Made in the USA: Spoiled brats

[Ptarmigan]

(received via email)

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. Oh, what a mean man I am.

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 ...............!

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.

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[SouthFloridawx]

I agree with the fact that your saying shut off the TV.

[Brent]

That was actually interesting. Makes you think.

[Yarrah]

Hmm, can't say I agree with the writer of this article. He made a few mistakes in my opinion.

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.

Does this apply to all US citizens. Do they all have acces to the things that are described here?

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.

The US is doing great, but it's still not the best and certainly not the envy of the rest of the world (at least not here in Europe). There's still some improvement needed. For example, US ranks 9 on the ecomic freedom. Freedom of press is something else; I woulnd't be proud of rank 53 (along with countries such as Botswana and Croatia). And why do gays still not have the same rights in most of the states? I can understand that 67% is 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.

The world loves the US? Ow, I like a lot about the US, but as far as I know, there are a lot of people who hate the US with all their hearts. Just look at Iran and North Korea

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.

That's hard to do if you're an atheist or believe in another god.

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.

Bad venom or not, it is the truth and I find it very distburbing if people don't want to hear the truth and only want to hear the good news in the world. It creates dumb and ignorant citizens. Democracy's worst enemy.

Yes, all too often people act as spoiled brats and complain about things they shouldn't even dare to complain about. But this article implies that US citizens should just sit back, enjoy their wealth, thank god and let the goverment just do its job without knowing what's really going on in the world. Instead, people should keep an eye on what the government is doing and what's going on in the rest of the world and they should take action when something's going entirely wrong. If the media would just broadcast the good news and everyone would stop listening to the critical media, this would make it all to easy for th government to make huge mistakes which could eventuay affect everyone.

[coriolis]

Sheesh, I thought this thread would be about teenagers today. Here it's about the adults.

We had a nice point/counterpoint above. I'd say that by historical standards those in today's western civilization have it pretty good. If you consider the conditions of thousands, or hundreds, or even scores of years ago, things could be a lot worse. You can point to an endless number of blunders, disasters, deceptions, etc. formented by leaders throughout history, but somehow civilization keeps plugging along. I don't put a lot of faith in statistics from anyone. It's the old "figures don't lie, but liars will figure."

Staff will be watching this thread. Make your point without thinking that you have to win an arguement.

[Ptarmigan]

Sheesh, I thought this thread would be about teenagers today. Here it's about the adults.

We had a nice point/counterpoint above. I'd say that by historical standards those in today's western civilization have it pretty good. If you consider the conditions of thousands, or hundreds, or even scores of years ago, things could be a lot worse. You can point to an endless number of blunders, disasters, deceptions, etc. formented by leaders throughout history, but somehow civilization keeps plugging along. I don't put a lot of faith in statistics from anyone. It's the old "figures don't lie, but liars will figure."

Staff will be watching this thread. Make your point without thinking that you have to win an arguement.

I know how politics threads are like. They can go out of hand, especially at a non-political forum, like this.

[gtalum]

Lamenting the erosion of the rights and liberties guaranteed by the US Constitution in this nation over the last few years does not make one a spoiled brat. What's silly is pretending that because we haven't lost all or even most of our rights and liberties means there is no problem. Erosion of liberty is a slow process, just as building it is.

[Pburgh]

Ok, let's tune in to CNN and listen to the sludge they pour out on a daily basis. That will really help every situation. Personally, I like to hear some of the good stuff that goes on in the US and around the world. I know that there are problems that need fixed and I do all that I can to fix them. Sitting back and listening to ALL bad does not inspire me to be my best -- all it does is undermine the confidence I have in our people to do better.

[Stephanie]

Ok, let's tune in to CNN and listen to the sludge they pour out on a daily basis. That will really help every situation. Personally, I like to hear some of the good stuff that goes on in the US and around the world. I know that there are problems that need fixed and I do all that I can to fix them. Sitting back and listening to ALL bad does not inspire me to be my best -- all it does is undermine the confidence I have in our people to do better.

Ditto.