Thu Apr 28, 2016, 09:55 AM

When are we ever, as a people, going to start to _try_ to make this country less miserable

and a happier place to live?

We slave away, with little to no vacation, we pay the equivalent of the cost of a very expensive new car for every kids' education (or the cost of a house, depending on where they go), our economic lives are ruined if we get sick, our rich commit crimes with no consequence, and our corporations write the rules that govern our daily existence.

Meanwhile, in France, Germany, Scandinavia, and many other places, people are much more free to pursue their happiness, raise their families, have excellent educations, and simply _exist_ without having to go begging to their corporate overlords at every turn.

The slavery mindset that is this country's original sin has never left our bloodstream, from the desire for cheap/free/forced labor that fires every employer's imagination, to the servile mentality of our workers.

Cmon, let's stand up on our hind legs and demand better. The humans and the pigs are getting harder and harder to tell apart.

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186 replies	Author	Time	Post
When are we ever, as a people, going to start to _try_ to make this country less miserable (Original post)	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	OP
I cannot recommend this enough, short and to the point...	AuntPatsy	Apr 2016	#1
Never. Wishing the worst for your neighbor is a uniquely american value. n/t	lumberjack_jeff	Apr 2016	#2
that is an excellent, and sad, way to put it.	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#4
I have to agree. NEVER. We as a people have to feel that we are superior to the person next to us.	LiberalArkie	Apr 2016	#29
absolutely	Fresh_Start	Apr 2016	#90
It's not just the GOP	lumberjack_jeff	Apr 2016	#93
I see it too	Fresh_Start	Apr 2016	#96
There's so much hatred behind those	Kittycat	Apr 2016	#151
Sadly, it is in this obscene win/lose society in the US. People feel good about winning and others	RKP5637	Apr 2016	#106
I remember the NIKE commercial	robbob	Apr 2016	#127
It's just absolutely disgusting what the US has become. n/t	RKP5637	Apr 2016	#132
Very clever sig image.	trof	Apr 2016	#133
Many Americans are willing to sacrifice so that others will suffer more.	Kablooie	Apr 2016	#160
If it were "uniquely American," then...	malthaussen	Apr 2016	#164
The Germans may have invented the word.	Bad Dog	Apr 2016	#168
Excellent post, Professor. nm	floriduck	Apr 2016	#3
Most Americand don't know this	nadinbrzezinski	Apr 2016	#5
Hyperbole is not your friend...	brooklynite	Apr 2016	#6
How fortunate for you that your bubble shields you from	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#8
I said nothing about Manhattan...	brooklynite	Apr 2016	#11
Most lines for Broadway shows are found in Manhattan, no?	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#12
Have you ever looked at the crowd for most Broadway shows today?	brooklynite	Apr 2016	#14
Your point, again? that some people in the country have some disposable income?	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#17
But that's my point. "Miserable" suggests a far higher level of struggle than I think is the case.	brooklynite	Apr 2016	#19
"than I think is the case."	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#20
And now you know...	SusanLarson	Apr 2016	#52
Spot on! ~nt	vkkv	Apr 2016	#58
So who do you suggest Ds 'support' if Mrs. Clinton is the nominee?	Sunlei	Apr 2016	#59
This message was self-deleted by its author	vkkv	Apr 2016	#71
The lesser of two evils, obviously, what did you think? nt	vkkv	Apr 2016	#72
I don't think Mrs. Clinton is 'evil' so are you still on the 'Bernie or Bust' platform or aTrumpite?	Sunlei	Apr 2016	#78
