I apologize in advance everyone. This is exceptionally long but I needed to get it out. Please do not take offense to anything I say as this is my personal view on things.

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I’m honestly just really sick with the American society right now. Seriously, how selfish and corrupt have we become? It makes me a little bit sad to think about this since I’m usually very patriotic, but seriously things that have been going on lately just make my stomach turn sour. I know we’re in hard times, but taking advantage of a broken system isn’t particularly the right thing to do.

I understand that the Economy is in “one of the greatest slumps since the Great Depression.” I feel it in my ass and paycheck when I have to whimper about taxes going up along with my insurance and bills. Layoffs suck, I know… But we get people coming into my business daily with little papers to sign saying that they’ve come here to apply, but don’t fill out an application. They just don’t want their benefits taken away. I’ve talked to people, not families, with 3 or more children and planning on having more so that the government will increase their welfare checks. Last year I gave food to a homeless man that used to live under a bridge near my old apartment for Thanksgiving. He quickly tore through the bag, tossing aside the food that I cooked for him, before looking up at me with a glare and asking me where the booze was.

Here’s a true story that happened yesterday, which is what causing me to write this today:
There is a church here in Waco, and it does one of the noblest charities that I’ve ever seen. It’s such a noble cause that I donate money to them, the only other I donate to is Toys for Tots (because the toys go directly to the children not the parents). This church does bake sales and fundraisers all year. In the first few weeks of December, they’ll go to stores (usually stores that work on commission for employees instead of just going to a giant corporate office) and purchase the “hot new toys for the season.” These toys usually range in price from 30-80 dollars easily. Then they open a “Toy store” for families in serious help of economical need. Families that are about to lose their houses or people who honestly don’t have enough to eat a week. They sell these toys for 10% of their original value. So if it’s a 30 dollar toy, it’s 3 dollars. This church does this just so parents can give their children something decent for Christmas.

There’s one lady at work; I’ve mentioned her before in a past rant, but for those who don’t know, she abuses the system. Her house was given to her by Habitat for Humanity, and she works two jobs and easily makes more than me and my best friend combined with just ONE of her jobs. But since she’s a minority (I’m not Racist mind you, just stating a fact) and she’s a single parent (because her and her babies daddy doesn’t want to get married, but they live together) she gets a nice government check. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management, on a scholarship that was completely paid for. However, for some reason she just barely scrapes by on papers to get a free ride with everything. However, let’s move on with the story.

So yesterday at work I hear she was making a personal call about “Are you standing in line?” or something like that. Out of curiosity because there might be something fun happening in Waco…like a carnival or something…I ask her what’s going on. She proceeds to tell me about this charity that I’m very familiar with, and begins bragging that she goes every year to buy her kids stuff there when she could easily afford to purchase it at full price. She made it sound like it was a run-of-the-mill bargain at Wal-Mart. Then she begins telling me that she also will hit up Toys-for-Tots to get a few extra presents to stuff under her tree for her 15 year old and her 9 year old. /end story

Seriously America. REALLY??

As I’ve stated, I understand the country is in an economic crisis… Big whoop. I still get up every morning to go to work. I get stressed from working long hours in a fast-paced office that everything needed was due yesterday and it was put on my desk at 10 a.m. that morning. I EARN what I make, but there are people in our country just holding out their hand expecting something…and guess what…They get it. My parents taught me the value of a dollar (which is still decreasing in value BTW), and that if you want something you earn it and save for it. If you can’t afford it, you don’t get it.

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Political correctness has become a major issue with me in the past few years. I’m all for fairness, but some of the changes make me uncomfortable. For instance, my Best Buy article in my newspaper wished me a Very Happy Hanukkah, and mention of a Muslim holiday. But I didn’t see anything about Christmas. “Happy Holidays” is the new way of wishing a greeting for the season. I’m a Christian, but I don’t openly press my religion on anybody. However…Seriously guys…CHRISTMAS?? That’s like taking “Ho Ho Ho” away from Santa Claus… OH WAIT… You guys did that already. People wonder why I’ve lost my Christmas spirit. I was one of those people who would have their Christmas stuff up the minute Thanksgiving dinner was over--and not a second sooner. Now I’m feeling productive if I maybe get the tree up before the holiday itself.

Speaking of Holidays a smidge early before their allotted time. Halloween does not start in August. Christmas does not start the day after Halloween. It’s depressing to go into a store and everything’s decorated months before the holiday. Everything is so commercialized that I can’t stand it anymore. As soon as New Year’s is over with everything is pink and red for Valentines. Of course as soon as the Valentines chocolates have been opened it’s Easter already (which is no longer a Christian holiday but filled with bunnies and eggs). The only Holiday that folds out and up in a timely manner is 4th of July. Congratulations America. You celebrate your birthday correctly.