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Amazing Poll Results: 86 Percent Believe Individuals Make Their Own Success

Feb. 26, 2013 8:44pm Jason Howerton

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey reveals that 86 percent of Americans believe that individuals make their own success in the United States.

Further, the survey finds that 88 percent of American adults think it’s “at least somewhat likely that someone who works hard and makes good decisions will enjoy a middle-class lifestyle,” including 38 percent who say it’s “Very Likely.”

Just 10 percent of respondents believe it is not very or not at all likely to achieve a middle class lifestyle through hard work. The results provide a fascinating look into how most Americans view success — and there appears to be a consensus that if you work hard you can achieve great things in America.

To see the survey question wording, click here.

In a separate poll, Rasmussen Reports found that more than half the country, 52 percent, believe most people get rich by working hard. However, 28 percent believe most get rich by inheriting money and 9 percent believe it is luck that brings riches.

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Editor’s note: This national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 23-24, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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Comments (70)

Inform
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:18am
This article ties in nicely with this poll. For a perspective on luck check out: http://www.youargue.com/index.php/36b13zfb27

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LOJ
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:53am
Each of us have our own gifts and can be used to prosper through hard work and determination. When you have a government that hates prosperity and freedom, it limits the individuals chances….despite the claims of democracy, it is really suppression!

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AtkRWC
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:12am
Hard work and dedication is the key to sucess even with govenrmant standing in the way.

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:07am
My point is that e. g. those who are given credit for their invention(s) just DISCOVERED what God had Planned for them!

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betterpart
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 3:18am
According to Obamasama, successful people “didn’t build that; someone else made that happen”. Of course, this doesn’t apply to libs, who have a histrionic allergy to hard work and self-sufficiency– the appropriately named ‘GIVE-ME, I WANT’ squatter crowd.

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- emberlyawake
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 5:28am
  I think it says a lot that “success”= material goods/things in this story. Im a nurse and care for people at the end of their lives every day. I look at the patients who have friends and family around them and ‘smile lines’ on their faces as the most ‘successful’ ones. Those who had great jobs, big houses, fancy cars, etc., don’t get my vote as successful when they’re alone and sad in their last days.
  
  Now…if I can have friends and family AND all the other stuff when all is said and done, well then THAT would be absolutely smurfy. A big success story with a cherry on top!
  
  Report this comment
kitcarker
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:02am
Then why the hell did 51% vote for this moron in chief

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- RationalMan
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:15am
  The voting was rigged!
  
  Obama is still campaigning towards 2016!
  
  Just listen to this jerk!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Leslie Anne
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:36pm
  Maybe Michelle Obama will run for president in 2016. That might be why they’re going for all the non-stop exposure and never stopped campaigning. You notice Michelle Obama is all over the place lately? She might be lining herself up to run for president.
  
  Report this comment
RationalMan
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:43pm
Nlitend1
you don’t know what you’re talking about.
————————————————————–

Will Nlitend1, does a man (Object or Subject) have right to “Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness”?

Come-on sir you stayed I don’t know what I’m talking about…well what’s the hold-up?

Nlitend1, A is A the law of identity!

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Tigress1
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:01pm
An interesting read on the history of public education:

http://www.utmost-way.com/wtdwytk1.htm

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RationalMan
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:51pm
I wonder why Keatonic333, doesn’t like individualism?

Keatonic333, are you in favor of a “COLLECTIVE” society??

American people who work hard to prosper work, towards “Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness”, for themselves and their family!!!

This is America was created as an independent nation. This is the key to the country—to its nature, its development, and its uniqueness: the United States is the nation of the Enlightenment.

P.S. No “Parasites allowed!

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 6:06pm
  you didn’t read a single thing i said did you?
  
  Report this comment
Youngamericangirl
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:25pm
@Keatonic333

I didn’t make your point, you made mine. Where does the government get the money to run things like education? Tax payers. So what if all tax payers decided not to pay taxes? No school. You argue the government is important to my success. It is not. I can thank my parents for me being in school. They pay taxes like all parents that enable us to be able to get an education. I can also be thankful that I have parents who care about getting me a good education, because there are many that don’t and will willingly sit back and let their kids drop out. You don’t seem like a person very up on your history. Do you know how education was ran in this country before the government decided to step in? Usually it was ran by the communities who made the donations to run the school so their children could be educated, they also would volunteer to house the teachers. This generation also gave us great people like Lincoln and great writers like Laura Ingalls Wilder.

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- DEFCON4
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:50pm
  @ YAG,
  I for one appreciate your tenacity.
  Good luck with your future endeavors!
  
  Report this comment
- ProudCapitalist
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:55pm
  I really hope you are a five year old and never been in the public school system.
  
