Crunchy French Toast and Greed
61Not Me!
Good morning breakfastpoppers. Today is Monday, October 31, 2011. The Wall Street Protesters are still in the park. Some of them may be frozen, but when they thaw they will be talking about Wall Street greed once again.
Let's prepare a batch of delicious Crunchy French Toast and see what "greed" is all about. The following amounts make 4 servings. You will need 8 slices of bread, 2 medium eggs, 2 cups of milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cups corn flake crumbs and butter.
In a medium bowl, beat eggs, milk, and vanilla until blended. Melt butter over medium high heat. Place corn flake crumbs in a shallow dish. Dip each piece of bread into the egg mixture and then dip into cornflakes. Cook slices in buttered skillet until both sides are golden brown. Serve with your favorite syrup. A Cafe Brasiliero would complement the toast quite nicely. Sit back and relax, I feel a letter coming on.
To the Wall Street protesters and everyone who agrees with their somewhat confused mesage:
The one recurring word I hear from the protesters, the president and the mainstream media is greed. So what exactly is greed? Webster's dictionary describes it as an overwhelming desire to acquire or have, such as wealth or power, in excess of what one requires or deserves. You all seem to think that big corporations are greedy. You have never been able to articulate what you mean so bear with me while I try to figure it out. Many of you who think greed is the issue seem to believe that corporations don't pay taxes. Tell that to the people who work in the tax departments, plowing through complex regulations. Tell that to the people who cut the checks that are addressed to the local, state and federal governments. Are the people who work for these corporations greedy as well? Well I think not. They get paid for the work they do and the government takes a huge chunk out of their check before they ever see it or touch it. They kick money into the system from their hard earned labors each and every time they get paid. Whether they like it or not is a whole other story. Contrary to public opinion corporations are still hiring, albeit not at the rate they once were. They are looking for assurances from the federal government that they won't be facing escalating taxes before they take on additional financial responsibility . They are worried about ObamaCare and what it will mean for their bottom line. That's not greed, that's being prudent.
Let's take a look at the little guy now. You know, the dry cleaner, the small retail business, the hot dog stand on the corner. He gets his money first, before the government even knows he has it. He gets to touch it, count it and decide just how much of it he is willing to share with Unlce Sam and his cousins. If he doesn't give his fair share, is that greed? I believe it is and it is also illegal. Whether it is immoral or not is an entirely different matter. Like it or not, it happens all the time. These are your neighbors I'm talking about, not "fat corporate cats" who have a thousand pairs of eyes on them all the time. Admittedly, some of these "fat cats" try to get away with murder, but more often than not they are caught. I wish I could say the same for the little guys.
Now let's shine a little light on the unions. Can they be accused of greed? I think so. Consider the bosses who retire with literally millions of dollars in pensions. Often they collect multiple pensions for the same job. What about the union members who are willing to cripple a city or state in order to satisfy their demands. Is asking for free health care for life unreasonable? Is it greedy? I think so.
Now let's look at the homeowners who gleefully accepted loans from banks because the government believed that home ownership was a right. Were they greedy to accept money when they knew all along they would never be able to pay it back? I think so. Are they being greedy now looking for a bailout? I think so.
Let me take one last look at the rag tag groups hanging out in the park in New York City and elsewhere. Many of you went to school with money you borrowed in good faith from the government and private lending institutions. Now you want forgiveness for these loans. Is this greedy? I think so. You are trying to acquire wealth that you don't deserve. President Obama is trying to throw you a bone in exchange for a vote. What a windfall. Borrow money and pay back only a portion of it. If after twenty years you still owe money, why relax, the taxpayer will pick up the burden. Is that greed? You bet it is. If you want to understand the meaning of greed I suggest you look in the mirror.
These are very trying times that are being made worse because we don't have a president who understands or appreciates the basics of capitalism. We can get out of this mess by freeing business from burdensome regulations, drilling for oil and gas and simplifying the tax code. Right now the government has us all in a chokehold. After three years it all seems quite deliberate.
To the Occupiers of Wall Street, I say this. Go home and do something meaningful. Take a job, any job until the one you want comes along. We have had hard times before and that's what people did. They worked or they went back to school and they did not waste their time by hanging around in a park paling around with communists, anarchists and thugs...POP...
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"We can get out of this mess by freeing business from burdensome regulations, drilling for oil and gas and simplifying the tax code. Right now the government has us all in a chokehold. After three years it all seems quite deliberate." burdesome regulations - agreed - but half of these were demanded when there were major accounting fraud - you are damned if you do...; drilling for oil and gas - absolutely - but hang on, we can't - protected areas, lobbies, wildlife experts - damned if you do....; After three years - ahem - after thirty years - America has been trying to drill, trying to remove regulation, trying to change for 30 or more years - not going to happen any time soon - government is government no matter what hat it wears...
