Is That Too Much To Ask?

According to "America's Finest News Source", Pew Research just released a study that found:

...Americans indicated that when it comes to what they expect from their country, all they really want is to be safe, happy, rich, comfortable, and entertained at absolutely all times.In addition, the U.S. populace reportedly wondered whether it was too much to ask that they always be healthy, fulfilled, successful, safe, loved, relaxed, inspired, motivated, worry-free, and content every second of their lives from birth until death “given that this is America, after all.”

Now, given that "America's Finest News Source" is the Onion, there is, of course, no such Pew study, however, I wonder how different the real results would be if Pew asked the questions invented by the Onion.

We saw it in the Occupy movement: I got my college degree, many of the protesters lamented, now where's my great, high paying job? We also see it in the after mid-life set: We worked hard all these years and thus deserve a good retirement with government benefits, great free medical care, luxury on the cheap, and our senior citizen discounts at Denny's.

As one respondent "told" the Onion:

Can’t the government just hurry up and solve the student debt crisis, make colleges lower their tuition, make them do a Friends reunion, ensure that everyone finds their soulmate, and then guarantees that the spark lasts? We’re talking about our inalienable rights as Americans here.

 And of course we want "our inalienable rights" with "low taxes or no taxes" and free wifi.

It's called a sense of entitlement, that feeling that we are owed all of the good things in this life and none of the bad things. Feeling entitled is part of our human nature. When bad things happen we immediately ask, "Why me?" When good things don't happen on schedule, we become cranky and look for someone to blame. When good things happen on schedule, well... that's the way it's supposed to be.

As a result thankfulness and joy go right out the window. And God help us if we're trying to live a good life after mid-life without thankfulness and joy.