Rant: overly patriotic

[jim]

There are problems, without a doubt. And mike more than anyone would tell you that he's happy you get to voice your opinion on those problems, regardless of who agrees or disagrees with you. BUT ... I'm just saying I'm not losing site of the fact that I am extraordinarily fortunate for having been born here, problems and all. Even if it isn' "the best" (however you measure that), it's still better than almost any other place in the world to live. And to me, it is "the best", however I measure that. Most of the world is hunkered down in pure survival mode - food, shelter, water - the basics. I'm watching baseball on my computer, drinking beer, after having gone fishing all morning with rods that cost more than some people in those countries make in a year.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Well, yeah. I am smoking ribs right now, listening to the game on my phone, and have enough beer that I even cracked a couple open and put them in the smoker to keep some moisture in there.

Life is good, and America is awesome.

That doesn't change the fact that there's a lot of reasons to worry about the future, namely this report showing that the middle class is shrinking and the worst of the 25 other nations measured. Other nations are not only catching up, they're poised to 'dethrone' America if you will as the beacon of prosperity, if that hasn't already been accomplished.

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public ... 214476.pdf

[jim]

Valid concerns and I'm sure we completely agree with each other. I'm just saying on a day like the 4th when the subject was being overly patriotic, I think it's ok to just count your blessings this day. It's almost gotten fashionable to NOT be patriotic, and I really hate that.

edit - and although I say I too am worried about the direction of the country, I'm not really. Not compared to other concerns I have - basically trashing the planet, climate change, rate of extinctions. More than anything I'm worried about the planet's ability to sustain populations of 10 billion people. There are just too many damn people on the earth, and I fear the correction. That's my concern.

[IMADreamer]

Valid concerns and I'm sure we completely agree with each other. I'm just saying on a day like the 4th when the subject was being overly patriotic, I think it's ok to just count your blessings this day. It's almost gotten fashionable to NOT be patriotic, and I really hate that.

edit - and although I say I too am worried about the direction of the country, I'm not really. Not compared to other concerns I have - basically trashing the planet, climate change, rate of extinctions. More than anything I'm worried about the planet's ability to sustain populations of 10 billion people. There are just too many damn people on the earth, and I fear the correction. That's my concern.

What the hell world do you live in? In this country for the last nearly 15 years if you are not sucking uncle Sam's dick you are considered a traitor. I mean holy hell and entire news network [expletive] the President out every day 24 hours straight because his damn flag pin isn't as big as Mitt Romneys. Open facebook once in a while and see all the America and Jesus rules! posts, or travel out here to the hinterlands where you will see hand painted signs like "if you don't like America get the [expletive] out!" That is a sign I've seen around here.

I think saying it's almost gotten fashionable to not be patriotic is almost as big a joke as saying Christianity is under attack in America. Almost.

This country has colossal problems. Our infrastructure sucks, our education system sucks, our health care system is atrocious, our middle class is almost gone. No one knows it yet, but it's almost gone. Stagnant wages, energy problems, the police state which is here, our out of control military spending, etc etc etc. To top it all off there is about 45% of this country that when you dare bring up the issue of our problems stick their fingers in their ear and start yelling "CAN'T HEAR YOU AMERICA IS AWESOME!!!"

I know I live in a microcosm of this world but here they are turning paved roads back to gravel. I mean, talk about regression. The dick bag conservatives that took over our county board want to do away with our ambulance service. THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY AMBULANCES? I mean holy [expletive]. Meanwhile they just passed conceal carry here as a county. Yeah awesome. Go America.

So here's the root of the whole problem. You have these [expletive] in power who focus on stupid [expletive] like conceal carry while the rest of this county just slides further and further down the [expletive] hole.

It's mind boggling how much the baby boomers have [expletive] this country up, and continue to do so. And they are the ones screaming MURICA! with there stupid assed stars and stripes suits and uncle sam hats on.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

There was a guy in little rock named Jennings Osbourne maybe without the e. Dude was a bootstrapper. Came from little and made millions. Every Christmas he put up like 18 trillion lights. Enough that his neighbors got the city of little rock to not allow him to put up so many lights BC the traffic it caused was dangerous. Think about that for a second. And he put on a grandiose fireworks display on the 4th. The guy spent millions making others happy. And he died broke. When I think of overly patriotic, that's who comes to mind.

[ghostrunner]

Valid concerns and I'm sure we completely agree with each other. I'm just saying on a day like the 4th when the subject was being overly patriotic, I think it's ok to just count your blessings this day. It's almost gotten fashionable to NOT be patriotic, and I really hate that.

edit - and although I say I too am worried about the direction of the country, I'm not really. Not compared to other concerns I have - basically trashing the planet, climate change, rate of extinctions. More than anything I'm worried about the planet's ability to sustain populations of 10 billion people. There are just too many damn people on the earth, and I fear the correction. That's my concern.

