We Are Just A Selfish Stupid Ass Nation That Deserves What We Get.

[TheMastersNemesis]

Last edited Fri Apr 26, 2013, 07:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Amazing that an FAA exception law will pass in just 48 hours so Americans won't have to face delays at the air port. Meanwhile people are starving, dying and being inconvenienced in other ways that are even more important shows who we are. There should be outcry and rage to get rid of all of the sequestration.

Meanwhile we have 84 million Americans who have been medically uninsured the last 12 months. Increasing taxes on the rich and corporations should be a done deal yesterday.

ADDENDUM: Where are our priorities? Airport delays and safety are important. But the consequences of the sequestration is important in many important areas as well. We do respond to disaster and tragedy as we should. But we are not responding to the dismantling of our society in important ways. The erosion of the common good on a day to day basis is critical.

We can see disaster and tragedy, but we miss the tragedy of hunger and people dying because of lack of access to health care. Those losses are important and the idea that as long as I am ok I don't care. Because one day it will be me who is suffering.

[cali]

1. I utterly despise your op title. It's fucking sickening.

not to mention contradictory.

If, as YOU fucking believe, that we deserve what we get, then what the fuck is your problem with Americans without health insurance, or starving or being bombed or shot?

We're getting what we deserve, right?

[pintobean]

2. I'll second that.

[xtraxritical]

57. Congress got busy on this because it affects them directly,

they need to travel frequently. Your choice of introduction sucks.

[pintobean]

61. My choice of introduction?

[MADem]

77. Third. nt

[MindPilot]

3. Americans voted for them.

Every one of the right-wing jerk-offs, and campaign-from-the-left-but-govern-from-the-right "moderates" was elected by a majority of the votes.

Americans--lazy and stupid--have exactly the government they asked for; the one they deserve.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Except most people voted for Democrats in 2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/house-candidates-votes_n_2096978.html

But let's call the people lazy and stupid for being stuck with a rigged political system.

Dopey.

[MindPilot]

7. And how did the political system get "rigged"

Nixon, Reagan, Bush...people voted for them

[BeyondGeography]

10. The parties don't want true competition, role of money/few seats are really contested

Gerrymandering...all of these things happen because Americans are lazy and stupid?

[Junkpet]

23. Agreed...

...the election system is a farce. The American vote doesn't mean much when the candidates are pre-selected by big business. GOP congresspeople, if not on the payroll, are just as influenced by the fear of being targeted and having a well funded, well trained, connected opponent put up against them by e.g., the Koch Bros. ("the Kochs will unveil a new plan to recruit and train political candidates who will advance their free-market worldview." http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/04/koch-brothers-donor-retreat-agenda-hispanic-candidate-recruiting)

...but it doesn't stop there, they need to also control the message (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/business/media/koch-brothers-making-play-for-tribunes-newspapers.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0).

Until we get money out of politics (i.e., publicly financed elections), "we the people" don't have a chance at controlling our own political destiny.

[BeyondGeography]

35. People stood in line for 7-8 hours so we could win Florida

This could be one helluva country if money stopped squeezing them with all of its might.

[Junkpet]

86. "money" and misinformation

...two things the GOP seemingly has an abundance of.

[treestar]

39. Have to admit many of them are pretty lazy

That's why it works. If they stayed on top of things and didn't allow themselves to be influenced so much by TV ads (leaving the advantage to those who have or can raise the most money) and did more on the local scene, that is, took self government seriously, different people might get elected. Say someone who is perhaps ugly but is right on the issues.

The shallow nature of the average voter is what allows this, but they have the right to vote too. They don't use it responsibly. Listening to Beck and Limbaugh and letting that type of person influence you, that's lazy.

Most DUers would not fit into that category, but even here we often don't do a lot.

Jefferson thought that if every voter could read, all would be safe, but that has not proven to be the case. People don't take self government seriously and don't take the time to read and think about it, and let themselves be swayed by emotions and slick ads and slick appearances. This is where the problem should be seen and attacked. Ranting against the corporations and the banksters and the politicians doesn't attack the real problem.

[whathehell]

108. Many of "them"?

Are you not American?

"Most DUers would not fit into that category, but even here we often don't do a lot"

I see you include yourself as a DUer, and include yourself as one who "does not do a lot",

but you speak of Americans as "them'?

[treestar]

113. What is wrong with that

You have a problem with pronouns?

I don't consider myself among those easily swayed by slick ads and appearances.

Yes, it is them, those Americans who do not care and think little of it and therefore abuse the idea of self government.

