Toot! Toot!

David Limbaugh wrote an op-ed column decrying the trend to call evil, good.  He is right in what he is saying, and his examples are correct and compelling.  As a nation, we do call evil, good.  What is “good” today was “evil” and unthinkable in my youth.  In my parent’s youth, such things were unmentionable and not even considered topics for conversation.  Mr. Limbaugh’s observations are valid, not just with social and moral issues, but on economic and secular issues as well.  As a nation, we have fallen far in a very short amount of time.

Blaming the state of affairs in America today on a “moral crisis” is appropriate.  Indeed, we are suffering from a lack of traditional morality.  The questions no one seems to want to ask are: “who is to blame?” and “how to fix it?”.

It seems very strange that I don’t hear those questions being asked in outraged and boisterous tones.  One would think that someone somewhere would be pounding a podium in righteous indignation and declaring to his countrymen that they must “turn or burn”. 

Does that phrase “turn or burn” smack too much of a pulpit for you?  Is it a little too “preachy”?  Perhaps a call to repentance seems a tad too “fire and brimstone” for us, the greatest nation that ever was.  It may be that such phrases conjure up scenes buried in our minds.  Unconsciously we recoil form images of stern faced men, in plain suits with frumpy wives and dull lives raising their voice in bitter disillusionment.  We have ease of living and a degree of wealth. Those things are our substitute for excellence in character.

Since May 4, 1980, we have had a Department of Education.  In the last 33 years, this nation has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on education.  What has been the result?  Test scores have plummeted.  The cost of an education, at every level of instruction has increased dramatically.  The value of a bachelor’s degree was greater for a graduate in 1980, than the same degree for a graduate in 2010.  

Why do we let it continue?  There is gravy still available to squeeze from the gravy train.  Not just at the DOE, but everywhere.  There is still state and local gravy, national gravy, DOD gravy, NASA gravy, Department of Useless Twat gravy, agriculture gravy, industry gravy, internet gravy, media gravy, and ‘yes-church’ gravy.  As long as the gravy train keeps coming around, the charade will continue.  Too many depend on the status quo.

Astute observers are pointing out that the gravy train is running out of steam.  The more astute observers are pointing out that those with the most to lose if the train stops, are buying unprecedented amounts of guns and ammunition.  At the same time, they are actively disarming the sheep.

Who is to blame for calling “evil” good? We are.  We like it that way; at least we do as long as the gravy train keeps making its rounds.  How do we fix it?  STOP! TURN AROUND! GO BACK!

There is no free lunch.  Meals on credit must be paid for.  The bill is past due and the collectors are coming. Indeed, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”.  So long as that road is smooth, gradual, and it doesn’t get too hot too fast, most people will use it.  In America, we are very eager to go to hell as long as we can do it on the gravy train.