I’m 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.
I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.
I’m tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China , the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech of Venezuela . I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers”; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.
I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.
I think it’s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.
I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful; that thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress; that picked over every line of Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his; that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn’t vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.
I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance. I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough.
I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I’m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.
I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What’s next? Calling drug dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists”? And, no, I’m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it’s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military…. Those are the citizens we need.
I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are? Not even close. So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.
I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I’m tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the “Illinois Combine” of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama’s cabinet.
I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor. Speaking of poor, I’m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn’t have that in 1970, but we didn’t know we were “poor”. The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.
I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.
Yes, I’m darn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter.
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate. There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on! This is your chance to make a difference.
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Thank you Robert!!
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About: Steve Pohlit CPA,MBA has been the CFO and COO of major domestic and international companies. Steve has extensive business ownership experience having purchased and started off line and on line businesses. Steve offers his business building experience to companies and entrepreneurs with business coaching and business consulting. His focus is on building business profits and net asset value at above average rates. All articles published by Steve unless specifically restricted may be freely published with this resource information.
I’m 45 and I’m tired, too. I’ve raised a daughter as a single parent who is now in college. I’m a career musician who’s still songwriting and composing music for artists. I’m an autistic adult, but, enjoy my self-sufficiency. I work non-stop, since I founded a non-profit, so, counting work hours is mute point. I’m only concerned about making enough of a salary to ensure that I remain healthy enough to continue helping others with real need.
I’m tired of people who believe in conspiracy theories about other Americans, including our President.
I’m tired of people who arrogantly think THEY are the only hard working people in America.
I’m tired of people who whine and complain “victimization” and lack the basic so-called “Christ-like” behavior of giving back to others less fortunate. Not money. Just volunteering one’s time, even. This helps one to be balanced about their own lives. Keeps things in perspective.
I’m tired of people who falsely believe that everyone who “works hard” is treated fairly. It is a fact that many people of color are not, but, if you are not a person of color, it’s difficult for you to know this first hand. If you are black, have a college degree or provable certified technical skills, it’s still 100 times more difficult to be picked for that job. I’ve experienced that their are still a lot of prejudiced corporate entities, business owners, managers and human resource directors in these United States of America, no matter how polished, well-dressed, intelligent, accomplished or well-spoken I am. Yet, I do not complain or become disheartened. I create, build and move forward. No excuses.
I’m tired of politicians claiming that they represent us, when they are clearly playing us, fanning the flames of hate about our neighbor, just to win an election to keep a job. Actually… I kinda hate that.
I’m tired of people who use their intellect and creative energies to game city, county, state or federal government programs. You know who you are.
I’m tired of people who bluster about how fantastic America was originally granting all comers inalienable rights never to be taken away and seem to selectively forget about the ugly legacy of Native American disenfranchisement and killings, slavery and killing of Black people (into the 20th century), encampment of Japanese born Americans and the indentured slavery of the Chinese. Every one of these past realities still plaque the United States in a variety of ways and cannot be swept under the rugs of “didn’t happen” or “it’s not happening now”. Peoples real family heritage, lives and connections to who they were have been wiped out because of the “law of the land” at that time. That’s serious. It wasn’t a misstep or mistake. Some of this stuff was written into the Constitution (slavery). It was on purpose. Who among you so-called “Christ-like” politicians representing us (not big business special interests lobbyists) will honestly and openly acknowledge this? No takers?
I’m tired of people claiming that the United States international policies over these many decades hasn’t been detrimental to our growth as a nation. I’m a world traveler. We are hated by many because of how we behave internationally. People believe what they see in other countries via television. People also believe what they experience when occupied by American troops. I was in the military, so I get it. Not all of our troops are on their best behavior, but, I DO know that we follow the orders given to us. If we are told to act horribly, many of us do what we are told, not what we were taught. That is sad, but, reality. Yeah, we’re still liked, in some countries, but, that number has dwindled significantly.
I’m tired of some people’s inability to step in another person’s shoes. We cannot know every person’s circumstance. We all individually experience the same things very differently. Example: I see adversity as a motivator. Many do not. Those of us who are stronger can HELP many to see adversity as a motivator. Neighbor helping neighbor. Question is, will we individually be kind enough to do this?
I’m tired of people not accepting responsibility for their own behavior. If you live outside of your financial means, you will and should suffer the consequences. That means Wall Street banks, local banking, over extended and out of touch with the public businesses, too. All I have is payed for. I eat what I need to. I replace clothes when I have to. I own my car. Living completely off of over extended credit or credit cards suggests entitlement. Might be time to get a used car. Might be time to turn off that cable or satellite TV. Might be time to just take the kids to the park instead of buying every toy or computer game invented just for “Christmas” holiday giving. Might be time for people to simplify and get back to the basics of family. For those “conspiracy theorists” who insisted the “government” should have stayed out of our most current financial collapse, retirement funds all across this nation would be completely gutted and emptied. Not hearing any complaints about the governments actions on THAT.
I’m tired of people who complain about being tired, so, I’ll stop here. Know this, though. Each individual, know matter where you are on this planet, has the power to be a global unifier for peace and change. Martin Luther King, Mandela, Gandhi… these men had their detractors, but, they were few and clearly on the wrong side of bigoted history. They are loved and respected by the world community. If you really want to do something with your life, don’t wait for others to hand you anything. Be someone who thirsts for knowledge and information. Be someone who seeks out solutions. Be a “thinker” and “developer”. Conspiracy theorists don’t think. They whine and blame. Don’t be that, black, white or whomever you are.
Oh, yeah. I’m tired, but, not exhausted! I don’t feel sorry for anyone. I don’t have grandchildren yet, but, I will not project hopelessness onto the unborn or even those who’ve barely had a chance at life. I will continue to be proactive. I will continue to be a “thinker”. I will continue to buffet bigotry towards me with ferociousness, allowing it to be the thing that motivates me to be better than that person or organization. I’m an eternally cautious optimist that isn’t waiting for someone to fix or change anything. I’m focused on what I can do to better my own life and in the process, hope to make the lives of others better in a practical and purposeful way.
Michael E. Buckholtz is a NAVY veteran and founder of Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)3 national non-profit public charity built from scratch. He performed and wrote music for the international recording star M.C. Hammer in the 1990’s. He authored the book, “Autism Is My Universe…”. He is a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week advocate for the Autistic Community. There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on! This is your chance to make a real tangible difference.
Hey Robert Thanks for sharing your thoughts, America really needs people like you, hard workers