ATS Dump - Rant With No Steam

Well,

Our downfall is vanity. What made America great in the past is that no matter what if you needed something you could always find someone to help you out ( not the government ). Our society has shifted from truth and charity to any answer is the right answer and vanity.

Even when we give we do it from the pocketbook and not of our time.

A country can only go so far with the me first attitude. A country can only go so far when our charity is through government.

If you want to see the vanity of America just watch anything on MTV. Guess what--your kids are. They see the actions of these people on Jersey Shore and then we look around dumbfounded when they start acting just like what they see.

By the way, when our "idols" ( athletes, actors, businesses) get in trouble what do they do? " I will give a huge donation to this cause because they are wonderful and I must pay this tribute in order to be forgiven." Do they give before or after that? No really. That is what we and our children see as charity. If you do something wrong all you have to do is throw some money at it and it will go away.

What a sad state of affairs when the definition of truth and charity is set by those who dont know what it is themselves.

I will always remember the last line in the Devil's Advocate, " Vanity, It's my favorite sin."

Ok, self righteous American talking, leaving this thread. Lol im from Australia, and since time began, people have wanted to stay in power... Lying, cheating and killing to get there. If you think this doesn't happen today, then good for you.

EDIT: And no I just get antsy pantsy when these guys on about 'good ol 'merica' where this and that happens. Yet its not their fault, its the 'bad 'mericans'. Even "stralia' gon down, taking the dead man's dingie or so. This world is stuffed, and money kills people, whatever is gonna happen is gonna happen.

I love Americans, they are a good set of people... But your leaders have big mouths, and like to use them. I know and apologize for before. Big mouths never got no leaders anywhere, even if they are just a mere spot, to gain out attention, while the real rulers stay behind closed doors, hidden and etc.

[edit on 30-1-2010 by Aoxoa]

If you feel caged in I suggest Claig's-listing away superfluous stuff out of your life for someone else to buy, meaning more gas money to travel to see your rejected friends, or simply paying car/ house bills or taking a class you're interested in.

It's well documented that population overgrowth results in lower quality of living, we have big pharma pseudo medicine men to keep us alive longer, to abort more babies that we don't want, and employees that continue to pump out technological toys to keep us from enjoying actually working for basic necessities, ESPECIALLY entertainment- the thrill of survival, with a few trusted or untrustworthy few..

I have 2 kids, including a 4 year old, who's at Nursery School.
One of his teachers said to me, that he was a pleasure to work with, that he was the best mannered child in the whole nursery, and that he "even" says "excuse me", "please" and "thank you"!

Now, I'm pleased that my child is doing well, but I'm thinking...
Shouldn't they ALL be polite? and Well mannered?
Shouldn't they ALL say Please, Excuse me and Thank You?

He often comes home saying " one of the boys wouldn't share with me today..." and he just can't understand why some kids are "mean"!!

Many of the parents there are completely clueless about life in general.
In the midst of terrible winter weather recently, with 8 inches of snow on the ground, and freezing cold winds, I saw kids dressed in summer clothes, freezing cold, screaming in pain, being dragged into the nursery by parents wearing nothing more than training shoes (sneakers), track suit bottoms and a light sweater!!
What chance have these kids got?
How did the parents get to the point where they don't understand that SNOW IS COLD, and that Boots, Gloves, Hats and Scarves are cheaper, and better than branded sneakers for cold weather!

I've seen the very same people walking past their fellow nursery school parents, whos cars are stuck in the snow, wheels spinning.
They just seem oblivious to the REAL world around them, too busy with their iPods and Mobile phones to lend a hand.

I agree whole-heartedly that society as a whole has lost it's way.
I don't know for sure if this trend has been deliberately engineered or not, but it would certainly suit any future Powers That Be, for us all to be more isolated, ignorant and selfish.
If we don't care about our neighbours, our extended families and friends, then how can we care about our society in general?
And we'd obviously be much easier to manipulate and control, divided and conquered.

It's the materialistic modern fast-food, disposable, easy-come easy-go lifestyle which seems to fuel this.
It's easy for us to blame the younger generation for spending too much time online, using facebook, twitter etc or texting, and using mobile phones or games consoles, instead of much healthier pursuits, but who was it that put all this technology in front of them?

