Originally posted by nyk537
I just find it a little odd that all these "do-gooders" who have suddenly decided that helping people is awesome since Obama won weren't out helping people before he won.

It is odd. And it's sad that many people never considered it. This has become a time of selfishness. People were comfy to sit in their houses and have the attitude of "me first".

Search "pay it forward" and you'll see that some of us did indeed talk about it when asked about it. But a lot of people in this country have gone inside themselves and forgotten that they are part of a community.

Obama's call to service is bringing them back out again. How can you complain about that?

Nobody was making this big of a deal about community service and doing our own part before.

Not to be smart, but so what? Can you argue that we need it now? Can you argue that we can do wonderful things if we get together with other people and pull ourselves up? Does it really matter what the past was like? Isn't this about our future? We can't change the past.

While Bush was President, we were looking to the government for help

Speak for yourself. I was not looking to the government for help.

Now all of a sudden we have a President who talks about government being the ultimate solution to our problems,

That's not true. I'm not going to argue about it, but he has never talked about the government being the ultimate solution to our problems. NEVER! Read the excerpts in my first post. READ MY FIRST POST instead of just skimming the title.

and we're supposed to start making things happen for ourselves.

Yes. We are responsible. You can do it or not. But the point of this thread is that people who are sitting back complaining about "no change" are just copping out. Putting the entire responsibility on Obama to "change" our lives is an excuse to not have to do anything ourselves. It's the ultimate cop out.

Exactly. He never talked about government being the ultimate solution to our problems. He said government can provide the short term boost that we need. But they're not the ultimate solution to our problems. That's a VERY different statement.

Twisting his words is another way to cop out.

I don't mind continuing my community service at all.Being of service to others is a higher calling it itself.However as a sign of good faith our government should "put up or shut up" All the billions of dollars a year that are set as foreign aid needs to be rerouted to the people of this country.
There are people in this country loseing everything they own.Why should they be asked to pick up more of the load to cover for a wasteful government?
The truest test of a leader is to "lead by example".Let our government show us how to properly use time and money to benifit our fellow citizens.

Originally posted by daddyroo45
Let our government show us how to properly use time and money to benefit our fellow citizens.

That's the saddest thing I've read in a long time.

God help us.

Originally posted by nyk537
No he said ONLY government can provide the boost we need. Only is a definitive statement

So is "ultimate solution" and he didn't say that. If he had said, "Only government can solve all your problems" then I'd agree, but he didn't and you know that. He is talking about a VERY specific problem. The economy.

Perhaps you'd also get further with this thread if you would stop accusing everyone who disagrees with you of "copping out".

I didn't say that because you disagreed with me. I said that because you twisted Obama's words to make him out to be saying something he didn't. That's just another way to make him out to be something he's not. It's common here. And yes, it's a cop out. It's a lot harder to criticize him if you really listen to what he says and take him for his actual words instead of adding your own meaning.

And I don't really care how far I get with this thread, whatever that means. I've said my thoughts with the first post.

Originally posted by nyk537
I don't care if it's one specific problem or not, the words "only government" should never be said.

That's just silly!

The power to right the economy, or any problem this country faces, lies with its people, not it's government.

So, 9/11 should have been handled by the people, I suppose.

This is far off topic and besides, it's not making any sense. So. I'm going to bow out of this particular line of discussion.

Originally posted by RFBurns
Just telling the poor cash strapped sheeple that he needs our help......can mean anything. It can mean he needs us to sacrifice even more of our non-exsistant funds, sacrifice more jobs and give them to overseas workers, give up our way of life...anything.

He keeps saying change. Yes we can...blah blah. Ok...how about being specific and to the point instead of this generalizing that sounds appealing to an already stressed out, tired and angry public that is easily swayed and convinced by simple sweetened words.

Lets see what his words are after the inauguration.



Cheers!!!!

We already know, he is already back peddling,

Due to circumstances,

blah, blah

Originally posted by nyk537I don't care if it's one specific problem or not, the words "only government" should never be said.

The power to right the economy, or any problem this country faces, lies with its people, not it's government.

I would say that in the context of the economy, the only thing that your people can do is "Buy American" (or in the car industry...North American...auto pact, all that) and/or lobby the government to keep some industry at home. Sure as hell stop sending your/our jobs overseas! Hell, the auto industry is sending work offshore from Mexico, because they find paying $2.00/hr too expensive. WTF? Otherwise...what is the average Joe gonna do about the economy? It is left to the government.

Wow! I mean . People have gotten so bloody jaded and lazy. Yes, there is a lot to be jaded about lately but not lazy. I for one will take heed. I wish to be an active part of the betterment of mine and my children's futures. I no longer want to be caught in the aforementioned group.