Posted on 07/21/2008 5:24:06 AM PDT by foutsc
Finntann wrote in his blog about the decline of 'Civil-ization' in this country. While the polite still outnumber the rude, the ranks of the latter are growing. Closely related to the rude are those who think the rules don't apply to them, or who have become successful but are resentful of having had to work so hard for it.
“You’re looking at a young couple that’s just a few years out of debt,” Obama said. “See, because, we went to those good schools, and we didn’t have trust funds.”We are the land of self-inflated entitlement: "I want it all and I want it now. I deserve it." No further explanation necessary.
My explanation? We are a conglomeration of self-absorbed entities casually bumping into one another. Sense of community is rapidly becoming a quaint ideal practiced only in small town America, where, according to certain elitists, the benighted hicks cling to their racism, guns and bibles.
We also don't realize that we are the spoiled rich brats living off of, and squandering, the inheritance of our forbears. No appreciation, just "give me the keys to the Beemer, Dad." And we drive off in ignorant bliss.
The freedoms we enjoy were bought and paid for with the blood of patriots. This economy, still the envy of the world despite current glitches, didn't just build itself. Capitalists and financiers, small business owners, inventors, and sinewy laborers built this nation by the sweat of their brow.
Conservatives will say the downhill slide started when we abandoned the ethos that taught: "You don't work, you don't eat," and they are right.
Progressives will say that capitalism without morals or rules has fueled rampant greed that is destroying our society, and they are right.
Cotton Mather said it best:
Virtue begat prosperity, and the daughter killed the mother.
I believed all that, truly. I still do to a certain extent.
But the whole capitalist-market system got screwed around when big companies decided the American worker was overpaid. As a highly qualified professional I couldn’t get a job - the big companies preferred to go to India and China for cheap labor. So I downsized.
I’ve never bought a new car. I always look for second-hand goods now. And I grow my own food. To hell with the big companies. I can do without you, too. Sorry the economy is going south but you didn’t want me and I can do without your products.
You have hit the nail right on the head with one magnificent shot.
“Sense of community is rapidly becoming a quaint ideal practiced only in small town America, where, according to certain elitists, the benighted hicks cling to their racism, guns and bibles.”
D@mn straight. And as long as I’m breathing, it’ll stay that way for my little Cow Town and family. :)
I know I’m not alone in this. When the Revolution comes, we will turn out in droves...but I’m not convinced that now is the time to strike. ;)
We are not in a capitalist economy. Politically, we’re in a global corporatist economy with regions (Europe) that are mercantilist and others fascist (much of south America, Africa, the middle east) and a moronic ruling class in the U.S. which clings to the illusion of free trade.
I figured out at a very early age that my life could be heaven or hell, and there was only one person who could or would make it heaven--ME!
To quote another highly successful person, Sofia Loren (when asked how she had been so successful): "Maybe I'm just smart."
(Lots of smart people wind up posting here on FreeRepublic.)
My wife figured out the same thing when she was very young, and she was born and raised rich.
We have never expected a handout from anybody. We've given lots of people lots of handouts!
(I have no idea how many people I've educated through scolarship programs I set up.)
(This very day I'm going to GIVE $5,000 to someone who needs it for health care insurance.) (I don't make loans. If I've got it I GIVE it and expect NOTHING back--not even gratitude. The giving is a gift to myself as well.)
I couldn't go to an expensive college; so I went to the local junior college and the state university. Unlike Michelle Obama--I'm not still paying for my education. I lived within my means. I always have.
(I'm also not particularly impressed with Ivy League schools. Look at the top CEOs and highly compensated executives. Most of them came up through the ranks like I did--and went to regular colleges.)
Also unlike Michelle Obama--I am not resentful. I have always been proud of my country--with its imperfections right there in my awareness!
And unlike Michelle--I'm not ANGRY!
Michelle would profit immensely from the gifts of the Angel of Gratitude--if she were intelligent enough to solicit his help. But, on the other hand, if she were that intelligent she would already be grateful.
