The Entitled
by Blake on Jun 5, 2009 at 09:35 Political
I have discussions with all manner of people, both in this post site, and in the physical world, and sometimes I just have to shake my head at the sheer stupidity of some of these people.
These are the people who wanted “Change” without thinking through just what “Change” meant. Be very, very careful what you wish for in this world. You might get something you never wanted in your life- a muslim president comes to mind. Oh, the religion of the president wouldn’t be the deal- killer, but putting muslims ahead of the rest of the citizens of this country would.
What led to this? What was the thing that was so bad that we needed to be punished in this fashion? There was a poll that indicated that 67% of this country felt we were moving in the wrong direction. Really? Could this have been the direction where 95.4% of our population had a job? Could all the myriad selection in grocery stores be a bad thing? Or perhaps the thousands of different restaurants with many, many types of cuisine just isn’t good enough for you.
Perhaps the fact that we have running water and power consistently was something we were unhappy with. Or maybe our road system, you know, the one that would allow us to travel from one end of this country to the other needed “Change”.
There are so many spoiled brats in this country, and all of them need to strangle their “inner child”- we have neighborhoods where there are no militias or constant IEDs to be aware of. Almost all of our teenagers have their own cell phones and blackberries, and computers. Many of these same teens have their own cars. What is it about any of those things needed “Change”?
We have complete religious, social, and political freedom in this country- the rest of the world is envious of this- could you protest in many of the other countries in this world without persecution? I think not. You would be jailed for an indeterminate time, as we can see in Iran and N. Korea. This is what you want “Changed”?
We have become, unfortunately, a nation of ungrateful, spoiled brats- probably because schools no longer teach History as they should. Many in America no longer know what we, as a Nation, have sacrificed in the past, so we could get to this point. It is no wonder the rest of the world looks at us with distain-We are quite probably the most blessed people in this world, and yet we bitch about the things we do not have, and how bad our conditions are. Really?
At least three billion people in this world will never know what a hot, clean shower feels like. That seems like such a simple thing- something we take completely for granted, never thinking twice about turning the spigot on and having hot water come out. Many do not know where their next meal will come from, or have a secure place to sleep.
We have a military- a volunteer military– there is no draft- and there are many who curse the military, or say there is no need for them. In many cases they have died so you could complain on your high horse. They have done the difficult and dangerous work so you can sleep safely, so you can eat supper with your families, and take vacations. Would you really want this to “Change”? Every man (and woman) for themselves? That’s not a good scenario.
Yes, we have Hurricanes, we have floods and tornados- come on, grow a spine- there is always something, and despite all its flaws, we do have FEMA- there is not its equivalent anywhere else. Everywhere else, people dig themselves out. We have insurance, as bad as it may sometimes be. Many other nations have no recourse at all if their house disappears. Is this something that we should “Change”? I think not, although it needs tweaking, we should never throw the baby out with the bathwater.
We have, contrary to all the detractors, the best health care in the world- yes, there are always parts that need fixing- name me anything that you believe is perfect, and I can probably find something it could do better. We are free to criticize, and boy oh boy do we do it- there are blogs of every type and stripe, from extreme left to extreme right, and even some I am not sure how to classify. The freedom we have is truly unbelievable. And yet there are those who want to “Change” these things.
Really? Because if you did not get a memo on just what specifically would change, you are quite likely to lose things you really, really liked, and in some cases can’t do without, like rights and freedoms.
Are we truly sure now is a real good time to consider taking God out of our Pledge of Allegiance, or our lives?
Or would that be “Change” you could not believe?
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Tags: brats, change, entitled population, volunteer military
BLK: There was a poll that indicated that 67% of this country felt we were moving in the wrong direction. Really?>>
DAR
Yes really. In September ’08, 70% thought the country was headed in the wrong direction. Today it’s 43%, even though Bush’s disaster still lingers, and will continue to linger for a long time.
http://www.pollingreport.com/right.htm
BLK: Could this have been the direction where 95.4% of our population had a job?>>
DAR
Bush’s job growth numbers were awful. But this is normal. Of the last ten presidents, the top five in job creation/growth were Demos, the bottom five were republicans. The chance of this happening by chance is 1 in 252.
