Whiners and Diners

AMERICA
Land of Whiners, Diners, and Chicken Little's

That hasn't always been the case in our country, even though there has been a certain percentage of the population afflicted with these mental maladies. But the easier things have gotten for our population, the easier they want it, and they don't care what the ramifications are as long as they get to complain, overeat, get what they want and/or fuss and fret about things that just won't happen. Imagine if the Pilgrims had just sat around whining about how tough it was, eaten all their stores and depended on food from the Wampanoag, or fretted about everything that could possibly happen in their new world.

But they didn't; they built housing, planted, learned from the Wampanoag, and prepared for the most severe of conditions while continuing to take care of the business at hand. Today, however, many Americans, along with others in this country, depend on the government for what the Native Americans, Pilgrims and early settlers took care of themselves. Even our Native American population has succumbed to the wiles of bureaucracies, and most now depend on government for their lives instead of themselves.

The Chicken Little's I speak of are those who worry about "climate change" instead of accepting that it is weather, and are willing to destroy the budgets of everyone who earns under $250k a year in the process. They support "Cap and Trade", in spite of a number of problems with the concept. The most dangerous is that governments are the only one who will benefit from the implementation of this idiocy. Allow me to explain my reasoning. Let's say a power provider who uses natural gas and coal for creating energy doesn't get the equipment installed to reduce his "carbon output" by the government's deadline, or that equipment doesn't do the job the government says it must. That provider must do one of several things; reduce the amount of power they supply, which will create more blackouts and brownouts during times of heavy usage (cold and hot weather periods); pay a fine to the government for failure to comply, and raise power costs to the consumer to offset their losses; or purchase "carbon offsets" from a country that doesn't produce anywhere near the limit of "carbon output" they are allotted (mostly underdeveloped third world nations), and, again, increase power costs to the consumer. Now add to that the suppliers of natural gas and propane who must also meet severe standards or pay similar fines or fees, all with the planned effect of reducing the "carbon output" of this nation by approximately 1% over 20 years.

So what is the overall affect on we, the consumer, and the environment? Shortages and higher out of pocket expenses for heating and electricity, all to "save the planet" while 95% of the rest of the world does nothing, and our efforts make absolutely no affect on the climate or environment whatsoever, positive or negative. How much more will it cost us, and where will that money go? Industry estimates come in at 25% the first year of its implementation, up to 150% over the next 10 years, with our government keeping about an eighth of the "fines and fees", or $24 billion the first year. This money is to operate the bureaucracy involved in enforcing this legislation and providing subsidies to those at 150% of the established poverty level so they can pay their energy bills. (Here we go again with "redistributing the wealth!")

But let's look a little closer at the third option for power companies and industries, the purchasing of "carbon offsets". Since most of the power companies don't have the ability to negotiate with foreign governments to acquire these "offsets", how DO they get them? Brokers, the same group of people who have created many of our economic woes the last 10 years, are already in place. They will establish a series of clients from which to purchase "offsets" as well as clients to sell them to, along with making a handsome profit in the middle of the process. The clients from which they purchase "offsets" are governments like that of Mumbai, which has virtually no "carbon footprint", but also have dictatorships and ignore human rights along with other unacceptable behaviors.

And what company is at the head of the pack in all this? Generation Investment Management, who has invested billions (acquired in large part via Federal grants and low interest loans, and the sale of contracts for "future use" of their services) in "green energy" solutions and is set to broker "carbon offsets" into the next century, was established by none other than Al Gore. His total investment of $250k will net him billions upon billions over the next few years. Is it any wonder he is pushing so hard, and getting the "Hollywood elite" to support him in this hoax? Once again, it's all about the money, not the environment, and Gore is using his notoriety to create himself another fortune, at our expense.

Then come the diners. "National survey data show that the prevalence of overweight and obese adults in the U.S. has increased steadily over the past three decades," said Youfa Wang, MD, PhD, lead author of the study and associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Center for Human Nutrition. "If these trends continue, more than 86 percent of adults will be overweight or obese by 2030 with approximately 96 percent of non-Hispanic black women and 91 percent of Mexican-American men affected. This would result in 1 of every 6 health care dollars spent in total direct health care costs paying for overweight and obesity-related costs."

Numbers posted recently by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. It said just under 6 percent are "extremely" obese. The numbers for overweight have remained fairly stable, while those of the obese have doubled since 1980. The CDC reports that 32 percent of U.S. children fit the definition of being overweight, 16 percent are obese and 11 percent are extremely obese. Kind of gives that old saying, "the land of plenty", new meaning, doesn't it? The three groups most susceptible to being fat (Yes, I'm calling it like it is.) are black females, male Hispanics, and children under the age of 14. Also, it is of note that the largest growing group of morbidly obese are the 15-20 year olds.

Now, while a relatively small percentage of those overweight or obese are from a medical problems, the reality of the rest is that they gobble chow like there was no tomorrow! As an old friend said the other day, "They have knee problems." I said, "Yes, many heavy people have bad knees as a result of their weight." He said, "No, it began before that when they couldn't get their knees out from under the table!!" And so it is, as always, a matter of not adhering to that old parable, "All things in moderation." But that problem permeates our entire society, not just our eating habits.

And while we are the leaders of the world in packing lard, the rest of the world is getting porkier as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that between 1995 and 2000 the population of obese people, excluding the United States, rose from 200 million to 300 million. A current unpublished estimate is that the number has now reached over 500 million worldwide, over 600 million with the U.S. population included.

Current standards define adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 as overweight and adults with a BMI of 30 or higher as obese. Both the overweight and obese are at an increased risk for developing a number of health conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Researchers estimate that children and young adults may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents if the obesity epidemic is left unaddressed, thus making it a public health crisis not just in the U.S. These facts are one of the main claims behind the need for a "Universal Health Care System". But wouldn't it just be easier, cheaper and healthier to just stop eating so damned much? Not if you listen to the whiners. Yeah, I'm finally getting there.