Just what I was thinking	sammythecat	Apr 2016	#70
Yep. nt	raouldukelives	Apr 2016	#162
I think you are missing the forest for the trees.	KPN	Apr 2016	#105
you must not get out much	Skittles	Apr 2016	#135
he " must not get out much" indeed. We recently drove from the east coast	Nay	Apr 2016	#138
Ahhh the rationalization for letting Wall Street run our government.	rhett o rick	Apr 2016	#10
Well, his income comes from Wall Street	jeff47	Apr 2016	#18
Would that not apply to everyone?	treestar	Apr 2016	#82
Wall street is not all "business enterprises".	jeff47	Apr 2016	#111
My daughter has been looking	840high	Apr 2016	#22
It's very hard out there especially for the 40 -50 year olds. No one will hire them. nm	rhett o rick	Apr 2016	#24
Yes - she's 50.	840high	Apr 2016	#39
someone needs a visit from the spirits, past, present, future....	AuntPatsy	Apr 2016	#27
And yet suicide rates	My Good Babushka	Apr 2016	#28
Thanks for that	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#31
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!	malaise	Apr 2016	#36
just because you don't see us, doesn't mean we aren't here (and reading your words)	Viva_La_Revolution	Apr 2016	#37
New York is where those who got the cream from the top of the sour milk in 2008 live.	JDPriestly	Apr 2016	#57
Which is also how the US grew to what it did in the 20th century	The2ndWheel	Apr 2016	#74
So you are saying that companies should be able to do anything they want?	zalinda	Apr 2016	#120
I try to stay away from should's	The2ndWheel	Apr 2016	#183
Try telling that to people who have been	zalinda	Apr 2016	#184
Back in the 19th and early 20th century, we were a developing country, and there	JDPriestly	Apr 2016	#134
I live in New York, too, and neither I nor any of the people I associate with on a daily basis	Gene Debs	Apr 2016	#80
Average cost of a Broadway ticket passes $100 for the first time	Human101948	Apr 2016	#91
Exhibit A...	lakeguy	Apr 2016	#99
With all due respect	moonbeam23	Apr 2016	#107
Your post makes me madder than hell	Stargazer99	Apr 2016	#108
Hmm you need to get out off that bubble	nadinbrzezinski	Apr 2016	#122
It must be awesome being you	tenderfoot	Apr 2016	#125
OMFG - get our of NYC and come drive around upstate	bread_and_roses	Apr 2016	#175
Holy shit, get out of your privileged bubble.	Odin2005	May 2016	#186
Miserable is good...	Wounded Bear	Apr 2016	#7
Every country has a different history	The2ndWheel	Apr 2016	#9
Nah, that's a negative way to spin our greatest strength, our diversity and tolerance	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#15
Well Star Trek is also a fictional TV show	The2ndWheel	Apr 2016	#61
They keep us fighting amongst ourselves	awoke_in_2003	Apr 2016	#117
Canada does all that Europe does with a near-civil war on its hands for several decades ...	MisterP	Apr 2016	#41
True, and the context of every country is different	The2ndWheel	Apr 2016	#67
In about 10-20 years.	jeff47	Apr 2016	#13
We live to work	Matrosov	Apr 2016	#16
Plantation Mentality/Protestant Work Ethic.	HughBeaumont	Apr 2016	#40
You win!	moonbeam23	Apr 2016	#115
Never, as long as the vested interests keep us divided.	alarimer	Apr 2016	#21
And unfortunately a big share of the country has just voted	jwirr	Apr 2016	#23
that's right, and the strange reality is that not only do they not cost too much	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#25
Bernie has done an excellent job highlighting the problems with the Democratic Party.	Enthusiast	Apr 2016	#94
Been holding that in and slightly vexed lately?	mrdmk	Apr 2016	#155
"Where to Invade Next" by Michael Moore.	CrispyQ	Apr 2016	#26
A sadistic people	My Good Babushka	Apr 2016	#30
This is my take on it in a nutshell. Americans are sadistic, seething with	Nay	Apr 2016	#48
