Three - Nonpolitical Politics?

I have been holding on to this for a while. I have some very strong beliefs and usually avoid the subject of politics unless it is with close friends or family. I am entering the foray into this world right now.
My first point is, I will not read any political commentary about President Obama unless he is referred to as Mr. President, Mr. Obama or President Obama. This is not because I am a democrat, which I am not, it is because I respect the office and this country and whoever holds the office is 'entitled' to the title.
I made a comment when I first heard President Obama had won the Nobel Prize. I said, he could garner more political favor than he has had since the election if he were to respectfully decline to accept the prize. I simply meant that I did not see the merits in award it to him after less than a year in office and he had not accomplished all the things that were being touted, he had some grand ideas, but until they are put into practice they are still ideas and not life changing events.
I was immediately rebuked and accused of being racist because of this statement. It came out of nowhere and I was completely floored. I examined what I had said, and tried to articulate as best I could and it was met with a wall of resistance that I have never seen before. And, from a person I have known for nearly thirty years and who knows me well enough to know better.
Well, since that time I have dedicated more time to following the political tides to see if I had perhaps missed something. I didn't, as a matter of fact I believe what I said more strongly now than when I originally said it.
I have read article after article that accuse every person who disagrees with President Obama of either being racist or political. That is not fair and I will not accept it. I haven't agreed with every thing any president has done or said and I have made statements in that regard, but have never been met with such fast and inaccurate retribution.
Mr. Obama's platform was built with used lumber and rusty nails and it is now falling apart because you cannot legislate morality, especially when it is undefined. His health care bill was dreadful, the moving of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay was a disaster and he is backpedalling so fast he is losing even some of his most ardent supporters.
And, as far as an attack being labeled as 'political', these are politicians and their job is to be political. Politics, in my estimation, have always played a large role in politics. How can politics be nonpolitical and how can a politician be apolitical. That is the dumbest argument I have ever seen.
I have heard and read that the working class as the, "truck driving, God clinging electorate." Well, I have a CDL, I can think of no one better to cling to than God and I vote. So I take offense at that statement and hope many of you do as well. This country became what it is on the backs of the working class and we should be proud of that, not ashamed.
The politicians are dressing up their accusations and insinuations that we, the general population, could not possibly understand what they are doing with polite droning and extremely political politics. Lets encourage them through our votes and opinions that we don't like being looked upon this way.

Two - Entitlement

I have been doing a little bit of research. I was inspired to do so because I am a little concerned about the fact that there seems to be a large number of Americans that believe they are owed something, other than 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'.

It seems if things don't go well or if someone is having a hard time the first response is to blame the government. Not a political party or a specific politician, just the government in general. For instance, if an individual is out of work, or in many cases, simply doesn't like what they do, they find a way to, as my grandfather used to say, "Go on the dole." Whether it be unemployment, some type of disability, or Welfare, there seems to be a large percentage of people who are acutely aware of these means.

This is not to say that there is never a reason to take advantage of these things, because I know that there are, but should it become a lifestyle rather than a temporary fix until one is back on one's feet?

The research I eluded to earlier was into the word 'entitlement'. It is not the same as the word 'entitled'. Entitled is a 14th century late Latin word that means to give a title, like sir or lord. It has more modern meanings like the bearer of this ticket is entitled entrance to the movie. As in I bought something and expect something in return.

The word entitlement means something else, and has only been used since 1942. It seems that was when Mr. Roosevelt was in office and began to create all the wonderful government programs that were supposed to get America back on her feet. Well, either she never recovered, or people became dependant on the government for their well being.

I would say the country did recover, not that there have not been ups and downs, but we left the Great Depression before I was born.

I am almost fifty years old and I first entered the work force in 1974. I became dependant on having a job in 1978 and have been gainfully employed ever since. Not to say I have had the same job, but I have had a job and when I was without work, I found another job.

I will do anything to see that the needs of my family are met, and do not look at certain jobs as beneath me and refuse to take them.

I think that entitlement needs to become extinct. We are only entitled to what we earn, or are able to purchase. We should not feel entitled to our government as that will, and has, create economic insecurity.

I hear teens say they will not take a job at a fast food restaurant because they want something better. When I worked at a fast food restaurant my mom wanted to take pictures of me in my uniform. Having my car smell like a french fry was a rite of passage. And I was able to put gas in it and buy Aerosmith's latest album.

I know this can be fixed and we can become the country we once were, but are we really entitled to it based on the condition we have allowed it to become?

Clothesline One - Introduction

Writing a blog is a new venture for me. I am not sure whether it will be a political diatribe, social commentary, sports fanaticism, biblical controversy or merely the incoherent ramblings of a misplaced conservative Hoosier.

I believe they will be brief and to the point, one topic at a time, and contain a number in the title. I will be inspired by what I see, hear, read or experience and will be bold and honest.

I have long had a desire to write, but to write what I want, to express myself without the constraints of an editor or specific audience.

I may alienate some and endear myself to others, but neither is my goal. My goal is to air things out with the written word. Kind of like hanging your clothes outside on the line on a fresh spring day. It doesn't really matter what they look like to others, the point is to get the air.

I have a wide array of opinions, which many of you already know. I am usually not overly concerned with offending people, but am more diplomatic than I used to be.

I hope you enjoy reading my entries as much as I enjoy writing them.