When you think of the America you grew up in compared to what we have today, what has changed?

PO1 Steven Kuhn — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 17:51:06 -0500

When you compare the America of your youth to the vision of what America is supposed to be or your vision of "perfect" and what America actually is today, what are the differences you see, what do you think can be done to make your ideal America more of a reality?

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 23 at 2014 6:23 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:23:06 -0500

The internet replaced kids (in general) wanting to go outside and play war or cops & robbers...gas prices have sure went up in price (I remember my dad being very angry when the gas price went over $1.00)...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 23 at 2014 6:47 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:47:31 -0500

There are days when I wonder if this still is America. When I grew up:

Never heard of the government "shutting down".
The inter-what?
Gas was $0.75 a gallon until I stared driving
Smokes were $1.00 a pack (I never did but bought them for my dad)
You could buy cigarettes under the age of 18
Define "entitlement"
I paid my way through college w/o a student loan
Dating-college-marriage-children. That's the order I was taught
What's a gigabyte?
iPhone, eCommerce - what?
Stores were closed on Sunday
Everything had a power cord unless it was a flashlight or toy
We had phone booths with pay phones and you always carried a quarter.
You walked to school if you lived within a mile - I did
TVs came in a console and were at least 2 feet deep
The bands I grew up with are still playing - Rush, The Who, AC/DC
"Flock of Seagulls"? Oh yeah, "they ran, they ran so far away"
Lawrence Welk was mandatory viewing at my grandparents' house
And the list goes on...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 23 at 2014 6:51 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:51:10 -0500

Bushes were 6-packs of beer or a small shrubs, not presidents. "Read my lips Axis of Evil"

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 12:58 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:58:50 -0500

When I was a kid, mom would kick us outside and tell us not to come back until dinner. We'd play all day outside. Now kids stay inside and play on the computer, ipad, xbox, etc. and if they do go outside they have to be supervised lest they stub their toe.

When I was a kid you didn't even get phone calls until you were in High School. I wasn't allowed to even have a phone in my room. So talking to girls was done in full view of my parents. Now my 9 year old has an iPhone.

I used to sit in the car with my brother while my parents shopped. We never had a child safety seat. I would lay in the back window area of the Ford LTD on long trips, seat belts were all stuck down in the seat because who used seat belts anyway? Now kids are supposed to sit in safety seats until almost out of elementary school and if you leave a kid in the car you are a negligent parent.

I think the biggest difference for me was that people felt back then that with hard work and determination you could succeed. You had to work for it.
I keep running into kids today that feel like they don't need to improve or work hard because they grew up being told that they were special and don't try and change who you are, people should just accept you the way you are...blah.