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Post by cbk on May 3, 2013 14:01:27 GMT -5
Steve, we already have a real character in that job. But I do have to admit that it would be a good fit.  |
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Post by jerrycsmith on May 3, 2013 21:44:46 GMT -5
Chris, if I had a tenth of the good sense you try to credit me with, I would not be living in a 20 year old 14x70 singlewide trailer in St Clair's version of Dogpatch. Others who followed my same career path now live in fine homes and have tons of money in the bank. For me, it's been one bad judgement after another, so I do not commit the hypocrisy of trying to advise people in charge on how to run things. That's for people who know what they are doing, whether they choose to do it or not.
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Post by cbk on May 4, 2013 6:22:19 GMT -5
Hey Jerry, I live in a trailer too. A lot of my friends who remained married have nice homes. But I don't mind. I have 3 acres of beautiful (to me) woods on the side of a mountain. I've added on to my little tin box, just as you have. Both have a friendly, comfortable feeling. And I love your bridge from the carport. I think it's a clever way to build on land that isn't flat.
As far as making mistakes; it's called the school of hard knocks. It's a hard way to learn, but does it ever impress the lessons onto your mind...permanently. That's why I think you'd be good at public service. You haven't had things given to you. You had to go out and figure out how to earn them. This country would be better off with fewer Ivy School lawyers in Congress and more farmers.
So neither of us have a ton of money. Well, the way things are going our money won't be worth much even if we had a ton of it.
I guess a whole bunch of us never thought our retirement years would be as they are. Seventy or eighty years really isn't a long time when you think of how old the earth is. But goodness, how our country and attitudes have changed during our lifetimes. I guess I just want some of us old geezers to hold the line until our young people figure out that being selfish, thinking only of themselves, and trying to get something for nothing is NOT the way to have a good life. Our parents and grandparent did it for us. They gave us a good moral compass, a work ethic, and a love of country. Somewhere along the line too many of our young people didn't get those things. But then, some did. So if we are there to say, Hey, that's not the way to go, you don't want to do that because it will turn out badly. It just might help. Many won't listen but, the wise ones will. And I hope that the wise young people will overcome the selfishness of the lazy good for nothing ones. Our country was built by a lot of people working hard and sacrificing for the future. I just don't want to see it go down the drain without at least trying to put a plug in that drain.
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Post by jerrycsmith on May 13, 2013 7:05:34 GMT -5
Our grandparents did things the way they did because they had little or no choice. Today's folks have unlimited choices, so they go with what works easiest and brings them the most return. As for doing things the old way, do you have central air in that trailer? Do you drive a car with an automatic transmission? Do you have remotes on all your TV sets? If yes to any, then you and I are both guilty of the same things we blame on the current generations. Cars with clutches get better gas mileage and cost less, nobody needs more than one TV and they would be cheaper without remotes, and who needs perfectly controlled temoerature anyway? The AC is the biggest money waster in the whole house. We take retirement because it's easier than working, same reason the kids take food stamps and welfare. And yeah, I know that's what Social Security is for, but it was never intended to be paid out for 15-20 years, just enough for most of us in those days to enjoy a couple of years of decrepitude.
It's all about choices, and the kids would be stupid if they didn't
take the ones they're offered.
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Post by cbk on May 13, 2013 9:44:03 GMT -5
Jerry, I believe that you know I wasn't talking about modern conveniences. I was referring to the moral slide down the slippery slope. It used to be a great shame to take public assistance. People believed that they had responsibilities. They wanted to provide for themselves and their families. Even my poor old Mom who had worked hard all of her life, taken care of herself, and given to charity was ashamed when medical problems took all of her money and she was left having to take assistance. She was so ashamed. And I'm certainly not talking about those sorts of people. We need to take care of those who can't take care of themselves. We are a compassionate people. I'm talking about the lazy who do nothing but milk the system. Unfortunately we have more and more people who think that they are owed something just for being born. And I DON'T think it's wise or smart to take things one isn't really entitled to. I call it stealing!
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Post by H Abiff on May 15, 2013 0:14:16 GMT -5
Gotta add something here. The new NAZI is Islam. Out for the same things Hitler was after only Americans and Christians are added to the pot. I have put a lot of effort into understanding them, this is not idle talk. Sooner or later we will fight them... here... in America.
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Post by cbk on May 15, 2013 1:23:50 GMT -5
I've got to agree with you there. In WWII we went a bit overboard in that we put people into camps just because of their ancestry. This time around we refuse to believe just who our enemy is.
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Post by jerrycsmith on May 15, 2013 7:04:26 GMT -5
This time around the fighting will be between two faiths who believe in slaughtering each other in the name of the same god. It'll become Puritans against muslims, and whoever wins, we lose.
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Post by jerrycsmith on May 15, 2013 7:07:15 GMT -5
Jerry, I believe that you know I wasn't talking about modern conveniences. I was referring to the moral slide down the slippery slope. ! It's the same thing, Chris; taking the easy & comfortable way instead of the work & cheaper way, and the moral result is the same. |
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Post by H Abiff on May 16, 2013 13:56:08 GMT -5
I am lost as to where you are coming from. They will be after you also. Guilty by being American.
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Post by cbk on May 16, 2013 18:56:02 GMT -5
I don't think Jerry believes that the Christian faith progressed from burning witches and going on crusades. Actually progression is what Muslims don't do. They have the same crazy "religion" that they had hundreds of years ago. I've said for years, it's not a religion, it's a cult. And since it isn't a religion, we can legally go after it. Especially since they believe in killing those who will not convert. I've always thought that was a little extreme.
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Post by jerrycsmith on May 16, 2013 19:02:03 GMT -5
Cult = The other guy's religion.
Well let's see: they worship Jehovah, but by another nickname. They updated from Christianity to allow a more humanistic faith, the same as Christianity upgraded from Judaism. They know if they are to survive at all and remain in power they must get rid of the opposition, which Christians seem to have forgotten how to do since the Crusades and Salem. In the end, the one with the biggest balls wins, regardless of faith.
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Post by H Abiff on May 17, 2013 2:31:49 GMT -5
I'm disappointed Jerry, Thought you were well read. Jehovah indeed. Five times a day they pray to a black rock in the desert, which was the last of the over 300 gods removed at the time.
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Post by jerrycsmith on May 17, 2013 7:13:14 GMT -5
I'm sure the black rock, as you describe it, corresponds to statues of the Virgin Mary or the cross or whatever that Christians aim their prayers toward. And Allah is their name for Jehovah. They even recognize Jesus, but only as a prophet, not their messiah. The only major difference I see in either is the manner & strength of their doctrine, which allows them to kill everyone else openly rather than as a forgivable lapse of faith.
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Post by jb on May 17, 2013 8:59:15 GMT -5
As usual, learning a lot here!!!
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