The Road Home

The Road Home
There is no place like home.
Showing posts with label regulations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label regulations. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Another Level of Control

Here a week or two back my mother-in-law's washing machine decided to quit. Guy came and looked at it, told her what it needed. He didn't charge her anything, and said he could replace the motor, but it's still an old machine, and it will break down again. He recommended she buy a new one. So, a couple of days later, she had this new washing machine that had some electronic gizmos on it that I had never seen or, actually, never heard of. And, please forgive me here, but I just thought that my dear mother-in-law had been taken for a ride by the appliance store. 

Well, let's jump ahead a couple of weeks. This Saturday my washing machine decided it was going to retire and it quit. I checked all of the usual. Yes, there was water pressure, it was not the circuit breaker and there was electricity at the outlet. Since it was a mechanical unit, I tried some thumping, poking and prodding here and there, but still no life. And, at this stage right now in my back recovery, I cannot bend over and do the research I would normally do on a piece of equipment. 

Having decided to join the realm of my classy neighbors, there is now a washing machine sitting out in the yard. Think it can be used as a giant planter? Oh well, that one will just have to wait for another time. This happened on a Saturday afternoon. Monday it was time to buy a brand new washing machine. And, do you know what? You can't buy a regular old washing machine anymore, that doesn't have multiple energy saving features, all those little electronic gizmos that I snickered at my mother-in-law about. Well, here is my apology. 

My question is, "Why can't clothes be washed in cold water if I want to?" Now, I bought the bottom of the line that meets my need, but, it has a sensor that automatically adds warm water if my cold water is too cold. It will not allow the tub to be filled up and just wash one pair of jeans, even if you want to. And here is the one that really gets me. If you fill the machine up and let it sit for too long, it will automatically empty the machine. Now, this is not a water saving feature, so it has to be a safety feature. Can somebody in our government please explain why having a tub full of water is a safety problem? You might ask why I didn't go to a different appliance dealer. Well, something strange happened that day. The person that sold us the washing machine, was extremely knowledgeable about the products she was selling. I'm not being facetious here, she was really very knowledgeable and competent. She assured me that any new machine available, would come with these types of features.

Now the government tells us how much water we can flush in our toilets. Tells us what kind of light bulbs we can't use. Will not allow us, if we're in New York City to buy a super large vessel of soda pop. Why is it any of their business how much water we use in our washing machines? Well, actually I can understand the cold water logic a little bit. Some detergents will not dissolve well in cold water. But, you know, I think I'm smart enough to add warm water to cold water and get my detergent to dissolve. I am sick and tired of government intrusion into my life. But it doesn't make any difference what I think. I'm not trying to sound calloused or cold here, but it doesn't make any difference what you think either. The government is going to do what it wants to, any time it wants to, and it doesn't care one bit what you, I or my mother-in-law think. Did anybody ask any of you how you wanted your washing machine regulated? I don't recall voting on that anywhere. Was that on some agenda I missed? That's right, I forgot, it's on the Socialist agenda. And again, I am not blaming the current administration for all of these problems, because I can feel the fingertips of an environmentalist, former Vice President of the United States all over this one. It's just one more way to control. We have no vote and nobody cares one way or the other what anybody thinks. 

But I fooled them. I have a thirty year old toilet. I nicknamed it my Flush Master 2000. And when I feel really, really defiant, I get up, run in the bathroom, and flush that thing. Stand way back folks, cause you don't want to get your tie caught in it. Gotta have a little humor, or we're all going to go insane.

So, what's it going to be next? I don't know what's going to be next. But we all know it's not going to be good. When is the last time our government did something good for working, middle class America? I've been watching this come for years and years and years, and folks, we all know that it ain't gonna get no better. Better be getting ready.
Go to some garage sale and find a Flush Master 2000. If the porcelain is not cracked, all the internal components are easily replaceable. It will give you the feeling of independence and power. Then when you get finished, go get a 64oz. Big Gulp, cause we don't live in New York City. Well, I hope to feel better for at least a little while. 

If I were you, I would keep a real close eye on what's happening in Ferguson, Missouri. The truth about that incident, which was tragic, is going to be real hard to come by. Summer is still hot. I would just be paying attention to that real close. Last year they tried to get the Trayvon Martin tragedy going and it just didn't catch on. My compliments to the people. But if this one in Missouri catches on, and I'm sure they will pour every bit of fuel on this fire they can, it would be a good time to know where you are, and your loved ones are. Keep your gas tanks full and don't be someplace where you shouldn't be. All it
takes is one match and this thing could light up every major city in this country. And I don't put it past our people in charge, to pull something off like this. It hurts me to see what our country has come to. Pay attention. Stay out of the Middle East. Avoid Africa and anybody just returning from there. Hug your kids, kiss your wife, or husband, and enjoy a Snickers on me.

We'll talk more later. Frank