Posted on 03/08/2006 6:24:32 AM PST by .cnI redruM
Good newsthese days is hard to find. But for no good reason. The mainstream media highlight and overhype America's failures and challenges, from the slow response to Hurricane Katrina to mistaken intelligence on Iraq, giving the impression that a dark cloud hovers over the land. Yet, obscured by the day-to-day hyperventilating of the press lies the most underreported news story of our time: Americans today are better off than at any time in history and are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future.
Life expectancy exploded during the 20th century. A woman born today is expected to live 80 years — nearly 30 longer than a woman born in 1900. One cause is the decrease in infant mortality, which has fallen 76 percent over the past 50 years. And childbirth, historically one of the biggest threats to women's health, has become practically routine: The risk of dying as a result of pregnancy or childbirth was nine times greater in 1950 than today.
Crime rates have plummeted. Since 1973, the number of violent crimes against women — defined as homicide, rape, robbery, and both simple and aggravated assault — has dropped 40 percent, while crimes against men fell by 67 percent. The rate of property crime declined even more precipitously, falling by nearly 70 percent.
As our lives have gotten longer, they have also gotten richer. America's economy continues to create jobs and wealth at an unprecedented pace. Over the past 40 years, per capita income in the United States has doubled. On top of that, Americans are enjoying more leisure time. According to a study published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the number of hours per week dedicated to leisure rose from 31 in 1965 to over 35 in 2003, an increase of 15 percent.
Newspapers dutifully report on the "poverty rate," which has remained relatively stable over recent decades, but it's important to put that statistic into context. While there are many in this country who experience truly serious deprivations, the typical American living below the poverty line owns a car; has air conditioning, a cell phone, and a microwave; and lives in a home that isn't overcrowded. Nearly half own their own homes. In terms of access to material goods and life improving technologies, a poor household today is far better off than the average household in 1950.
And people living in poverty today are unlikely to stay poor for long. A longitudinal study issued by the Census Bureau revealed that while many people fall below the poverty line, most are poor only temporarily.
In contrast to the doom-and-gloom presented by the media, Americans are generally happy and optimistic. A 2004 Gallup poll found that more than half of Americans describe themselves as "very happy" and another 42 percent say they are "fairly happy." Just 6 percent describe themselves as "not too happy."
This distinguishes Americans from our peers overseas. A 2002 survey of twelve nations revealed that nearly two-thirds of Americans were highly satisfied with their overall quality of life, compared to 53 percent in the U.K., 36 percent of Germans, and 28 percent of the French. Six in ten Americans were judged to be "hopeful," compared to just four in ten Frenchmen and one quarter of Germans.
Two disturbing trends run counter to this general wave of American progress. The second half of the 20th century witnessed the erosion of the nuclear family. Today, more than one in every three American children is born out of wedlock. These children suffer more hardships and are more likely to be discipline and later crime problemsas they grow up. America's public education system also fails to meet the needs of our children, leaving too many without the skills necessary to participate in the modern economy. Reversing these disturbing trends will be critical to maintaining America's upward path.
The media need to report on America's stumbles and problems so that we can correct our failures. But it's also important to recognize that the quality of life enjoyed by Americans is unprecedented in human history. It may not make the papers, but it's the big story of our time.
The "poor" today live like the middle class of the 1950's. I can testify to that and I like testifying to that. I grew up with my parents and siblings in a 990 sq. ft. house which I was fortunate enough to interest a single occupant in buying a few years ago. We never complained or imagined that we were cramped. All our friends lived the same way.
I remember the day that the first black and white TV was delivered and set up. We thought we were rich!
This economy is great. I'm proud to be an American. (And I still think I'm rich.)
While we have more to protect we must protect it with ever greater vigilance.
Growing up in the fifties-sixties, there were nine of us children plus my parents in a four bedroom, two bath house. No Central AC. A black-and-white TV was pretty cool. Yet somehow we all went to Catholic elementary school, and some to private high school too, and all to college. Looking back I guess we were 'poor', but my kids now have no idea how good they have it!
Growing up, I had to walk 27 miles to school, uphill both ways in the snow. We didn't have shoes. All we had were pictures of shoes from the Sears Roebuck, which we taped to our feet to keep us warm.