No wonder they comminucate in grunts and shrugs!!!

Have you noticed that you hardly ever see teenagers smile anymore?
They stress. They worry. They Fret.

We used to have FUN.
We used to PLAY outside in the fresh air, for hour after hour, day after day, week after week.

Parents molly-coddle their kids now, but I think the media has to shoulder a huge part of the blame.
We're bombarded with images and stories of killers on the loose, terrorists, rapists, murderers, arsonists, bombers, car-jackers!!!
The list is almost endless. But how many times have you or I actually encountered a REAL murderer, Terrorist, Rapist etc?
My sincere apologies to those who have, but I'm 45 YEARS OLD and I've never been murdered, raped, set on fire, bombed, car-jacked, stabbed...
I appreciate that crime figures are quite high, and that many people will unfortunately have had their own bad experiences, but I believe that society has got it all completely out of proportion, due to the media "hype".

The horrible conclusion that is looming up for me, is that this is all being controlled somehow. That we are SYSTEMATICALLY being CONDITIONED to be more fearful, more isolated, more alone.

TPTB run the MSM.
The MSM "dumb down" our TV shows, put ad breaks FOR MATERIALISTIC CR*P every few minutes to break our concentration, and spread sensationalist scare stories on the news, radio and papers.
We're sold useless gadget, after useless gadget.
Our Education systems no longer "educate" about the things that matter.

We're like pawns being moved around a chessboard. Or cattle being led through the slaughterhouse gates.

I hope that we, as individuals, can somehow see through all the smoke and mirrors and realise that WE are WORTH MORE than this.
Turn our backs on all the commercialised, materialistic, junk.
Tell TPTB that we REFUSE to play the game anymore!
Elect leaders and politicians who UNDERSTAND our REAL NEEDS and who have the courage and skills to meet them.
And... teach our future generations that THERE IS SO MUCH MORE to LIFE.

I am encouraged that so many contributors to this thread have noticed the trends, and have a desire to make things better. Now, It's up to us to do it.

When I was a pre-school aged child I had mastered a puzzle of the United States. It was one of the few toys my grandparents had for us when we visited. I learned to count and memorized the alphabet at three by watching sesame street, I even tried to form my body into the shapes of the letters. I learned to read by four because my mother read to us all the time.

My best friend across the street had parents who considered it the responsibility of the government to teach so they didn't bother, not even making sure he did homework. He constantly struggled at school.

I think the biggest factor in a young child's development is family involvement.

It's called Capitalism, and the Capitalist are getting very good at what they do. That simple.
Ever see WALL-E? Say hello to our future where BnL owns everything and the human race is nothing more than consumers - we're just about there.

[edit on 30-1-2010 by xEphon]

reply to post by romanmel


This proverb sums it up for me-

“It is better to want what you have than to have what you want.” Philemon

What do we have? Do we use it?

Faith, transportation, shelter, and food is what I have. I don't have tv programming.

Holidays-Our families get together and play card games and stuff ourselves. Why would I want it to be complicated?

reply to post by Deny Arrogance


...twist your body into letters, lol That's an adorable image.

We also learned to read by the age of 4. It helped that most of my family have been professors. My elders thought education was very important too.

reply to post by custom2006


I agree with that.

I never feel like I am doing enough. I have been taught that a woman should be able to do it all, work ,raise a family take care of the house and all the stuff that goes with it. When I fail to do all of these things, I feel hopeless. Too much has been put on people in general these days, we might not have to grow our own food or hunt or build our own cabins but we still are worked to death in other ways. At least when we had to do more physical things we felt good about what we had accomplished.

Right now I am unemployed and I feel like a hopeless failure, only because I have been taught that I should be at work. Nothing I do at home really matters much.

I hate this new way of life. I will drop out of it as soon as I can. That is a promise !!!!!

By the way I am 47 and wish I was 75 so I could be done with the crap.

If anyone here happens to have a 2006 Mercedes Benz E55 Wagon collecting dust in their "Junk" pile. I would be happy to help alleviate the stress that it puts on your life by taking it off of your hands for free.