Good morning Tom,
It is my understanding that the owner of the park wanted them out, but was paid a visit by city officials and was made to change his mind. What a disgrace. See you at the Inn. I'll bring some crunchy french toast.
Dear Simey,
If these changes don't happen now, we will never get out of this mess! See you at the Inn.
breakfastpop: I totally agree - I'm just getting cynical in my old age. There's so much self interest in politics (both sides) that I truly do not believe anything will change any time soon - it's nice to see new ideas, but they'll get battered down very quickly - anything that upsers the apple-cart will simply not pass or be overturned in subsequent years....
Dear Simey,
I too have political fatigue. We seem to be spinning in circles and accomplishing absolutely nothing. It's exhausting and demoralizing.
I have to say that these creeps who are occupying too much press and wasting our time are the most greedy bastards on the face of the earth. They want everything for nothing. I paid for my childrens' undergraduate school. Anything more, they paid by taking out loans. Guess what? They paid off their loans. They know what responsibility means. The losers in the park have know clue. They are taking themselves down a path that comes from the white house and all the socialists and anarchist that the community agitator knows. They all have to go. And soon. And with all of the Repub debates going on it seems I don't hear any candidates dropping the blame for these jerks on the front step of the white house. Maybe they are nothing more than career politicians looking out for themselves. I hope not, but I am not enthused listening to the talk of Romney, Perry Cain, et al. So far, Newt has my ear. I will see you all at the bar. BARTENDER.........
POP: I understand that most of these Occupiers of Wall Street are educated people. I certainly question that because they just don't understand how business works. I agree with everything you stated above. If these protestors went to college and received loans, they deserve to pay all of it back. I had to, you had to, and millions of responsible people had to. Obama is feeding the hand of the generation who wants hand outs, while they are on their Iphones and Ipads, using their credit cards that Mommy and Daddy will pay off because their poor child won't get a job. Stand up for yourself and be responsible, protestors!
I'm off to the bar - I'll be buying tonight. Save me a seat...
Good morning taxlarry,
When the president sides with the protesters but bashes the Tea Party we all have to realize that if he gets another 4 years, we will never recover. Our way of life is on trial and the morons rule the day. See you at the Inn.
Good morning Pino.
It is absolutely maddening. I just saw a video of a protester in Washington (way past college age) who along with other people are crafting a kind of Constitution. The fool thinks that the little city they created on public land should secede! I think they should too, but to Cuba not the park. See you at the Inn.
I think this is one of the best hubs you have ever written. The facts are accurate and it is time for these beggars to go home. I hope it snows 2' of snow on them as being reasonable seems to escape their thought processes. They are freeloaders except for the filthy rich ones like Michael Moore and Susan Saradon. Why don't they donate their money to these people with their hands out?
Good morning Pamela,
Thank you so much. This came from deep down inside. The level of stupidity is astounding. The fact that the president and others applaud these morons is appalling and very telling. See you at the Inn.
You are spot on, bp, the 'basics of capitalism' are foreign to our (?) leader. He is a socialist through and through and will not be satisfied until he brings down every democratic process that has made America unique. And he will succeed unless we, the voters, take the initiative in Nov. '12.
POP - The folks ahead of me have pretty well covered the topic, so I just wanted to let you know Glad you're OK and I'm snow sledding some extra Firewood for the Inn. See ya there and I'm buying hot toddies tonight!
Greed is the buzz-word these mushy minds have been feed in the name of class envy. By the way, if you have not noticed that seems to be Obama's campaign theme for 2012...CLASS ENVY NOW! Not only does Obama not understand capitalism, neither do this park sleepers who are willing sponges for communist and socialist manipulation. Hell, they won't even share their food with the homeless...does the word hypocritical come to mind? They are down in the park "pretending to be homeless" to symbolize their assumed plight and they can't share a little spaghetti with a homeless guy. Yeah, these are truly people who care about America...they actions are all the evidence one needs to see that. Good write, Poppy. WB
Who are the greedy ones...those who work hard and amass a fortune, or those who did nothing to help, but still demand a cut of the rewards?
I know of a family that is miffed because their rich relatives don't help them whenever they get in financial trouble, due to their own unwise decisions. They think they deserve a cut of the action simply because they are relatives. That to me, is the real greed.
I despise the left, because they remind me of that family. They did nothing to help accumulate the wealth, but in their own deluded minds, they justify demanding their "fair share", by calling those who did earn it, "greedy".
