tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867113147194082160.post3988022386593779540..comments2024-01-27T07:32:09.377-05:00Comments on Flaming Fundamentalists For Peace: Comments Which Conservatives Block From Their Blogs For May 4, 2016Curt Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06086508660386800294noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867113147194082160.post-82295690129876041262016-05-05T13:46:06.568-04:002016-05-05T13:46:06.568-04:00Bill,
You didn't stir up any arguments, we jus...Bill,<br />You didn't stir up any arguments, we just disagree. <br /><br />Which time is better depends on for whom. Overall, I think the 70s were the best time. Then we were at the tail end of the Post WW I economic windfall that saw all of our economic classes profit equally. We had less partisanship in government and the government was more responsive to citizen activism. The gap between minimum wage and cost living was much smaller and colleges were more affordable. And we were making progress regarding women's rights and civil rights. Besides, most of my favorite musicians were alive back then.<br /><br />As far as now, we are facing a growing governmental authoritarianism throughout the world including the US. Student deb is skyhigh and job prospects are tougher now than back in the 70s. And we are facing global terrorism problem that is difficult to predict. The environmental news front is grim and would greatly affect our way of life today if we were responding appropriately. <br /><br />Certainly there is no golden age. But the 70s were a preferable time despite the Cold War and threat of nuclear annihilation. They were a better time because government was more responsive to its people, it was easier to make a living, race relations were improving, and our government officials weren't as partisan.Curt Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086508660386800294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867113147194082160.post-34937657487924937892016-05-05T12:52:02.419-04:002016-05-05T12:52:02.419-04:00Sorry, I didn't meant to stir up an argument, ...Sorry, I didn't meant to stir up an argument, and don't intend to have one. Actually, I thought that was a point upon which we agreed (relying on your first comment).<br /><br />I find your preference for the past surprising.<br /><br />To what point in our history would you like to return? On what date, for example, were things better for humanity than they are now? And please note that I'm asking about humanity as a whole, not just middle class white American males. I suspect anyone who reflects on those things will realize that we have much for which to be thankful and that for the vast majority of humanity times have never been better than they are now). There are plenty of problems yet to solve, for sure, but no "golden age" to which we should want to return.<br /><br />peace<br /><br />Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08859125602809246773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867113147194082160.post-33279930436343606652016-05-05T11:30:04.999-04:002016-05-05T11:30:04.999-04:00Bill,
First, thank you for commenting and your kin...Bill,<br />First, thank you for commenting and your kind words. Let's get to the disagreements though.<br /><br />When you write:<br /><br /><b><br />Objectively, by any standard, things have never been better than they are today and they're getting better all the time. Over the past few decades we've not only seen extreme poverty reduced by over half (and soon to be a thing of the past entirely) but also amazing advances in health care, childhood mortality, education and literacy, liberation of previously oppressed people groups, dramatic reductions in war, violence and crime, etc.<br /></b><br /><br />there exists problems. No, there are standards that challenge your statement. Stagnation of income, growing wealth disparity, the shrinking middle class, the declining educational performance by students who received their K-12 grade education here, a reemergence of racism, the changing of our democracy into a oligarchy, gov't's increased prosecution of government whistle-blowers as well as increased surveillance and gov't powers to detain people without due process, and the complaints made in <i>The Declaration Of The Occupation Of New York City</i> composed by OWS challenge your notion that things have never been better.<br /><br />If you want we can discuss a couple ideas at a time and let me know which of my claims do you want documentation for.<br /><br />BTW, I fully agree that we are not a Christian nation nor were we ever meant to be.Curt Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086508660386800294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867113147194082160.post-59752249689143177442016-05-05T06:54:18.591-04:002016-05-05T06:54:18.591-04:00To block such thoughtful and respectful comments i...To block such thoughtful and respectful comments is to suggest that the site exists only to confirm pre-existing biases, rather than to engender discussion.<br /><br />I enjoyed your comments--even those with which I disagreed.<br /><br />I too am baffled at the widespread appeal to "make America great again" and the claim that society is disintegrating and declining. Objectively, by any standard, things have never been better than they are today and they're getting better all the time. Over the past few decades we've not only seen extreme poverty reduced by over half (and soon to be a thing of the past entirely) but also amazing advances in health care, childhood mortality, education and literacy, liberation of previously oppressed people groups, dramatic reductions in war, violence and crime, etc. So why do most people believe the world is getting worse, not better? This is a psychological phenomenon sometimes called "declinism" and evidence of it can be found in writings thousands of years old and continuing to the present. It must have some evolutionary origin but it is preventing most of us from appreciating perhaps the most amazing story in the history of humanity, unfolding right in front of our eyes even while we complain about the demise of society.<br /><br />And as for the notion that America is ceasing to be a "Christian nation," I like this quote from a John Wesley sermon 250 or so ago:<br /><br /><i>Where does this Christianity now exist Where, I pray, do the Christians live Which is the country, the inhabitants whereof are all thus filled with the Holy Ghost --are all of one heart and of one soul cannot suffer one among them to lack anything, but continually give to every man as he hath need; who, one and all, have the love of God filling their hearts, and constraining them to love their neighbour as themselves; who have all "put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering" who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed, against justice, mercy, or truth; but in every point do unto all men; as they would these should do unto them With what propriety can we term any a Christian country, which does not answer this description Why then, let us confess we have never yet seen a Christian country upon earth.</i><br /><br />Amen.<br />Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08859125602809246773noreply@blogger.com