An interesting letter from David Letterman

As most of you know I am not a President
Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not
about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it
seems to hit the mark.

'The other day I was reading Newsweek
magazine and came across some Poll data I found
rather hard to believe. It must be true given
the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67
percent of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed and 69 percent of
the country is unhappy with the performance of
the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry
just ain't happy and want a change. So being the
knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What
are we so unhappy about?''


A.. Is it that we have electricity and
running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?


B.. Is our unhappiness the result of
having air conditioning in the summer and heating
in the winter?


C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of
these unhappy folks have a job?


D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk
into a grocery store at any time and see more
food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last
year?


E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our
cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the
Atlantic Ocean without having to present
identification papers as we move through each
state?


F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean
and safe motels we would find along the way that
can provide temporary shelter?


G.. I guess having thousands of
restaurants with varying cuisine from around the
world is just not good enough either.


H. Or could it be that when we wreck
our car, emergency workers show up and provide
services to help all and even send a helicopter
to take you to the hospital.


I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70
percent of Americans who own a home.

J.. You may be upset with knowing that
in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and
use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames,
thus saving you, your family, and your
belongings.

K.. Or if, while at home watching one
of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or
prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun
and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you
and your family against attack or loss.

L.. This all in the backdrop of a
neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and
pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where
90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.


M.. How about the complete religious,
social and political freedoms we enjoy that are
the envy of everyone in the world?


Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks
unhappy.


Fact is, we are the largest group of
ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever
seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet
has a great disdain for its citizens. They see
us for what we are. The most blessed people in
the world who do nothing but complain about what
we don't have, and what we hate about the country
instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.


I know, I know. What about the
president who took us into war and has no plan to
get us out? The president who has a measly 31
percent approval rating? Is this the same
president who guided the nation in the dark days
after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to
bring an economy out of recession? Could this
be the same guy who has been called every name in
the book for succeeding in keeping all the
spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist
attacks? The commander in chief of an
all-volunteer army that is out there defending
you and me?


Did you hear how bad the President is
on the news or talk show? Did this news affect
you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't
take a look around for yourself and see all the
good things and be glad? Think about
it......are you upset at the President because he
actually caused you personal pain OR is it
because the 'Media' told you he was failing to
kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it.


The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have
died for your freedom. There is currently no
draft in this country. They didn't have to go..
They are able to refuse to go and end up with
either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than
honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a
''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in
the brig.


So why then the flat-out discontentment
in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?


Say what you want but I blame it on the
media. If it bleeds it leads and they
specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a
car crash with blood and guts How many will
watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The
media knows this and media outlets are for-profit
corporations. They offer what sells, and when
criticized, try to defend their actions by
'justifying' them in one way o r a nother Just ask
why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.
Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill
his wife, but if he did he would have done it
this way......Insane!


Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New
York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.
Then start being grateful for all we have as
country. There is exponentially more good than
bad. We are among the most blessed people on
Earth and should thank God several times a day,
or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With
hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud
slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up
the country from one end to another, and with the
threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we
sure this is a good time to take God out of the
Pledge of Allegiance?'

David Letterman

Although I don't agree with him most of the time some of what he says rings true.

 

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How many million does he have in the bank? I understand we are supposed to sit, fat and happy in front of our flat screens eating KFC and not caring about anything else, but some of us are aware of what's happening. Our treasure was looted by a gang of theives pretending to be patriots, our billions handed to military contractors and friends of the right, and further billions intended to socialize the losses on Wall Street. All while we are sleepwalking into a future we are not prepared for.

 

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He's a multi millionaire but he actually started out with very little and worked for what he has, if talking on TV is actually "work". :shrug:

 

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I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, but he's a little out of touch with the common citizen.

 

That's the rub, but the letter is rather interesting and seems to touch base with the ordinary person somewhat.

 

I'm sorry if I expect more from our country. Should we be like a Chinese citizen and just take what little we are given without complaint?

 

Of course not, but that isn't what the point of his letter is about.

 

I have $100 on that this is not by the real Dave. People in entertainment usually don't do (or shouldn't) politics, specially not this eway.

M. Jordan: "Republicans buy shoes too."

 

You are indeed wise.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp

The real essay:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53028

 

The poll question was if they were happy about the direction the country is headed and if the approved of the job the president has done. Not if they were happy with their everyday lives. The poll and the letter don't really seem to be related. As Americans I think we are pretty spoiled, but it's all we know. You can't truly appreciate what you have until it's gone. Now that some of the things I used to have are gone I definitely appreciate them more than I ever did when I was still at liberty to have those things. Many Americans are unhappy, but I don't think the reasons have much to do with the government. At least my problems don't. I just like to complain about things makes me feel better.

