Is this country better off than it was

[Blue_Roses]

40 years ago? As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, I wonder if most people really understand what this holiday is all about.
It sickens me to think that our country has not evolved more against bigotry.

Bigotry comes in many forms but the main common demoninator with bigotry is : Intolerance. Intolerance feeds hate and with so many programs that the Bush Administration wants to "implement" I wonder if they realize how much "intolerance" they are promoting.

[madrchsod]

1. it`s worse

although the civil rights movement moved blacks into mainstream America the movement of jobs and educated people from the cities left an economic and social vacuum and that was filled with the conditions of the present time. the civil right to pursue liberty,justice, and security is lost to those who are left behind.
Dr king not only spoke for the blacks but for all who sought a better life no matter what color they were. i remember the last speech he gave- he saw the promised land, it is up to us to see it. i am reminded by a group of women singers from south Africa who couldn't`t sing to the world for over 30yrs but finally they could. they said they never lost hope that someday they would be free.
so maybe king`s words will someday will ring out again....
-free at last,free at last, great god almighty,we are free at last-

[...Alltogethernow]

2. Absolutely!

... We've whipped polio and many other debilitating diseases, we've advanced technologies and generally have a higher standard of living than our parents and grandparents did. We have many more opportunities to make money (if that is your life's goal). We no longer have "duck and cover" fear (even though I believe a nuclear exchange is remote now it's still possible). My vehicles are more reliable and comfortable. Childbirth is less risky. 107 men and women aren't dying daily in a jungle (yes, I know 1.28 are in a sandbox today). College has more to offer. Ad infinitum.

... Yes, we are better off today! Albeit, life is good, but it could be better.

[Enraged_Ape]

3. It's worse, for everybody

In 1963, a man with a decent job (or woman, rare as it was) could support his/her whole family. There was essentially no need for day care, because one parent could stay with the children with no really bad financial ramifications to the family. Now BOTH parents can barely support even two kids with BOTH of their salaries in the mix, and they're still damn lucky if they make that mortgage payment every month, let alone the payments for health insurance, et al.

And racism? I can't say it's gotten a whole lot better in four decades. The only thing that's changed in the last 40 years is that we can talk more about issues of racism, and better acknowledge it when we see it. But the fact of the matter is that things sucked pretty bad for people of color 40 years ago, and they still suck, only it's more acceptable to talk about it.

[...Alltogethernow]

4. Well, if given the ability, I'd say leave

... and go back to 1960 then

... No thanks, I'll happily stay here.

[Enraged_Ape]

5. That's such a great response. "Leave and go back to 1960."

You're so smart!

[...Alltogethernow]

12. Ha, laugh is on you

... it read "if given the ability", smarty pants

[TexasMexican]

6. That depends on what your definition of "was" was.

[fabius]

7. We have lots more "stuff"

In terms of material stuff. Even poor people can more easily afford the cheap junk at Wal Mart. We didn't get a color TV until I was 18.

Whe I was a kid in the 60's we did Ok but it was pretty thin sometimes. Always had old cars. The people that did better were the unionized workers. My parents were teachers but my Mom stayed home until we were older. We didn't have health insurance but it cost only 20 bucks to visit a doctor. We got a used car (pretty reliable) for $700. Our house cost $10,000.

I think in general blue-collar workers lost a lot of ground since 1960 while white-collar jobs gained, relatively speaking. Now white-collar jobs are going overseas. I'm in no danger of being outsourced because you can't do my job from a distance. But that's not true of a lot of others.

We have lost a lot of ground politically and our leadership has seemed a pale shadow of its former self. I remember JFK's New Frontier and LBJ's "Great Society", and Martin Luther King's marches, and it seemed a very optimistic time. Just the cloud of Vietnam on the horizon.

This year I think we have some real, fire-breathing leadership on the Democratic side. It feels like we're real Democrats again.

[jpgray]

8. Harder to earn a living, more social liberalism

It's hard to say.

[PSR40004]

9. you're kidding right?

It's much better today period, any of you actually live in the 60's? (I did) Trust me as bad as it is today we must be honest and things have improved in alot of social issues.

[WindRavenX]

10. Yes, we're better off

...we haven't moved as forward as we should have or could have, but deep in me I feel that we are indeed better off than we were 40 years ago.
But we have a long, long way to go; and the fight for equality and tollerance will not be an easy fight, but it is one that must be fought.
Don't give up...

[KG]

11. a little better, but nothing to be too proud of

40 years ago the progessives movement in this country were building up steam but then 20 years ago the RWer used racial fears to hijack the progresive movements in this country.

still don't understand why many folks think the got it so good when they aren't even doing as well as their parents.