Today's Insight, III

Headline from the Roanoke Times (8-2-09):  Post-9/11 GI Bill gives military veterans a better chance at college

This article written by Matt Chittum gives insight on a bill introduced by US Senator of Virginia, Jim Webb, in rewarding the true American patriots...our veterans and those currently serving in the US military. My personal belief is that no individual realizes what it is to be a true patriot until such time he or she makes a decision to put their limbs and lives on the line for the nation despite all of its faults and misgivings, and Lord knows there are many. Of course, this is unlike the hollow brass of politicians and entertainers signifying nothing except to benefit from the freedom this nation offers with meaningless propaganda of what it is to be a true American. The least this nation can do for these gallant veterans is to provide educational access so that they too might learn to prosper.

Letter of Thanks to Veterans from President Obama, 11/11/2009:

Today, on Veterans Day, my message to you is simple: Thank you. Thank you for your selfless service, for your valor, and for your strength of purpose that make all of us proud to be Americans.

Today, Americans will pause amidst a great conversation about the future of our nation to take a moment and recognize your service to our democracy--a service that guarantees us all the liberty to engage freely in that conversation, no matter what our views may be.

We know that we owe you a debt that cannot be repaid. But we can and will fulfill our nation's promise to stand by you and your loved ones. That is why we've worked for better care for our veterans, and why we provided the largest increase in Veterans Administration funding in history.

Today, we honor those Americans past and present who've served on battlefields from Lexington to Antietam, Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe Sanh, Ramadi to Kandahar. You have defended freedom on land, and at sea, and in the air.

You reflect the diversity that makes this America. You share a patriotism beyond question. And you share the same unflincing courage, selfless compassion, and uncommon camaraderie that--when faced with the tragedy of a despicable and heartbreaking attack last Thursday--the soldiers and civilians of Ft. Hood humbly revealed to the world.

You and your loved ones are the patriotic men and women we honor today, Veterans Day. And you are the men and women we shall honor every day, in times of war and times of peace, so long as our nation endures.

Thank you.

President Barack Obama

http://infobuck.com

High American Unemployment...Misinformation?

I am not sure as to the data that this 10% factor of unemployment is based and if the data is even reliable or simply historic, obsolete, and just non-deployable. However, I would like to cite some recent data that reversed itself. The first is GM's unloading of the "Hummer" into China when only a few months ago the Chinese government blocked the sale. What happened? A change in the data or the way it was represented? Take also the Zicam concern when it was announced that it had no measurable impact on cold and flu relief only a few weeks ago, Rush Limbaugh had to stop hawking it and receiving those confiscatory advertising fees that he loves to brag about. Well, just yesterday he was back to hawking it again. A change in data representation by the government?

Being the government is generally a large bureacratic dinosaur, I don't necessarily rely on it to be accurate in its data assessments, although it is vitally needed to insure that we don't get destroyed by capitalism running rampant or to drown by socialism that could destroy the entrepreneurial spirit that generates growth into the future.

I am willing to bet there are two major human factors that were not in the mix...complacency and a sense of entitlement. When the television news networks show these indepth reports of people being unemployed for months despite sending out hundreds of resumes...I see that as just so much hyperbole. People aren't really looking for "a job" but something comparable to what they are accustomed to by experience or education...which is more than likely non-existent. Therefore, complacency settles in overcoming the desire to adapt with the use of the three R's...re-educating, retooling, and/or relocating. The sense of entitlement is inculcated in the American psyche and self-explanatory and ultimately self-defeating for an individual, group, and nation. Remember Egypt, Greece, Rome?  http://theroanoketribune.com