“You have to be joking that now is a better time to raise a family than the 1950s!” end quote
I agree. Other than the advancements in medicine, I too do not think that todays’ America is better to raise a family, than the America of the 50’s. No, not everything was wonderful in the 50’s, that decade had it’s own problems, but overall, as far as morals, values and religion, pride in America (patriotism), those things mattered in the 50’s. Today, not so much.
I’m sure your perception is honestly shared. But your faulty conclusion is belied by the millions of Americans who right this minute are successfully raising healthy, productive families all across the USA.
My three adult kids are all, for the moment, childless.
But I look forward to seeing what choices they make and being part of watching them be maybe as many as three more who raise happy, healthy and productive families during the coming century.
I too raised children. Two sons. The oldest will be 30 yrs old in Sept, and is not married (still playing the field and is enjoying it too much to settle down), my youngest is 27 yrs old, married and is waiting to start a family. Both are outstanding, caring, honest and hardworking individuals.
I didn’t say that it was impossible to raise healthy, intelligent and caring kids, I do however think that it’s much harder today to keep kids on the straight and narrow and to have faith and believe in something far greater than themselves. There is more crime and drugs today than ever before.
Many more things are considered ok, and tolerated that weren’t in the 50’s. Such as filthy language, nudity on television, shock radio etc, etc, etc. It’s next to impossible to keep the seedier side of life away from today’s kids, because it screams at you from every direction.
Many more parents today have an extremely lax hand with their children than than parents of the fifties. Parents are much more permisive today than ever before. Thus today we have the ME generation. Teenagers who feel entitled to everything, rather than having to earn it.
Meanwhile, DUSTY’s list of Mexican social and legal customs which appear to run contrary to what we as Americans have come to expect as reasonable community standards of living is a list that can be methodically addressed and reformed.
All it takes is increased sensible diplomacy between our two countries as we further assimilate in peaceful fashion the two geographic areas currently desiganted “Mexico” and “The USA”.
Patience, brothers.
It won’t happen overnight.
It “began” in about the late 1970s and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it take until at least the year 2030 (almost three generations) before a more codified and cohesive “Union” is brought into tanglble reality.
As I’ve said in the past.......3 siblings have a conversation. One, through hard work and thrift, has become very wealthy. Another one gets by, and the third can’t rub two nickles together. The conversation goes like this; “Let’s pool our resources for the better good.” Just where do you suppose the “resources” are going to come from?
And so it will be with the NAU.
The three siblings analogy is fun, but belies the fact that as the countries morph closer together, increased industry and business will move south of the current US border. This will inject a huge amount of capital, growth and subsequent wealth into the population living in that region of the newly formed NAU. Many current Americans will find it smart to relocate and be part of the expansion.
In inverse fashion to what we’ve seen for the past couple decades, these Americans (probably mostly from the northern areas of the USA) will then be sending back a lot of their capital growth to the parts of the US which are currently in great economic depression.
Detroit, Indiana, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philly, upstate NY, West Virginia all come to mind.
Yes, those cities may currently have a lot of people without “two nickels to rub together”, but they can get better once increased economic and business opportunities open further south.
In other words, even MORE business will move out of the current USA for places with cheaper labor.
Don’t you suppose that Mexico will look dimly on the Americans who decide to move south of the border and share in the newfound wealth? I would think those jobs would be reserved for Mexicans. To build plants in Mexico and then staff them with American workers would be construed as an invasion by Mexico. They would love the expenditure of American capital and taxpayer funding in their country, but I do not see them opening their arms to a gringo workforce enjoying the rewards.
I too raised children. Two sons. The oldest will be 30 yrs old in Sept, and is not married (still playing the field and is enjoying it too much to settle down), my youngest is 27 yrs old, married and is waiting to start a family. Both are outstanding, caring, honest and hardworking individuals.
I didn’t say that it was impossible to raise healthy, intelligent and caring kids, I do however think that it’s much harder today to keep kids on the straight and narrow and to have faith and believe in something far greater than themselves. There is more crime and drugs today than ever before.
