Author Topic: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!  (Read 3156 times)

crashresidue

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Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« on: November 07, 2008, 01:29:29 AM »
Might be a dup'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.''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 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 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'

A. Is it that we have electricity and r unning water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. 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?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state. F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of 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.

K. 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.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. 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% of you folks unhappy.& lt; BR>
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? Or the Congress with a much lower 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 ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out th ere defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may 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, an d when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Turn 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. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

e - sorry, internet stupid!
He who laughs last - is usually dumbest

Ron

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2008, 09:12:18 AM »
The news and media will switch gears soon in order to help Obama have at least a years honeymoon. The easily manipulated masses will soon be in a better mood.

As for me, "Life is Good", it was before the election and continues to be after the election.
For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse. Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

Lennyjoe

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2008, 09:43:26 AM »
Quote
The news and media will switch gears soon in order to help Obama have at least a years honeymoon
They already have.

ctdonath

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2008, 10:16:59 AM »
Humans are built, physically and mentally, to struggle. However long they've been around, they've struggled. Every fiber of their being is devoted to struggle. Give them everything they need and want, and they'll still seek something to struggle against.

The very concept of survival axiomatically builds on struggling with, and triumphing over, others. For most, the target of that struggle must be seen, and the struggle there against must be seen. The idea that certain resource-expending actions inherently prevent struggle - and thus the struggle itself is unnecessary - is incomprehensible to most.  That there isn't a problem paradoxically raises suspicion that there is a problem more insidious than ever; "surely there is something so bad that we MUST dismember the system that is so very nearly perfect".

Quote
Agent Smith: Did you know that the first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program. Entire crops were lost. Some believed we lacked the programming language to describe your perfect world. But I believe that, as a species, human beings define their reality through suffering and misery. The perfect world was a dream that your primitive cerebrum kept trying to wake up from. Which is why the Matrix was redesigned to this: the peak of your civilization.

Most political leaders can only win by terrorizing voters and assuring their ability to vanquish the hobgoblin. "Life's great, let's maintain the status quo" just doesn't cut it for political survival. Obama won because he convinced more voters that "change" was necessary, vital, desirable - while failing to articulate what really is so bad, what we shall change to, and what it will take to get there; he presented the better hobgoblin (voters' own baseless bare fears) and portrayed himself the better savior.
Now reading: The Unthinkable, The Age of Innocence
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Jamisjockey

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2008, 10:40:09 AM »
ctdonath:
Well said! 
JD

 The price of a lottery ticket seems to be the maximum most folks are willing to risk toward the dream of becoming a one-percenter. “Robert Hollis”

Tallpine

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2008, 11:05:56 AM »
Quote
'What are we so unhappy about?

Spending trillions of $$$ and thousands of lives on a useless war.

Forcing lenders to make bad loans and then bailing them out with taxpayer dollars.

The ineffective and demeaning TSA.  :mad:

Reluctantly allowing airline pilots to be armed in the cockpit after jumping through great hoops, instead of requiring them to be armed on 09-12-2001.

Increased socialistic spending under a so-called "conservative" administration.

The "Patriot" Act.

Kelo.

Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward toward the light; but the laden traveller may never reach the end of it.  - Ursula Le Guin

Tuco

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2008, 11:20:39 AM »
So, tell me about what (you?) did to get booted from arf.com... 
7-11 was a part time job.

Ron

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2008, 03:16:21 PM »
So, tell me about what (you?) did to get booted from arf.com... 

I think he meant he "boosted" ie stole the post from ARFCOM, he was letting us know he isn't the author.
For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse. Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

Tuco

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #8 on: November 07, 2008, 06:31:54 PM »
I think he meant he "boosted" ie stole the post from ARFCOM, he was letting us know he isn't the author.

Well "DUH" 
I fool so feelish....
7-11 was a part time job.

280plus

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2008, 06:52:46 PM »
Quote
Spending trillions of $$$ and thousands of lives on a useless war.
I have to disagree here. It is a necessary war, it has either tied up or eliminated many more thousands that would be spending their otherwise free time figuring out how to take us down. All I can say is I had the opportunity to visit a whole crapload of different countries all around the Pacific rim when I was younger and one thing I know, above all else, is that all other things aside there is no other country on the planet I would rather be in or be a part of. Believe me when I tell you there is no bigger relief I have ever felt than the relief I got setting foot back on good ol' American soil again and yep, ever since I've viewed those who have never left and have no idea how good they really, really have it as spoiled ungrateful brats. And when one or more of them really pisses me off about it, don't think I don't tell them. Maybe it ain't perfect but, let me tell you, it's the best thing out there and you should thank your lucky stars it's where you call home.
Avoid cliches like the plague!

Tallpine

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2008, 07:43:24 PM »
Okay, so we disagree about one of the current wars the US is engaged in.

But I agree that we are a great and bountiful country.  I don't see how disagreeing with the government about some things equates to "hating America" or wanting to live anywhere else ???
Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake. It is not easy. It is not a gift given, but a choice made, and the choice may be a hard one. The road goes upward toward the light; but the laden traveller may never reach the end of it.  - Ursula Le Guin

MicroBalrog

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #11 on: November 07, 2008, 07:46:19 PM »
Quote
Maybe it ain't perfect but, let me tell you, it's the best thing out there and you should thank your lucky stars it's where you call home.

I don't think anybody here thinks the US is a bad place to live. I for one will hopefully be voting with my feet rather soon.

