What is a conundrum?

2015-09-05T16:30:03-04:00

Example of a Conundrum :

"A gun is like a parachute. If you need one, and don't have one. You'll probably never need one again."

The definition of the word Conundrum is: something that is puzzling or confusing.

Here are six Conundrums of socialism in the United States of America :

1. America is capitalist and greedy—yet half of the population is subsidized.

2. Half of the population is subsidized—yet they believe they are victims.

3. They believe they are victims—yet their representatives run the government.

4. Their representatives run the government—yet the poor keep getting poorer.

5. The poor keep getting poorer—yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about.

6. They have things that people in other countries only dream about—yet they want America to be more like those other countries.

Think about it! And that, my friends, pretty much sums up the USA in the 21st Century.

Makes you wonder who is doing the math.

1. We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, But we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics.

Funny how that works. And here's another one worth considering...

2. It seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to run out of money. But we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money?

What’s interesting is the first group “worked for” their money, but the second group didn’t.

Think about it.....and last but not least:

3. Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans, no pay raises for our military and cutting our army back, but we are not stopping the payments or benefits to illegal aliens.

Am I the only one missing something?

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 5 at 2015 4:32 PM

2015-09-05T16:32:37-04:00

Nothing like conundrum. ...upside down backwards inside out Damned if you do Damned if you don't

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Sep 5 at 2015 4:44 PM

2015-09-05T16:44:21-04:00

More than a dang Conundrum CMSgt Mark Schubert, those are topics we need answers to!

edited to add: these are questions for our presidential candidates....let's hear their answers to start with, how will they address these issues?

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Sep 5 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-09-05T17:09:01-04:00

No, no you are not. It's just that most of the population is confused; due to their upbringing. I could be over simplifying.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 5 at 2015 6:06 PM

2015-09-05T18:06:13-04:00

It's a puzzle unable to be solved

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 5 at 2015 6:07 PM

2015-09-05T18:07:28-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs thanks for sharing I wil pass on to those in need of this info

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Sep 5 at 2015 6:11 PM

2015-09-05T18:11:51-04:00

Kobayiashi Maru

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Sep 5 at 2015 6:25 PM

2015-09-05T18:25:53-04:00

CMSgt Schubert, Challenge Accepted:
"We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, But we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics." Many people judge all Muslims by the actions of the few anyway, just like Muslims judge all Christians by the action of the few. Also, we demand that Muslims that do us harm are held accountable for their actions but many of us feel that we should trust every gun owner implicitly because no "real" American would every abuse any of their Constitutional rights, correct?
"It seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to run out of money. But we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money?" The short answer to this is to give something for people to complain about and give Representatives that oppose Social Security a sounding board and a reason to crow about wanting it privatized (and hoping that if Social Security does get privatized, they can invest in a company that will hold those privatized accounts and make money from it. Also, even though you don't NEARLY get back what you put into it, the government can't deny you from withdrawing it, unlike a private company would be able to do. Call me a cynic, but I calls it like I sees it) AND it's always easier to pick on and demonize the poor because they are, well, poor. It's easy to fall into that belief that anyone on public assistance is a lazy, unmotivated, generational abuser of the system, yes?
(This one I'm rather surprised you asked and I'm hoping that you were being facetious) "Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans, no pay raises for our military and cutting our army back, but we are not stopping the payments or benefits to illegal aliens." I have a two parter for this one. First, once we take off the Uniform (unless you are a General grade officer) we are just a group of numbers and no one gives a damn about us. The only time many of us are even acknowledged is when we raise so much Hell that we can't be ignored or when it's an election year. Then, veterans are the most important, the most valuable, the most (insert empty promise or platitude here). Lastly, since we all were Day One Privates, Airmen, and Seamen, we have always been told to do more with less, to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Budget's have always been reduced for one reason or another but the mission requirements would either remain the same or get increased and we would STILL be expected to accomplish the mission which, to all of our credits, we have done. So, don't blame those illegal aliens for benefiting from a lot of social services they get, many of which aren't that great but far better than anything they've ever had. Blame the General leadership that believes that all service members don't need a raise even though they know their pay wouldn't be affected. Blame the politicians that ignore our us and our Brothers and Sisters living on the streets with nothing until the next election cycle and blame our government that does the bare minimum to support ALL veterans and is more concerned with protecting the bottom line than making good on repaying the debt that all veterans have paid, many of which with their lives.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 6:29 PM