Many more things are considered ok, and tolerated that weren’t in the 50’s. Such as filthy language, nudity on television, shock radio etc, etc, etc. It’s next to impossible to keep the seedier side of life away from today’s kids, because it screams at you from every direction.
Many more parents today have an extremely lax hand with their children than than parents of the fifties. Parents are much more permisive today than ever before. Thus today we have the ME generation. Teenagers who feel entitled to everything, rather than having to earn it.
Holy cow. Well with that perception in your mind, it’s likely a good thing you’re no longer actively raising a family.
In other words, even MORE business will move out of the current USA for places with cheaper labor.
Don’t you suppose that Mexico will look dimly on the Americans who decide to move south of the border and share in the newfound wealth? I would think those jobs would be reserved for Mexicans. To build plants in Mexico and then staff them with American workers would be construed as an invasion by Mexico. They would love the expenditure of American capital and taxpayer funding in their country, but I do not see them opening their arms to a gringo workforce enjoying the rewards.
No.
More business will move south into the southern regions of the NAU
And in order to receive such an increase in business flow, Mexico will need to make many important changes in their current social structure.
It will all happen as a natural offshoot of the continued formation of the formal NAU.
Mexico “might” elect to not make such changes in which case they will remain a virtual third world country with their people fighting to get over the US border.
Not likely.
The increased presence within the USA of lawful immigrants from Mexico and points south will do nothing but faciliate peaceful assimilation of the two countries.
Mexico certainly has their share of “old guard” that might like to resist inevitable 21st century change, but they will be overwhelmed by the more sensible and progressive influence of Spanish-American immigrants who as a family unit will have increasing influence on both sides of the current US/Mexican border.
Likely a good time to post the periodic reminder that all such progressive change in Mexico will be inhibited and virtually impossible as long as the US and Mexico (by proxy) insist on maintaining 21st century Prohibtion.
As long as the Mexican drug cartels are empowered by Prohibition, they will provide staunch opposition to expansion of legitimate businesss and “American"-style social influence into Mexico.
I too raised children. Two sons. The oldest will be 30 yrs old in Sept, and is not married (still playing the field and is enjoying it too much to settle down), my youngest is 27 yrs old, married and is waiting to start a family. Both are outstanding, caring, honest and hardworking individuals.
I didn’t say that it was impossible to raise healthy, intelligent and caring kids, I do however think that it’s much harder today to keep kids on the straight and narrow and to have faith and believe in something far greater than themselves. There is more crime and drugs today than ever before.
Many more things are considered ok, and tolerated that weren’t in the 50’s. Such as filthy language, nudity on television, shock radio etc, etc, etc. It’s next to impossible to keep the seedier side of life away from today’s kids, because it screams at you from every direction.
Many more parents today have an extremely lax hand with their children than than parents of the fifties. Parents are much more permisive today than ever before. Thus today we have the ME generation. Teenagers who feel entitled to everything, rather than having to earn it.
Holy cow. Well with that perception in your mind, it’s likely a good thing you’re no longer actively raising a family.
I did my job very well thank you very much. And if I had little kids now, would continue to do a great job at raising them. Despite the many things parents have to deal with nowadays.
Luckily however, my kids are grown. And I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Yeah!!
Okay, that’s kinda what I thought. If you were raising kids today, you would likely be as successful as you were in your previous stint. Thus nicely illustrating my personal perception that it’s no more difficult to raise a good family in today’s USA than it was in year’s past.
It all comes down to those involved and to how serious they are about making it work.
Committed, responsible parenting and family construction is possible today.
Uncommitted and irresponsible parenting and family plans will fail today just as they would have in years past.
To anyone considering participation - Choose wisely....(smile)
Okay, that’s kinda what I thought. If you were raising kids today, you would likely be as successful as you were in your previous stint. Thus nicely illustrating my personal perception that it’s no more difficult to raise a good family in today’s USA than it was in year’s past.
It all comes down to those involved and to how serious they are about making it work.
Committed, responsible parenting and family construction is possible today.
