Quote of the Day - Hammertime Edition

Perennial Leftist commenter Markadelphia has been stirring the natives up again. Here's the rant-of-the-day from James, the TexanGunNut in reply to one of his more outrageous howlers:

I don't normally comment here, generally I just read and absorb information and look at both sides of most every argument

BUT.....

I felt compelled to say something here.

"This is one example. Been to New Orleans lately? Parts of it look an awful lot like Kabul to me. This is what a failed ideology does to a nation."

I couldn't agree more, however I don't think that exactly works in favor of the point that is attempted within. New Orleans is most certainly a product of a failed ideology, that of which has has led to massive numbers of people demanding and/or expecting handouts and giving little to no thought on actually attempting to lift themselves out of poverty. Which side of the political argument demands such policies these days?

And to further the argument, it is insinuated that it is the Rich Capitalists' fault that these impoverished people of New Orleans remain in squalor?
Hippie, please.

I seem to recall a few years ago, in the aftermath of Katrina, that busload upon busload of New Orleans natives were heaped upon my fair Texas. Scores of these 'victims' were given debit cards(at taxpayers' expense) to use to purchase basic needs and goods, and many used them for "needs:" ranging from strip clubs to designer clothes. I and many of my fellow Texans volunteered to assist in any way we could to aid those in need. What was given us in return? An exponential increase in crime. Countless complaints. Not a finger lifted by an overwhelming mass to aid in the cleanup effort or to do anything about the issue at hand.

(This was not, mind you, how everyone affected responded or acted. It was, however, the overwhelming majority.)

I have seen firsthand what mindset is pervasive amongst these people, and I can say for sure right here, right now, it was not placed there by those among us who promote individual freedom, individual responsibility, and individual liberty.
Somehow, someway, I am supposed to infer that this behavior is somehow the fault of a conservative/republican/libertarian/capitalist/fill-in-the-blank-as-long-as they are not associated with the left?

The people who gave the most to charity, who donated the most time, money, and thought to the needy, and the people who are overall paying the majority of the taxes collected in this country are somehow evil and responsible for the fall of a nation, yet somehow the people pushing the failed policies of failed nations are our new saviors, and are free to dictate "logic" and "facts" calculated only by their "feelings"?

There is a point (likely reached by the recent Nobel Peace Prize award) wherein even the Onion is rivaled in trying to emulate life. It just gets that surreal.
This beats that in spades. The National Enquirer couldn't be counted on to blow this much smoke.

On a separate note....

I've lived in every class available. I grew up rich, graduated high school and wound up in a job that put me in middle class. Upon losing that job, I was penniless and had to start from ground zero poverty and work my way back to lower middle class wherein I now reside. I do not recall, even when things were there worst and I made 10k a year (less, actually), being without basic needs like food, clothes, shelter, power, etc.

At no point did my life reflect ANYTHING remotely close to a third world country lifestyle. I had access to healthcare, even if it was just the emergency room or public clinic and the bills had to sit and wait eons until I had the funds to pay them. Never was I in danger of famine, disease, or in fear for my life.

To suggest that somehow there is some existence in the middle class wherein money is no concern is abject lunacy. Money is always a concern, you're either concerned with making it, spending it, or saving it. It never simply ceases to exist.

Apologies for the rant, but sometimes I feel compelled to add something, even if that something adds up to nothing.

I'm with the Geek on this one - that was definitely a lot more than nothing.

Not that Tinkerballs will notice.