What the hell world do you live in? In this country for the last nearly 15 years if you are not sucking uncle Sam's dick you are considered a traitor. I mean holy hell and entire news network [expletive] the President out every day 24 hours straight because his damn flag pin isn't as big as Mitt Romneys. Open facebook once in a while and see all the America and Jesus rules! posts, or travel out here to the hinterlands where you will see hand painted signs like "if you don't like America get the [expletive] out!" That is a sign I've seen around here.

I think saying it's almost gotten fashionable to not be patriotic is almost as big a joke as saying Christianity is under attack in America. Almost.

This country has colossal problems. Our infrastructure sucks, our education system sucks, our health care system is atrocious, our middle class is almost gone. No one knows it yet, but it's almost gone. Stagnant wages, energy problems, the police state which is here, our out of control military spending, etc etc etc. To top it all off there is about 45% of this country that when you dare bring up the issue of our problems stick their fingers in their ear and start yelling "CAN'T HEAR YOU AMERICA IS AWESOME!!!"

I know I live in a microcosm of this world but here they are turning paved roads back to gravel. I mean, talk about regression. The dick bag conservatives that took over our county board want to do away with our ambulance service. THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY AMBULANCES? I mean holy [expletive]. Meanwhile they just passed conceal carry here as a county. Yeah awesome. Go America.

So here's the root of the whole problem. You have these [expletive] in power who focus on stupid [expletive] like conceal carry while the rest of this county just slides further and further down the [expletive] hole.

It's mind boggling how much the baby boomers have [expletive] this country up, and continue to do so. And they are the ones screaming MURICA! with there stupid assed stars and stripes suits and uncle sam hats on.

It's possible you might be generalizing.

[IMADreamer]

Valid concerns and I'm sure we completely agree with each other. I'm just saying on a day like the 4th when the subject was being overly patriotic, I think it's ok to just count your blessings this day. It's almost gotten fashionable to NOT be patriotic, and I really hate that.

edit - and although I say I too am worried about the direction of the country, I'm not really. Not compared to other concerns I have - basically trashing the planet, climate change, rate of extinctions. More than anything I'm worried about the planet's ability to sustain populations of 10 billion people. There are just too many damn people on the earth, and I fear the correction. That's my concern.

What the hell world do you live in? In this country for the last nearly 15 years if you are not sucking uncle Sam's dick you are considered a traitor. I mean holy hell and entire news network [expletive] the President out every day 24 hours straight because his damn flag pin isn't as big as Mitt Romneys. Open facebook once in a while and see all the America and Jesus rules! posts, or travel out here to the hinterlands where you will see hand painted signs like "if you don't like America get the [expletive] out!" That is a sign I've seen around here.

I think saying it's almost gotten fashionable to not be patriotic is almost as big a joke as saying Christianity is under attack in America. Almost.

This country has colossal problems. Our infrastructure sucks, our education system sucks, our health care system is atrocious, our middle class is almost gone. No one knows it yet, but it's almost gone. Stagnant wages, energy problems, the police state which is here, our out of control military spending, etc etc etc. To top it all off there is about 45% of this country that when you dare bring up the issue of our problems stick their fingers in their ear and start yelling "CAN'T HEAR YOU AMERICA IS AWESOME!!!"

I know I live in a microcosm of this world but here they are turning paved roads back to gravel. I mean, talk about regression. The dick bag conservatives that took over our county board want to do away with our ambulance service. THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY AMBULANCES? I mean holy [expletive]. Meanwhile they just passed conceal carry here as a county. Yeah awesome. Go America.

So here's the root of the whole problem. You have these [expletive] in power who focus on stupid [expletive] like conceal carry while the rest of this county just slides further and further down the [expletive] hole.

It's mind boggling how much the baby boomers have [expletive] this country up, and continue to do so. And they are the ones screaming MURICA! with there stupid assed stars and stripes suits and uncle sam hats on.

It's possible you might be generalizing.

It's probable I'm generalizing.

[redbirdjazzz]

Valid concerns and I'm sure we completely agree with each other. I'm just saying on a day like the 4th when the subject was being overly patriotic, I think it's ok to just count your blessings this day. It's almost gotten fashionable to NOT be patriotic, and I really hate that.

edit - and although I say I too am worried about the direction of the country, I'm not really. Not compared to other concerns I have - basically trashing the planet, climate change, rate of extinctions. More than anything I'm worried about the planet's ability to sustain populations of 10 billion people. There are just too many damn people on the earth, and I fear the correction. That's my concern.

What the hell world do you live in? In this country for the last nearly 15 years if you are not sucking uncle Sam's dick you are considered a traitor. I mean holy hell and entire news network [expletive] the President out every day 24 hours straight because his damn flag pin isn't as big as Mitt Romneys. Open facebook once in a while and see all the America and Jesus rules! posts, or travel out here to the hinterlands where you will see hand painted signs like "if you don't like America get the [expletive] out!" That is a sign I've seen around here.

I think saying it's almost gotten fashionable to not be patriotic is almost as big a joke as saying Christianity is under attack in America. Almost.

