American Dream or American Entitlement?
"The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority." Will Durant
Okay, I thought that I would get on here and preach for a moment. (While you're reading this, please refer to me as Brother Pigg) Last night we had another Presidential address meant to calm the American people, give direction on a host of plans, and hopefully stabilize the market. Let me start off by saying that I think our President is doing a fine job with what he has to work with. Has he made some mistakes? Sure. Has he done some great things? Sure. The overwhelming problem that I have with the President's remarks over the last few months have nothing to do with health care or the environment. The problem that I have focuses on American entitlement. For some reason, there has been a paradigm shift over the last few decades and we as Americans now feel that we are entitled to a new $200,000 home, two new cars in the driveway, and a $70,000 salary right out of college.....and by the way, we don't want to work hard for any of this.
There was once a thing called "The American Dream". This dream was a little different for everyone, but it almost always included buying and moving into your own home (just picture the small farmhouse with a white picket fence) and having a few dollars to spend on the finer things such as a newer car or going on a vacation. Do yourself a favor and talk to a few people over 50 years old about their American Dream. You'll find that even though there are subtle differences in everyones Dream, the common thread that they all share is how they achieved the Dream. What is the common thread? Hard work and planning. Older generations didn't expect to have things handed to them. They worked for them. Older generations didn't graduate from high school and immediately expect a high paying job and immediately move into a large new house and immediately buy a new car. It's more likely that they graduated from high school (maybe) and then started work at a low level job that they probably hated.........but it put food on the table....and then got their first (small) apartment or (small) house that they could afford and if they were lucky they bought a single car that was under 5 years old.
It's my belief that what made our country great was not only our citizens hunger for more and better things, but also the overwhelming belief that hard work makes the Dream possible. Everyone wanted the American Dream....a house with a picket fence and car. Everyone was willing to work for it!
In contrast to this, we now have what I call American Entitlement. We don't want things...we expect them. We don't want to work for things or take the time needed to save for a new home or car....we want them now....with little effort or work. We no longer have the American Dream that causes a hunger for more and better things. We now have the American Entitlement that causes a belief that we should have whatever we want whenever we want even if we haven't worked for it or can't afford it. We have the belief that we shouldn't work for a living, we should expect the government to take care of us and pay for our mistakes.
Have we become so lazy and narcissistic as a people that it is below us to live in a smaller (economical) house (until we can actually afford our dream house) or not drive a new car (until we can actually afford it)?
The failing economy, the problematic job market, and the housing woes are all results of the new sense of American Entitlement. Our leaders should not be telling us that we can turn things around by going out and buying or building a new house or buying a new car. Our leaders should be telling us that we all can achieve the American Dream and fix all of our economic problems, BUT it is going to take time, hard work, and a shift in the way we think and act financially.
There are two things that are important to remember:
1) We are in serious trouble if we don't make some dramatic changes. This isn't a Disney movie, so there won't be a happy ending if we don't make it. History has taught us that all great empires eventually fall; and
2) We are the United States....the greatest and strongest country on earth! We are Americans....the proudest people on earth! History has also taught us that we have faced struggles similar to the one we are currently facing and we have come back stronger and more resilient than before. We can and will prevail because of this!
Amen.
Okay, I thought that I would get on here and preach for a moment. (While you're reading this, please refer to me as Brother Pigg) Last night we had another Presidential address meant to calm the American people, give direction on a host of plans, and hopefully stabilize the market. Let me start off by saying that I think our President is doing a fine job with what he has to work with. Has he made some mistakes? Sure. Has he done some great things? Sure. The overwhelming problem that I have with the President's remarks over the last few months have nothing to do with health care or the environment. The problem that I have focuses on American entitlement. For some reason, there has been a paradigm shift over the last few decades and we as Americans now feel that we are entitled to a new $200,000 home, two new cars in the driveway, and a $70,000 salary right out of college.....and by the way, we don't want to work hard for any of this.
There was once a thing called "The American Dream". This dream was a little different for everyone, but it almost always included buying and moving into your own home (just picture the small farmhouse with a white picket fence) and having a few dollars to spend on the finer things such as a newer car or going on a vacation. Do yourself a favor and talk to a few people over 50 years old about their American Dream. You'll find that even though there are subtle differences in everyones Dream, the common thread that they all share is how they achieved the Dream. What is the common thread? Hard work and planning. Older generations didn't expect to have things handed to them. They worked for them. Older generations didn't graduate from high school and immediately expect a high paying job and immediately move into a large new house and immediately buy a new car. It's more likely that they graduated from high school (maybe) and then started work at a low level job that they probably hated.........but it put food on the table....and then got their first (small) apartment or (small) house that they could afford and if they were lucky they bought a single car that was under 5 years old.
It's my belief that what made our country great was not only our citizens hunger for more and better things, but also the overwhelming belief that hard work makes the Dream possible. Everyone wanted the American Dream....a house with a picket fence and car. Everyone was willing to work for it!
In contrast to this, we now have what I call American Entitlement. We don't want things...we expect them. We don't want to work for things or take the time needed to save for a new home or car....we want them now....with little effort or work. We no longer have the American Dream that causes a hunger for more and better things. We now have the American Entitlement that causes a belief that we should have whatever we want whenever we want even if we haven't worked for it or can't afford it. We have the belief that we shouldn't work for a living, we should expect the government to take care of us and pay for our mistakes.
Have we become so lazy and narcissistic as a people that it is below us to live in a smaller (economical) house (until we can actually afford our dream house) or not drive a new car (until we can actually afford it)?
The failing economy, the problematic job market, and the housing woes are all results of the new sense of American Entitlement. Our leaders should not be telling us that we can turn things around by going out and buying or building a new house or buying a new car. Our leaders should be telling us that we all can achieve the American Dream and fix all of our economic problems, BUT it is going to take time, hard work, and a shift in the way we think and act financially.
There are two things that are important to remember:
1) We are in serious trouble if we don't make some dramatic changes. This isn't a Disney movie, so there won't be a happy ending if we don't make it. History has taught us that all great empires eventually fall; and
2) We are the United States....the greatest and strongest country on earth! We are Americans....the proudest people on earth! History has also taught us that we have faced struggles similar to the one we are currently facing and we have come back stronger and more resilient than before. We can and will prevail because of this!
Amen.
Comments
Hope all is well and keep up the baby pics
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