BLK: Or maybe our road system,>>
DAR
Our road system is socialist by the way. Glad you like it.
BLK: We have complete religious, social, and political freedom in this country- the rest of the world is envious of this->>
DAR
No it isn’t. You need to get out more. Get a passport. I can give you a list of 50, maybe a hundred, maybe more, countries that have such freedoms. Americans babble about freedoms more than they actually use them. If you would like to see a dozen or so examples of where America lags in freedoms, or has freedom issues, check out this project I did:
Mythbuster board
“American Freedom” (2005)
http://fayfreethinkers.com/mythbuster/americanfreedom.shtml
You’ll learn something.
BLK: “…could you protest in many of the other countries in this world without persecution?>>
DAR
Of course. Do you have a television?
BLK: We have become, unfortunately, a nation of ungrateful, spoiled brats- probably because schools no longer teach History as they should.>>
DAR
Yes, we just saw a breathtaking example of that with your display of ignorance of Islamic history.
BLK: “…there are many who curse the military, or say there is no need for them.”>>
DAR
Who says there is no need for a military? Stop making stuff up.
BLK: In many cases they have died so you could complain on your high horse.”>>
DAR
Who’s the one constantly complaining? You!
BLK: we do have FEMA- there is not its equivalent anywhere else.>>
DAR
All first world countries have an emergency management agency. It’s your own blind tribalism that leads you to pretend you have the finest.
BLK: Everywhere else, people dig themselves out. We have insurance,…>>
DAR
Insurance is socialist btw. Shared risk, collectivism.
BLK: We have, contrary to all the detractors, the best health care in the world->>
DAR
No, we don’t. For delivery/access of the system that we do have, we don’t even make the top ten. Probably not the top thirty. Wishing something doesn’t make it so. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. But they don’t.
D.
—————–
“Americans get the poorest health care and yet pay the most compared to five other rich countries. The US health care system ranks last compared with the five other nations on measures of quality, access, efficiency, equity and outcomes, according to a report released on Tuesday.”
http://www.truthout.org/article/us-health-care-expensive-inefficient-report
My,my,my- I must have struck a nerve here. Sorry if I hurt you D- your alleged “refutations” are too ridiculous to mention, much less to attempt to answer- I’ll let your response speak for itself. I stand by what I have said.
Good idea. Don’t “attempt to answer.”
BTW- our road system is “socialist” as you put it, because of social progressives such as Roosevelt’s encroachments in our State’s sovereignty, When the federal government “gives” money, watch out- there’s always strings that bind.
Some how, I don’t really know why, but I knew that Darrel would take this personally. It is certainly applicable to him.
Insurance isn’t socialist. Moron.
For “delivery and access” USA has a poor system, which means, “because it isn’t free to all comers, it is even in the top 30.”
Darrel things that not only does thew US owe him a living, but it owes him health, as well.
So according to the report DAR himself quoted, America is in the top five, not the bottom 30, as you claims.
It’s your own blind tribalism that leads you to pretend you have the DON’T finest emergency response system.
Your tribe? Your religion? Liberalism.
Actually, it is a sickness, a mental disorder, not a tribe. But as Hill-up-Dummy Clinton says, “It takes a tribe!”
“…we saw a breathtaking example of …ignorance of Islamic history.”
No, we saw an example of ungratful brats, and then we saw you prove his point. I saw no reference to Islamic history.
Did anyone else?
“Of the last ten presidents, the top five in job creation/growth were Demos…”
Yes, government employees, teachers and social workers, watch-dogs and blue-dressed cosk-suckers could be called employed. The salient point is, under which leadership did USA gain and under which loose? There you will find it was not a factor of Demp or Con, but who was taxed or not taxed.
