I'm as happy and impressed as anyone when you see someone go from extremely overweight to skinny (yes, I admit to catching a few episodes of Big Fat Loser). BUT, it kind of irks me that those who stay at a normal weight and don't allow themselves to get fat in the first place, get absolutely no credit.

Why is this the case? Likely because people believe that fit people have it easy; that it doesn't take commitment and work. That people that are fat are victims, not of their own poor choices, but rather because of societal problems hoisted upon them. This, sadly, is our culture today. Victims are the heroes and achievers are simply the forgotten ones.

It's no coincidence that people feel the same way about the "poor" and the "rich" (in quotes only because they are relative terms). There is no appreciation for achievement. I got an education. I work hard and have for over 20 years and will continue to have to work hard for the next 20 at least. I pay a crap load in taxes and April 15th is far and away the most dreaded and stressful day of the year for me.

Yet, who is fighting on my behalf to protect my rights and my achievements? We've got special interest groups for the poor, for minorities, for the elderly, for arts, for education, for this that and the other, that is quietly being funded by millions of people like me who can do nothing more than work to support their family and keep our mouths shut - short of this little blog. Who stands up and applauds those who achieve in quiet support of the "beneficent" hand of the government? One day, Atlas will shrug and the millions of us who toil for our families, trying to make a better life for our children and our children's children, will be gone and along with it the financial support for government largess.