U.S.: Why our nation struggles

I am an 86-year-old who is terrified about the future of our country. I grew up in the real Depression, served two years in the Army, went to college on the GI Bill, belonged to two unions, worked 41 years for several major companies and retired 21 years ago. I am very glad I am not starting out again on a career. Why?

1. We have failed to educate our folks on the basics of fundamental economics. You cannot spend more than you have coming in. This spending includes the interest on funds you may have borrowed to buy a home or a car or a credit card. Many people ignore this principle, including our federal government.

2. Pride in self-reliance is disappearing. Taking a handout from the government is now accepted or EXPECTED, when in the old days this was for emergencies only, if at all.

3. It is my way or the highway. Rational acceptance of ideas that conflict with yours are vilified, many times without any rational reasons.

4. The average morality is decreasing. Just look at the newspapers and news media that in their own right distort the facts but are constantly reporting on scandals (Bernie Madoff), bank and company shenanigans, and small city thefts (Bellwood, Ill.) and on and on. What used to be a rarity is now everyday news.

A Scottish history professor, Alexander Tyler, in 1787 stated the following:

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.

“The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

“From bondage to spiritual faith;

From spiritual faith to great courage;

From courage to liberty;

From liberty to abundance;

From abundance to complacency;

From complacency to apathy;

From apathy to dependence;

From dependence back into bondage.”

Unfortunately, we are right on target.

RALPH HALLOCK

Hayden

Editor’s note: Since the 2000 election, Internet sources have frequently attributed the above material to Alexander Tyler — or Alexander Fraser Tytler — but historians say there is no evidence that Tytler said or wrote those words.