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How Times Have Changed
Walter Williams -
Having been born in 1936 has allowed me to witness both societal progress and retrogression. High on the list of things made better in our society are the great gains in civil liberties and economic opportunities, especially for racial minorities and women. People who are now deemed poor have a level of material wealth that would have been a pipe dream to yesteryear’s poor. But despite the fact that today’s Americans have achieved an unprecedented level of prosperity, we have become spiritually and morally impoverished compared with our ancestors.
Years ago, spending beyond one’s means was considered a character defect. Today not only do people spend beyond their means but also there are companies that advertise on radio and TV to eliminate or reduce your credit card and mortgage debt. Students saddled with college loans have called for student loan forgiveness. Yesterday’s Americans would have viewed it as morally corrupt and reprehensible to accumulate debt and then seek to avoid paying it. It’s nothing less than theft. What’s worse is there’s little condemnation of it by the rest of us.
Earlier this year, as a result of a budget crunch, the Philadelphia School District had to lay off 91 school police officers. During the 1940s and ’50s, I attended Philadelphia schools in poor neighborhoods. The only time we saw a policeman in school was during an assembly period when we had to listen to a boring lecture about safety. Because teacher assaults are tolerated — 4,000 over the past five years in Philadelphia — school police are needed.
ht/ jclady
jclady
August 1st, 2012
I hate being the first to comment on an item I sent in, but I really hope y’all take the time to read this article.
On a previous post, I commented that we are under attack from so many fronts — this one is paramount.
After all, the youth of today are the “leaders” of tomorrow.
Anonymous
August 1st, 2012
“I think that a society’s first line of defense is not the law but customs, traditions and moral values.”
jclady, this is a platinum article…thank you.
How could anyone in their right mind not respect and admire Mr. Williams? He is quite the gentleman.
Dano
August 1st, 2012
Smart man…
Sturge
August 1st, 2012
I’m quite certain I’d learn more from an evening with this man over a snifter of brandy and a good cigar than a lifetime in school. Thank you, Professor Williams; I needed another man to admire and respect. Men such as yourself are in short supply, today.