Jay writes:
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some
poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy
with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country
is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence,
two-thirds of the citizenry just ain't happy; they want a change.

So, being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are
we so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running
water 24/7? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning
in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4% of
these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into
a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur hasseen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

Or possibly it's the hundreds of clean and safe motels we find along
the way, where we find temporary shelter? I guess having thousands
of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not
good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency
workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a
helicopter to take us to the hospital?

Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home. You maybe upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group
of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch
equipment to extinguish the flames. Thus they save you, your family and
your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against
attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of
bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents.

This is neighborhoods where 90% of the teenagers own cell phones and
computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the
world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a
great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The
most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about
what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of
thanking the good Lord we live in freedom.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and
has no plan to get us out? The president with a a measly 31% approval
rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark
days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out
of recession?

Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the
book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe
from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer
army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the
President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so
much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself
and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually
caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was
failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''
discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario,
''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69%
of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. "If
it bleeds, it leads," and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will
watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids
selling lemonade at the corner?

The media know this and media outlets are for-profit corporations.
They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their
actions by "justifying" them in one way or another.

Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to
write a book about how he "didn't kill his wife, but if he had, he
would have done it this way"......Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut
off the TV, burn /Newsweek/, and use /The New York Times/ for the
bottom of your bird cage. Then start thinking for yourself and
concentrate on being grateful for all we have as a country. There
is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank
God several times a day, or at least be have an attitude of
appreciation. One thought puzzles me:

"With hurricanes, tornados,fires out of control, mud slides,
flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to
the other and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks,
are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of
Allegiance?"