Uncommitted and irresponsible parenting and family plans will fail today just as they would have in years past.
To anyone considering participation - Choose wisely....(smile)
That’s not what I meant at all. I said it is much harder today to raise kids because society as a whole, insofar as ethics, morals, values and religion, has deteriorated greatly from decades ago. Therefore you have society, the media and so forth working against parents who are trying to raise their children to understand that certain things are not acceptable.
I think you knew what I meant Steve. I think my posts have been very clear. But you’re trying hard to ‘spin’ it seems.
Okay, that’s kinda what I thought. If you were raising kids today, you would likely be as successful as you were in your previous stint. Thus nicely illustrating my personal perception that it’s no more difficult to raise a good family in today’s USA than it was in year’s past.
It all comes down to those involved and to how serious they are about making it work.
Committed, responsible parenting and family construction is possible today.
Uncommitted and irresponsible parenting and family plans will fail today just as they would have in years past.
To anyone considering participation - Choose wisely....(smile)
“Uncommitted and irresponsible parenting and family plans will fail today just as they would have in years past.” end quote
I do agree with this. And still believe that in today’s day and age with all of society’s permissiveness, it makes it more difficult than in years past.
MLV submits: I do however think that it’s much harder today to keep kids on the straight and narrow and to have faith and believe in something far greater than themselves.
SH: An interesting opinion, but one with which those of us who work with youth today might disagree. I am daily inspired by the attitudes of young people from high school through college age. But maybe I have an advantage working with them directly whereas someone observing from the periphery might honestly conclude that it’s “harder” for youth today to behave in inspired fashion.
MLV: There is more crime and drugs today than ever before.
SH: Both crime and drugs are as available today as they have always been for anyone who wants to be involved with either.
====
MLV: Many more things are considered ok, and tolerated that weren’t in the 50’s. Such as filthy language, nudity on television, shock radio etc, etc, etc. It’s next to impossible to keep the seedier side of life away from today’s kids, because it screams at you from every direction.
SH: Many more things today are considered NOT OK that during the 50s through the 80s may have been considered okey dokey.
These would include, but not be limited to the blatant racism that harshly segregated the races, especially in my home state of Texas and other places south of the Mason-Dixon line.
Blatant sexism - treating women as second class citizens.
Blatant and often virulent homophobia and abuse of gays and anyone not following the “traditional family model”.
Prior to the mid 90s, a young child or teenager’s opportunity for expanded education resources was pretty much limited to the hours of the local library and the television programming aired by an average of about a half dozen stations/networks.
Today, young children, teenagers and adults alike are able to access educational resources with the click of a mouse on any subject on the planet. Kids can become smarter and parents can likewise have access to information on how to be a better parent, how to deal with troubled kids, how to do deal with health and mental challenges, where in the past they would have been limited to a handful of local resources that may not be accessible due to cost.
Prior to the advent of the internet and the increased access to cable and satellite television feeds, most American kids and their parents were remarkably ignorant about other countries, their people, their customs, their religions and their ethnic cultures.
Today, few such barriers exist, thus permitting parents to more accurately and responsibly educate themselves and their children alike.
This increased access to communicating with people in other countries and cultures has helped lower the aforementioned barriers tied to racism, sexism and homophobia.
Hey, by no means allow me to disaude you from your nostalgic reminiscing that perhaps life in America during 1950-1990 was peachy keen compared to the year 2008. Hang there if that’s your wont.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will remain in awe of the incredible opportunities for growth, education on both a personal and family level.
Time for me once again to remind everyone that Steve is a pompous ass.
But he beat me to it.
Wish the rains would come, then maybe he could get busy cutting some lawns, instead of cutting farts while spreading his pomposity online.
Heh..you and me both. Reliable average rainfall will give me a literal 30-40% salary increase immediately.
Dog, Dog, Dog.
I confess I am often lured into the comfort and cushion notions that “life used to be better and today it’s not as great and oh yeah, tomorrow is probably only going to be average at best (that is if I’m really lucky).”