America is that way because that narrative was culitivated by the far right media.	Enthusiast	Apr 2016	#97
Yeah, I know. That's why I said "I could go on, but I won't." It's not like TPTB	Nay	Apr 2016	#137
Maybe never. nt	ladjf	Apr 2016	#32
Want to make this country less Miserable??????	Cryptoad	Apr 2016	#33
great advice	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#42
GOD. ++++ a million. nt	Nay	Apr 2016	#49
Apathetic,,??	Cryptoad	Apr 2016	#81
Just what, on earth, are you trying to say?	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#129
If we voted for our local senator and representatives	treestar	Apr 2016	#87
I think you make the best point yet.	llmart	Apr 2016	#136
I was just thinking that	treestar	Apr 2016	#85
What makes my ass want a pinch of snuff,,,,,	Cryptoad	Apr 2016	#95
No, Democrats are powerless to change	zalinda	Apr 2016	#123
Thank you. I've endlessly repeated the story of here in VA, where Cantor	Nay	Apr 2016	#140
the GOP are a problem, but our number one problem is money in politics	passiveporcupine	Apr 2016	#145
Not until the country breaks up into smaller nations, I'm afraid.	tabasco	Apr 2016	#34
Once we have supermajorities in both Houses of Congress and a landslide Pony.	Octafish	Apr 2016	#35
A friend & I saw it about a month ago & I'd like to see it again.	CrispyQ	Apr 2016	#38
Yep, remember it well. the looks on their faces	LittleGirl	Apr 2016	#156
can't wait to see it	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#43
Do you want the long answer or the short answer?	MrScorpio	Apr 2016	#44
Our education system sucks (k-12) and people can't either	Phlem	Apr 2016	#45
It is Congresses job to raise the Federal minimum wage to $15. Americans have to stop electing Repub	Sunlei	Apr 2016	#46
Some of those Republicans wear Democrat suits.	Phlem	Apr 2016	#47
I know but a good start is to not elect Republicans. The worst has come from them.	Sunlei	Apr 2016	#50
Been doin it since before 2005.	Phlem	Apr 2016	#56
Yup, more and more of OUR Federal funds go into 'for profit' private pockets.	Sunlei	Apr 2016	#62
Yup.	Phlem	Apr 2016	#65
Thanks, you too!	Sunlei	Apr 2016	#76
BERNIE SANDERS: "Poor people don't vote".	vkkv	Apr 2016	#51
Because voting is on a Tuesday, and they don't have the luxury.	Oneironaut	Apr 2016	#86
Mail-in ballots, absentee ballots.. there are other options, but yes, if one isn't all that	vkkv	Apr 2016	#98
A number of states require a reason for absentee ballots	zalinda	Apr 2016	#126
""Or just maybe nothing fucking changes whether you vote or not. ""	vkkv	Apr 2016	#130
When you have been voting for Democrats	zalinda	Apr 2016	#131
I have heard this so many times	nadinbrzezinski	Apr 2016	#148
Amen!	redstatebluegirl	Apr 2016	#53
K&R	yuiyoshida	Apr 2016	#54
Getting the money out of politics is a start...	modestybl	Apr 2016	#55
Bhutan? They don't focus on Gross Domestic Product numbers...	mwooldri	Apr 2016	#60
Hey, the banksters are happy and that should be good enough for all of us, eh?	Scuba	Apr 2016	#63
Well Damnits, They should be even more happy that their choices are now	Phlem	Apr 2016	#69
Cost of my daughter's 4 year education at a	LibDemAlways	Apr 2016	#64
Yep.	Phlem	Apr 2016	#66
There are still too many people who either benefit from the status quo or...	antigop	Apr 2016	#68
With no guarantee that it gets better	The2ndWheel	Apr 2016	#75
K & R	mountain grammy	Apr 2016	#73
When this country stops squeezing turnips for blood.	romanic	Apr 2016	#77
Wow	Scarsdale	Apr 2016	#79
Never. People are addicted to misery.	Oneironaut	Apr 2016	#83
You have a point there	treestar	Apr 2016	#88
This message was self-deleted by its author	carolinayellowdog	Apr 2016	#84
Proud to be your 100th rec, PP.	blm	Apr 2016	#89
Thanks blm	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#92