My Dad grew up during the deression. He told me he never ONCE felt "poor". He said his mom and dad always provided meals for them and a warm bed. He said he ate a whole lot of mustard sandwiches. But never thought he was going to starve to death, but that was just the way it was. My point is, so many people today think they are above "mustard sandwiches". Living within your means should NOT be a bad thing, but just the way it is.
The liberal mentality has taught our society that we are entitled to things we cannot afford. Now we have millions of "voters" who want Washington to provide for them. The liberals has declared anyone who is not in the entitlement mode, as the enemy. The cannot imagine WHY people would want to WORK for a living and PAY their own way through this life.....when they can take from the "RICH" and give it those who will continue to vote for them to keep this growing and growing and growing until....well, the Rich just goes away. Talk about greedy!....why is this not so easily seen by so many?
Great, GREAT HUB BP...as always!
Chris
LSWGB,
Wow! Freaking wow!! In my opinion, this is your best hub, and the best take I've heard on this anywhere. I mean it Patti. I, The Man With No Pants, couldn't get a pulse on this thing until reading this. I'm saving this to favorites, and getting it over to Mike.
Drinks on me.
jim
Dear drbj,
What really disturbs me is the amount of people who simply don't get it and don't see the danger. See you at the Inn.
Dear Hmr,
We were very fortunate. We did get snow, but not enough to do any harm. Thanks for caring. See you at thee Inn. I am bring french toast!
Dear Wayne,
These fools are idiots. Is that redundant? A group in Washington wants to secede from the union and live in the park. That says it all. See you at the Inn.
Dear Will,
Delusion is key here. We have really fallen from grace as a nation. Where did these lazy angry sponges come from? See you at the Inn. I crave the company of people I respect and admire.
Der CMerritt,
Why this is not as plain as the nose on our faces is beyond comprehension. My parents worked hard and managed to raise a great family. The children we raised have integrity. They work hard and deserve every penny they earn. They live within their means and they are raising their children the same way. The fault lies within all these people who are looking for something for nothing. They pass this way of life onto their kids and on and on it goes. Sadly, we have a president who encourages this kind of thinking. It's a great way to bring a nation to its knees. See you at the Inn.
Dear Big Bro,
Tank you so much. Your opinion is important to me. See you at the Inn.
If GREED is surviving in these Crazy, Hectic, Times...Then count Lover Man and I Greedy. We've both worked too hard in our life time to not Enjoy the Fruits of our Labor. Wonderful Hub Brakfastpops as usual! Probably one of your BEST!
Mom used to have a little poem for it:
Get me, give me, have you got?
Get me some more because I aint got enough.
I never did find out where that came from.
One of your best, Pop. Voted Up and Across, very much including funny (for the expressions on the faces of those greedy folks you've identified who never woulda thunk of themselves).
Something that comes to mind in all of this is something I talked about some time ago in one of my blogs offsite. That is, we had generations of people who had it all, and had it all too soon. We had people who were just starting out in life suddenly able to afford new cars, big houses, and live the life of luxury. They lived through the Internet bubble and the housing bubble, and life was good. Life was VERY good. Work? You didn't have to work as hard for things because money was easy to get. These generations looked down on their parents and on their parents parents for being such fools and working their way up in life.
Now things have changed. Many spoiled brats must find their own way. Many spoiled brats have been slapped with a healthy dose of reaility. Success is not something you get to get for free. It's not something you get to claim without hard work. You don't get to get the fancy new car or the giant house on the hill without having first lived in shacks and driven beaters. It's reality time again and this has gotten a lot of people up in arms. It's not fair, they decry.
Well, like my mommy used to tell me. "Life is NOT fair."
By the way, you nailed it with this hub Pop. Absolutely spot on. I should only point out that these people may not be smart enough to see the image in the mirror they look into as being themselves. They'd probably just say something like, "Dude. You look just like me."
A great and interesting hub which leaves much food for thought.
Brilliantly presented and I vote up.
Take care and have a great day.
Eiddwen.
You deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labor. The OWS crowd just want the fruit, forget the labor.
Dear FitnezzJim,
It came from her desire to make you into a self reliant person.
Dear Ghost,
Thanks so much. I think that there is more to gain from getting the people who aren't millionaires to pay their fair share. I have no patience for all these people so willing to attack the rich when they are stealing from all of us.
Dear Springboard,
I have two daughters. They went to college, we paid. One went on to law school and she took out loans to cover that. My other daughter went on to get her masters and her greedy corporation paid for that. They worked hard from the time they were old enough to get a job. They had many friends who were handed everything on a silver platter. I can't tell you how often my girls thank my husband and me for bringing them up in this way. They now have children of their own and are trying their best to make them into self-reliant hardworking people. I have no sympathy for these babies in the park and I certainly have no sympathy for the groups that are using them and pulling their strings.
