Mr. Stein’s arguments are hard-hitting and, for the most part, on target …. yet I believe the third entry on Mr. Stein’s list is not an symptom; it is the cause of all of the others.
None of the deadly ills in modern American society -- Stein enumerated a few of them: the failure of education; the obscene power of unelected, unaccountable trial lawyers (I would also add the mainstream media); the demeaning of the work ethic and thrift; the relaxing of ethical standards for business and union leaders; the increase in disrespect for law and order; the degradation of valuing intelligence and knowledge; the breakdown of the family; the lack of a coherent immigration policy; the existence of a punitive tax structure …. --- could have taken root without the existence of the third one on his list (should’ve been first): the rise in the notion that individuals are not responsible for their own choices/behaviors.
We have not all somehow become victims of just marginally-defined evil forces who have created a rarefied American atmosphere consisting of the abominations mentioned above without consciously abdicating our responsibility to both past generations, and future ones.
Despite their intrinsic definitions, apathy and irresponsibility are not coerced states of mind. They involve deliberate choice.
We have chosen the path down (emphasis on the declining aspect of the word) which this country is walking. We are responsible for the decadence and decay. We have chosen ignorance and sloth over vigilance and industry. And we have chosen to have our children grow up in a society that isn’t even aware of the fact that there used to be a better way. If we are honest with ourselves, those of us who lament the fact that the American republic is falling know precisely where to pin the blame.
And if we continue to choose to be indiscriminating, unvigilant, and ignorant, then we are also choosing to have our children carry on our shameful tradition, borne of laziness. We give them no better example to follow. We offer them no proud heritage to which they can cling. Not even vague memories of a better time to which they can strive to return.
My theory is that thanks to the Carter inflation, somewhere in the mid 80's it became almost impossible for a one-earner family to make ends meet. About that time many mothers went to work and dumped their young children off in "day-care". The government has helped that along by providing subsidies - and reaps the benefit of two tax payers in the place of one.
We have a whole generation now that was brought up by other than their birth parents. They were never disciplined properly (or at all); They were never loved properly.
There was a better way.