The attitude of this country, is the most important issue facing this country, because it will be the attitude of this country that will take the American people out of the rut they've been in, for the last several years, and bring prosperity and pride back to the American people once again.

I know all about attitude in this country, because I was laid off from six jobs during a decade or more, when I was working.  During this awful time in my life, I worked at more than 20 companies as a temporary employee, trying to survive a sinking ship.  I got laid off from some of the biggest companies in the world; Honeywell; Motorola; Blue Cross; Lovelace Health; Wells Fargo, Martin-Marietta, etc.  Three of these companies closed right under my feet, as I was one of the last ones to leave, etc.  All these job layoffs, will certainly change your attitude about many things...especially the work place, etc. 

I was working at one company for about a month, when a memo came out from the manager of the company.  The memo said (in essence) that there was much too much negativity going on in the workplace, and the bad attitude had to change, because it was affecting quality; image of the company; teamwork and so forth.  Although I thought, at the time, that all the companies were basically negative, this was the first time I had seen a memo from a company addressing the issue. 

During my many years as a temporary employee, I didn't see a single company, that I wanted to work for as a regular employee.  And, that's pretty bad when you're talking about attitude.  There was one company that closed because of poor attitude, which led to poor quality for customers, and the company closed!  Over the years, I've seen a lot of bad attitude...from name-calling; cliques which can be dangerous; to finger-pointing; to arguing and to a couple of fist-fights!  All because of bad attitude!

As I said earlier, I'm not a psychologist, but a person doesn't have to be a rocket scientist, to feel the bad attitude around them.  When this country slides into negativity...we're all in trouble.  I don't think there are people out there who can say 'thank you' give praise to others or even be courteous! 

Oh, you might get a 'thank you' from somebody, but in more cases than not...it will be relunctantly or 'tougue in cheek'   as the person didn't mean it...they just had to say something.  A real weenie for sure!  Case in point;

I came online and got a website many years ago, and one of my biggest problems, was how to drive traffic to my website, etc.  Not an easy job for anyone, even in the year 2011.  At Homestead (host) they had something called the Community Center, where all the websites were listed.  At that time, guestbooks were popular, and I thought to myself, I'll just go around signing guestbooks, in hopes of driving traffic to my site.  As everyone knows, there is a place on the guestbook where a person enters your URL and website name. 

At that time, all of us were so new with the Internet and websites, that I visited all these websites, not only to sign guestbooks and drive traffic to my site, but to learn about website construction from others.  I spent a good amount of time at each website...learning...and then I would comment on the site.  All of my comments were genuine...and I did this for a couple of years...as I visited hundreds of websites. 

On the negative side of things, website owners want a person to visit their website; buy their products and/or services; return to visit; subscribe to their newsletter...and guess what?  They can't even send a thank-you note to the visitor!  A disgrace, if you ask me...A simple 'thank you for visiting'  it's too much for some people.  Of all the hundreds of websites I visited during that time, my percentage of responses was very low...probably less than 1%. 

During that time, I probably visited about 40 websites a week...most of them by signing guestbook.  And, in all cases, responses were pretty bad.  It was at this time, that I promised myself, that I would always send a 'thank you' note for all the people who would visit my website, and in 2011, I still do.  And, I'm not taking about the use of an automated response...I'm talking about a personal note.  After all that time, of signing hundreds of guestbook, I did manage to get some responses and thank-you note, and I gathered them into a gallery of thanking the visitors to my website and the reader can see a few of them here;

VIP (Very Important Person) Gallery;

American's are the most giving people in the world; giving of their money; giving of their time (volunteering); giving of themselves; (blood/organ donors, etc) and the untimate giving...of their lives! 

During my adult life, I've tried to give what I can in cash or by doing volunteer work, etc. I recently gave $50 to a woman's service organization here in town.  I never heard from them again; 

I recently gave to the Rescue Mission where I stood in a soup line when I was homeless at the age of 60.  I never heard from them again! 

I recently gave to a food pantry, to help feed the disadvantaged...I never heard from them again. 

With a $25 or $50 dontation...you would thank that these people could sent a simple post card of thanks...after all, a post card only costs 25 cents by snail-mail.  Even when I was homeless...I could afford a post card...to send my thanks. 