When taxes on wealthy people go up, production goes down, and generaly speaking the Demoids tax the rich. Rich people are more often capitalists, means people who make money buy investing money. They are the fuel for the economy.
Poor people pay a nominal tax to fund the government services they consume like cotton candy.
Rich don’t need government services because they can “afford to pay.”
Now, smart DAR, what percentage of the the US tax income goes to social services? And what percentage of those people are DEMPs?
If you can grasp this fact, wise boy, you will gain an inkling of why
we
hate
people
just
exactly
like
you.
You are a part of the problem not part of the solution.
We don’t want “The Best,” we just want something fair.
INON: Insurance isn’t socialist.>>
DAR
Of course it is. It is people coming together, collectively, to share risk/loss.
INON: So according to the report DAR himself quoted, America is in the top five, not the bottom 30, as you claims.>>
DAR
Read for comprehension. The report only examined 5 countries.
INON: Your tribe? Your religion? Liberalism.>>
DAR
Actually, I agree with Thomas Paine:
“The world is my country, to do good my religion.” -Thomas Paine
INON: I saw no reference to Islamic history.
Did anyone else?>>
DAR
Pay attention, it’s right here:
http://www.onebigdog.net/obama-is-a-little-fuzzy-on-history/#comments
I see you have no answer for the superior record of job growth under democratic presidents.
INON: “…what percentage of the the US tax income goes to social services?>>
DAR
The amount going to the rich and “corporate welfare” vastly exceeds anything given to the poor. Get informed.
INON: “…you will gain an inkling of why
we hate people…
DAR
Yes, I know you are filled with hate, and you like to have tantrums. Unfortunately, what you are not so good at, is reading carefully, thinking clearly and arguing cogently for a position. And that’s too bad.
Maybe you can learn from my example.
D.
When discourse becomes name calling and rudeness, it loses it’s effectiveness, Blake; but Darrell, I am interested in your definition of athiest. Are you saying there is no supreme being, no creator, that everything just happened. I find this belief to be one that requires far more faith than Christianity. It baffles me that someone could look at a rainbow or a newborn baby or even a puppy and believe in “the BIG BOOM”. Help me understand.
And by the way, the rest of the world does not have wonderful health care. If they did, why would so many be flocking to the US for treatment because they have a loooooong waiting list for something that could mean life or death. Several years ago my sister had an attack of pleurisy while visiting in Germany. Not knowing what it was and thinking it might be a heart attack, she went to the hospital. Funny thing, they saw her and admitted her immediately because she was an American school teacher with American insurance – while all those in line before her waited.
You have to watch out for Darrel- he is a “specialist” in virtually everything, according to him- he is an atheist who “specialized” in the Bible- figure that one- and on and on.
As for name calling, it occurs on both sides here, unfortunately.
Darrell sounds like a very very unhappy person who thinks the world owes him. What a surprise he will get when he wakes up.
I have found that most secular people I have known are combative and unhappy- that is their problem, I am not Evangelical, and seek to convert no one. They have access to all the info- they just choose not to use it.
Their failing is that they are continually justifying themselves, and it comes off as very insecure.
Once again, their problem.
I believe, and I am wrong, all Ihave lost is my time- if they are wrong, they lose their immortal soul.
I would rather not take the chance- eternity is a VERY long time.
BLK: “I believe, and I am wrong all I have lost is my time-“>>
DAR
This is Paschal’s Wager again. Otherwise known as Holy Fire Insurance. It’s a philosophical notion that didn’t work when Paschal invented it 380 years ago, and it still doesn’t work today. Sophisticated Christians know better than to use it but the pew warmers still lean on it from time to time.
Here are the top five reasons it does not work:
http://fayfreethinkers.com/tracts/pascalswager.shtml
There are other reasons too. These are the easy ones.
D.
—————
“They tell us that to believe is the safe way; but I say, the safe way is to be honest.”
Actually Paschal’s Wager involves an atheist who is dying, and hypocritically turns his back on his life- long convictions, just to hedge his bet, since there just MIGHT be a God-
Is this a cautionary tale for atheists, Darrel?
