Frustration in the Grocery Line

Remind me never to initiate small talk when I'm in line in New York. Or at least, not when the economy is this bad.

The Rite Aide across the street from my apartment in Manhattan always has a long line at the checkout counters, mostly because the place is understaffed. Nothing new here. Downsizing on staff has been one of the biggest consequences of the global economic downturn, but I was just trying to be "friendly" to the lady behind me and mustered: "There are always understaffed here, huh?"
And it's as if I begged this woman to fume at the political state of the the U.S.
"It's all around the country honey. And it is only going to get worse. We got idiots in Congress and an idiot in the White House.
And you know what he wants to do now? Stop NASA. The only thing that brought us to the 21st century. We're going back to windmills. You just see."

Just as she's done spewing out her 2 cents, it's time for me to pay for my stuff. Nothing like a 10 minute wait in line to give you a taste of New York.