But, I want the reader to know, that I think not all people in the country are negative...there are a few positive people left in this country.  Case in point;

In 2005, all my world crashed in on me, and I was in the VA hospital for over three months.  During that awful time in my life, I lost all my possessions, and when I was discharged from the hospital, I was headed to a homeless shelter, and stood in a soup line for over two months!  At the age of 60 at the time, it was the worst time in my life. 

During my long stay in the hospital, there was no music to listen to.  Music helps everyone to cope with the problems of the day.  If it weren't for music, I don't know what I would do with my life.  After more than three months in the hospital, I was discharged, the the first thing I did when I was out of the hospital, I walked across the patio, and to the BX to buy myself a radio.  I put the headphones on, and listed the my heart's content all the way home...to the homeless shelter...that is!  I was in the homeless shelter for over two months...and during that time, I listened to music...and I think it was listening to music that helped to keep my spirits up. 

When I got on my feet, I decided that music was so important in my life...now that I had been without it for over three months...and so a donation was in order.  So, I gave to a music organization and I had that feel, good, feeling.  I had never given to a music organization before.  About a week later, I got this real nice thank you letter from the president of the organization.  What a treat! 

In the homeless shelter, where I stayed for over two months, I've always given what I can, because of my gratitude of the people who do this kind of work...helping people in need.  Every time I've given, I always get a return personal letter of thanks for the donation, which makes me feel good.  So, there are a few positive people still left in this world, with so much negativity dominating. 

I don't use profanity in my life...so the best I can do, is to classify people as follows;  In my view, there are three classifications of people in this society;  the weenies and the non-weenies; the weenie wannabes;  In a democracy...you've got your choice;

weenie/majority:  (definition): a negative person is one who  thinks about nothing but himself or herself;  They have blinders on to themselves;  the red carpet is theirs; and 'frankly,' not many people like this type of person, etc.

non-weenie/minority:  (definition); a positive person who knows how to say thanks; give praise to others; and to share the road, etc. 

weenie(wannabe);  These are people who are not non-weenies...but haven't yet gained the reputation of a full-fledged weenie...they're getting there...but ever so slowly...one day they will be classified as real weenies!  Give them time, to grow into their new 'roll'...(get it?)  (another pun, I presume?) 

Weenie (wannabes) are the most dangerous of them all...as they are going through life's transistion...with all the hot-flashes and life changes...frankly...many of these weenies can't even cut the mustard, etc.

Cut the mustard...what does it mean? 
To perform satisfactorily...as in "We need a better catcher...this one just cannot cut the mustard."  The origin of this expression is disputed.  Some believe it alludes to mustard, in the sense of the best or main attraction (owing to its spicing up food), whereas, others believe it is a corruption of 'pass muster.'  Still, others hold that it concerns the preparation of mustard, which involves adding vinegar to mustard seed to 'cut' (reduce) the bitterness, etc. 

I knew it was crucial information for the reader to have...so there is no need to thank me...I do it as a public service. (yawn, here)

Simply stated...weenies (negative people) don't know how to say 'thank you,' or give praise...that's just their make-up. 

Everyone knows that government agencies don't lie (laugh, here), and believe it or not, the Census Bureau in Washington, D.C., released data showing there are over 200 million weenies (negative people) in this country.  Another 50 million consist of weenie wannabes... 

During the last two years, I've given the staff here at the apartments a holiday gift.  Last year, I gave a personalized cake(with all the staff names on it) ...the year before a box of candy...and both times, the manager has left a 'thank you' note on the door or, as last year, she called me to thank me for the gift.  Sheryl (apartment manager) knows how to be positive...through her monthly newsletter and by other means, etc.  A feel, good, feeling for sure...for all of us!

I think three of the most important teams of words in this world are as follows;  'I'm sorry'  'Mutual respect' and 'Thank you.'  There are so many negative people (weenies) out there who don't even know the meaning of these words, etc. 

As we all live In a society dominated by the negative...I'm here to say, that there are sitll a few positive people left in this world...not many...but a few.  So, there's hope to get this country in back in the right direction...thank you for visiting! 

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Copyright; 2011; Jerry Aragon; The Humor Doctor;
Website name; humordoctormd