Are you bad off?

madcratebuilder · 10-12-2008, 09:21 AM

A friend e-mailed this to me, sure doesn't sound like the Letterman I know. It did remind me that I live in the greatest country in the world at the greatest time. While all the talking heads say the sky is falling, my friends and family have NEVER lived better. Just about everyone I know owns a house, has a GOOD job, drives a relatively new car, has a big screen, three computers, cable internet, goes out to eat a lot. Even my friends that can't work because of health or other disability get a check from the government, free or near free medical care, subsidized rent, and the list goes on.
So how bad do you have it....really?

David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see...

" As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark '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 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 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of
having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of
these unhappy folks have a job?

D.. 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?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of
restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of 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.

K.. 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 .

L.. This all in the backdrop of a
neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M.. 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% 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 ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it.

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan havevolunteered to serve, and in many cases may 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 discontentmentin 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, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Turn 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 country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With
hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
David Letterman

iflylow74 · 10-12-2008, 09:35 AM

Great post but I have a hard time believing Letterman wrote it.

The_Patriot · 10-12-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iflylow74

Great post but I have a hard time believing Letterman wrote it.

Ditto.

I'd like to see a good citation for that. Those Hollywood elites don't think like that. I would eat my hat if he actually wrote that.

Seabeescotty · 10-12-2008, 11:11 AM

I would sure like to know, if that was really the Letterman I've heard, and rather dislike.

nathangdad · 10-12-2008, 11:19 AM

is a multi-millionaire unaffected by a lack of affordable medical care, fear of losing his home, and is insulated from loss of job by his wealth.

While I feel he has made some excellent points he is not in a position to critique the national mood.

Chris · 10-12-2008, 11:21 AM

Snopes confirms this is FALSE.

Please...be sure this is accurate before posting.

SightNSqueeze · 10-12-2008, 12:05 PM

Well, regardless of who wrote it; it's true. We are the most blessed nation on Earth and our land is populated by an ungrateful citizenry.

Cyrano · 10-12-2008, 12:24 PM

Doesn't surprise me that Snopes can prove this is a false one. Something similar to it was atrributed to Robin Williams a few years ago. And I think it was George Carlin before Robin Williams. This thing's like those "African government official" scams that periodically resurface on the Internet.

troy2000 · 10-12-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SightNSqueeze

Well, regardless of who wrote it; it's true. We are the most blessed nation on Earth and our land is populated by an ungrateful citizenry.

I'm unimpressed by any argument that no matter how badly people get screwed, they should shut up and be grateful because the rest of the world has it worse.

Although I will say that personally I'm lucky this time around; for the first time in my life, I'm in a job that's pretty much immune to the ups and downs of the economy. Natural gas keeps on flowing through the pipelines, no matter what happens.

SwedeSteve · 10-12-2008, 06:13 PM

I haven't had it this good since my 8th birthday and my Dad gave me a BB Gun !!
I do fear for my children and grandchildren though.

billy · 10-12-2008, 06:20 PM

that is a gigantic fake quote.
no i didnt read it.
ive seen em before.
i am doing better than most folks on the planet
food? yep
shelter? yessir.
deathsquads ?no.
everythings ok on my end.

Mooseman684 · 10-12-2008, 06:25 PM

I talked about Economic failure last year on this Forum, as the indicators were all there...So I paid all My loans off as fast As I could and My Credit card debt too...and am I glad I did !!! I owe maybe a couple hundred bucks for recent gun parts purchases that will be paid next month...
I kept My retirement in an account that pays less Interest than the Stock Market may Have, but I Never Lose money so I am ahead of everybody else that took a Big hit...If I wanted to gamble, I would be in Vegas or Reno.
They Call it a BULL market because that is what it is...A LOT of BULL !

jimkim · 10-12-2008, 06:34 PM

I, like most Americans, was better off two years ago. Before Jan. 4, 2007.

cremley · 10-12-2008, 11:27 PM

Great post but..."K" is total BS because the Police are there after the fact to get the person who killed you and your family if you didn't own a firearm and defended yourself. "A" doesn't apply to me whatsoever. The rest is great and I am happy to live in this country. Great post and great Ideas no matter who said it. I don't think it should be any less credible if it wasn't David Letterman.