[whathehell]

116. Answer the question first.

Then we'll be able to address any possible "problems" with pronouns.

[xtraxritical]

127. I'll say this, quality newspapers are getting scarce and millions of

people can not afford broadband internet and cable TV.

[whathehell]

129. Yes, I'd agree with that. n/t

[whathehell]

65. I see you won't tell us where you're from..

I'm betting there's a GOOD reason for that.

[Jennicut]

67. I blame Reagan, Bush and W. on the baby boomers.

I voted for Clinton, Kerry and Obama twice. The majority of those 45 and under (Gen X and Y) did the same. Romney got the majority of baby boomer votes. I have no idea what happened to the majority of the generation of my parents. The baby boomers that did not vote Republican were the intelligent ones.

[xtraxritical]

128. That's myopic and simplistic.

[RC]

43. That is what he said

Every one of the right-wing jerk-offs, and campaign-from-the-left-but-govern-from-the-right "moderates" was elected by a majority of the votes.

They lie to get into office, then do the bidding of whomever has the most money. Those that vote for them are the ones that do NOT have the money. The political party makes very little difference. It is only a matter of degrees, as our Democratic representatives follow the Republican crazies over the cliff.

[donnasgirl]

53. AMEN my friend

[whathehell]

83. Ask him how he feels about the Brits who voted for Thatcher, Blair and Cameron?

I'd guess they are all "stupid, lazy and short-sighted" as well, since, they were all conservatives,

except for Blair, who fits his description of a "campaigning from the left...governing from the Right" Moderate".

I'm guessing "mindpilot", will lose his sense of direction.

[rurallib]

6. Agreed - and a lot of good people get hurt while we flex our stupidity

[cali]

8. so the fuck what? And that in your, uh, mind, makes

it just fine that people suffer?

I hope you include yourself on the deserving of terrible things raining down on them list. top of the list.

[MindPilot]

9. I never said that--stop putting words in my mouth or worse thoughts in my brain.

I have simply pointed out that--with very few exceptions like little boots--every single elected official is such because a majority of the voters wanted them in office. And the damage we are seeing today was started decades ago. This hasn't happened in a vacuum and it isn't new.

I will now accept your apology.

[cali]

13. it's the same thing. How about blaming big money and the system

rather than the people?

[mercymechap]

21. And who is "big money" if not

"people"? People that are greedy and only care about making more money, having everything they desire and the hell with the rest of the "people"?

In a sense we are to blame because we don't know how to fight back. Republicans invented Faux News to feed their masses the lies that would get their puppets elected that would defend their policies. Policies such as "loose regulations", plenty of subsidies, tax cuts, loopholes and shelters for the wealthy so that they could keep more of their money and continue the vicious cycle.

People are responsible for the "system", and what he is saying is that as long as we don't fight back, the cycle will continue, we'll spend money on worthless shit while people are uninsured, barely making it and carrying the majority of the load.

We are beginning to wake up. Obama (while many claim he is like GWB) is making some headway in changing the path this nation was on. The fact that he can't get as much done has to do with the fact that Republicans still control the House, a major blockade to progress, and unless we are able to take it back, things will just continue the way they are.

[treestar]

41. As a nation, not as individuals

We just don't have enough voters who take it seriously. They don't care about the government until they suffer. That's the point. The Republicans are like that, and the shallow voters who only show up to vote every four years and then complain about the quality of the politicians, never having read about who they would vote for - those are numerous enough so that we have what we have.

[newfie11]

11. and most of the idiots that voted them in

will probably do it again. Mean while listening to fox news.

[whathehell]

56. Um, no. The RW comprises, at best, maybe half of Americans, so unless you want to insult the Brits

and the Euros who've been fooled by similarly deceptive "moderates", in the same way, I'd guess


you're a non-American indulging in some stupid and lazy knee jerk America Bashing.

[YoungDemCA]

69. "At best, maybe half of Americans"?

I'd say you're being too generous.

Keep in mind that close to half of the American population doesn't vote at all, and these non-voters are, disproportionately, the poor and ethnic/racial minorities (non-whites)-two demographics that are very Democratic in their political preference (if they vote at all, of course...)

When you look at the people who actually do vote, on a consistent basis, that part of the population is whiter and higher in socioeconomic status than the poorer, more diverse non-voters. That means that the Republican Party is disproportionately represented in the electorate in terms of demographics.

