I recently discovered that Harry Truman was President when I was born. I always thought it was Dwight D Eisenhower, but he was not in office until 1953. That was a time before interstate highways. ZIP codes did not exist until 10 years after that. The world was small. Everything was about the local neighborhood. It was a big deal to go for help more than 10 blocks from the family home (police, fire department, etc.). If there was a big problem in the community, citizens went to the County-Seat officials for help. Rarely did people go all the way to the state-level. I hardly knew about a governor until Ronald Reagan because California's leader in 1967. That was noteworthy because he was a movie star and everyone knew him. Nonetheless, government was smaller in those days. Even though I was just a kid I can honestly state without equivocation that people handled their own problems and did not look to Uncle Sam to manage their lives.
Fast forward to 2013.
Today we not only go beyond the 10 block neighbor perimeter for government services but it seems like everything has a paper trail that is processed 2000 miles away from my house. Washington DC. We don't gather in a family living room to talk about issues and solve problems between friends and families in a local area. Instead we are resigned to having some faceless person in the nations capital make decisions that affect our lives, our faith and our families.
This includes
- not only how our children and grandchildren are educated - but what they are taught (not the facts that I know)
- emergency response protocols (instead of neighbor helping neighbor responses require FEMA support)
- personal recreation and public parks (subject to fees and regulatory requirements)
- safety and protection (based on the judgments of people who don't want what I want for my family nor the world)
- ability to provide for our families (controls on business smother commerce)
- defining what a family is (how did the government get involved in something so personal)
(blog followers, add to this list, as you will)
There is a natural progression in society. I get that. It was during my youth that the first astronaut went into space. Things have changed. I am not against progress. In fact progress is an argument for maintaining a focus on a single unit. The point is, that we are not just a few houses in a subdivision any longer. We are part of a universe. But ---- the bigger our space the more vulnerable we are to having our voices silenced.
I want my voice to direct my own life and not be subject to a shouting proclamation that goes against my values. Who is to blame for this void? The administration? Congress? SCOTUS? Or all of the above?
You tell me.
Signed:
Smaller is better
Your description of the 50's sounds like a perfect world! Everything on your list of how we are no longer like the 50's, concerns me as well. I am sorry that I did not get to experience a more community way of life like that.
ReplyDeleteThere is a variety of things to blame for the way things are now. Personally, I think it starts with a political conspiracy. We've been told that communism and/or socialism would be fed to us little by little. As time has progressed in the last sixty years we have been fed ideas that we should not work as hard, that we should spread the wealth, and that it is nicer to have other people just "take care of us" which essentially means, "run our lives". Americans do not need a parent. We have the law to protect us from directionless criminals, we don't need all this other legislation dictating for us which kind of words to speak, which doctor to use, which cause our money should go to. We also don't need government handouts. We've also been fed the ideals of feminism which have completely emasculated men and made women for like men. This has confused growing generations and left everyone confused and directionless - so then let's just have the government tell us how to live so we don't have to think for ourselves. Right?
The only way this will change is with the action of the citizens of the United States; by voting in good people to run the country and by living a provident and Christ-like life, with an attitude of servitude.
The government does not know what is best for us. Everything they do ends up a heap of crap and corrupt. I'd like for someone to chime in and name one thing they have done correctly. I suspect we shall hear crickets on that one.
StarFish
This essay is thought provoking and stirs up agitation in me, but that happens when I watch the news too. The reality of American citizens has changed so dramatically in the past 60 years that this is no longer the country established by the Founding Fathers through prayer and inspiration. Self-reliance and neighborly communities have dissipated so insidiously that most people see the sense of entitlement as appropriate.
ReplyDeleteAny person who understands the teachings of Jesus Christ knows that the current way of thinking is a path to national disaster. It is also wicked in so many ways it would take another lengthy essay to enumerate them. The intrusion of government is born of corruption, greed, and men seeking to be like kings and conquerors. Of course many would find that statement contemptuous. I find the behavior of our President and his administration beyond contempt.
Some days I feel hopeless about being part of a nation that is escalating out of control at warp speed. I give myself a pep talk that is all too familiar anymore, "It is important to live righteously and control those things I can through obedience." This country needs righteous individuals who try to make a difference and who pray for divine intervention. The Lord sees our struggle and the decay in this promised land must make Him sorrowful. Sometimes intervention is not to be, case in point the recent election with its fraud and treachery. Obviously the wicked outnumber the righteous. Throughout history we have seen how the disproportion of wicked people brings down societies.
The important message of the essay is remembering history as it truly was and teaching children these truths. We can emulate neighbor helping neighbor practices and show true charity within our realm of influence. One thing is comforting, hearing from like-minded people to buoy up our courage and resolve. Thanks.