Is This Really Progress?

Several times I have sat at this computer and started to write another opinion piece and each time I start one, I can never seem to finish it. I have started on subjects like taxes, local governments, conservatism, human stupidity, radical Islam political correctness as well as a few more. They have all ended up sounding more like an argument than an opinion. Perhaps it’s from the passion that I have for my own beliefs and convictions. There is probably some truth to that. I believe that mostly it’s because I start in on a subject and I start to see everything that is wrong with it from a fiscal and social conservative’s point of view.

Over the past few months I have began to stop asking myself what is wrong with America and it’s citizens and have more often than not find myself asking and looking for anything that is actually right with America. Before you start to tell me what is right with America, I do know that there are many things right with her. My argument is, Are things as right with America as they were 20, 30 or 40 years ago?

Just think, 30 years ago we had less gun control and the murder rates were lower than they are today. 30 years ago, mothers primarily stayed home and raised the kids and we have the largest middle class society of any nation. 30 years ago only average, 20 percent of our income was going towards taxes instead of the 52% of today. 30 years ago the public education system actually functioned as it was intended. 30 years ago no one would have dared try to fly planes into our skyscrapers. 30 years ago, if you didn’t make the team that was just too bad. Parents were actually parents and they disciplined their children without fear of going to jail. Nativity scenes of the birth of Christ were on the county court lawns at Christmas time and Christmas was known as Christmas and not “The Holiday Season”.

When did we lose the right to say a prayer on government property or expect our kids to recite the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the school day? When did we lose the right to have gun racks in our pickups and actually have a rifle or shotgun be in it? Why do we pay 5 to 8 different taxes on our landline phones, our cell phones and our cable TV?

I know those of you as old as I am or older know and remember the items I just listed and have probably thought of many others yourself. If this is how we define progress, someone please send me back to the either the pre or post Jimmy Carter era.

I say again, as I look around me, I ask myself, what is right with America?

Kevin Bryant