[whathehell]

72. So how do you explain the last two elections of a democratic president & 2 democrat senate gain?

[YoungDemCA]

110. Disgust with Bush among a vast number of voters+ historically high turnout for 2008...

For 2012, Romney's weaknesses and self-inflicted wounds (47% comment, for example), in addition to the fact that even the voting population is growing more diverse and less white than it was even in recent years (to say nothing of the total population!), and a failure of Romney to connect with (particularly) working-and-middle-class voters in key "swing" states, plus the fact that President Obama, as disappointing as he is to many on the Left (which I totally understand) and as ugly as the criticism of him by the Right has been, is seen by a majority of Americans (voters and non-voters alike) as a good man and a satisfactory President, at least.

[whathehell]

74. Like the Lazy, Stupid Brits who voted in Thatcher, Blair & Cameron?

I guess they have the "government they asked for: the one they deserve too"

[CBHagman]

120. Statistics abuse!

Let's not tar everyone with the same brush because 51 percent of voters went one way and not the other. I know cognitive distortions (e.g., "Everyone is doing this!" "No one believes that!&quot are popular in the the U.S. media, but all that is is a way to torture the mind and skew the discussion.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

16. To be fair, I didn't take that way ...

... but on second reading, I can understand why you understood it the way you did.

I don't think he/she meant it maliciously, and is perhaps, poorly worded. I'll just leave it at that.

[leveymg]

18. It is fucking sickening, but in the end, we get the gov't and the police we deserve.

Not all Germans deserved to be carpet bombed for four years, as well.

[treestar]

42. There's an example

In many ways, the average German was responsible for the evil their country did. They didn't have to let Hitler rise to power. It's all part of a process. The individuals may have included some who did not "deserve" to be bombed, but what else could the allies, at the time, do? We had to get rid of the monstrous political entity that the Germans had created. Hitler did not do it by himself. He had plenty of support from his fellow countrymen. Enough for them to create a military, support it, etc.

And we have a democracy where we get to elect our leaders, so we are even more responsible for who they are and what they do. We even have the chance every two years to kick them out. I think the point of the OP is that people mindlessly elect the same people to a seat because now that the person is incumbent, they recognize his name. Might have no idea of how they even voted in the last two years. If we had not enacted term limits for the Presidency, Reagan would have been President until he died.

That's because so many voters don't really care and don't put much into it.

[leveymg]

47. My mother-in-law was 13 yrs old and watched the firebombing of Wurzburg.

She still has nightmares. I'm sure there are Iraqis who have the same experience. Are they collectively guilty?

No, there shouldn't be collective guilt. But, there must be individual accountability for the leaders who are truly responsible for aggressive wars. At least, that's what the Geneva Convention says.

I guess we and our leaders are just Too Big to Fail.

[treestar]

48. We get to choose ours to a greater extent

though. The Weimar republic had problems, Iraq under Saddam Hussein had problems, but we live in a country with free speech and press and open elections. We are at least responsible for the leaders we pick, as a nation. You and I didn't deserve Bush to be President, for example, but as members of the nation, we had chosen him.

My point is people just don't take it seriously enough. They don't read. They don't go to see what their elected representatives are doing on the local level. There are plenty of people who think if they show up and vote for President of the US every four years, that's all they should do. These voters are the problem. They could do a lot better at picking leaders.

[leveymg]

50. The Weimar Republic in some ways was more democratic than the US was and is.

Hitler, too, was elected.

I am not responsible for Bush's crimes any more than my mother-in-law is for Hitler's.

We should all be better at picking our leaders, and when necessary, removing them. That's the problem - except for Nixon, we've never managed to get rid of any of the bad ones.

[RZM]

71. He wasn't elected

He was appointed chancellor by Hindenburg, who had beat Hitler in the presidential election.

[leveymg]

76. More technically, he came to power by constitutional means. One can argue Bush wasn't elected,

either.

What is your understanding of why von Hindenberg "had to" appoint Herr Hitler Chancellor? Any better reason than why SCOTUS "had to" select Dubya?

[RZM]

84. He didn't have to appoint him at all

And as I'm sure you know, he didn't like Hitler nor did he want him in a powerful position. Thus the famous 'Bohemian Corporal' quote about how Hitler could at best 'be my postmaster general.'

My understanding is that Von Papen persuaded Hindenburg to do it, because he and others on the establishment right wanted to use the Nazis for their own purposes while the movement was at its peak. They all thought Hitler was a crude pretender and would soon self-destruct, so now was the time to take advantage of him before it was too late.

It was obviously a horrendous miscalculation.

