Part 1
I am convinced that any major issue that is put in front of the United States Congress must be fought over vociferously to have any chance of winning the votes needed for passage.
People are always talking about bi-partisan efforts in the political arena. You know, a spirit of cooperation. It will never happen as a general rule in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. Why should it?
The population is usually split over every issue that confronts our elected officials. Why do these politicians take these issues and water them down in compromise? When two football teams get together on the field of battle, do they play for a compromising 0 - 0 score? No. They beat each other's brains in to win. The bigger the score the better.
So, where is the humor in this? I think the humor is listening to our politicians trying to justify many of their positions on issues for their political party rather than the good of the country. Or, to be blunt, for their own personal good rather than for me and you.
Observing politics for many years has convinced me that the greatest evil we live with in this great country of ours is "class envy." Citizens and politicians despise another group of people because that group has more than they do... more money, more education, more success, a better standard of living, and so on.
Even though that group of people worked hard to get where they are they are still disliked. Those that hate need a reason to justify their own inadequacies. "They got ahead in life because they cheated" or "they were born into money and don't deserve it."
This class envy is poison to the system. Instead of trying to improve one's position in life, the poison tells you there is no sense in trying... you cannot win. They will never let you in. Blah, blah, blah.
So, these people go through life "hating" the success of others. They also hate their positions on political issues. This is where the reasoning can be hilarious and down right stupid.
From time to time I will discuss these issues and how they fare with the "class envy" crowd. I think you will find them amusing.
Part 2
I mentioned in my original post on "Politics and Humor" that class envy is the scourge of our culture. For that part of our population that looks at life as "us vs them" it becomes an issue of the haves holding down the have-nots. That argument is silly because there is enough out there for every citizen.
If a have helps a have-not succeed, it's good for everyone. The American economy is not a one size pie to be divided up by all of this country's work force. The work force production creates a bigger and better pie for everyone. The more work we do, the bigger the pie gets.
This is a good thing. This is a very good thing. When you help a have-not become a have you make that pie bigger.
There is no reason to keep someone from succeeding.
It's an excuse. When a have-not does not believe that success is possible it is a self imposed limitation. This predicament is easier to take if you think it is someone else's fault.
This class envy excuse spills over into politics and it creates some amusing political situations. The latest instance, unfortunately, came from our new President, Barack Obama. When asked by a reporter why he was willing to let some tax cutting programs expire after these programs produced billions of dollars in revenues, the President responded that the cuts "were unfair." Unfair? Really?
These cuts helped about 60% of the population of the United States, but apparently that is unfair to the other 40% according to our President. He was willing to give away billions in revenues to make the 40% feel like they were getting even with the 60%. Why?
Class envy. It made no sense... but it sounded good to those who think they are being screwed. It's not just Obama. I think this happens with both parties. Politicians want these have-nots to depend on them instead of learning to find their own way in this life.
That is the humor. Remove a tax cut that made billions and add a plan that will cost billions. How ridiculous! Beam me up, Scottie.
Part 3
In Part 1 of this I discussed the idea of political compromise as a silly way to settle issues of great importance. Part 2 started a discussion on class envy which we are going to continue today.
This unfortunate thought process that is described as class envy goes far beyond ill feelings towards other individuals. It is extended toward small and large businesses in this country as well. Those citizens who think other men cheat to get ahead in this life have the same disregard for business. Any success attained is done so immorally.
Look at oil companies as an example. They make billions of dollars every year on products we all need. The fact that much of these billions has to be expended for exploration and research means nothing to the class envy crowd. The political action wing of the environmental organizations did everything in their power to keep these oil companies from drilling in our own country since 1970 because they do not think oil is environmentally friendly.
So, where is the humor in this? Isn't it ironic that we now fear dependence on foreign oil after shutting down our own oil companies for the last 30 plus years? How much sense did this make? Now we look like idiots.
There are hundreds of products that are made by oil that we all use every day in this country. For those who think gas prices are too high at $2 or $3 dollars a gallon, try paying over $5 per gallon in Europe.
The political humor here is that now we are trying to start up drilling again in our country and off our shores but politicians are afraid to upset the environmentalists by voting for the drilling. In other words, let's pay more for foreign oil even though we can produce it much cheaper right here in the USA. Why?
