It truly amazes me to think that someone -- letter writer Victor Reilly ("There's the lucky, and the unlucky," Nov. 8) -- would think that because I go to work every day, pay my bills on time, keep my body healthy and do the right thing at every opportunity, that I am somehow lucky?
And by that same rationale, people who would rather drop out of school, drink to excess, smoke cigarettes, have children out of wedlock and otherwise cause a drain on society rather than strive for a better life are somehow unlucky? Please!
This kind of thinking strains credulity. But the most dangerous thing is it provides cover for the looter class of politicians who want to continue to provide redundant and unnecessary services to give money to the moocher class in exchange for votes (power).
Until the Victor Reillys of the world give up their liberal guilt about actually doing the right thing and stop feeling sorry for those who have made their own poor choices, this country will never move forward.
Remember: Liberals define compassion by how many people are on welfare; Conservatives define compassion by how many people no longer need it.
William Davis
Augusta
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Succinct and straight to the point Mr. Davis. Many who choose to miss your point will reply in a foolish and confused manner.
gee, johnston, you took the words outa my mouth. want to take bets on how long it takes someone to turn this into a racial argument?
I agree Mr. Davis..
xanadu - it will take just long enough for justus or RCR to make a post.
wd could not agree with you more. conservatives are usually happier and more charitable than liberals according to a study released several months ago.
I'm not Henry Ford rich, but I have plenty. I thank God and America, plus the fact that I get up and WORK everyday, for the blessings I have. And no, I don't agree with Odumba's "redistribution of wealth" philosophy. It went over well in Cuba in 1959, and Russia in 1917. Now, those people are finally discovering that this philosophy only creates mutual poverty. Some idiots like that too. The current administration and congress seem to be Hellbent on breaking our country's economy. Folks, enjoy your money while you still have it.
so true southernguy08....enjoy your money while you have it, one day the system is gonna collapse and money will have no value....things keep up...we could be living in the world of Mad Max!
Great letter! I happen to know the letter writer and know that he grew up very poor, but was not allowed to behave poorly. He believes the way he does, because he grabbed the opportunities that were available to him, and brought himself out of that poverty. These opportunities are offered to everyone in this country! Just saying this before others start posting that he was probably already born with an advantage.Thought I would clear that up off the bat.
Nice and simplistic, Mr. Davis. Do you walk on water too?
Well spoken truth.
I am imspired to write a song for the letter writer.
Is there anyone who can come up with a rap song inspired by this mans letter? The rap listeners are the poor souls who need this wisdom.
Grouse he would build a boat if crossing water was needed . Not stand on the shore complaining about the people on the other side and how they got there ..
Many people do the right thing and still get screwed. People like the letter writer have never been in a bad situation not of their own making apparently, or forgot what it was like if they ever were. All the people currently unemployed are not uneducated or lazy people.
True, imdstuf, not all unemployed people are lazy or uneducated, but a great deal of them are.....what about those who spend GENERATIONS suckling at the government welfare teat? Are they just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
We need family planning. If you can't feed them don't breed them. If I can accept that fact that I can't afford to be a world traveler, buy a new wardrobe every month, throw lavish parties, drive a different classic car each day and live in a different mansion every month why is it that poor people can't get the fact that children cost money to raise!!!! I resent my federal tax dollars going to generational welfare people and criminals!!!! I am 50 and I want a few things out of life too. Like being able to pay my monthly mortgage, gas for my very used car, saving for a face lift that (I could use now) and..a lap band..and a new topue to replace this frizzy wig !...and a loose skin and a brest reduction...some day a better used car.......It makes me sick to see generational welfare people who by the way, have a greater propensity to commit crimes......pumping out more babies.... Bon appetite http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/memphis-crime
Most bad situations are temporary and if you stay in the wrong place all the time bad things will happen ... Being unemployed at this time I have a bunch of choices a victim or victimized aren't my first choice ...My state of employment is just time to repair and retool and get ready for better times ...
I missed Victor's letter the first time around, so I just went and read it. And it infuriates me. I was the first person in my immediate family to go to college (and I graduated). My going to college and working hard to get a good job has nothing to do with the financial status of my family -- in fact, they never could have afforded to pay for any of my schooling. Thankfully, I was able to earn the HOPE scholarship -- funded by the lottery, money people willfully spend, not by taxes!! This scholarship does not discriminate except for the grades you earn and how hard you work to keep up your grades through college. It has nothing to do with the success of your parents. I know so many people who didn't take it seriously and lost the HOPE in the first year of college. I have 3 younger siblings, and so far I am still the only one to have attended college. So YES, it does have a lot to do with how hard you work in life and how badly you want to succeed, and not so much to do with how "lucky" you are.
.... "If you can't feed them don't breed them"........well thats straight and to the point...maybe not so PC as the sheeple would like ..but truthful......kudos !!
The headline says it all.Doing the right thing sets you up for survival when bad things happen (as they always do). I think it's the whiners who won't take responsibility for their poor choices who drive most of us crazy.Of course not everyone who is struggling is lazy and by that rationale not everyone who succeeds has been "given" an unfair advantage. MOST (not all) people's lot in life is self- imposed.
Amen Mr. Davis!
You are exactly right imdstuff, and those peoople who do work and try and fall on tight or hard times usually can not get the help they need, becuase they work. They are left out in the cold while the lazy get everything handed to them for being lazy.
Notasheep is infuriated by this letter? Why? Mr. Davis is saying your choices (good or bad) constitute your "luck" in life. Nota... got his degree from HOPE -- I got mine from the GI Bill; I am also the first of my family to matriculate. So what is Nota... saying? He earned his and I got lucky? My family couldn't make change for a stamp; I managed to send my kids to GT (with benefit all four years of HOPE)- so they're lucky because I got lucky; luck being soldiering in every dangerous armpit of the world so my kids would have it better. As Bugs would say, "Wotta maroon...!"
dstewartsr -- Way to assume I'm male! Also, I don't know how you misread my comment, but I was agreeing with this letter-writer. I was infuriated by the letter Davis is TALKING about. Reading comprehension: Try it!
William Davis: Great letter! Thank you for taking the time to reply to Victor Reilly with straight talk. I agree with each of your words. Unfortunately, our U.S. Congress has taken us down the path of providing redundant and unnecessary services to give money to the moocher class in exchange for votes (power) for the past 50 years; both the Democrats and the Republicans. I think term limits for the members of the House and Senate would help get citizens into Congress who have the real life view you do, and rid us of the out-of-touch, career politicians we have now.
To the writer who said "nice and simplistic". You are correct..it IS simple....do the right thing at every opportunity and you will be better prepared to handle the rough times. Keep screwing up,. and the herd will be naturally culled.