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Why Are Some Americans So Shockingly Cruel?
Every other civilized country in the world provides universal health care for its citizens.
By John Thorpe
Only in America would you have a scene like the one that unfolded at the Republican debate Monday night.
“Benzinga” — This will surely get taken out of context in my future political career, but I will say it now anyway: I am embarrassed, saddened, and yes, disgusted, by the behavior and beliefs of the majority of Americans.
A new report came out Tuesday, showing that the poverty rate in America rose to a whopping 15.1% in 2010. That means that nearly one in six Americans gets by on less than $11,139 a year, or $22,314 for a family of four. At the same time, the average CEO rakes in $11.3 million EACH.
In other words, you can grab any six people off the street, and the odds are that the average CEO makes 1,000 times as much money as one of them. He only makes 400 or 500 times as much as the other five. That is obscene.
And the sick part? The entire Republican Party and portions of the Democratic Party are completely OK with this arrangement. One sixth of our citizens live below poverty and the calls are for more tax cuts for the wealthy, more benefits for the wealthy, and less for the poor. It’s disgusting and people should be ashamed.
Yes, ashamed. There is absolutely no reason for anyone, let alone one sixth of our citizens, to live in abject poverty. We are America and we can do better.
Letting people live in poverty is not the only issue where America is an embarrassment. We are unbelievably cruel and indifferent toward those same poor people, blaming them (and not the system) for their plight. The reality is, no one in this world gets ahead without help. Wealthy people have a natural advantage of a network of family and friends who can push them into the right school, teach them the right values, and help them get into jobs where they can succeed.
The poor do not have that advantage, and we blame them for it. We demonize them, calling them white trash or ghetto moms. We ignore the problems inherent in trying to raise children on minimum wage, working two or three part-time jobs and juggling child-care. We ignore their kids’ natural disadvantage in terms of nutrition (try finding somewhere to buy fresh broccoli in an inner city sometime) and schooling (would you send your kid to an inner city school?). Then, after the kids come out behind, we blame the kids. We blame their choices, as if they ever had a choice.
And then we build another prison, and then another, and another. As Tupac said, “It ain’t a secret don’t conceal the fact/ the penitentiary’s packed, and it’s filled with blacks.”
Why don’t we spend this money on better schools, more teachers, better classrooms, more books, more programs? Why don’t we do whatever it takes to make sure that every child in America, rich or poor, white or black, receives the same quality education? This is shameful. We are America and we can do better.
MITT & RICK DEBATE!
How about health care? Every other civilized country in the world provides universal health care for its citizens. Only in America would you have a scene like the one that unfolded at the Republican debate Monday night. While answering Wolf Blitzer’s question as to whether he would let a 30-year-old man die, if he had no insurance and fell into a coma, Ron Paul was interrupted by a supporter who cheered “Yeah!” Let him die? This is what the Republican Party has become: the party of Let Him Die.
Or what about capital punishment. You know, that savage practice where the state murders someone to teach them that murder is wrong. It’s the sort of thing outlawed everywhere outside the Third World. In America, it is not only legal, it’s celebrated. When Rick Perry was asked at a debate about his record-setting number of executions (including one where the executed was clearly innocent), the audience at the debate cheered. CHEERED! They cheered the state-sponsored murder of citizens.
Or how about torture? One political party supports the use of torture against our so-called enemies. How long until they start torturing peace activists? I know I’ve received emails from readers suggesting that I should be taken to Guantanamo Bay and waterboarded for my beliefs.
Every day that Mitt Romney and Rick Perry and George Bush wake up, they should look in the mirror and feel nothing but shame and self-loathing for the policies they push. In a fairer world, Dick Cheney (and not millions of poor people) would be in prison, and a scumbag like Donald Rumsfeld would have to hide in Argentina to avoid the Nuremberg Trial awaiting him, in this life or the next.
But, no. They walk around freely, while millions of greedy Americans call themselves patriots, identify with the rebellious founding fathers who would tar and feather them, and wrap their selfishness in the flag. It’s disgusting and it’s about time the rest of us called them out for it.
