News-Record.com

By far the best lte I've seen in some time.

"we expect the government to take care of everyone, eliminate stress and make it possible to buy larger houses"...

This is due, in no small part, to politicians preaching such nonsense in order to garner the vote of citizen Julie. FDR got the ball rolling and it has snowballed over the years to where the government is now expected to provide housing, food, and medical care to the Julies of the country.

Next thing you know, people will look to the powers that be to ban vending machines that they deem to contain too much calories for the youngsters.

"Partly it's the polling company whose agenda is to seek out negatives, lest no one would read them."

Well that's YOUR opinion, Bob.

" .. negative news, taken at face value by most, is passed along in polling data." I'll grant that - but passed along by the lame stream media - until the next scandle de jour. Other media - and individuals too - may take alternative paths.

" ..we expect the government to take care of everyone, eliminate stress and make it possible to buy larger houses."

Well contrary to Neo's declamation .. that is something we can ALL agree too - the only question is whether one is going to be lulled by the simplistic "another government give-away program" or the equally stupefyingly "pull yourself up by your boot straps"

I like this letter and agree with nearly all of it.

We are living in the glory days, right now. We, as a whole, are incredibly rich. We have so many comforts that there are thousands of people out there who are really concerned about what kind of flat-screen television they are going to buy this year.

Browse a circuit-city flyer and you'll get a good idea just how good we've got it.

Even folks in the projects have central-air and heat and can go to the store and buy enough food to be fat.

We need to be thankful for all of our blessings. Cause it ain't gonna last forever.

I'll repeat my bet-my-house-on-it/ eat my socks prediction I gave about 9 months okay: Barack Obama will be our next President. Enjoy what little time you have left of the glory days cause they are short-lived.

My personal theory is that we, as biological entities, are hardwired for threat and will create threats when none objectively exist. In an affluent society like ours, these acquire increasingly nebulous form. So while the concrete particulars of our life are fine (no maurading lions or famine), we worry about "globalization," UFOs, "the direction of the country," and global warming.

I'm not an economist, but I would like to know what financial situation or status you are in. If retired:1) Is your house paid for?
2) Do you have a fairly decent medical insurance policy?
3) Do you own your own car?
4) Do you have dependant children?

5) Do you have a reasonably adequate monthy income.
6) Are you in good health?
If the answers to all but answer 4 are yes; then you are part of the fortunate ones.

People are losing their homes, people are struggling to pay monthly payments on homes, cars, insurance policies, credit card debts(because they did not have cash to buy..), medical care and medicine, food and gasoline to name a few.

Regardless of what you feel the role of government should be: People are really hurting. Costs of almost everything is going up except our incomes for those fortunate enough to have jobs. Current job salaries are not so super.

If you have children, I don't even know where to start. People can try to maintain a positive attitude during these terrible times, but underneath the "happy" smile is alot of stomach acid.

joejoe,
How are you, personally, doing?

We- all of us as a nation- are in debt. Our standard of living is disproportionate to our national income and, sooner or later, the bill will come due.

I agree with the Manifest Destinyesque tone of Bob's letter and I hope it's contagious, because the Treasury is beyond bare. We borrow heavily to meet the demands of our society and going forward, our debt service, commitment to keeping the promises of social security in which all of us have invested, even the presumption of what the dollar is worth on a daily basis, hinge exclusively on the attitude expressed in letters like this.

neocon I just wanted to emphasize that, unlike the letter writer, there are many more people out there who are hurting and it is not because they are lazy or ungrateful.

So I will assume you're doing OK...personally, I mean.

Without being confrontational, where do you get your information about "many more people out there who are hurting"?