There is a chapter in “Confronting America, What Has to Change” about what I have branded the “Bubble People.” These are fellow citizens who are not really interested in their country unless they are being given free stuff.  Otherwise, it’s all head phones all the time, and/or thumbs away on the cellphone looking for the latest TikTok time waster.

Don’t want to burst anything, but Bubble people don’t know much about history or government or the laws of our land.  To them, that’s boring.  They also tend to hang with other bubble people. After all, who wants a scold like O’Reilly telling them they are damaging the nation? So, anyone outside the bubble world is not awesome or “all good.” Two favorite BP expressions.

Bubble people often embrace unverified conspiracies and have unrealistic expectations. Here’s a good example. The Democrats desperately want “government run health care.”  Bernie Sanders says it’s a “human right.”  Bubble People just nod their heads despite the fact that the country cannot afford it.  We already owe about $40 trillion.  Half the population receives some kind of welfare, including Medicare.

The UK is running out of money for its national health care mandates.  The population there is about 70 million.  France is also broke, so loyal citizens have started burning the country down while demanding more perks.

In the USA, we have around 350 million in population.  Bubble People don’t do much math, but come on, a five-year-old could do this calculation: right now, health care entitlements cost about $5 trillion annually. So-called “Medicare for all” would add another $5 trillion a year.  Only massive new taxes on everything could come close to paying the bills.

And then there’s “affordability.”  The left puts forth that the new Congress will bring down the cost of living.  Bubble People say, ‘right on, here’s my vote.’  But the modern Democratic Party almost always raises taxes.  How does that square with affordability?  Here’s what the hard left won’t tell us: The absolute only way you can pay for universal health care and all the other entitlements is to seize wealth: personal and corporate.  

Bubble People apparently don’t understand that.  It’s complicated.  Many isms: Socialism, Communism, Fascism. It’s all too much.  

There are Bubble People on the right as well.  They nod assent when ICE agents use violence without explanation.  That’s why Texas went Blue.  Many voters, including a majority of Hispanics, are appalled by unexplained street tactics. Most folks want to know specifics about government violence. Homeland Security has largely passed on providing that.

 

Many right-wingers also have trouble with the E-word: empathy.  That’s why they lost the female vote in the midterms.  Human suffering must be confronted.  At least that’s what Jesus proposed.

As you may have guessed, I am not fond of the Bubble People movement. If those folks had dominated throughout our history, we’d still be British subjects, slavery would have lasted much longer, and Adolph would be hosting a G-7 summit.

We all have a responsibility to champion realistic and compassionate policies. Those who bury themselves in apathetic and destructive lifestyles should be ashamed.

Or better yet, they should fly to Paris to see exactly how the entitlement culture is working out.  Free torches may be available.