As for the SCOTUS, AFAIK it was mostly a party-line vote that had little to do with what was happening in Florida and more about who the justices preferred to be president. But I'm far from an expert on that.

[leveymg]

89. That's exactly my point. So the people really didn't choose in either case.

So, the German people actually are no more collectively responsible than the Americans are for Bush's crimes.

I am not saying that Bush is Hitler. But, in both cases where the constitutional process failed, if you tried to violently oppose the regime that took power or its wars, you'd end up in prison and/or dead. That's not hyperbole - it's the truth.

[dotymed]

58. I am ill and grumpy (i try not to be)

I go out to the local retirees bar often, during the day (not nights) because I do not want to be a hermit. Anyway, politics and our dismal outlook as Americans came up. Some dufus (retired military finance probably, never a blue collar man) said that to fix our nation.....'"we should have cloned REAGAN!"
My temper flared as I asked him to repeat himself...I told him that as a retired Union carpenter and a patriot, I thought he was an idiot.... I know.....
I informed him briefly of the harm Reagan did to America and that I believe he is the reason for our current predicament. I asked him to never talk politics to me again (he had directed his statement at me) I groom myself unlike some other patrons do.
He agreed with me on my list of Reagan's' destructive actions, yet he STILL believes that Reagan was great.
I said that FDR was the best ever president. All of the others agreed, but most of them have never even voted.....

sorry for venting

[whathehell]

104. Does that apply to other countries as well?...Did Britain deserve Thatcher, Blair and Cameron?

[Fumesucker]

25. Yeah, it's like he put a Target on his back or something n/t

[RZM]

31. Par for the course

Remember this is Mr. 'I will not help a starving Republican' and 'Let Colorado burn'

[cali]

32. I forgot those nuggets

[CokeMachine]

95. I got my first hidden posts in the Let Colorado Burn thread.

That thread was a real eye opener about the OP.

[whathehell]

51. +10 nt/

[Katashi_itto]

52. I don't know, I think in alot of ways it's an accurate title.

I mean I would view the average DUer, an intellectual, give or take.

And I think the less intelligent, out number us, the intellectuals.

The majority of Americans have shown time and again, they couldnt think their way out of a wet paper bag.

What unfortunate, is those low-IQ masses are going to be the reason for the destruction of the US.

Ergo, taking alot of us with them as the turn the country into a Somalian amusement park.

One reason I am planning on getting out of the country, while the going is good.

[whathehell]

68. Sorry to break it to you, Katashi, but the "low I.Q. masses" outnumber intellectuals Everywhere!

Actually I'd say "lower I.Q." The average I.Q. is about 100, and you know what?

It's been found not to change much from country to country...Sorry.

So, good luck with leaving, and please tell us when you find that

country where the "masses" are intellectuals.

[Katashi_itto]

75. Ummm sorry to break it to you, but there are a number of countries that have a much higher

standard of living than the US,

countries that havent allowed the low IQ "teabagger", dumbed down politics, to rule the policies of their country.

So please go right ahead and laugh...

I will too.

[whathehell]

78. Ummmm..Sorry to break it to YOU, but standards of living don't correlate with I.Q.

if they did you'd have to claim that the I.Q.s in Europe were pretty low compared

to those in the U.S. during most of the last century..You see, it's actually more

complicated than your simplistic imaginings. As for your "teabagger" references,

I'd suggest you do an internet search with words like "Right Wing in Europe"

I can assure you that you will NOT come away empty handed, LOL.

So, yes, dear, I will continue to laugh...Let's see if you can after you do that search.

[Katashi_itto]

80. From our conversation, I get a good feeling of what end of the IQ scale your on.

Lots of posturing, not much substance.

As for myself, I've already done lots of research.

I am quite cognizant of the pros and cons.

Knee jerkers like yourself, seem to think that one just wakes up one morning and decides to leave the country.

Things like this are, for most, from my years in the Navy to now, it's been a very slow build-up. I don't think things here will get fixed in the near future.

Your own shrill response is a good example of why its pointless, to worry about what happens here and more to the point, why things don't get addressed.

But seriously, think what you like.

[whathehell]

85. I doubt it, honey, but don't let that prevent you with continuing the personal attacks.

It's what losers always do.

[Katashi_itto]

87. I rest my case. See Response #80

[whathehell]

92. Lame as it is, you should, LOL

[Katashi_itto]

93. Still babbling? Again 2nd line #80

You simply prove my point time and again.

[whathehell]

98. Still trying to get the last word? I thought you were "resting your case", LOL

It seems it's failing to "rest" in peace.