  Report this comment
- Youngamericangirl
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:14pm
  @Proudcapitalist
  
  That was a very rude comment. Why would you say that? I’m trying to explain to Keatonic333 why government is not responsible for my success and why the government gets its power from us, not the other way around.
  
  @Defcon4
  
  Thanks so much!
  
  Report this comment
RationalMan
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:22pm
If Barack Hussein Obummer and his administration as well so call “Conservatives” read this, they’re going to shake in their boots!

Thanks Rasmussen for the report.

Go “INDIVIDUALSIM”!!!

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- Nlitend1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:46pm
  Generally speaking, is someone’s success in life determined primarily by choices and decisions they make or is it mostly a matter of luck?
  This is the question they are referring to. The results should be higher than 86% if you ask me.
  The other question deals with whether you think the government was responsible for ANY of your success. And I would think most people would answer yes to that as well. Either that or lie because they hate government and this country. I’m sure ya’ll have said this before…if you hate this country you should leave. amen
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:09pm
  Nlitend1,
  You’re the one that ought to leave this country!
  
  I said before this country (America) was created on a independent nation. It sounds like you got a problem with this?
  
  Don’t judge me to quickly!
  
  Show me what country has prosper with “RELIGION” beliefs?
  
  You see conservatives are also for “COLLECTIVISM” too. America was created on a independent nation.
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:15pm
  BTW, Nlitend1 are one of those 50 million people who are living off the “Food Stamps”?
  
  All “HOLY THAN THOU”!!! (Thy shall not steal!)…….
  
  Just curious!
  
  Report this comment
Tigress1
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:37pm
I think it is a combination of hard work and good luck that makes people rich. Some people work hard all their lives and never make it to the “big time”, others have good luck in the beginning but end up losing everything. It takes both, but persistence seems to be the common denominator in most rich people.

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:50pm
  Great comment! and VERY true!
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:14pm
  Not luck at all…9 percent believe it is luck that brings riches vs. 86 percent of Americans believe that individuals make their own success in the United States.
  
  Key word “Their own success”…..
  
  Go “Capitalism”, but, we’ll need more unregulated laissez-faire capitalism!
  
  Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned. (No “PARASITES” allowed!)
  
  Report this comment
- lovenfl3
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:25pm
  If the numbers are really that high, then why do we have another 4 years of Barack Obama? It’s really too bad that the same people didn’t think about that before they entered the polls in November.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgozUvvCqAw
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:37pm
  lovenfl3,
  You’re right what you’ve stated, but, to me this MOB, Gangsters, rigged the voting..(My opinion!)
  I just don’t trust computerized voting machine, just hand written!
  
  Report this comment
- For my Liberty!
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:16pm
  While Luck might have a SMALL part in it, it is HARD work and good decisions. I can attest to that fact. Small business owner for 15 years…. Life is good and God has blessed me.
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:24pm
  For my Liberty,
  I tip my hat to you! I know what you’re going thru, been there and done that!
  
  Report this comment
groundzero
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:37pm
Recently I learned. You didn’t build that meant to the black people Whites didn’t build everything! I’m serious never took it as= work person vs gov’t! I didn’t know this during the election or I would have confronted it! I was too busy trying to get the vote out for Romney! He was the right man, for the time, a sucessful businessman who turned around failing companies! With little for the Democratics to LIE/Smear about his past history! When we get another businessman to run? Just career politicians, most of them never worked in the private sector.

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:51pm
  Ya I dont know where you learned that… but it isn’t right.
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:29pm
  Keatonc333, He’s right!
  Why don’t you open up a business yourself? Then you’ll get the whole picture.
  
  Report this comment
- Nlitend1
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:48pm
  @rational
  you don’t know what you’re talking about.
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:20pm
  Nlitend1,
  Really? O.K. in a human form are you an “Object or a Subject”?
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 11:58pm
  So King Nlitend1,
  
  Are we American people (Subject or an Object?)
  
  Why don’t you and your followers tell us, American people who you are???
  
  BTW, I don’t know anything, right….Nlitend?
  
  You’re nothing but a “PARASITE!!!! (All Holy than thou!)
  
  Report this comment
Tankertony
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:30pm
“You didn’t build that.”

-Barack Hussein Obummer

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CWPrequired
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:24pm
You mean 86 % of the people you surveyed. The liar we have in the white indicates 51% of Americans don’t think so.

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MDECKER
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:21pm
As long as a majority of voters vote for people, like the one currently in the White House, there is no possibilty for such a high percentage of Americans to prosper. The people who responded to this poll are at best, delusional. Which is precisely what this president depends on.

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:16pm
Seems the Path of Success is already layed out for us, just that ALL are not necessarily Planned for, to succeed!

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- groundzero
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:38pm
  Wasn’t layed out for me! I had to work for everything I got
  
  Report this comment
- watashbuddyfriend
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:01am
  Me too @groundzero
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:38pm
  
  “Wasn’t layed out for me! I had to work for everything I got.”
  
