Grrrrr....

[tinuvial]

You know, there are times when I just want to shake people.

I was reading LJ this morning, and I came across someone's page that just made me want to jump up and down and scream "BULLSHIT" several times.

I won't give details, because I don't feel it's my place to point out how stupid they are publicly. But I will say this... if you need help from friends, don't feed us bullshit. Bullshit might get you help from strangers who don't know any better and are soft-hearted, but your story is so full of crap to anyone with any experience in those kinds of things that strangers probably won't help you either.

Probably the reason this upsets me so is that people in this society seem to be incapable of taking responsibility for the poor decisions that they make. When I was younger, I made some pretty poor choices, and I wound up homeless a couple of times. But guess what? I never played "couch roulette" with my friends... no, I took my lumps, slept in my car, got a better job and am pleased with how my life has turned out.

And I never blamed "bad luck", poor economy, "the man" or any other kind of nameless, faceless entity for my trouble. I never asked my parents for money. I never went on welfare, and only once did I accept help from the Red Cross when I was the victim of a flood. (And that was merely a hotel room for the night and a hot meal).

The post-World War II economy has meant that few Americans of the Baby Boomer generation or later truly realize what the word "sacrifice" means. Between overly generous governmental "social" programs and a school system that places more emphasis on self-esteem that learning, we've created lasting damage to the "pioneer spirit" that our forefathers brought to this nation.

I used to be a flaming Liberal, but more and more I'm swayed by the views of the Libertarian party. I've been listening to too much Neal Boortz, most likely. Definitely swayed by the fact that most Democrats can't give you a solid argument why they're a Democrat. (This excludes certain individuals on my friends list... please don't rant at me about this). For myself, I know that I was a Democrat because that is how I was raised, and even as much respect as I have for my father, he was one of those ivy tower Liberals who worked a government job and really didn't have a clue how the "real" world works.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm all about chairitable works and chairitable giving. However, I think we need to get back to a society where the government doesn't support those individuals who are just plain ass lazy. And don't rant about all the "good" social programs do, etc. I'm about giving people a "hand up" not a "hand out" - I'd be much more pleased if the government sponsored "workfare" rather than "welfare" programs. Put people to work on the societal infrastructure, hell, pick up garbage on the side of the highway. Government could provide daycare for your kids so that you can work for your government assistance.

I think people would be amazed at how quickly some of those "welfare" recipients got a job very quickly if their "government assistance" job required manual labor, etc. Which also brings me to the people who are going to say, "Well, I'm an unemployed high tech worker, and I can't get a job." Nope, you can't get a job you would *like*... there are plenty of jobs out there. Taco Bell is hiring, turn in an application, start back to work, and continue to look for something better. Yep, might mean putting in 60 hour weeks for a while (work nights and look for a job in the daytime), but I bet you'll have better success.

I know that there were times when I was unemployed, etc. But I can tell you that the times that I went to work in fast food while looking for a job yielded better results that when I just sat on my ass and sent out a few resumes. I even had an employer tell me once that the reason I got the job over someone who "was better qualified on paper" was that I had taken the initiative to keep working (albeit in fast food), while looking for a better job, whereas this other person was on unemployment.

Yes, there are those that know that I drew unemployment for six months at one point in my life. I'll admit it. But I did that to take a freakin' vacation. I reaped the consequences of doing that too, and I came back from it a better person. (I really needed the time to get my life in order in other ways). I'm not saying that there aren't times when you shouldn't accept a hand up, especially something like unemployment insurance that you have earned by working.

I'm just ranting about the people who fail to recognize that wherever we are in life, we got there on our own. Take responsibility for your problems, eat some humble pie, be honest, do what has to be done, and your life will be richer for it.

Gah... I hate being this serious in the morning.

Ciao for now.

Comments

[martinhesselius.livejournal.com]

(This excludes certain individuals on my friends list... please don't rant at me about this).

::Grin:: OK.

[jfreaves.livejournal.com]

Better to project your anger than to let it sit and fester.

[adrienmundi]

Any time you'd like a long list of solid reasons that I'm liberal, you have only to ask.

Responsibility...

[pickmansraven.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I wake up every morning and take responsibility for my current state of affairs. Times are difficult, and I realize that by narrowing my search for a "High Tech" job I'm restricting my re-employment chances, but I accept that.

I also looked at working for TB, Barnes-n-Noble, or anything to get back to work. Here's the 4-1-1 on that...

If I get a job w/ any employer, even if the pay is *LESS* than what I'm making on UI, I lose the difference. What does that mean? That means that it's better (more economically sensible at this point) to stay on UI until I can find something making more than $12/hour. (I'd rather be able to keep on making my house payment, car payment, CC payments, eat PB&J while occasionally enjoying the hockey games I paid for back in July when I had a job.)

Jobs are out there -- I'm currently helping my 18-yr old Nephew get into the job market. I'm doing stuff around the house. I'm learning VB.NET, ASP.NET and working on my MCSD. I'm also looking at finishing my degree (Or at least my Associates) -- So I'm not just sitting here collecting the UI (I paid), but I'm doing a bunch of other stuff I don't put into my LJ.

Rants are good for the soul, but realize that you may not have 100% of the information.

...just another slacker...

NNNNEALLLL!!!

[lordremo.livejournal.com]

When I was in The Keys, a Miami station would televise hie show. He's something; While I don't always agree with his opinions, I enjoy his forrays into the great debate. Workfare is viable because it garners results. I prefer that our government simply channel monies to charities, instead of wasting gargantuan amounts by trying to replace them. By getting a better return for our dollar, we'd spend less, help more and keep government small.

In my past I've taken the "government subsidized sabatical" as well, because it intices you to abuse the system. And then the increased usage is what they use to get more budget. It's sad.

[feachador.livejournal.com]

I was going to comment, and decided that my comment was too long, and would be better as a full entry. It's in my LJ, feel free to disagree. :)