Farmers, guns, and the "old days"

[duckinnut]

One of the many reasons we have a garden and chickens, and why we are getting bees this spring. I don't want my children growing up with that disconnect. My kids don't watch much TV, only a hour after dinner, no more. They help weed in the garden and care for the chickens so they can understand the work involved. We don't own a video game console of any kind, my kids read books or play outside. If they want something, they have to earn the money for it, nothing is given to them just to shut them up. They watch me work on projects, like building a deck or the coop, and often help in anyway they are able. They understand that you have to work for what you get, from food to clothes to a nice yard.

I truly applaud your thinking.

Like you I have worked hard to make my kids understand that sweat equity is a good thing and they have learned to appreciate things they work for versus something that is just given to them. I always worked for what I wanted,from my 3 dirt bikes I had in my youth to my first car and everything since then.The hard work thing was passed down from not only my father but grandparents as well. Both my girls have jobs17/16 y/o work at a gymnastic place now and in the summer at the YMCA as camp counselors as well as their aunts pony ride business and are 4H barn stewards at our local fair. One daughter also trades barn cleaning for ride time from a woman up the road. They both want vehicles so I guess I got them on the right track.

 

[oldrooster]

Too bad personal responsibility is out of fad for many there would be less fighting, drugs, and people killed with what many see as tools (knives, cars,and guns) that is what I gleaned from these posts, aside from political bashing on both sides lets just agree to hold ourselves and each other to be responsible citizens not only of this country but also of this planet.

 

[JenellYB]

You make a good point.
I live,and was born and raised in Texas. Where anything left of GW Bush and Rick Perry is a "leeeaahhhbrul!"
Until recent years, I DID consider myself a moderate, just a little left of center. My voting history has been independent, I've never been a 'registered' anything. I've always voted 'split tickets'. Though 2012 just might be my first.'straight ticket!"
In some ways, I'm still where I was, the "leeeaahhhbrul" lable has been forced upon me, lol!
But in other ways, yes, I've definitely leaned more toward the left, and I've thought about that, why I have done that.
As the whole stupid boat as listed so far right its about to roll over, yes, I have found myself pulling hard left of some things, exactlythe same as one trying to stay on center and keep a boat level would throw their weight hard left when toomany people have rushed over to the right side and are about the sawmp the durn thing!
I much prefer "progressive" to "liberal", if there has to be a 'label'. and I feelit fits me much better. I encountered Ralph Waldo Emerson's treatise on Liberalism and conservatism many years ago, presenting how each is a balancing force to the other. I like that. So I have to say, I see 'liberal' or 'conservative' not as stable, constant potions, some 'state of being', 'or way of being', but as reponse positions according to which way the boat may start listing too far off to one side or the other.

I truly appreciate the way you think and CSWOLFE thought processes,I never condemn the way people think and never would. I think there is no "cookie cutter" version of anything. Where as you guys feel that you are liberals and you are by you believe that you are but here in good old Mass you would not come to be known as a "liberal". Only gauging by what you have posted,in fact here you would be considered a moderate or DINO( not saur but Democrat in Name Only or a independent). But goes back to my point that its all relative to where you live. My way of thinking here in Mass is thought to be right wing conservative(but nothing could be further from the truth) but in another part of the country it would be a middle if the road sort of thinking. For me that's about what I am,middle of the road, pending on the issue. I could be anyone of titles in the previous paragraph including turkey.

 

[JenellYB]

Sounds like a good deal to me!

Too bad personal responsibility is out of fad for many there would be less fighting, drugs, and people killed with what many see as tools (knives, cars,and guns) that is what I gleaned from these posts, aside from political bashing on both sides lets just agree to hold ourselves and each other to be responsible citizens not only of this country but also of this planet.

 

[Mike Winters]

how do we get kids to act responsible these days this country has gone down hill with education and personal responsibility and getting leaders that a fifth grader can out smart.
television is **** nowadays discovery, history and the animals channel are all reality or about things with little educational value unlike what they had 15 years ago. The Learning Channel is all reality with crap like toddlers and tiaras with moms that should be teaching there girls manners and good stuff, instead of dressing them like whores and making them into selfish brats.

