Pass the Remote...

Humanity has reached a new pinnacle. I will not say I have seen it all but I am getting closer as my aneurism looms nearby. Scientists have finally discovered a drug to fool the body into exercising without the tedious effort of actually moving (article).

I will state that if you read the article, you will discover that perhaps the drug may help people who otherwise could not exercise. However, the article mentions couch potato too many times so we intelligent folk can figure out to whom the drug is being aimed.

How lazy do you have to be? We have remote controls because we can’t be bothered with moving five feet to change a station. We have drive-thru restaurants because there is too much effort to walk a hundred yards. Additionally, the drive-thru restaurants allow us to grab food quickly because the effort to cook is exhausting. There are even robotic (insert expletive here) vacuum cleaners!! Now, exercise in a pill! Soon we won’t have to get out of bed. Slowly, the human race is… well…making the human race…ah…obsolete. Maybe the creators of the Matrix are on to something.

My doctor, rather profoundly, explained the concept of exercise inherent in our DNA. She said that exercise is programmed into our genetics from the days when humans had to hunt for food. She told me there is no quick fix and if one is too lazy to exercise and eat properly, be fat and quit whining.

We are a lazy society…but why…impatience. Let us blame the shipping companies. Some time ago, we would order a product and we would have to wait for it to arrive. However, we can now order a product from half way around the world and have it delivered overnight. The overnight phenomena meant that workers could no longer say to the boss “That proposal will have to wait because the documents won’t be here until next week.”. Oh no, thanks to the shipping companies, we can’t get a break. Broaden that thought and think of the poor people working for the shipping companies…yikes.

Our impatience has had a ripple effect across our lives. Most are tied to their jobs through PDA’s, they are connected 24 x 7. We feel guilty taking time off from work and many are still connected while on vacation. In fact, comparing average vacation time in the U.S. to the rest of the world shows Americans work too much. Even our national holidays have suffered attrition through the years. Without down time it is no wonder we are lazy in our own lives.

We are in too much of a hurry and need to slow down. A magic pill will not help. I can guarantee that the exercise pill will have some type of freaky side effect. I have a feeling the side effect will have something to do with cardiac explosion. Pills are not the answer to all ailments and frankly, all the medicating does is bring profits to pharmaceuticals and disastrous side effects to the medicated.

Now where is the damn remote….

Consequences...

The problem with Americans is that we do not seem to have to face the consequences of our actions. The following rant stems from recent legislation that assists those homeowners facing foreclosure (article). Mind you, I think it would be terrible to have thousands of homeowners chucked to the curb. However, there has to be consequences to ones actions.

Four years ago, I purchased my second home. At the time, the bank approved a mortgage $80,000 above of my comfort zone. Of course, the realtor attempted to show me homes at the top of my approved amount but I put my foot down. I was smart enough to figure out what I could afford with my current earnings. Additionally, I looked at a worse case scenario and figured out what I would be comfortable paying at less earnings. I also avoided interest-only loans as if they were the plague. My thinking was not rocket science so how did others fall into the trap.

American society is riddled with folks who want instant gratification and too much is never enough. Many of the people who are being bailed out had no business getting into the homes they are being kicked out of. Why would one not make the mortgage the priority payment? If I were to lose my job tomorrow I could find any job at any salary and make sure I could pay my mortgage. The rest of my bills can rot…the roof over my head is priority.

I am tired of being responsible in an irresponsible society. The hardworking responsible people are going to pay for the ignorant decisions of others as usual. In addition, the irresponsible people will have their entitlement fulfilled. Because we all know that, it isn’t the fault of the people being foreclosed on; they did not make the decision to buy out of their comfort zone. Those damn mortgage people did this to them so they are entitled to assistance. If that is the case, let’s call the law what it really is “Assistance to Stupid Subjects of the United States” (ASSUS).

When will there be legislation giving the responsible people a tax break for not causing a burden on society? When are the responsible people going to see the consequences of their actions?

Social Responsibility...

I was discussing the sudden rise in crime among teenagers with a friend. I found the idea of society having a greater impact on the upbringing of children, rather than their parents, interesting.

I have based my theory around social interference. For example, there was a time when a parent was free to use spankings to rear their children. However, society determined that spankings led to child abuse and that would not be tolerated. Therefore, the methods of punishment offered to a parent dwindled to “time-outs”. Of course, parents also were encouraged to pursue logical discussions with their children so the young-uns would understand the reasons for their time-outs.

Most smart adults realize that when dealing with a three-year old, logical discussion is not an option. Sometimes a good whack on the backside and a firm “no!” is the only solution to a purple faced demon possessed child.

Of course, in order to be politically correct I must say I do not condone the beating of children. However, I do know that when in the middle of a fit, a child is unable to listen to reason. A smack on the bottom jars them to attention and corrective action can follow. Additionally, I still see the reports of child abuse on the news. Time-outs did not eradicate the heinous crime of child abuse.

Now years later, we are seeing the results of the social do-gooders. Children have become obnoxious. I know my elders said the same thing about young people’s disrespect; however, the young people today are downright scary. Most have an entitlement complex and absolutely no respect for others in society.

Oddly, enough when teenagers get into trouble; the first thing society says is the parents are at fault. Now I will admit, some people should have sworn off procreation but society must realize that “they” took away discipline options. If society wants to butt into the rearing of the children by proclaiming spanking a sin, then society should take responsibility when the youngsters turn out rotten.