[Katashi_itto]

105. Playing with something like you is always fun

[whathehell]

106. Playing with a thing like you is like having a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent, lol

[Katashi_itto]

115. My god, you actually used that old chestnut?

[whathehell]

117. Nice try.

[CokeMachine]

97. +1000 nt

[whathehell]

100. Thanks.

Don't you just love the elitist posers here who feel so "above" the masses?

[CokeMachine]

101. Yep --

I'm glad to know they are here to keep us peons in our place. Have a great weekend!!

[whathehell]

102. Thanks, CokeMachine,

you have a great weekend too.

[CokeMachine]

96. I bow to your intellectual superiority.

Some might even call it elitism.

[rhett o rick]

112. While I agree that the OP title is a little hyperbolic, I appreciate the frustration expressed.

Only approx 34% of eligible voters voted for Pres Obama's reelection in 2012. And he is more conservative than Nixon. Had the Democrats been running a true progressive the percentage would have been considerably lower. Americans are not choosing progressive politicians.

The fact that millions and millions of Americans that are unemployed, losing their homes, losing their retirements, have no or inadequate health insurance, and still do not seek a progressive to vote for has to make one think they are getting what they are voting for.

This doesnt mean that the 1% doesnt deserve condemnation for their part in subjugating our democracy, but it is extremely frustrating when millions and millions of Americans either vote against their best interest or dont vote at all.

[Mr Dixon]

4. IMO

What we deserve maybe a bit harsh, the public is just gullible kind of like 3rd graders. Horse and carrot syndrome, yes you too can be rich one day if you work hard enough…ROFL. Following these pipe dreams keeps the public looking at the right while the left hand steals the future in the name of capitalism

[Newest Reality]

12. Well, that's a bit harsh

and a broad-brushing of a collective denial.

Things are so complicated in these times and who has the time or capacity to get even close to an accurate model of this reality? We are good at assuming and experiencing a sense of understanding that seems complete and that corresponds to what may be "out there", but that's something we have to do and are also very good at.

How would it feel to, say, watch a television that had squares cut out of the screen here and there? That is, in a way, similar to our experience. We are able to "fill in" the gaps and voids in the sense that we imagine a complete and whole picture.

If we could learn to notice that we naturally extrapolate and repudiate the data we encounter, then we could have a better chance of not being taken advantage of by those who exploit this loophole in our self-representation and synthesis of experience and reality.

It isn't even so much about IQ and education, (though both are vary useful in their own rights due to the nature of this game) it is about a rudimentary understanding of how we function and what purpose those functions have. That's not really esoteric or even specialized. Consider what happens when people focus on an art or a skill and become adept at it. There is an art of experience, so to speak, about the way we are being and rests on insight into the transparency of the various processes by which we encounter and make sense of what seems to be "out there".

So, maybe stupid is as stupid does, but while I can agree somewhat with your assessment, I would prefer to point-out the vague and abstract filling in being performed. There is so much more to it all and getting an accurate picture is more involved than a small chunk of abstract summary.

[marions ghost]

19. I get what you're saying

but we often extrapolate to dramatize or point out a trend rather than seeking to present a complete picture of reality, which is always part personal, part collective --even if you are a brilliant expert on the given subject.

In discussion such as this--the OP is posting a perspective and posters making comments test the theory in their own internal hard drives & help fill in some of the holes, pro and con.

I think the "loopholes" will always be exploited by those who exploit.

Knowledge is still power.

[Newest Reality]

24. Good point.

I agree.

Testing the theory can be a good approach and also brings experimentation into the picture.

I would add that flexibility and adaptability are useful additions to the equation. That can go hand-in-hand with knowledge as a means to both test and better understand the hardware and software.

Your insights are appreciated.

[marions ghost]

33. Flexibility

IMO is the most important quality to develop in managing the incredible amounts of information and opinion coming at us these days.

Rigid thinking is characteristic of the old ways, the black & white thinking of the Fuxed and Rushed among us. The future is to The Flexible. I look at the picture of the Bush Liebury and I see a monument to the old paradigms, a dusty mausoleum for the vulture capitalist mindset, a
Stalin's tomb that only serves to remind us of the mistakes of the past.

Thanks for your insightful post--which I do understand is a caution to rush to judgment. Which I agree with. But when the time comes to judge, one must also judge. We seem to be --collectively--trying to figure out the balance. And we're also learning not to depend on one source, no matter who it is, for our whole world view. It's much more creative. We can only glimpse the way these societal trends will play out. Fascinating times...