 

The truth is, Bush (or most other presidents) have little to do with the prosperity of the U.S. The American people, those hard-working(way too hard - CHILL OUT), inventive, intrepid, adventurous, and ultimately and largely entrepreneurial, people who MADE the U.S what it is. It is prosperous because of politicians? Fuck off, no fucking way. Maybe the founding fathers, but no politician can take credit, only for not fucking it up. Yes there are some spoiled brats in the U.S, sadly the by-product of prosperity anywhere.

 

The resoning of the letter was stupid, by the way. just because 95% of Americans are employed that doesn't mean they are happy or that their jobs are decently paid or statisfying.

Also, everything is relative. If we compare ourselves to 19th century England coalminers, life ain't so bad!

 

totally. the military is in iraq defending americans LOL. oh wait they randomly decided to attack one of the gazillion countries with oppressive leaders, and protect its inhabitants lol.

 

Compare life today with life even in the 1970's. You used to be able to work your way through college on minimum wage. You used to be able to raise a family on one income.

 

You didn't get my point. My point was exactly the opposite what you were trying to make with the 70s...

I don't want the 70s back. You had to pay $4000 for 10 MB HD....

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The point was that the standard is usually similar Western countries in the same timeperiod. Times are a changing, some good things never come back. You used to be able to shot Indians to death randomly...

 

::sigh::

What has this world come to where the white man can't walk out his front door and shoot men of other colors.

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~String

 

What about Jay?

How do you feel about Jay Leno?

 

oh please, its not like the rest of the civilized world is so fine and dandy either... most Europeans are pessimistic and grumpy people.

I know that because I lived there.

All he is saying is that we don't appreciate what we have, while that sure is definitely true. I think there comes a point where we are comfortable with what we have around us, that we get used to it, and we end up wanting more. Nothing wrong with that, its what gets us to strive and advance technologically.

 

In how many european countries did you live, mr expert?

 

Interesting bullshit from a narrow mind. Polls are mostly bull. So if we have electricity, running water & don't starve to death, we shouldn't be unhappy about the direction the country is headed. Ridiculous. My electric bill during summer, part of spring & part of autumn nearly wipes me out. People die because they can't pay their electric bill. I don't believe 95.4 percent of people have jobs. Having a job is necessary for survival. It certainly doesn't ensure happiness. Many jobs, while enabling survival, ensure unhappines. Many barely get by on their pay. Mostly, those who do the most work receive the least pay & have the least job security. Go into a grocery & other stores & seeing rising prices & crappy customer service. I hate for anyone in the world to be starving but the Darfur bit is like Mom saying to clean your plate because children are hungry in China. Nonsense. Unlike me, some people may be able to afford to drive from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Some who can't afford it hitchhike & are arrested. Many can't pay to stay in those nice supposedly clean hotels where whatever time you arrive you must leave at 1:00. We have thousands of restaurants with crappy service I can't afford to get a cup of coffee at. I don't believe 70 percent of Americans "own" a home. Many struggle to make house payments for 30 or 40 years then lose the house because they can't pay property taxes. We may be fairly free of bombs & militia but we're far from safe. A handicapped person I know was sitting in his wheelchair enjoying the park when someone hit him from behind with a pipe to steal his $3. People shoot guns into the air to celebrate. Most drivers don't look out for pedestrians well enough. It's not rare to see a man walking down the sidewalk toward a woman coerce her into moving over to the grass or street so she doesn't get knocked down. A store near me is & has been doing booming business for years. Nearly every day is crowded as the last 2 days before a holiday. They're closing the store & moving employees to a store much farther away. Now my best friend who once walked 2 blocks to work must wait at a bus stop in the dark, then at the transfer station in the dark & so on. Complete religious freedom? WHAT has this person been smoking? Thanking the makebelieve pie-in-the-sky-guy is indicative of some of our serious problems. The president who guided us thru the dark days after 9/11??? He hardly did anything but prepare for war & spread propaganda. What dark days anyway? It was a tragedy & it's sad if people feel less safe but there were hardly any dark days other than for people directly involved. Funny how they cut taxes but they still go up. The US military is not defending US citizens. Funny how someone can be found not guilty yet be called a murderer. There are little needles of wisdom in this haystack of idiocy.