Made in the U.S.A.: Spoiled Brats

[byndrsn]

I received this article in an email from a couple different people and thought I would share it with all of you. I'm sure that some of you may take offense to what is written here (hell, some of you take offense to every post), but take a second to think about some of the stuff in the article. I know I sat and thought about some of the things that I take for granted.
Urbs


Made in the USA: Spoiled brats

Posted: Nov. 20, 2006, By Craig R. Smith

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? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff. 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 are 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 he was 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:

''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.

[mjb]

very true. we should all take a minute and think about how good we really have it . good post byndrsn.

[Baceman Spiff]

Excellent post Tom.

[songsmith]

Perhaps Americans are unsatisfied that bin Laden has lived long enough to become a Muslim-extremist folk hero, or that the tribal leaders we paid to get him actually helped him escape, then kept the money. Perhaps its that our leaders squandered the most sympathy and goodwill ever afforded our nation, by virtually ignoring the culprit of our most shocking defeat, to instead pour our resources into a different money pit, unrelated to bin Laden.
Maybe folks are upset that The Uniter's political propaganda machine has polarized the country to extremes not seen since the Civil War. Or that protection of our freedoms would extend to listening to our phone calls, reading our mail, and suspending the right to fair and speedy trial.
Suppose that the populace is angered that our government offered offered unheard-of multi-billion-dollar breaks to energy companies who quickly posted the largest "earnings" of any business in recorded world history, and continue to reap such profits. Or that the government blocked the purchase of prescription drugs at lower cost outside the obviously hyperinflated pricing available here. Or that unregulated energy corporations instituted vast energy "shortages," including actually shutting off service to customers, in order to drive up demand, and therefore, price.
One could postulate that Americans became unhappy that our Congress has become gridlocked by partisan posturing and back-room insidiousness. That, despite a full majority in the legislative, executive, and some say judicial branches of government, so many issues of great importance, such as natural disaster, porous borders and other national security concerns, medical research, the shrinking middle class, and unfunded mandates to states have become dead in the water.
Some Americans are unhappy that manufacturing and high-tech jobs were eliminated in the largest exportation of labor potential in our country's history. That the only plentiful jobs left are low-paying service sector jobs with few benefits... unless one is prepared for the costs and commitment of college.
A large segment of American voters are unsatisfied with a distinct lack of religious freedom, including the freedom from religion. Many feel that the judgemental puritan views of some swing more weight than is warranted, simply because those in power used the pulpit to gain power. Moral scandals only amplify this effect.
Perhaps it is the view of our leaders that, in their charge as the rulers, they are above reproach, beyond the reach of rules set 230 years ago, and entitled to an environment of cronyism and secrecy.
It is entirely possible that these factors and many others led to a fed-up America changing the guard in state capitols, and in Washington. It is entirely possible that the guard could again change if these factors aren't addressed. America spoke, and America knows what's best for itself.



Cut and paste at will. Discuss, but be nice.----->JMS

[Merge]

Very well put, byndrsn.

[lonewolf]

Yay for Urbs !!

[SpellboundByMetal]

Good post.

[tornandfrayed]

Great Post!

Sorry but here goes!

Your days of driving from coast to coast without papers are numbered, check out the "National ID card", it has already been passed and it will be here in 2008. Haven't heard about it? No shit!

As far as comforts go, you are right, we are spoiled and gluttonous, and selfish and greedy and we have good climate control. Sort of like the way cows are raised. Ever try to incorporate? Want to share with the government? Ever see what happens to cows?

It is thinking like that which is our downfall. We are fat and lazy, I agree. I disagree that we should be thankful for that. We lack motivation but again I don't think it is cause for celebration.

Your post does not make me mad or piss me off, it scares me.

America is the greatest country that the world has ever known and our rich fascist government is destroying it and you think it is great cause we have fast food, grocery stores and lots of restaurants?

Go figure...

You my friend are the strength of the country. As soon as you and every hard working son of a bitch like you gets their shit together and realizes that you are working your ass off to pay the interest on the national debt then we can work it.

We can work together to take back our country from the elitist government that so proudly shoves poison down our throats and we are thankful for it.

I Love America and I love choice but I want the real choices not which one of a hundred different restaurants are we going to eat at tonight. Not what temperature to set my thermostat to.

See we can all agree to disagree but once you get a cumputer chip shoved up your ass by the government so they can tell where you are every second of every day it will be to late!

[Primates]

Probly One Of The Best Posts I've Seen Here....Well Said.

[Banned]

From reading the original post and some responses, it seems like we have folks here that see the glass half full, and some the glass half empty.

There are certainly problems with this country, mostly with what our politicians have done to our government. But it sure is a whole lot better than whatever else is out there.

Watch out for the big swing towards socialism with this new leftist leadership in congress. More taxes, more entitlements, less individual freedoms, less choices for you to make (they know better and so they will take your money and make the choices for you), and while doing this, they say they care about the common person. BULL

We need to bet back to the basics in the Constitution. (which by the way has no mention of a minimum wage)

[tornandfrayed]

Don't read me wrong Joe. I agree with you. I truly believe that most politicians are not doing the right thing by the American People. And I also agree that there is a sense of hopelessness in America that we can't do anything. I agree with you there also, the cup is half full and we can make a difference! It is not too late!

I am neither Democrat or Republican for I will not be defined by any label other then "American" and for America I will stand!

Sound corny but I love "Truth, Justice and the American way!"

