But that was a long time ago. Post World War II, the baby boom brought ever-larger schools and population growth in communities that could not afford to support them all. More Federal aid was channeled to the States as were funds for things like welfare and Medicaid for families in need. The nation grew and, of necessity, the government grew to deal with the ever-increasing population. New schools were built and buses provided for transportation of the children to ever-larger schools. The percentage of high school graduates grew as did that of post-high-school education in the rising number of colleges. We became the best-educated population in the world!
Now we find ourselves governed by those with the money who exert undue influence on our representatives in government. Their battle cry is, "Stop spending! Cut taxes!" The nation is as split as any time since the Civil War because half the States are pursuing those same policies. Schools are being closed, free lunches and food stamps are cut for hungry children, and the lawmakers are talking about the Good Old Days. However, few of them were yet alive during the conditions that existed before the institution of the very programs that they choose to cut. Our expensive infrastructure is collapsing from neglect while the nation becomes more like "Les Miserable." Soon, it will be divided between the huge cities where the super rich are concentrated on assuring that their lifestyle will not be threatened, and the rest of the country where children, old people, the infirm, and the homeless will serve their local masters until blessed with the delivery of death.
Did the thousands of young men who were my "brothers" sacrifice their "lives and fortunes" in order to establish this kind of uncaring society? I thnk not! Will we dishonor The Greatest Generation by turning our national back on those sacrifices as well as those of all the other great patriots in our history to satisfy the desires of those for whom "All" is never "Enough?" That remains to be seen and depends entirely on the degree of sacrifice and dedication that is offered by today's patriots.
We who remember "The Days Before" are now old, weak, and few. And so, the decision is up to you, the readers, to decide -- and do whatever is necessary to stop it!
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