[jambo101]

14. The system has problems

The problem with the system is all the money and wealth is more and more being funneled to the few % at the top leaving less and less for those other 98%.
With a system devoted solely to making as much money as possible even if it means outsourcing all the jobs its just a matter of time before the dream crumbles.

[BethanyQuartz]

28. Exactly

And these are just austerity measures by another name.

[Myrina]

15. I agree, completely.

n/t

[whathehell]

45. Then you're including yourself, DU, and the majority of Americans who voted twice for Obama?

Seems like an egregiously false conclusion, but hey, if you find that YOU fit the description, go right ahead.

We'd just ask that you not expect the rest of us to join you in eating that shit sandwich, okay?

[Savannahmann]

17. Imagine this.

For the cost of one F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet, which are in production now, we could have covered the Sequestration amount with no pain to anyone. Oh the production line on the Fighters might have been shut down a couple years earlier, but that would be years down the road, and I'm sure the Defense Companies would have come up with the newest latest greatest item we must have before then.

[Egalitarian Thug]

20. Assuming a question mark... yeah, pretty much. Stupid, mean-spirited, and short-sighted. n/t

[whathehell]

30. Hey Thug..Are you "stupid, mean-spirited and short-sighted"? If so, thanks for the warning,

but don't broad brush the rest of us with that shit characterization.

[Egalitarian Thug]

60. The old "broad brush" canard. This is a general discussion board and therefore, necessitates

broad statements and generalizations. If you can't see the problem around you, you likely are the problem.

Americans have become a mean-spirited, ignorant, greedy group of individuals that have turned their backs on community in the foolish hope that each of them will be Big Winners in a rigged game.

If you don't like that statement, dispute it with facts. You can save the snark for someone that gives half a shit.

[whathehell]

62. Um, no...General discussion boards do not necessitate broad statements, and the brighter,

and better informed among us usually avoid them.

I do see the "problems" around me, and I'm able to enunciate them, I think, in better

ways than indulging in lazy, broad brush attacks that end up in nothing but proclamations

of self-loathing and "we suck". Brilliant

It's already been disputed with the "fact" of the last two elections, and if you

don't like that fact, go back to your pity party where you can feel sorry for yourself

and engage in the dubious pleasures of despair and self-hatred.

[Egalitarian Thug]

63. LOL! So it's about the elections, I see...

[whathehell]

64. LOL! Is that all you've got?

You never did answer my question: Are you "stupid" American?


On the other hand, maybe you have.

[gopiscrap]

22. I agree with the OP

and that attitude and culture was nurtured and grown starting with fucking Ronald Reagan. He was a direct opposite of what Keenedy said: "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" with RR it was: fuck you as long as I get mine! It was with his election that we started going downhill and it was achieved by cow towing to business over all else!

[whathehell]

34. Only if you and most Americans agree with the Reagan legacy and that appears not to be the case

and you have only to check out DU and the rest of the Left Blogosphere, not to mention

the last two elections to confirm that.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

26. Whoa there pardner.............

I'd say it's more like we the (average) people are like an inexperienced bronc buster. We're just along for the ride. We have no influence or say in most any matter affecting us. Government (ie; Congress) is captive to so many special interests that we are just an afterthought.

[whathehell]

27. "We"?...You speak for yourself, not the rest of us. n/t

[earthside]

29. My Colorado Senator Udall--He's one of them!

Yup. Colorado's Mark Udall is bragging about how he worked in a 'bipartisan' manner to get the FAA exempted from the sequester spending cuts.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2013/04/25/sen-mark-udall-proposal-to-avert-air-traffic-controller-furloughs-passes-senate-unanimously/94676/

Mind you, I don't recall such valiant efforts from Udall to get Head Start exempted or Meals-on-Wheels exempted.

I think the original post is expressing the emotion I feel as well about this episode.
It is disgusting how even purported liberals and progressive in the Congress will find a way to make sure that they are not inconvenienced ... as for the rest of us, well ... tut tut.

Pres. Obama should veto this if he can (I don't know if it is part of a larger bill, but if it is a stand alone piece of legislation, then he ought to veto it.)

[Egalitarian Thug]

111. It's the family business. n/t

[heaven05]

36. yep

i totally agree and with many more examples of our stupidity and selfishness. I can't name them here, but George Carlin does on Utube.

[Yo_Mama]

37. That's odd and epistemologically ridiculous

If, as a nation, you believe that we are no good, how do you derive the corollary that vulnerable individuals should suffer for the nation's collective sins?

