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Along Life’s Way
How Are Things Going?
By Lois E. Wilson
“Hi, Bill! I haven’t seen you for awhile. You look a little tired. Are you OK?”
“I could be better, Tom. I feel so let down.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Well, I kept hearing this guy on TV. He had many big, futuristic, and
progressive ideas. They sounded good—I guess I wanted to see what he
could do for my family and the company I work for—you know growth
ideas. I went to one of his focus groups and liked what I saw.
“For example, he promised to lower or eliminate the college loans my
sons still have. He even projected that before long my grandchildren
could have a tuition-free college education.”
“I see, Bill. Didn’t you get suspicious?”
“I should have. My wife warned me. He was older than I am. I thought he
probably had been around the system more and therefore knew what he was
talking about.
“I was certainly wrong. Because of his actions, my company had to fire
most of its employees. It looks as if I will soon lose my job. I just
don’t know what to do.”
“Well, you know, Bill, when you go and look at the new car models, how
convincing the sales person can be. There’s never been a model like the
one they are promoting. It has the newest features, comes with all your
desires, and is the most fuel-efficient car on the market.
“When you look at that shiny vehicle, it’s so difficult to calm our
emotions. We try to resist the pressure—but we succumb and buy the car.
In a few days we may have what is called buyer’s remorse. Rousseau
observed, “Remorse sleeps through prosperity but awakes to bitter
consciousness during adversity.”
“You’re right, Tom, I bought into his whole story, but it wasn’t
buyer’s remorse. In this case, more accurately I suffer from ‘voter’s
remorse.’ I hope it isn’t too late for me to recover.”
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