The other current embodiment of national character failure, Tiger Woods, golfer, has also dazzled the American public. Personally I find it much more interesting to learn that he was a really lousy tipper than that he got a lot of action on the side with opportunistic bar girls, porn stars, and other denizens of the sports-entertainment netherworld. Is it not also amusing that golf is even taken seriously as an athletic pursuit? I mean, why not pancake-flipping? Or dice? Or shooting rats at the landfill? This is the kind of knucklehead culture we have become after six decades of the softest life imaginable. Anyway, I'm not shedding any tears for Tiger. Even if all his endorsements dry up and his ex-wife takes him to the cleaners for a hundred million or so, he'll still be left with enough cash to pay for porn stars and lobster tails until the end of time, especially if he keeps his tipping policy at its current level. - James Kuntsler
I have been wanting to comment on the Tiger Woods thing, silly as it is, but I just LOVE the way Kuntsler writes...
Earth to the world's most disgusting individual - Nancy Grace:
"Men are as faithful as their options." - Chris Rock
"Women are as loyal as their options" - yours truly
Give a young man testosterone, wealth, fame, and thousands of young beautiful women willing to destroy a family for a couple of bucks.... mix thoroughly... and... Viola! Double digit mistresses (small change compared to Wilt Chamberlain) . Give a young woman a husband that fails to deliver to expectations, or delivers too much (with no pre-nup)... and Viola! A divorce attorney will magically appear and a family down the tubes.
Welcome to America.
Like it, don't like it, approve, disapprove, understand, disbelieve... the world does not give a good fart WHAT you think. The rules are the rules. The fact that Tiger has pissed so many people (women that is, come on... do you really think MEN watch Nancy Grace and Oprah?) off is just another example of misdirected energies...
1 in 8 Americans are receiving FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT! And a young man's inability to say "No" to temptation is the biggest story in our primary Media?
The cost of the Food Stamps Program will reach $65 Billion in 2010... Wanna bet we see $100 Billion in a couple years? We can't afford Medicare and Social Security, and here comes the third leg to complete the stool.
The crazy thing is this: Women and children make up the vast majority of those receiving food assistance. Maybe these single mothers would be better served working a garden patch with the baby in a papoose and having their cable disconnected so that they can't watch Nancy Grace and Oprah Winfrey. OMG! Did I JUST SAY THAT??!!
You bet.
Our society is coming apart, and not because hard working folks get rich as a result of their efforts or because of the Oil crisis (it ain't even happened yet). We are breaking down because 70% of Americans think it is acceptable to be &*^&%!! OBESE (hey, why not? Health care is a "right"). What does that say about personal responsibility? We are breaking down because 90% of black kids will need food stamps - what does that say about black fathers? We are breaking down because women have a "right" to divorce their husband without cause, holding him in a life of involuntary servitude (and now no one wants to get married), and to terminate the life of an unborn child - what ever happened to the fairer sex? We are breaking down because our politicians are willing to look the other way as the survivors of Wall Street's cluster f*ck empty the tax payers pockets with bonuses that would have made Mike Milken blush. Everybody is a victim, and nobody is responsible - but we have 10X the number of lawyers per capita the next largest industrial economy has, all too willing to get these victims their day in court... so we got that going for us. I could go on and on. The American Left has taken a shovel full of dirt out from under the foundation of America for over 70 years - and now that we are about to tip over their cronies in the Media pander to them with their claim that they "inherited" this mess. Don't get me wrong. The "Right" were anything but once they got in office.
WTF???
"The first casualty of War is Truth."
24 comments:
America is one messed up place.
I really don't care about Tiger Woods. He's a moron, especially from the brief description I read of one or two of his mistresses. Good taste is not one of his faults... at least French presidents and kings chose elegant women who could charm people.
It's not really a left or right thing here, this moronic American culture... both sides have contributed to it.
I'm not a Catholic, but I see now that the Catholic version of Christianity was FAR more conducive to a moral family life than the Puritan/protestant versions. For one thing, when the husband inevitably sinned, he could just go to confession and get absolution. His wife didn't and couldn't leave him, destroy the family, and take his future earnings.
