What America Has Become

[Chiefshrink]

What Has America Become by Ken Huber of Tawas City


July 20, 2010

"What Has America Become" was the title of a letter to the editior written by Ken Huber of Tawas City, Michigan. It contains a series of comparisons and contrasts which causes one to think about the double-standards and conditions under which we now live here in America.

A reprint of the article has been circulating online (see photo with this article) finding its way to Fort Worth and possibly all over the nation. It was originally printed in the Iosco County News Herald on June 9, 2010, published in the Opinion column. Please read, post your thoughts, and as always feel free to subscribe for future articles and/or
share with others.

What has America become?

Editor,

Has America become the land of special interest and home of the double standard?

Lets see: if we lie to the Congress, it's a felony and if the Congress lies to us its just politics; if we dislike a black person, we're racist and if a black person dislikes whites, its their 1st Amendment right; the government spends millions to rehabilitate criminals and they do almost nothing for the victims; in public schools you can teach that homosexuality is OK, but you better not use the word God in the process; you can kill an unborn child, but it is wrong to execute a mass murderer; we don't burn books in America, we now rewrite them; we got rid of communist and socialist threats by renaming them progressive; we are unable to close our border with Mexico, but have no problem protecting the 38th parallel in Korea; if you protest against President Obama's policies you're a terrorist, but if you burned an American flag or George Bush in effigy it was your 1st Amendment right.

You can have pornography on TV or the internet, but you better not put a nativity scene in a public park during Christmas; we have eliminated all criminals in America, they are now called sick people; we can use a human fetus for medical research, but it is wrong to use an animal.

We take money from those who work hard for it and give it to those who don't want to work; we all support the Constitution, but only when it supports our political ideology; we still have freedom of speech, but only if we are being politically correct; parenting has been replaced with Ritalin and video games; the land of opportunity is now the land of hand outs; the similarity between Hurricane Katrina and the gulf oil spill is that neither president did anything to help.

And how do we handle a major crisis today? The government appoints a committee to determine who's at fault, then threatens them, passes a law, raises our taxes; tells us the problem is solved so they can get back to their reelection campaign.

What has happened to the land of the free and home of the brave?

- Ken Huber
Tawas City

[Brock]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Yes, sad that we are moving away from a world of racism, bigotry, heavy unionized labor, and entitlements. But by all means, let's pin this on the future of America.

The author fails to bring up that we are a more open society and that open hate is tolerated a lot less so today than yesterday. That unions are losing power and individuals are becoming increasingly accountable for their own actions, including funding their own retirement. Ethics and teamwork are becoming increasingly important teaching points in today's schools. And once the dinosaurs start exiting the work force, you're going to see a shift toward innovation, like moving organizations to the digital age and enabling 3D printing.

[HonestChieffan]

When did 401ks become the product of the 20 and 30 somethings? ****ing joke if thats what you think. Your parents will retire on the 401ks we have earned and for many of young folks they will inherit....or you hope you will.

The decline in the country that we better get ahead of has occurred over the last 10 to 15 years. Dependence on government, dependence on parents forever, lack of motivation and willingness to work, no respect for the rewards gained from honest effort and labor. Ethics like we see from the crap we have in the white house, harry reid, and what does it matter Hillary? The ethics of the 20 and 30 somethings and those the young left worship is shameful.

[Brock]

Sounds to me like you boomers really ****ed up raising your kids.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Brock

Sounds to me like you boomers really ****ed up raising your kids.

We didn't raise our kids. We got divorced or never married at all because we figured that getting some strange regularly was more important. Hell with the kids.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

When did 401ks become the product of the 20 and 30 somethings? ****ing joke if thats what you think. Your parents will retire on the 401ks we have earned and for many of young folks they will inherit....or you hope you will.

Is this even a question? Older generations were relying on social security and often outrageously funded defined benefits plans as a safety net. Defined contribution is expected to double by the year 2015. Gen X and Y is trending toward a much more independent retirement savings style because they have to put more of their own money away because there is a fear that social security will disappear. Younger generations don't have the kind of wildly unsustainable pension safety net that previous generations had.