But to feel discontent is legitimate.
Destroy The Enemy in Hand-to-Hand Combat.

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Bigjake

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #12 on: November 07, 2008, 08:04:24 PM »

But to feel discontent is legitimate.

I do think the discontent is more of folks being pissed about where the country seems to be headed, not what it is.

MicroBalrog

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #13 on: November 07, 2008, 08:13:53 PM »
I do think the discontent is more of folks being pissed about where the country seems to be headed, not what it is.

The way I see it from over here, the good things with America - her wealth, her freedom, her awesome power - are not connected to the temporal victory of one politician or another, or her 'heading' as of today.

The problems that  America faces - some of which were described in this thread - are also not the fault of just one given politician or group of people.  They've been around for decades. And to fix them it's important to get beyond the mindset of blaming some recent political event, and ask yourself: What is it in the country's society and culture that caused this problem?

Both America's problems and her greatness - and I for one think that America is a great, wonderful nation - are a result of what America is, and we should be trying to figure out how to change what is wrong while being extremely careful not to harm or damage what is right.
Destroy The Enemy in Hand-to-Hand Combat.

"...tradition and custom becomes intertwined and are a strong coercion which directs the society upon fixed lines, and strangles liberty. " ~ William Graham Sumner

DustinD

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #14 on: November 07, 2008, 08:17:07 PM »
I disagree with the entire and very common premise that we should compare America to the Middle East or dictatorial countries like North Korea.

While I love getting nearly free clean water at several locations around my house, and not worrying about freezing to death, I also realise that there is much more to life than surviving comfortably.

That said, I am a happy and content person.

Why is the author of that article upset about the opinions of his fellow country men, if he does not like why doesn't he look at places like the previously mentioned North Korea or Middle East where the discontent members of society are literally homicidal? He should learn to be more happy with what he has. =D
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Stay bloodthirsty, my friends."

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Bigjake

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #15 on: November 07, 2008, 08:19:11 PM »
Well said. (Micro)

Perspective is a big part of the conservative discontent here.  You see how much things have changed in a VERY short decade, and it's discouraging.

  True, one lousy socialist elected isn't the end of the world, but the pressure on all sides on our Constitution is a real threat.  It's hanging on a thread now, and a good push could make things very bad in short order.

Kim Du Toit is an Immigrant with a good perspective on this, if you haven't heard of him already.

MicroBalrog

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #16 on: November 08, 2008, 12:49:38 PM »
Quote
Kim Du Toit is an Immigrant with a good perspective on this, if you haven't heard of him already.

I used to read Kim's blog on a regular basis. I recently started... eh, liking him less, because I have disagreements with The Angry South African that started really piling up, but he is very wise in many respects.
Destroy The Enemy in Hand-to-Hand Combat.

"...tradition and custom becomes intertwined and are a strong coercion which directs the society upon fixed lines, and strangles liberty. " ~ William Graham Sumner

280plus

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #17 on: November 08, 2008, 02:46:50 PM »
Quote
I don't see how disagreeing with the government about some things equates to "hating America" or wanting to live anywhere else
I'm not sure that was my point, I think it's more like there's a lot of people here that take what they have for granted and it just annoys me. Or it used to anyways, I've become resigned to the fact over the years but I had a real chip on my shoulder over it for a while after I came back. And I know I'm not the only formerly deployed service member that felt that way either. I recall a GW1 vet I ran into that was working as an electrician. We worked together on a job and he was ranting on and on about how people get all pissed just becasue they don't have power for a little while and in third world countries they don't even have power and don't they know how good they have it here etc, etc. I felt like I was listening to myself 20 years earlier. Of course my rant would have revolved around the whiners I'd run into whose A/C had gone down and how they couldn't possibly live without it. All I could do was agree with him.
Avoid cliches like the plague!

Thor

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Re: Boosted from arf.com - READ and think!
« Reply #18 on: November 08, 2008, 08:27:06 PM »
I have to disagree here. It is a necessary war, it has either tied up or eliminated many more thousands that would be spending their otherwise free time figuring out how to take us down. All I can say is I had the opportunity to visit a whole crapload of different countries all around the Pacific rim when I was younger and one thing I know, above all else, is that all other things aside there is no other country on the planet I would rather be in or be a part of. Believe me when I tell you there is no bigger relief I have ever felt than the relief I got setting foot back on good ol' American soil again and yep, ever since I've viewed those who have never left and have no idea how good they really, really have it as spoiled ungrateful brats. And when one or more of them really pisses me off about it, don't think I don't tell them. Maybe it ain't perfect but, let me tell you, it's the best thing out there and you should thank your lucky stars it's where you call home.

280+, I wholeheartedly believe exactly what you've stated. Not only did I get to visit the Pacific rim countries, but also Europe and the Middle East. There is NO question in my mind of where I want to live and that is the USA.

Spending trillions of $$$ and thousands of lives on a useless war.

Forcing lenders to make bad loans and then bailing them out with taxpayer dollars.

The ineffective and demeaning TSA.  :mad:

Reluctantly allowing airline pilots to be armed in the cockpit after jumping through great hoops, instead of requiring them to be armed on 09-12-2001.

Increased socialistic spending under a so-called "conservative" administration.

The "Patriot" Act.

Kelo.



Tall Pine, I happen to agree with you on some things. I don't like some of the things that GWB has done. However........ With the Obama regime, I'm afraid that we will face MANY infringements of our rights. The Patriot Act will seem small in comparison.

For the first time in my life, I actually fear for this country.
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