In other words, the Catholic version of morality put the FAMILY and children first, and the desires of the parents second, while making allowances for human imperfection. The garbage in the news pretty much proves that humans are sinful by nature. You could redefine Tiger's behavior as not sinful, but the damage to his family and children should nullify that argument if you believe that the well being of children is important.
The scary thing is that the culture of narcissism and entitlement is not dying yet, as the hour of the wolf gets closer... Peak Oil will mean that those who continue to put themselves first will actually be causing the early demise of their progeny (well, abortion is already doing that). Those who put others first, even if they are sinful and need forgiveness (who doesn't), will do OK.
I'm not trying to convert anyone here, as I don't even know what I believe in terms of religion/spirituality. I just see a big connection between the standard American belief system and systemic unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
I'll have to look up the food assistance/food stamps program cause I thought it was more like $30 billion a year. It's a cheap program compared to the "big five" programs. You don't get much money on food stamps and food is still cheap in the U.S. (especially fatty food). Unemployment compensation is a pretty cheap Federal program too. The penny programs aren't the problem. The dollar programs (SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Interest on Debt and Defense) are the REAL problem.
Pub:
click the link for the source - USDA
Pub:
Couldn't agree more about the Catholic thing - their wisdom has become more clear to me in my old age. Orthodox Jews, too. My sister is a practicing Orthodox - their community frowns on divorce pretty hard for something as trivial as going astray.
It seems people need some social pressure to keep them in line.
When I attack the Left, I attack its center, its very core - Feminism. Feminism has done more to destroy America than any other social movement. The Left is dominated by them, and they take no prisoners.
Religious groups that have clearly defined responsibilities for their men and women - the Amish, practicing Catholics, Observant Jews - have the advantage of family.
Not a small thing.
BTW:
I COMPLETELY forgive Tiger. If he asked me to, I would write him a note that says he is off the hook.
He did not kill anybody. He did not rob poor people's life savings or rip off a food bank. He had sex.
Stupid is not the same as evil. I am not given to throwing stones considering the glass house I reside in.
See? My Catholic upbringing is showing through...
Whatever happened to Libertarian Animal? I joined up over there for just these type of jump in the mud posts... Oh well, I guess it's just better over here.
Walking my dog in the freezing cold this morning, I kept thinking about Neil Postman and Amusing Ourselves to Death. Television, you could hide a depression with that thing... oh wait, that's exactly what's happening. I've made it a point to avoid the 'eye of hell' as much as possible but my wife and mother in-law sure haven't. Television is mind control and the collective mind is feed endless distractions to take away from what's really important. Of course if TV had on nothing but the type of information people as ourselves crave, my wife would find it boring and might actually turn the damn thing off. Maybe there's hope yet but I doubt it. Television and Americans relation to it is a huge part in societal breakdown. Until the TVs go off, nothing changes.
As a defense to my wife though, she is very smart. She works in an investment house producing videos about the financial markets all day long. By the time she gets home, the excuse is always the same, she just doesn't want to think. The TV works wonders for that need.
As for me, now that I'm freshly unemployed, I really get to feel the fear and loathing... Granted, having been a long time follower of energy and money, I got rid of all debt and saved as best I could in New York frigging city! My only solace today is writing here. It's why I visit regularly and why I think the title of the blog says it all. Energy is the name of the game and when (not if) that crisis hits, I think that a lot of these wrongs we Libertarians rail about will be righted. It will not be pretty and it will require a lot more action from us than typing on a keyboard.
Till then, bureaucrat has made the most sense (God help us:) in that this mini-depression has us awash in abundant food and energy. It does seem that 2010 will be more of the same.
Of course... 'What we anticipate seldom occurs: but what we least expect generally happens.'
Everyone!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Regards,
Coal Guy
Libertarian Animal is a waste of effort as the massive government benefits now promised to the (hugely) voting public guarantees that Libertarianism isn't going to be a reality for a LONG, LONG time. The U.S. just will have to become like Italy. :) We are socialists now whether anyone likes it it or not. Thank Hank Paulson.
And thank you, Brooklyn Jeff. :)
Well Tiger had a prenup. And $20 million is pocket change - I think he's total worth is about $1Billion.
