I just discovered this print-out from 2008 and felt it would be good to share. Nothing has changed!
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At a Fourth of July celebration, a female acquaintance complained about how rough it was for her to make ends meet. “Life is really tough,” she complained. How “tough” did she have it? I asked her some questions–many of which Americans ought to be asking themselves, even in the midst of an economic downturn.
“Don’t you have a house?” I asked. “Yes, but it’s tough making my mortgage payments,” she said.
“In that house, don’t you have a computer–or two–a couple of color TVs, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a stove, central air-conditioning (Florida), hot and cold running water and electricity? Don’t you and your daughter (single mother) have comfortable beds to sleep in, in safety and comfort, knowing the likelihood of someone breaking down your door is virtually nil? Don’t you and your daughter have plenty to eat and decent clothes to wear? Don’t you own your own car, and run your own business (insurance)?
“Yes,” she answered a little sheepishly, beginning to get the idea, “but I’m going through some bad days.”
If you’ve read some of my other columns, you know “diplomacy” is not my strong suit. This is what I told her:
“Two thirds of the entire world would gladly step over your dead body and spend the rest of their lives living your ‘worst day’ everyday, thinking it’s a dream come true.”
Yesterday former Sen. Phil Graham called the United States “a nation of whiners.” Both presidential candidates were quick to excoriate him for it. Since they have everything to lose criticizing the American electorate such denunciations are unsurprising.
I’m not running for anything.
Kudos for telling the truth about far too many Americans, Sen. Graham.
Arnold Ahlert - 2008
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