I was talking to the soldier the other day or rather he was talking to me about politics and he asked what I thought about something.”I don’t know. I don’t think about that stuff at all. I don’t listen to any of it, I don’t think it matters.”

Silence.

“Well I don’t. I don’t care what Obama said. I don’t care what Hilary thought or what some talking head is saying on the news tonight. I don’t track any of that; I don’t think it’s real. Do you think it’s real?”

No answer.

“Look, I’m sorry. I know you watch this stuff like a hawk but I do not. I watch things that are real. I watch the dollar for example. I watch the price of gold. I watch the price of oil for Godsakes! I see it’s going to break $100 a barrel and that’s supposed to be a big deal? Well now it’s at $112 and I know the effects of this first hand. I worked for Frito Lay for years. I know what happens when the price of gas goes up. I told you I saw 12 flour tortillas priced at $4.65 in the store last week. How are people supposed to pay $5 for a stack of flour and water? Tortillas are poverty food! People are going to get to the store and find they can’t afford to buy food. Now that is real and what some guy on CNN is saying to fill up air time is of no consequence whatsoever as far as I am concerned. How long can we stay in denial? Forever? Somehow I don’t think so.”

If you’re the type to pay attention, what do you track as indicators of where we are headed?