Bill O’Reilly had a thought provocing Talking Points Memo this evening. I have transcribed it below for your reading pleasure. His editorial comments are in parenthesis.

Let me know what you think about it?

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On paper, the biggest problem is the national debt. (Approaching $17 trillion with no end in sight and the failure of the pinheads in Washington to do anything about that debt)

If the massive borrowing continues, our economy could very well collapse.

In reality (not on paper but in reality), the biggest problem this nation has is the folks, us, our mentality.

It is changing.

(After America and its Allies defeated the Japanese and Nazis in World War II, millions of military people returned home to start families and careers.)

After we won World War II, millions of military people returned home to start families and careers.

The prevailing wisdom back then was simple: work hard, respect your country and provide a good education for your children.

The USA was not a fair society back then (as Blacks and other minorities were denied equal rights), but most Americans viewed their country as noble for defeating evil in Berlin and Tokyo.

My parents were among the majority who felt this way.

My father worked hard for modest pay, was honest, and didn’t want anything from the government.

My father didn’t get drunk or take drugs, didn’t take guff from me, and provided a blueprint for my success (by paying for my private school education).

My parents (didn’t coddle me) insisted that I work for my money by cutting lawns and shoveling snow, and did not care (at all) if I liked it or not.

The nuns demanded that I learn math, history and English and (the brothers) at Chaminade High School (gave me 3 hours of homework a night) I had hours of homework a night.

Nobody mentioned welfare program.

I worked hard, played sports and toughed out the hard times. (Not depending on Mommy or Daddy or anyone else)

I made my own way and here I am.

Today we have a (far different) society (in America, one) where the president (of the United States who sets the tone) believes his country is not a fair place. (And also believes that his mandate is to change the Capitalistic System so that Washington D.C. can provide)

Millions of Americans are buying (in. If you don’t succeed on your own, don’t worry about it, not your fault and checks will be sent to help you out) into the notion that the government will provide for you if you don’t succeed on your own.

That philosophy saps personal motivation and creates a mindset of victimization. (If the President believes the deck is stacked in favor of the rich folks, then what chance do I have?)

(Add to that mindset the rise of the machines, where you and I can create our own little worlds.) We can spend most of our leisure time playing mindless games, or texting about trivia, or writing vicious, anonymous e-mails.

We don’t even have to leave the house; we can live entirely in a made-up universe.

Of course we do have to leave the house, and that is when the trouble begins.

What is society doing to encourage achievement these days?

Nothing (at all. If you are prosperous, you are a bad person in many peoples minds).

Tomorrow, Talking Points will pinpoint how judges and politicians are imposing a completely different country on all of us (than the one that my parents lived in).

(But for tonight) The biggest problem this country has is the way we, the people, are now behaving.

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