I believe- I am no hypocrite- you might not like that, but you have to live with that fact. I am not concerned with winning you over- frankly, I’ll enjoy the elbow room. If there’s internet in the afterlife, I’ll look you up- or down, as the case may be.
Ditto to eternity being a very long time and why take the chance, but if you understand scripture, how can you be so blase about lost souls. The very last thing Jesus said before He ascended was “go, teach and baptize”. I’m sure when you put this with everything else He said, He meant for us to do it in love. Wasn’t it Ghandi who said, I might have been a Christian had it not been for Christians.”? We Christians do not act much like followers of Christ sometimes. He did not disdain the woman at the well but showed her another way. He did not accuse Nicodemus of being too intellectual to understand, but He patiently explained what rebirth means. We need to look at others through Jesus’ eyes and maybe we would be more effective in promoting our beliefs.
Don’t worry about Darrel. He is a very happy healthy wealthy person who has worked hard for everything he has. If you have any observations besides insults that you make up out of whole cloth, I would be pleased to hear them.
D.
—————–
I live…
For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the future in the distance
And the good that I can do.
-Linnaeus Banks
You protest too much
Darrel, the funny thing is no one really mocks your for being an atheist. Freedom OF Religion also means freedom not to practice religion or even to believe.
It is you who are mocking believers. It is you who question us on our beliefs as if you and only you have the answer. I don’t care if you believe or not, your business and I won’t insult you for it. I have noticed that atheists are the ones who always mock people or try to impose their will. I can’t speak for the others but I really don’t care what you believe or don’t.
Have a great life in what you choose but allow others the same courtesy.
BIGD: “Freedom OF Religion also means freedom not to practice religion or even to believe.”
DAR
EXACTLY right.
BIGD: “…allow others the same courtesy.”
DAR
I don’t know where you would get the idea that I am not completely for freedom of religion and people having the right to worship, or not, however they please (and without government interference or endorsement of course).
Part of the reason I started the freethinker group (270 members now) was to encourage interaction between believers and non-believers. There are misunderstandings on both sides and each side tends to demonize the other unfairly, mostly because they don’t know each other.
I work with and interact with Christians all the time and have for decades. I probably spend 20% of my work day in various churches. Was my saying “pew warmers” too harsh? Not PC enough? That’s a little touchy.
Perhaps you can point me to my offending, mocking, comment. Sometimes I don’t put enough sugar on the medicine but I am hardly as insulting as the people I am responding to.
D.
BIGD: “…the funny thing is no one really mocks your for being an atheist.”
DAR
How could they?
Actually, mocking an atheist would be easy, but it would be as wrong as kicking a cat, or some other helpless animal- what would be the use? It’s just cruel to mock the helpless.
We will, however, pray for you. Feel better now?
BLK: mocking an atheist would be easy,>>
DAR
Well do your best then.
BLK: “It’s just cruel to mock the helpless.”
DAR
That’s hardly stopped you in the past.
BLK: We will, pray for you. Feel better now?>>
DAR
I’ve had lots of prayers offered for me and they’ve always had the exact same degree of effectiveness.
D.
—————
“Prayers are to men as dolls are to children.
They are not without use and comfort,
but it is not easy to take them seriously.”
–Samuel Butler (1835-1902), English author
Darrel, why did you emigrate from Canada? It couldn’t have been for the healthcare.
Mother is American, dad is Canadian. They divorced in ’82, my mom moved back in the mid-80’s and did the paper work for me. I came to the border to get the paper work thinking I could go back and keep it and come down later but the border guy told me I had to do it before I was 21, which was approaching. He really gave me a pep talk and tried to talk me into moving down. So I thought what the hell, I would try it for awhile. I moved a few months later. I like the weather, got established, have a brother, sister and lots of other relatives down here too.
I came to the US with a couple hundred bucks and a high school education in ’87. I started my own business in ’90 and now don’t advertise and turn away about 1/3 of my business. I better not say more or Blake will accuse me of bragging. America’s been good to me.
