The
1963 was a transformative year in America. Pres. Kennedy assassinated, civil rights demanded, feminism, and youth rebellion, etc. Some of us still remember the '60's. Those who were not there have difficulty understanding how it was a transformative decade.
My recollection about the youth rebellion is that it came about mostly from objection to LBJ's Vietnam efforts. Granted, much of it was objection to parental lifestyles, but for many those lifestyles enabled the Hippie lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy of the Civil Rights efforts was the forgetting of civil responsibilities.
Des:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I think that the draft was the main thing that turned young people against the war. Until they insituted a lottery system, it was groslly unfair--esp. in the Sourth against Blacks. If there had been a draft for Iraq and Afghanistan, you would really see anti-war dissent take off. Yes, everyone wants rights, but few want responsibilities. On the other hand, it is difficult to take about responsibilties when governvment doesn't meet its constitutional responsibilities (e.g. equal protection, due process, etc.) But, in the end, government failures cannot excuse individual violations of the requirements of basic human decency.
Drifting: It seems to be governmental policy that all should not even need to exercise personal responsibility. I can start with the consumer protection laws, which in essence say that you don't need to exercise caution or judgement when you buy any product. The laws allegedly guarantee safety in use and quality of manufacture. I've long called that "Naderism"; pass enough laws, write enough regulations and we'll inhabit a warm, safe, snuggly world. Thus, no need for personal responsibility.
ReplyDeleteDes:
ReplyDeleteI agreee that much that government does promotes irresponsibility. However, I am in favor of consumer protection laws. If you have ever purchased a home, you know that the paperwork is enormous and bull of vague boilerplate. Even if you didn't like something, and tried to bargain, most likely they would say take it or leave it. There is no true bargaining or bargaining power for consumers in most transactions, except perhaps occasionally on price or a few extras. No ordinary individual can hope to prevail in court over a large corporation. The Corp. will stall and use tactics that will exhaust the ordinary consumer's finances and patience. As I suggest in my philosophy, the individual is being squeezed into nothingness by both government and corporations. We need these two to try to offeset each other.