Good morning Eiddwen,
Thanks so much for your support. I really appreciate it.
...yes. And we all KNOW these are the puppets of puppetmasters. Isn't it interesting by the way that the T.E.A partiers did not need 'spokespeople' to help articulate what their beef was? BUT the occupy crowd needed people to come in and help to explain why they were all where they were, protesting. Do THEY (the left wing wingnuts) really beleive that the rest of America is THAT stupid to believe that these protests are nothing more than collective wah-wah-wah? Woe is me.
Dear Springboard,
I worry that the rest of America is relying on the MSM to get their view of these protests. Are they hearing who is really behind these movements? Are they hearing about the arrest, the violence, the theft, the rapes? I think not.
Morning POP...Did you know that the park in NYC that the Wall Street protesters have occupied and renamed " Liberty Park " is a privately owned park named Zycotto Park ?... It is owned by Brookfield Properties...
They have just hired Joe Biden's son as an attorney...And who sits on the board of Brookfield Properties?...Mayor Bloomberg's live in girlfriend...
Guess what company just received some of the last of the Obama Stimulus..Right, Brookfield Properties...
I don't know, Pop...maybe I'm becoming a bit cynical, but it seems every time a little scrutiny is applied to these so-called stimulus awards there is a rotten core hidden in the middle...And still the beat goes on, totally ignored by the MSM, and largely ignored by the public...Obama hangs on to his 40% zombie vote regardless...November 2012 is not looking good...With the fractures amongst conservatives, particularly the Ron Paul folks, if an independent should arise and challenge for the presidency Obama will waltz into the White House for another devastating 4 year residency...Larry
As I have viewed the above mentioned events and been actually sickened by them....grown people acting as children throwing a temper tantrum....I am also watching the unrest and same sort of behavior across the ocean, in many, many countries. I do not like watching it there and here?? This is my home country, and I am certain that nothing at all is going to change while they are causing such a fuss. This, evidently is the way the world is now. But then, this has all been Written.....sadly it has become.
...and the anti-semitism. There are those who want to call this the liberals counter to the T.E.A. party. It seems one thing is certain, they follow the liberal doctrine of simply being wingnuts. :)
BTW, I should point out that all the while the T.E.A. party was labeled racist, not one shred of evidence could ever be produced to support that while we have reels and reels of racist rhetoric straight from the mouths of the occupiers. Funny that, hey?
Dear maven,
The dots are connecting in the ugliest of all ways and as you point out, no one is talking about it. I am beyond disgusted and appalled. Decent hardworking people are losing their businesses and Bloomberg sits by and lets it all unfold. The residents near the park are beyond desperate and Bloomberg sits by and lets it all unfold. Obama, as well, should carry the shame of this whole "movement" squarely on his chest like a scarlet union letter. He and his fellow Dems are dividing this country. This is just the kind of crisis Alinsky spoke about.
Dear Wealthmadehealthy,
This so-called movement is getting ugly, very ugly. The MSM fails to report the actual events and, in fact, just described the Oakland protest as largely peaceful. Oakland was violent and the media yawned. We aren't getting the facts and we have a president who is enjoying the whole thing. This is what he and his union pals have been hoping for.
Dear Springboard,
We now have a state controlled MSM. They report only what furthers their cause. Yes, there is anti-semitism and violence and none of it is reported. The Tea Pary was subject to lies and misinformation so as to discredit them. We really aren't free any more, are we?
Ah Dear breakfastpop: And I begged and I pleaded yet noone would hear. This has been going on for a long time...not getting the correct facts to assimilate in our brains. For goodness sake, when the Tsunami hit Japan a while back, they blocked out the reports coming from there and later slyly admitted they had done so...There is no use in wondering how this all happened....we watched it play out. Personally, I feel all the people have flat just had enough. Yet, they are all going about it in the wrong manner. Due to the recent past events, our people are at the brink if not some have stepped over the edge into the start of a mass civil war. The loon has literally driven us all crazy with his mismanagement and horrifying bills.
What most do not see, is that no matter what we do or do not do, all was planned from the beginning and will play out until the end and the start of a beautiful life for those who choose it. Are the lies today any more heinous than the lies of yesterday??? People have just started taking their blinders off.
Good morning Wealthmadehealthy,
I still choose to believe that we can still turn things around. To think otherwise is to just sit idly by and wait for the worst to happen. You pose an interesting question at the end of your commentary. I think the lies are probably the same, but the shame is that we never learn a thing from history.
Tom Whitworth Level 5 Commenter 6 months ago
Pop,
I think when a group monopolizes a public space, such as a park, for an extended length of time, as the Wall Street occupier have, such occupation is an act of greed and selfishness that should cause embarassment to a three year old.