It certainly wasn’t for the healthcare. I had a little spot of melanoma on my neck five years ago and now health insurance companies won’t take me, although I haven’t tried them all. Hopefully we will have a public option here in the US soon.
D.
Darrel, I also had melanoma- Dermo-plastic malignant melanoma ten years ago- the rule was five years clean before a company would pick you up- I went back after five, and they had chanced the rules- now its ten years, so I have no insurance either. That’s life, D- get a grip and grow a pair- everyone dies sooner or later. As Jim Morrison said- No one gets out of here alive.
Oh, I have insurance, with a medical savings account (MSA), but I am trapped because of this pre-condition.
Obama just said this on his radio address:
“This week, I conveyed to Congress my belief that any health care reform must be built around fundamental reforms that lower costs, improve quality and coverage, and also protect consumer choice.”
Well, that’s just awful. He should be opposed and insulted for saying things like this.
This just in:
***
Study Links Medical Costs and Personal Bankruptcy
Harvard researchers say 62% of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. in 2007 were caused by health problems—and 78% of those filers had insurance
By Catherine Arnst
“Medical problems caused 62% of all personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. in 2007, according to a study by Harvard researchers. And in a finding that surprised even the researchers, 78% of those filers had medical insurance at the start of their illness, including 60.3% who had private coverage, not Medicare or Medicaid.”
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jun2009/db2009064_666715.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily
Other countries just watch and shake their heads at this foolishness. We’re so good at many things, why can’t we fix this?
Darrel- Hussein can talk all he wants, it is his actions that I worry about, not his mouth.
[…] Would one of you all knowing liberal a$$hats tell me why that is?@ Big Dog’s WeblogAlso at Big Dog. The EntitledA little bit to get you started There are so many spoiled brats in this country, andall of them […]
I’m sorry you were on the outside looking in on what the rest of us correctly identified as a wrong track for America.
We just don’t live in the kind of America you envision for us and we probably never have. Folks don’t care about health insurance if they can’t afford it. Folks don’t care what the quality of our health care is if they have to choose between buying groceries or buying their prescription medication. Folks don’t care that employment was recently 95.4% when 9.2% of the country is now out of work and 10% is just around the corner.
Change has been good for my family, I can swear by that. My mother-in-law is grateful that unemployment rules were changed so that she can still receive benefits though she has been out of work for so long. My parents are grateful that the rules have been changed to allow them to receive food stamps finally this year after struggling to pay the bills on one partial income and one person on disability. We aren’t looking for an about face on any of the things you worry about, we are looking for a return to the things that made America a great country.
You’ve become so disconnected from reality it’s embarrassing. You admit to believing those of us wanting a new direction are a bunch of ungrateful, spoiled brats so it’s no mystery why the Right with many folks like you has been utterly destroyed in the last two elections.
So Adam, what you are saying is that you and your family and all others want someone else to pay for you. All the money your family is consuming comes from other taxpayers and not from the government. I think if others are paying for you they should have the right to tell you how to live.
Yes, people have to decide between medication and groceries because they are not deciding between medication and their cable TV, cell phone or cigarettes. God forbid they give up booze or Netflix and the Internet.
I remember a patient who came to the ER with elevated blood pressure. It was near the end of the month and he had run out of medication. He said he had to wait until the beginning of the month to get a refill and wanted the ER to provide him enough to last the rest of the month (we did). He said the pills cost $90 and he could not afford it. I asked him how much he smoked and he said a pack a day. Cigarettes were $3 a pack at the time. There is his $90 but he could not make the connection even after I pointed it out.
He was on disability and receiving a disability check (our tax money) for being an alcoholic. How about sobering up and getting a job. Instead of paying them to get drunk we should lock them up until they get sober.
My son was out of work for a month because of an injury. He did not apply for government assistance. He cashed in vacation time, paid his health insurance premiums at work with the money and used the rest to live on with help from me and my wife. This is how families work.