I blame the economy. We used to live in Wisconsin when the Greenbay Packers were unbeatable, then Vince Lombardi got traded to another team and everyone just got depressed. You wouldn't think football was everything to a community, but it was more than that. It was like we can't win no matter what we do. This economy is like that.2008 the bankers looted us and there was nothing we could to. Our economy is on a downward spiral because that's what the bankers want for our future. There have some dream of feudalism in our future and we are powerless to steer our own country/ship. America is a land of possibility where with hard work and a lot of luck you can make a decent life for yourself without being pulled down by tyranical despotic government. Well that's over now. The feudalistic despots have gotten control and they are going to depress us to death.We may have been living a lie for a while, since 1963 maybe, but it's just sunk through to us. The blame in on the economy. Our economy has been scuttled at every turn by our sold out government for these would-be feudalistic rulars. If you read The Creature From Jekyll Island, you would realize that it is a wonder that our economy that has been bleed so thoroughally and extravagantly has survived so long.Trillions in taxpayer dollars and deficit debt sustained by taxpayers was syphoned off into deceitful schemes for foreign aid and loans that enriched the banks and gave them even more power over our government. This fact has finally caught up with us and we are in a trap. We can't wiggle out of it. It was not from spending too much on cheap stuff from Walmart that did this to us. But we are stuck helpless in front of our "legal" government and those ... bankers before they slaughter us and have us for dinner.or maybe actually slaughter us and harvest our organs.

Please don't tell me that if I feel that way I should leave the country.
Because there isn't really any place to run to.

[edit on 30-1-2010 by m khan]

I am surprised so many seem to feel the same as I do, I am dismade at the attitude of some parents and people around me.

I teach my 3 year old to say please thank ect because I was taught manors cost nothing but are worth so much but few people will even thank you for holding open a door.

I was born and grew up in Scotland, we could play just about anywhere around where I lived and my parents where happy that the local bobby or the other parents would look out for us or get us into trouble if need be.

Its been such a rapid decline in Scotland of the community and parents looking after each others kids and one another. It saddens me that nowadays who would not dare leave anything lying about or leave a door unlocked.

My work place is a prime example if its not nailed down or locked away its fair game and this is in a secure building.

Not only that you dare not stop to help someone or a child for fear of being branded a criminal.

My brother used to delivery early papers in the morning to shops he found a woman unconsious lying on the pavment, he stopped checked for a pulse and put his jacket over her, before he could stand up to call for help 2 police men pinned him to the ground handcuft him and asked him what he had done to the woman did he touch her ect. It turned out she was so drunk she had passed out.

I am still at a lose though to figure out when and how it started and why it went to fast. Is it really all down to the media? or have most people lost a common sense of decency?

The problem begins when people blame other people and external circumstances for their unhappiness. It is compounded when they allow a sense of entitlement to surround them. No one deserves anything. In fact, the whole concept of deserving something is self defeating. The only thing guaranteed about life is that someday it will end.

The only true happiness can be found within yourself. Nothing outside of you can make you happier or unhappier unless you choose to allow it.

Stop thinking so much. Just wake up and be amazed that you survived another night.

The only real point in life is to live it.

[edit on 30-1-2010 by darkplanet]

reply to post by concernedcitizan



I believe you are correct. We are wrecking our body’s natural defense system by eating foods that have been processed to the point that you need an ingredient list to be able to even identify what it is. We are seeing new diseases and life threatening conditions due to the massive amounts of hormones and antibiotics in our food supply. Obesity and diabetes are on a steady incline in our numbers but what it is doing to our children is really frightening.

Our children are now developing allergies to foods that were a main staple for most of us when we were children. Young girls and young boys are physically maturing at a rate that far exceeds that of their mental maturity. Infertility among both men and women is increasing along with an increase in cancer victims including children.

We know what the problems are. Solutions are what we are short on.

reply to post by SpiritoftheNightSky

The massive, unprecedented population growth of the past few centuries has become the greatest threat to life itself in the current age. �The worst foe of life is too much life�. We should decrease our population drastically, and furthermore take steps to ensure that the best of the population are given higher priority. This solution cuts to the heart of our current civilization, and will no doubt draw up much opposition. The concepts of equality and freedom are ingrained into our belief system, and this proposition attacks both of them. Yet there is nothing but logic and a deep realisation of reality at the core of this assertion. Every extra person on the planet drains resources, and resources are finite. The planet can only replenish at a certain rate, and we have gone far past this. Furthermore there is no real benefit from having the highest number of humans possible. We should commit ourselves to future generations and not the selfish indugences of our own. It is not a pretty picture.

