What Has Gone Wrong with Car Parts Stores?

Yesterday I went into an Auto Zone car parts store and selected a socket fixture for a single element tail light bulb. I took it to the counter and told the parts man, "I'm going to make a test light out of this socket. Can you find me a six-volt single element bulb to fit?"

I followed him up the aisle to the display of bulbs, whereupon he asked me, "Front or back?"

Front or back? For a test light?

I knew then I was dealing with an idiot. I explained that I wasn't going to put it in a vehicle; instead, I would be attaching leads to it and using it to test electrical continuity on my six-volt antique Honda motorcycle. And so I needed a six-volt bulb.

And what did he hand me?

Right. A twelve-volt bulb. He didn't know what a six-volt bulb even was!

Over the past twenty or so years I've been experiencing variations on this experience at fast food restaurants, discount stores, and other retail places. Until now I've considered it a problem uniquely attached to postmodern America, but obviously it isn't. When I told my story on a Yahoo group for motorcycle enthusiasts, this came back from Pete A in the UK:

The Battle of Algiers / Harlan County, USA

When I was six years old, my family moved to France, where we lived for four years. It was a time of political turmoil, years during which the Algerian FLN (National Liberation Front) assassinated French officials and gendarmes in the capitol, Algiers. and eventually began detonating bombs in Algeria and France.As many as 5000 people were killed in France in what came to be known as the café wars.

At the time. I had a vague notion of the danger, since military personnel had been briefed and advised to keep a low public profile and my parents frequently cautioned me to remain close to home when I was outside playing.

I didn't get the whole story until last weekend, when I watched Gillo Potecorvo's black-and-white 1966 film, The Battle of Algiers.

In Which Dallas Reveals Her Political Affiliations

Lamar Alexander Wasn't So Bad Back in the Days of the Red Plaid Shirt

Since I will be posting from time to time about politics, I'll start by declaring my political affiliations.

I have none.

I once voted for Lamar Alexander in a Republican primary, but it was solely as a favor to a friend named John Alexander (no relation). That got me blacklisted by the Democratic machine of Ray Blanton, who won the election for Governor of Tennessee. I was unable to get state jobs, and even my student loan applications were denied.

I pulled the lever for another Republican once, and it was the hardest thing I ever did. I accompanied a severely physically disabled client into the voting booth in Greene County and, at his direction, voted Republican straight down the line, since he was unable to operate the controls on his own. I'd done my best to talk him out of voting for Reagan, but was unsuccessful. After I pulled the lever for him, I went back in the booth and cast my own vote  for Jimmy Carter.

That's my entire Republican experience. My Democratic experience has been limited to votes for Carter, Clinton, Gore, and Obama.

I've never joined a political party or campaigned for any candidate (my mother did her best to get me to distribute Goldwater leaflets, but I refused). I did run as an independent for the city council of my tiny town, but thankfully I was defeated.

And now you have my entire political history.

Until now, I've not written about politics. I've done my best to be apolitical, and I've been mostly successful. But now I feel compelled to write.

Why? Because the country seems to be descending into political insanity. There are so many outrageous claims, distortions, and outright lies, so much hatefulness, so much hypocrisy, so much craziness that I feel compelled to speak.

I have no doubt I'll be going after more Republicans than Democrats. If so, it won't be because I have a political affiliation or any particular sympathy for Democrats. It will be because more Republicans than Democrats behave badly enough to compel me to write.