A Nation of Entitlements...

There used to be times in my life when I say "Why Bother".... Lately, and I am noticing, much more frequently it is turning into Times In My DAY that I say why bother? Why not let other people just give me shit....
Over the last couple of decades we have seen so many advancements from the minds of our countrymen (and women) and I look at our youth today and wonder at what point will the advancements stop and we begin to rely solely on other countries for our advancements.  It really seems like the youth of today feel a sense of entitlement to have good things and little to no passion to create good things...
As a nation, we have handed so much to people "in need" that they train their kids on how to manipulate the system and somehow manage to stay "in need".
With so much focus on helping those "in need" we have forgotten to 1) verify that they actually NEED and not just want and 2) that sometimes you have to tell someone to get off their ass and get a fuckin job!!! Sometimes, MOST TIMES they need to have that said...
I have always had a problem with someone telling me "They deserve" or "We owe" them something.. Maybe it is all the work stress of this week, or that I'm just tired; but, whatever the reason, I felt the urge to let one unfortunate person know my views on this today...

As I was getting gas at a convenience store in Greenville, MS earlier I heard the uneducated southern drawl of a girl talking very loudly about it being "hers birfday, and shes gonna gets some money to go drank on".
On her shirt was about 15 or so dollar bills pinned on with a pin.  Where the fuck did this shit start? Pin a fucking dollar on your shirt and everyone gives you money for your birthday? Or in this case, Birfday...
As I walk in to the store she says, or yells, to me "hey, yous gones gimme a dolla for my birfday?"
"Got change for a five?" I ask as I pull a five dollar bill out..
"Aww hells yeah!" she replies and begins to unpin this wad of dollar bills and slowly counts five out. I give her the five dollar bill as I grab the five ones and I begin to walk away...
"Wait! Yous didn't gimme a dolla!" she yells..
"I know.. and I'm not going to... I don't know who the hell you are, nor do I know your momma... And I see absolutely no reason why I should give you a "DOLLA" because your momma squeezed you out so many years ago! Hell, I should give your momma a dollar for putting up with your begging ass!" was my reply...
Not the nicest I know, but hey, I am me..
"I aint beggin nigga! Fuck you!" she yells at me as she storms off screaming all kinds of racist cracker this cracker that comments at me...
Not begging? Really? What the hell do you call it when you pin money to your shirt and expect total strangers to give you money because you say its your Birfday? Hell, I don't even know if it was her birthday!
This sense of entitlement is what is wrong with today's culture.
Sure, if you need assistance I say go for it.  And yeah, I tend to be a hard ass, but for those that know me know how I really am.  I say we as a nation need to stand up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Stop with the handouts! Stop giving the guy on the corner your change! Stop giving the bum at the gas station a dollar...
How many times have you offered the guy standing with a "will work for food" sign FOOD instead of money? I've done it many times and more often than not I have been cussed out!! They aren't hungry they just want your money because as a nation we are quick to throw money at those less fortunate and these assholes have learned to exploit our good hearts and deep pockets!
Many times while working nights in Jackson I have had to use my asp baton, a broom stick or whatever to chase and at some times beat the crap our of beggars...
Too harsh you say??? Show some compassion you say??
I tried.. And the guys that got the sticks and batons would ask my customers for money and would become violent if they were told no and one even pulled a knife on a customer because they "didn't give enough"!
He even told the police he felt he was owed more!!
Yes, these are isolated cases, but the idea is the same.
We have handed out so much without question that many youth in our culture have stopped trying and expect it. They have never been taught that you have to work for what you want, because if you don't work, someone else will take care of you..
There was one guy many years ago while I was checking the pressure in my tires at 2am while working nights in Jackson that I did give something to.
He walks up to me, standing a good thirty feet away starts saying "sir! sir! I don't mean you any harm and I'm not going to come closer I know it's late and there's lots of crackheads out here. I'm one of em.. But, if you could spare some change I would be grateful.. I'm not going to buy food, or drugs, and I don't own a car that I can say I ran out of gas and need money for... I just want a beer. Not a coke or water, I'm an alcoholic and I'm thirsty and I just want a beer to go sit under the bridge and drink"
I'm telling you, I was floored... The first honest thing I had heard form a beggar in forever!
I bought him a 12 pack and told him to have a good night..

Now back to the other thing...
I understand helping people I really do... But let's focus on how to help these people. Stop giving money because they have a raggedy jacket and an open hand.
Point them towards a shelter... Donate to your local food bank, volunteer at the shelters... donate to Goodwill or other Charities.. If these people are hungry, they will accept food.. If they are cold they will accept shelter. If they are wanting a better life, they will accept the help of the charities to find a job, an education, a better life... But, make them work for it. You work for the money they want you to hand out, it's not too much to ask for them to work for the hand out you are giving....

So yeah, I keep going to work, busting my ass, scraping by... And I raise my kids to do the same... I believe I have to work for what I want, what my kids need and that in doing so it will pay off... It may NEVER pay off, I may ALWAYS be a broke paycheck to paycheck guy... But I was raised to work for things.. And I will do as I was raised to do...

Your kids will do as you raise them to do...

Jus sayin