Rental Scams and other Crap

I just finished watching a morning show reporting Rental Scams on the rise.  It struck a chord because I had similar experiences during my Section 8 housing search almost 2 years ago, seems like only yesterday.

I found an old post, Look What I Found, which transported me momentarily back in time.  What a horrible experience, searching for affordable housing.  Now I'm relieved I never secured anything, since landlords have significantly increased rents post-Covid's freeze; food prices have gone through the roof (just when increased SNAP benefits, enacted during Covid, ended); and everything I looked at which was affordable looked like a dump.

Here on the coast the weather's beautiful - sunny and in the 60s.  Loads of people coming to the RV park to escape the heat.  One such couple from California came in last week while another Workamper and I were at the front desk. The wife walked around the gift shop then selected an item for $5.  She was surprised when we said there was no sales tax, and the husband, a 30-ish guy, asked loudly,

"So, is this a Socialist state?"

Marti, who was checking them in, ignored the comment but I couldn't help myself.

"A Socialist State?!"  Really?  That's how you come in?  What the hell...you're complaining because there's no tax?  Then you'll have to include Alaska, Delaware, Montana and New Hampshire.

He kept being annoying and I let him get to me, dammit.  I don't remember exactly what I said (there are times the mouth-brake's off and so's the memory, my 'Amy' episodes), until he apologized sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, Andrea, I didn't mean to (whatever)."  But as they left he couldn't help turning to me,

"I'll just say one last thing - TRUMP 2024!"

"NO!   You don't want to come back, do you?"  I was half-joking, but as soon as I did I kicked myself.

I need my job, so I'd better get used to this kind of rude behavior because they'll be another 15 months of it.  Things will only get worse as the insanity surrounding Trump continues, so I must learn to let it slide off my back like Marti does.  Besides, they only stayed one night.

It literally hurts to hear Trump supporters provide reasons why they love him.  Don't they sound like what we used to call Boobs?  No, not the mammary kind.  They can't seem to come up with anything other than (sic), "He's a bully and we love that."  The same parents and grandparents of the bullies your kids go to school with, of course they love him.

Bullies beget bullies.

I've yet to hear what Trump will do to help my pocketbook.  Seems like what tickles him is his increased donations, especially since his 18 co-defendants will be hitting him up for legal expenses, and he's gonna need a bunch for himself.

How can election tampering and inciting Jan. 6th compare with Hunter Biden's troubles?  No, I don't think HB is lily-white, and likely used his Dad's name to acquire things he couldn't possibly get on his own; but tell me you don't run in to nepotism in everyday life.  Ivy League schools, corporate promotions, Hollywood, the publishing world, in line at the store?

Whether or not Joe Biden knew or was somehow complicit is another matter.  I don't (want to) believe he was but if he's broken the law, then throw the same book at him as at Trump.  Don't give any of them a break.

But please, stop screaming the "weaponization of the DOJ and FBI" already, it's bullshit.  What's your alternative?  But it's too late: our democracy has been destroyed by the former president, purely to be Top Hog and save his skin.

What will things look like in 20 years?  After the rest of the world has turned their backs on the U.S. because (he's) turned ours on them?  All except those wanting to devour us.  Listen to them wavering already on Ukraine, turning that into a partesan issue.  Will our civilization decline like the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Mayans?

...and the Americans

I hope I'm dead by then, but chances are I'll be around to watch.  Hopefully from somewhere else.