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Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GUSTAVE JAEGER who wrote (8979)	12/15/2000 1:05:07 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

And no one gave him or your relatives any "negative action" -- Lessee... he left home when he was 17 because he couldn't stand my tyrannical grandfather, and went and joined the navy... Got out, worked with one of his brothers in his construction business, became able enough to eventually strike out on his own, and built it up to 50 employees by the early '70s... Then he gave it all up because of the ulcers and went into specialty contracting and custom remodeling... moved out west, traveled 160 miles round trip each day for 15 years getting to and from the jobsite in a Ski Resort (where the money was), eventually building up enough of a reputation that he did work for Clint Eastwood, John Wayne's daughter in law, and any number of other celebrities and wealthy clientele... All on a high school education, and a personality that can hardly be considered as "suave and sophisticated" as the Californian constuction folks who were able to adapt their characters to their avant guarde customers. And all while he was being BACKSTABBED by competing contractors and even some of his help (both of whom were always looking to steal a contract from him). Now I don't know if you have ever had to deal with bidding on individual construction jobs, spending inordinate amounts of UNCOMPENSATED time working the numbers, trying to figure yourself a proper margin of profit while still beating out competing bids. But that takes time, and oftentimes he found himself "discriminated" against because he wasn't willing to kickback the supervising contractor with a bit of pocketchange. My old man isn't sophisticated, but he was dirt honest about his business and not brooking any BS... Now if you don't call trying to be an honest businessman in a dishonest business world a "negative action", I don't know what is. ANYONE can succeed in this world if they dedicate themselves to being the best at what they do, and work hard at it. I don't care what color or religion you are. And any minority who falls back on that kind of logic is self-limiting their opportunities. There will ALWAYS be a requirement for dedicated and hard-working individuals who don't cop a negative attitude each time they don't get their way. Show me a person out there who hasn't have to fight and struggle to succeed and I'll show you either a crook, a lottery winner, or someone who inherited their wealth. And furthermore, with something like 80 million baby boomers retiring over the coming 10 years, and only 46 million Gen Xers to replace them, there should be work available for anyone who wants it. Regards, Ron

To: GUSTAVE JAEGER who wrote (8979)	12/15/2000 4:31:31 PM
From: long-gone	Respond to of 10042

<<Re: And I say that based upon my own family experience, whose father grew up in poverty on a strawberry farm with 14 brothers and sisters. No one gave him or my relatives any "affirmative action". And no one gave him or your relatives any "negative action" --or you'd still be struggling on your strawberry farm....>> My father's family grew up, as many in the great Depression. Not until after his death did I find out(through an exhaustive 3 year search) I'm a small part African American. The term "Dirt Poor" was first used to describe those who spent the depression in eastern New Mexico. He told me he learned about the depression at school, though they could see little difference as they never had any money even before the depression. No, even though that land in New Mexico which the family homesteaded was among the greatest amount of acres allowed per person of any in the nation - the price paid was excessive! Was told growing up it was "Land so poor Satan himself couldn't even raise Hell on 10 full sections." At times we would go there while I was growing up in the panhandle of Texas. Was told even though we were paying taxes on only the remaining 40 acres we'd need to drive all the way to Washington to see all of it 'cause of the wind.