2015-09-05T18:29:23-04:00

Is that the opposite of a PROundrum? LOL!!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 7:46 PM

2015-09-05T19:46:32-04:00

CMSgt Mark Schubert, I'll just address the top.
The message being sent today is that if you work hard, you will be able to achieve the American Dream.
If you work less hard, you will be poor, but social programs will keep you from failing.
If you work not at all, social programs will subsidize you anyway.

Message received: You are in a fool's choice between living for a job and living a life of leisure, paid for by others.

I think that we can do better than this. Let's celebrate achievement, instead of coddling victimhood. Go out there and earn your place in the world. You and the world around you will be better for it.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 8:20 PM

2015-09-05T20:20:52-04:00

Here's another one, CMSgt Mark Schubert!

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Sep 5 at 2015 8:53 PM

2015-09-05T20:53:41-04:00

The VA

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 8:56 PM

2015-09-05T20:56:31-04:00

Isn't that one of the elements? ;)

Response by COL Ted Mc made Sep 6 at 2015 1:38 PM

2015-09-06T13:38:10-04:00

CMSgt Mark Schubert - Chief Master Sergeant;

1. There appears to be a bit of confusion here between "Americans" and "Those who are benefiting from the American economy."

2. If there was no "consuming class" then American economy would crash and no one would be making profits.

3. The real question is do "their representatives" run the government for the benefit of "the voters" or "the donators of megabucks to campaign funds"? The secondary question is "Who gets to actually pick the candidates that 'the voters' get to chose between?".

4. See point 3. above. If "their representatives" are running the country for the benefit of a small number of people then the likelihood is that the larger number of people will "keep getting poorer".

5. Poverty is relative.

6. "Things" don't necessarily make up a society and thinking that they do tends to lead to really crappy conclusions. If the American people enjoyed the same life-span, level of health, level of participatory democracy, solidity of society, and security of life and property as people do in some other countries then "The Things" wouldn't seem all that important.

The person "doing the math" was obviously someone who wanted the reader to draw false parallels and reach faulty conclusions.

"1. We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, But we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics." - The rational people urge you to "NOT judge ALL Muslims" and "NOT judge ALL gun owners" by the actions of a few lunatics. The people who are more interested in making money out of hysteria don't necessarily do that.

"2. It seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to run out of money. But we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money?" - That is because Social Security is supposed to be funded by the contributions previously paid by the recipients while 'welfare or food stamps' are funded by "government money".

"3. Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans, no pay raises for our military and cutting our army back, but we are not stopping the payments or benefits to illegal aliens." - Could be because there are legal requirements for one and not for the other?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 6 at 2015 2:11 PM

2015-09-06T14:11:02-04:00

I see no confusion in any of these points. They all make perfectly good sense.

Most are purely propaganda. They are based on logical fallacies designed to sway public opinion.

Many are composed in Newspeak. (See George Orwell's 1984 - yes, it is finally here).

And some are simply the manifestation of the greatest freedom of all: Freedom from Responsibility. The love of freedom from responsibility negates all the other freedoms which early Americans cherished...

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 10 at 2015 3:41 AM

2015-09-10T03:41:07-04:00

Would this be an example?

My former Chain of Command in Hawaii said that they would support any decision that I made as Message Center Watch Officer. One of my Sailors wanted to take a few hours off from duty to teach a CPR class. I did not have another person who was qualified to man her station so I could not support her leaving. She sent an email to the CPR people stating she wasn't available to teach, CC'ing myself and the Chain. Within seconds of her sending the email (so it seemed) two of my fellow PO1's came storming onto the watch floor saying "You need to let her go teach!!!" I reminded them of what the upper chain said and asked them to either help me solve the problem or leave my watch floor.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2020 10:01 AM

2020-02-24T10:01:21-05:00

here's a good one: Liberals claim cops are racist but think only cops should have guns.....