Capitalism is the champion of any economic system created for any nation. It has it's faults, for sure, but (as the old saying goes) it's way ahead of whatever is in 2nd place. Business provides jobs and pays taxes to keep this country humming along. Capitalism also provides competition among companies to keep prices down for all of us. So, what's the problem?
The class envy crowd does not want to believe that hard work will move individuals and companies ahead. They don't believe it's possible for them, and therefore it's not possible for anyone else.
Such a tragic way to think and live.
Part 4
Part 1 of this series discussed the futility of bi-partisanship in deciding important issues for our country. Why do politicians take what appears to be a solid plan before the House and Senate and then proceed to water it down in order to make the other side happy?
We can understand the need to argue, clarify, study, hash out, and throw punches if necessary. But throw in the towel? John Adams and Benjamin Franklin argued for the Declaration of Independence for days, weeks, and months until they made the opposition see the light.
Where would we be if Adams and his followers diluted their plan to appease the opposition? The humor in this is now watching how politicians trade votes and make deals oftentimes for their own benefit at the expense of the United States. Good deal, huh?
Parts 2 and 3 of this series emphasized the problem of class envy. In this final part of Politics and Humor we will look at where the class envy crowd turns when they get upset.
So, when you don't trust anyone that has achieved in this life because you think they all cheated to get ahead and your feelings are just as twisted when you consider the success of a business, there is only one place to turn. The government.
They really don't trust individual politicians either but they can count on that large entity (the United States government) to be there to "help" them when they cannot help themselves.
Almost 50% of our population no longer pays federal income tax. Yet, the government keeps spending like a drunken sailor. This sure looks like a move towards socialism to me as we keep tapping those with funds to take care of those who cannot or won't take care of themselves. This is simply wealth redistribution.
So, what has happened to Capitalism. You remember Capitalism, don't you? It's the most successful form of economic enterprise for a nation in the history of the world. It's not perfect, but as the old saying goes it's way ahead of whatever's in second place.
Where's the humor here? Well, how do you have a system that's the envy of the entire world moving toward wealth redistribution, universal health care, and government control of banks and auto makers? This sounds so ridiculous. It looks like really bad comedy.
I am convinced that any major issue that is put in front of the United States Congress must be fought over vociferously to have any chance of winning the votes needed for passage.
People are always talking about bi-partisan efforts in the political arena. You know, a spirit of cooperation. It will never happen as a general rule in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. Why should it?
The population is usually split over every issue that confronts our elected officials. Why do these politicians take these issues and water them down in compromise? When two football teams get together on the field of battle, do they play for a compromising 0 - 0 score? No. They beat each other's brains in to win. The bigger the score the better.
So, where is the humor in this? I think the humor is listening to our politicians trying to justify many of their positions on issues for their political party rather than the good of the country. Or, to be blunt, for their own personal good rather than for me and you.
Observing politics for many years has convinced me that the greatest evil we live with in this great country of ours is "class envy." Citizens and politicians despise another group of people because that group has more than they do... more money, more education, more success, a better standard of living, and so on.
Even though that group of people worked hard to get where they are they are still disliked. Those that hate need a reason to justify their own inadequacies. "They got ahead in life because they cheated" or "they were born into money and don't deserve it."
This class envy is poison to the system. Instead of trying to improve one's position in life, the poison tells you there is no sense in trying... you cannot win. They will never let you in. Blah, blah, blah.
So, these people go through life "hating" the success of others. They also hate their positions on political issues. This is where the reasoning can be hilarious and down right stupid.
From time to time I will discuss these issues and how they fare with the "class envy" crowd. I think you will find them amusing.
Part 2
I mentioned in my original post on "Politics and Humor" that class envy is the scourge of our culture. For that part of our population that looks at life as "us vs them" it becomes an issue of the haves holding down the have-nots. That argument is silly because there is enough out there for every citizen.
If a have helps a have-not succeed, it's good for everyone. The American economy is not a one size pie to be divided up by all of this country's work force. The work force production creates a bigger and better pie for everyone. The more work we do, the bigger the pie gets.
This is a good thing. This is a very good thing. When you help a have-not become a have you make that pie bigger.
There is no reason to keep someone from succeeding.
It's an excuse. When a have-not does not believe that success is possible it is a self imposed limitation. This predicament is easier to take if you think it is someone else's fault.