"Give me the keys to the Beemer, Dad."
Last year, I made the mistake of inviting my younger sister out to live with me in California. She'd suddenly started contacting me, after years of silence, and was miserable back in the midwest. Lonely, depressed, life going nowhere.
I let her come out, and only then found out what a chaotic creature she was (drugs, debt, lazy & irresponsible). First I was sympathetic. Then concerned. Then horrified. Finally I had to get away from her before she pulled me down with her.
But from the beginning, she had the attitude "Give me the keys to the Beemer." It took a while before I noticed. I went looking for my iron and she said, "Oh, I loaned the iron to my friend downstairs."
"I downloaded my pictures onto the computer."
"I loaned the Pride & Prejudice DVD to the other neighbor" (in return for the new Harry Potter.)
The iron. The computer. The DVD.
Finally I said, "It's not THE iron. It's MY iron! MY computer! MY DVD." She never thought of these things as mine and not hers. They were, to her, simply the community possessions. She wasn't there the day I found that iron at a garage sale and with great satisfaction, brought it home. She wasn't there the day my employer issued me that laptop and I thought "Eeeee!! A mac! YES!" She wasn't there when I got that DVD for Christmas.
To her, that stuff simply existed. It was there when she got there, like the rocks and the trees, and she availed herself of it without hesitation. She had little concept of working to obtain the things she wanted. Things are not bought. Things are found. Generally on other people's property.
This mindset is the essence of liberalism. They come, they see what others have built up, and they demand "their" share. As for what happens to the stuff, they aren't concerned. "So the DVD hasn't come back? Oh, I hadn't noticed. I've already seen it, so..." (shrug)
It's been 8 months since I got away from her. She's back with our parents now. I still notice things missing.
Well stated, Savage Beast. I think there are many more Americans like you than like Michelle. Your Sofia Loren Quote reminded me of a John Wayne Quote: “Life is hard. It’s harder if you’re stupid.” And to paraphrase Ron White, even going to an Ivy League college can’t fix stupid.
You are correct.
Same with furniture. Go out ther and buy some nice old used wooden pieces. Bring them home and finish them or use them however but...recycle. It’s fun and brings out the creativity in everyone. We’re looking for another vehicle and for the first time we will purchase a used one. We will have it checked out by a mechanic friend and if it is good to go why not? Why should we pay all that kind of money for a vehicle?
There used to be Victory gardens. People should do that today. Kids could help and would keep them home doing chores around the house to help the family as a team instead of “hanging’ out” somewhere all day long.
Use real dishes and wash them instead of paper plate eating on the run all the time.
Wash the dishes and have someone dry them. Forget the dishwasher for awhile. Washing and drying dishes brought mothers and kids closer as they did the chore because they TALKED while they did those kinds of things.
Cook your own food and stop buying take out. It’s cheaper, has more taste and you KNOW who prepared it and that the ingredients wwere fresh and not only prepared with clean hands but prepared with love for family.
The world can do better if everyone pulls together but it can start with the simple things and not get so over dramatic like the politicians and environmentalists do. Just do the simple things and teach the children the same. The world will behave the way it is intended to. I laugh at all those who think they can actually change it.
Just use common sense people and things can and will get better but there has to be a starting point and that’s in the home beginning with family. Everything else will fall into place.
Waht scares me about MIchelle is that hse seems ust like Eva Peron (Evita). Filled with some sort of all consuming hate against the world and I don’t think she’ll restrain herself ot being a pretty ornament. I sincerely believe she will do what she can to get as much power as possible and then rip society to shreds to satisfy some vengeance filled mania.
Waht scares me about MIchelle is that she seems just like Eva Peron (Evita). Filled with some sort of all consuming hate against the world and I don’t think she’ll restrain herself to being a pretty ornament. I sincerely believe she will do what she can to get as much power as possible and then rip society to shreds to satisfy some vengeance filled mania.
I love the John Wayne quote. Yes, I think there are more of us than there are of them—and even if not, smart beats stupid every time.
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