  Report this comment
- watashbuddyfriend
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:04am
  @groundzero
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:38pm
  
  “Wasn’t layed out for me! I had to work for everything I got.”
  
  I believe you missed my point? You, and I, just like many others had to work for what we have! Some were chosen to find their successful road.
  
  Report this comment
Youngamericangirl
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:13pm
You know, I’m not very surprised by this. There are a lot of people out there that don’t realize how conservative or libertarian they are, a lot are just not even political at all and don’t pay attention to the news at all. A lot of young people fall into this category, they just vote for the more popular candidate. Our media is partly to blame for that. Government education can be blamed too.

For example: There is a young black guy in my class in school who’s a friend of mine. Voted for Obama, claims he’s a moderate democrat. But he’s very religious and some of his views are even more conservative than mine.

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:20pm
  Only in the minds of the beck audience does liberalism mean government is responsible for peoples success… that is a straw man that only you guys acknowledge.. We argue that government is important to help people get the opportunity at success, however what you do with that opportunity falls solely on the individual.. How you guys every thought otherwise is beyond me.. I also don’t see how this is a political poll… Its seems like both sides can easily agree it is up to the individual to become successful..
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:32pm
  @KEATONC333
  
  Actually, we believe the that you believe the government will provide for you if you fail – which equates to “why even bother”.
  
  Another thing that we believe you believe is that the rules are rigged against certain people, therefore certain people get ‘special’ rules (read – affirmative action).
  
  Thirdly, if you are a rich conservative, you cheated…but a rich liberal is a beautiful thing.
  
  We may be wring about what you believe, but the Left’s actions say otherwise.
  
  Report this comment
- Youngamericangirl
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:39pm
  @Keatonic333
  
  Good for you! There are plenty of countries out there that think the way you do, why don’t you pick one of them and move? My country, the one that my family has lived in since the 1680′s and the one they have fought and died for, is not one of them.
  
  The only person responsible for my success is me. As a 17 year old high schooler about to graduate next year, the government is not helping me reach my success. In fact, the government which is making up too many stupid graduation requirements every year is only making it harder for me to reach that success. The government has not done my homework for me, I did it. And I worked hard to recieve the good grades I have just so I could graduate. Me, not the government.
  
  You sir, can keep on believing that the government is your little friend. I choose not to. We’ll see who ends up the slave and who doesn’t. I prefer not be a slave.
  
  Report this comment
- groundzero
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:47pm
  @Keatonc333 Another stupid DEMOCRAT leaves comment then no REPLY button. If your an Able Body person U don’t need the gov’t to help u! U are stealing off the incapable people who are mentally or physically! I’ve been down & out but lettuce & eat all week for every meal;- but I got myself back on my feet NOT THE GOV”T. U people are communist when U think the gov’t should CONTROLL U & U think it’s helping U out!
  
  Report this comment
- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:59pm
  Ya.. you can thank government entirely for you being in school.. that being said.. you kind of made my point.. you said
  “The government has not done my homework for me, I did it. And I worked hard to recieve the good grades I have just so I could graduate. Me, not the government.”
  and I said
  “We argue that government is important to help people get the opportunity at success, however what you do with that opportunity falls solely on the individual.”
  you see.. having a government that has passed laws regarding schooling making it essentially mandatory and allowing public schools so everyone can get an education is the government giving you “the opportunity”.. while you working hard, doing your homework and getting good grades is what you “do with that opportunity” you see my point?
  
  By the way best of luck with the rest of school and graduation!
  
  Report this comment
- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:02pm
  Brother Ed… you can’t deny the importance of AA… though it is growing more and more outdated, which is a beautiful thing, it has served great importance! and secondly let us not forget normally the government provides for failed businesses, farms, banks etc etc.. And where would we be without these? we would be screwed!
  
  Report this comment
- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:07pm
  ground zero…. you have a very liberal definition of communism.. And i bet you would be happy to know that I have never asked or received government assistance! even when I was making 10 an hour while raising a child with my girlfriend in our one bedroom apartment.. That being said I still believe government assistance is Important! time limits on certain programs just need to be inforced.. but you will never convince me that disability, unemployment (with a time limit) and social security are a bad thing… though i don’t know if you were trying to.. i did notice you added able bodied.
  
  Report this comment
- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:29pm
  Keatonc:
  As a libertarian, I do believe in a strong local and state govt. , a LIMITED Federal Govt.
  
