Unhappy with the way things are going?
Made in the USA: Spoiled brats
By Craig R. Smith c 2006
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way.
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day , 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state ? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they [were] going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did, insane!
Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
quote:''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States , 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.' ' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.
By Craig R. Smith c 2006
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way.
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day , 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state ? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they [were] going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did, insane!
Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
quote:''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States , 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.' ' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.
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good post. Thank You. 0 -
That pretty well nailed it......Of course, the usual whiners will be along soon to whiz all over this...... 0 -
You make a good point. 0 -
So, if a democrat was president, and the democratic congress rammed some new gun legislation through congress, would you still be singing the same tune? After all, you'd still have your job and hot water and shelter and all that stuff. Would you still just be "grateful," or would you begin to feel some discontent?
Answer honestly, now.0 -
I had a job, running water, and electricity before the nitwit Bush started the disastrous Iraq War.
Craig Smith must get emails straight from Karl Rove to come up with a pile of crap like this.0 -
[8D]-=Whom do you suppose MND gets his mail from ????
--[:)][:)]--JIMBO0 -
Good post.....I sent it to everyone in my address book. [:)][:)]
crims400 -
I wish for just one day people in 2007 could live under the conditions of 1770. I think it would humble them tremendously and give them a greater appreciation of life today and life in America. 0 -
+1 0 -
quote:Originally posted by hicap47
That pretty well nailed it......Of course, the usual whiners will be along soon to whiz all over this......
+10 -
Very Nice post. 100% True 0 -
It's just a feel good post that simplifies things too much. Example, if any of us won a Ferarri tomorrow, we'd feel very lucky and grateful. By the 2nd year of ownership, I don't care who it is, you're going to be used to owning it. And, you're going to take it for granted. That's after a year or two of owning a free, half million dollar car. So it isn't hard to see how simple things that people have been used to their entire lives (and pay for) get taken for granted eventually. It's not like these services are provided for free. People are a product of the times. Life is more complex now. If I'm unhappy over complex national/global problems, it has nothing to do with being thankful for modern day luxuries. You can't even compare the two.
How would anything ever get better if everybody got up in the morning and were so thankful they had running water, that they just didn't care about anything else going on in the world? Just let the government do whatever they want, right? Let them throw away the taxes forced upon us faster than they obtain them, right? So what?
Doesn't make good sense to me.
"Unhappy" is a very relative term anyway.0 -
do you prefer a nation of "whiners" or one of complacent contented bovines? 0 -
Allen Griggs +1
I think this Craig Smith and Jane Chastain may be the same fantasy writer using different noms de plume.0 -
BTW, the polls this article is referring to are based on governmental performance. They aren't asking people if they're happy they have electricity, so I don't find the numbers that upsetting. I'm pretty confident that if I went down town and took a poll of 100 people, that at least 70 would say they're fed up with Iraq. I hate the democratic party. But with the results we have after this many years and the simple fact that our guys continue to lose their lives at this point, I can't say I can blame the people for being unhappy about it. People have a right to be angry. It costs a fortune that we don't have, there's no more clear objectives besides trying to train the untrainable, with no light at the end of the tunnel. If I thought the place would be completely different and changed for the better in another 5 years, I'd be happy. Unfortunately, I believe they could leave tomorrow or 5 years from now and the result will be the same.
This occupation is like trying to build a sand castle in the rain. Everything looks good for a while and then there's more scumbags to replace the previous ones, who erode the work away. While costing hundreds of billions of dollars and American lives.
No matter how many military personel we or anyone else puts in Iraq or Afghanistan, it isn't going to stop a single, low key, determined terrorist from flying over here from Saudi Arabia and causing havoc. There is no argument to that and there's plenty of stupid little groups that hate us just as much in there. It's no wonder people are unhappy and that's just one aspect of it all.0 -
After reading this article I gave myself 40 lashes with a cat-o-nine and am sitting in sack cloth and ashes. 0 -
I remember when Regan was President, then press would have an updated poll every month where the public was supposedly pessimistic about the economy's future. The fact the the economy wsa rolling along just fine was irrelevant.
So is the case when a Republican is President and the economy is great.
It must suck to be a liberal, so negative and all.0 -
Where to start???
Well, I for one, am unhappy with the way things are going, in that this nation has taken the road toward socialism and an overreaching central government... Toward a Nanny State and an overwhelming dependency class.... Toward the willful flooding of the nation with illegal aliens.... Toward judicial tyranny....Toward further losses of private property rights....Toward continued erosion of the Constitution of the United States....And on, and on, and on....
All this continues to happen under both parties and those of us who care are powerless.
But hey, I'm just a whiny, spoiled brat who should shut up and be thankful.0 -
quote:Originally posted by KSUmarksman
do you prefer a nation of "whiners" or one of complacent contented bovines?
As if those are the ONLY two choices before us?
I'm not getting into a pissing contest with the caliber of pissers we have on this forum. I just thought the article could be read by intelligent persons, as some here are. The "complacent contented bovines" will likely remain such. As will the "whiners." But I rather suspect there is a whole range of more likely choices from which one might pick a model for attitude/action et al. Perhaps, again, I am wrong. Or as the sage said, "If the shoe fits..."0 -
If any of you are upset with the Democrat takeover of congress, you may look no further for the cause than the disastrous George Bush. Many Republicans believe that had he just fired the inept Rumsfeld a few months ago, the Republicans would still hold the senate.
For a Republican, or any true conservative, the Presidency of George Bush has been a nightmare.0 -
...he he he...have no fear that the lefties gained a little ground. Being the twits they are, they cannot help themselves and will shoot themselves in the foot, oh I forgot, they are scared and hate guns; I guess they will just "talk" themselves back out of office.
I wish ALL the libs would junket over to the borderlands of Pakastan and "talk" to the tribal leaders...and "talk" and share a little of their "sensitive" side...[}:)][^]
They don't/won't have much time to attend meetings, with all the sensitivity classes, hugging trees, and saving damn whales.
Came in at 3 o'clock and I have already heard 3-4 of these genius libs talking about raising taxes...better hold onto your guns real tight...gotta love 'em...[xx(]
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