Today I was on the C branch of the detested Green Line today for, oh, about 40 minutes (the MBTA dares propose to raise fares to $1.70 from its current rip-off of $1.25? The 2007 increase will make fares comparable to “several of the nation’s other largest transit agencies”… but gee, when I go to New York or Washington, I ain’t sitting in no slow-moving trolley that stops every block, yields for cars, and invokes a feeling of imminent derail when it hits 10 mph. The MBTA justifies the fare increase by pointing at their $8.1 billion in debt, but this is symptomatic of problems that won’t be fixed by tapping their existing riders for an extra .45 cents.)
I sat behind a young British man and an American woman who were comparing the relative virtues of the UK and America… rather, he trashed America and exonerated the UK of the same offenses, and she sat there like a Kewpie doll, agreeing with fawning flirtatiousness, enchanted by the sweeping generalizations uttered in his dashing English accent.
“British politicians are much less corruptible. Our electoral process is much cleaner, so we elect politicians who have a genuine desire to serve their government, not personally profit from it.”
The American woman breathed, “Totally! We have, like, so much corruption and, like, bribery.”
“Americans have no global awareness. They’re so involved in their own lives. The British are curious about the world and stay informed about what’s happening globally.”
The American woman nodded vigorously, saying “It’s so sick how ignorant we are.”
“Americans are so spoiled. They don’t realize how much less they pay in taxes or how cheap their petrol is. ‘Petrol’ is gasoline,” he explained to her questioning look.
The American woman agreed, adding “And instead of appreciating it, we just get greedier.”
The conversation continued like this for a while, to the point where I expected him to say “American women are all silly whores,” and her to gush, “We are. We are.”
