Is society in your opinion better or worse from 30-40 years ago?

[Sonikku]

Hell no it's not better. There was a day when you could shake a hand of a fellow American and know exactly where you stood with that person. Now it's every man for himself and you half expect your friends or allies to be plotting to screw you over if given half a chance.

There was a day when those that betrayed their friends or fellow citizens were considered to be in the wrong. These days it's not the betrayer that is in the wrong, but the betrayed, their fault for not being vigilant/paranoid enough to be looking over their shoulder constantly fully well expecting those fellow Americans they call fellow citizens to stab them in the back.

 

[GT1999]

I hate to be a pessimist, but in a lot of things in regards to most finances it's definitely worse, this is clearly evident. But that's not to say other areas have gotten better such as less racism overall which is great. I think we have too many laws and lawyers as well. I think we need more of a Democracy than what we currently have.

 

[woodie1]

I guess there are some things in the USA that are better now. Most everyone has clean water, most everyone has electricity, more roads are paved, cars are more dependable, to name a few. However, overall, I think things are generally worse than 40 years ago. There are many things that come to mind but I've not the time to list them. Top of my list: We did a terrible job raising our kids and now we have this generation with a sense of entitlement.

 

[Franz316]

Some things are better but overall we are worse off.

 

[Jaskalas]

Society is significantly better than it was back in the 1970s. Crime is down, wars are down, hungar is down, people are living longer than ever, health care is significantly better, the Internet has revolutionized communication. Consider this. Our government considers having TOO MUCH food as a major health threat.

Oh, was that a good thing? A government whose utopian desire is to remove food?

 

[GasX]

PJ O Rourke wrote an excellent piece on this topic a few years ago. Things have NEVER been as good as they are now...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

PJ O Rourke wrote an excellent piece on this topic a few years ago. Things have NEVER been as good as they are now...

PJ O'Rourke made a career out of never standing for anything while poking fun at everything. I have a different perspective and believe if he'd shared my experiences rather than the privileged life he's led, he might feel differently.

 

[dud]

Society is significantly better than it was back in the 1970s. Crime is down, wars are down, hungar is down, people are living longer than ever, health care is significantly better, the Internet has revolutionized communication. Consider this. Our government considers having TOO MUCH food as a major health threat.

There are a few trends that do disturb me though. Namely society's dependence on debt spending, instant gratification culture, too much willingness to place too much power in the hands of governments, corruption, growing religious fundamentalism, major rights issues in other countries. Despite that, today is the best it has ever been for human society. Your average person today lives better than a king did in the 19th century.

Better than the 19th century ... but the query involved the 60s/70s.

The consensus is no. your argument seems to confirm this.

 

[Dominato3r]

Better. 40 years ago what was your chance of surviving cancer?

 

[LumbergTech]

Let's see...

You're talking about a period in human history which many scientists consider to be the tipping point for humanity, due to overpollution, overconsumption, and flagrant disregard for the environment. We're expected to see a series of major ecological disasters, including massive famine, within our lifetime, and a decline in the quality of life for all, but the rich and powerful.

Major technological innovations have led to miracle cures and has revolutionized the way we see and interact with the world, but it has also made it that much easier for the police state and corporations to monitor and regulate our ways of life.

Due to the effects of globalization and increased concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, we're seeing massive uprooting of communities and destruction of family values, which leads to even more people seeking comfort in material wealth, and incidents like the bus monitor, which shows how increasingly we're changing into a selfish society, with little or no regard for human life other than those close to us, or those we consider as worthy. It is no wonder we're seeing the rise of radical groups all over the world, such as the neo-Nazis in the recent Greece election, since desperate people have nowhere else to turn to when the social systems that are supposed to protect them have betrayed them.