This class envy excuse spills over into politics and it creates some amusing political situations. The latest instance, unfortunately, came from our new President, Barack Obama. When asked by a reporter why he was willing to let some tax cutting programs expire after these programs produced billions of dollars in revenues, the President responded that the cuts "were unfair." Unfair? Really?
These cuts helped about 60% of the population of the United States, but apparently that is unfair to the other 40% according to our President. He was willing to give away billions in revenues to make the 40% feel like they were getting even with the 60%. Why?
Class envy. It made no sense... but it sounded good to those who think they are being screwed. It's not just Obama. I think this happens with both parties. Politicians want these have-nots to depend on them instead of learning to find their own way in this life.
That is the humor. Remove a tax cut that made billions and add a plan that will cost billions. How ridiculous! Beam me up, Scottie.
Part 3
In Part 1 of this I discussed the idea of political compromise as a silly way to settle issues of great importance. Part 2 started a discussion on class envy which we are going to continue today.
This unfortunate thought process that is described as class envy goes far beyond ill feelings towards other individuals. It is extended toward small and large businesses in this country as well. Those citizens who think other men cheat to get ahead in this life have the same disregard for business. Any success attained is done so immorally.
Look at oil companies as an example. They make billions of dollars every year on products we all need. The fact that much of these billions has to be expended for exploration and research means nothing to the class envy crowd. The political action wing of the environmental organizations did everything in their power to keep these oil companies from drilling in our own country since 1970 because they do not think oil is environmentally friendly.
So, where is the humor in this? Isn't it ironic that we now fear dependence on foreign oil after shutting down our own oil companies for the last 30 plus years? How much sense did this make? Now we look like idiots.
There are hundreds of products that are made by oil that we all use every day in this country. For those who think gas prices are too high at $2 or $3 dollars a gallon, try paying over $5 per gallon in Europe.
The political humor here is that now we are trying to start up drilling again in our country and off our shores but politicians are afraid to upset the environmentalists by voting for the drilling. In other words, let's pay more for foreign oil even though we can produce it much cheaper right here in the USA. Why?
Capitalism is the champion of any economic system created for any nation. It has it's faults, for sure, but (as the old saying goes) it's way ahead of whatever is in 2nd place. Business provides jobs and pays taxes to keep this country humming along. Capitalism also provides competition among companies to keep prices down for all of us. So, what's the problem?
The class envy crowd does not want to believe that hard work will move individuals and companies ahead. They don't believe it's possible for them, and therefore it's not possible for anyone else.
Such a tragic way to think and live.
Part 4
Part 1 of this series discussed the futility of bi-partisanship in deciding important issues for our country. Why do politicians take what appears to be a solid plan before the House and Senate and then proceed to water it down in order to make the other side happy?
We can understand the need to argue, clarify, study, hash out, and throw punches if necessary. But throw in the towel? John Adams and Benjamin Franklin argued for the Declaration of Independence for days, weeks, and months until they made the opposition see the light.
Where would we be if Adams and his followers diluted their plan to appease the opposition? The humor in this is now watching how politicians trade votes and make deals oftentimes for their own benefit at the expense of the United States. Good deal, huh?
Parts 2 and 3 of this series emphasized the problem of class envy. In this final part of Politics and Humor we will look at where the class envy crowd turns when they get upset.
So, when you don't trust anyone that has achieved in this life because you think they all cheated to get ahead and your feelings are just as twisted when you consider the success of a business, there is only one place to turn. The government.
They really don't trust individual politicians either but they can count on that large entity (the United States government) to be there to "help" them when they cannot help themselves.
Almost 50% of our population no longer pays federal income tax. Yet, the government keeps spending like a drunken sailor. This sure looks like a move towards socialism to me as we keep tapping those with funds to take care of those who cannot or won't take care of themselves. This is simply wealth redistribution.
So, what has happened to Capitalism. You remember Capitalism, don't you? It's the most successful form of economic enterprise for a nation in the history of the world. It's not perfect, but as the old saying goes it's way ahead of whatever's in second place.
Where's the humor here? Well, how do you have a system that's the envy of the entire world moving toward wealth redistribution, universal health care, and government control of banks and auto makers? This sounds so ridiculous. It looks like really bad comedy.
Politics and Humor
Reviewed by Rowan
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5