Posted on 3/4/2012, 7:02:56 PM by knarf
Grey-Haired Brigade
They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs. Some of us are "Baby Boomers" getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time. We walk a little slower these days and our eyes and hearing are not what they once were. We have worked hard, raised our children, worshiped our God and grown old together. Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and that is probably true. But before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.
In school we studied English, history, math, and science which enabled us to lead America into the technological age. Most of us remember what outhouses were, many of us with firsthand experience. We remember the days of telephone party-lines, 25 cent gasoline, and milk and ice being delivered to our homes. For those of you who don't know what an icebox is, today they are electric and referred to as refrigerators. A few even remember when cars were started with a crank. Yes, we lived those days.
We are probably considered old fashioned and out-dated by many. But there are a few things you need to remember before completely writing us off. We won World War II, fought in Korea and Viet Nam. We can quote The Pledge of Allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We wore the uniform of our country with pride and lost many friends on the battlefield. We didn't fight for the Socialist States of America; we fought for the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." We wore different uniforms but carried the same flag. We know the words to the Star Spangled Banner, America, and America the Beautiful by heart, and you may even see some tears running down our cheeks as we sing. We have lived what many of you have only read about in history books and we feel no obligation to apologize to anyone for America.
Yes, we are old and slow these days but rest assured, we have at least one good fight left in us. We have loved this country, fought for it, and died for it, and now we are going to save it. It is our country and nobody is going to take it away from us. We took oaths to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that is an oath we plan to keep. There are those who want to destroy this land we love but, like our founders, there is no way we are going to remain silent.
It was mostly the young people of this nation who elected Obama and the Democratic Congress. You fell for the "Hope and Change" which in reality was nothing but "Hype and Lies." You have tasted socialism and seen evil face to face, and have found you don't like it after all. You make a lot of noise, but most are all too interested in their careers or "Climbing the Social Ladder" to be involved in such mundane things as patriotism and voting. Many of those who fell for the "Great Lie" in 2008 are now having buyer's remorse. With all the education we gave you, you didn't have sense enough to see through the lies and instead drank the 'Cool-Aid.' Now you're paying the price and complaining about it. No jobs, lost mortgages, higher taxes, and less freedom. This is what you voted for and this is what you got. We entrusted you with the Torch of Liberty and you traded it for a paycheck and a fancy house.
Well, don't worry youngsters, the Grey-Haired Brigade is here, and in 2012 we are going to take back our nation. We may drive a little slower than you would like but we get where we're going, and in 2012 we're going to the polls by the millions.. This land does not belong to the man in the White House nor to the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. It belongs to "We the People" and "We the People" plan to reclaim our land and our freedom. We hope this time you will do a better job of preserving it and passing it along to our grandchildren.. So the next time you have the chance to say the Pledge of Allegiance, Stand up, put your hand over your heart, honor our country, and thank God for the old geezers of the "Grey-Haired Brigade."
Author, Anon. Grey-Haired Brigade Member
BTTT
Oh yes. Do it! Bammy has a plan for you and hopefully you have a plan for him before he carries out his plan on you.
Brilliant ,thanks for posting the first ray of hope in years.
You have tasted socialism and seen evil face to face, and have found you don't like it after all.
Sadly, I don't know if this is generally true. I have talked to many, many people, mostly younger than me, but some of about the same age. Who don't seem to have a problem with socialism. Not that they understand what that word means, or understand the social and political theory behind it, but in effect they seem to advocate, or at least are comfortable, with many aspects of it. A good percentage of the electorate, maybe close to a majority, seem to be okay with having government make more and more decisions on their behalf, provide for a greater and greater percentage of their needs, take more and more of a place in their lives instead of traditional reliance on self and family.
The difficulty is in "transferring" the knowledge, experience, and wisdom I have gained over six+ decades on this Earth to those coming of age. Some things are simply learned by doing, of trying and failing and trying again until you succeed. The danger is that one every so often some smooth-talking demagogue comes along and lays the groundwork for the destruction of any ties to our traditional base, the values and beliefs that have forged this nation over the centuries. That is my fear for today, and the future.
Its demographics. The largest percentage of voters was, is and will be the Grey-Haired Brigade- the senior citizens. Period. It just so happens that the baby boomers represent the largest number of senior citizens yet to come. From 1945 to about 1965, 77 million people were born in the USA. Starting in 2010, 65 years after 1945, the boomers are retiring or are set to retire. That is about 4 million people per year on average. As people get older, they focus more on politics and get more involved; at a minimum, they vote. Grab your ankles folks, cause the boomers are going to DOMINATE the electorate.
Nice read, and I am in that age group, BUT...
The two defining issues for senior citizens are Medicare and Social Security. The Democraps always try to terrorize senior citizens by tell them the Republicans will take both away. It’s not true but far too many senior citizens buy into it. McCain won the senior citizen vote last time but I’m not sure Romney can (and Romney WILL be the Republican candidate).
As for the young and socialism. Most are still looking at it with the dreamy eyed rapture of new lovers. They are blinded to the brutalism and true horror that is socialism by the promise of free goodies. They voted for Obama last time and they will, in even bigger numbers I suspect, vote for him this time.
Obama WILL be re-elected. If I could get out of this country I would but I can’t. I am doing what I can to prepare for the worst.
Lube up jackass.
Alas, I have to agree with you. Being 29 going on 60 myself, I am afraid that most people will want “what they have coming to them”. The clever socialists designed the system so that one generation is robbed to pay for another. Nobody wants to be the ones left holding the empty bag, but it will have to be us Boomers. Unless the young folks are willing to pay an exorbitant amount in taxes (which they won’t and shouldn’t), there simply isn’t enough $ to pass around. The politicians will fix SS by taxing the crap out of benefits and making the age of eligibility about, oh say, 106.
The older folks currently receiving benefits will be the last group to get the goodies. Everyone else is tooled, but they won’t give it up quietly.
Alas, I have to agree with you. Being 29 going on 60 myself, I am afraid that most people will want “what they have coming to them”. The clever socialists designed the system so that one generation is robbed to pay for another. Nobody wants to be the ones left holding the empty bag, but it will have to be us Boomers. Unless the young folks are willing to pay an exorbitant amount in taxes (which they won’t and shouldn’t), there simply isn’t enough $ to pass around. The politicians will fix SS by taxing the crap out of benefits and making the age of eligibility about, oh say, 106.
The older folks currently receiving benefits will be the last group to get the goodies. Everyone else is tooled, but they won’t give it up quietly.
Alas, I have to agree with you. Being 29 going on 60 myself, I am afraid that most people will want “what they have coming to them”. The clever socialists designed the system so that one generation is robbed to pay for another. Nobody wants to be the ones left holding the empty bag, but it will have to be us Boomers. Unless the young folks are willing to pay an exorbitant amount in taxes (which they won’t and shouldn’t), there simply isn’t enough $ to pass around. The politicians will fix SS by taxing the crap out of benefits and making the age of eligibility about, oh say, 106.
The older folks currently receiving benefits will be the last group to get the goodies. Everyone else is tooled, but they won’t give it up quietly.
BTTT!
My SS at 64 is $782 .. I have a PT job for about $1000 a month ... roughly 200 a week.
roughly $400 a week
BOHICA. I am a boomer also. Like it or not, the boomers will swamp the vote, and it ain't gonna be pretty. The only conselation is that as people get older they "tend" to vote more conservative.
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