And what the **** is the younger generation going to inherit? Is this a joke? Retirement plans are bled dry. Boomers are working beyond retirement just to keep their retirement income flowing. There is NOTHING to pass off. If anything, boomers are creating greater debt through massive medicare and social security, not to mention taking jobs or available income away from younger generations who are starving for good work.

The decline in the country that we better get ahead of has occurred over the last 10 to 15 years. Dependence on government,

Dependence on government is new? Unions are a fraction of what they used to be power-wise and I already talked about the social security thing above.

dependence on parents forever, lack of motivation and willingness to work, no respect for the rewards gained from honest effort and labor.

Last time I checked, it was the previous generations that ushered in wildly expensive college tuition expenses that are very difficult for kids to afford. Leaders from previous generations created two massive recessions that have stymied kids from getting their career started. And the kids of today are poorly educated due to a broken education system created by adults. Qualified young adults, particularly in education and the public sector, are getting fired while many completely inept employees are keeping their jobs because of tenure and an insanely protective HR policy that makes it impossible to fire anyone. To pass the entire generation off as uninspired and unmotivated is a load of shit. Sure, I agree the kids of today tend to lack social maturity or common sense in the work force. How motivated would any generation be when the adults are completely destroying any chance for young kids to get started?

And again... the resistance from older leaders to adapt to the new world stymies motivation. The world is moving digital and American business has moved at a snails pace to adjust to it.

Ethics like we see from the crap we have in the white house, harry reid, and what does it matter Hillary? The ethics of the 20 and 30 somethings and those the young left worship is shameful.

And how old are these people? I idolize Michael Jordan. So does that make me a piece of shit just because he's a shady guy?

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I idolize Michael Jordan. So does that make me a piece of shit just because he's a shady guy?

Absolutely not. You can relax. Michael Jordan isn't the reason.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Absolutely not. You can relax. Michael Jordan isn't the reason.

Ha. Thanks. I didn't start peeing in people's drinks because of Michael Jordan. I learned that on my own.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Ha. Thanks. I didn't start peeing in people's drinks because of Michael Jordan. I learned that on my own.

Asian Comedian?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Asian Comedian?

I play joke. I put pee pee in your coke.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Look around. Listen. You cant help but to see the deterioration. The future for the tweenty and thirtysomethings is shit. And they wont be able to find a way out of the mess they are creating. But they will find someone to blame.

Our country is run by 20 and 30 somethings? Even if that's the case, who raised them?

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Even if that's the case, who raised them?

that's RIGHT! everyone keep pointing the finger while it all goes down the drain.

bravo! it's everybody elses fault!

America's new culture.

the question is, what will America become?

p.s. I think you misread his post, he isn't talking about 20 and year olds, he's talking about current politicans on both sides of the aisle.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by stevieray

that's RIGHT! everyone keep pointing the finger while it all goes down the drain.

bravo! it's everybody elses fault!

America's new culture.

the question is, what will America become?

p.s. I think you misread his post, he isn't talking about 20 and year olds, he's talking about current politicans on both sides of the aisle.

I agree that we have become a finger pointing society, so I'm busted on just doing something I hate seeing everyone seemingly do. I may well have misread his post, and if it was what you're saying it was then I agree wholeheartedly which is basically pointing more fingers. We need to find a way to walk away from this two party system. That would be a great start.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I agree that we have become a finger pointing society, so I'm busted on just doing something I hate seeing everyone seemingly do. I may well have misread his post, and if it was what you're saying it was then I agree wholeheartedly which is basically pointing more fingers. We need to find a way to walk away from this two party system. That would be a great start.

No. HCFs post was basically Herp derp, Damn kids are lazy and voting for Obama and ruining this country. You read it right the first time. It's a shitty commentary from a guy who is finger pointing, no more.

That's how I read it. Don't think it's about politicians for a second.

[Brock]

Hcf thinks he comes from the generation that built this country. NOPE.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I agree that we have become a finger pointing society, so I'm busted on just doing something I hate seeing everyone seemingly do. I may well have misread his post, and if it was what you're saying it was then I agree wholeheartedly which is basically pointing more fingers. We need to find a way to walk away from this two party system. That would be a great start.

absolutely!