Originally posted by darkplanet
The problem begins when people blame other people and external circumstances for their unhappiness. It is compounded when they allow a sense of entitlement

That is a good observation, but I think we are past that. That could have been applied to the kids of the 50's. At this stage the problem comes more when we blame ourselves, at the insidious prompting of true villains, that we are to blame for all the problems of the society and world and therefor we should lie down in shame and allow ourselves to be trampled by said villians who plan to gain something by it. The danger comes from the fact that there is a very real danger in front of us. In a peaceful, not Iron Mt Rpt peaceful, but lack of danger peaceful, environment it is ok to blame yourself, Introspection won't hurt you, but when the corporate wolves are dismantling your country you can't afford it.Read The Creature From Jekyll Island.


[edit on 30-1-2010 by m khan]

[edit on 30-1-2010 by m khan]

reply to post by SpiritoftheNightSky


I totally agree with every word you have said so far. Even in Australia here things are almost the same.

I agree with the fact it all starts with education in the family home. Unfortunately the 'family home' has been under attack for the last fifty years. The rise in the cost of living and lifestyle changes has seen the family home change dramatically. In 'the good 'ol days', one wage would be enough to support the houshold. Employers loked after and treated the staff with respect and viewed them as an asset to the company, not a renewable resource that is expendable. The wage could pay for the house, the food , bills and a good education for the kids. The mother could play a more influential role as a full-time carer and early childhood educator for the children. The family unit was a much tighter and stronger unit then, and so were communities. Less fearmongering and less stress on indiviuals and families.

And haven't times changed? One wage can barely support an individual now, not much chance for an entire household. Therefore both parents must work and the children go into day-care. Less bonding between parents and children and confusing signals sent to kids through too many adult carers and role models. Now we work and live with constant fearmongering and high levels of stress. That's my extremely abbreviated rant, but this world be crazy mate.

Concernedcitizen and Maristo have my vote (whether or not they want it )

Farmers and Nature don't breed from inferior stock. Instead, they select the best and build their herds from there

There are TOO many people on this planet and it shows. Too many pointless consumers. Which is fine for Big Business, which is why it continues and why governments are actually paying people to breed

I agree with the comment of a few days ago that there should be Death Pill dispensers on street corners

People are not enjoying life. But the 'law' and it's strong-arm enforcer, the Church, forbid and prevent people from dropping-out permanently

When people aren't enjoying life, for whatever reason, they attempt to make their lives more tolerable by consuming: alcohol, drugs, toys, escapism via tv and internet, etc.

Forced to remain alive, they inevitable link up with another, in the hope 'love' will make them happier. Next, they breed more of themselves, in the hope children will function as magic glue and give them reasons to live and hope

Then, towards the end, aged and in ill-health, they pointlessly and expensively fill thousands of nursing homes, 'God's waiting rooms'. If asked, 'What do you think you achieved in life', they eventually come up with the standard response: ' Well, I have four children, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, so I must have done something right '

Wrong. Dandelions can reproduce. So can ants, dogs, cats, cockroaches and rats. There's nothing noteworthy about it. It's not an achievement

The separation of conjoined twins and the removal of parasitic-twin limbs from the surivor are hailed as 'an achievement'. Why ? Are we short of people on the planet ? Are we so desperate to have more, that we devote millions of dollars and thousands of surgical hours, not to mention lifelong financial and practical support, in order to have a couple more people on Earth ?

No. Those surgical hours and millions of dollars could have been much better utillized elsewhere

People by this point may well be frothing and pounding their keyboards in order to respond about the 'sanctity of life'. WHAT sanctity of life ? In Iraq or Afghanistan for example, you mean, where Western troop rape, torture, kill, set fire to people who are NOT physically or mentally disabled --- millions of them. THAT sancity of life ?

