Gary Brown: Politics these days is rude

I went to a fast food restaurant the other day to buy a burger and fries and soft drink combo – with a coupon – and I found myself accidentally in the middle of the modern day political process.

It wasn't a pleasant occasion. Everybody was talking at once and agreeing about the sad state of affairs in America but disagreeing about who was causing it. It included a lot of name-calling and finger-pointing and actual accusations.

In other words, this was a lot like a major political debate, without the red, white and blue bunting in the background.

Completely ignoring what I understand is the partisan political climate today, I couldn't help wondering, "How could this be happening? I came in here for lunch not an argument." And then it dawned on me. I usually don't get drawn into random political discussions such as this at a fast food restaurant because I use the drive-through. I don't have to choose a political party if I'm talking through a microphone to someone who just wants two things – my order and my money.

"I'll bet having to deal with people is why you don't go to fast food restaurants," I said to my loved one later when I was telling her about the incident.

"No, I just don't want to die young," said the woman who researches her food options, makes healthful choices, and ends up eating a lot of things she personally makes out of fiber and antioxidants.

Which is why I should tell you that another good way of dying younger than you might hope, based on her glare, is to throw the words, "Um, too late, there's no chance of either of us dying young anymore," into what turns out to be the end of a conversation.

Placing the blame on presidents

Anyway, I ordered my meal and was standing there a few feet from the cash registers watching for my food to be fixed when another waiting customer who was, apparently, irritated by being delayed while hungry, started complaining about prices.

I just nodded uncomfortably and said, "I heard this morning on the news that prices are going up at a lot of fast food places." I was going to try to explain that maybe it was because of the higher prices of food products, increased wages, and inflating overhead costs, but the man immediately blamed the guy in charge – not of the fast food chain but of the government. You know who I mean.

So, the one guy kept blaming the big guy, until another guy who was waiting chimed in to blame the big guy before him. So, now we've got both big guys being blamed, alternately. First one guy was too old, and then the other guy was decrepit. Then they both were crooks, making money off their high office. Before long, both were possibly traitors, stealing and selling top secret papers.

Back and forth my fast food guys went, every now and then looking directly at me, hoping, I guess, I'd be the deciding blamer.

I thought briefly of insisting, "Hey, I'm a journalist and I'm trained to be fair and balanced." But, I figured all that would do is cause a debate about CNN and FOX News.

Or, they'd just end up blaming me.

After all, I'm not Walter Cronkite, who appears from social media postings to be considered the only newsperson trusted by both sides these days, and, unfortunately, he's dead.

The end finally arrives

I tried to catch the eyes of the lady who took my order, hoping that she might understand what I was thinking, which was, "Could you just give me anybody's food, it doesn't have to be mine. I'll even take a salad, or something else good for me. I just need to get out of here before they start a fight or hold an election."

Then a third guy waiting for food decided to get into the debate.

"I was there for Jan. 6, and it was nothing like what they said happened."

I have no idea what else he said because, yes, there are still miracles, and my food arrived on the counter. So I moved quickly to get it.

"Thank you," I told the counter clerk, and I very much meant it.

"You have a nice day," she answered, and I think she understood that I was exceedingly – perhaps extraordinarily – grateful.

I thought briefly of pointing at the three debating customers and asking her "Can you hold their food for just two minutes so I can get to my car?" But, I don't like to be rude.

Still, I never said goodbye as I passed them. I never even nodded toward them. But I don't believe they noticed.

I think by that time they were blaming each other – not just for the prices, for everything. Politics these days is not very friendly.

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Gary Brown: Getting proof that politics these days is rude