Bread costs a nickel, but we didn't have anything to put on it. So, we'd give ourselves haircuts and make hair sandwiches. On holidays, we'd have mustard for our hair sandwiches.
OMG! The anti-Paul Craig Roberts!
But nowadays, you have to wait weeks to get your Ferrari serviced, and it's hard to find a reliable pool cleaner.
Your childhood sounds a lot like mine,first black and white tv etc. I had six siblings in a house that today I would consider a bit small for just my wife and me.
I had 2 parents and I don't even remember any of my friends who didn't have 2 parents. My dad worked and mom took care of the kids, they loved us and not one of us were ever abused although at the time I thought my dad was a little liberal with the punishment, we were cared for and well fed. It was the norm where I lived and grew up in the 50s.
What's wrong with America today? Too many damned liberals for too long have shoved their social agenda down everybodies throat. The result is crime, welfare and abortions by the millions.
A good life can still be had though. I raised 4 kids, worked hard and saved all my life and am now retired and enjoying my grand kids and one great grand son, (and that handsome lad can be seen by clicking my screen name)
Yeah, but I do get a hankering for a good hair sandwich every once in awhile.
Okay -- absolutely true story -- I was out late one night drinking with an extremely rich guy. We stop in a diner for a cup of coffee before calling it a night. The guy orders, get this, "bread and sugar." If you're not familiar with it, "bread and sugar" is white bread toasted with butter and sprinkled with processed sugar. It's what moms would give their kids when times got tough as a "treat."
"What's wrong with America today? Too many damned liberals for too long have shoved their social agenda down everybodies throat. The result is crime, welfare and abortions by the millions.
Isn't this a consequence of excessive wealth? Too many people with too much money who have nothing to do but promote their pet cause?
You won't see many activists in countries where everyone has to work all the time to make a living.
One of our favorite treats on snowy winter nights. Buttered toast sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon. Comfort food.
We went to Catholic school also, learned to read, write and do arithmetic, as well as courtesy and obedience. Went to Mass every day. I'll never forget the smell of those dark hallways; floorwax, rubber snow boots and wet wool.
Kids today should be half as happy as we were then. But they're not.
I love and respect all of your posts...but.....lets cut the kids of today a little slack(i'm the mother of 3 of them)...because I feel sorry for them in some ways. They will never get to experience the awsome wonder of a carefree childhood. Todays kids can't go outside and run wild like we used to because the child pediophiles and rapist run amok amongst us. Try taking your child to a carnival or a flea market or even a grocery store and lose them for a minute. I'm sure when that happened to my mother she didn't panic, just searched for us. But not me, if my child is out of my sight thoughts of Adam Walsh run through my mind and terror reigns.
We tell our kids that every single one of them must go to college in order to compete in the global economy, we push and push the school work and the grades yet forget that some just aren't college material and instead of encouraging them in their talents we cut them loose as loosers in our schools and society. Why aren't we proud if our child wants to be a truck driver or an electrician? These are necessary jobs that can pay well.
Fall in love and get married at 18?? are you crazy? you can't get married till your 30! You can't afford a home of your own and you certainly wouldn't make a good parent!
No wonder we have kids living together, kids out of wedlock and kids who are confused..we've taken something as lovely as marriage and turned IT into the worst thing you could do as a young person instead of out of wedlock babies.
Oh, I know that our kids today have tons of technical gadgets, t.v.'s, cell phones, game boys. But sometimes, when you have everything whats to look forward to?
My dad paid off his house before he bought his first car. It was a '58 Ford Fairlane. I remember when the dealer brought it over and my dad gave him the check. It was for the unthinkably large sum of $1400, I believe, and my dad let me hold it. I thought I was working for Brinks.
Pagan Babies, May Shrines, and the Knights of Columbus with their swords and capes during midnight mass on Christmas. The Angelus bell ringing at 6:00 in the evening. Incense and interminable Latin chants during Holy Week. The aromas of potica and shumka baking in my grandmothers' ovens. A little mining town buried under snow. A vanished world.
God Bless America!
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