tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423459432129414527.post3412860198254142558..comments2024-02-26T23:30:25.269-06:00Comments on Eric Lanke: Dear Older Generation: It's Not Just Your AmericaEric Lankehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955772930132857028noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423459432129414527.post-74522040884761222802012-01-12T20:09:38.932-06:002012-01-12T20:09:38.932-06:00Thanks, David. But perhaps my post was not as clea...Thanks, David. But perhaps my post was not as clear as I wanted it to be. I'm not blaming America's problems on the generation that preceded mine. I'm criticizing those in the older generation who feel that America has irrevocably changed for the worse.Eric Lankehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02955772930132857028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423459432129414527.post-72910859991732436302012-01-11T21:18:50.529-06:002012-01-11T21:18:50.529-06:00No, I don't. Everybody thinks those who prece...No, I don't. Everybody thinks those who preceded them made mistakes. Those who follow us will think the same thing about us.<br /><br />There have always been problems in America, many worse than we are experiencing today. <br /><br />It's our responsibility to try to solve today's problems and make the world a better place for us, for those who preceded us and are still around (even if we think the problems are their fault), and for those who follow us.<br /><br />Unfortunately, there will always be problems to solve, many of which we cannot even anticipate today.David M. Patt, CAEhttp://www.aem-patt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423459432129414527.post-34163207316166698662012-01-09T20:05:47.064-06:002012-01-09T20:05:47.064-06:00Thanks for the perspective, David. Do you think Am...Thanks for the perspective, David. Do you think America has irreparably changed for the worse?Eric Lankehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02955772930132857028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423459432129414527.post-16538628143723164142012-01-09T15:48:38.958-06:002012-01-09T15:48:38.958-06:00It's all a matter of perspective, Eric. And p...It's all a matter of perspective, Eric. And peoples' perspectives change over time.<br /><br />When I was in my 20s, I didn't worry about saving money for tomorrow - because I needed it today and guessed I'd get more later (somehow).<br /><br />I didn't worry about health care because I was healthy and didn't need (or want) any.<br /><br />I didn't worry about social security - that was for old people, and I wasn't old.<br /><br />I didn't worry about child care because I didn't have children and didn't plan on having any (that changed later on).<br /><br />I didn't worry about taxes because I didn't earn enough to pay much. (And I thought wealthy people should pay a lot more).<br /><br />I didn't worry about unemployment because I was employed and assumed I always would be.<br /><br />My concerns were ending the military draft, building a society based on public benefits, not private benefits, and electing ethical people to office who would change the way decisions were made.<br /><br />You'll find that some things stay with you, but others change.David M. Patt, CAEhttp://www.aem-patt.comnoreply@blogger.com