It's almost unhealthy how excited I am for football.  And yes, American Football.  Not Soccer-Football (obviously given the time of year).

Which leads me to a point of America vs. the world.  The world calls 'soccer', 'Football'.  We call it soccer (they used to call it soccer too, as well as football, but it became uncool when America called it soccer).

Have you ever chatted with a European?  Or even an Asian?  They all hate America.  The views they have of us are really quite horrible.  I believe, in the past, we were a respected nation.  Why?  Because of our work ethic.  Our production numbers were high, we didn't turn people away from opportunity.  We were socially liberal and fiscally conservative.  We were everything everyone wanted.

Until we started to be fiscally liberal and socially conservative... we wanted to pay money without receiving money.  To increase the money supply without increasing production.  I could rant on and on about why this is wrong, morally and economically.  But that's not the point I want to make.

The point is that we had a change in mindset.  We, individually, started to feel entitled.  Like we deserved money, respect, etc. without putting the work in behind it. 

Our newer generations continued demanding this respect that older generations worked for and earned - they demanded this respect from the world, without giving anything back to the world - they no longer had the America, land of opportunity to wish they lived in.  They saw us for who we are.  little punks with hard-working ancestors.

And now we argue with them over terms like 'soccer' vs 'football'.  a century ago, if we called it soccer, so would they.  Because we earned their respect. 

Now when I talk to a European, or especially an Asian and tell them where I'm from, I'm almost ashamed.  They cringe to hear 'America'.  They are weary to do business with us because they know we're not out to get the work done, but to get the money while working the least.  And so they are actually quite dishonest in their business relations with American small businesses now.  It's truly unfortunate.

So do we deserve what we got?  Maybe, Maybe not.  But the fact that it's even a reasonable question to ask now is just a disgrace.  Let's back up.  Not in political terms - I'm not a birther.  I'm saying we need to change the mentality.  I would like to say that I'm proud to be an American businessman.  I want people to want to work with me for that fact and I'm willing to earn that privelage through my production.  It's a privelage that we're not born into.  It's earned.  So stop your bitching.  You don't have a job?  That sucks, I know (was jobless 1 1/2 years ago - it took 3 months to find a 'real' job! - I got a 'crap' job in retail after 1 month just so I'd be making something).  Go by some lumber and start building something of value to somebody else.  Find a way to produce, to earn a profit.  Do something.  Anything.  Start a lemonade stand.  Jumpstart yourself.  The dependency on others is sickening.

Why do I write all of this?  Do I think I've enlightened you or am I looking to debate?  no.  I know that I wrote is fairly common knowledge... and not too 'deep'.  I write it all down occassionally because in America, we are surrounded by the supposed 'entitled'.  It's a mindset that is poisoness - gotta keep up with the Jones.  So I write it down as the antidote to the poison.  To get it out.  Make sure I am still me.  And with any hope, I can free you of the poison too.