You are not patriotic for sending sons and daughters off to die in some desert war. You are not patriotic for tying a yellow ribbon to your SUV, filled to the brim with the very oil those sons and daughters are dying over. You are not patriotic for saluting the flag while trampling every right taken away by the Patriot Act and its subsequent horrors. You are not patriotic for fighting against gay marriage. You are not patriotic for fighting to extend government’s reach into the wombs of women everywhere.
You are not patriotic for cheering — yes, cheering — at the thought of Rick Perry executing hundreds of people. You are not patriotic for wanting poor people to die without medical care. You are not patriotic for wanting to shut down schools and hospitals to keep the size of government more to your liking.
You are not patriotic for seeking to starve the elderly and keep the poor in poverty via tax cuts for billionaires. You are not patriotic for misquoting the Constitution and you are not patriotic for trying to Dixie Chick every liberal who comes along and calls you for what you are: American cowards, filled with greed and fueled by ignorance.
I am proud to be ashamed of you, and embarrassed (for you) that you will be proud I oppose you.
You can reach the author by email john@benzinga.com or on twitter @johndthorpe.
Source www.benzinga.com
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=141164
Posted by Veterans Today on Sep 15 2011, With 0 Reads, Filed under Civil Liberties and Freedom, Corruption, Editors Picks, Government, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Great article and so true. But I also agree with George Carlin. Isn’t it amazing that some of the best comments we get on the government are by comedians.
The US has been twisted into it’s current place from it’s very inception. in fact, anyone with eyes to read, a mind to pay attention and understand and perhaps a desire to get to their own roots, knows that America had it’s inception in deception.
This is true for the entire “NEW” world.
And when your very roots are rotten, what to speak of what grows from and of them? If the tree is alive and looking well, it’s only due to no-one, NO ONE, being able to stand and call the emperor NAKED.
It’s been a long downhill slide…. India has been turned on a dime (yes on a dime, not a rupee)…. we are living under full spectrum cultural dominance, with the same pathological personages in positions of power.
This will not end well, but thank goodness, like al things cyclical, end it will….
Here’s to the Phoenix in us all.
Vivek
http://aadivaahan.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/the-feminine-social-engineering-speechless/
The United States of America has become a image of its psychopathic handlers — the British Crown banks — which have no regard for life what so ever — just money and personal gratification.
American insurance plans provide universal health care for those citizens who are responsible enough to purchase major medial coverage. But you have to pay for it to receive it. There is no universal health care in any country in the world. You have no idea what “universal health care” means in other countries. Go to your favorite communist country and find out how many choices you have in their government health care plan and see how you like it: Two weeks on a respirator in Germany, then its good bye for ever; 18+ months waiting lists for surgeries in Canada; having to be shipped out of the country (for the privileged politicians etc. only) in Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Libya. If you think your employer doe snot proved enough, demand more. Do n;t work the SOB. Start your own company and offer decent health coverage. Look into alternative medicine. It actually cures, rather than just medicating you. And when did you last time look at your own habits to see if you are making yourself sick? Take some responsibility! I have had enough of the whiners who want a nanny state to take care of them from birth to death. Having said that, I insist that everyone who risks life and limb for their country in the military should have full coverage for life paid for by the government.
Duh, Russia is not a Communist country. They ended Communism in 1991 and hoped for peace with us, but we have continued our cold war aggressions for 20 years now. I was there in 1990 and every Russian I met really believed that when they threw out the communists, we would welcome them to the “free world”. I told those I met, “sorry, but America will only consider peace with you after your nation has been dismembered and our forces occupy Moscow. It isn’t really about the Communists. Americans hate Russians fro no good reason and they can’t be reasoned with.” Today all the Russians have reluctantly come to this realization. It deeply saddens them because they admired us and wanted peace with us. Our cruel leaders will have none of this.
@wayne pacific
You’re right. Further it is the American CIA and their MI6/Mossad cohorts who actively sponsor terrorism against Russia. A cursory search will reveal that it is quite true that the American government hates Russia and America’s ‘cruel leaders’ are the British Crown banks and they hate Russia even more — because they want to steal all of their wealth and resources. BUT, going along with the west is no guarantee that the west won’t double cross anyone — they double cross everyone. The west can not and should never, ever be trusted — EVER.
