Looking out for Number One [PHIL-OSOPHY]

I was mentioning to someone who looks at life much differently than I do that I agree in general with state lawmaker Alan Silva, who has had it with those folks who empty out the store shelves of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, cleaning products and bottled water.

The legislator is creating a bill that would address hoarding during an emergency like the one we're going through, or a hurricane, blizzard and events like that. That was the last time I could get a word in edgewise. She went off on me, starting by labeling me a cold-hearted, callous conservative and that those people scoffing the Charmin are "protected" by the law, but that I wouldn't know that because my kind is only looking out for numero uno.

In the real world, she continued, experts believe that hoarding is a form of mental illness and hoarders should receive psychological treatment. At this point, I was thinking about making an appointment myself. She was letting loose that the American Psychiatric Association has classified hoarding as a clinical disorder and thus hoarders are protected under the Fair Housing Act with a disability.

All I could think of during her rant is where am I going to find some Scott tissue? But she continued by telling me to stop calling these victims "hoarders" because it's a pejorative that shows a total lack of understanding of the current "epidemiological dynamics." So there, I guess she hauled me over the coals.

She finished by telling me that the majority of these people are simply stocking up on supplies so they can make less frequent outings later, reducing the risk for community transmission.

And you thought it was easy being a talk show host.

By the way, if Mr. Silva's legislation makes it through the sausage factory, I'll support it.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.comm and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.