I don't think the US is a bad nation at all. Of course, I have family members who have lived in very bad circumstances in foreign countries, so I probably have a different perspective. It's an odd fact that many poor immigrants to this country have a much better opinion of it than the seeming privileged children of families that have been here for generations.

I don't think that the US is a perfect nation, by any means. But even if I believed our nation was ethically comparable to Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, or Pol Pot's paradise, I would STILL not believe that the punishment for the errors of the nation would be properly served out to the individual residents and citizens, which is always where it does in fact land.

I could write much more, but I am pissed and should probably shut up. It has been a stressful time for us all.

I hope your day improves.

[cali]

38. I hope all of you who are reccing this and indulging in this crap

are prepared to accept every horrible thing that happens to YOU and yours because, you know, you fucking deserve it, kiddies.

[whathehell]

66. There's lots of self-haters on DU...Also a lot of non-Americans indulging their gleeful bigotry.

Imagine their happiness at seeing the dumbasses agreeing with them?

[cali]

40. collective guilt and collective punishments are such liberal values, don't you know?

moronic.

[hfojvt]

44. Yesterday?

More like 5 months ago.

You know, when the Bush tax cuts were scheduled to expire.

Instead Obama and the Democrats worked out a deal to give $1.3 trillion in tax cuts to the richest 5% and $2.4 trillion to the richest 20%.

But many, if not most, of those in the top 20% are not eager to rush out and pay more taxes in order to help those less fortunate.

Plus, I myself get tired of the whole 84 million are medically uninsured.

Because for the vast majority of those 84 million, being uninsured is not a big deal, because most of them don't get seriously sick. I didn't get sick in the last twelve months.

In the last twelve months, my health expenses have been

$1,300 in dental bills
two doctors visits - $300
a flu shot and a tetanus shot - $50
4 months of OTC medications - $140.

total - less than $2,000

Well, thank goodness my employer pays about $8,400 for health insurance for me. How else would the insurance company get another $6,500 in profits?

My point, such as it is, is that NOBODY needs health INSURANCE. NOBODY. What people need is health CARE. When we have the mindset that health INSURANCE is the ONLY way to get health CARE, then we just create huge profits for an insurance middleman.

[Melinda]

46. The FAA exception only passed so that Congress could fly their asses home.

Period. They should have to park them in DC until the entire austerity BS is resolved to OUR satisfaction, and not that of the DC fatcats.

History teaches that it won't be until humans reach critical mass that change will happen. Of course, this assumes we won't be a police state by then. Your words are harsh but may be necessary - and I agree with your overall premise

[Politicub]

49. People who constantly complain are part of the problem

I'm over people who are throwing in the towel about our country.

I don't get why they even bother to complain if all hope is lost for them.

There has never been a time in any civilization when there has not been a struggle - whether economic, political, social, or all three.

And it will always be thus.

And to all of the people who have resigned themselves to a life defined by woe and misery you instead should thank people like Harvey Milk, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and millions of others who joined them. Read and ruminate on their writings and speeches.

Without these people carrying on their backs those who have given up, the human condition wouldn't have improved to the point it is today. In other words, you are dead weight to progressives who are working their asses off to make life better for everyone.

And it has improved for many. To not see it or admit it is a sign of being delusional or disingenuous or both.

What a waste of time and energy to endeavor to bring others down. Shame on you.

[randome]

70. Wow. Far out.

[Lisa D]

73. You should make this an OP

[Politicub]

81. Thank you!

Just did a little while ago .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022758373

[sheshe2]

109. Beautiful!

I was going to suggest it as an OP also, following your link!

Thanks, Politicub!

[kentuck]

82. None of those folks you mentioned ever complained...

Those that don't complain are the biggest part of the problem.

[Politicub]

88. Complaining and throwing in the towel are two different things

My post is about the latter.

And I can assure you that those people didn't let quitters bring them down. But the quitters benefitted from their and others' hard work.

Complaining has its place but is a damaging exercise if it causes you or others to give up.

[Cha]

94. Brilliant, Politicub.. you can count me in among

those who aren't "dead weight"!

[CokeMachine]

99. Great post!!

Thank you

[whathehell]

130. Thank you.

[moondust]

54. The system rewards sociopaths.

Last edited Fri Apr 26, 2013, 02:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Eventually you end up with a lot of rotten assholes running things who screw things up for everybody in their endless pursuit of self-enrichment and self-aggrandizement. Greed and egotism and arrogance kill.

I think Boston proved that there's still a lot of good regular folks around.

