My biggest problem is with people's attitudes more than anything else

[TonyMontana]

Ultimately, it's the selfishness and lack of compassion that's the biggest problem with American society. Sure, we hear a lot of lip service about helping your fellow man and not kicking one when their down, but it's hardly ever manifested into concrete action.

A man's house burning down is just the latest example of a very big problem with the collective American psyche: "It's all about ME." While other civilized nations have gotten past this mentality, American culture continues to lag behind. This is neither liberal nor conservative. Both sides exhibit this kind of heartless narcissism.

Do not pass gun control laws because I don't want to register my guns.

Do not save that man's home from burning down, because he didn't pay and I shouldn't have to.

Do not abolish capital punishment, even though innocents will die because of it. It satisfies my blood lust.

Do not make me pay for other people's health care.

Do not send my child to war.



It's when something bad happens to someone else that we see the worst of this problem. He didn't pay the fee, he "deserves" his house to burn down. Sure, your kid died in the war, but he joined the army voluntarily, after all. You got cancer? Oh well I feel for you but....

But. But. But.

When is America going to get past this idiotic notion of "rugged individualism" and join the rest of the civilized world? Everyone else seems to have comprehended the fact that we're all in this together. This is not the year 1802. The world is a much smaller place, with mass communications and very big problems. Global warming is going to affect everybody in the next 2 decades. Wars don't happen in vacuums like they used to. One bank failure here obliterates an economy on the other side of the planet.

There is no room anymore for "me". It's about "we" now. Get on board.

[MineralMan]

1. K&R

Government is for societies, not for individuals. It's one arena in which the good of everyone should be the first consideration.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Wow

Seems we both got the very same brain hit, and expressed the same sentiment in different ways.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9257233

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dash87]

4. Proud to be the first rec.

"Rugged individualism" as a concept is stupid and meaningless. At worst, it's completely destructive. The "fend for yourself" attitude brings our society down as a whole.

I would willingly sacrifice 50%+ of my paycheck if it meant having nicer cities and towns, better services, and happier people. :)

♥

[HughMoran]

5. Why do we even have to say this on this supposed left-wing site?

I'm still shaking my head. And precisely because my compassion for another person dominates my thinking, I can't understand or forgive those who can't discern the difference between $75 and 3 dead dogs, 1 dead cat and the loss of a home and all the memories that it holds. If the $75 is more important to you, then you are not a liberal, not compassionate and you've lost my respect from this point forward.

[seabeyond]

6. i am disgusted too. we simply put the blame in two different places.

simple as that. you are no more disgusted than i am

you feel no more for the loss than i do

you blame the fire man

i blame the man that thought he would get free services adn didnt. the man that should have paid the 75 but chose not to. the man that does not feel he has to pay his part for fellow man.

[Scout]

8. +10,000 n/t

[HughMoran]

9. You can't undo watching the house burn. That is spiteful. That lacks compassion.

Your position on this is dark and cold and makes me want to :puke:

[seabeyond]

11. where is the lack of compassion? my compassion is there for all those that suffer because some

asshole felt he was above a collective pot putting not only the animals in harm way, his family in harms way but his neighbors in harms way due to his own self righteousness.

how is that me not being compassionate

making those firemen the scape goat for scorn because he is against socialism. because the county is against socialism. because of their selfish view.... all it hurts

i say i am a hell of a lot more compassionate than you

[HughMoran]

14. OK, on this one issue alone, I'm putting you on ignore.

I have no desire to read any more of such uncaring right-wing sounding talk.

Enjoy your "I got mine" world.

[seabeyond]

21. well, thanks for making it only this issue. nt

[emilyg]

23. You have no compassion.

[seabeyond]

28. wow, you anonymous poster you, people who know me would be mighty surprised

i have no compassion as i take care of all those i love, including strangers. thanks for telling me who i am, quite a wake up call for me.

but hey, cant really tell you anything about who you are, cause i dont know shit about who you are

except

wow

to your post, lol

[jdlh8894]

15. Maybe,the house was beyond saving

by the time the FD got there? Anybody ever think of that?

[HughMoran]

17. Since they refused to come until the neighbors house was threatened

We'll never know, now will we.

Could his 3 dogs and a cat have been saved? Are you going to take the side of "well, maybe it couldn't have been helped" after the horse is out of the barn? Really?

[Scout]

7. you assume that your respect means something to someone n/t

[HughMoran]

18. Scout, there's a reason I can't respond directly to your post - nice personal attack

:eyes:

[laureloak]

10. It's all about greed and pvt businesses interfering in government.

[hobbit709]

13. Where is the private business in this? Or the greed?

[RKP5637]

12. Agree!!! Well said!!! n/t

[independent_voter]

16. part of the problem is defining 'we'

i had an exchange with somone on this site who defended outsourcing American citizen's jobs because it raises wages for the worker in India (raises wages for the top management that made the decision, too, whether it really results in higher profits or not)

this is a huge issue in the population of the posters here

does 'we' mean democrats?

all us citizen workers?

all us citizens period?

all workers of the world?

all people in the world?

(I'm for all working people in the world, but throwing one of our own to the wolves is not an acceptable means to that end)

[femrap]

19. And it seems that these same

'me' folks have a Bible in their collective hands....the hypocrisy makes me :puke:

By the grace of God/Goddess, go I....

Someday they'll find themselves in need....boo f*cking hoo.

[jdlh8894]

20. So much compasion,so few people...n/t

[TonyMontana]

24. Lucky for them...

Lucky for them that when they find themselves in need, they won't be treated the same way they treat others.

[DirkGently]

22. Sure. This is exactly why collectivism-haters like Ron Paul are wrong.

[bobbolink]

25. Poor people saw all of this a very long time ago. They came for us. Now they are coming for you.

You ignored us.

Now its becoming your turn.

[Uncle Joe]

26. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, TonyMontana.

[Festivito]

27. It's "you and me" versus "you or me." /nt

[hfojvt]

29. I agree completely

"We" would like to use your car this week. Please send us the keys. Also, "we" would like you to pay for our dog food. Please send a check or money order to our address at 427 Tree Street, Our Town, USA.

Tell me what you do, oh compassionate one, to help your fellows.


You know who is the epitome of selfishness here? The dude who expects others to risk their lives for free in order to protect HIS stuff and HIS pets. He expects to eat while other people work. WE are all united in demanding better from him.