Hypocrisy/Hypocrites

There's a few things that have been on my mind lately -- but only one of which I'll talk about now: hypocrisy and hypocrites.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocrisy

Main Entry: hy·poc·ri·sy

Pronunciation: \hi-ˈpä-krə-sē also hī-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural hy·poc·ri·sies

Etymology: Middle English ypocrisie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Greek hypokrisis act of playing a part on the stage, hypocrisy, from hypokrinesthai to answer, act on the stage, from hypo- + krinein to decide — more at certain

Date: 13th century

1 : a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion

2 : an act or instance of hypocrisy

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocrite

Main Entry: hyp·o·crite

Pronunciation: \ˈhi-pə-ˌkrit\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ypocrite, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritēs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai

Date: 13th century

1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings


Alrighty then, now that we have Merriam-Webster's official description, let's talk about a few things that have gotten under my skin lately:

My aunt and uncle and their constant ravings about "socialist" healthcare.  Hypocrites?  Oh Yes They Are.  They accept Medicare, which is essentially socialized medicine for older Americans.  To not be a hypocrite would be to pay full freight on their health care -- something that two people with serious health issues (breast cancer, heart issues) cannot afford.  So instead of not accepting Medicare, they accept the benefit and rail against others receiving it as "waste." 

A friend whose children are on the school lunch program (and breakfast) -- but who constantly tells me that government wastes money on public programs.  Ahem?  *cough cough*  How's the windows in that glass house? 

And finally another friend, whose life's mission, it appears, is to tell me that Government Is Too Big.  When asked what he'd eliminate, his answer is "government waste."  Way to go on the Limbaugh/Hannity/Beck talking points, dipshit, but WHAT WASTE EXACTLY?  Would you prefer to do without roads and streets?  Fire service?  Police service?  EMS?  Schools?  Colleges?  Public utilities?  Parks?  Tell me what bothers you then ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT rather than just repeat "government waste" over and over and over like some parrot.  Ai Yi Yi.  Meanwhile, he's collected unemployment checks in the past ...

So hypocrisy.  It's on my last fucking nerve.