There's no sanctity of life. Humans are cheaper than dirt. They reproduce like weeds. We don't even need them to breed any longer. Humans, superior specimens, can be created to plan and design in laboratories

Humans have now been relegated to their true position on this planet --- apes who dominate and attack every other living thing --- and THEN have the hide to waffle on about 'sanctity of life'

The mirror's being held up to us now. The shield of the Church (all religions) and the myth of our being God's major achievement have been stripped away. We are seeing ourselves as we are, and we are rightly disgusted

This makes us depressed and we fall back to default mode: sex, eating, spending, gambling, drugging, breeding, fighting, blaming, whining

And for those lacking the courage to face it, there are the 'waffle sciences': 'thinking positive' and tuning-in to loving, all-approving channeled 'angels' and 'evolved space beings', etc.

If most were honest .. I mean honest, not spouting off in fora in a grab for 'better person' rating ... people would admit that sick and disabled humans are boring, depressing and a waste of time. But it's not politically correct to say so if you have such a person in your own immediate circle and definitely not PC to say so out loud, in fora or real life

Want proof ? Sure. Happens every day in buses and trains. Heavily pregnant women are forced to stand while teenage boys and males (and WOMEN) generally pretend not to notice, or play with their Ipod or mobile phone, or briefcase, whatever. Elderly folk, same thing. Every now and then, a true human will offer their seat, but they've become the exception

There's no respect. Five teenagers or migrants will walk abreast down the footpath. Strength in numbers. They force everyone else to step aside, walk around them

Young children in supermarkets, on public transport, in museums and art-galleries, at restaurants, etc. Watch them. Their eyes are everywhere, looking for the captive audience. Then they begin to perform. They believe they're 'entitled' to other's attention. They demand it.

Now watch their parents. Observe the smug, self-congratulatory half-smirk on their faces. Sure, when they realise their fat, untalented, irritating offspring are not generating many 'Oh, what little darlings' type responses and when other's glares become obvious, the parents will make THEIR try for the captive-audience's attention by pretending to chastise the pointless products of their loins. You are not alone in wishing you had a flame thrower which would clear the area. Most people sit silently seething, wishing the morons and their hideous offspring would disappear into the floor. The only time this differs is when it's YOUR hideous offspring

Why don't the 'authorities' have the courage to trial Instant Death Pill Dispensers on street corners ? Are they afraid streets would fast be filled with the corpses of those grabbing the opportunity to 'leave' ? Afraid they'd lose all those 'useless eaters' and their consumer dollars ?

reply to post by SpiritoftheNightSky


I agree with you.
I don't think people understand the magnitude of how much people's minds have been controlled. If you turn the idiot box on for a minute you can see the messages people are being force fed.
Just look at this site as an example, the advertisements you see here often are the type that have people worrying about their bodies of all things rather than things that truly matter. Very sad.
That's the intent to create fear of anything, and you be sure that's the kind of junk our youth and children eat up. And who's going to stop it? ha it's too late now. They'll pass down the same stuff to their children.
Who wants to be educated or think about anything whenever they can just be preoccupied with their appearance instead? That's what America is built on these days.
It's as if TPTB are saying, "make the humans go into themselves for a distraction".
One of these days people will be so controlled you'll give them some beauty products and salad and they'll accept that over anything.
That seems to be all anyone cares about is what they're told to care about, and the next generation has no idea what's going on. They want to be famous on their youtube, facebook, myspace, and twitter.
When I encounter most people these days they act like they're on the opposite side of the Earth eventhough they stand right next to me. They're either greater than me so they claim or they want to kill themselves. How can anyone be happy these days with all this corporate garbage getting louder eachday? it's an all out battle of the human mind. it's working too. nobody even communicates anymore. I am sick of all this.

I like that I can see these discussions happening on ATS, but out there half or probably more than half of people can't see past all the illusions.

[edit on 30-1-2010 by Before2017Victor]

reply to post by Dock9


What to do, when a ship carrying a hundred passengers suddenly capsizes and only one lifeboat? When the lifeboat is full, those who hate life will try to load it with more people and sink the lot. Those who love and respect life will take the ship's axe and sever the extra hands that cling to the sides of the boat.