@ Chuck
Do you realize that the amount of money that the US government has allocated for war, state sponsored terrorism, state sponsored drug dealing and bank bail outs could have provided free health care, free housing and free education for every person in the United States for their entire lives?!?!?
Chuck- Yep. AND our roads, bridges, sewers, water systems, and electrical grid wouldn’t be falling apart, either. THEN if you add in the fact that the elite pay little to no taxes….why, we really could be the greatest nation on earth.
Of course, the people who leech off the backs of the working folks the world over are never going to allow that to happen.
Have you been to any of the countries you name? Even Canada. From reliable reporters, i.e., friends who have gone to these places and suffered unfortunate accidents or illnesses, the situation is nothing like what you subscribe. As a veteran, however, I appreciate your final statement. By the way, even in a 3rd world country like Pakistan those who live close to medical facilities are served. I know since I became ill and was hospitalized during my duty there. Oh, and they did not bill the US government, but could have.
Speaking of “abject poverty,” it may be instructive to recall the troublesome inefficiencies of “abject central planning” that follows when a state attempts to manage resources. Didn’t the Soviets get an F on that economic plan? Are there not many Germans who complain about the exceeding burdens of their tax structure?
Here’s another question: Is it a self-event right to conceive a child? Let me rephrase: Is it a self-evident right to engage in consensual sex? Obviously that is trivial. Here is a question that is nontrivial: Is it the responsibility of society to bear the burden of supporting a child whose parents are incapable of supporting their child based on their “production value”? So for instance if I sweep concrete walkways at minimum wage and my wife or significant other works as a maid at minimum wage, do we not have a responsibility to make sound decisions in relation to progeny we may choose or not choose to have based on our circumstances? Or are there systems in place that encourage me to overlook such decision-making processes at my level because I’m confident society will assist me where I might fail or be incapable of supporting my own child? No doubt this is not an easy question to answer, but it does point out a piece of the pie that Mr. Thorpe sidesteps entirely: the responsibilities and choices that individuals make which add to the burden of society. That is a two-way street as well–consider the bailout of AIG. In either one of those circumstances “everyone in the middle” takes on the brunt of these inequalities.
I would be mistaken not to recognize that low income, or abject poverty, lends to high birth rates. That is a positive statement reflective of “how it really occurs in the world,” but nonetheless ought not dismiss that parents unable to provide a reasonable living arrangement (e.g. nutritious food, shelter) for their child or children add to mounting burdens inasmuch as “too big to fail” financial bailouts do as well.
Frankly, I want nothing to do with John Thorpe’s conception of America. I applaud his compassion, but do not believe the route at which he would seek out improvements in our society would meet with success. Is that necessarily cruel?
So you are saying that only the thieves and criminal ‘elite’ who steal trillions from honest should reproduce? That way we’ll have a world full of very wealthy thieves and criminals, and the honest, hard working people who end up poor because they are honest and hard-working will no longer exist…hmm. Wow, I bet the people who destroy honest hard-working free enterprise and replace it with legalized fraud, theft and drug running love you.
speak the truth! im sick and tired of living in this “great country” when were a bunch of hating individuals that will not work together for the advancement of our society. We are diggings ourselves deeper, and this is ok? I laugh at those that think we are a thriving country…the proof is in the pudding, yet many “AMERICANS” will just brush off the truth, because its convenient to not think about those in need.
Remember, we are the #1 INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY producing more and more POOR people, living in poverty, what’s wrong with the picture?
Your government is cruel because it is run by lobbies and corporations mostly owned by dual Israeli-American zionists that have taken over your country. Why are your children all over the middle east dying and invading muslim nations? because that is what the criminal government of Isarel wants you to do. You Americans don’t happen to see this but the rest of the world does and it is a shame that you the people have become so indifferent, Now these criminals in power are robbing you blind and you are powerless, soon your government will persecute and imprison you, history repeats, welcome to NAZIUSA
Good comment, thank you, and when people realize that it is this exact same group of zionists that destroyed Russia and the millions of Christians that lived there, then maybe, just maybe, we can have some understanding of what is in store for us here in the U.S. Then maybe we can unite with our brothers and sisters in Russian and throughout the world who have values based on love for our neighbor rather than the teachings of the Talmud.