K & R! Excellent post!	TIME TO PANIC	Apr 2016	#100
We are being manipulated psychologically	felix_numinous	Apr 2016	#101
This message was self-deleted by its author	carolinayellowdog	Apr 2016	#109
Silly rabbit. Happiness is for corporations.	Arugula Latte	Apr 2016	#102
Amenz!	northernsouthern	Apr 2016	#103
Americans have been bred to think this is the norm and many don't even look out of the box, falling	RKP5637	Apr 2016	#104
Great post!! Thom Hartmann is reading it on his show!!	SalviaBlue	Apr 2016	#110
that's humbling	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#112
This message was self-deleted by its author	carolinayellowdog	Apr 2016	#113
Oh, but you are worthy.	SalviaBlue	Apr 2016	#118
When there's money in it for those at the top	Punx	Apr 2016	#114
This message was self-deleted by its author	carolinayellowdog	Apr 2016	#116
great comment	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#119
It will have to get worse before it gets better, I hate to say	steve2470	Apr 2016	#121
NO! You cannot take away a family's Rolls and make them ride in an Escalade, or plain old Caddy. eom	Festivito	Apr 2016	#124
When we vote to make them miserable. Who do they really not want to work with?	ViseGrip	Apr 2016	#128
Yes, of course you're right. Rec'd sadly. nt	babylonsister	Apr 2016	#139
When collective compassion exceeds collective greed. nt	NorthCarolina	Apr 2016	#141
Fuck you! I have mine.......	Hotler	Apr 2016	#142
We need a revolution	Plucketeer	Apr 2016	#143
Thom Hartmann read most of your post on his show today.	Ilsa	Apr 2016	#144
thank you for the heads up.	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#165
Found it!	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#171
I think that many ostensible Liberals have thrown in the towel.	Maedhros	Apr 2016	#146
But I have a smart phone!	Depaysement	Apr 2016	#147
Western Europe has blood on its hands. It still exploits the third world for the wealth	McCamy Taylor	Apr 2016	#149
K&R	Paka	Apr 2016	#150
YES!	CarrieLynne	Apr 2016	#152
Many here don't want that. That's why they don't protest Hillary Clinton as candidate...	whereisjustice	Apr 2016	#153
people in Norway are Happy!	KT2000	Apr 2016	#154
I live in the south, the poorest part of our country, and yet	anniebelle	Apr 2016	#157
We have been colonized by our own capitalism. n/t	eShirl	Apr 2016	#158
K&R!	secondwind	Apr 2016	#159
We are in really tough shape	Progressive dog	Apr 2016	#161
I'm pretty sure I'm not making an argument in favor of slavery	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#166
I did't claim you were, I just pointed out	Progressive dog	Apr 2016	#173
ok - which argument? Used by whom?	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#176
Go back and read my post that you replied to originally.	Progressive dog	Apr 2016	#177
no, it isn't	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#178
Exactly, after your "except", you repeated	Progressive dog	Apr 2016	#180
you will be the first person I've put on ignore here in 12 years	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#181
I feel honored	Progressive dog	May 2016	#185
also, there really are places in Europe where the people happier	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#167
So you think I didn't understand what you said.	Progressive dog	Apr 2016	#172
Unfortunately I think we're seeing our only chance	sinkingfeeling	Apr 2016	#163
yeah, that is really depressing	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#169
It's not just this country, it's humanity in general.	randome	Apr 2016	#170
K&R & crosspost to 'working poor' n/t	w0nderer	Apr 2016	#174
thank you	ProfessorPlum	Apr 2016	#179
When we stop blaming everyone else for the misery and stop the misery we are causing ourselves. nt	Jitter65	Apr 2016	#182

