BLT-
Congrats on a thoughtful post. Spot on (as the Brits say), in some respects.
<<But not only was the nation's apparent success and plenty doomed to be short-lived, if for no other reason than "what goes up must
come down," but it genuinely was, in some senses, false. It had been built on ...>>
I believe there is one other important aspect of the "success" of contemporary American life that is insufficiently appreciated. Specifically, I worry that in important respects we are living off the moral capital of previous generations. As the rules of the road are relaxed- and in many cases I believe they should have been- people do not immediately adjust their behavior to take advantage of their new liberties. Patterns of behavior that existed before the rules were relaxed are frequently observed for some time (decades?).
I'll cite one example that I realize some will consider controversial, even provocative: illegitimacy. At one time in the not-too-recent-past, it was a shame. It happened, but it was at the margins of society. It's ill-affects did not cut a broad swath through our society because it was rare. (Yeah, I know, not all illegitimate children are destined to lives of failure, but I for one consider it a strong risk factor for a child.) Today, as a result of the Pill and the decline in various social institutions including family and church, it is a commonplace. If I'm not mistaken, over two thirds of black American babies are born out of wedlock. But since blacks comprise only about 13% of the US population, the effects are still contained, even though the effects in the black community have been devastating. But more and more, that behavior is becoming an accepted alternative among whites. I am told I have to be part of a "village" to pick up the pieces of the resultant lives, and I resent it. IMO, our nation's civilization cannot endure if whites in this country emulate the behavior of blacks in that regard.
To keep this post topical, I'll note that Sleazebag Bill's behavior over his lifetime, if it became the norm, would lead to a social catastrophe in this country. But to his supporters, who seem to get something they want out of the little creep, such concerns are not worth considering.
Larry
P.S. Your reference to "exploitation of the environment" was intriguing. I also believe our lifestyle consigns future generations to death, as we use this earth in an unsustainable manner- but I'll leave that for a future post. |