  As a community, as the city I live in, we decide on how much property tax is needed for our schools, how much sales tax and such for our city Govt. and how much income tax, etc, is needed for our state. As we have done many times in the city and county, if we need to expand our schools or hire more teachers, we put it on the ballot to raise mills for property taxes and vote. And we have raised taxes on our selves for our schools and city programs, we just raised sales tax to help pay for more police. But to rely on the Feds to wipe our butts, and make sure we don’t hurt ourselves is where we draw the line. No one on this site is against all Govt., but when you have people like Obama saying, You didn’t build that, his worldview is “Only Govt can help you succeed.” He has backed that up with his policies and his speeches. That is something you just can’t deny if you are honest. But I really do hope you see my point that we as a country should look to strengthen our own communities and our states, and the Federal Govt. needs to stay out of our daily lives.
  
  More handouts just cripple most people, I have friends who have fell on hard times, have got into federal programs, and have never gotten out.
  
  And I think our own states can define what their citizens need better than some guy from another state can.
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 10:42pm
  @KEATONC333
  
  The Left has been telling an entire group of people that they can’t possibly amount to anything without their ‘friend’ Big Brother helping them.
  
  It has been decades since the Great Society and these people are in worst shape than when they started.
  
  Your utopian view of government is admirable, but the sooner you learn that unscrupulous people have taken advantage of your kind nature and deluded you in order that they can gain control – complete control – of your life, the sooner you can actually wake up and accomplish the good you want to see happen.
  
  Report this comment
- AUsername
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:11am
  Keaton, Obama is a neo lib not a classical liberal which is really a libertarian.
  
  Report this comment
Keatonc333
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:08pm
The other 14% had their parents pay their college tuition.

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:24pm
  I love it. Good one.
  
  Report this comment
- zombieocracy
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:53pm
  Keatonc333: No wonder you love Obama. You don’t understand what he stands for.
  
  Report this comment
- AUsername
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:10am
  its not worth going in debt to the bankers for it.
  
  Report this comment
TheWhiteFalcon
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:02pm
So if only 14% of people believe the Obumbles philosophy, why is he back in the White House?

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:10pm
  Obama has never said that government is the cause of peoples success.. he has said that government is essential to help those down on their luck to give them an opportunity at success.. No wonder you hate Obama.. you have no clue what he stands for..
  
  Report this comment
- TheWhiteFalcon
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:27pm
  “You didn’t build that!” begs to differ. I know exactly what Obumbles stands for.
  
  Report this comment
- groundzero
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:31pm
  Internet Voting & Internet Registration is how he frauded his way to the White House! Used the registration 4 illegals 2 vote.
  
  Report this comment
- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:39pm
  Keatonc:
  Obama does not believe individuals can do things on their own. His policies and statements are, if it wasn’t for govt., if it wasn’t for community, you could not be successful. He has cited he and Moochelle went to college because of Govt. loans, and he couldn’t have succeeded in life without assistance.
  
  I for one left home after I graduated at 17, worked a full-time job and lived on my own, never took anything from my parents, put myself through school, raised my family and never ever took Govt. assistance, even though at times I qualified for food stamps. I worked a parttime job instead. So I think its all in the mindset and what people are taught early in life. If you are told you can’t make it on your own, that life is stacked against you and winners always cheat, that is why you are in the gutter. With that attitude, people will never try and will always blame others for their failure. I have seen it first hand with people I have worked with that grew up in the innercity. They are taught that they are victims. That is how people like Obama keep their power, that is how Sharpton and Jesse Jackson keep thier status. Convince all your people they are worthless without you and your help, and you create power.
  
  If people are self sufficient, what power would the Govt. have?
  
  Report this comment
- DEFCON4
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:44pm
  @ Keaton,
  When does the “down on their luck” run-out ?
  Some of the ‘unlucky’ eat better than I do.
  There so ‘ill-fated’ that they don’t have to get out of bed.
  
  Report this comment
MRARGUELLES267
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:58pm
I’m surprised by this poll. With the current state of the economy and the difficulty to have a good successful life. I’m happy to see many Americans agree that individuals can achieve greatness if they work hard and are ambitious.

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Patriot Z
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:57pm
thats nice. …obama still got re elected. of course everyone believes ‘they make their own success’ its when you talk about whos responsibility is it when they fail that we see the difference. remember to libs they want all these ‘safety nets’ for others not them. talk to any black liberal and they will flat out tell you that they got their jobs (or position) through their own hard work, NOT affirmative action. but when you tell them you want to stop AA they will poop their pampers to call you racist and defend the same program that ‘they never use and dont know anyone who does use’

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:56pm
Or as obama would read from his teleprompter. “Polls show that 86% of Americans aren’t regulated enough”

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RIDEMODELS
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:55pm
Work hard…Stay out of the bar scene…….Surround yourself with good people…..and do not rely on Government Welfare…..Sounds like church on Sunday for me.

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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 8:52pm
The 14% that didn’t believe an individual didn’t make their success couldn’t complete the survey, they had to get back to congress to vote.

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- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:07pm
  Ooof….
  
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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 26, 2013 at 9:22pm
  Ha!
  
  Report this comment

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