But then I get out into the community, via cyber or face to face in my work (both lawn/garden and my drug policy education work) and I just can’t help but be a bit overwhelmed with how great my fellow man is more days than not.
My proscription for anyone who is not feeling similar optimism - Make some changes to your daily habits and especially some changes to who you are hanging out with.
The Tampa Bay area, Florida and from what I’ve seen - the world as a whole - is pretty damn cool and it’s full of great people if you can take a breath and look past the smaller group of Not So Great people.
Three cents of Pompous Optimism
You are now free to try and dig it or you’re also free to retreat to the safer and less challenging climes of whatever you view as status quo.
well, its my position that those who wish to be optimistic, and strive to find reasons to be hopeful will be suitably rewarded by finding those reasons. Those who wish to be pessimistic and find reasons why everything is going bad, will likewise find what they seek. The optimist tends to be happier than the pessimist -almost by design.
Personally, I’ll take the happier outlook. I find many things to be excited about in the times we live. Being upset and worried never solved anything, and just makes you flat-out miserable.
Hell, maybe I see things the way I do because Im lucky enough to get to ride my motorcycle when I please -and most bikers tend to be up-beat people, from my experience, anyway. Perhaps its because I enjoy home-brewing… In short, I have hobbies I enjoy doing -I call ‘em stress relief. I do NOT live to work. I work to enjoy life.
MLV submits: I do however think that it’s much harder today to keep kids on the straight and narrow and to have faith and believe in something far greater than themselves.
SH: An interesting opinion, but one with which those of us who work with youth today might disagree. I am daily inspired by the attitudes of young people from high school through college age. But maybe I have an advantage working with them directly whereas someone observing from the periphery might honestly conclude that it’s “harder” for youth today to behave in inspired fashion.
MLV: There is more crime and drugs today than ever before.
SH: Both crime and drugs are as available today as they have always been for anyone who wants to be involved with either.
====
MLV: Many more things are considered ok, and tolerated that weren’t in the 50’s. Such as filthy language, nudity on television, shock radio etc, etc, etc. It’s next to impossible to keep the seedier side of life away from today’s kids, because it screams at you from every direction.
SH: Many more things today are considered NOT OK that during the 50s through the 80s may have been considered okey dokey.
These would include, but not be limited to the blatant racism that harshly segregated the races, especially in my home state of Texas and other places south of the Mason-Dixon line.
Blatant sexism - treating women as second class citizens.
Blatant and often virulent homophobia and abuse of gays and anyone not following the “traditional family model”.
Prior to the mid 90s, a young child or teenager’s opportunity for expanded education resources was pretty much limited to the hours of the local library and the television programming aired by an average of about a half dozen stations/networks.
Today, young children, teenagers and adults alike are able to access educational resources with the click of a mouse on any subject on the planet. Kids can become smarter and parents can likewise have access to information on how to be a better parent, how to deal with troubled kids, how to do deal with health and mental challenges, where in the past they would have been limited to a handful of local resources that may not be accessible due to cost.
Prior to the advent of the internet and the increased access to cable and satellite television feeds, most American kids and their parents were remarkably ignorant about other countries, their people, their customs, their religions and their ethnic cultures.
Today, few such barriers exist, thus permitting parents to more accurately and responsibly educate themselves and their children alike.
This increased access to communicating with people in other countries and cultures has helped lower the aforementioned barriers tied to racism, sexism and homophobia.
Hey, by no means allow me to disaude you from your nostalgic reminiscing that perhaps life in America during 1950-1990 was peachy keen compared to the year 2008. Hang there if that’s your wont.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will remain in awe of the incredible opportunities for growth, education on both a personal and family level.
You tend (as well as some others)to read more into a post than what is actually written.
I did not say that everything was “peachy keen” in the past, nor was it “okey dokey”. There are some things that were better in the past than they are today. There are also some things that are better today than in the past. Such as healthcare for example. But not everything is better today.
Don’t pidgeon hole those of us who choose to have our eyes open and see what is reality, as “pessimists”. That is a convenient excuse for others who choose to keep those rose colored glasses on 24 hours a day.
