No matter how you feel about our current government officials, there is so much truth in this and it gives us much to be thankful for.
'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just isn't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in
the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained Firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many 42 inch flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Could it be, The 67% are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. Perhaps that percentage is higher....
No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens.
They see the 67% for what they are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what they don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking God that they live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same
President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been
called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all of us safe from terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve,and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 67 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media and lack of thinking on 67% of Americans who truly believe all is real on TV News. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another.
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.
Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, we can take heart that we have the ability to take care of our own and respond and that our Government allows this unlike third world countries who wont even let aide into their country though bodies lay strewn across the land and floating in rivers.
Who do you pledge allegience to? God, Country, Yourself, or the negative hacks who present the so called news.

While the media love to stir controversy and spin the results of surveys, the majority of discontent in the US is due to the cost in lives and treasure for a war we need never have waged, and the impact that has had on the world economy causing loss of jobs, home foreclosures and rising prices.People are not stupid, they clearly see the advantages of living in the US or Canada, but they still feel the right to complain and try to improve their condition.Most US citizens expect our country to be better than the rest of the world in providing social and health conditions, not third rate.Patriotism doesn't mean being unquestioning of the governance of the country, but wanting to contribute to it's improvement.

Please don't spin my words, like some cheesy politician or sloppy journalist. I said our health statistics are in the same category as a third world nation.Infant mortality and access to health care are not at a level we are capable of rendering to our citizens.

I googled 'infant mortality' ranking and we stand 37th in the world. I do support the idea of a program of Government sponsored health care with a safety net for the poorest and least able to access health care and a member contribution based on the ability to pay.The current insurance based program has been a failure in providing for the most vulnerable.You can use buzz words like socialized, but I'm not sure what that means. Maybe something like government supporting areas of agribusiness or bailing out banks?

Having served as a psychologist/social worker working in public health and mental health for most of my career, I suspect that the place where these facilities and services are concentrated will be where the best paying consumers live.Underserved communities tend to have a lower tax base for major construction of medical facilities, (a factor which
is of concern to the municipalities or regional governing bodies). Doctors tend to live in areas that best meet their economic priorities and recruitment for Medical staff in underserved areas requires some sort of subsidy to compete.

I certainly agree with the idea of some way to address the population explosion. As you likely know it becomes a very thorny problem when trying to create a system to address the problem worldwide as well as here in the US with personal choice and religious factors all playing a part in the equation.

KS...you are doing it again!
I will rap up shortly (extremely) what you say.
We (you) are living in a place where we have electricity, the vast majority of people have a home and most even have a job...so shut up and stop complaining!
I think, the fact that some things are good in the U.S. shouldn't stop you and others from wanting to make them even better, right!?

Let's face it: your administration IS a shame to your once great nation and the current president is most of all.
I just hope that the 64% who think like that will be the 64% at the next presidential voting.
Actually: whoever gets to be the next president...he (or she) can not possibly give a worse picture that GWB.
And: there are a lot of things, that coud be done better in your country (in mine as well, by the way!).
That just needs some reconsidering: do you really need a starwars-like-missile-system in the Czech Republic that costs BILLIONS of dollars (from design over building and shipping it there)...or should you PROBABLY think about a renewed health care system?
You know my answer to that question...and I think, I unfortunately know yours!