I just finished a posting by Doug Beaver http://activerain.com/blogsview/127866/Jay-Leno-on-Whiners which is a Jay Leno editorial. Thank you Doug. It gives me the opportunity to push back on Jay and others like him.

Jay quotes a Newsweek poll that states 2/3rds of the American people are unhappy with the direction of the country and the president's performance and basically call us to task for having that position. Well Jay, that's our right as Americans to voice our concern and displeasure with the country's affairs. It's part of what makes this a great country.

Yes, it's true that overall 95 % of Americans have jobs, however, the wages associated with the available jobs are lower and lower all the time and on top of that the cost of medical and other benefits, IF they are even offered by a company, are on the increase all the time. The 24-hour electric service and water availability that Jay refers to isn't free either. Yes we can walk into a grocery store "and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year" but Jay, how much of your multi millions are being sent to Darfur to help those unfortunate people? Let's forget about Darfur, how much money are you giving back to those US citizens who are homeless and hungry? There IS a lot of food in a supermarket; however, the average blue-collar worker travels the aisles with a calculator making sure that they do not go over budget so that they can pay that electric bill and water assessment. Hey Jay, what's your food budget for a week? Should we be thankful for the hundreds of clean, safe hotels available that provide temporary shelter to us when traveling state to state? Sure! If you are lucky enough to afford travel and for every clean, safe hotel ($$$$$$) there are hundreds more that are not clean and not safe but it's all some can afford. Are we unhappy that firefighters and rescue people are by our side "in a moments notice" to help us in car accidents and fires. Don't be so condescending Jay. Of course we are grateful, however, we work our tails off to pay taxes to pay for the service. YES! We pay them to be there, it's not a gimme and by the way, the speed at which these rescue personnel arrive is often closely related to the affluence of the community in which these accidents occur. I could go on for a long time answering the points of Jay Leno but his comments are not new and I don't want to belabor my point. These are the comments of the wealthy of this nation who don't have to worry about the cost of gas, a food budget, a mortgage, medical care for their families, retirement... We are not ungrateful for what we have; however, we do have the right to be heard and the right to point out the need for a new direction.

Just my 2 cents