I thought that “love our neighbor as ourselves” was based on Leviticus 19:18… Sorry to inform you, but the powerful Zios are also guilty of abusing a big part of their people that are under their abusive boot.
I hope you’re not implying that the United Kingdom is any better? The ‘universal’ , ‘free-at-point-of-need’ National Health Service is not only a corrupt shambles,for far too many patients it grudgingly provides a ‘service’ that is anything but competent, timely or adequate. Almost every other month there are fresh reports of one murderous ‘healthcare’ scandal after another – all of which the NHS does it’s best to bury.
i’m not sure really how many poor people you’ve met. or if you’ve even been to the inner city. you know inner city’s have plenty of supermarkets to buy “fresh broccoli” and healthy options. you know, inner cities are getting an increased presence of charter schools, vocational schools, and honors programs, which is great. you want us to pity poor people so much, but i don’t think you’ve met them. I have. Some of them are wonderful people, who work hard and use government supplementary programs exactly as they should be used. But so many of them are so whiney, and abuse their welfare for alcohol, seeing as how their housing and food is already paid for. they complain about their aches and pains for the sake of abusing painkillers. If your universal healthcare thing isn’t done right, you’ll be giving them the tools they need to abuse painkillers and anti-depressants more than they already try to, and believe me they do it alot. but you always go to the unlikely extremes, like 30 year old healthy men in comas. In a capitalistic society, there’s always gonna be a poor end. I’ll agree 15% is way to high, but the answer isn’t just to shovel more money their way. I’m not gonna go and feel bad for someone because they couldn’t take advantage of all of the oppurtunities that america gives them. i’m not gonna feel bad for someone who looks for more and more handouts instead of a job. I agree with you in investing in inner city education, and especially inner city pre-school programs to give those kids the tools they need that the more fortunate already have. Little kids need books and stimulating environments. I’ll agree that the death penalty is savage, and life in prison’s worse anyway. but i hate seeing this blue on red shit. Extreme liberalism pushes conservatives more and more right to try and counter it. it’s part of why our congress can’t function. extreme liberalism isn’t as bad as extreme conservatism, but it’s pretty close. You need a more moderate approach
Moderation in all things. Presenting a picture of extremes, does not describe the whole.
The ends of bell-curves are just that, the tag ends. They represent the extremes and the merest of minorities.
We cannot have bell-curves without ends. Not everyone can be the norm.
I, certainly, would not want to be…
I was surprised at how much moderate’s description reminded me of the very wealthy. The other tag end of the bell curve.
What I’m not shocked at is the ignorance of american history as usual. Without taxes, and government in our schools, etc, pre-1913, america was an incredibly propsperous country. That’s why the federal reserve act came into play, we would grow out of control in wealth. All of us, would nearly drown in a wealth that no other country could imagine. Those days were comming, and fast, to american citizenry. Back then, if you wanted a bridge built or a communications operation up and running, you called me. You didn’t legislate a bridge stipend from local government, and argue with the federal government for 6 months. If the people in the town wanted it, they would get it done. I’d make money, employ many people and the town would prosper through the velocity of money “TAX FREE”. That’s how our country worked, PERIOD, and it worked unbelievably well, and would have become nearly utopian with 50 more years of technology comming down the road. I wouldn’t dream of opening up another business in this country. Pissing money down the drain. Unless it involves drugs or booze, or government kick backs, then your assured success.
What did people do w/o healthcare before 1913? How did roads get built? What would people think about the Dixie Chicks? Everything you whine about is directly related to the Fed, everything. Taxes, healthcare, schooling, prison systems, war, YOUR IGNORANCE. Ron Paul remembers just like Ben Franklin did when asked why the colonists had no corruption, no unemployment, no alcoholism, no jailed citizens, no prisons!, no deficits, NO TAXES!!!!!!!!!! Well, start the history lesson right there JOHN! I’m sure there were less whiners back then too, they didn’t have time, they were to busy working for their own prosperous future. They didn’t have time to whine about executions. They were too rare. They didn’t whine about anything you whine about. Too rare. True teaparty members know this too. You pay attention to the usurpers and collectively throw them into the tea party, and the republican party. I’m god damn sick of you whiners and ignorant plebs who play victim when the world just isn’t so nice anymore. Supine, sycophantic, boot licking to your own complaints. I doubt you really get it at all when you quote the “founding fathers”. Your entire argument features the “GOVERNMENT” in it. Screw the goverment and screw your neccessity for the government. You don’t even know how america got the way it did do ya? nope.
