OT
Jeff, I'm very interested in your observation: "I guess such self reliance goes against the grain of the Socialist mentality that has finally overtaken this nation in last 15 years or so."
My own observation is that things are headed in the opposite direction. Maybe it's the difference in our ages. I've got 20 years on you. I used to think that things only moved in one direction because in my lifetime all movement had been in one direction. I can remember well when it seemed like we were on a slippery slope to Socialism. The word "charity" became a four letter word and health, wealth, and happiness became entitlements.
I also remember well when I thought I saw a change of direction. It was just after Ronald Reagan took office. I remember the timing because I assumed a cause-and-effect relationship. The place was the letters to the editor in the Washington Post, which I read daily for many years. The formula used to be that letter writers would observe some problem, expand on it for a couple of paragraphs, and then close by saying that the Federal government ought to do something about it--as though that were the only possible way to solve any and all problems. Over a period of just a few months, the formula all but disappeared. At the time, I found the change abrupt and startling. Since then, I think the movement is definitely away from Socialism although perhaps not as far or as quickly as you would like.
Since your observation is directly contrary to mine, I would be interested in hearing why it is you think the last 15 years have been moving toward Socialism.
I apologize to the thread for the off topic message, but since the dialogue has dried up for whatever reason, I thought I would make this post to Jeff as a public one. I don't know that it's entirely off topic since much discussion here has focused on the role of the Federal government in Y2K. I have been surprised to read all the postings about how the Feds aren't doing as much as they should about Y2K from many people I would have expected to generally advocate a minimalist role for the government, particularly the Federal government.
Jeff, I would appreciate your thoughts on the direction of the last 15 years, either privately or publicly.
Karen |