Chris

10-12-2008, 09:21 AM	#1
madcratebuilder Cranky Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 941	Are you bad off? A friend e-mailed this to me, sure doesn't sound like the Letterman I know. It did remind me that I live in the greatest country in the world at the greatest time. While all the talking heads say the sky is falling, my friends and family have NEVER lived better. Just about everyone I know owns a house, has a GOOD job, drives a relatively new car, has a big screen, three computers, cable internet, goes out to eat a lot. Even my friends that can't work because of health or other disability get a check from the government, free or near free medical care, subsidized rent, and the list goes on. So how bad do you have it....really? David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see... " As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark '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 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 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'' A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week? B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? D.. 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? E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either. H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of 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. K.. 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 . L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers. M.. 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% 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 ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan havevolunteered to serve, and in many cases may 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 discontentmentin 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, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Turn 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 country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' David Letterman __________________ Better a has been than a never was. Last edited by madcratebuilder; 10-12-2008 at 10:19 AM.

10-12-2008, 09:35 AM	#2
iflylow74 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bizzaroworld Posts: 1,065 Blog Entries: 11	Great post but I have a hard time believing Letterman wrote it. __________________ Just because you can't win doesn't mean you shouldn't fight.

10-12-2008, 11:11 AM	#4
Seabeescotty The ol' Coot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jay, Oklahoma, God's country. Posts: 4,567 Images: 18 Blog Entries: 1	I would sure like to know, if that was really the Letterman I've heard, and rather dislike. __________________ Adapt, improvise, overcome.-Gysgt Highway, Heartbreak Ridge

10-12-2008, 11:19 AM	#5
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,906	David Letterman is a multi-millionaire unaffected by a lack of affordable medical care, fear of losing his home, and is insulated from loss of job by his wealth. While I feel he has made some excellent points he is not in a position to critique the national mood.

10-12-2008, 11:21 AM	#6
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,258 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 20	Snopes confirms this is FALSE. Please...be sure this is accurate before posting. __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles! NRA Life Member

10-12-2008, 12:05 PM	#7
SightNSqueeze Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inter-Coastal Sea Islands, SC, USA Posts: 519	Well, regardless of who wrote it; it's true. We are the most blessed nation on Earth and our land is populated by an ungrateful citizenry.

10-12-2008, 12:24 PM	#8
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,990	Doesn't surprise me that Snopes can prove this is a false one. Something similar to it was atrributed to Robin Williams a few years ago. And I think it was George Carlin before Robin Williams. This thing's like those "African government official" scams that periodically resurface on the Internet.

10-12-2008, 06:13 PM	#10
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 12,563 Images: 1	I haven't had it this good since my 8th birthday and my Dad gave me a BB Gun !! I do fear for my children and grandchildren though. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

10-12-2008, 06:20 PM	#11
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 14,254 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	that is a gigantic fake quote. no i didnt read it. ive seen em before. i am doing better than most folks on the planet food? yep shelter? yessir. deathsquads ?no. everythings ok on my end. __________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell

10-12-2008, 06:25 PM	#12
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 10,524 Images: 2	I talked about Economic failure last year on this Forum, as the indicators were all there...So I paid all My loans off as fast As I could and My Credit card debt too...and am I glad I did !!! I owe maybe a couple hundred bucks for recent gun parts purchases that will be paid next month... I kept My retirement in an account that pays less Interest than the Stock Market may Have, but I Never Lose money so I am ahead of everybody else that took a Big hit...If I wanted to gamble, I would be in Vegas or Reno. They Call it a BULL market because that is what it is...A LOT of BULL ! __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

10-12-2008, 06:34 PM	#13
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,289 Blog Entries: 15	I, like most Americans, was better off two years ago. Before Jan. 4, 2007. __________________ "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." Last edited by jimkim; 10-12-2008 at 06:36 PM.

10-12-2008, 11:27 PM	#14
cremley Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 1,249	Great post but..."K" is total BS because the Police are there after the fact to get the person who killed you and your family if you didn't own a firearm and defended yourself. "A" doesn't apply to me whatsoever. The rest is great and I am happy to live in this country. Great post and great Ideas no matter who said it. I don't think it should be any less credible if it wasn't David Letterman. Chris __________________ I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me.