Why are distance runners such bleeding hearts?

"So maybe the question really should be: when did runners start becoming so stupid that they would even support Bush?"

You don't want to go there. In effect, you are implying that half the country is stupid. That sounds rather arrogant on your part.

no track pussy wrote:

You try to get in my way on the 24th mile of a marathon and test that hypothesis...

Whoa there, tuff guy.

Californian wrote:

"So maybe the question really should be: when did runners start becoming so stupid that they would even support Bush?"

You don't want to go there. In effect, you are implying that half the country is stupid. That sounds rather arrogant on your part.

Too late, I already "went there" and have no regrets. Hey, and if makes you feel any better

A) I have done plenty of dumb thing in my life too (but voting for Bush was NOT one of them)

B) my post will likely be deleted anway, and I will be banned for saying negative things about Republicans. This happens on a regular basis on this site (or wait, it never has happened, it is just my bleeding heart imagination, ya know, the one that is always thinking up conspiracy theories, yeah, that must be it. See, I saved you or someone else the time and said it first)

jsquire wrote:

And nothing pisses me off more than the fat cats getting fatter off the backs of hard-working people. Or people that are ignorant about the federal budgeting process (welfare and the like gets about 0.5% of the budget, compared to the Pentagon's 16%).

I'm not bleeding-heart. I'm cynical and angry.

I'm thrilled that 16% of the federal budget goes to the Pentagon. Anyone who thinks national defense shouldn't be a top priority is an idiot. I'd like to see less money go to "save the snowy plover" bullshit and other needless drivel. I hate paying taxes and seeing the money spent on needless programs that I vehemently oppose. A little less government and a whole lot more "take care of yourself" would do a lot to make this country more like what our founders intended.

No bleeding heart distance runner here.

If you need a friend buy a dog.

thought police wrote:

A little less government and a whole lot more "take care of yourself" would do a lot to make this country more like what our founders intended.

You do realize that the size of the government has greatly expanded under the current administration, don't you? You have noticed that spending is pretty much out of control, and the idea of a balanced budget ended when Billy Bob left, right?

Did You Know?

The United States outspends the combined military budgets of all potential enemies combined 18 fold.

******************************

So, if you cannot afford basic services, you do not deserve them?

I agree with you True Dat. I realize that some people are in such a bad plight that no matter how hard they work, they can't rise out of poverty. I would gladly give some of my surplus money to these people. However, too many people complain about how unfairly life has treated them and use that as an excuse for their situation.

My dad came to this country 35 years ago, with almost no money and able to speak almost no English. 5 years later, he owned his own house and another one that he rented out for money. 10 years after that, he had built his own small business, made over $200k in income, and bought a commercial investment property worth almost $1 million. The reason is that he busted his ass, plain and simple. On Sundays, when a lot of people were watching football games and drinking beers, he was doing improvements on his rental property or working extra at his job. He was always working, always thinking of something he could do to better his financial situation.

As runners, I'm sure most of you understand the difference between thinking you are working hard and really working hard. Not all people who are poor are lazy, in fact many try everyday to change their situation and can't. But many people also think that working 8 hours a day is working hard, and its not. That's why I prefer letting people chose to whom they donate their money, rather than the government dictating where their money should go.

Brett,Great post, you are quickly becoming one of my favourite posters. Totally agreed with most of what you said. Matt

brettman10k wrote:

Yet we continue to train on. Perhaps it's because if we didn't, we truly wouldn't have much. This is what makes us who we are. So I advise, despite these problems, keep training hard. When you find someone genuine, they will like you for who you are anyway.

Brett Dunbar

thought police wrote:

A little less government and a whole lot more "take care of yourself" would do a lot to make this country more like what our founders intended.

I love this sort of stuff. It just cracks me up! Yep, it's all about ME. That's right kids, screw the concept of community and "we're all in this together". And there's nothing I like more than to see the recipients of the system mewling about pulling yourself by your bootstraps.

Next on Fox News: Angry middle class white guys pissed off about paying their taxes! The horrors!!

thought police wrote:

I'd like to see less money go to "save the snowy plover" bullshit and other needless drivel. I hate paying taxes and seeing the money spent on needless programs that I vehemently oppose. A little less government and a whole lot more "take care of yourself" would do a lot to make this country more like what our founders intended.

Ok fine, if that is the way you feel\, then how can you defend the current Republican controlled congress and G Dumbya Bush?!?!?! Jesus H F'n you know who......

Righties like you love to bash the tax-and-spend Demmies, but then when the Bush and his current pals spend like drunken sailors, you make ALL kinds of excuses.

CHEW ON THESE FACTS:

* As a share of national income, federal taxes in fiscal 2004 were 16.3%, the lowest since 1959 (so much for "my taxes are STILL too high." But ok, fine, you like low taxes, you got 'em. But....)

* Excluding defense and homeland security (which would not need to be so high if we had not attacked Iraq......there was a well-spent [will someday reach total] of 1/2 trillion $'s), and also excluding "mandatory programs" (such as Social Security, Medicare, etc), FEDERAL SPENDING HAS RISEN 4.8% A YEAR (AFTER INFLATION) UNDER BUSH, THE HIGHEST RATE SINCE NIXON

(based on S. Slivinski's estimates, Cato institute. From Newsweek magazine)

So, he's cut taxes AND increased discretionary spending a LOT. So no wonder we have the huge deficits and debt.

