A few subtle ways to become a good American (and a good human being)

Comment #8

Rip Snorter — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 23:01:49 GMT

JAP69: Yup. I used to do it by the bushel, by the row for row crops, or by the hour. Never thought much about whether it was good money. All money was good. Gracias, Jack

Comment #7

JAP69 — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 18:57:14 GMT

Rip, I thought I had read I think yesterday on the msn homepage where the fruit is rotting in the fields. Apparently not enough workers to pick the fruit. Easy to figure out. I would think. Back in the 50 when I was young I worked at an apple orchard picking apples. Got $.50 a bushel back then. Had good pickin you made nice money.

Comment #6

Rip Snorter — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:18:45 GMT

fxsterling: Suppose all the illegal aliens went home today, and no more came. Which problem the US has would be solved? Less welfare and health care? Maybe. But in the overall scheme of things just how significant is that? More outdoor heavy lifting, dirty hands jobs for Americans who don't want them? The people who want those jobs already have them. If others want them they can get them, despite illegals. So, what precise major problem would be solved if the illegal alien '... [ More ]

Comment #5

Rip Snorter — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:50:08 GMT

RickG: Yup. It's nigh-on impossible. But the only way to try to bring it back is to start somewhere, each individual. At the grocery stores, whereever there's an alternative to buying foreign products. A lot can come back if we buy our own products. Cottage industries can handle an enormous amount of what's now produced in China. But it also requires a willingness to simply not buy if it's not essential, and not manufactured in the US. Thanks for the comment. Jack fxsterling: ... [ More ]

Comment #4

Rick G — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:18:39 GMT

Good blog, Jack. You made a good point about manufacturing products in America and having Americans buy those products. Unfortunately that is becoming impossible. There is not a single American-owned company in this country that makes TV's any longer. We have gone from the manufacturing capital of the world to the leaders in "information technology". This doesn't help the goal of self-reliance at all and does nothing to satisfy the needs of basic survival for America as a country. When the... [ More ]

Comment #3

fxsterling — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:16:46 GMT

Yes Yes Yes and don't support illegals spend a few bucks today it will be worth it down the road

Comment #2

luckierlady — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 15:07:45 GMT

One of the things I've most appreciated about being a friend of yours is that you have taught me so much, and some of it I've even been able to take and use for myself. I'd have to say that minding your own business has been one of the hurdles that, even though I don't always manage, has become much more prominent in my thinking, and has made a tremendous positive difference in my life when I do manage to accomplish it. As for the rest, I don't blow-dry my hair, I quit shopping at walmart, a... [ More ]

Comment #1

LottoVantage — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:58:58 GMT

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Original Blog Entry: A few subtle ways to become a good American (and a good human being)

Rip Snorter — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 13:50:37 GMT

Being a good American and a good human being isn't about waving a flag, hating Democrats or republicans, Muslims, or people who say ugly words about political leaders. It ain't about fear, hysterical dialect, consumerism and waste.

Being a good American and a good human being is about personal responsibility. About having enough confidence and courage not to feel threatened by every little thing. About assuming the responsibility of not being part of the problem any more than is absolutely necessary. About self-reliance.

Sometimes it's not obvious how a person might accomplish those things.

On a personal level your life will find itself a lot better place if you can recognize the fact you are going to die as a means of exiting it. Maybe disease, a car wreck, any of a thousand common ways that don't have a damned thing to do with any foreign country, foreign leader, foreign war. You are going to die. No point in going into frenzies of terror and hate because the death you get stands a billion-to-one shot at being the act of a terrorist. Trust me on that. You are going to die, and I'll only be the tiniest, most microscopic bit of a liar when I tell you it won't be from anything any foreigner does to cause it.
On a personal level you'll find it's a hell of a lot better place if you can learn what is your own business, and what isn't. If you can change it, it's your business. If you can't, it ain't worth concerning yourself with, getting all worked up about.
On a personal level you'll find your life's a lot better place if you spend considerable energies looking at it, instead of other places, looking at what you like about it, and what you don't like about it, and changing what you can. Looking in a metaphorical mirror at the sort of person you are and asking yourself if that is the sort of person you want to be. You can't change the kind of person the prez of bongobongoland is, but you can change the kind of person you are into someone you have more respect for. No one respects a dishonest, hysterical coward, including you when you see it in others.

If all of us could pull that off our own lives would be a lot better, and America would be a better place for it. But insofar as personal responsibility and being a good American, we can expand on that a bit. Here are a few things a good Americ....

[ More ]