The Great Generation?

Jewish World Review ^ | Nov. 13, 2002 | Walter Williams

[putupon]

How many votes do you think a James Madison-type senatorial candidate would get if his campaign theme was something like this: "Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of benevolence, don't expect for me to vote for prescription drugs for the elderly, handouts to farmers and food stamps for the poor. Instead, I'll fight these and other unconstitutional congressional expenditures"? I'll tell you how many votes he'll get: It will be Williams' vote, ad that's it.

No, he would putupon's vote also. That's at least two. Find me a candidate!

[greydog]

Make that three votes.

[ArrogantBustard]

Four. And probably many more, at least from FR and like minded folk. But I think Willians is fundamentally correct: not enough votes to get elected.

[ventana]

I have explained this to my parents, Republicans, and suddenly, they become glassy eyed. The greatest generation? Well, big time spenders anyway. V's wife.

[coder2]

I love my family, but I am so sick and tired of hearing the word "entitled"...

And some of them are republicans... I cannot get through to them --- especially one --- each time she says that we "have to have prescription drug coverage", and then I respond to her that it just another government handout and is not in the Constitution --- her response is that "she doesn't care" and gets mad at me because I don't want our parents to be able to get their drugs.. !!!

UGH !!!

[ventana]

Tell her you want your pet to have a lifetime insurance annuity, and also she should pay for your car insurance. In for a penny in for a pound! V's wife.

[tahiti]

"There's no question that the "great" generation spared the world from external tyranny, but it has outdone any other generation in destroying both the letter and the spirit of our Constitution, and as such produced a form of tyranny for which there's little defense."

Walter Williams nails it with that comment.

However, isn't it ironic that Walter Williams is (or used to be) the substitute host of the Rush Limbaugh radio show and it has been Rush Limbaugh and Tom Brokaw who have been shouting the loudest about the "the greatest generation?"

[Hank Kerchief]

And probably many more, at least from FR and like minded folk.

In 2002 $11.173 million and in 2003 $18.108 million, was and will be appropriated by Congress for relief in Zimbabwe. James Madison or Walter Williams would have stood on the floor of the House to object, saying, "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."

You would be surprised how many bleeding-heart liberal Freepers there are. Just suggest we not send one penny of any American's hard-earned money to save starving children in Zimbabwe and see the response. Some examples are in the thread below:

Zimbabwe -- U.S. eyes end run around Mugabe

Hank

[tnlibertarian]

Make that one more vote. Sounds to me like Madison was a liberatrian.

[TomServo]

Run Walter! You've got my vote!!

[FourPeas]

There's no question that the "great" generation spared the world from external tyranny, but it has outdone any other generation in destroying both the letter and the spirit of our Constitution, and as such produced a form of tyranny for which there's little defense.

Sad, but so very true. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who cringes when I hear someone refer to The Great Generation.

[coder2]

LOL !!! She'll look at me like I have 5 heads, and won't be able to see what this is referring to...

She just doesn't care --- she thinks prescription drugs are a right...

You wouldn't believe me if I told you how stubborn she is --- I have given up on her long ago. FYI -- she just loves "the west wing"

I call her a democrat and she says she's a republican -- we get into more fights on this one...

[ArrogantBustard]

Most of them, by now, have sold their souls (or at least their votes) for "sosul 'curity".

[u-89]

The greatist generation line is one of the greatest propaganda lines, and longest run of all times. Why would our founding fathers with that awesome assemblage of minds and selfless acheivments not be the greatest generation? Because they didn't usher in and solidify socialism that's why.

[Charlie OK]

I have always thought it ironic that in Minnesota, people were always saying that Wellstone had the vote of the Veterans because he made sure they were taken care of. He was the very type of person that they fought those wars against!

I am thankful for their service, but I guess when somebody comes along promising goodies, they will be the first to stick their hands out. Nice way to pay respect to your buddies that died fighting against Socialism. I know its not only in Minnesota, but that one is the freshest example in my mind.

[uncbuck]

"The greatist generation line is one of the greatest propaganda lines, and longest run of all times. Why would our founding fathers with that awesome assemblage of minds and selfless acheivments not be the greatest generation? Because they didn't usher in and solidify socialism that's why."

I agree that the Greatest generation was that of the founding fathers, but that we have had Great generations since then is also true.
The generation that fought in the Civil War on both sides.
The generation that fought in WW2 was the worst generation to pick a fight with. They were hardend by the depression, and were tough as nails. Where they went wrong was in trying to provide a world where their children wouldn't have to endure what they had to. THEY SPOILED THEIR CHILDREN.
I'm a gen-Xer (hate using that term), and we were spoiled as well.
The great generation of WW2/The Great Depression also provided the US with its greatest period of prosperity.
They have their good points and bad. As does every generation.
The founding Fathers were afraid to confront the slavery issue, ultimately solved by the Great Generation of the 1860's.
The Great generation of the 1860's defeated the rebelious southern states and voted to end slavery, but set the stage for the Central Govt we now live under. Giving it to much power.
What will the next great generation do wrong?

[u-89]

There are great individuals of renown and those unsung in every generation. I reject the labeling of generations in these terms but I used that dubious system as a devise to make my point in the above post. The founding of this country and the philosophy on which it was founded is an astounding achievement that rightly over shadows anything else in our experience. The left would not have us ponder that closely so they continuously glorify the 1930's and 40's (FDR).

If one wants to appoint collective attributes to a generation I submit shame rather than glory for this particular period. In the face of adversity i.e.. the depression they turned away from our heritage of limited government. Nor did they check the advance of leftist ideology as it advanced throughout our education system. Do you think that the counter-culture and revolution of the 1960's suddenly erupted out of no where like the Big Bang? No, like a cancerous tumor it grew slowly then metastasized in the 60's but it got its start decades earlier. By time of the eruption it was too late to do anything.

Another sticky point of talking about generations is how you define them. Did the soldiers of WW2 fight the depression? most were children at the time. Should not surviving in the depression be associated more with the WW1 generation who were adults trying to provide for their families in the 1930's? See this greatest generation thing is like all propaganda, it doesn't make sense when one scrutinizes it but slogans are meant to be repeated incessantly and not thought about.

[uncbuck]

My dad was a kid in the depression and remebers it well, almost with fondness. He remembers my grand mother feeding neighbors PB&J sanwiches cause they had nothing. He grew up in So. Philly in the Irish/German neighborhood. He was poor, but his dad was one of the lucky ones that had a job.
My grandfather was in the Navy during the war, and was an adult through the depression. My dad was in the Airforce during Korea, was stationed in N. Africa, so didn't get into 'real' combat. (He did, as a REPRESENTATIVE of the US military, have some serious scuffles with the islamic natives. We never hear about them though.)
I agree that the guys who fought in the war, were the kids of the depression. But weren't they the ones who built the America of the 50's, 60's and 70's when most of that legislation was passed? I know it started under Roosevelt The Dim. (Who wanted to be a king, no doubt) Both my dad and grand father disliked HRH FDR, and say/said he sold us down the river.
Also would you say Reagan was part of the WW2 generation or WW1 gen?
Was it not the WW1 gen that appeased Hitler?
All generations do good and bad, just some more than others.
Thats all my point was, simple.