[lonewolf]

From reading the original post and some responses, it seems like we have folks here that see the glass half full, and some the glass half empty.

Funny you say that Joe. My 1st impression was that some people see the glass 9/10 full and others see it 1/10 empty.

Of course, as an engineer, I see the glass as being bigger than it needs to be.

I sincerely believe that there has never been a greater time and place in history than in America right now.

[RobTheDrummer]

The fascism and socialism will start as soon as the democrats are in power.

[Zinger]

Come on Rob!!! Patriot act Talk about losing our rights,remember the no court order wire taps and search and seizure? All we need is book burnings and have GW have a short little mustache with a swastiker.

We have lost more rights as workers and Americans than any other time,Maybe Bush should change his name to McCarthy? Remember McCarthyism thats the Bush Administation

http://www.bushflash.com/jpg/ro3.jpg

[RobTheDrummer]

There you go with that skewed propaganda. Do you believe everything you hear from an Anti-Bush site?

[GUITARII]

How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?

I would!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orCXcJ5ztHM&NR

Seriously though.... great read!!

[jangel]

well done tom........you hit the nail on the head. we are a country of winers and complainers. we have so much free time on our hands that all we can do is bitch. take for example a post for all the songs we refuse to play when its what got a lot of bands the following they worked for. Yes I don't like to play certain songs but if the people that pay a cover to see the band then we need to reconsider what we are all about. we are supposed to be entertainers, give the people what they want. And name one president that people didn't bitch about? we are looking for a perfect society, a perfect country.....ain't gona happen. as chuck berry put it I'm so glad to be in the livin in the USA.

[HurricaneBob]

Speaking of spoiled brats.
This girl needs shot...

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=21387

[RobTheDrummer]

Wow, she does need shot. What a spoiled bitch!

[tornandfrayed]

well, uh, never mind.

[BDR]

I received this article in an email from a couple different people and thought I would share it with all of you. I'm sure that some of you may take offense to what is written here (hell, some of you take offense to every post), but take a second to think about some of the stuff in the article. I know I sat and thought about some of the things that I take for granted.
Urbs


Made in the USA: Spoiled brats

Posted: Nov. 20, 2006, By Craig R. Smith

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? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff. 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 are 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 he was 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:

''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.

It is because of all of these good things that I am unhappy with the direction this country is going. I don't want to lose those liberties we all enjoy (and sometimes take for granted) just because of the "cowboy regime" that's currently in place, pissing off the entire planet.

Am I spoiled? Probably, but who is George F'n Bush to come in and screw with the freedoms our forefathers fought to provide and protect?

Screw him and his horse$hit regime.

EDIT: Hell yes to everything songsmith said.

r:>)

[Zinger]

Listen to what Rumsfield says!!!!

http://www.dickeatsbush.com/armagddn.htm

Of corse maybe some people can get De-programmed

TRUTH HURTS

[Banned]

BadazeRob, or Badrob for short, Clinton also took away many rights. They technology to do the wiretapping on international calls was developed and first used by Clinton. He and his administration did it quietly because the liberal press did not make a big fuss about it.

How about Hillary having IRS files on every republican in D.C., is that not a violation of their privacy? Or was that ok with you because they only did it to republicans? The guy in charge of that illegal operation was some former bouncer from Pittsburgh if I remember.

If you examine it closely, there is really not too much difference between Clinton and Bush. Clinton gave technology to the Chicoms for illegal campaigne funds, and Bush puched the illegal parts of the Patriot act and ignores the real threat IMO, the illegals pouring into our unprotected borders. In Bush's speech the other night, he mentions something about helping Iraq defend its borders. !!!!

What about OUR borders???

[BDR]

... and Bush pushed the illegal parts of the Patriot act and ignores the real threat IMO, the illegals pouring into our unprotected borders. In Bush's speech the other night, he mentions something about helping Iraq defend its borders. !!!!

What about OUR borders???

Good Lord in Heaven above ... we agree on something political, Joe! This is f'n awesome!

BadazeRob, or Badrob for short ...

Is that like Bad Santa? Billy Bob rocks ...

r:>)

[BDR]

Hey, I'm not gonna sit here and put off like I'm skipping through an open meadow catching butterflies. I know that pretty much every US president in our history had things going on that probably weren't 100 percent kosher; however, this administration has gone to grea lengths to impose its will on everyone and piss off the world (save the members of the "coalition of the willing." ). "My way or the highway" is the mentality and that just makes people like Kim Jong Il step up nuke manfacturing, creating a more volitile world climate, hence a more dangerous world for our children to inherit.

As has been said, we as a nation received virtual global support for our invasion of Afghanistan subsequent to the 9/11 attacks. Why? Because 9/11 was one of the most horrendous visual events in modern history. The feeling we all had was shared by most people, all across the planet. Everyone supported us bringing in bin Laden. Everyone.

Bush overstepped his bounds by ignoring the "villain" of 9/11 and entering into a war with no purpose. If anything, I could've seen something like a US military escort for UN inspectors to ensure that weapons inspections were being carried out. Maybe even some strikes on known Iraqi military targets would've been in order, but a full scale invasion was never a good answer.

Diplomacy (not necessarily with Iraq in this instance) is so important and we pissed away a lot of global support for ANY situation by initiating this war without a good reason or an adequate amount of support fro our world neighbors. Bush doesn't give a flying fü©k whatanyone on the planet thinks about our policies. His attitude is," If you don't like what we're doing, suck my balls." That kind of foreign policy just gets Americans dead.

r:>)