Actually, they stuck quite well. Most of the leaders of the radical student groups were "red" or "pink" diaper babies, and Richard Nixon got the majority of the 18-21 year old vote, in roughly the same proportion as the middle age vote. Nevertheless, there is nothing in what I said to preclude periods of social turmoil, indeed, quite the contrary.
We do not make up our individual values any more than we personally make up our language.
All it implies is that as societies become similar, they will converge in values. For example, when central authority waned in Japan, it turned to feudalism, and developed a chivalric code similar to that among knights in Western Europe. Japan has, however, in the end become more like us, as it has modernized.
Whatever gave you the idea that it was the stated social theory of Communist Russia that as many people as possible should be able to peaceably pursue their own ends? And what ever gave you the idea that we lived in a laissez- faire country, when we have massive government bureaus providing free education, low cost or no cost medical care, various income subsidies, imposing standards of health and safety, including pollution standards, and so on?
I am not acquainted with the Oregon example, but permit me to be dubious about the accuracy of your account, considering that Oregon is one of the most liberal states in the Union. Even if you were correct, it would mean nothing about the general trend in this society. For one thing, I did not stipulate how one contributes to society. I give to charity, how about you? |