I have no problem with a safety net but you get more of what you subsidize and if we pay people endlessly not to work, more of them will not work. That has been shown time and again. If we do not force them to get rid of cable and cell phones and such before they can have welfare they will live better than most people who actually work.
Get rid of SS and let people save their own money. Those who save for their own retirement live much better than those who depend on the largess of the taxpayer.
Well, there ha goes again- this is now the wrong direction for America, advanced by you libs I am glad your momma is on welfare- you must be so proud. We had great employment figures until you liberal bottom feeders got control of Congress, but that will change, and I will hear your scream of frustration all the way from Delaware. Things will be great when socialism is, once again, a failed experiment and Hussein is a thing of the past.
I’m glad you have been able to suck the government tit- feel free to suck my money.
The reason the right lost is twofold- we tried to act like Demo- lite (Wrong), and a lot of people actually, unbelievably thought Hussein was a real person, instead of a lying POS.
ADAM: “I’m sorry you were on the outside looking in on what the rest of us correctly identified as a wrong track for America.”
DAR
Just to back you up a bit. Check out this right track/wrong track stat:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/have-americans-finally-gotten-wise-m
Right direction in October ’08 = 8%
Right direction in April ’09 = 42%
Since these fellows don’t give Bush his proper credit for the disaster, I wonder if they will *take* credit when things improve under Obama?
That’s a safe bet.
What a curious bunch these right-wingers.
D.
Things will NOT improve under Hussein- now THAT’S a safe bet.
If the government pays people to lay around, there will always be some people who will lay around because they are lazy- yes there are some who need the help, but you will recognize them because they do not come forth eagerly with their hand out- they are saddened that they have to do this( take money from the govt.) and that they cannot provide for themselves.
There will always be those who use their govt. handout for cigarettes, and beer, and other poor choices because there are people who make their lives all about poor choices.
The ones who make poor choices are the ones defending Hussein- they are liberal socialists. And they feel entitled to the money you make.
See Adam above.
If republicans wonder why they are doing so poorly and are so reviled by so many, they might consider the material above, and then look in the mirror. What a vicious bunch.
D.
——————-
“Today the GOP holds a smaller share of non-Southern seats in the House and Senate than at any other point in its history since Roosevelt.”
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090523_2195.php
D- We are loved and adored- what? Are you jealous?
Oh D_ Don’t hate me because I’m conservative.
That’s actually “self love” Blake.
And best not to do it in public.
D.
I see you fail to recognize sarcasm as well as truth, D.
Eric, I feel you are preaching to the choir. My guess is that those who read Big Dog are those who wanted change for change’s sake. They are not interested in truth or consequences – at least not yet – not until the consequences touch them personally. They wear blinders. Take for instance the comments Letterman made about Sarah Palin’s daughter. If he had said anything remotely similar about Michelle O’bama the FBI would have been at his door within the hour accusing him a “hate crime”; however, because it was about Sarah Palin they say she overreacted. After all he was just making a joke. When on earth has there been anything humorous about rape? You are not addressing people who are logical, but they do think we are stupid. Sometimes I wonder about us as well. Al Gore has certainly snowed us about global warming – this from a man who claimed to have invented the internet. I am convinced that those who have done nothing in their lives but “politic” are very dangerous people. We are being “ruled” for the first time in American history by a man whose ego is enormous, equaled only by his wife’s. We have czars over about 9 different government entities now who have been appointed by the President and answer to no one. How does this jive with our Constitution? It all has me baffled. As the English version of Pravda says, we are sliding quietly into Marxism. Wasn’t it Kreschev who said they would overcome us without ever firing a shot?
Most of us who are on this site are in favor of retaining the Constitution as it is,instead of subverting it with what is ow 21 “czars” not accountable to Congress or the people.
We are for limited government and NO bailouts or “stimulus” that does nothing.
You will notice that Barama said nothing about “Positive” Change- just “Change”.
Be very careful what you wish for.
Oops. I should have proofread this. I meant they are those who did not approve change for change’s sake.