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“Maria Rivera sits in the Cobb County Jail, facing deportation after a traffic stop.”

Let’s try the sob sister routine from a different angle.

Mary Smith sits in the emergency room, waiting her turn to see a doctor to treat little Jonhhy’s broken arm after he fell from a swing.

If the Cobb County mother of three, who is a third generation American, had known she would wait for three days to see a doctor, she said she would have set the arm herself and been done with it.

The receptionist called out “Number 342. Next!” A pregnant women, ready to drop her bundle, waddled into the treatment room and began cursing in Spanish about her long wait, followed by her ACLU attorney.

Mary looked at her number - 765 - and calculated that little Johnny might hold out till next Tuesday, if only she could get him something to drink and eat.

As if answering her prayer, a cafeteria worker walked through the emergency room offering sanwiches and milk to the waiting patients. Mary held out her trembling hand. The worker paged through the paperwork and matched Mary’s name to his list.

“I see you’re paying cash for your treatment. I need to collect, upfront, $75 for the tuna sandwich and $25 for the carton of milk. Food ain’t free, you know. Somebody has to pay for all the free sandwiches I hand out as per court order.”

Mary searched through her purse, looking to see if she had enough after paying a $200 fine for parking 20 minutes in a 15 minute zone. She found $40 and asked if she could owe the rest.

The attendant, a kindly man, nodded, opened the wrapper and gave her half a sandwich. “I can’t give you no change, though. The legislature raised the taxes on hospital sandwiches to 25%. Need the money to pay for child care, you know. Want a cigar? Only $25, after taxes. It’s for the children.”

Mary declined. She had given up cigars, beer, fast food, all taxed beyond her meager means. She looked outside and saw a police van writing $500 parking tickets. She knew she would need to give up parking next. Another bus from across the border pulled up, discharging its human cargo.