[markiv]

55. it's exactly that kind of self-loathing that emboldens political sellout

by our so called representatives

'even THEY say they deserve it!'

[Throd]

59. You should run for office on that slogan!

[Brigid]

124. Hey, it worked for John the Baptist.

His favorite slogan was "You brood of vipers!".

[kentuck]

79. They should have to stand in lines until they shit their pants.

Maybe someone will tell them that there is no toilet paper either. The people are in a coma.

[Brimley]

90. You're not Stupid, just Drugged

The 500-channel universe, the 24/7 "news" cycle, the ongoing celebration of the lowest common denominator (hi, Kim, hi, Paris) has you soma'd, if I might be permitted to turn a Huxley noun into a verb.

[OwnedByCats]

91. This kind of attitude Ladies and

Gentleman is why Repubs say liberals hate America. You've heard that right? They honestly believe liberals hate America and some of the people in this thread are just making them look right.

Listen, I know we have problems here. Hell I complain all the time about stuff too. I can't however say "America" deserves what it gets. "America" didn't do this. Corrupt people in government did this, and some of what I'm talking about was done to cater to the 1%. Personally I have no problem with people making a lot of money. All the power to them. What I don't like is if those people rolling in money stepped on the "little guy" to do it, then I believe that they are assholes and quite frankly don't deserve their money. However, there are a lot of good people here too. We need to wish better for our country for them.

The health care thing is disturbing to me and I'm extremely pissed off at the government, acting like single payer can't be done. That's bullshit. Maybe they should try sending less money overseas and take care of it's citizens like every other developed country - they manage just fine, their people aren't dropping like flies because the health care is so bad. Even countries less developed than ours manage. My parents went from being able to afford their insurance premiums and had affordable copays to them having to pay $4,000 in copays this month alone. My dad just retired early because he's disabled so he doesn't qualify for Medicare just yet. I'm not talking about him even having operations. He has an infection in his leg that won't heal and he sees a specialist. He's in that office for 10 minutes while they change his bandage and he ends up with $4,000 in copays. Insane! I think they are going to be in serious debt before it's all said and done.

However, we have reason to be fortunate too. I'm sure most of us don't know what it's like to live in severe poverty. I'm not taking about living in a sparsely furnished studio apartment eating Ramen noodles every night. That sucks, don't get me wrong. In some other countries, people live in hellish conditions worse than anything that's happened here in a long time.

I have much to complain about, but it could be worse, I just hope it doesn't get that way.

[whathehell]

107. +1000....n/t

Bunch of pathetic, self-loathing whiners.

[elleng]

103. 'We' are subjected to and victimized by propaganda

of certain 'haves.' We the People are no more selfish or stupid than most, imo.

[Jasana]

114. I hope your day gets better....

Seriously, there are times when I'm so tired and angry and frustrated that I just want to throw my hands in the air and say "Frak it all!"

But I'm not ready to give up yet... and I've been at this a long time.

Remember when Ronnie Raygun gave corporate America the green light to start slitting the throats of our unions? It was the PAATCO strike. Basturd fired all those Air Traffic Controllers over flight delays. Boy was I pissed that day.

[enjoyingyourpeasyet]

119. Exactly right!

The clear MAJORITY of Americans including many Democrats voted for Ronald Reagan and our current state of affairs is all directly tied to those 8 years that basically set up where we are and are headed.

Greed and selfishness is what the majority wanted at the time and still want today.

[greatauntoftriplets]

121. Are you speaking from experience?

I don't know a single Democrat who voted for Ray-goon. Myself included.

[enjoyingyourpeasyet]

122. Yes in that I know those who call themselves democrat voted for Reagan

I bet if you ask who voted for RR on DU you will get quite a few affirmative responses.

[Brigid]

123. I think some are missing the point here.

As a nation, our priorities are completely out of whack when problems at the airport caused by sequestration get more attention than the real suffering going on in the country. Now we, as a nation, need to take a good hard look at ourselves and ponder what we're going to do about it. The politicians? As George Carlin so memorably put it, they didn't just drop out of the sky. Playing the "Don't blame me -- I voted for the other guy" game doesn't help if that's all you've got.

[randome]

125. 'Our priorities'? I think you mean 'Republican priorities', don't you?

It's Republican control of the House that makes common-sense moves on the economy next to impossible.

[Brigid]

126. As a nation,

we have let our priorities get out of whack. It's going to take a lot of hard work to get this country back into shape. But with one party gone completely off the rails and the other still looking for its spine sometimes, the us/them meme doesn't work too well.