"People are very interested in what Tiger Woods will have to give Elin Nordegren Woods should the two split up. When they first got married, Elin was said to have a $20 million prenuptial agreement after 10 years of marriage. Now, reports indicate that the $20 million has ballooned to $75 million and 10 years has been cut back to 7 years." - (link)
I'm sorry. Jeffers was actually closer:
"Food stamps" $56 billion
Children food assistance $16 billion
WIC (womens & childrens) $7 billion
Total Federal food assistance:
$79 billion at least
Still cheap by comparison. :)
Bur:
That was 2009 - $56B for SNAP
For 2010 - $65, NOT including the other line items...
You think cheap? I assure you all this does is bring us ever closer to the mushroom cloud.
"Awash in food an energy"?
At prices that have priced out the bottom 11% of food consumers and I can only guess the % of energy consumers.
From the US census bureau:
Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.
Well food or gas?
The Federal dollars ....
Social security: $660 billion
Medicare: $428 billion
Medicaid: $251 billion
Interest on the Debt: $200 billion (and going to start rising soon)
Defense: $636 billion (with billions on off-budget accounting)
Total of around $2.2 trillion
Entire Federal budget is around $2.8 trillion (with a $1.4 trillion deficit depending)
These are the amounts that are the REAL problem. Even the overpaid salaries and benefits of my Federal coworkers don't come close to the above items (though the retiree pensions are at $100 billion and rising).
Yep, the Jewel food stores in Chicago are fully stocked (and the cash register lines are always long) and the gas stations are all open. We are indeed "awash." :)
Pub,
I agree with you on the Catholic ways. My wife is. Ironically,maybe, the Catholic church has strong ties with the gov. in socialist countries,I believe. Mostly in S. Amer.
Also, all numbers,est.,data (i.e. obesity )can be confirmed at any county fair.
Safe and Happy Holidays,
peace
Speaking of Catholic upbringing, this just warmed my heart.
http://povertynewsblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/priest-says-its-ok-for-poor-to-shoplift.html
Have a very Merry x-mas Greg, et al!
The problem for me is that feminism got mixed up with consumerism (bad timing on the movement). Rather than a focus on equal protection under the law, the theme was turned toward the workplace only. The worth of woman by other woman was measured in dollars; the more you made the the more status you had. We forgot to give equal weight to the value of raising children and maintaining a houshold economy. There was some lip service paid, Oprah is fond of saying how important the job of raising children is, but it is always said with a smarmy, condesending attitude that makes me want to smack somebody. One of the benefits of smaller,more local economies and a lot less money is that the value of humans will be measured with a more honest stick. What can you produce of true worth? What kind of neighbor are you? How is your familiy doing? BTW, rather than complain about a spouse spending too much time in front of the televison, you could begin a joint project toward a more sustainable life. My DH and I have little time for the tube as we are too busy with growing food, working around the house and spending time with our kids. The televison has some value. If I can't sleep, I turn it on and bingo! Out like a light.
Kathy:
Correct points all, but if truth be told, no political movement exists in a vacuum. Feminism's had many other unintended consequences, one of the biggest being divorce law.
Prior to the rise in Feminism, divorce was almost not possible, and when it was the women often left penniless. Obviously, this was a powerful incentive for women to remain in "unhappy" marriages. But that begs the question: Are women "happier" now? Now that most will not enjoy a lifelong family commitment? Forget adult women for a moment... are children better off? NAFC, but DIVORCE Lawyers are better off...
Perhaps we have evolved past the idea of marriage. Some how I don't think that if people cease the marriage commitment that this will be a positive outcome for women and children. Yet this seems to be the "response in the market place".
And by the way, the earnings numbers bantered about in the media are planted by ONE SIDE, and I will give you 2.5 guesses which side...
My bet is those numbers would change DRAMATICALLY if gift income (almost the entire jewelry industry sales $ would/could be measured as gift income, for example), alimony, excess child support, etc... were added to the mix (as they very well should be).
Raising children is important, as are school teachers and police officers... that does not mean that they are deserving equal pay of a top novelist, surgeon, businessman... equal protection under the law does not mean equal compensation - that's what the market is for, not that we have had much of a free market in many cases...
Anyway, I always appreciate your rational, mature commentary.
It is not Viola.
It is Voilà.
Post a Comment