This country has colossal problems. Our infrastructure sucks, our education system sucks, our health care system is atrocious, our middle class is almost gone. No one knows it yet, but it's almost gone. Stagnant wages, energy problems, the police state which is here, our out of control military spending, etc etc etc. To top it all off there is about 45% of this country that when you dare bring up the issue of our problems stick their fingers in their ear and start yelling "CAN'T HEAR YOU AMERICA IS AWESOME!!!"

I know I live in a microcosm of this world but here they are turning paved roads back to gravel. I mean, talk about regression. The dick bag conservatives that took over our county board want to do away with our ambulance service. THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY AMBULANCES? I mean holy [expletive]. Meanwhile they just passed conceal carry here as a county. Yeah awesome. Go America.

So here's the root of the whole problem. You have these [expletive] in power who focus on stupid [expletive] like conceal carry while the rest of this county just slides further and further down the [expletive] hole.

It's mind boggling how much the baby boomers have [expletive] this country up, and continue to do so. And they are the ones screaming MURICA! with there stupid assed stars and stripes suits and uncle sam hats on.

It's possible you might be generalizing.

A vast majority in both houses of the Missouri state legislature recently passed a law that violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, and they're about to override the governor's veto. It's going to cost the taxpayers a ton of money defending this unconstitutional law in the courts, where it will be struck down and appealed and struck down, etc. The kinds of things Dreamer is citing are disturbingly widespread.

[jim]

You know you can say "America has problems but is awesome" too, right dreamer? I have shoes, a roof, and food. That puts me and you above almost everyone in the world. Add to that I can say pretty much what I want without being thrown in jail, and I'm doing preeeeettttyyyyy gooooood.

I'm just saying I'm not losing site of that fact.

[IMADreamer]

Valid concerns and I'm sure we completely agree with each other. I'm just saying on a day like the 4th when the subject was being overly patriotic, I think it's ok to just count your blessings this day. It's almost gotten fashionable to NOT be patriotic, and I really hate that.

edit - and although I say I too am worried about the direction of the country, I'm not really. Not compared to other concerns I have - basically trashing the planet, climate change, rate of extinctions. More than anything I'm worried about the planet's ability to sustain populations of 10 billion people. There are just too many damn people on the earth, and I fear the correction. That's my concern.

What the hell world do you live in? In this country for the last nearly 15 years if you are not sucking uncle Sam's dick you are considered a traitor. I mean holy hell and entire news network [expletive] the President out every day 24 hours straight because his damn flag pin isn't as big as Mitt Romneys. Open facebook once in a while and see all the America and Jesus rules! posts, or travel out here to the hinterlands where you will see hand painted signs like "if you don't like America get the [expletive] out!" That is a sign I've seen around here.

I think saying it's almost gotten fashionable to not be patriotic is almost as big a joke as saying Christianity is under attack in America. Almost.

This country has colossal problems. Our infrastructure sucks, our education system sucks, our health care system is atrocious, our middle class is almost gone. No one knows it yet, but it's almost gone. Stagnant wages, energy problems, the police state which is here, our out of control military spending, etc etc etc. To top it all off there is about 45% of this country that when you dare bring up the issue of our problems stick their fingers in their ear and start yelling "CAN'T HEAR YOU AMERICA IS AWESOME!!!"

I know I live in a microcosm of this world but here they are turning paved roads back to gravel. I mean, talk about regression. The dick bag conservatives that took over our county board want to do away with our ambulance service. THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY AMBULANCES? I mean holy [expletive]. Meanwhile they just passed conceal carry here as a county. Yeah awesome. Go America.

So here's the root of the whole problem. You have these [expletive] in power who focus on stupid [expletive] like conceal carry while the rest of this county just slides further and further down the [expletive] hole.

It's mind boggling how much the baby boomers have [expletive] this country up, and continue to do so. And they are the ones screaming MURICA! with there stupid assed stars and stripes suits and uncle sam hats on.

It's possible you might be generalizing.

A vast majority in both houses of the Missouri state legislature recently passed a law that violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, and they're about to override the governor's veto. It's going to cost the taxpayers a ton of money defending this unconstitutional law in the courts, where it will be struck down and appealed and struck down, etc. The kinds of things Dreamer is citing are disturbingly widespread.

It's very widespread.

If I can get back to my county for a second. This whole conceal carry thing is nuts. As a lot of you know Illinois has to pass conceal carry this year because of a judges mandate. That's not good enough for the peace loving patriots of my counties board. They last week passed conceal carry on a county level. The States Attorney warned them, you are going to get sued, including individually. Didn't matter and they passed it. Some numbers were crunched and it's estimated that this whole thing will end up costing the county over a million bucks after it's all said and done. That's depending on how far the initial law suits go. So the conservatives, who think that ambulances are unnecessary expenses, and our roads should be returned to gravel think it's ok to break the county in order to be ultra macho gun toting patriots. Maybe I just need to live somewhere else, but what is going on here is enraging.

and you are right Jim.