Posted on 05/17/2010 11:39:17 AM PDT by markomalley
PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans are three times more likely to describe the current state of moral values in the United States as "poor" than as "excellent" or "good." Americans' assessment of U.S. morality has never been positive, but the current ratings rank among the worst Gallup has measured over the past nine years.
Additionally, Gallup's annual poll on moral values, conducted May 3-6, finds 76% of Americans saying moral values in the United States are getting worse; while 14% say they are getting better. Last year saw a slight improvement in these attitudes -- with 21% saying values were getting better -- but opinion has since reverted to near 2006-2008 levels.
To better understand what Americans mean when they say "moral values in the country" are getting worse, Gallup asks respondents who hold this view to describe some of the ways in which they see values deteriorating.
Most commonly, respondents see a lack of respect for other people and a more general decline in moral values and standards. But the responses are quite varied. Specifically, some blame the perceived decline on poor parenting -- specifically, parents not instilling proper values in their children. Some cite the poor examples of U.S. leaders in government and business who find themselves embroiled in ethical or moral scandals. And some reference larger societal factors, such as rising crime and violence, Americans turning away from God, church and religion, and the breakdown of the typical two-parent family.
(Excerpt) Read more at gallup.com ...
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I’m at my 5 yr old’s coach pitch baseball practice this weekend. There is a 7yr old kid doing great....the father in his early 20s, wearing a gang tilted baseball cap....is sitting right next to me in the stands.
Not once did this young punk acknowledge his son’s fine play. Not once did he even look up and watch one play or drill.
I praised the kid every chance I got, because clearly, he is getting no attention at home with his father.
Sad.
Hey, this is encouraging. It means 3/4 of the responders think morals are something worth having!
Wait for it....
It’s like watching the ancient Roman Empire fall apart at the seams.
That’s because 3/4 of the people know they will do the wrong thing if no one is looking.
People have been complaining about society’s morals for millenia. Read Cicero’s b**ching about Rome’s morals for an example.
Back in grad school, I attended a lecture about prostitution and its affect on both militaries during the War Between the States. It seemed hilarious, until he got to the part where widespread promiscuity combined with a lack of antibiotics resulted in hundreds of thousands of crippled and insane soldiers and working girls. Truly gruesome...and going on everywhere.
History shows people never really change.
I assume the 14% are liberals. Nothing is immoral to them. If it feels good, do it.
and another 10-15% are people who think that since Obama is making us “greener” and more redistibutionist, we are actually becoming MORE moral.
What were you doing just watching what the fellow next to you was doing...by the way were you properly acknowledging your own son? What was the fellow doing, just sitting there staring back at you wondering why you weren’t acknowledging your own son and why were you being so nosy just staring at him?
The man was there, in the stands! Maybe he just wasn’t as expressive as you felt any parent ought to be! Maybe personal issues were plaguing him and he was feeling sad! I know I went to my kids games and sometimes I would be “chewing on my own cud” in worry...other times when I was feeling better I was whooping and hollering same as any dad!
I just love how folks form an opinion of what they think is really going on inside of another person’s head. If this “punk” was really all “punk” as you say(with the gang titled hat), then I’m amazed he was at the game at all!
Some of the worst behavior I have ever seen involved youth sports. Adults cheating and lying! Happened to us this weekend in a Tournament.
Thanks to the relativistic ethics of secular humanism.Paul Kurtz, author of Humanist Manifesto II, states,"the traditional supernaturalistic moral commandments are especially repressive of our human needs. They are immoral insofar as they foster illusions about human destiny and suppress vital inclinations."
LOL, my 5 year old can hit and catch better than all of the 6’s and most of the 7’s...because I invest the time with my son to teach him the fundamentals of baseball.
It’s not hard to notice that the punk loser father is ignoring his son when he is texting the entire game right beside me.
Last year my then 12 yr older, had a coach who made all of the players stand right up on the plate...so they could milk a walk instead of learning how to hit a baseball.
Some coaches want to win at all cost, at the expense of the development of young baseball players. They are trying to relive their past until of letting young kids have their time to learn, have fun, win and lose on their own accord.
Sad really.
Tell me about it, I have a 19, 18 and 13 yr. old. The older ones played sports in HS. My youngest plays travel ball and has since he was 8. Over the years he has had many offers to go with more competitive teams, and sometimes it is very tempting but then my husband and I pull back and figure, he is with his buddies, he is still playing good ball and he loves his coach and teammates. At this point in time that is the important thing.
I have seen the most horrific behavior from parents, from fighting with the other teams, berating their own kids and just plain cheating!!
I would rather my son be with a coach who teaches not only the game but values as well instead of a cut throat team.
Our t-ball league gave you a certain amount of Coach pitch and then you would get a chance on the tee. It was my husband’s goal to get all of his team hitting a pitch. We even had an older 3 yr. old on the team. My husband also wanted them to throw the ball instead of running kids down. By the end of the season, all of our kids were hitting coach pitch. We lost in the playoffs because some of the other coaches went straight to the tee.....never even bothered to pitch. We were knocked out in 2 games. Who cares, the kids were more interested in the after the game snacks anyway and the pool party!!!!
BTW, that little 3 yr. old, ended up getting an in the park HR, off the pitch!! 8 yrs. later and I still see the Dad around town once in a while. He still comes up to me and talks about that team, LOL! The Yankees!!
He sounds like a great coach. I’ve coached Middle and high school football at a large school.
But coaching coach pitch kids was some of the most rewarding. Kids at that age can learn rapidly but it takes the right coach to coach that age of child.
He literally didn’t look up the entire practice. He didn’t want to be there...the son kept looking over for approval and the father could have cared less.
I gave the poor kid praise.
You seem very concerned about the father and seem to care little about the young kid....odd.
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