After browsing a couple of posts and articles it occurred to me that I am a member of the most discriminated minority in the country. I am old, white, Christian, registered Republican male who smokes! When do I get my stuff??
White Christians are becoming a minority in this country, just like baby boomers are slowly dying off by natural cause. It's the inevitable result of change. You can try to resist the tide, but it will ultimately win.
You've already had it Rod, well, as much as you're going to get short of winning the lottery. Too bad your name wasn't Koch.
Resist the tide? Read the OP again ... He's accepted that he's now in the minority, and as a minority, he's "entitled", he's owed, he wants his fair share.
Smoke another couple packs and keep waiting. A small disagreement; except for smoking (I quit at 50 as a gift to myself), we're in the same boat but I don't see myself as belonging to "the most discriminated minority". I do, however, see hate, blame and discrimination directed at white, male, Christian Americans. Just not at the levels you are claiming. Neither party is serving the best interests of the country. The Republicans are trying to preserve what was and the Democrats are trying to "put the shoe on the other foot" for a few decades to balance things out. In short, they are trying to use two wrongs to make a right. Foolish, but that's their plan.
Agreed. Our ancestors left the Old Country to forge a new nation. Their descendants are a bunch of whining brats playing the victimization game.
I'm old and a young friend of mine whose 80 is in the hospital and probably will die before today is over because of smoking. They can't help him get enough oxygen in his lungs. So forgive me for saying this but besides being christian and republican you're stupid.
Sorry to hear about your friend but I have to agree. It was emphysema from smoking his entire life that killed my father. I gave up smoking 36 years ago and am glad that I did. In essence smoking is handing over control of your life to corporate interests that only want your money and don't give a flying crap what happens to you.
Sorry to have to tell you, but you're up a creek sans paddle. I'm an old, brown, Christian, registered Independent man, and I can't for the life of me figure out where to go to get my free stuff... We obviously need more organizations that help people to access their fair share of the entitlements. Anybody know an 800 number to call?
Can't the same be said of those who take drugs? Take unnecessary risks? What others do is up to them, but I reserve the right to not sympathize for the harm they do themselves. I do not support Nanny State laws such as mandatory seat belt laws and helmet laws. Minors, yes, but adults no. We shouldn't be so arrogant as to dictate to adult American citizens how to live, what to think and what to believe. I support assisted suicide and legalizing all drugs. If people want to kill themselves, they should be allowed to do so. The only restrictions should be when it causes direct harm to others.
Smoking causes harm to others. Failing to wear a helmet or seat belt could case harm to others if you become a burden on them through your own failure to act prudently. The "nanny state" has to assume the Medicare burden of those who smoked all their lives and that harms taxpayers like ourselves. Yes, drugs should be legalized because the phony "war on drugs" is causing harm to taxpayers. If you use the "harm to others" yardstick there are sound reasons not to smoke, do drugs, wear helmets and seat belts.
All very true. Were it not for my friend who is dying I'm sure I would have said nothing. Interesting side note: You mention helmets. I was a MSF instructor and very much a safety guru when I had my first street accident seven years ago after riding over 60 years. Despite having a full face Nolan helmet on I still suffered a subdural hematoma and and many broken bones. I surely would have been dead without my helmet.
You are, of course, confirming my comments about the Nanny State. Typical LWism to have a problem with smoking but support legalizing drugs. Typical to say on one hand how a person's actions might become a burden to others then, OTOH, say, let's all do drugs!
A helmet certainly saved me from serious injury if not death. I highly encourage wearing proper safety equipment and, even before it became law, wouldn't drive people who refused to wear a seat belt. I simply don't believe in Nanny State laws. It gives too much power to the State. None of their frickin's business just like it's not the State's business who screws whom, marries whom, what they believe, etc.
Lung cancer? You would be amazed at all the ills, maladies, and deaths that cigarettes cause -- in smokers and non-smokers!
Give? I help pay for CHIP big time; I help pay for public education in Texas saving other people from paying taxes; I help subsidize new doctors go to poor rural areas in Texas to practice; I support advertisements that deride me; I help pay for bridges and roads; I subsidize cessation programs; hell, I've even helped buy professional sports teams! And this is just from the smoking part!
Well that was convenient, I don't believe it none of it! Personally, if it were my friend, I'd be by his side right about now and not sitting at a keyboard waiting for a call, then again we all deal with friends differently