hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Can we pinpoint the start of the decline? Is it really just 40 years ago? Or was it a tad further back than that?

Is visual media to blame (aka i***t box)?
The counter-culture of the late 60's/early 70's?
Vietnam?
The invention of the IRA/401k?
Unions (up or down)?
The Pill?
Women in the workforce?
Divorce rate hikes?

I think it's safe to say that things peaked after the end of WWII and were noticeably different by the end of the Vietnam war. Peak production/employment was in the 50's (before my time). This is back when you needed money to go to college but you actually got an education. If you didn't go you became a tradesman, union job, housewife but you could still support yourself and live a decent life.

So what changed that? What is at the root of the dumbing down of America? I'm inclined to put it on Women in the workforce as a major factor. I'm sure there are others. That had the ripple effect of creating latchkey kids (no Mom at home all day) and lead to splintering of the family unit.

Liberals constantly poke fun at conservative that want to go back to the 50's. Why wouldn't we? By all accounts life was simpler and better. I won't say easier because it probably wasn't. But while technology has certainly made things easier, has it made it better?

Sound off!

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

"Liberals constantly poke fun at conservative that want to go back to the 50's. Why wouldn't we? By all accounts life was simpler and better."
For white men yes. Everybody else, not so much...

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

I can hardly wait for Brother Graybeal's response! Bwahahahaha!!

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Well as a white man I can tell you that this sucks! What did you get out of it?

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

I wasn't around in the 50s

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Well, personally I think TV makes liberals. The airwaves are saturated with guilt-me stories and language skewed to the Left. That makes "it" the "norm" does it not? Add to it that every hour spent in front of the big blue light is an hour not spent reading and improving your mind. There is just so much of what we know that comes from TV. Books, not so much.

Hey, it's just my opinion so it must be right!

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Robert Graybeal wrote:

"Over a period of about 200 years, this Nation went from nothing to the GREATEST country in the history of the world.
Over the last 40 years, liberalism has grown every year and this country has slipped to 27th in the world.
I believe one has something to do with the other."




Kombiguy, thanks for pointing this out. Your last sentence tells the tale. To use a silly but accurate example, the rooster may strongly believe that his pre-dawn crowing brings about the rising of the sun, but that isn't the case.

Kombiguy Loc: Cedar Rapids, IA

To be fair, my comment was directed at the OP, not necessarily at Mr. Graybeal. That being said, it applies everywhere.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Quite so, and the lesson taught is widely unlearned or ignored. Correlation is just such a tempting explaination!

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Me either! Not everyone on here is of retirement age.

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

So, are you saying that the original point, access to a******ns driving down crime 20 years later, is a case of the rooster and the sun?

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

If I had a time machine I would definitely visit the 1950s

Kombiguy Loc: Cedar Rapids, IA

Possibly. There are other explanations that are as plausible.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

No. I am saying that correlations need to be examined for their validity.

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Well if you read the link they ascribed at least 4 factors (maybe more?) with a******ns being just one of them. Maybe it's true and maybe it isn't, but its a nice departure from Obama sucks, whaddayamean c*****e c****e?, Darwin is God, No Jesus!, Hillary wins 2 years before the e******n!, etc.