Very true words and sentiment. For a long time my motto has been what you’ve been told is right, is wrong and vice versa. The US is hypocrisy central and the citizens truly are ignorant. For example most reliable worldwide sources (not the US MSM) report that we have slaughtered over 1M Iraqis, of that 1M about 750,000 have been civilians and about a third of the civilians have been children. So our action in Iraq has possibly killed 250,000 CHILDREN!!! What the hell are we doing and how could we POSSIBLY support this?????
I don’t see how allowing fifty million (or more) future USA citizens to be murdered in the womb is “patriotic.” More liberal drivel and weak thinking. And bigger government is no resolution to our problems. End the Fed and the strangle Wall street Banksters and their Jewish comrades have on us all.
John, I just read your, “Why are some Americans so shockingly cruel?”
It is a shame that some of your ideas are so great and some so shockingly cruel themselves. How do you bear the shockingly brutal dichotomy of caring about one or more sections of humanity, but not all of them, particularly the most helpless, which are not only the aged, but some of said helpless are only just embarking. You throw the very most helpless, babies, under the bus with a mere shrug. How can a man that is so gracious and feeling for one part of humanity be absolutely without a wiggle for any particular segment of it? Is it age and development? Is it how much language one has learned? What is the precise dividing line where humanity is worthless and should be thrown in the dumpster?
Of course, will you allow this to post? We can only see.
:
I think your point is well taken. Not about John, per se, as I have no idea how he feels about…I’m assuming you are talking about abortion?
I am against abortion simply because I am pro-life, NOT anti-abortion. There is a BIG difference. So many people (most) that are anti-abortion hoorah every war that comes down the pipe. I guess this means they are perfectly okay with killing a child after it’s born? That would seem to be the logical conclusion.
PRO-life means just that, and most people who claim to be are far, far from it.
Love your site. Great article.
However, Your compassion for life doesn’t extend to the unborn who are ripped apart limb by limb, a minute ago, sucking their thumbs and dreaming beautiful dreams, suddenly forced to dodge and panicked, fighting to stay away from the surgeon’s tools.
Someone who cruely and heartlesslessly murders people you wouldn’t stand for the logical justice of removing that soul from existence.
OMG, never kill a poor whale, but 3000 unborn dreaming babies torn apart in pain, in agony, fighting against the abortionist’s tools?,…
All you offer those innocents in their crib, in their mothers’ wombs, is a phrase, denigrating them to within the woman’s right to murder if she wish.
Yes, I am the author of the article listed above. If you are interested in reading and commenting on this and other articles I’ve written, my user page is http://www.benzinga.com/users/john-thorpe
I welcome those who support and oppose my words. It’s a free country (theoretically)!
The issue of abortion would not be an issue if we had a healthy economy and respect for the family structure. Demand for abortion is a symptom of leadership that preys on the people, leaving women with few options indeed. When the day comes that our movies, television, books, magazines, schools, etc. are controlled by people with healthy minds and loving attitudes, when the schools honestly teach people about their history, when we include moral doctrines as part of our school curriculum, we start on the right path. The people need leadership, not predators. How easy it is to blame the people, when the people have so little choice, and each passing day leaves us with fewer choices and less hope. We have leaders now who reflect the attitudes and beliefs of an ungodly nation. When we ourselves adopt a kinder and more loving attitude, we’ll have leaders who do the same. So many people criticize and reject Christianity these days, but is anyone asking about the alternative? We are living the alternative and it’s not pretty. Maybe we should try the Christian version of the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion”, a plan that is conceived and followed through with a goal of prosperity for all.
The answer to the above question in the title of the article is that the love of money (greed) is the root of all evil. If one loves money above all else, then one will commit evil in order to get more money and will mistreat their fellow human beings in the process. Such very materialistic people also will tend to fear death more.