Days gone by

[subdjoe]

In the Heeeeeeers Johnny...thread JMO wrote:

As the oldies pass I feel a sense of loss of a time that will never be again. I was watching "Leave it to Beaver" the other day and felt a pang in my gut about the loss of innocence of our children, and family. I know it wasn't all happy-happy like the Beav, but times have changed so much over my lifetime and while some things are for the better, I can't help but feel sad for the loss of simplicity. People are more isolated from their neighbors, and status has replaced the simple joys that people used to share with each other. We used to make forts out of appliance boxes, ride our bikes until dusk, and if you had a quarter and at the local candy store where all candy was a penny you had the world by the arse. Simplicity...

And do I need to point out that a lot of that change of attitude came with Johnsons 'Great Society' experiment? And the feel good about yourself movement? The narcicissm of the late 60s & 70s did great harm to society. The "rights only " attitude, the idea that you had a right to anything you wanted, and had no responsibility for anything because the State would take care of everything.

We are now seeing that in full bloom with the former junior senator from IL in the Oval Office. How many times did we see and hear his supporters gushing that now they won't have to worry about house or car payments, because The One would take care of everything?

We have found that we can vote ourselves bread and circuses.

[harpman1]

Bread and circuses. Nice.

When do the gladatorial contests begin?

I love a good show.

[JustMyOpinion]

subdjoe, the political thing doesn't matter really. What is, is, and we cannot change it. The back and forth thing over the Democrats verses Republicans seems like a good way to vent, but it is for naught. I find it on most occasions to be depressing, and I don't know what good can come from looking at the glass as half empty...

Idiots that think they will get free cars, or anything else are just that , IDIOTS! Meanwhile, the rest of us have to plug along the best we can.

[subdjoe]

I can't agree that the political thing doesn't matter. If we keep carrying out, and even expanding, the same policies that got us here, how will it end?

But, I am seeing some signs of hope. People are starting to fight back against thugs again, even going after thugs who have harmed someone else, rather than just waiting for the police to come and take a report. We are seeing more cases of communitites banding together to help those in need. We are seeing people and local governments taking the 9th & 10th amendments seriously.

As for the glass half empty/half full - I look at it as "Hey, at least I have some clean water to drink."

[JustMyOpinion]

I don't mean politics don't matter period, what I meant was we can only do so much to change the path of an administration, we can vote, write letters, but beyond that to get so entrenched in the failures of it seems like a waist of energy. I don't know of any past president that didn't have short comings, and I have NEVER liked politics because TO ME it's like most things in life the ideal one has about how things SHOULD be never match up to what is.

I try to put my energy where I can make a direct difference, and while I do like to read differing opinions in the forum sometimes it seems daunting to see so many negative posts and about things we cannot change, and constant insults to people we don't really even know.

Again, it goes back to simplicity I suppose, people way back when didn't have a way to vent anger publicly with such fervor, nor was it appropriate. Society was sheltered and focused on what the local butcher was selling, or how Martha broke her leg and maybe one neighbor would bring food to her, or she could call the local grocer and have groceries delivered. It seemed like people worked together to make life work, now it feels like we work against each other.

Whatever, it's my mindset lately I guess. I think I have low tolerance for all of the daily negative news. The passing of what I perceived to be a more innocent time is unsettling to me, and I'm sure it's a mid-life thing.