If you have read a few of my past posts, you would might discern that I have been generally hopeful for the future of race relations in general and specifically in relations between West Virginians and the rest of the outside world.

(All right, cut it out with the Deliverance crap, please)

I was out with the boys this evening, and I learned a couple of things:

1)  There is a direct corelation between dollars spent on media message and the number of Rebel flags flying around on pickup trucks with gun racks, etc. Attitudes included.

2)  It is amazing how even some of these same fellows will start questioning themselves fundamentally after you explain how

a) "Good" insurance (Property and casualty liability, life insurance for example) is like a lubricant for the economy in that it allows people to take the risks of everyday life without having to worry about losing everything if one screws up, and,

b)  How "bad" insurance, like the health insurance industry, is basically a big ass leech in the middle of a money stream of most healthcare expenditures in this country between state/federal governments (VA, workers comp, workers conp, medicare, etc, etc,) to the actual provider of the healthcare service.

Even my "birther"/"deather" Fox devotee friend Bud, the one with the Medicare kidney, was asking intelligent questions and seemed dumbfounded at the results.  

These guys are already hearing from GP doctors about how they aren't making big money. My friends want to know where the f@#k the money is going. I want to keep them out of their pickup trucks.  

I don't know what to think except that we have to keep educating.

Everyone. Everywhere.