The Road Not Taken
Tim Williams
June 21, 2009
At some point in our lives we have all said "what if I had done this, instead of that." Maybe we should have chosen another option instead of the one we took. In hindsight we still reflect on the what if's. Unlike my father before me the quality of life I am experiencing just doesn't compare with that of my youth. I have been cheated out of the pleasantries, the quaintness, and the simpler life that was so much a part of my parents lives and mine. My country, the United States has denied my generation and the following ones the opportunities that enabled my parents to enjoy life. The road not taken by our society and our government has brought America down from one of the greatest nations in the world to a mere shadow of it's former self.
The year was 1965. The Beatles were on top of the charts and Elvis was still King. This was the pivotal period in the United States in that our society and government set in motion a set of circumstances that forever changed the character of America. Certain laws were passed, civil unrest was starting to spread and the general mentality of the general public shifted away from the high moral standards that was a dominate factor in every day life. This shift in our society has had far reaching effects that still reverberate today.
President Johnson's War On Poverty was a very auspicious start. The creation of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Welfare system all seemed like a successful plan. In actuality it was just another good idea gone bad. What was created was just another attempt to appease the public that the United States Government knew exactly what America needs. The War on Poverty was and is still a loosing battle under this plan.The continuing escalation of the United States involvement in the Vietnam War where college age men were being drafted in increasing numbers. The Universities aligned themselves with the Army Draft Board in recruiting more male students and increasing their credit hours for each semester in the hope they will funk out and loose their student deferment so that they will become eligible for the Army draft. In this way the Army would be assured of more personal for the war. The way the welfare system was created enable more of our young adults not to seek employment but opt for welfare instead. A whole sector of our society was now being supported by the rest of Americans tax dollars.
The Dr. Spock mentality that began in the late 60's has perpetuated through generations. The youth of the 1970's began a decline of our moral standards that was so much a part of American society from the beginning. Each subsequent generation leading up to now has been exposed to the decline of morals, a loss of respect for others,and a more apathetic attitude toward the government. What has evolved from 1965 to today is a loss of humidity, the comradery, the fellowship of neighbors and respect for our elders.
Governmental policies and Supreme Court rulings of the late 60's and early 70's along with the liberalization of educational standards have done almost irreversible damage to American Society. Gone are the parents rights to raise their children. Gone are the rights of teachers authority in the classroom. Gone is the respect for ourselves and others. At no other period in our history has the United States shifted so far away from what really made our society and our government standout among nations of the world.
The road not taken then by our society and government has brought America to this real crisis of today. An underlying set of attitudes has taken hold of our society where the United States economy has been brought down to it's knees. Now The United States must act with decisive programs designed to restore our own confidence in the governments ability to revive the economy of every community. The road taken now, is one that will generate prosperity, new found social values, a less apathetic attitude toward others, and a civility among neighbors. Employment creation programs using today's technology similar to the Works Progress Administration that was so sucesssful in the 1930's would be a major factor in eliminating the drowning effect that the United States citizens are now experiencing. One that would promote self accomplishment instead of government ownership. The road taken now would include Universal Health Care modeled after the Italian, French, and the Scandinavian Countries. This would ease the suffering millions are now facing because of the lack of health care. Not only that but it would free up funds companies would other wise spend on health premiums instead of using the funds to offer living wages to their employees. Real Education reform must occur to insure that today's youth are prepared for the technology that is so important in the employment opportunities of tomorrow. A social re posturing to weed out the decay of our morals that is rampant among our citizens. This must be initiated by our court system and followed through by every member of our society. The future of America depends on this road taken.
The year was 1965. The Beatles were on top of the charts and Elvis was still King. This was the pivotal period in the United States in that our society and government set in motion a set of circumstances that forever changed the character of America. Certain laws were passed, civil unrest was starting to spread and the general mentality of the general public shifted away from the high moral standards that was a dominate factor in every day life. This shift in our society has had far reaching effects that still reverberate today.
President Johnson's War On Poverty was a very auspicious start. The creation of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Welfare system all seemed like a successful plan. In actuality it was just another good idea gone bad. What was created was just another attempt to appease the public that the United States Government knew exactly what America needs. The War on Poverty was and is still a loosing battle under this plan.The continuing escalation of the United States involvement in the Vietnam War where college age men were being drafted in increasing numbers. The Universities aligned themselves with the Army Draft Board in recruiting more male students and increasing their credit hours for each semester in the hope they will funk out and loose their student deferment so that they will become eligible for the Army draft. In this way the Army would be assured of more personal for the war. The way the welfare system was created enable more of our young adults not to seek employment but opt for welfare instead. A whole sector of our society was now being supported by the rest of Americans tax dollars.
The Dr. Spock mentality that began in the late 60's has perpetuated through generations. The youth of the 1970's began a decline of our moral standards that was so much a part of American society from the beginning. Each subsequent generation leading up to now has been exposed to the decline of morals, a loss of respect for others,and a more apathetic attitude toward the government. What has evolved from 1965 to today is a loss of humidity, the comradery, the fellowship of neighbors and respect for our elders.
Governmental policies and Supreme Court rulings of the late 60's and early 70's along with the liberalization of educational standards have done almost irreversible damage to American Society. Gone are the parents rights to raise their children. Gone are the rights of teachers authority in the classroom. Gone is the respect for ourselves and others. At no other period in our history has the United States shifted so far away from what really made our society and our government standout among nations of the world.
The road not taken then by our society and government has brought America to this real crisis of today. An underlying set of attitudes has taken hold of our society where the United States economy has been brought down to it's knees. Now The United States must act with decisive programs designed to restore our own confidence in the governments ability to revive the economy of every community. The road taken now, is one that will generate prosperity, new found social values, a less apathetic attitude toward others, and a civility among neighbors. Employment creation programs using today's technology similar to the Works Progress Administration that was so sucesssful in the 1930's would be a major factor in eliminating the drowning effect that the United States citizens are now experiencing. One that would promote self accomplishment instead of government ownership. The road taken now would include Universal Health Care modeled after the Italian, French, and the Scandinavian Countries. This would ease the suffering millions are now facing because of the lack of health care. Not only that but it would free up funds companies would other wise spend on health premiums instead of using the funds to offer living wages to their employees. Real Education reform must occur to insure that today's youth are prepared for the technology that is so important in the employment opportunities of tomorrow. A social re posturing to weed out the decay of our morals that is rampant among our citizens. This must be initiated by our court system and followed through by every member of our society. The future of America depends on this road taken.
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