I could go on and on about all the different types of whiners, and the differences between those who whine and those who have reasonable complaints and fears. But I won't, because most of you would just click away and go on to something else if I did. And some of you may anyway, that is if you've gotten this far to begin with. Because what I'm about to say will upset many of you.

We are spoiled rotten, and many of us are unwilling to do what it takes to survive in tough times without government aid and assistance. Oh, I know, many of us will find a way to do it, just because we're wired that way. But as a society, we have become lazy and expect the government to take care of us. Minimum wage, insurances, welfare, subsidies, allotments, housing, health care, loans, grants, local projects, and the list grows with every Congress elected, every lobbyist, every piece of legislation passed, and every special interest group. And it all costs us more and more money in taxes, fees, and lost Constitutional rights.

Let's take a close look at the attitude of many Americans today. We want good police and fire protection, nice houses, cars, all the electronic gadgets man can invent, entertainment provided no matter the cost, etc., and we pay dearly for everything. But when times get tough, and they occasionally do no matter what we or our governments do to prevent it, we are devastated, we begin to lose many of the things we have accumulated. Bankruptcies, repossessions and foreclosures increase, businesses fail, the economy takes a fall, and people start to wring their hands and worry, even commit suicide. But there is a segment of the population that doesn't seem to have the same problems we do, or reach the same bottomed out levels of struggle and survival. Who are they?

Immigrants, both legal and illegal. They are still living "The American Dream" while the bulk of our population is suffering and crying the blues. Legal immigrants come here with a plan to succeed, and a will to go with it. They will work at the hardest, dirtiest and nastiest of jobs, often underpaid, and live in places most of us wouldn't consider, but they never live beyond their means, and manage to save money even in these trying times. Many illegals aren't much different in those regards, they have come here to work and send money home for those left behind. But many more are here for the benefits we can't get because we aren't poor enough. And we end up paying for all their housing, health care, education and sustenance.

From the L. A. Times
1. 40% of all workers in L. A. County (L. A. County has 10.2 million people) are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants working without a green card.
2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.
4. Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal, whose births were paid for by taxpayers.
5. Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.
6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.
7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.
8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.
9. 21 radio stations in L. A. are Spanish speaking.
10. In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9 million speak Spanish. (There are 10.2 million people in L. A. County)

So there you have it, and this problem exists in every state in the Union. Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare (Many of them paid under the table and drawing assistance, too.). Over 70% of the United States' annual population growth (over 90% of California, Florida, and New York and over 80% in Texas) results from immigration. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens. They continue to come here knowing that even as bad as it is, there are still jobs to be had if one isn't hung up on the working conditions or pay, and it's better than where they came from. Last year, they made enough to send over $80 billion U.S. dollars home, and estimates this year are over $50 billion so far. Not a bad take considering that only some 5 million out of the estimated 20 million here are working. The number of dollars average that they've sent home so far amounts to $10,000 each. And that doesn't count their travel money they save back to get home, or to another part of the country for work. Have you picked up an extra $10k lately?

They live in shacks, bunched together to save money, sharing everything needed to survive, even with veritable strangers. They drive old clunkers, ride bicycles, walk or ride buses where they need to go. They don't wear designer clothing, but many do have cell phones. They don't have plasma TV's, or computers, or any other fancy gadgets, but they seem to do well enough without them. Can't we? Are we that much superior to them? They are surviving and doing quite well for the most part, while many of us are not. Have we got it all wrong, and do they have it right?

Can't we get along without all the frivolous, extravagant items we don't really need? Can't we tighten our belts a bit more; take that job even if it isn't what we really want? Can't we settle for a little less income, move in with relatives or friends until the worst is over? Can't we then ask and expect our government to do the same thing? How's this for an idea, we tell the Federal government to give back to the states the power they are guaranteed under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution and let US decide how these programs need to be run, if at all, on a state or local level. With the money saved just in downsizing the Feds, we would pay less in taxes, and have more to boost the economy. Then they can use what we do give them to do what they should be doing according to the powers given them under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Things like "repelling invasions", which is exactly what the continued growth of the number of illegals crossing our borders presents.

Every state has an office of environmental quality, or some such name, why do we need the Federal EPA? Or idiocy like "Cap and Trade", a "Universal Health Care System", or a "National ID Card"? Can't we, as the people AND the states, govern ourselves better on a local level? Can't we spend our money more wisely than those in Congress? Do we need to give the Feds over $2 trillion a year so they can give us back $1 trillion, and then spend twice as much as what we do give them? You tell me, as since I'm not a politician I don't know everything. But even I know we CANNOT continue on the path we're on and survive as the nation we should be, the nation we once were.

"Mystical references to 'society' and its programs to 'help' may warm the hearts of the gullible but what it really means is putting more power in the hands of bureaucrats."
"The welfare state is the oldest con game in the world. First you take people's money away quietly and then you give some of it back to them flamboyantly." ~ Thomas Sowell

Those two quotes tell more about how Washingtoon thinks than most realize, even many Conservatives. After all, it's all about the money, and who controls it, for money is power. Just as Al Gore intends to use the hoax of "global warming" to line his pockets, and gain the power he feels was stolen from him when he lost to G.W. Bush. Thus I say again,

WAKE UP, AMERICA!!

WE'RE BEING SOLD DOWN THE RIVER!!!

And all in the name of money and power and by those who pretend to have our best interests at heart. But some of us know it's a lie and a scam intended to bamboozle us out of even more money, rights and freedoms, and force us to submit to their wishes. Me, I'm not so easily fooled, are you?

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