So, news of the Cho rampage engulfed America over the past week, and the media has saturated print, airwaves, and internet bandwidth with coverage dissecting the issue from every angle.

I’d really like someone to share their thoughts on two issues unfailingly labored over every time we have a school shooting — gun control and violent video games.
But for now, here is Ms. Arianna Huffington (who I can’t say I like or dislike) breaking down Tom Delay, former House Majority Leader’s comments that if we had MORE GUNS, this kind of stuff wouldn’t happen.

The Virginia Tech issue is nauseating enough as it is without all the media coverage, so here’s something else that also makes your stomach turn:

Now, entitlement mentality is indeed damaging. It is one of the most corrosive but unfortunately prevalent defensive mechanisms that is observed in the psychology of society’s underclasses. Race is the most glaring example. Some races feel entitled to receive aid and special support and consideration because the current situation is that they lie at the bottom of heap. It is destructive and must be confronted honestly and defeated if possible. This mentality is so damaging because the underpowered rest in their sense of entitlement, passively acknowledging defeat and wait for someone else to give to them while not striving to attain for themselves. If the people in society’s cellar never get up, get out, and get something, no one else could possibly do it for them.

Now let’s examine Hoenig’s psychology for a moment, just to be fair. He feels like unjustices are committed every moment our government does something to the tune of diminishing the income gap, taking care of the underpriviledged, “sacrificing the productive rich to serve the endless needs of the poor.” “It rewards failure, laziness, inactivity, irresponsibility, and stagnation,” he continues. The government should not, for the sake of greater social welfare and justice, surrender and abet this kind of entitlement mentality.
Hoenig says we’ve become great, read: WEALTHY, through rugged individualism, read: SELFISHNESS mindset. As a managing member of a hedge fund I would hope he thinks that way–I’m guessing he’s trying to do his job properly.

Is it unfair that there exist social pressures which push rich, successful people like him to be charitable? Maybe. But he shouldn’t feel pressured to be charitable and to give a little back. It shouldn’t be something forced by the government, vocal liberals. I would like to think our society today can still produce people with Hoenig-sized checkbooks who would happily be
charitable without feeling forced. You make several hundred million a year and feel FORCED to be charitable?? I understand feeling pressure to do something you don’t want to do is an uncomfortable situation to be in, but I cannot pity someone who thinks giving to charity by the rich is simply wrong. For a man who rakes in tens if not hundreds of millions of
dollars a year to think that he is being cheated because government aid programs are “sacrificing” the productive rich reveals an unbelievable depth of moral depravity. Let’s put his child–who I can only imagine is happily playing in his multi-million dollar home being watched by three babysitters who make sure he doesn’t fall into their Olympic sized pool,
God forbid–into the American inner city and let’s see if he “succeeds” and becomes “great” (read: wealthy). If he doesn’t, it’ll be surely because of failure, laziness, depravity, stagnation, and irresponsibility.

As naive and generalizing as it may sound, I truly think the “rich and successful” think a certain way, and I think I know it better than most. I am a Stanford student, surrounded by many sons and daughters of this class, supposedly the best and brightest in the world. My parents don’t belong to that class, and certainly I don’t think for a single second that I got here only because I was hard working, responsible, active. I got here mostly because of my parents’ educating and the family I grew up in, and partially because I kind of worked in high school to meet the necessary entrance requirements. Most Stanford students think they deserve to be here because of their hard work: THEY made it–bullshit. Even if they did work hard, the work ethic was most likely instilled by their parents. They grew up in a family that valued education and delayed gratification. In fact, the acceptance letter from Stanford says: “We Applaud You” in big letters. Those words would be correct if it was addressed to every admit’s parents, not the student. Is this a microcosm of the “I’m hot shit” mentality of the successful and rich–hell yea it is. So many think they are so amazing because they have made everything on their own. But that is impossible. The day you were born you were given something. No one made everything on their own. The day all of you were born you inherited your parents’ genes–and none of your parents are stupid. I have put in my share of work, but I can’t legitimately claim any of whatever success I experience as the fruit of only my own labor. There are plenty of humble, genuine people who enjoy their success and wealth, and I applaud them, but they’re rare enough.

With that said, Hoenig’s article didn’t share any profound wisdom, his stab
at trying to counter “righteousness” only cut open his well-manicured facade (he looks like a cunt) to reveal shallow and shockingly repulsive ignorance writ large. You are the victim here, Hoenig? Are you fucking serious? If all people who rake in tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars a year are disgusted by the progress we have made in public policy, then I am thorougly disgusted and disillusioned by what our society has become. To me, Hoenig, and anyone who empathizes with his undeniable greed, are detestable people who deserve no place in a society trying to better itself.

-checkmate