Response to ProfessorPlum (Original post)

Thu Apr 28, 2016, 09:57 AM

AuntPatsy (9,904 posts)

When are we ever, as a people, going to start to _try_ to make this country less miserable

1. I cannot recommend this enough, short and to the point...

2. Never. Wishing the worst for your neighbor is a uniquely american value. n/t

4. that is an excellent, and sad, way to put it.

29. I have to agree. NEVER. We as a people have to feel that we are superior to the person next to us.

90. absolutely

93. It's not just the GOP

96. I see it too

151. There's so much hatred behind those

106. Sadly, it is in this obscene win/lose society in the US. People feel good about winning and others

127. I remember the NIKE commercial

132. It's just absolutely disgusting what the US has become. n/t

133. Very clever sig image.

160. Many Americans are willing to sacrifice so that others will suffer more.

164. If it were "uniquely American," then...

168. The Germans may have invented the word.

3. Excellent post, Professor. nm

5. Most Americand don't know this

6. Hyperbole is not your friend...

8. How fortunate for you that your bubble shields you from

11. I said nothing about Manhattan...

12. Most lines for Broadway shows are found in Manhattan, no?

14. Have you ever looked at the crowd for most Broadway shows today?

17. Your point, again? that some people in the country have some disposable income?

19. But that's my point. "Miserable" suggests a far higher level of struggle than I think is the case.

20. "than I think is the case."

52. And now you know...

58. Spot on! ~nt

59. So who do you suggest Ds 'support' if Mrs. Clinton is the nominee?

72. The lesser of two evils, obviously, what did you think? nt

78. I don't think Mrs. Clinton is 'evil' so are you still on the 'Bernie or Bust' platform or aTrumpite?

70. Just what I was thinking

162. Yep. nt

105. I think you are missing the forest for the trees.

135. you must not get out much

138. he " must not get out much" indeed. We recently drove from the east coast

10. Ahhh the rationalization for letting Wall Street run our government.

18. Well, his income comes from Wall Street

82. Would that not apply to everyone?

111. Wall street is not all "business enterprises".

22. My daughter has been looking

24. It's very hard out there especially for the 40 -50 year olds. No one will hire them. nm

39. Yes - she's 50.

27. someone needs a visit from the spirits, past, present, future....

28. And yet suicide rates

31. Thanks for that

36. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

37. just because you don't see us, doesn't mean we aren't here (and reading your words)

57. New York is where those who got the cream from the top of the sour milk in 2008 live.

74. Which is also how the US grew to what it did in the 20th century

120. So you are saying that companies should be able to do anything they want?

183. I try to stay away from should's

184. Try telling that to people who have been

134. Back in the 19th and early 20th century, we were a developing country, and there

80. I live in New York, too, and neither I nor any of the people I associate with on a daily basis

91. Average cost of a Broadway ticket passes $100 for the first time

99. Exhibit A...

107. With all due respect

108. Your post makes me madder than hell

122. Hmm you need to get out off that bubble

125. It must be awesome being you

175. OMFG - get our of NYC and come drive around upstate

186. Holy shit, get out of your privileged bubble.

7. Miserable is good...

9. Every country has a different history

15. Nah, that's a negative way to spin our greatest strength, our diversity and tolerance

61. Well Star Trek is also a fictional TV show

117. They keep us fighting amongst ourselves

41. Canada does all that Europe does with a near-civil war on its hands for several decades ...

67. True, and the context of every country is different

13. In about 10-20 years.

16. We live to work

40. Plantation Mentality/Protestant Work Ethic.

115. You win!

21. Never, as long as the vested interests keep us divided.

23. And unfortunately a big share of the country has just voted

25. that's right, and the strange reality is that not only do they not cost too much

94. Bernie has done an excellent job highlighting the problems with the Democratic Party.

155. Been holding that in and slightly vexed lately?

26. "Where to Invade Next" by Michael Moore.