Seems like American standards have gone downhill.
We visited a small town recently. Over city sidewalks were individual banners posted to honor a new high school graduate with name and photo.
A few generations back, people would drop out of high school and lie about their age to go into WWII or maybe they would work on a boat in some part of the maritime or fishing industry. They would go on to have productive lives. Today, just making it to high school graduation is worthy of individual public praise away from graduation ceremonies.
Today, showing up for the US Armed Forces can be “Protecting Our Freedom” and rates public recognition.
You can be recognized as a hero by enlisting. Never mind that the US Armed Forces recognizes individuals with personal awards not a bulk form of group identity.
Any elected official or retired elected official who tells us The Troops were sent to protect American rights and freedoms needs to explain how those rights and freedoms are any different today because US troops were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Both major parties are OK with federal prohibition of alcohol and tobacco for adults age 18-20.
No such thing the day I graduated from high school.
That was before decades of military operations for your freedoms.
2026 minimum wage in Seattle: $21.30
Superstar performers, average workers and slackers. All paid the same. The government says so.
As a new hire, before you demonstrate that you are a reliable, trainable worker, you are already making more than $20.00 per hour. Experience doesn’t matter.
John Stossel
We recently went for a routine checkup at a local clinic. It was our first time there. Several text messages arrived to remind of the appointment. They continued to arrive even after I confirmed. A phone call also arrived to advise of the appointment. I finally entered STOP to be dropped from reminders.
We had first time patient agreement forms to fill out. The lady at the counter was very careful to point out the legal paragraphs required to explain the no show fee.
It is irritating to be reminded as if you have caused or are about to cause a problem for the people who run the office.
Not one, but several signs posted in the office waiting area advised that copay fees must be paid on the date of arrival.
We get the idea that basic adult responsibilities like showing up on time or canceling on time have been a problem in the past.
We live in a small town where the grocery store requires a scan (not just a visual look) of the back side of your driver’s license when you try to purchase beer. This is true for people in their mid 60s who have been legal to drink beer for more than 40 years. In your mid 70s? You must be scanned too.
Gunfire is routine in Seattle. It was not when I was a teen back in the 70s.
So routine that the city will close down streets to keep crime out.
So sorry good citizens. Find other routes to run your errands.
Reminds me of the time Interstate 5 rest areas were shut down because of illegal activities.
Thanks WA State Patrol.
More here:
Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas
The USA has taken a dive in the post 911 era.
Seattle was a world-class city in the last century. The WWII Generation had a modern society up and running in the 80s and 90s.
USA 250
Even if we celebrate the best of American culture during the last century, that time is gone now.
What are we celebrating that still exists today?
Would Any Newsperson Ever Ask
Has any WA gun control measure or public policy effort of the past 20 years slowed down the gunfire between say, Everett and Tacoma?
What works? What fails?
The weak-minded culture expects very little from its newspeople.
Newspeople remain silent.
A Land Of Make Believe – USA 250
Celebrating Things That Are Real – USA 250
Photo:
Shallow water beachcombing