Now, I am not gullible enough to say that none of this didn't exist 40 years ago, but I think most would agree that it has gotten worse, than it has gotten better. We had government scandals even back then, but was it as bad as today, when the whole government is awash in corporate "bribery", and even the most basic constitutional rights are being taken away with barely any opposition? For instance, the Obama administration is still trying to take away your right not to be held indefinitely without trial by the military, but do news agencies even report it anymore? Do Americans even care anymore, as long as they have their latest IPad and other so-called modern index of happiness and success?

Bus monitor is a bad example. I saw stuff like that all the time. I was treated like that on the bus in grade school. I remember vividly one incident where a girl kept sprinkling garbage on me while her tough guy boyfriends eyeballed me like what are you gonna do about it? I saw people tormented constantly on the bus. People, especially children, often behave badly when left to their own devices. The comments section of any place on the Internet shows you this. You have the little trolls jumping in laughing with glee when some kid commits suicide. Its nothing new, we just have the ability to witness so much more of what goes on now. Also, the idea that government has not "restricted rights" previously is laughable. People always seem to think that the current state of events is the sign of lack of morality or quality of people in the current time. It is just the default state of the world. There is some good, some bad, some neutral, and it is all a matter of perspective.

 

[Engineer]

I hate to be a pessimist, but in a lot of things in regards to most finances it's definitely worse, this is clearly evident. But that's not to say other areas have gotten better such as less racism overall which is great. I think we have too many laws and lawyers as well. I think we need more of a Democracy than what we currently have.

Ross Perot is kicking his heels together somewhere right now. The giant sucking sound that was Mexico (and now China, etc.) has sucked the life out of the middle class and in general, America as a whole.

Better. 40 years ago what was your chance of surviving cancer?

About what it will be in a decade or two when you cannot afford the treatments unless you have significant wealth.

 

[unokitty]

I think that it is some of both.

For example, I don't think that medical care is better now. Nor do I think that road conditions are better now.

On the other hand, we do have the Internet. And we do have Google Maps...

Uno

 

[SparkyJJO]

Worse.

 

[pcgeek11]

IMO; way worse than when I was a mere lad.

 

[lothar]

30 years ago, it was morning in America.

 

[JJChicken]

If I told you your fly was open, would you respond, "F you bud," or would you thank me and zip up your fly? Zip up your grammatical fly.

I'm sure there are innumerable things you know that I don't. We all learn from each other, and learning is a life-long process. Don't ever be too proud to remove the metaphoric spinach from your teeth.

I'd bet you take pride in your grooming and appearance, and pride in the computer hardware and software you use. Language is your most basic tool. Take pride in that, too.

Great post.

Off topic, it is amazing how well-written text is pleasing to read regardless of its subject matter.

 

[her209]

There are too many no talent attention whores running around nowadays.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

There are too many no talent attention whores running around nowadays.

People have no shame or dignity today, and that was one good thing about living 30 or 40 years ago. Most people still had some dignity and a sense of shame and wouldn't make asses of themselves at every opportunity (see: Kardashians, Paris Hilton, Octomom).

 

[GrumpyMan]

Worse, much worse.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Let's see, back in 1950s one can buy a house for double of US average yearly salary.

Those must've been the days....

What's the average salary now? 35-40k a year?

Say good buy to your American dream.....

TO ME materialistic things don't really matter/mean much so I would say our Society is WAY worse off then they were 30-40 years ago.

America is due for a reality check. SOON

 

[jhu]

你們屁股痛因為你們是中國的婊子。

 

[SpatiallyAware]

你們屁股痛因為你們是中國的婊子。

Wtf stop trying to be so obnoxious.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

People have no shame or dignity today, and that was one good thing about living 30 or 40 years ago. Most people still had some dignity and a sense of shame and wouldn't make asses of themselves at every opportunity (see: Kardashians, Paris Hilton, Octomom).

I view it as a total lack of both self-respect and respect for others around you.

 

[epidemis]

If we compare objective measures, today is probably better off. Though I think we have lost a lot really great things in the fire that is liberalism

 

[blankslate]

In some ways better. For the most part less bigotry and prejudice.


Some ways worse, a lot less civility and more acceptance of violence.


Depends on what area you look at.