It’s worse than I thought
Published Tue, Mar 31 2009 6:52 AM
I participate in opinion polls from time to time. One of the polling companies sends quick results of their polls to panelist via email after every poll is complete.
I’m sure by now you’ve all heard about President Obama’s call to have Rick Waggoner, GM’s former chief executive resign. I can scarcely credit it. Even the most ardent supporter of monarchy in the days of our founders would never have dreamed of the President of the United States telling a private citizen where he could and could not work.
And yet, according to the poll I participated in yesterday…
| Percentage who think the president's plan for Detroit is "fair" |
58% |
| Percentage who think the president's actions with regards to the GM CEO were "appropriate" |
51% |
Either the American people have completely lost site of the purpose of government and are willing to give up their liberty for something as transitory as money, or I'm hallucinating. Over half of the people think that it’s “appropriate” for the President to dictate to private individuals regarding their employment. Over half of the people think that it’s “fair” for the federal government to be involved in the day to day operating plans of private enterprise.
Two and a quarter centuries ago, brave men and women fought and died for the right to pursue their own happiness in liberty. Today, we sacrifice that right for “economic stability.”
The founders would be ashamed of us. I know I am.
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David responded with:
 | *sigh*
Perri, I'm fully convinced that over 90% of Americans have NOT lost sight of the purpose of government, because they never knew it to begin with. |
Perri Nelson responded with: It's a shame, isn't it.
 | I blame us all. But particularly the education “system.” It's almost enough to turn me pessimistic. |
David responded with:
| Public schools (and here I class state colleges and universities as well), A.K.A. "prisons for kids", are doing what their patrons want. Of course, most parents (and darned near ALL kids) today want what they were taught to want by their parents and their experiences in pubschools, so most of 'em don't know they're being enstupiated there.
When almost 70% of recent college grads can't even understand such dumbed down reading matter as the dosage directions on a prescription bottle, it's no wonder so many folks drink the govt/Mass Media Podpeople Hivemind KoolAid.
Optimists see a glass half full; pessimists see a glass half empty; realists measure the amount of what's in the glass, run tests to determine the nature of the contents and then drink it (if needed and safe) or discard it (if unsafe) or save it for later (if safe, for drinking; if unsafe, for offering to a convenient pubschool administrator, politician *spit* or Mass Media Podperson *heh*) |
JMB responded with:
 | I don’t think that being pessimistic is going to help me, be any less pissed off about this, so the hell with it.
I like that description of a realist. Lol |
Stanford Matthews responded with:
 | In terms of the poll results the outcome may be misleading. If you think of the election results that placed Obama in the White House contrary to the political assessment of that vote essentially half voted for Obama and half for McCain. Based on choices made at the ballot box people may make themselves feel better about it by reflecting that decision in their response to this poll and not even realize it.
In essence they may be saying, I voted for the guy and do not want to admit I made a mistake therefore I must agree that what he has done is acceptable.
Just a thought and I'm guessing that won't cause anyone to fell better about it. :-) |
JMB responded with:
| Where do you suppose those damn systemic fear regulators are, when you really need them. Lol |
ablur responded with:
 | It is very difficult to watch or nation loose all of its freedoms. No longer do we work hard to achieve success and reap rewards. The chains of socialism are starting to take hold and more then half the nation anxiously pursue it.
No one who has ready any of the founding documents of this nation would have ever guessed we would be where we are today.
The United States of America has been the greatest country ever because of founders belief in freedom and liberty.
The chains of slavery and collectivism will be hard to break. |
T F Stern responded with:
 | "The founders would be ashamed of us. I know I am."
That about covers what I have to say as well. |
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