 

[wilbilt]

One of the many reasons we have a garden and chickens, and why we are getting bees this spring. I don't want my children growing up with that disconnect. My kids don't watch much TV, only a hour after dinner, no more. They help weed in the garden and care for the chickens so they can understand the work involved. We don't own a video game console of any kind, my kids read books or play outside. If they want something, they have to earn the money for it, nothing is given to them just to shut them up. They watch me work on projects, like building a deck or the coop, and often help in anyway they are able. They understand that you have to work for what you get, from food to clothes to a nice yard.

I have always taught my children that anything worth accomplishing is the result of the effort applied. I cannot force them to succeed, but they have all learned the value of work. One of the things I find irritating about our current society is the sense of entitlement many children learn at a young age. I work for a public school system and see all of these spoiled little brats every day. It seems like it is getting worse with each passing year.

My youngest daughter is the only one still at home. She is 14 and just started high school this year. Our chicken project is an assignment for her FFA class. She is helping with the coop build (she chose the design with my input), is keeping records of the cost of materials and labor involved and is gaining new respect for the value of time and money. She works hard to maintain her straight A's at school and wants to become a veterinarian. I encourage her any way I can. She inherited an old .410 shotgun from her grandfather and I am teaching her to handle and shoot it safely.

I have always wanted my children to be able to think for themselves instead of taking everything at face value. In order to do this, they need to have the ability to reason. They certainly haven't received that from the public education system. It requires family involvement.

 

[Ole rooster]

That's what we're trying to do with our girls, 2 and 4 months. I have allowed way too much TV as of late b/c of this deployment and being outnumbered. At least it was PBS, we don't have cable or satilite. I'm trying to get us out for no less than a hour a day since spring is here so early. I want my girls to be able to take care of themselves if need be and not rely on a man to get what they need. I have a masters degree and stay home because we chose to do that for our families well being and that's ok. I can't tell you how many people tell me I'm wasting my degree b/c I stay home.

I would just tell the critics the most important thing in this world is to raise competent, responsible children in a world without it. A very hard thing to do, if not nearly impossible.

PBS is the worst channel to let the girls watch. Carl Marx would have loved that one.

 

[kmac720]

I have always taught my children that anything worth accomplishing is the result of the effort applied. I cannot force them to succeed, but they have all learned the value of work. One of the things I find irritating about our current society is the sense of entitlement many children learn at a young age. I work for a public school system and see all of these spoiled little brats every day. It seems like it is getting worse with each passing year.

My youngest daughter is the only one still at home. She is 14 and just started high school this year. Our chicken project is an assignment for her FFA class. She is helping with the coop build (she chose the design with my input), is keeping records of the cost of materials and labor involved and is gaining new respect for the value of time and money. She works hard to maintain her straight A's at school and wants to become a veterinarian. I encourage her any way I can. She inherited an old .410 shotgun from her grandfather and I am teaching her to handle and shoot it safely.

I have always wanted my children to be able to think for themselves instead of taking everything at face value. In order to do this, they need to have the ability to reason. They certainly haven't received that from the public education system. It requires family involvement.

The public school system is not what it used to be because the students have more rights than the teachers and staff. Parents are sending their children to school expecting the teachers to fill the void where the parent can't or choses not to participate in the raising of that child. We are having to teach to the lowest level in the classroom because we don't want any one left behind. The way our public school system functions allows for students to learn behaviors that will not help them be successful in life.

 

[Mike Winters]

yep and no child left behind was a miserable failure all it did was bog down the smart or more independent kids, let the average student get away with being lazy or teach them they don't need to try hard. and allow the dead weights run the show.
this country's education system is equal to places in the middle east, china is higher then us and you wonder why everything is made there and all new workers in engineering and doctor jobs are all asian.

 

[wilbilt]

The way our public school system functions allows for students to learn behaviors that will not help them be successful in life.

I would go a step further and say our educational system encourages life failure. Coupled with the skewed ideals they learn in their dysfunctional homes, many of these kids don't have a chance. They will end up "occupying" someplace and complaining that life isn't fair because they haven't received the cushy job and fat paycheck they were promised.

Life's tough. Get a helmet.