What are Americans so unhappy about....

[germanshepherd]

What are Americans so unhappy about, are we not truly blessed beyond measure. As I read a lot of the statements regarding church government, etc., it seems that we forget how blessed we are. I challange you to read this article and remember that North Americans are blessed.

The article below has been attributed in most parts to Jay Leno lately, which is untrue. However, it does make Americans stop and think about our ingratitude.

Lord help me to stop being so selfish and self-centered.

To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/pageId=38956

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Made in the USA: Spoiled brats
By Craig R. Smith

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The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff. Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way. Oh what a mean man I am.

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they are going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did ? insane!

Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:

''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''

I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.

[PastorDaniel]

Halelujah, Praise the Lord, and Amen to all dat!!

[Dr. Ron]

This is a question I posed to my church. When in the course of human history the story of the past decade is read, this president will achieve God like status in the minds of men.

The lying adds have already begun by the Hillary bunch. If you watch them you can see......

If you want to know about recession ask the experts. Dave Ramsey scoffs at the notion. He was on the Today show and called their hand on it. He said we are in recession in the minds of the media. He was interrupted pretty quickly,

Why are Americans unhappy??? Because it's the only way we know how to be. It's all about ME!!!!! That is why Rick Warren's book is the best selling book in the history of printing! People are trying to figure all this stuff out.

Obama and Hilary talk about wanting change...I may not want change....especially the kind they are talking about....

[rjc]

I totally agreeand I try every day to be grateful and thank God for our blessings, and, I try to teach my family to to the same.

[PastorDaniel]

It's funny to me that topics like this don't get a very big response.

Does the truth hurt to much to confront?

[Full Quiver]

Question: What is the US dollar worth today and what was it worth 7 years ago?

[TW]

Question: What is the US dollar worth today and what was it worth 7 years ago?

Danny that seems to be such a simple question. However, the answer is not all that simple. First, to what standard are we to use for comparison. the current exchange rate against other currencies, or current value compared to inflation?

If we use the current exchange rates:


We would have difficulty because the Euro did not physically exist at that time (2000 - 2001), it was not released in the physical form until 2002.

If we use the measure of inflation:

What cost $100 in 2000 would cost $123.37 in 2007.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2007 and 2000,
they would cost you $100 and $83.32 respectively.

We have the problem that again we have no absolute value to measure against, and have not had such a value since the Federal Reserve Note became the "standard" of our legal tender.

The final production of $1 Silver Certificates occurred in late 1963. In 1964 the redemption of Silver Certificates for silver coin ended and in 1968 the redemption of Silver Certificates for silver bullion ended.

Without an absolute standard against which to measure, the answer to your question would have as many answers as there are Economist, each giving only the arguments that support his answer. In all truth, it is all comparative.


TW

[PastorDaniel]

Question: What is the US dollar worth today and what was it worth 7 years ago?

I'm missing your point or something....because the whole point of this article is the fact that thing's are so much worse in so many other areas of the world.

No one is saying that everything is perfect....but I'll tell you this....In the Phillipines, $20.00 US is almost $1000.00 for them and I sent a young lady to Bible college for an entire year for $140.00 US. That covered room, board, tuition, books, and even clothing.

So my point is that if everyone thinks it is SO bad in the US...then they need to buy airfare and go camping in Iraq, Kenya, Cotobato Phillipines or some other place where conditions are ALWAYS worse then ours!

[Mole_J]

A weak dollar is not a bad thing

Especially if you have something to export to other countries.

[TW]

A weak dollar is not a bad thing

Especially if you have something to export to other countries.

Yeah, but right now that's our jobs!

The "make a buck no matter who you hurt" multi-national corporations are more than willing to send our jobs overseas for the sweatshop labor pool. They don't care about the quality of the junk they get, as long as it's cheap. I have to deal with these Chinese and third world parts everyday in my present job as a Quality Control Technician. I can tell you from checking thousands of parts from China and the third world vendors my company now deals with that the vast majority (at least 80%) is junk, it doesn't even make good trash. Add to this that getting something corrected now takes months.

We cannot compete industrially against countries that subsidize their industries. What I'm unhappy about is our governments continued failure to do something to put us on an even playing field, even if that involves tariffs.


TW

[Full Quiver]

I'm no economist but I know that the more my dollar can buy me the better. The dollar is down, the price of goods is up, and if China calls the loan we are in deep trouble.

[Mike Vande]

...if China calls the loan we are in deep trouble.

If CHina calls in their loan, THEY are in as bad trouble as we, and every one else in the world is. The entire world's ewconomic system would collapse.

[Dr. Ron]

Well, if China calls their loan, we will just call in their loan from WWII that they have never even paid the interest on with Chang Kai Sheck....or however you spell his name.

Madaam Chang....was treated as royalty here in the states after he died...we gave them billions!!!!

Russia tore the wall down so that the USSR could bankrupt it's loan to us and England from WWII.

No country wants to go there with us! We have kept the known world alive for the last century.

[paul]

A weak dollar is not a bad thing

Especially if you have something to export to other countries.

For those of us who work in missions a weak dollar is a bad thing.

In the Philippine the dollar was two years ago 50 Pesos to the dollar, now it is 38 pesos to the dollar.

Nigeria has went from 129 two years ago to 118

The Rupee in India has went from 47 to 38.

This may not seem like much but when you are dealing in several hundred thousands of dollars in budgets and projects. It makes a really big difference. I have had to make many adjustments to take up the slack in the shrinking dollar.

I see more to it that just the dollar issue. Over the past several decades the US has always been the largest consumer in the world. People who hates us still coveted our trade because it kept many of their people working.

Today India and China are quickly coming to the point of becoming the greater consuming Giants. America is in for some major shifting of opions toward her. But I have no doubt that America will once again because of the grace of God, having been a spiritual beacon, and the major source of spreading the Gospel be used by God.