DUSK OR DAWN IN AMERICA

FOR WHAT DO 'THEY' AWARD THE PULITZER PRIZE? A WINNER OF THIS PRESTIGEOUS AWARD EXPRESSED HIS FEAR THAT FOR THE 1ST TIME IN AMERICA'S HISTORY, THE GENERATION FOLLOWING US WOULD NOT 'BE BETTER OFF' THAN WE. WHAT BALDERDASH! THIS SCARE TACTIC AT ITS WORST PERPETUATES THE MYTH OF THE LEFT THAT AMERICA IS ECONOMICALLY FALLING BEHIND. A JOURNALIST OR WRITER HAS NO CREDENTIAL TO TACKLE ECONOMICS ESPECIALLY WHEN DATA CONTRADICTS HIM. INCOME AND STANDARD OF LIVING HAS IRREVOCABLY MOVED FORWARD SINCE, AT THE LEAST, THE DEPRESSION OF THE 1920'S, WITH THE MEDIUM INCOME FOR AMERICANS ON A STEADY, UPWARD SWEEP SINCE THE 1970'S. ALSO, THE PERCENTAGES OF AMERICANS EARNING OVER $75,000 OR EARNING LESS THAN $35,000 HAVE MOVED FOR THE FORMER LIKE A MOUNTAINEER RAISING HIMSELF UP TO MOUNT EVEREST AND FOR THE LATTER LIKE A GIANT SLALOM.

SO WHY WOULD AN EMINENT THINKER THINK SO WRONGLY? IF HIS PRIZE WERE IN SOCIOLOGY, EVIDENCE EXISTS THAT WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS. THE ACCEPTED CULTURE IS DESTROYING AMERICA FROM WITHIN, CHARACTERIZED BY THE DECADENCE OF ROME, RUSSIA, HOLLYWOOD, MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS OR MTV COME TO MIND. THE NEXT GENERATION WON'T ADVANCE BEYOND THE PRESENT ONE IF IT IS QUASI-MORAL. IF IT DOES NOT SAVE MONEY. IF IT WORSHIPS PERPETUAL ADOLESCENCE. IF IT IS LAZY AND SPOILED. IF IT IS NOT PARENTED. IF IT CONTINUES UPON THE NEGATIVE COURSE ALREADY SET. PROOF OF THESE FACTS COMES FROM THE ABSENCE, RATHER THAN THE PRESENCE, IN THE MAJORITY OF OUR YOUTH, OF STANDARDS OF MORALITY, OF FRUGALITY, AMBITION, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND BELIEF IN PERMANENT MARRIAGES WITH CHILDREN.

WHY DO I HEAR SENIOR CITIZENS COMPLAINING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS "RIPPING THEM OFF?" WHAT HAVE THEY DONE, I THINK, TO MAKE THE ASSISTENCE OF GOVERNMENT UNNECESSARY IN THEIR LIVES. LIFE EXPECTANCY HAS RISEN CONSISTENTLY OVER TIME; THE RETIREMENT AGE SHOULD BE RAISED TO AT LEAST 70 OR 72. FREEDOM'S PRIVILEGES ABOUND TODAY AT BIRTH, 20, 40. 50, OR 65. DO NAYSAYERS, LIKE THE PRIZE WINNER, REALLY BELIEVE THE BEST YEARS ARE PAST? IF EACH INDIVIDUAL HELPS HIMSELF FIRST AND ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL, SECOND, THE NUMBERS WILL ADD UP EXPONENTIALLY. AS LATE PRESIDENT REAGAN SAID, IT IS "MORNING IN AMERICA."