that politicians aren’t real people. And what do you know? It WAS in the pudding.

Not that I want to see the media fillet you. I like you, along with a couple of others, but your Alabama answers to the grocery question could bake your p-o-t-a-t-o-e. They’ve said you’re out of touch. I say here’s your chance. Take my challenge. Come shop with me. Seriously, you know you’ll be in Missouri eventually. You’ll probably be here many times, so let’s go grocery shopping. Let’s shake things up a bit. You have to admit, this early election season has been the same American cheese, just with new bologna.

Some hot dog solidifies his base. He needs to win independents, so he starts talking about how he’ll help average American families. But average American families are too busy making ends meet to notice they are being dangled like carrots only to be dropped Nov. 5, 2008. Soon our guy’s opposition throws in their two cents, but two cents doesn’t get much anymore, does it Mr. Giuliani?

You, sir, are not the only candidate who couldn’t find a cereal aisle in a Super WalMart, so let’s not allow your opponents’ to staff out the daily task of pricing groceries. Let’s cut to the Quick, get to the heart of this chicken-and-the-egg situation. Which came first: politicians who haven’t a clue about real life or political consultants who read them polls about it? And when did families become the weapon you wield at Crunch time?

We are not polling results. We are people. Remember families? The bread and butter of this economy you all flap your lips about? If presidential candidates are so worried about families I’d like just one to spend some time in our comfortable but modest suburban home watching their cable attack dogs yell at each other on our one, average-sized TV. Dress for the season because we keep the thermostat between 67 and 72 when we’re not trying to keep it off all together. We have a mini-van and a motorcycle. No gas guzzling here. And still food is the only place where this stay-at-home mother of three can cut corners. How do you like them apples?

I shop on 10-dollars off day. I clip coupons and buy what’s on sale. Mr. Giuliani, you got lucky when I tallied the list here, finding many items on sale this week. Still, it came to $95.44 (before Missouri sales taxes), but of course I’d never buy fillet or Nestle Quick (or full-price chicken or full-price cereal). And even with the corners cut, I come nowhere close to the prices you sited from your days as the mayor of New York City. (The gallon of milk was $3.38.) It was a different world then, but it wasn’t that long ago. Come shopping with me. See where we are now.

Because, you see, most average American families understand. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. You have to get up early and work late. It’s time to make the donuts. And even if you’re lucky enough to bring home the bacon, when you’re feeding a family these days, it’s gone in a New York minute.

Sincerely,
Laura W.
Average American