And what about Bush's giant Medicaid Drug benefit?? It was the biggest "new spending program" since the 60's. And whom did it REALLY benefit the most?? The multi-billionaire pharma companies, THAT's who.

So when the gov't spends a ton, who would you rather reap most of that benefit, poor people who need it, or ultra-rich greedy mega companies and their CEO's??? I know who I would prefer to get most of it, but you pretend that the only the Dems waste our tax dollars, and it is only "wasted" on the poor(whoops, excuse me, I mean the LAZY, sorry about that). Well, you are wrong on BOTH accounts.

thought police wrote:

I hate paying taxes and seeing the money spent on needless programs that I vehemently oppose. A little less government and a whole lot more "take care of yourself" would do a lot to make this country more like what our founders intended.

So why don't you quit bitching on here to all the imaginary "bleeding heart liberals" and start talking to all those conservitaves that you elected to both houses of congress, the white house, and most brances of local and state government, along with most of the court benches. Thier message sounds great when they are the minority opposition, but once they got elected all they knew how to do was get fat and stay in power. All they have to do is keep the sheep riled up about social security, gay marrage, and terrorism and they're set to keep blowing our money. Credit card conservatism baby! Oh wait, let me guess, it's all Clinton's fault right?

Cat Fancy wrote:

You do realize that the size of the government has greatly expanded under the current administration, don't you? You have noticed that spending is pretty much out of control, and the idea of a balanced budget ended when Billy Bob left, right?

Yeah I realize this and I'm not a big fan of it. Although, I cannot think of a better justification for deficit spending then to strengthen and support our military fighting against terrorism. I worked DIRECTLY across the street from the World Trade Center a month before it was destroyed. And I went back to work there afterwards staring at two 15 story holes in the ground everyday.

I'd rather see other government programs cut drastically to balance the budget. Most of these programs are bloated, antiquated entitlement programs that have no place in a capitalistic, representative democracy. There are some people who need help, I agree, but MUCH less than what is currently given out.

Californian's dad is a great example of what happens when people take care of themselves instead of relying on the government as a safety net. He worked his ass off, and went from nothing to very successful. He didn't ask for handouts along the way, and I'm sure the future of his social security check was the furthest thing from his mind. He was too busy taking care of himself and being successful.

Less entitlement, strong military and a balanced budget. Sounds like what America is supposed to be to me.

Go to it, sports fans:

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

JimFiore wrote:

community and "we're all in this together".

Easy there Jim. leftists are always trying to equate government largesse and "involvement" in people's lives with "community". There two are not the same thing. Government is not required for a community to exist; govt is a necessary evil which we tolerate only to adjudicate transgressions (harm) between individuals.

Private citizens have a moral obligation to help their fellow citizens, whether the govt deems it appropriate or not. In Christianity, its called alms, or charity. The Jews and Muslims, along with all the polytheistic traditions, have deep commitments to charity and assisting the less-fortunate.

But of course, to the 4.6% of America, our media and academic elites, who are frothing-at-the-mouth atheistic statists, such notions as charity are too important to be left to private citizens, right?

Californian wrote:

In effect, you are implying that half the country is stupid.

Well, nearly half the country is stupid.

"Well, nearly half the country is stupid."

I guess its just a coincidence that everyone on letsrun is smart.

thought police wrote:

Less entitlement, strong military and a balanced budget. Sounds like what America is supposed to be to me.

Well, did you read my stats ???

YOUR Republican leaders have failed you on two out of the 3 things you want "America...to be." And they sent our "strong military" to the wrong country, while many bigger threats were brewing, and before they finished the job on the Taliban and Al Q in Afghanistan. So it sounds like they are ZERO for 3 in my book.

And "entitlement" for whom???? So much of what the Bushies pass gives entitlement to the already rich, but that doesn't seem to bother you one iota. As I said, the elderly don't think they got that much out of Bush's new "drug benefit plan", but Big Pharma??? They were jumping for JOY over it. And Bush's "energy" and "environment" policies........who do you think wrote those policies, and who were they most intended to help?? YOU OR I?? HA HA HA HA HA.......that's a good one. They were created to help big oil companies, big power plant owners, auto industry, and the like.

Tons of CEO's of mega-companies reap direct rewards from big industry based subsidies and gov't help. But that entitilement, you could care less about.

Zuzu's petals wrote:

Well, nearly half the country is stupid.

Well, that's too subtle of a point for me I guess.

in the first election, a majority of voters(by a very small amount) voted AGAINST Bush.

In the 2nd election, a small majority of voters voted for Bush.

So when you say "nearly 1/2 the country is stupid...." I can't tell which 1/2 you are implying is dumb. And right now, MORE THAN 1/2 of our country think Bush is doing a shitty job.

So it's split pretty evenly over the last 5 years, with Bush sinking to his lowest levels recently (and as low as any 2nd term president).

So Zuzu, which side do you think is stupid for voting for/against Bush? It's pretty hard to tell by your "riddle."